Principal's Newsletter
Spicewood Elementary- Melanie Solis
April 4, 2024
Hello Spicewood Family!
This was truly an amazing week! Events like the ones held this week are so affirming as to the commitment, cooperation, and community that we are so fortunate to be a part of at Spicewood. Thank you to everyone who showcased their talents, culture, cooking skills, etc. to help us all learn about each other and where we come from.
I also want to thank our Panther Patrol volunteers who were on campus this past Wednesday. They were definitely put to work and our campus has never looked better because of their support!
I have included some very important Eclipse Day information further down in the newsletter so please make sure to read through that carefully.
Another thing I would like to mention is that last week there was an email sent out from the district in regards to the Long Range Facility Planning Committee. If you have thoughts about our building needs that should be considered, please make sure to fill out the survey in the email. These considerations will have future impacts when it is time for decision making regarding buildings and capacity needs.
Reminder that there is no school for students next Wednesday April 10th and then we have STAAR testing on April 11th.
Have a great weekend!
Melanie Solis
Principal
Spicewood Elementary
Upcoming Important Dates.
April 8th- Eclipse Day (more info below)
April 10th- No School for Students (this is a Wednesday)
April 11th- Actual STAAR Reading (3rd-5th)
April 16th- Amy's Ice Cream/Phil's Icehouse Spirit Night
April 17th- Actual STAAR Science (5th only)
April 23rd- Actual STAAR Math (3rd-5th)
April 26th- Field Day
May 3rd- 5th Grade Exhibition
May 8th- Donuts with Grownups
May 22nd- 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
May 22nd- Westwood Senior Walk at Spicewood 1:45pm
May 23rd- Last Day of School for Students
IB at Spicewood
Student Council and the Spicewood Community is Collecting LEGOs for Weekend School Foundation
Spicewood has begun collecting LEGOs to bring STEAM materials to the Weekend School Foundation in India. Our goal is to collect 50 pounds of LEGOs! Check out the collection zone outside of our school library to see it all on display. We’re accepting donations until Wednesday, May 1st. 👏
One World One Night
2nd Grade Market Day
Principal Coffee
On Wednesday, we held our Principal Coffee. We covered topics such as Preparing for next year, IB updates, STAAR assessments, and dealing with test stress at home. The second part of the meeting was a presentation by our RRISD Chief Equity Officer and the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We split the video into two sections.
Here are the two recordings from our meeting with the slides. We apologize if the quality is not perfect but we wanted to make sure that the information was sent out to interested parties that were unable to attend.
Solar Eclipse- April 8th
**New Information
In the unfortunate case of rain during the total eclipse time between 1:20-1:50, we are preparing a backup plan. Currently, there is a 40% chance of rain forecasted for the day. While we know that anything can happen when it comes to Central TX weather, we will plan to view the eclipse from inside our facilities by accessing the following site should it rain at that time: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/live/.
In the event of rain, we will not be able to accommodate the number of parents that have signed up to join us in the classrooms. We understand that this may cause disappointment for some families who were looking forward to joining us for this event. However, please know that we are committed to making the best decisions in the interest of our students' safety and learning experience.
We will continue to monitor weather updates closely and will communicate any changes or updates regarding our eclipse viewing plans promptly through email by 12:30 pm.
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On April 8th, we will witness a total solar eclipse. This is a celestial event where the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over our planet. The total eclipse will be viewable within the Austin city limits for a total of 1 minute and 40 seconds, starting around 1:37 p.m. The partial eclipse will begin at 12:17 p.m. and end at 2:58 p.m. Learn more about the eclipse here!
We have received a donation of solar eclipse glasses for every student and staff member at Spicewood.
We would like to ask that all parents and visitors that will be joining us please arrive and be checked in by 1:00. After checking in, you will meet your child's classroom on the field. It is our goal to have all staff and students participate in this once in a lifetime event. If you plan to pick up your child early on eclipse day for any reason, we are highly recommending this be done before 12:00 pm. The office will be extremely busy on this day.
All visitors will need to provide their own glasses please.
After the eclipse if you elect to take your child home prior to regular dismissal time, each teacher will have a sign out sheet with them on the field. Please make sure to sign out your child and alert any club or after school care program that your child will not be in attendance on this day.
Field Day Volunteers Needed!
2024-2025 School Supplies Pre-Order
Save some money and a lot of time by pre-ordering your student’s school supplies for the 2024-25 school year. They will be delivered to your child’s classroom before the first day of school. Visit www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks and enter in our school ID - SPI001 to order yours today!
PTA Information, Resources, and Opportunities
Upcoming Spirit Night Events
Adopt a Pot
Panther Patrol
Spicewood Earns Money from Boxtops!
Did you know that Box Tops can earn money for our school? It does not include cutting and collecting like the old days! Below is information on how to support Spicewood through grocery items in your home. You can adjust the settings in the app to make sure that Spicewood Elementary gets credit!