Panda Parent Newsletter
What's Going On at Anita Uphaus ECC Vol. 2 #2 October 2023
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Hello Panda Families!
My name is Jessica Dimas! I am the proud Principal here at the Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center. The faculty and staff would like to welcome everyone back to school, and extend a special Welcome to all of our new students and their families. We are excited and are looking forward to another exciting year of learning at Anita Uphaus. Here you have our first newsletter of the school year. We will be sending our newsletter once a month to keep you informed on everything that is happening at Anita Uphaus and in the community!
We would like to extend a welcome to our newest staff members:
Ms. Brittney Gonzalez (Childcare Teacher)
Ms. Breana Chapa (Childcare Teacher)
Ms. Brenda Poniatowski (PK3 Teacher)
Ms. Martin Perez (PK4 Teacher)
Ms. Pamela McFadden (Kindergarten Teacher )
Mr. Richard Stafford (ECSE Teacher)
Ms. Orquidea Garcia (ECSE Teacher)
Ms. Erin Pont (ECSE Teacher Assistant)
Ms. Angela Garcia (Childcare Teacher)
We look forward to helping your scholar thrive this school year!
Greeting from your Parent Support Specialist
My name is Linda Perez and I am your Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center Parent Support Specialist. We hope you have had a wonderful start to your school year.
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 2023-2024 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) 414-5520 Ext. 58514 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 is 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.
School Schedule
It is important that your scholar gets to school on time and picked up on time! Your child must be in class by 7:40 am.
- Doors open: 7:10 am
- Arrival Time: 7:10 thru 7:40 am
- Tardy Bell: Rings at 7:40 am
- Dismissal Time: 3:10 pm
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 5 mph.
NO CELL PHONE use in an active school zone. Please put your cell phones down.
Dismissal Car Signs & Office Dismissal
- Please place your car sign on your windshielf for parent pick up. Our dismissal process goes much faster when all signs are visible.
- PK4 & Kinder families- Please allow PK3 families to go around the outer lane to drop off their scholars on the far right side. Reminder: Outer lane (PK3) & Inner lane (PK4 and Kinder).
- Parents- Please ensure that your scholar is in the back passenger side of your car. Your assistance allows us to keep the traffic flowing quickly.
- Scholars will NOT be dismissed after 2:30 from the office. Buses and dismissal procedures are in place at this time. All staff are on duty getting scholars ready to go home.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this!
Student ID Badges
Optional T-Shirt Days for Scholars
Friday is Colleget T-shirt day (if your scholar has one).
Attendance Policy
Breakfast In the Classroom
Parent Coffee Chat
More details to come.
Student Devices
Brighter Bites at Uphaus
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! Scan the QR code 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.
If you would like to volunteer to help with Brighter Bites....please sign up on the link below (APIE).
Custodian Appreciation Week
Picture Day On October 17th
Here is the online order link for families to order.
Library News
Austin ISD Community Conversations: Mental Health and School Safety Let’s work together to create physically and psychologically safe schools. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. Eastside ECHS 900 Thompson St., Austin, TX 78702 More info: https://bit.ly/3LxFeW4
Conversaciones Comunitarias del Austin ISD: Salud Mental y Seguridad Escolar Trabajemos juntos para crear escuelas seguras física y psicológicamente Martes, 10 de octubre, 6-7:30 pm Escuela Preparatoria Eastside 900 Thompson St., Austin, TX 78702 Más info: https://bit.ly/3LxFeW4
Community Events & Opportunities
Lunch Menu
Check out the September @AustinISD elementary school menu.
You can view daily, weekly, and monthly menus for all schools at http:/SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. Menus are subject to change. #AISDEats
Austin ISD Food Service@AustinISDFood
Consulte el menú de la escuela primaria de Septiembre de@AustinISD. Puede ver los menús diarios, semanales y mensuales de todas las escuelas en http://SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. Los menús están sujetos a cambio. #ComerAISD
Campus will open for parents to eat lunch with their scholar on Oct. 2. Parents must sign in at the front office and get a visitor sticker. Parents will have to sit in the area provided outside of cafeteria doors. Scholars must eat their lunch during their designated 30 min lunch time. Scholars must return with their class when their designated lunch time is over.
Reminders:
- Parents may only be allowed to eat with their own scholar.
- No phones allowed during lunch time
- Be mindful if your child has a hard time with you leaving.
- Parents need to sign out at the front office when the lunch is over
Uphaus Octover Lunch Menu
AISD Lunch Menu
elementary school menu. You can view daily, weekly, and monthly menus for all schools at http://SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. Menus are subject to change. #AISDEats
Consulte el menú de la escuela primaria de Octubre de @AustinISD
. Puede ver los menús diarios, semanales y mensuales de todas las escuelas en http://SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. Los menús están sujetos a cambio. #ComerAISDGT Information for Kinder Families
GT Referral and Screening Process
All campuses in Austin ISD offer Gifted and Talented screening in grades K-12 based on referrals received by the Campus GT Advocate.
Parents and caregivers can submit their child’s name to the Campus GT Advocate to be considered for the Gifted and Talented program. The Campus GT Advocate can provide more details.
Referral Window for SY2023-24: September 18-October 6
- Parent GT Observation Checklist, Grades K-2 in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
- Parent GT Observation Checklist, Grades 3-12 in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Join us at our Community Information Virtual Sessions: 9/19 (6 p.m.) & 9/20 (at Noon)!
Virtual Gifted & Talented Information Session:
September 19, 2023 @6 p.m. or September 20, 2023 @ noon (https://Bit.ly/AISDGTINFO). Contact advancedacademics@austinisd.org with questions or for more information.
Virtual Dotados y Talentuosos información sesión:
19 de septiembre, 2023 @6 p.m. o 20 de septiembre, 2023 @ 12 (https://Bit.ly/AISDGTINFO). Contacto advancedacademics@austinisd.org para mas información.
Los padres y cuidadores pueden proporcionar el nombre de su niño al representante de Dotados y Talentosos (GT, por sus siglas en inglés) de su escuela para que sea considerado en el Programa de Dotados y Talentosos. El representante GT de la escuela podrá darle información más detallada.
Periodo de tiempo para el ano escolar SY2023-24 sera el 18 de septiembre al 6 de octubre.
Students may be identified in one or more of the following areas:
- GT STEM (science and mathematics),
- GT Humanities (language arts and social studies),
- Talent Explore STEM (science and mathematics), or
- Talent Explore Humanities (language arts and social studies).
Qualitative and quantitative measures are collected. Qualitative measures include a Parent Observation Form, Teacher Observation Form, and a student work sample completed at school. The quantitative measure is a standardized assessment.
What's been happening at Anita Uphaus?
Brighter Bites Distribution
Hispanic Heritage Dress Up
Learning about Pets!
Our Staff is Sweeter Than Pan Dulce
Links and supports for families
Central Texas Food Bank - Social Services
The Central Texas Food Bank’s social services team is continuing to assist clients with applying for SNAP (along with Medicaid, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, Medicare Savings Program, CHIP and CHIP Perinatal). We offer help with applications remotely and on-site. Our offices are located at 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin, Texas 78744.
For the safety of our staff and the community we serve, we have implemented social distancing models and can see a limited number of clients at one time on-site at the Food Bank. To get help with applications on-site, please call our hotline to make an appointment first at 855-366-3401.
El equipo de servicios sociales del Central Texas Food Bank continúa ayudando a los clientes a solicitar SNAP (junto con Medicaid, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, Medicare Savings Program, CHIP y CHIP Perinatal). Ofrecemos ayuda con las aplicaciones de forma remota e in situ. Nuestras oficinas están ubicadas en 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin, Texas 78744.
Para la seguridad de nuestro personal y la comunidad a la que servimos, hemos implementado modelos de distanciamiento social y podemos atender a un número limitado de clientes a la vez en el sitio del Banco de Alimentos. Para obtener ayuda con las solicitudes en el lugar, llame a nuestra línea directa para programar una cita primero al 855-366-3401.
Self-Care Calendar
Breathing Techniques for Scholars
APIE
Please note: if you are planning to volunteer for any event at school you must go through a
back ground check. You can do that clicking this link: https://austinpartners.org/get-involved/austin-isd-school-based-volunteer/
More information to come.
Join our Uphaus PTA
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 $10 for the year. This money goes towards student events, teacher appreciation and much more. PTA membership flyer going out soon!
Upcoming Events
October is National Farm to School Month
National Bullying Prevention Month - http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/
National Principals Month - https://www.principalsmonth.org/
Custodial & Groundskeeping Appreciation Week
Campus open for the school year-parent lunches
October 6 - GT Window closes Kindergarten only
October 9- Staff Development Day/No School for Students
10/9 - 10/13 Principal Appreciation Week
October 12- Brighter Bites Distribution Day
October 12- Parent Coffee Chat @ 10:00 am
October 16- Title 1 Meeting for Families @ 5:00-6:00 pm
October 17- Fall Student Photos
October 17- Parent Book Club 9:00-10:00, Title 1 Meeting Families 10:15-10:45
October 19- Lead w/Love with Trustee Zapata (Akins HS) 9:30-10:30 am
October 20- Fall/Literacy Fest 5:00-7:00 pm
October 23-27th Red Ribbon Week
October 26- Brighter Bites Distribution Day
October 26- CAC Meeting @ 3:30 pm