The Weekly Update #4

Students will not have school on Thursday, October 3nd as well as Friday, October 4th.

It's with a heavy heart that I bring to your attention an issue that has recently surfaced within our school community. In today's world, we find ourselves facing the necessity of having difficult conversations with our children about safety.

Unfortunately, we've had several instances this year where students have made comments to their peers about bringing guns to school or harming others. While most of these comments may seem innocent or made in jest, we must recognize that we no longer live in a time where such remarks can be taken lightly.

As part of our safety protocols, it is imperative for us to take any mention of violence seriously. When such comments are reported, our administration is required to follow a strict protocol, which includes contacting the parents of all involved parties, reaching out to AISD police, and documenting the incident as a threat assessment. In some cases, a police officer may come to the campus to speak with the student and their parents. This process can be anxiety-inducing and even traumatic for everyone involved.

I urge you to have a candid conversation with your children about the importance of safety, both at school and in their daily lives. It's crucial that they understand the gravity of their words and actions, and the potential consequences they may face for making threats, even if they were not meant seriously. Below is an article from the National Association of School Psychologists that has tips on how you might facilitate this conversation at home.

We must work together as a community to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. Your partnership in addressing this matter is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to administration or our school counselors.

Alex Hassett

What is it? The Golden Spoon is an award given to classes that have amazing cafeteria behavior for the month. There will be one class per grade level that wins each month. Students will be able to eat on the stage and win the golden spoon to display in their classrooms. The teacher of the class that wins will get lunch provided by one of our sponsors. There will be 6-7 teachers per month. What do you do? Once the teachers that have won for the month are announced, Ms. Kenworthy will send you an email. You will pick a place to pick up a lite lunch from. Send a price range or list of items for the teachers to choose from. Teachers will submit their orders to Ms. Kenworthy and she will communicate with you. The sponsor picks the day of the week that they will deliver the lunches. All communication regarding the lunches can be sent to micaela.kenworthy@austinisd.org . If you are willing to help provide this treat to our teachers please sign up here.

The cafeteria stage will be closed during lunches on Tuesday, October 1st and Wednesday, October 2nd as the students will be celebrating the Golden Spoon Winners.

The Gifted & Talented Parent Referral Window is Now Open from Tuesday, 8/20 through Monday, 10/7.

GT Parent referral is optional. If you feel your family may be nominating your child, we also encourage that you talk with your child's teacher.

For more information on the referral process, please check out this flyer.

*For 2nd graders only*

Austin ISD was awarded the prestigious Javits Grant. With this grant, 2nd graders across the district will undergo the GT screening process using the 3-part nonverbal section of CogAT as the first step in the screening process. If the 2nd grader meets the rubric point score determined by the district, they will be invited to participate in the rest (6 additional parts) of the CogAT test. If students are selected to complete the rest of the test- a parent observation form will be sent to you to be completed at that time.

The window for 2nd grade screening will be Sept. 23-Oct. 14.

For more information regarding the screener, please check out this flyer.

For any questions about the Gifted & Talented referral process, please contact assistant principal Micaela Kenworthy at micaela.kenworthy@austinisd.org

Please just us in a couple of weeks!

Baranoff Elementary School is continuing the work of our Equity Empowerment Team from Spring 2024. We aim to continue to address challenges, identify opportunities for growth, and ensure that our school continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.

Why a Committee?

1. Enhance Understanding: Embrace diverse perspectives for a richer educational experience.

2. Foster Equity: Remove barriers and provide equal opportunities for success.

3. Promote Inclusion: Create a positive and supportive school culture.

4. Empowering Collaboration: The team will actively collaborate with parents, guardians, and staff to ensure that diverse voices are heard and that we collectively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable school community.

Join Us!

If you're passionate about diversity and inclusion, consider joining the team. If you are interested in participating, please complete the following application by September 30, 2024. Our first meeting will be held on October 2. Click here to apply!

Good afternoon families! A reminder that students will not attend classes on October 4, 2024 for the observance of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) on both mornings of the holiday. This normally takes place in the synagogue as part of the day’s services. Families enjoy traditional food such as round challah bread, apples dipped in honey, and other foods that symbolize hopes for a sweet year. It is also customary to light candles, attend synagogue, and have meals with family and friends.

If you would like to learn more about this important holiday, please review these resources:

• This video from the Jewish Educator Project reviews key aspects of the holiday.

• This printable book from The Little Compass contains activities and games to teach young children about the holiday.

What is it?

Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. Together with Yom Kippur (which follows 10 days later), is part of the High Holidays.

When is it?

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on the eve of Tishrei 1 and ends after nightfall on Tishrei 2. That means this year Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on October 2 and ends at nightfall on October 4.

How is it celebrated?

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) on both mornings of the holiday. This normally takes place in the synagogue as part of the day’s services. Families enjoy traditional food such as round challah bread, apples dipped in honey, and other foods that symbolize hopes for a sweet year. It is also customary to light candles, attend synagogue, and have meals with family and friends.

Resources:

This video from the Jewish Educator project reviews key aspects of the holiday.

This printable book from The Little Compass contains activities and games to teach young children about the holiday.

Our next Principal's Coffee will be October 11th so please join us if you can!

Austin ISD Community,

Join us as we shape the future of our district by serving on the Austin ISD Calendar Task Force! We’re working on developing the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school calendars, and we need your input to make a meaningful difference for our students, families, staff, and community.

If you’re interested in joining this important committee, please fill out the Standard Membership Application form.

When completing the form, be sure to select "Other" under committee options and type in "Calendar Task Force."

If selected to serve on the committee, you will be notified by Friday, October 4, 2024, via email.

The first meeting will take place on:

Date: Wednesday, October 9
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Austin ISD Central Office, 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd, Room 221

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at governanceandboardservices@austinisd.org.

Join us in shaping the future of Austin ISD! Your voice matters, and together, we can build school calendars that work for everyone.

We look forward to your participation!

Best,

Jiae Kim-Batra
Executive Director
Governmental Relations & Board Services
Austin ISD

—

Comunidad del Austin ISD:

¡Lo invitamos a participar en una emocionante oportunidad para definir el futuro de nuestro distrito! El Austin ISD está formando un Grupo de Trabajo del Calendario para crear los calendarios escolares 2025-2026 y 2026-2027, y necesitamos su aportación para marcar una diferencia significativa para nuestros estudiantes, familias, personal y comunidad.

Si usted está interesado en unirse a este importante comité, por favor llene el formulario de Solicitud de Membresía Estándar.

Cuando llene el formulario, asegúrese de seleccionar "Other" en las opciones de comité y escriba "Calendar Task Force".

Si es seleccionado para formar parte del comité, se le notificará a más tardar el viernes, 4 de octubre de 2024 por correo electrónico.

La primera reunión tendrá lugar el:
Fecha: miércoles, 9 de octubre
Hora: 5:30 PM
Lugar: Oficina Central del Austin ISD, 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd, Sala 221

Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en contactarnos por correo electrónico en governanceandboardservices@austinisd.org.

¡Únase a nosotros para definir el futuro del Austin ISD! Su voz importa y, juntos, podemos elaborar calendarios escolares que sean adecuados para todos.

¡Esperamos su participación!

Saludos,

Jiae Kim-Batra
Directora ejecutiva
Relaciones Gubernamentales y Servicios de la mesa directiva
Austin ISD

Bailey Middle School will be simultaneously streaming the movie virtually and project it at Bailey. Once we have more info on how to watch virtually, we will share it with you. We will be serving popcorn at Bailey. Let's make this a good event! View the official trailer by clicking the picture below.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Thank you for making our Go for the Gold Scholastic Book Fair a big success. We appreciate your support for the Baranoff library. A huge “thank you” to our parent volunteers for helping work the fair. If you missed the book fair, you are still able to shop online (our library will receive credit for any purchases) through Friday, October 3rd.

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/baranoffelementaryschool

The Baranoff book club is a way to make a donation to the Baranoff library and allow your student to choose a book to add to our collection.The donated book will have a label with your student’s name and have a permanent place in our library. Payment will be made online at my school central. Papers went home in Thursday folders, or you can read more about the Baranoff book club at:

Library Book Club 24-25

September is Suicide Prevention Month

Austin ISD recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and is committed to raising awareness of suicide prevention throughout the district. Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. if you know the warning signs. There are actions we can take to prevent suicide. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can save lives. There is hope. Students are encouraged to be courageous and seek help from their school counselors or other trusted adults.

People who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone genuinely asks about their well-being. Listening and acknowledging their pain without judgment will reduce a person’s feelings of depression. Creating a network of resources creates safety and hope among individuals experiencing distress. The Lifeline Network emphasizes 5 steps for helping youth experiencing emotional pain.

We are looking forward to supporting your child's academic, career and social/emotional growth this year. We would like your input so we may create a curriculum that best meets the needs of the Baranoff community. Thank you for taking the time to complete the Fall Family Survey.

SAVE THE DATE!

Our 2nd grader’s performance will be on November 7th at 6:00pm in the Baranoff Cafeteria! We are excited to start preparing for this performance soon in our classes. More information and details will come in the following weeks.

4th & 5th Grade Recorders

We are excited to announce that 4th and 5th grade students will begin to explore the world of the soprano recorder! This experience is a part of the Music TEKS for elementary students, and as such, your child will need a recorder for music class.

The cost per instrument is $8.00. This price will include the Canto Renaissance Soprano Recorder, a necklace hanger, and a new “Mute Flute” which will help dampen the sound when needed! We are purchasing the Canto Soprano recorders, as they produce a quality, clear sound that is perfect for beginners. Other brands of recorders on the market can affect the tuning when we play together as a class. Students will keep these at school until the end of the year.

Payment Instructions:

Payments this year are only accepted online, through the new Baranoff Webstore (link below)

https://baranoff.myschoolcentral.com/

All payments are due by October 31st, 2024, in order to ensure a timely delivery.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email your child’s music teacher.

Mr. Richards Mrs. Tijerina

Andrew.richards@austinisd.org Victoria.tijerina@austinisd.org

ONIT Athlete is doing a FREE drawing contest called Cards 4 Kids where kids (18 and under) draw their favorite athlete on their favorite college football team. University of Texas football star and wide receiver Silas Bolden has agreed to be the athlete representing University of Texas and will be the athlete drawn in this contest for kids in Austin. The winning artwork will be transformed into an official ONIT Athlete trading card and Silas will sign a version of the winning design as a personal prize for the winning kid.

It is a really fun and exciting opportunity for kids to show off their artistic abilities, creativity, and support of their local team.

Our support staff members keep the school running. Sign up here to shower them with gifts throughout the year: https://forms.gle/KAR3JQ8sWFSHpYWY6

Come out to enjoy a delicious meal!

Sun 9/29 11am-12:30pm Women's Self Defense Class fundraiser at Kuk Sool Won Martial Arts. (Open to women ages 18+ tickets are $30 and all proceeds go to Baranoff.)

Sign up link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-self-defense-workshop-for-timy-baranoff-elementary-school-pta-tickets-1012753983427?aff=oddtdtcreator

Walk to School Day is coming up soon on Wednesday, October 9. Safe Routes to School will be encouraging all our students and parents to walk and roll to school!

Blaze Mascot

If you'd like to be our mascot at special events, sign up here! If you would like to help, send an email to dannallard@yahoo.com.

Last chance- Last Call!

If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Baranoff PTA sponsor, please see below.

Baranoff PTA and Clothes Bin® have partnered to collect and recycle or reuse old clothing, shoes, and textiles! Every pound goes to support our school so please consider donating these items in the green recycling bin in our back parking lot instead of throwing them away:

Clothing: pants, jeans, skirts, dresses, suits, shorts, shirts, tees, tanks

Footwear: shoes, boots, heels, sneakers, sandals, socks, tights

Undergarments: bras, underwear, slips, camisoles

Accessories: hats, belts, ties, scarves, headbands

Handbags: wallets, totes, luggage, backpacks, briefcases

Linens: towels, sheets, comforters, blankets, tablecloths

As you clean out the old and bring in the new, you can help the environment and Baranoff PTA too!

New Era Martial Arts: 50% goes back to Baranoff and the deadline has been extended.

Please consider this opportunity!