Mathews Messenger, 24

Hello, Wonderful Mathews Community! Last week was incredibly busy for us, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make it such a positive experience for both our students and staff! From supporting our kindergarten students during their parade to contributing goodies for our PTLW showcase, volunteering to provide feedback for our students, and attending the PTA advocacy meeting to learn more about supporting public schools—your involvement truly made a difference. Thank you!

Looking ahead, we’ll kick off this week with caregiver/teacher conferences on Monday, which means no school for students. Many of our upper-grade students will be leading their own conferences, sharing their learning and goals—something I absolutely love to see! Whether your conference is student-led or more traditional, it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to partner together in supporting your child(ren)’s learning. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to sign up for a conference time with your child(ren)’s teacher(s). Our goal is always 100% participation!

In addition to conferences, good things continue to take place across the school. Our kindergarten students will head out into the community for a field trip to the Zach Scott Theater, and our first-grade students will share a musical performance. Our 5th graders will take the TEA interim science assessment, and we’ll also hold make-up assessments for reading and math. On Friday, we’ll gather as Houses during our assembly, creating opportunities for students to connect across grade levels. Then, on Saturday, our top science fair participants will showcase their hard work at the Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the Palmer Events Center. I’m so proud of all our students!

Here’s to another fantastic week of teaching and learning! Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support!

Monday, February 17:

• Parent/Teacher Conference Day - No School for Students

Tuesday, February 18:

• 3rd - 6th Grade Interim Assessment Make-Up for Reading and Math

Wednesday, February 19:

• 5th Grade Science Interim Assessment
• 3rd - 6th Grade Interim Assessment Make-Up for Reading and Math

Thursday, February 20:

• Kinder to Zach Scott Theater at 9:15 am
• 1st Grade Musical Performance at 5:30 pm

Friday, February 21:

• Happy Birthday, Andrea Hawkins! 🎉
• School-wide Assembly at 8:00 am - House Meetings

Saturday, February 22:

• Austin Regional Science Fair at the Palmer Events Center

• February 24: Student Council to PTA Rally Day at the Capital
• February 25: CAC Meeting
• February 26: Rising 6th Grade Parent Information Meeting at 7:45 am
• February 27: PTA Meeting
• February 27: Mathews MFE Day at Taco Flats
• February 27: Rising 6th Grade Parent Information Virtual Meeting at 5:30 pm
• February 28: African American Heritage Celebration
• March 3: Young People's Concert for 4th and 5th Grades
• March 3: TELPAS Reading/Writing for 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Grades
• March 6: 2nd Grade Music Performance
• March 10: School Tour
• March 13: End of 3rd Quarter
• March 14: Student Holiday
• March 17-21: Spring Break
• March 31: Kinder Dyslexia Screening Opens
• April 4: International Festival!

This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Cheering Others’ Successes. This means when someone else does well, we are happy for them and show our support.

It's normal to sometimes feel jealous or envious when others succeed, but learning to genuinely celebrate their accomplishments can improve our own happiness and relationships. Supporting others not only helps them feel good but also strengthens our community and creates a positive environment.

Encouraging your child to be happy for others can start with simple actions, such as congratulating a friend, noticing feelings of envy and asking why, or learning from others’ successes. These steps build a supportive culture in families, teams, schools, and communities.

To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

This is a friendly reminder that it takes all of us to have a safe and efficient arrival each morning. We've seen some not-safe driving behaviors in the last week. Please remember:

• There is NO parking in the front drive between 7:00 - 8:00 am. If you would like to walk your child/children to the front door, please park in the neighborhood and walk together.
• There are NO u-turns in front of the school. West Lynn is a narrow street and it is dangerous. Please take the extra 60 seconds to drive around the block.
• Please use the crosswalk when crossing West Lynn - it's for everyone's safety.
• Please be aware of your surroundings, wait your turn, and be patient.

Thank you! Let's work together for a safe arrival!

Enrollment during this period is open to all new and returning Austin ISD students. Students interested in admissions- and campus-based programs must complete their enrollment and any campus-specific application requirements on or before February 4, 2025

Please click the button below for more information and to begin the process!

Austin ISD invites all Gifted and Talented students to participate in a district-wide showcase! Projects may be entered into the showcase through April 11, 2025. This year's theme is "This is Our Story!" Please see the flyer below for more information and click on the button for the Showcase Website!

PreK: 78% Registered

Kinder: 73% Registered

1st Grade: 80% Registered

2nd Grade: 67% Registered

3rd Grade: 77% Registered

4th Grade: 96% Registered 🎉

5th Grade: 22% Registered

In February 2025, Austin ISD is launching an Early Bird Tuition-Based Pre-K 4 enrollment period for families that do not qualify for free Pre-K 4. This initiative will provide families the opportunity to enter a randomized selection process for a limited number of Pre-K4 seats in order to better plan for their child care needs.

Please note that families who qualify for free Pre-K are guaranteed a seat for their child. These spots have been reserved and will open for applications on April 1, 2025. Learn about the qualifications for free Pre-K >

Austin ISD families interested in an Early Bird Tuition-Based Pre-K 4 seat can apply to up to three (3) Pre-K4 campuses from February 5 – March 7, 2025. Seats will be allocated based on a random lottery system, and there will be no waitlist or priority selection. Families will be notified of the lottery outcomes on March 14, 2025.

Mathews currently has five seats available for early bird tuition. To learn more about this new initiative, please click on the button below to access the early bird tuition website.

Since the 2025 Legislative Session began on January 14, the Mathews PTA Advocacy Committee has been tracking bills that could impact public schools. Our top priority, along with PTAs across Texas, is advocating for increased state funding. Texas ranks among the bottom 40 states in public school investment. To learn more about our efforts and the issues we’re monitoring, join us for a gathering with Daphne Hoffecker, Advocacy Chair for the Austin Council of PTAs on February 13th after drop-off.

Our students are invited to attend the O.Henry basketball game on Thursday evening to show their vertical team spirit! See flyer below for more information:

O.Henry Girl's Summer Volleyball/Basketball Camp. This camp is for incoming 5th - 8th grade girls. The camp will focus on skills, games, and having fun! The camp is run by O. Henry 7th and 8th grade volleyball/basketball coaches.

Camp Details
Date: June 2nd-5th
Location: O.Henry MS Gym - off of Exposition Blvd
Who: incoming 4th - 8th grade girls
Volleyball Skills Camp - 9am - 12pm
Basketball Skills Camp - 1pm - 4pm
Cost: $100 half day, $200 full day

Scholarships: limited scholarships available, email coaches for more information To sign up, please click on the button below:

AISD changed the system for volunteer registration and background checks so it has taken us a little longer than usual to get the information out to you. All Mathews volunteers who will be in contact with children must complete a background check. Background checks are good for one year. If you’re a new volunteer or haven’t done a background check in the current school year, please click the link and follow the directions below. It’s quick and easy!

To begin the volunteer approval process, please click on the link below.

• Austin ISD Volunteers

Our PTA is an amazing group who support our whole school. Join today and become of a part of this dynamic, welcoming, and supportive group - you'll make a difference while having fun and getting to know new people!

The Responsible Use Policy is now in place. Acknowledgement and adherence to the RUP is applicable each time anyone uses an AISD device, logs into our network and/or accesses the AISD portal and related applications. Please take time to review the K-5 Responsible Use Policy

AISD is invested in using technology to enhance student learning and improve learning outcomes. Using your device, the AISD network, and systems is a privilege and any privilege comes with responsibility. Signing this Responsible Use Policy (RUP) will serve as an acknowledgement of this information for students and families.

• Student Responsible Use Policy (PreK-5th)
  
• Student Responsible Use Policy (6th - 12th)

Please see information below on the AISD Student Success Guide for the 24-25 School Year:

Education in this community represents a significant commitment of financial and human resources. The benefits a student derives from this investment depend very much on the student's attitude toward learning and the student's adherence to high standards of behavior.

The Student Code of Conduct that follows is the district's specific response to requirements of Chapter 37: Discipline; Law And Order of the Texas Education Code. The law requires the district to define misconduct that may or must result in a range of specific disciplinary consequences.

This code is an outgrowth of collaboration among district and campus staff, parents, and other community members and was adopted by the AISD Board of Trustees. It provides information and direction to students and parents regarding standards of behavior as well as consequences of misconduct. In the case of conflict between the Student Code of Conduct and board policy, the Student Code of Conduct will prevail.

Please click on the button below to see the Mathews Parent and Student Handbook. We ask that you take the time to review the information in the handbook for the 24-25 school year. Thank you!

We follow the Standard Response Protocol from the i love you guys organization. Below you will find a handy two-page document that explains each of the five types of drills we run along with a guide for parents explaining what to do in the event of a true emergency.

• Please send in documentation of student absences using the School Absence Form on the AISD website or complete a paper form (pick up in Front Office).
• We, DO NOT accept phone calls or voicemail messages as documentation for a student's absence.
• Please have medical offices submit documentation of your student’s visit to mathews@austinisd.org
• Please allow up to 72 hours (3 business days) for attendance to be corrected.
• Set up notifications for your student’s attendance and grades via Parent Self Serve.
• Students attending family trips during scheduled school days will remain coded as an unexcused absence. Car problems, traffic, or oversleeping will not be considered as an excused absence or excused tardy.

A student is tardy if he/she is not with their homeroom teacher when the 7:40 bell rings. If you arrive late to school, your student will be required to come to the office for a tardy slip before going to class.

What to do if your student must leave school early:

• When you arrive to Mathews to pick up your student, please be prepared with your photo I.D. Your student will then be called to the attendance office to leave campus.

• Please do not plan to pick up your student from school 30 minutes prior to dismissal (ie 2:40 PM).

• You must sign the student out in the office. Students leaving for a medical appointment must bring a note from the doctor to excuse the absence/tardy.

For more information visit the district's attendance page.

2024-25 Bus information for eligible students

• We recommend families whose students are eligible for General Education transportation to check their bus information by checking the district’s “Bus Stop Finder''. The System will be back live on our website at the end of July.

• 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. So, please visit the website periodically.

“Where's The Bus” App for Families

• AISD’s transportation team offers families the “WheresTheBus” app, which provides timely information about the location of their student’s assigned bus only, including when it will arrive at their stop.

• 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.

Exterior Doors:

• All exterior doors will remain locked at all times during the school day, including doors that lead to the playground areas. Portable classroom doors will also remain fully locked all day.
  
• Staff will check each exterior door every evening and morning to ensure they are locked and secure.

Interior Doors:

• All classroom doors will remain locked throughout the day.

Visitors:

• Visitors are welcome at Mathews!
• The main front doors are the only entry doors to the campus for visitors. The door buzzer/office communicator is on the left side wall by the front doors. Please push the button to communicate with the office and, once verified, we will buzz you in to the building.
• All visitors MUST sign in at the front office upon arrival AND sign out at the front office when leaving. Please remember to bring your photo ID with you when visiting campus.
• IMPORTANT: Families, there are no lunch visitor allowed during the first two weeks of school as we help our students learn lunchtime routines and procedures. Thank you!
• IMPORTANT: Families, please do not ask a staff member to hold a side or back door for you to enter the building. All students, parents, and visitors must enter through the front entry doors. Thank you!

Staff Training, Campus Drills, and Threat Assessment

• Our staff will be trained on safety prior to students entering the building.
• We will review safety plans and practices throughout the year.
• We will hold all required safety drills with our students. Most of the drills will be announced drills so our students aren't surprised or alarmed by them.
• Mathews has an established threat assessment team comprised of administration, counseling and teaching staff. All members of the team have received Threat Assessment training from Texas State. Licensed Mental Health Providers and School Resource Officers are on call to assist when needed.

• Temperature guidelines have been established in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for students participating in outdoor activities at Austin ISD.

• The listed temperatures, heat indexes, and wind-chill factors are designated figures for terminating and/or modifying outdoor activities including: Athletics, Fine Arts, PE, and recess.

• AISD_Temperature Weather Guidelines

AISD is launching a new App. Please see the flyer below for the QR Code: