January Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents,

I hope you and your families had a truly joyful Christmas! I’m so grateful to be part of this wonderful community. As we move into the new year, I wish for nothing but positivity and blessings in every step you take, in all you do, and in every person you encounter.

Our teachers and students have put in tremendous effort this past semester. The work ahead may be challenging, but with your support, we can continue to achieve success for our students. Thank you for your invaluable partnership!

Happy New Year to all!

Principal Waters

Jan 7th- Classes Resume and 2nd Semester Begins

Jan 10th- Accelerated Reader Party

Jan 13th16th- Earth Camp for 5th Graders

Jan 20th- MLK Day NO SCHOOL

Jan 24th- Academy 4

Jan 27th- CAC

Jan 29th- NO SCHOOL

Feb 3rd- Picture Day (Class & Individual)

Feb 7th- Coffee with the Principal

Feb 14th- Academy 4

Feb 14th- Valentine's Classroom Parties

Feb 17th- Parent Teacher Conferences

Feb 21st- Career Day

Feb 24th- CAC

Feb 27th- Black History Program (Tentative)

Jan. 13th-17th --Dyslexia Screener for all 1st graders

District Mandated STAAR Interim

Feb 4th- 3rd & 5th -Math

Feb 5th- 4th Math

Feb 6th- 3rd, 4th, & 5th Reading

Feb 10th-5th Science

TELPAS

Feb, 24th- 28th- Kinder-5th Listening, Speaking, Reading, & Writing

January 8th and 9th : 9am – 2:30pm

January 14th and 15th : 9am – 2:30pm

January 21st and January 22nd : 9am – 2:30pm

** Returning students: just need a current proof of address (light, gas or lease) **

** Students in a transfer – this is your LAST chance, there is no guarantee you can come back in 25/26 school year if you wait **

** 5th graders – this is your last chance to apply to a magnet school: Results come out in March!

Dear Parents,

In addition to our push to increase the oral language of our students, we are also encouraging our students to take advantage of every opportunity to practice writing. Please consider using some of the following authentic writing ideas to incorporate at home:

Recipes

A grocery list

A letter to a family member

A thank you note

Instructions on how to do something

Write in a diary

Create a comic book

Write a review of a favorite book, tv show, food, game, etc.

Write a letter to a favorite athlete, singer, or author

A script for a youtube video

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Yza Rodríguez

Instructional Coach

yza.rodriguez@austinisd.org

512-414-8400

• My guidance lessons will focus on Bullying in January.

• If you have a 5th-grade student who would like to apply to one of AISD's magnet schools and needs help with the application process, please let me know. I will also send home flyers to our 5th-grade families with the days and times I will be available to help with the application process, including the essay and video requirements.

• We are beginning to plan for our Career Day! During career day we bring people from the community to talk to our students about their careers. For example, last year we had a lawyer, zoo keeper, firefighter, and so many other incredible individuals with interesting careers. If you would like to come to our school and talk about your career with our students, please contact me!

If you believe your son/daughter could benefit from counseling please let me know at (512)841-8400 or brenda.hernandez4@austinisd.org

The two Pickle Book Clubs attended the Judy Moody Holiday Play at the Scottish Rite Theatre. We had 26 students and Ms. Ziesse helped chaperone a wonderful experience.

Our PK and Kinder classes are still reading for their 1000 Books before Kindergarten. This program is a year round opportunity. We have our third student, Joseluis Jaimes who has earned over 25 points in the Accelerated Reader Program. We will have our 2nd AR Party the week we return from the Winter Holiday Break.

On Dec. 6th, The First United Methodist Church sold books for a quarter to our students. This is twice yearly event that has been happening from Mr. Jake Pickle’s church for over 15 years. Ms. Merlinda Rodriguez gifted all 5th graders with 2 books. This was greatly appreciated by the students and faculty.

The National Charity Program through the Neighborhood Longhorn Program also donated 400 books for our students to participate in Jolabokaflod ( Icelandic tradition of book giving). Each student chose a book for a classmate and wrapped the book to give to their friend at the Holiday Party on the 19th!

Library classes discussed the variety of winter holidays that occur in December and many were able to play the Jewish holiday game, Dreidel. I was also granted my list from Donor Choose (thank you, Ms. Valdez for helping me) and our students have new manipulatives at library tables to interact with while also checking out books.

The Pickle Library has an instagram account: Pickle_Library . Please look and follow our events. I post multiple school activities. Thank you to Ms. Curtin for helping me post.

Please encourage your child to be reading at home, I do know that it is an assignment for the upper grades to read nightly. Unfortunately, I also need you to remind your child to bring their books to school each day. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Ms. Sigler

Attention Pickle Parents, Pickle will be hosting Six classes for prevention of type 2 Diabetes and we need to have at least 12 Pickle parents or more and some parents with type 2 diabetes. The classes are free of charge for participants and for the school. By the 5th class, we will invite a nurses to come and check blood pressure and glucose leaves; the participants will also bring a healthy plate for the final 6th class so we can share a healthy meal. participants will receive a gift certificate of $20.00, for attending and another gift card of $10.00 if they want to participate on Connect ATX. However, to receive these gifts, participants need to attend at least 5 of the 6 classes, hope to see you on January 9th.

Classes will start on Thursday's in January from 8:30 am – 10:00 am in Portable - 8 / Mrs. Garcia

Class 1; January 9, 2024

Class 2; January 16, 2024

Class 3; January 23, 2024

Class 4; January 30, 2024

Class 5; February 6, 2025 (Nurse visit)

Class 6; February 13, 2025

Classes registrations are on the web, please register at www.healthplaceshealthypeople.org

You can meet with your child's teacher if you want to know how she/he is doing or if you have a concern. Please call the teacher ahead of time and make an appointment. Teachers will NOT be pulled from the classroom during instructional time. We appreciate your support.

Teachers' Planning Times:

Prek- 2:00 pm

Kindergarten: 9:40 am

First Grade: 12:40 pm

Second Grade: 8:50 am

Third Grade: 10:30 am

Fourth Grade: 1:30 pm

Fifth Grade: 2:20 pm

Get Ready Central Texas App and Website: https://www.austintexas.gov/readycentraltexas. Web site by the City of Austin for information about how community members can be prepared for inclement weather.

COA cold weather shelters:

• COA Press Release on Cold Weather Shelters
• Anyone seeking a cold weather shelter and does not have the means to pay the fare will still be given a ride. CapMetro partners with the City to transport individuals from OTC to a shelter location.
  
• While Cold Weather Shelters are primarily accessed by people experiencing homelessness, they are available to anyone needing a warm place to spend the night. Individuals can get information by calling the Cold Weather Shelter Hotline - 512-972-5055.
  
• If there is a need for the general public to seek shelter, 311 will assist and the City is prepared to open additional shelters.

Parents,

With the change in temperatures, it is important that children bring a good coat. Please send your children with warm clothing as they may need to be outside.

Thanks for your cooperation,

Principal Waters

For security reasons, we will only allow students to enter the building during arrival every morning. Additionally, parents will wait for students outside the building during dismissal time.

ALL VISITORS, including parents, must sign in at the school office, identify the purpose of the visit, and wear a visitor's badge. If a visitor is seen on campus without a badge, they will be asked to go to the school office to sign in.

As part of a security precaution, all visitors MUST have an identification document to be allowed in the building for a visit. This identification could be: diver's license, passport, card from another country with a picture (anything that shows your identity)

Parents are allowed to eat lunch with their kids in the cafeteria on the following days according to grade level:

Tuesday- PreK and Kinder

Wednesday- First and Second

Thursday- Third, Fourth, and Fifth

Mondays and Fridays will be reserved for special occasions

Please adhere to the following GUIDELINES to keep all students SAFE:

* Check in the office (visitor's badge/sticker)

* Parents will use assigned tables inside the cafeteria.

* Parents will ONLY eat with their child

* Parents may get their meal first before the classes enter the lunch line

* Parents may bring food from outside for them and their child

We recommend that you bring a healthy lunch.

* Parents may limit the use of cell phone in the cafeteria, unless it is an emergency

* Parents will keep their much younger children from running around in the cafeteria (safety is first)

* Parents may only address their own children (specially if there is a problem)

* Parents MUST NOT take pictures of other students

* As adults we must model exemplary behavior for our students.

I appreciate each and every one of YOU !

AISD students return to school on Tuesday, January 7.

FREE Central Texas Food Bank food distributions: Food Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E9GPiuVIWMHmOJy8l6VVyYIzaxJXYTGZ/view?usp=sharing

- Monday, 1/13, 10am-12pm, AVEY CTFB Food Distributions, Wooldridge ES, 1412 Norseman Terrace, 78758

- Monday, 1/13, 5pm-7pm, AVEY CTFB Food Distributions, Navarro ECHS Family Resource Center, 1111 Fairfield, 78758

- Thursday, 1/16, 9am-11pm, AVEY CTFB Mobile Food Distribution, Nelson Field at Northeast ECHS, 7104 Berkman Dr., 78752

- Thursday, 1/16, 5pm-7pm, AVEY CTFB Food Distribution, Webb Family Resource Center, 7408 Roland Johnson Dr., 78752

- Find Food Now by the Central Texas Food Bank: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-no

- Food Access Calendar from ACC: https://students.austincc.edu/social-support/food-assistance/food-access-calendar/

- FREE food delivery to your home: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D5CVC-Os29zn8XB9Vo76CAot_9c8piac/view?usp=share_link

- Need help applying for SNAP (food stamps)? Request an appointment here: https://forms.gle/8ujgT4cP5LphrPSd9

NEW! Adult Education Opportunities: AVEY Adult Education Catalog

- ACC GED Prep Classes in Spanish in the daytime at Webb FRC (Orientation/registration/testing on 1/7,1/9, 1/10 at 9am, Webb FRC): https://forms.gle/vt9xjPTkHrTs6Z8q8

- ACC ESL Classes for Adults at Webb and Burnet FRCs start in January (Pre-register now & attend orientation on 1/13, 1/14, 1/15 & 1/16): https://forms.gle/4V5raER2g9ygrViv7

- Community Health Worker Certification Course (in Spanish) by El Buen Samaritano and Austin Voices (Pre-register now & attend orientation on 1/17, 1/24): https://forms.gle/PrXDCxj47522rsJx5

- ESL, Computer and Citizenship classes are offered at low cost by Manos de Cristo. (Register in person on 1/8 & 1/9)

- AVEY Community Block Leader meetings, (every Thursday from 1pm-2pm by Zoom) Register here and receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/tBq8KGy8pHNK6s3h9

AVEY Healthy Families Campaign:

- AVEY Healthcare Catalog: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eCnSaK_R65Gnm6myIxQDQ2CTOY-EL0qP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106146300867414978472&rtpof=true&sd=true

- Austin Voices can help with MAP and Medicaid enrollment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13MY9K-KSHjcWuQQ5UY1P2zMGAvttW9E-/view?usp=share_link Request an appointment here: https://forms.gle/x5v8LYK2u371cYnK9

- Prosper Centers can help you apply for ACA Health Insurance/Medicaid during open enrollment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_aMhxubnG4_VZCb74GEXx9MfgGFPSG-B/view?usp=sharing

- AVEY Community Vaccine Calendar with free immunization clinics for adults and children: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19t-Uj6etAIDUL6dd4FHJKAinlSBxd8sF_K3KrLgCW8Y/edit?usp=sharing

- Vaccine Clinic for Children and Adults at El Buen Samaritano, 7000 Woodhue Dr., (1/7, 10am-1pm)

- Shots for Tots, immunizations by appointment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-hsmZ_T4oVRoQWqtWQwQjfmX-hE4tiOx/view?usp=drive_link\

- FREE COVID-19 at home test kits (4 each) can be ordered online, 1 per address: https://covidtests.gov

- Learn about Texas Executive Order GA-46 and your right to decline to answer questions about immigration status in hospitals: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o9pnvcVIecCxAtpT3JJrYO9iTbyMYa7e/view?usp=share_link.

- Central Health/Community Care know your rights (wallet card): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pEe4i9hRVl7TbnrgGo_-ZIQRGyXIHFNn/view?usp=share_link

Austin ISD Resources: https://www.austinisd.org/

- AISD Calendar SY 2024-25

- AISD Parent Portal: https://www.austinisd.org/technology/aisd-portal

- Questions for AISD? Let's Talk: https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk. You can also send a TEXT to Let's Talk at 512-886-6434 or call the Family Support Line at 512-414-9187

Flu Season | Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Basics | Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update | FluView | CDC

6 reasons patients avoid flu vaccination | Are there reasons not to get the flu shot? | AMA

Influenza (Flu) in Children | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Flu and Older Adults | National Institute on Aging

Principal: Rosa Waters

Assistant Principal: Clelia Parlange

Administrator: Irashima Pratts

Counselor: Brenda Hernández

Admin Assistant/Bookkeeper: Krystal Treviño

Registrar: Jennifer Gonzalez

Parent Support Specialist: Norma García

Nurse: Woody Bryant & Elissa Arellano

1101 Wheatley Avenue, Austin, TX, USA

(512) 841-8400

website https://pickle.austinschools.org/

Twitter @JJPickleECP