Dear Baldwin Families,
We hope this message finds you well and brimming with excitement as we begin a new school year together. It’s truly a joy to welcome you and your child back to our school community. As we open the doors for another academic year, we’re filled with anticipation for the many opportunities for learning, personal development, and memorable experiences that lie ahead. Our team is eager to support your child’s educational journey and to create an environment where every Bobcat feels valued and inspired.
Our dedicated staff is focused on providing educational experiences that support the diverse needs of each student. We believe that a strong emphasis on social emotional learning and academic excellence, coupled with a supportive and encouraging environment, is key to helping every child thrive. In addition to our academic priorities, we place a high value on the safety of our students. To ensure a secure environment, we carry out daily safety checks, closely monitor all visitors to the school, and conduct regular safety drills. These measures are designed to provide peace of mind and create a safe space where students can focus on learning and growing.
Please remember to check in at the office with a valid ID every time you visit the school. This helps us maintain a secure environment for everyone and ensures that we can quickly assist you if needed. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Our dismissal process has been running smoothly, but we want to remind you of a few things we could use your help with to make it even more efficient. If your child is a car rider, please display your family number prominently in the window of your vehicle to help us manage pickup quickly. If your child needs assistance with a seatbelt or car seat, they should either walk up or you can pull forward past the line to assist them. If your child is an independent walker, remember that you need to wait for them off campus or allow them to walk home. If your child is an escorted walker you must know and share your family number with a staff member when you arrive. Please don’t ask them to look a number up for you as this is part of our safety measures. Any changes to your child’s transportation should be communicated to the office by 2:00 PM. Please avoid emailing or calling your child’s classroom teacher about transportation changes. For added convenience, you can download our transportation app to track your child’s bus in real-time. The WheresTheBus app is free and provides information about a student's bus location and arrival time at their stop. It's available on any device with internet access, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. To use the app, download it from the App Store or Google Play, and then log in with AISD Portal credentials.
Please note that dogs are not allowed on campus at any time, including during drop-off or pick-up, even if they are on a leash. We also recently had a skunk near the front door, so please be vigilant in the mornings to keep everyone safe.
If your child is sick, please email us at Baldwin@austinisd.org to communicate their absence or fill out this form. For extended absences, notify the classroom teacher and provide a doctor’s note, which can be dropped off at the office or uploaded at the same link. Consistent attendance is crucial for your child’s learning and our district funding, so please avoid scheduling non-essential appointments or trips during the school day.
If you are interested in being a volunteer, you must have a free yearly required background check completed. Please note, volunteer registration for Austin ISD has changed. We will now by using Voly. You can get signed up at https://austinisd.voly.org. Once you register through Voly you will receive an email to complete the background check which can be processed as quickly as 5 minutes and a max of 5 days. If you are only coming for one event and staying with the class you do not need to complete this process (ex guest reader), but if you are volunteering regularly, need to be able to walk around the campus unescorted, plan on being a WatchDOGS or are chaperoning an event, please complete the background check.
We also encourage you to join our PTA (membership link) and be an active part of our school community. The first PTA meeting will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to our school’s success. See below for information about their guest speaker. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing from our amazing PTA!
Thank you for your continued support. We’re eager to embark on this school year together and create many memorable experiences for our students. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Warm regards,
Jennifer Murray
Principal, Baldwin Elementary
