Mathews Messenger, 17

Hello, Wonderful Mathews Community! A big thank you to all of our volunteers who made last week’s science fair such a success! We truly appreciate your support for our young scientists, and we’re excited to have the top three projects from each of our upper grades representing us at the Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair in February. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Charlotte, our Principal for the Day on Friday. She did an outstanding job leading the assembly! Additionally, our 6th grade band and orchestra students, under the direction of Sedric Pinkney and Sarah Uy, spread joy with their wonderful concert during the assembly. Thank you to everyone involved!

We are down to the final week of the first semester! As we wrap up the first two quarters of learning, I couldn’t be more proud of the growth we’ve seen in our students, as well as the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff. The week will be full of celebrations and fun – it’s Spirit Week at Mathews! You may have noticed last week’s Underground Spirit Week for teachers and staff (were you curious about why everyone was wearing crowns or dressed in all black?!) – and now it’s time for everyone to join in on the fun!

We also have several exciting events coming up this week. Our 6th grade class is hosting a Movie Under the Stars on Thursday to help raise funds for their end-of-year adventure to the state and national parks in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Please stop by to make a donation and enjoy Small Feet under the stars! Additionally, both 1st and 2nd grade students will host learning celebrations showcasing the hard work they’ve put into their studies. I absolutely love seeing our students shine!

This will be the last Messenger of the semester, with the next one coming out on Sunday, January 5th. On behalf of all of us here at Mathews, we wish you a safe and happy winter break. Happy Holidays to all!

Monday, December 16: Winter Wonderland - Wear White and/or Blue

• HSR Lessons Begin for Kinder - 5th and Continue for 6th

Tuesday, December 17: Plaid Out - Dress in Plaid or Your Coziest Flannel

• 2nd Grade Immigration Learning Celebration at 8:45 am in the Cafeteria - Amy, Julie, Alexis
• 6th Grade Student Council Speeches and Elections
• CAC Meeting at 4:00 pm - Google Docs

Wednesday, December 18: Hats/Headgear - Holiday, Winter, Sports - Your Choice!

• Mathews Choir Caroling

Thursday, December 19: Happy Early New Year's Eve! Dress to Impress!

• Fall Individual School Picture Retakes
• 1st Grade Learning Celebration in the Cafeteria
• Movie Under the Stars (support our 6th grade trip) at 5:45 pm on the Blacktop

Friday, December 20: Long Winter's Nap - Dress in Your PJs!

• School-wide Assembly at 8:00 am in the gym
• 1st Grade Winter Party 🥳 at 1:00 pm on the small playground - Faye, Will

• December 23-January 3: Winter Break!
• January 6: Staff Development/Student Holiday
• January 7: First Day of Second Semester
• January 13-17: 1st Grade Dyslexia Screener
• January 18: Peace Through Pie Honoring Dr. King
• January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No School for Students or Staff
• January 29: Staff Development Day/Student Holiday

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Self-Control. Self-control means having the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act.

Having self-control helps people stay calm during tough times and avoid impulsive actions. It doesn’t mean you don’t have thoughts or feelings; it means you can manage them.

When working or gathering in groups, self-control is shown through “self-monitoring.” This means being honest about what works and what doesn’t. Group members adjust their roles to help the group succeed.

To practice and encourage the character strength of self-control 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

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 a fun family evening on Thursday, December 19th! Our 6th grade students are hosting their 2nd Annual Movie Under the Stars event to raise funds to get the whole class to their big STEAM adventure to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona State and National Parks at the end of the year.

When: Thursday, December 19, 2024

What: A family friendly showing of Small Foot

Where: The Mathews blacktop, under the stars (in the gym in case of inclement weather)

Time: Gates open at 5:30 pm and the movie showing begins at 5:45 pm

Good to Know: Everyone is welcome and admission is free! Our 6th grade team will be selling concessions (hot chocolate, popcorn, candy, etc...). Donations will also be accepted!

Thank you for supporting our 6th grade trip! Hope to see you there!

Every year in music class, we learn about The Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky and Balanchine. Each year we create a wonderful Nutcracker Museum to connect what we are learning! It is so cool for the students to see all the different types of Nutcrackers that exist!

Students and Staff have the opportunity and option to bring in a Nutcracker that they would like to showcase. Any shape, size, or character is welcome! These will be kept in the Library until the display is up. Please make sure these Nutcrackers have First and Last Name of the student and his/her/their grade level on the bottom (masking tape or a sticky note taped to the bottom works great!) Please drop off your Nutcracker to the Front Office anytime before Tuesday, December 10th. They will be on display for the rest of the week and returned the following week to your students.

If the Nutcracker you bring in is special or fragile, have your student let me know so we can keep it behind a glass case. Again, this is optional but I believe it will be amazing for our students to see all of the different Nutcrackers and be able to make that connection to what we have learned in music class

History of Nutcrackers

Nutcracker Dolls originated in Germany. They were used to crack the shells off of nuts and given as gifts. According to German Folklore, they were given as a keepsakes to bring luck to the family and protect the home. Nowadays we use them as decoration. While Nutcrackers have become associated with the Christmas holiday, there are many nutcrackers that represent other holidays, characters, and more. We want to showcase Nutcrackers of all sizes, colors, characters, and holidays inside our museum!

The Austin High School Orchestra is hosting an orchestra camp on January 18, 2025 for any students who might be interested in trying a string instrument.

This one day Winter String Camp, led by the two amazing orchestra directors of Small and O’Henry middle schools, allows students to try out different instruments, learn simple music, and even perform in a mini-concert at the end of the day. It’s a wonderful introduction to the joys of being part of an orchestra community.

With many Austin ISD students living in food insecure households, access to healthy food may be challenging when the district is closed. Families can use the community resources below to find free meals in their area while Austin ISD offices and schools are closed for the winter break:

• Central Texas Food Bank (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• United Way for Greater Austin - ConnectATX (www.connectatx.org)

• Texas Health and Human Services - Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to speak to a live operator.

El acceso a los alimentos puede resultar difícil para muchas familias cuando el distrito cierra. Las familias pueden utilizar los recursos comunitarios a continuación para encontrar comidas gratuitas en su área mientras las oficinas y escuelas de Austin ISD están cerradas durante las vacaciones de invierno:

• Banco de Alimentos del Centro de Texas (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• United Way for Greater Austin (www.connectatx.org)

• Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas - Llame al 2-1-1 o al (877) 541-7905 para hablar con un operador

It's that time of year where the mornings are chilly and the afternoon's are warm which means coats, sweaters, and sweatshirts are discarded all over the school. Please remind your student to look for any lost items or stop by the school to check out the lost and found.

All clothing that has not been picked up by Friday, December 20th will be donated!

This resource will provide families with insights into the comprehension and foundational skills their children are learning in kinder, 1st, and 2nd grades, as well as strategies for support at home.

Dear Future Mustang Families,

We are excited to share some helpful and important information in our O. Henry Transition Newsletter which includes flyers for these events, copies of choice sheets, and other helpful information.

Please mark your calendars with these upcoming dates:

• Wednesday, December 4th: Prospective Parent Information Night at O. Henry
• Wednesday, January 15th: O. Henry Course Fair and Choice Sheet Night
• January: Counselors visiting elementary schools in person to help students finalize their choice sheets for the 2025-2026 school year
• In-Person Tours: Available through March

We look forward to welcoming all our Future Mustangs at these events.

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!

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: