Dear Serene Sailor Families,

Ms. Keating, 4th Grade Teacher, shared a video about a girl named Tarik that prompted a great discussion with her class regarding gratitude. She said it was a reminder to "check our complaining." I encourage everyone to watch the clip with their families and enjoy the rich discussion it may bring.

Next Wednesday is an early release day. Early release days are designed to give teachers and instructional staff a time to dig into our recent student data and make targeted, intentional plans for instruction based on that data. It allows teachers across the district a time to connect and share instructional strategies that are proving effective in our classrooms. LTISD elementary schools will dismiss at 11:40PM. We will still have lunch time at school. If your student(s) need a sack lunch from the cafeteria, please let your teacher(s) know ASAP. In addition, there is NO EXTENDED CARE on early release days. Please indicate your alternate dismissal arrangements in Smart Tag before 10AM, Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Warmly,

Keegan Luedecke

Dec. 11: Early Release Day #2 @ 11:40 / No Extended Care

Dec. 12: School Spelling Bee

Dec. 13: 4th Grade Field Trip to the Meadows Center

Dec. 20: Holiday Parties / Early Release Day @11:40 / No Extended Care

Dec. 21- Jan. 7: Winter Break

We all want to have friends here at school. But people can have similar or different feelings about the same situation. For example, I might feel scared to climb up high, and my friend might feel excited. Learning to respect other people’s feelings can help us make and keep friends! This week, notice other people’s feelings and whether they’re the same or different from yours.

First of all: a big thank you to all of the Lake Travis-area kids who participated in the Lakeway MUD 2024 Imagine a Day Without Water Art Contest. In addition to our local contest, all entries were submitted for inclusion in the 2025 state-wide calendar contest, curated by the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) and Texas American Water Works Association (TAWWA). They recently announced the winners with the statement: “we were excited to set another record for the highest number of entries (200!) thanks to your enthusiasm and support.” Seven of the 12 placements in the calendar were won by Lake Travis-area students as well as several of the honorable mentions! Please join me in congratulating these students!

From Lakeway Elementary

• Scarlett U., 5th Grade
• Sydney B., 4th Grade
• Florence G., 5th Grade (Honorable Mention)

From Rough Hollow Elementary:

• Andi A., 4th Grade

From Serene Hills Elementary

• Logan D., Kindergarten (Honorable Mention)
• Rylie R., 1st Grade (Honorable Mention)

From Bee Cave Middle School

• Louise H., 6th Grade
• Parker I., 6th Grade
• Rockwell H., 6th Grade

From Hudson Bend Middle School

• Jase G., 6th Grade

All students and supporters are invited to the online awards celebration on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 5:30-6:00 PM. Feel free to invite other family members, teachers, and friends to share in the festivities, which will include details on the prizes, fun water trivia, and information about how the students’ artwork is helping to raise money for charity through proceeds from the calendar sales.

Please use the link below to join the Zoom meeting for our awards celebration at 5:30 PM on December 11.

Join Zoom Meeting Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84950183076?pwd=dlgLfTf7riDVKOdlp43LlpkzrQgMtZ.1

Meeting ID: 849 5018 3076

Passcode: 385107

Photos of the artwork and additional details about contest and calendar can be found on our website here: https://lakewaymud.org/update/art-contest-k-6th-grade/

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!

Stephanie Threinen, CPC
Public Information Liaison
Email: stephT@lakewaymud.org
Phone: 512/261-6222 x175

LMUD Lakeway Municipal Utility District

1097 Lohmans Crossing
Lakeway, TX 78734

Main Office: 512/261-6222

After hours emergency support is available.
www.LakewayMUD.org

In A World of Cookies for Santa, by M.E. Furman and illustrated by Susan Gal, children around the world eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, Papai Noel, Father Christmas, or Grandfather Frost. From Malawi to France to the United States, children worldwide celebrate the holiday season with unique traditions. Illustrations capture the essence of these festive customs, painting a colorful picture of Christmas celebrations around the globe.

Parents, be sure to check your child's backpack for more information about the upcoming Penguin Patch® Holiday Shop & help them set their gifting budget. The shop is open Monday, 12/9 through Friday, 12/13, and every class will have an assigned 30-minute shopping timeslot. Click here for your student’s assigned date/time.

-SHE PTO

Come join us on Wednesday, December 11th for pizza at Lefty's Pizza Kitchen! They are hosting a spirit night for us from 4p-8p with 20% of total proceeds coming back to Serene Hills.

Lefty's Pizza Kitchen

18101 State Hwy 71 Suite 600

Austin, TX 78738

Dear Students and Families:

Welcome to Schlitterbahn's Waves of Pages, a reading program designed to inspire students in grades K-5 to read for fun!

With your help, your child can earn one FREE admission to your local Schlitterbahn Waterpark by reading 10 hours (600 minutes) during the 10-week program, and we will share a special discount offer for your family as well.

Here is how it works:

1. You may read to your child, your child may read aloud to you, or your child may read alone. It all counts toward the 10-hour goal.
2. Time spent reading for school assignments does not count toward the 10-hour goal. Reading anything else does count, including books, comic books, magazines, newspapers, or online reading.
3. Record the number of minutes your child reads on the attached Reading Log along with the title of their reading material and teacher's name. You must date and initial each entry to verify that your child completed the reading sessions. Please use additional sheets of paper, if needed.
4. Complete all reading by the date on the Reading Log. Your child must turn in all signed Reading Logs to his or her teacher by this date to be eligible for the free admission ticket. Admission tickets are valid from the first day of the 2025 season through Monday, June 30, 2025, and from Monday, Aug. 11 through the last day of the 2025 season, at your local Schlitterbahn Waterpark only. Please note that Waves of Pages tickets are not transferrable and may not be sold.

Please read the Program Guidelines on the last page and contact your teacher if you have any questions about the Waves of Pages Reading Program. Visit www.schlitterbahn.com to learn more about the waterpark.

This program was developed to inspire your child to become part of a new generation of readers and to provide your child's teacher with a fun way of encouraging reading. We hope you will want to participate and look forward to seeing your family in the park this summer!

Sincerely,

Schlitterbahn Youth Sales

Education Connection Literacy Partners is excited to invite the Serene Hills Community to participate in their 2024 Holiday Book Drive in partnership with Barnes & Noble at the Hill Country Galleria. Customers who wish to participate will purchase a book suitable for elementary students at our Bee Cave Galleria Barnes and Noble, pay for it at the register, and tell the cashier that the book is for Literacy Partners. The cashier will place the book in the donation box behind the register. Some of these books will be gifted to our Reading Buddies at SHE during our annual end-of-year celebration; other books will go to Reading Buddies at other elementary schools in our community.

Here are the details:

Store Location:
12701 Hill Country Blvd, Ste O-140
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-7402

Store Hours:

· Monday-Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm

· Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm

Dates of Book Drive:
Friday, November 1, through Thursday, December 12

Order early now through October 31st for a 10% early bird discount!

www.treering.com/validate

Enter school passcode: 101663195800543

Useful Links:

Serene Hills:

Serene Hills Elementary Homepage

Transportation:

LTISD Transportation

Transfinder

SmartTag

Food and Nutrition Services (FANS):

LTISD FANS

My School Bucks

Menus

Lake Travis ISD Mobile App

LTISD Extended Care Program

#SHEtheBestisYettoCome #LTWorkofHeart

The Serene Hills Elementary community commits to engaging every student in innovative, collaborative learning focused on growth and to igniting a passion for learning in which everyone is valued.

Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/SHE
Location: 3301 Serene Hills Drive, Lakeway, TX, United States
Phone: 512-533-7400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenehillspto/
Twitter: @SHEsailors