Mathews Messenger, 29

Hello, Wonderful Mathews Community! I'm so excited for this week, and not because we don't have school on Monday but because Friday is our International Festival! This event is a celebration of the diverse and beautiful heritages and cultures that make up our community and just might be my favorite night of the year.

I hope everyone will join us for a International Festival which begins with a delicious pot luck feast! Sign up to bring a dish that represents your family and enjoy tasting the variety of dishes from others as well. After our pot-luck, we'll move onto the Parade of Nations, where students who have signed up, will showcase their heritage. I love seeing the pride on our students faces as they represent their families! We'll wrap up the evening with dance - each grade level will perform a dance they've learned from a country across the world, culminating with our amazing 6th grade leaders who have coreographed their own dance right before the staff takes the stage. It's upbeat, energizing and so much fun! I can't wait!

In addition to International Festival, we have aother big event taking place this week. On Tuesday, April 1st, we'll host Early Learning Day! All 2025-2026 PreK-4 and Kinder families are invited to come to school at 8:30 am. We'll have a brief orientation, take a tour of the campus, and visit both the preK and Kinder classrooms for a taste of a day for our early learners. It's alwasy nice to meet new families and new students on this day and answer any questions they may have. If you have an incoming PreK-4 or kindergartener, or know someone who does, please pass along the information.

Finally, I want to draw attention to April's big fundraising campaign: Fund the Future! Mathews is facing some budget shortfalls next year due to the challenges school districts across the state of Texas are facing with school funding. This means that our April fundraiser is more important than ever as we look to raise funds to continue with critical programming on campus, including teacher coaching and student enrichment. Every single donation helps, no matter how big or how small. Thank you in advance for supporting our students and our school! You can find more information about Fund the Future in the For Your Information section below.

Here's to a fantastic week ahead - after a busy week our running club participating in the Captial 10K on Sunday! Wow! As I mentioned above, Monday is a school holiday for both students and staff. I hope you enjoy the extra day in the weekend. We'll see everyone on Tuesday morning!

Monday, March 31:

• School Holiday - No School for Students or Staff

Tuesday, April 1:

• Parade of Nations Practice at 7:10 am in the Gym
• Early Learning Day from 8:30 - 10:00 am
  

Wednesday, April 2:

• Parade of Nations Practice at 7:10 am in the Gym

Thursday, April 3:

• Parade of Nations Practice at 7:10 am in the Gym

Friday, April 4:

• Parade of Nations Practice at 7:10 am in the Gym
• HEB Filming on Campus
• International Festival Dress Rehearsal at 1:00 pm on the Blacktop
• International Festival at 5:00 pm - All

Sunday, April 6:

• Running Club at the Capitol 10,000!

• April 9: STAAR Reading for 3rd-6th Graders
• April 10: STAAR Reading Make-Up for 3rd - 6th Graders
• April 10: 1st Grade Field Trip to the Botanical Gardens
• March 14: Mathews Night at Boudin Acres
• April 16: STAAR Science for 5th Grade
• April 17: STAAR Science Make-Up for 5th Grade
• April 18: Staff Development Day/Student Holiday
• April 22: CAC Meeting
• April 23: STAAR Math for 3rd-6th Grades
• April 24: STAAR Math Make-Up for 3rd-6th Grades
• May 2: Field Day!
• May 5: 1st Grade Swim Lessons Begin
• May 7: SALUTE Awards!
• May 9: 4th Grade to the Alamo
• May 16: Senior Walk for Mathews Alumni
• May 22: Market Day
• May 26: Memorial Day
• May 27: Kinder Splash Day!
• May 29: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
• May 29: Last Day of School!

This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Humor. Humor means enjoying laughter and bringing smiles to others.

Humor helps us see the lighter side of things, making tough times easier and more fun. It doesn't mean you have to tell jokes, but people with humor often notice the funny moments in life and share them with others. Humor can lift people's spirits and help them through challenges. It’s important to help students understand how to use humor in a kind way, to lift others up, and never at someone else's expense.

To practice and encourage the character strength of humor 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!

🎉 Join Us for our Annual International Festival & Feast! 🌍✨

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 4th, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM! This exciting tradition celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our school community, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. New to Mathews? Here’s what you can expect:

🍴 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: International Feast Potluck Dinner
Kick off the evening with a FREE potluck dinnerfeaturing dishes from around the world! Bring a dish that represents your culture – whether it’s homemade or store-bought, we want to taste your traditions. Don’t forget to share with friends and family!

🌏 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Parade of Nations
Celebrate the unique cultures of our school with the Parade of Nations! Students will proudly wear traditional attire, carry flags, and greet the audience with messages from their home countries. It’s a beautiful, colorful celebration you won’t want to miss!

💃 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Grade Level Dances
Watch as students from all grade levels perform dances from around the world! It’s a vibrant display of culture, creativity, and unity.

🍠Sign up for our Epic Potluck HERE: https://forms.gle/KzvfKmPbbRKSxHfm6

Let’s come together and celebrate our shared love of culture and community! 🌍💖

🚀 Double Your Impact! Fund the Future Starts April 1!

Starting April 1, we’re launching our Fund the Future fundraiser to raise $120,000 and protect Mathews Elementary’s STEM Innovation & Instructional Coaching Programs which have helped us rank in the top 10 schools for growth in MAP scores.

Due to district budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year, these vital programs will be eliminated, unless we can secure the funding.

🎯This sounds like a big number, but if every student tries to raise $350, we will hit our goal and save these programs!

💡 Get a head start! Many companies offer employee donation matching, but it can take a month or more to process. Check with your employer now to see if they match charitable contributions. If eligible, select Mathews Elementary PTA (Austin, TX) when submitting.

🚨 Check out the attached list of local employers offering donation matching

📢 For tracking purposes, please use [this form link] to let us know to look out for your employer matching donation.

✨ Plus, an anonymous donor from the community is matching the first $6,000 raised—so your donation goes even further!

Let’s make every dollar count! Fund the Future kicks off April 1—are you ready? https://www.mathews360.com/support

On STAAR testing days our campus will be closed to visitors - including lunch visits for all grade levels. Please note the following days:

• Wednesday, April 9: Reading
• Wednesday April 16: Math
• Wednesday, April 23: Science

We will likely have schedule changes on these days as well to accommodate the testing grades. Thank you for your understanding.

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, families, community members, and staff are invited to attend a three-part, virtual learning series focused on Autism hosted by VELA. Click on the links for more information about these opportunities Autism Learning Series (Eng), Autism Learning Series (Spn) .

Last year Mathews won this challenge! HEB was so impressed, they're coming to film a promotional video at our school at the end of March. Help us show HEB how much we care about the earth and bring your plastic bags in to recycle!

When the health team contacts you to inform you that your child is unwell and requires pickup from school, we kindly request that you come to get them as promptly as possible. This ensures the well-being of your child and helps maintain the availability of health services for other students in need.

There's been much in the news lately about the measles outbreak in Texas and the exposure to the disease in near-by communities. It's good to know that approximately 93% of our students are vaccinated. I don't want anyone to be fearful, but do want you to be aware. If you're interested in learning more about AISD's response the situation, please click on the button below:

Austin ISD’s Tools for Success (TFS) is a series of virtual sessions to empower families to learn more about Austin ISD services, programs, and community resources.

The details

• Virtual sessions are held every week throughout the school year.

• Parent Support team members are required to host two Tools for Success watch parties per month. Here is a Tools for Success Checklist of how to host a watch party at your school. Feel free to host watch parties at your campus even if you don’t have a Parent Support team member on your staff.

• Please help promote the Tools for Success workshops at the beginning of every week as friendly reminders.

• You can also view past sessions on our Tools for Success Website.

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!

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

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!

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: