Happy October Panda Families!
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. We have loved learning about the diverse cultures and traditions of the Hispanic Community. We look forward to a wonderful month of Fall learning. Thank you for continuing to support our Panda School Family. Have a great October!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Dimas
Parent Support Specialist
My name is Linda Perez, and I am your Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center Parent Support Specialist.
You can expect periodic newsletters from myself, and several of the classroom teachers to keep you up to date as to what is happening here at Anita Uphaus and in the classrooms.
A good way of staying up to date on school information is to visit our website at www.uphaus.austinschools.org . From there, you can find several sources of information that will keep you informed of all the happenings at Anita Uphaus. We are excited to begin the 2024-2025 school year. If at any time during the school year you feel the need to contact me, please feel free to call me, Linda C. Perez, Parent Support Specialist at (512) 414-5538 or by email at linda.c.perez@austinisd.org
We hope to partner and collaborate with you to have a successful school year. Your involvement and partnership are important. There is no one like you!
As your Parent Support Specialist, I can assist you in several ways. In working together, I can:
- Find resources you may need- I can help find assistance when needed.
Learn new things about school and how to help your child succeed. Look for workshops for parents throughout the year!
- Become leaders in our school! Your input and participation in the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) and other school committees such as Campus Advisory Council (CAC)
- Become a Parent Volunteer! Volunteers are welcomed and needed!
Everyone who volunteers will need to attend a volunteer orientation and complete a successful background check.
Arrival & Dismissal
As the school year begins, here are a few reminders that will assist with our arrival/dismissal procedures. Attached you will find our map for Arrival & Dismissal. Please assist us in following traffic rules. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our staff, scholars, and parents safe.
During morning drop off, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- walk their child(ren) up to the designated campus entrances at the school.
- If you are walking them to the designated drop off areas, please make sure you cross at the student crosswalk for your safety. Parents must park in a designated parking spot and walk your child across.
- Go through the designated drive-thru entrances at the school
During after school pick up, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- pick up their child(ren) at the designated campus pick-up areas at the school
- Go through the designated drive-thru exits at the school
Please do not:
Block the flow of traffic in and out of school premises.
Speed in a school zone.
Use cell phone in school zone.
Due to safety reasons, parents and parent guardians will NOT be allowed to walk children to their classrooms.
REMINDERS: Please be mindful of your speed during pick up & drop off. Speed limit should not exceed 10 mph.
NO CELL PHONE use in an active school zone. Please put your cell phones down.
2024-2025 Bus information
We recommend families whose students are eligible for General Education transportation to check their bus information by checking the district’s “Bus Stop Finder''. Families whose students have special needs will receive their information in person from their bus teams. *Please keep in mind routes and stops may change periodically.
“Where's The Bus” App for Families
AISD’s transportation team offers families the “Where'sThe Bus” app, which provides timely information about the location of their student’s assigned bus only, including when it will arrive at their stop. Please promote the app to your school communities.
The free app is available on any device with internet access (smartphone, tablet, personal computer, iPad)—and takes less than five minutes to install. Instructions are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation.
Breakfast In the Classroom
Parent Coffee Chat
Parents,
Anita Uphaus will be participating in the Brighter Bites program which provides healthy fruits and vegetables to families. We hope you can sign up to receive these delicious foods.
Our Brighter Bites Enrollment Forms are available online! I have attached both the printable pdf and the pdf with the clickable link to enroll. Here is the direct link to enroll:
One application per family. If you have multiple students enrolled, please only fill out 1 application. If you need assistance, please contact our Parent Support Specialist, Mrs. Linda Perez.
- The first step is to register here: https://austinisd.voly.org/
Please note: if you are planning to volunteer for any event at school you must go through a
background check.
- You can also contact our Parent Support Specialist, Ms. Linda Pérez, at 512-414-5520, Ext. 58514 or linda.c.perez@austinisd.org
Please support the Uphaus PTA
PTA is an organization of parents and teachers coming together to advocate for our children and students. Your membership alone will give us a BIGGER voice in our school and community!
Membership is for the year $10.00. This money goes towards student events, teacher appreciation and much more. PTA membership flyer going out soon!
My name is Ms. Mercado, the Anita Uphaus School Counselor. Happy October! Here is some information about emotions and strategies you can use to support your child. Please let me know if I can assist in any way!
Everyone experiences strong emotions sometimes. This is why it’s important that we teach kids skills to cope with emotions, or emotion regulation. We want children to know that while all emotions are normal and valid, we have to have control of our choices and behaviors. For example, saying things like “I know you’re angry it’s time to put your game away, but throwing your toys is not acceptable. What can you do instead?”
Emotion regulation includes naming emotions, being mindful and noticing them in the moment, and expressing them appropriately. And finally, we teach children the tools and skills they need to calm down.
How to Teach Children to Cope With Strong Emotions
The best time to learn emotion regulation is not in the middle of a strong emotion. These skills are best learned in a calm state of mind and take a lot of practice so they can be used when needed. One emotion regulation tool that students can practice at home is deep breathing.
Deep breathing
Teaching children to engage in deep belly breathing exercises is one of the most straightforward and effective coping skills they can learn. Breathing allows the nervous system to slow down and gives us a pause. Remember to practice breathing exercises often and not just when a child is upset - for example, right before bedtime!
Here are 3 videos that can help you practice deep breathing at home with your student:
https://youtu.be/xkHaUI5kAyA?feature=shared
