Oak Hill Observer

Hello, Wonderful Oak Hill Community!

Just a reminder that there is no school TOMORROW, Friday, March 31st as we honor Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day.

This coming week, we have another 4 day school week, with Friday, Aril 7th off for Good Friday. The spring book fair is running this week and provides a one stop shop for some fantastic literature and fun items while supporting our library program.

For our parents and guardians, this week and next provides several opportunities to learn more about our school, district and state initiatives. We'll have Early Learning Day for incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten students on Wednesday, April 5 (8:30-10 or 4:30-6), our April PTA meeting on Wednesday evening at 6pm in the cafeteria and our April CAC meeting over zoom on Monday, April 10th at 3:30 pm. All are welcome!

While we are still finishing out this school year, we also begin some planning for next school year. One of the most important tasks we do is to create the classes for the following school year. In an effort to create balanced classes for next year and to foster a positive school-home partnership, parent input is taken under consideration. And while not guaranteed, parent/caregiver feedback about placement is strictly based on input letters, not verbal interactions or promises between parents and staff. Know that administration does not keep placement input from previous years, therefore, if there is important student information to be considered, please provide that information in the current year’s parent input process as outlined below. Feedback is due by Wednesday, April 19th.

Input process: A letter regarding placement for next year is not required, however, if parents have extenuating circumstances or significant concerns, please see the following guidelines: (1) A separate letter (email attachment only) MUST be submitted. Limit to one-page (10 – 12 font size). Due to the amount of input received every year, general email communications WILL NOT be accepted. (2) Specific teachers or classmates CANNOT be requested. All teachers on our teams are skilled and competent individuals. (3) Share traits and characteristics of your child(ren) that affect their learning. (4) Share the type of educational setting and class dynamic that you feel will best meet your child(ren)’s needs. (5) Email attachment MUST be sent to the Principal (lori.komassa@austinisd.org), NOT the Classroom Teacher. Please note that I DO NOT schedule meetings to discuss next years placement. Thanks for all of your support, as we strive to make the best placement decisions for your child(ren).

Thank you to everyone who has already registered for the 23-24 school year! If you haven't please do so. As always, please also read the calendar and Latest Information sections below - there's good information to know! Thank you for all of your support!

Your Proud Principal,

Lori Komassa

• April 3-6: Spring Book Fair
• April 5: Early Learning Day (prospective PK & K students)
• April 5: PTA General Meeting 6:00-7:00pm

• April 15: AISD Career Fair

• April 18: STAAR Reading for 3rd-5th Grades

• April 19: School Tour for prospective parents 3:30pm

• April 25: STAAR Science for 5th Grade

• May 2: STAAR Math for 3rd-5th Grades

• May 23: Senior Walk 2:30pm

• May 24: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 8:30am

• May 25: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

When: Tuesday April 4 at 4pm during Book fair in the cafeteria

Come watch a wonderful performance by 2nd and 3rd grade students showcasing singing, dance and a game. Walk around the main building and see amazing student artwork. All OHE students will have art displayed around the main building and cafeteria. Look through the wonderful selections at the book fair.

Join us Tuesday!

We will also have another Book Fair evening shopping opportunity on Wednesday from 3:30-6pm.

Please join us for the next PTA Meeting on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 pm in the OHE Cafeteria. We would love to see you there!

The General Meeting (open to all) will start promptly at 6 pm and will include elections for the Executive Board of the 2023-2024 school year.

*Per Texas PTA guidelines, all current PTA members can vote in elections. If you plan to attend, please REGISTER THROUGH THIS FORM by Monday, April 3rd. The Secretary will check names for voting eligibility.

This coming week, April 3-7, is Librarian Appreciation Week and Assistant Principal Appreciation Week! Encourage your student to say an extra thank you, make a card, or give a high five to our wonderful librarian Lazaro Camarillo and our amazing Assistant Principals Pedro Gonzales and Alexandra Tarpley. We appreciate all you do!

It's Registration time for all our new incoming Kindergarteners and Pre-Kinder students! Please see the flyer below if your family has a student for our 23-24 Kindergarten or PK cohort. We want to make sure all of our incoming students are registered by the end of May! If you know of a neighborhood family with an incoming kindergarten student, who may not receive this newsletter, please share this information.

The PTA has heard your feedback and will be streamlining communication at OHE! We are excited to roll out our new communication platform, Konstella, which will allow you to receive communication from the PTA, the school, and your classroom(s) in one convenient place that can be accessed online or via a free mobile app. No more having to monitor multiple communication programs! Be on the lookout for more information on how to access the platform and how to set up your family's account after spring break. We think OHE families will love this new program. To see what the platform looks like, you can check out konstella.com.

The Spring Student, Staff, and Family climate surveys will go live on Monday, March 20th. The survey window will remain open through Friday, April 14th. Surveys will be available online and can easily be accessed by computer, phone, and screen readers.

Students in 3rd - 6th grades will take the climate survey at school.

Dear families,

It's almost time for our spring Book Fair! Students and families are invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair April 3 – April 6 at the Oak Hill Elementary Library. Please visit our Book Fair Homepage to get the latest Book Fair news, shop our Online Fair, and more!

Questions can be directed to Laz Camarillo, Oak Hill Librarian at lazaro.camarillo@austinisd.org.

High school seniors in AISD who attended Oak Hill Elementary are eligible to apply for a $500 scholarship from the Oak Hill Elementary PTA. Three scholarships will be awarded. The scholarship announcement with all requirements is posted on Naviance. All applications should be emailed in one PDF to scholarship@ohepta.org or delivered to the Oak Hill Elementary Office by 5 pm on Friday, April 7th. Scholarship recipients will be announced by May 5, 2023.

WHO: Current K or 1st grade students

*If you are a current 2nd grader, please see your teacher for recommendation.

WHAT: Literacy camp providing hands-on, multi-sensory, and researched based activities. This program helps students build necessary phonics and phonemic awareness skills to improve reading knowledge helping them be successful learners.

WHEN: Session 1: June 5th-8th, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Session 2: June 12-15th, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am-12:00 pm

WHERE: Oak Hill Elementary

COST: $200 per child per week.

All materials needed will be provided in the class, including a snack.

If you are interested and wish to have your child participate please sign up below. If you would like more information please email: emily.kittredge@austinisd.org or renae.hernandez@austinisd.org

Payment Methods: Cash or check made out in full to Renae Hernandez. Payment due on or before first day of session.

Click HERE to sign up!

The Annual AISD Summer Theatre Series will be offered this year at the AISD Performing Arts Center. Please share information with teachers and students.

Students of all experience levels are welcome to shine on stage during the free Summer Theatre Series program. Current 5th through 12th graders in Austin ISD are invited to try out for the program’s summer series.

The program dates are: June 5, 2023 through July 24, 2023. The Summer Theatre Series will feature Mary Poppins as the musical production, Treasure Island as the black box studio production, and the Summer Theatre Series Rising Stars program—a one-week educational theatre camp that offers workshops in acting, dance, and voice.

Students interested in participating must register and submit video auditions to the STS Blend course by March 21, 2023.

Link to registration, audition, rehearsal, and performance information: https://www.austinisd.org/arts

Please contact Jessica Champion at Jessica.champion@austinisd.org with any questions you may have.

WHO: Previous school year Kindergarten-5th Grade OakHill Students, Coach Parra & Ms. Rettig!
WHAT: CREATE exciting art projects, PLAY awesome games, EXPLORE indoor and outdoor activities, and HAVE FUN with your OakHill friends!
WHEN: Session 1: July 10-13, 9:00-12:00; Session 2: July 10-13, 1:00-4:00; Session 3: July 17-20, 9:00-12:00; Session 4: July 17-20, 1:00-4:00
WHERE: OakHill Elementary
COST: $200 per child per week. Price includes all materials, and a t-shirt. Children should bring a packed snack each day. Coach Parra and I will be around during that hour for lunch if you just wanna spend all day with us and sign up for both morning and afternoon sessions- Just pack a lunch :)
Venmo @JoLynn-Rettig or Check Payable to JoLynn Rettig
*You may reserve a spot with a $50 deposit.

Click on link to sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyAmlb_Aw2ZYWCWQ0kjdIESzAx_I9R9itO4t9bBHFia2cwOQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

QUIEN: Estudiantes de Oak Hill de Kindergarten a 5to grado del año escolar anterior, Entrenador Parra & Ms. Rettig!
QUE: CREAR proyectos de arte emocionantes, JUGAR juegos impresionantes, EXPLORAR actividades de interior y al aire libre, y DIVERTIRSE con sus amigos de Oak Hill!
CUANDO: Sesión 1: Julio 10-13, 9:00-12:00; Sesión 2: Julio 10-13, 1:00-4:00; Sesión 3: Julio 17-20, 9:00-12:00; Sesión 4: Julio 17-20, 1:00-4:00
DÓNDE: Oak Hill Elementary
COSTO: $200 por niño por semana - El precio incluye todos los materiales, y una camiseta. Los niños deben traer un bocadillo cada día. Entrenador Parra y yo estaremos alrededor durante esa hora para el almuerzo si quieres pasar todo el día con nosotros y se inscriben para las dos sesiones de la mañana y la tarde (Sólo empacar un almuerzo para usted:)
Venmo @JoLynn-Rettig o Cheque a nombre de JoLynn Rettig
*Puedes reservar un lugar con un depósito de $50 o puedes pagar ahora.

Haga clic en el enlace para suspirar para arriba:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyAmlb_Aw2ZYWCWQ0kjdIESzAx_I9R9itO4t9bBHFia2cwOQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

The SEL TRAIT for the month of April is “Responsibility”. Responsibility means to do the things you are expected to do, and accept the results (consequence) of your actions.

Some examples are:

-when your parents expect you to complete a chore like loading the dishwasher after dinner, but before playing, your responsibility is to put all dishes in the dishwasher first before you start playing.

-when your teacher expects you to complete the “must do” tasks first and then start with the math games, it is your responsibility to complete the must do tasks first.

Being responsible and accepting responsibility leads to earning trust from other people because they know they can count on you to do the right thing.

Do not skip breakfast! Studies show that people who eat breakfast have a better attitude, are more productive and have better concentration and problem-solving abilities.

Teach your kids to start each day with a healthy breakfast. Be a CATCH MVP and try some of these quick and healthy GO breakfasts to get each day off to a healthy start:

• Low fat yogurt with diced fruit and granola.
• Whole wheat tortilla rolled around string cheese, and a piece of fresh fruit like mango or papaya.
• A hard cooked egg, whole wheat pita bread or toast along with a cup of skim milk and fruit.

Have a budding artist? Here is an after school opportunity for students to learn to draw or improve their drawing skills. This class will work on the creation of characters, color theory and the study of forms. You can register using the form below.

https://forms.gle/5mr88dWEERV1foU97

Click on the flyer above to access the registration form.

April 18: STAAR Reading- Grades 3,4,5

April 19: STAAR Reading Make-ups- Grades 3,4,5

April 25: STAAR Science- Grade 5

April 26: STAAR Science Make-ups- Grade 5

May 2: STAAR Math- Grades 3,4,5

May 3: STAAR Math Make-ups- Grades 3,4,5

*Please note that the campus will be closed to visitors and volunteers on this date.

As we prepare for the FY2024 Budget year, please join us in conversations about Austin ISD’s 2023-24 budget. There will be several occurrences between January and May to attend. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the district's priorities, plans for staffing and programming, and how you can get involved in the budgeting process with your campus.

An updated calendar is available at https://www.austinisd.org/budget

March Cafeteria Menu

Families, community members, and staff are invited to attend the upcoming Power Hour learning opportunities hosted by the Austin ISD Special Education Department.

Dan St. Romain, a national education consultant with roots in special education support and development, will be presenting virtually on goal setting and positive behavior supports. These are two different sessions in February and March, which are repeated with lunchtime and evening virtual offerings. Interpretation services will be provided.

Date: March 30, 2023

• Due to space, participation is limited to the first 50 parents to sign up.
• Parents need to sign up HERE by noon the Thursday before.
• Once the form reaches 50 people, it will no longer accept responses.
• The next 3 Fridays are listed for now and we will add additional dates for the spring semester.
• Parents must enter the building through the front door only AT ALL TIMES.
• We ask that each parent that is attending sign up and assembly is limited to PARENTS only at this time.
• Please make sure you are able to attend if you sign up so as not to take that spot from someone else.
• Parents can only stand in the back of the assembly due to space concerns. Please do not sit in the line with your child.
• Please model appropriate assembly conduct for students by not having side conversations.

If you are able to sign up, the office will pre-print a badge for you and you can pick it up on the front porch beginning at 7:20. If you have not been on campus this year, you will need to check in at the main office with your ID before assembly to get your badge.

We will continue to add dates to this form, so you can use the same link (above) to sign up for future dates. Thank you for following the rules of the campus to make sure things run smoothly and everyone stays safe. We appreciate you!

Please remember to bring your ID with you EVERY time you visit campus. It is a requirement that we scan in your ID each time you come onto the campus. We appreciate you helping us to follow the procedures and keep our students safe!

Hi 5th grade families!

This will be a one stop shop for all middle school information. We will update it as we receive new information from middle schools, so keep checking back periodically. Middle School Information 2022-2023

Website: www.oakhillelementary.org
Location: 6101 Patton Ranch Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2336
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakHillElementary/
Twitter: @OakHillElem