Mathews Messenger, 5

Hello, Wonderful Mathews Community! Can you believe we're already in mid-September and about to begin our 5th week of school!? Time truly does fly when you're having fun. 😍

Sunday begins the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! We spent some time at our assembly on Friday introducing the month to our students and we're looking forward to exploring and honoring the rich and diverse cultures of the Hispanic Diaspora that contribute to our community. The district is inviting our students to "Join the Fiesta" a virtual talent show for Hispanic Heritage Month! All submissions are due by September 30th and you can find more details in the For Your Information section below. I would love to have Mathews represented in this vibrant celebration!

In other good to know news, did you know our volunteer registration system is changing? We are happy to share the new and updated process to be a volunteer at Mathews . 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

Finally, our school-wide read aloud will kick off on Friday! I'm excited to share that this year we're reading When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin. This book is a companion to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, which was one of our school's favorite read alouds. With themes revolving around the power of stories, courage and perseverance, the love of family, growth and self-discovery, this book is beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated. I can't wait to explore this text as a campus!

On Monday, we'll open our new 4th grade classroom and I ask that you please join me in welcoming Ms. Ellen Frank to our Mathews family. We are simply delighted to have her join our school and the 4th grade team. It's going to be a great week! Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.

FREEDOM WEEK

Monday, September 16:

• New 4th Grade Class Opens

Tuesday, September 17:

• Constitution Day

Friday, September 20:

• School-wide Assembly at 8:00 am in the Gym - School-wide Read Aloud Begins (pending book delivery)

September 24: CAC Meeting

September 26: PTA Meeting

September 27: American Indian Heritage Day and Orange Shirt Day

September 30: Custodian and Groundskeeping Appreciation Week

October 1: Mathews Night at the Movies - The Wild Robot!

October 3: Staff Development/Student Holiday

October 4: PLED Day - No School for Students or Staff
October 7: School Tour
October 11-12: Grounds Day
October 26: Octoberama!
October 31: Book Character Dress up Day

October 3: Staff Development/Student Holiday

October 4: Student and Staff Holiday

This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Being present and giving others my attention. This means when we are with other people, we are present and give them our full attention.

In today's world, it's easy to get distracted by phone calls, messages, and social media. These distractions can pull us away from what's most important — our relationships with other people.

Just as plants need sunlight to grow, our relationships need attention. If we don’t give our full attention when we are with our family, friends, and even colleagues, we can't build strong relationships. It’s crucial to put down our phones and tablets and really listen when others are talking. Positive relationships are the foundation of a positive culture, and we can’t build positive relationships without attention.

To practice and encourage the Other People Mindset of being present and giving others our attention, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions.

Thank you for your support!

Our Special Areas team is amazing! Use the buttons below to learn more about music , PE, and innovation lab! 🎨🔬🏐🎶

Our Special Areas team is amazing! Use the buttons below to learn more!

Hello Mathews Families!

Wow, that was quick! Our reserved theater for movie night has SOLD OUT. (See Konstella message from Friday, September 13th) But don’t worry—we don’t want anyone to miss out. We need to sell 75 more seats to secure a second theater.

If you're interested in attending with us, please use the sign-up sheet on Konstella to let us know how many tickets you'd like to purchase, pending we reserve a second auditorium at Galaxy Theatres on October 1, 2024, at 6 PM.

Thank you!

It is time to JOIN THE FIESTA!

We invite all students and staff to participate in the 2024 Join the Fiesta! Talent Show. Submissions are due by September 30. We have nearly $4,000 in prizes to distribute amongst the winners. The awards ceremony will take place at the Performing Arts Center on October 12. 🎨💃🎵🎤

Video - YouTube (2023 Awards ceremony)

2024 submission form

¡Muchas gracias!

Virtual Gifted & Talented Information Session:
September 24, 2024 @6:00 pm or September 25, 2024 @ noon. (https://Bit.ly/AISDGTINFO). Contact advancedacademics@austinisd.org with questions or for more information.

Virtual Dotados y Talentuosos información sesión:
24 de septiembre, 2024 @6:00 pm o 25 de septiembre, 2024 @ 12 (https://Bit.ly/AISDGTINFO). Contacto advancedacademics@austinisd.org para mas información.

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!

Octoberama is our annual family carnival in support of Mathews Elementary. Hosting games, live music, and food, the event is a day full of fun and friendship for the Clarksville community. Planned and executed by PTA volunteers, Octoberama regularly draws over 500 people from the school and surrounding downtown area. This year’s carnival will be held on October 26, 2024 from 11a - 3p.

We would love your help to make it a success.

Why Support Mathews?

Mathews has a deep history in the Austin community that stretches back to its beginnings over 100 years ago. Today the school serves over 400 students from 40 different countries speaking 20 different languages, making it the most culturally diverse school in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). But cultural diversity isn’t the only hallmark of the school. Nestled in downtown Austin, Mathews also has an incredibly diverse economic population. Our fundraising efforts help our beloved school fund the following:

• Support curriculum
• Staffing positions
• Campus improvements
• Potential scholarship opportunities
• Enrichment classes
• 6th grade STEAM study trip
• Families in Need

How can you help?

We are seeking sponsors to help us reach our annual fundraising goal of $50,000. We have a number of sponsorship levels and are asking for cash donations ranging from $250 up to $2,000, and all donations are fully tax deductible. Please refer to the attached sponsorship levels and benefits for more details. We are also seeking auction donations if you have a good, service, or gift certificate to donate.

Please consider joining us to make Octoberama a smashing success!

Best Regards,

Sarah Thomas + Meredith Mollica

Octoberama Sponsorship Chairs

sarahlawrencethomas@gmail.com :: 512.786.5165

meredith.mollica@gmail.com :: 505.980.4404

Campfire Kids is offering a second half of the semester bundle! Classes run from 10/21-12/20 and include archery and the nature/environmental curriculum.

The School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is a school board-appointed advisory group of individuals representing different community segments. By law, most of the members must be parents of students enrolled in the district who are not employed by the district. The AISD SHAC comprises parents, community members, students, and school staff working together to improve the health of all students and families through coordinated school health programs. Texas law requires all school districts to have a SHAC, and that notice must be posted at least 72 hours before each SHAC meeting “on a bulletin board in the central administrative office of each campus in the school district” (TEC Section 28.004).

• September 18, 2024 SHAC Agenda

The SHAC typically holds monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of every month, with the exception of December and July. The meetings are from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and are held on the 2nd floor of the AISD Headquarters Building located at 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd. Austin, TX 78704 or virtually.

SHAC Meeting Dates and Locations

Thank you for supporting this committee. If you have any questions, please contact Francina Hollingsworth at francina.hollingsworth@austinisd.org.

We are excited to share the details of our upcoming Family Empower Hour sessions which provide valuable information and support to our students' families. The Family Empower Hour schedule is also available on the external AISD Special Education website. Families can also access recordings from previous offerings, as well.

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)

All students in kindergarten-6th grades will take the Map Growth assessment. It's good to know that Map Growth is MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level. Unlike other tests, however, this test is designed for students to only get about 50% of the questions correct. It may be helpful to explain this to older students who may get frustrated if they typically perform well on tests. You can learn more about Map Growth by clicking the button below:

LASA's Dance Teams, Velocity (Varsity) and Dynasty (Junior Varsity) is hosting our annual Junior Dance Clinic Saturday, September 28th and the clinic includes quite a few perks such as:

• 3 hours of dance instruction, fun, and a performance at the end of the day for friends/family!

• The opportunity to join the team at the following game and cheer in the stands with the dance teams during the 1st quarter on Thursday, October 10th at 7:30PM at Nelson Field.

For quick reference, click here to view the registration link (included in flier).

Our after-school enrichment courses begin next week! Don't miss out on these fun experiences and sign up today! Click on the button below for flyers and links to sign up!

The Austin High School Band (part of our vertical team!) is hosting a fundraiser. Please see below for information on how to support the band and get a great deal on a mattress!

My name is Sydney Jones and I am a current senior at LASA High School. I attended Mathews from 2016-2018 as a fourth and fifth grader. I'm reaching out because I'm currently part of a Youth Ambassador Program run through the World Literacy Foundation. As our closing project, we work with other ambassadors from across the globe to fundraise $30,000 dollars. I have partnered with another high school student living in Houston and together we have a goal to raise $1,000. The money we raise will be given to the World Literacy Foundation to help support their programs to provide books and reading resources to children around the world.

If this is something that you might be interested in supporting, please donate today.

Thank you for your time and consideration! Have a good day!

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'll be holding our first safety drill of the year this week - a lock down drill. 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.

The AISD Gifted and Talented Referral process has opened for the 24-25 school year. The referral window will be open until October 7th. AISD screens all second graders so there is no need to submit a referral for any second grader. If a child is already identified as GT (through the AISD process) there is no need to submit another referral.

For more information please see the flyer. (also shown below)

• 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: