HAPPY WEDNESDAY THUNDERBIRDS!
It’s our fourth week of distance learning and you are ROCKIN’ IT! Keep up the AWESOME JOB! As we move forward, Travis Heights continues to work on ways to connect with our families and students to provide distance learning opportunities. Please remember staying healthy and safe is our top priority. We miss everyone so much! We are sending virtual high fives and fist/toe bumps to everyone. During this time it is important to work together and take care of one another. Take time to breathe and we will be stronger once we come together again. We are here for you and please know we are working hard every day to support our Thunderbirds. AISD school and office buildings are closed indefinitely. However, school is in session! And we encourage you to participate in the virtual learning opportunities provided by your teacher. We will continue to communicate with you and provide updates.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 4-8
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Our teachers have been working incredibly hard transitioning their classrooms to distance learning. Let’s show them how much we appreciate all that they are doing for our children! It’s a little trickier to do this all virtually but it’s more important than ever. Here are some suggestions for this very special week:
Monday: Take a photo of your student (or the whole family) holding a sign sharing what they love about THES and their teachers, and we will create a slideshow to show how much we love and miss our teachers. There will be info on Class Dojo to upload your photos.
Tuesday: Gift bags will be distributed to teachers by admin. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to collect donations for these bags from our families, but rest assured admin is making sure they include some fun treats!
Wednesday: Make a video for your teacher using FlipGrid! Check ClassDojo for a link and a special code to access your grade-specific FlipGrid.
Thursday: Ask your child to create drawings or cards for your teachers. Share a special memory from the past year or what you have learned while away from school. Take a photo and then send it to your teacher (via email or ClassDojo).
Friday: Send your teachers digital gift cards. Many local restaurants and stores or offering gift cards via their websites or over the phone (win, win) or an Amazon gift card could be used for something on their Amazon wish list.
Remember, these are only suggestions! Please participate in whatever way works for your family.
T-BIRD FIESTA!! END-OF-YEAR PARTY @ GUERO’S MAY 15
Save the date! We will be holding a virtual version of our annual T-Bird Fiesta–the fundraiser and end-of-year party we usually have at Guero’s! We can enjoy queso and tacos, great music, and community, all while staying home. More details coming next week!
UPDATE AISD GRADING POLICY: PASS OR INCOMPLETE
Under the new policy, all students will receive either a grade of Pass or Incomplete. Teachers will provide feedback on student performance and monitor progress. A record of incomplete will not affect a student’s ability to advance to the next grade or graduate, but rather will identify students who need extra support in the summer or next year. Teachers can monitor progress via phone conversation if the family doesn’t have reliable access to computers or the internet.
How will elementary students keep up with their learning?
Teachers will work closely with their students through online learning, emails with pictures of students’ completed work, or even joint phone calls with caregivers and students. Teachers will monitor student progress on the most important skills, content, and standards that will prepare our young people for success next year. Teachers will be in communication with parents and caregivers regarding their students’ progress. Students who may be in need of extra support in the summer or the following school year will be identified. Our Social-Emotional Learning Department will design community outreach through creative activities that encourage social-emotional wellness while respecting social distancing.
REGISTRATION
All students returning to AISD must register for the upcoming year! The online registration system is available only through the Parent Cloud at my.austinisd.org. Families who haven’t previously created an account will be asked to do so. For parents registering students new to AISD, a Parent Cloud account must be created before you can access the online registration system. Link to all complete details: https://www.austinisd.org/enroll
TRACK AND FIELD AT HOME AND INDOORS
The AISD P.E. Department is planning a virtual field day during the last week of school (May 26-28). It is intended to be for fun and celebration! Ms. Collins will share activities on our THES learning at home website, under the Special Areas PE tab: https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/thesonline/special-areas/pe?authuser=0
TECH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES & TEACHERS
English Link to the parent FAQ: (Chrome Book delivery time and process). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DHV8mgmG6Mjkp96E0JgWv8K5qGFAH9mgiOz4-NI0EFE/edit
Spanish Link to parent FAQ: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zq1NZQw0TgvxtO1XKr0n8kN4xoFLL04DfYRNfbb0JYI/edit
FAMILIES
Families may call the Family Support Line at 512-414-9187 (Mon-Fri 7 am–5 pm)
Click HERE to submit a question or request help.
Submit a parent support form. The form is received by our help desk and will be assigned to one of our specialists, who will contact you.
STUDENTS
By phone: 512-414-4357
Submit a student support form.
Click HERE to submit a question or request help.
Note: Prior to submitting a help desk ticket, it is the student’s responsibility to back up any data, information or other files stored on the assigned device.
STAFF
By phone: 512-414-8324 (Mon-Fri 6:30am-5pm)
Click HERE to submit a question or request help.
Note: From within the AISD network, type ‘help/’ in the browser’s address bar to submit a help desk support ticket. Please keep in mind you will be required to log in using your AISD credentials.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING PACKETS
Beginning April 27, Austin ISD will be mailing Continuous Learning Packets directly to students. Students who qualify to receive free and reduced lunch will be sent packets automatically. If your student does not qualify for free and reduced lunch and you would like to request a packet, please fill out the information below and we will add your name to the list. You can sign up for a packet to be mailed to you HERE.
#THANKYOUTEACHERS CAMPAIGN
Austin Ed Fund is adding its voice to the chorus of #ThankYouTeachers messages, to recognize and thank the teachers who are going above and beyond to reach our students at home. Please share inspiring stories about how THES teachers are connecting with students. Teachers, principals, staff, and families can submit stories through a survey and on social media using #ThankYouTeachers and by tagging @AustinEdFund. AISD will highlight selected stories on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram each day during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, and beyond. Check out our Social Media Toolkit for more resources and submit your stories!