Comet Connections

Kiker Families and Caretakers,

I am honored and excited to be your principal as we start the 2024-2025 school year! For the last few weeks I have spent time getting to know so many of the stakeholders in our community. It was great to visit with some of our youngest Comets in PK, Kinder, and 1st grade at their pool party meet-ups over the weekend. This week I am looking forward to welcoming nearly two dozen new families during our campus tours!

The theme that our staff voted on for this year is 🌳🌻 "Comets Planting Kindness". 🌻🌳 We will regularly be reminded that in a world where we have so many choices...it's always best to choose kindness!

❔Most popular questions for this week!

Q: When will I find out who my child's teacher is?

A: On or before August 15th.

Q: When will we find out about the after school programs that are at Kiker?

A: Coming soon! We are reaching out to the various organizations that rent out our space and will send that information asap.

Thank you in advance for your patience and continued support as I am learning all things AISD and Kiker Elementary,

Mrs. Abrams, M.Ed.

Principal

Carrie Abrams

Principal

carrie.abrams@aisd.org

Kelly Zilem

Assistant Principal

kelly.zilem@austinisd.org

*Primarily 3rd-5th Grade

Alma Chapa Moore

Assistant Principal

alma.chapamoore@austinisd.org

*Primarily PK-2nd Grade

August 10: PTA Beautification Day (8:00-12:00)

August 16 : Meet the Teacher (3:30 - 5:30)

August 20: First Day of School! (Doors Open at 7:15)

August 29: Kinder & 1st Grade Back to School Night (5:30-6:30)

September 2: Student Holiday/No School

September 10: 2nd & 3rd Grade Back to School Night (5:30-6:30)

September 11: 4th & 5th Grade Back to School Night (5:30-6:30)

September 26: Fall Picture Day!

✏️CLICK HERE for the 2024-2025 School Supply List by grade level:

Doors Open - 7:15AM

Tardy Marked - 7:41AM

Dismissal Begins - 3:10PM

If you will be picking up your child after school through our pick-up system, you will be given a "Family Number" at Meet the Teacher. This will be vital to have to help our system run efficiently.

All of our families are welcome to join their student for lunch. Due to our cafeteria capacity we kindly ask you to eat outside at any of the available picnic tables at the front of the school.

If you have a student that is planning on riding the bus this year, please read the information below from our AISD transportation department:

2024-25 Bus information for eligible students (CLICK HERE for AISD page)

• 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 on Monday August 5th.

• Families whose students qualify for Special Education transportation will be notified individually.

Download the App HERE!

Information from AISD Transportation:

• 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. Please promote the app to your school communities. Instructions are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation

I am thrilled to announce that both of our counselors are returning for this school year! They will be sharing information regarding guidance lessons, group, and individual counseling in future editions of the Comet Connection. For now, if you have any questions here is their information:

PK-2nd Grade: Sarah Schwartz (sara.schwartz@austinisd.org)

3rd - 5th Grade: Amanda Kerley (amanda.kerley@austinisd.org)

*PTA Membership Drive

*Kiker Clean Up Day

*Spirit Sales

*Makers Lab

*VATRE community conversations

😃 Get excited, Kiker community! ⚡ Our PTA membership drive for the 2024-2025 school year is starting soon! Whether you’re a parent, guardian, grandparent, faculty member, or a friend of Kiker, we have a place for you. Join us and be a part of a community that’s dedicated to making Kiker a super fantastic place for our students to learn and grow! Your membership supports a wide array of programs and events that enrich our children’s educational experience. 📚💫

Look for our emoji-themed welcome table at the Meet and Greet the Teacher event on August 16 - let's make this a year to remember! 😊

✏️CLICK HERE to order your school supplies. Super easy and convenient!

Join us for Kiker Clean Up Day! Bring your tools and help us make Kiker shine for the start of a new school year. We are in big need of yard bags and other suggested tools are: gloves, shovels, rakes, loppers, hand tools for weeding, wheelbarrows and power tools like edgers, large trimmers or chainsaws, leaf blowers, and power cords. We will have a rock painting station in the shade for the kids as well. Don't forget your water bottles, hats, and sunscreen!

Greetings from Kiker! Our 2024-2025 Kiker spirit shirts are in! These will be available for in-person purchase at Meet the Teacher on August 16th. We will have youth and adult sizes available for $18 each, please bring your debit or credit card for payment.

Can’t make it to Meet the Teacher? No worries! Our online store will go live on Monday August 19th. Stay tuned for a QR code to shop as well as pick-up details.

Mark your calendars: Staff and families will have three opportunities to give feedback via Zoom before the possible Aug. 8 vote to put a tax rate election (VATRE) on the November ballot.

⏰ Noon, Aug. 6, community conversation

⏰ 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7, staff conversation

⏰ 7 p.m. Aug. 7, community conversation

All conversations will be in English and Spanish with ASL interpretation.

🔗VATRE Board Meeting Summary: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Wo3BujayxhYSB1P_B1WRcndd1fKBLQo833JZ36oshzs/edit?usp=sharing

🔗AISD link: https://www.austinisd.org/board/vatre

🔗 Learn more about the discussion: https://bit.ly/4fhSTxQ

The Kiker Makers Lab could use your support getting our year off to a great start!

- Purchase items from our Amazon Wish List to stock our Makers Cart and incorporate more hands-on lessons:CLICK HERE FOR WISH LIST

-Drop off any new or used craft supplies in the labeled bin in front of Kiker.

Is there a staff member that you'd like to give a shout-out to? This is your chance! Simply CLICK HERE and share why they are amazing. These shout-outs will be shared in the staff newsletter each week and your words are sure to put a smile on their face.

Kiker Elementary Website

AISD 2024-2025 School Calendar

AISD Parent & Family Learning Opportunities