Akins PTSA Newsletter

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Welcome back to campus! We hope that you got to spend some time with family and friends over the fall break. Now that we're back to a more normal schedule, we have several updates for you:

* Thanks to all of you, our first Pies for Teachers drive was a huge success! We collected more than 150 pies and were able to offer them to all of our cafeteria and custodial staff members as well as to teachers. Our faculty and staff were so surprised and touched by your generosity! See the pic below of teachers enjoying a fall feast courtesy of Mr. Herbin and the admin team.

* We are happy to report that on election day, all three AISD bonds passed. This includes $17.9 million for improvements at Akins. The district will be reaching out to campus administration teams with more details about how and when these projects will begin. After that, campus committees will be formed to help make decisions and parent input will be needed. If you're interested in serving in this capacity, feel free to reach out to us at akinshsptsa@gmail.com and we'll be sure you're kept in the loop. In the meantime, you can attend CAC (Campus Advisory Committee) meetings the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm.

* Our next PTSA meeting is December 7 at 5:30 pm in the library and will be a winter potluck with a dessert competition. You are welcome to bring a dish to share and/or a dessert to enter into the contest. Our celebrity judge, School Social Worker Mrs. Kozel, will be awarding prizes for winning desserts.

* And lastly, Tuesday, 11/29, from 5-8 pm is our PTSA Spirit Night at Whataburger in South Park Meadows. The Akins PTSA will get 20% of all sales during that time period from drive-thru, dine-in, and online ordering. Feel free to tell all your family and friends!

The purpose of the Advocacy Advisory Committee is to assist the district in advancing its legislative priorities at the local, state and federal level. The Committee’s advocacy shall be in alignment with the district’s priorities, as adopted by the Board of Trustees. Its responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Becoming informed how local, state, and federal governmental action impacts Austin ISD;
• Recommend legislative priorities to the district and the Board;
• Connect with parents, teachers, administrators, taxpayers, and students, empowering them to engage with elected officials; and
• Collaborate with the Austin community to advance the legislative priorities adopted by the Board of Trustees.

This is a new district committee. Applications for membership are currently being accepted at this link: https://www.austinisd.org/advisory-bodies/application

AISD is considering some revisions to the 2023-24 academic calendar. An overview and a list of items up for consideration are posted below. To give your input, take the short survey at this link: https://tinyurl.com/4b7yhufx

The legislative session starts in a little over a month and ACPTA is trying to narrow down the priorities they will be focusing on this session. In order to make sure that they are focused on the issues that are most important to you and to our school community, please take the short poll linked below by the end of December. This topic will also be discussed at the December Akins PTSA meeting.

Link to poll: https://forms.gle/pkwFSAkEQuRVho5d6

The Akins Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is a non-profit volunteer organization which serves to support the students, teachers, and staff at Akins Early College High School through volunteering and fundraising.

We have more than 2,600 students at Akins and our goal this year is 200 members. So far, we have 94.

As a member of the PTSA you can attend short monthly meetings throughout the year that will enable you to make suggestions and provide your input. If you don't have time to attend meetings but still want to help, you can choose to become a member and your dues will financially support our annual goals. You can also donate to specific projects at the same link below.

By getting involved or just paying your membership dues, you’ll be part of the solution, helping to make a positive change for our campus and our community. There is no wrong way to PTSA!

Membership Dues

Adult $15.00

Student $10.00

How can I pay my PTSA dues?

Online: bit.ly/joinakinsptsa

Check/Cash:

Make checks payable to Akins High School PTSA and drop off in the main office or mail to:
Akins PTSA, 10701 S 1st Street, Austin, TX 78748. Be sure to include name and email address of the person/people for whom you are paying membership dues.

Whataburger Spirit Night - November 30, 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Fine Arts Winter Showcase - December 2, 5:00 - 9:00 pm

PTSA Meeting & Potluck - December 7 , 5:30 - 6:30 pm

CAC Meeting - December 7, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Dance Holiday Showcase - December 7, 5:00 - 10:00 pm

Double Dave's Spirit Night - December 8

Chuy's Spirit Night - December 13

Coffee with the Principal - December 15, 9:30 - 10:30 am (library)

Orchestra Winter Concert - December 15, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Last Day of Fall Semester - December 21

Did you know that when you shop at Amazon, you can choose to support Akins PTSA at no cost to you? Last year, we received over $100 from this program that was used to support students and teachers.

Simply visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/74-2974782 and select PTA Texas Congress 10073 W Charles Akins High School as your preferred charity. Then start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to the Akins PTSA.

What is the CAC?

Campus Advisory Councils are committees of parents, students, business and community representatives, teachers, principals, and other campus staff. The formation of CACs is required by state law (Texas Education Code, §11.251).

What does the CAC do?

Specific functions of CACs include providing review and comment on:

• Campus Educational Program
• Campus Performance
• Campus Improvement Plan
• Campus Staff Development Plan
• Campus-Level Waiver Requests to the State
• Campus Budget

When does the CAC Meet?

We meet on the first Wednesday of every month form 6:30-7:30 in the Library. CAC members are strongly encouraged to also attend our monthly PTSA meetings, conveniently scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm.

If you are interested in joining the CAC please email our Parent Support Specialist Connie Miralrio at connie.miralrio@austinisd.org for more information.

Email: akinshsptsa@gmail.com
Website: https://akinsechs.austinschools.org/ptsa
Location: 10701 South 1st Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-560-7543
Facebook: facebook.com/AkinsHighSchoolPTSA