Greetings Thunderbirds! eFolder – 9/2/2020

Greetings, Thunderbirds! School starts NEXT WEEK!

A Note from Principal Navarro:

Hello, New and Returning Travis Heights Families,

 This is Mrs. Navarro with a few reminders for the week. We hope all of our Thunderbirds are staying safe and healthy during this summer.

 We will use our efolder as a way to communicate regularly with our families. Please review the information below for important dates for registration, technology sign up and distribution, school supplies, and remote learning.

Included is our Meet the Teacher information, and I-Pad curbside pickup for Kinder-2nd graders!

Tell our Thunderbirds hello and give them a hug from us.

Your Proud Principal,
Mrs. Navarro

Important Information from AISD/ Información importante de AISD

Use this link for more information about the start of school./Utilice este enlace para obtener más información sobre el inicio de la escuela.

https://www.austinisd.org/announcements/2020/08/13/summer-vision-2020-edition-10-aug-13-vision-del-verano-de-2020-edicion-10

Families should read the reopening document for the most comprehensive overview of our plans to date. We will continue to communicate with you via email and the COVID-19 webpage as well.

MEET YOUR TEACHER

Your teachers have been reaching out to welcome you back for the new school year! If they were not able to get in touch with your family by phone they will be sending emails out this week. Please make sure your information is updated in the parent portal and check your email. If you have not heard from your teacher by August 31st, please call the front office to update your contact information and we will make sure your child’s classroom teacher contacts you shortly thereafter. 

Your teacher will be hosting a class Zoom meeting on the dates below so all of the kids can say hello to each other and learn about the expectations of distance / virtual learning. Please mark your calendars according to the schedule below. Be on the lookout for log on instructions from your 2020/21 teacher. 

Thursday, Sept 3rd

Grade Level 

Time 

3rd Grade – 9:30 am-10:30 am 

4th Grade – 10:30 am-11:30 am

5th Grade – 11:30 am-12:30 pm

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL PARADE 
Friday, September 4, beginning at 12:30pm

It’s time to meet your teacher and cool down from a hot summer with our ice cream social! This year will be different as the teachers are bringing the fun to you! Practice safe social distancing as our Travis Heights Elementary parade of educators and parents will be driving the THES party train through our neighborhood to bring in the new (school) year. Choo choo! Dress up with school colors and share the pride with all your favorite teachers! Music, colors, and ice pops courtesy of the PTA will be passed out to all who line the streets. Here’s a map:

VACCINATIONS
As you prepare for the back-to-school season, we want to remind you that students must have their immunizations before the first day of school on September 8th. Otherwise, you will be asked to obtain the needed vaccines for your child before the student is allowed to return to learning.

For resources on free and low-cost vaccines visit:

www.austintexas.gov/department/immunizations.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES
The curbside distribution for PreK3-2nd grade iPads has concluded, but you can still get the technology you need. Register for Technology Before School Starts

Technology Requests – Parent Cloud: Families can now begin requesting technology needs using a new form in the Parent Cloud. After logging in to my.austinisd.org, search for “Technology Distribution,” and the link for the form will appear. My.austinisd.org also has a link and instructions in both English and Spanish for creating a Parent Cloud account.

Technology Requests – By Phone:

Families can also request technology by calling Travis Heights at 512-414-4495.

How to Access the Technology Tile:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZPCgtUBlMCf_1NTnGO8HTlKlyouXgevSCQo_4hzMuc/edit?usp=sharing

Technology Distribution Updates
iPads will be distributed from the THES campus on Friday, September 4th from 8:00am until 12:00 noon based on the schedule below.  You must bring the QR code printed through the parent portal to pickup or contact your teacher to print it for you.

Chromebooks are coming and we will set up a time for distribution next week.  Hotspots are available now if you signed up for one.  One per family.

• What to do if your device breaks down?
  • Damaged, hardware issue with your technology.
  • Take to curbside locations at PAC or Crockett 9:30-3:30 M-F
  • Bring S#, Name and description of issue.
  • If login, software technical problem call Parent Support Desk at 512.414.9187

NEW TIME FOR CURBSIDE MEALS
AISD will continue to provide free meals for any child under 19, and their parents or caregivers, until the start of the new school year. Friday, August 14 is the last day meals will be served at bus stop sites. Beginning Monday, August 17, meals will be available at curbside locations only and meal times will change to 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On Tuesday, August 18, the number of curbside meal sites will increase from 17 to more than 40 locations throughout Austin.

Find all meal site locations and more information at www.austinisd.org/covid19/meals.

REMOTE LEARNING UPDATES
Our first day of school is September 8th! Please see the revised school calendar. Our school day will start at 7:35 and ends at 3:08 this year. Your child’s teacher will share their schedule for remote learning in the coming weeks.

As we start this school year we want to be sure all of our Thunderbirds are registered before September 8th. Thank you to all of our families that have registered! If you have not registered, please register your student(s) using the information in this link for registration.

Our priorities for all of our students are their health, safety, and academic success. As we start the year, the first four weeks of school, from September 8 through October 2, all classroom teachers will teach remotely to all students.

Any student who does not have access to the technology necessary to take part in remote learning, will be contacted by a staff member and provided support to obtain the technology needed. We are working hard to help ensure all of our Thunderbirds have the technology to participate in remote learning.

For students without access to technology whose families prefer that they learn from home, Austin ISD will provide an alternative such as paper instructional packets, science, and math workbooks for each grade level. We will distribute packets, workbooks, and additional learning materials before the start of school through our curbside delivery. 

The next four weeks, from Oct. 5 to Oct. 30, will be a phase-in period. Families will choose if they prefer on-campus or virtual learning for this period and families who prefer on-campus learning will be phased in. We will continue to base our campus and district operations on the advice of health authorities. It is important to note: even students who choose on-campus instruction may have some days where they are still doing remote learning during this period.

Families will choose if they prefer on-campus or remote instruction within two weeks of returning to campuses Oct. 5 via a form that will be sent to your email.

Austin ISD families will be able to choose to go back to remote learning based on their individual comfort level.

Chromebook Distribution

Chromebooks for grades 3rd-12th will be available curbside at Crockett and the Performing Arts Center. No appointment needed. The curbside locations will be open Monday-Friday 9:30 am until 3:30 pm. You must bring the student’s school ID number or the QR code you can print by logging in to portal.austinisd.org.

We will also be getting Chromebooks on our campus for distrubution, but those dates are TBD.

Equipment Repairs

If you have a device that has been damaged or needs physical repairs you may go to either of these curbside locations and drop off for repair.  Please bring your student ID number, name and a description of the problem. 

These curbside locations are following safe practices. Check daily wait times at each location at bit.ly/aisdcomputerwait

Login, connectivity, or other software/ functionality type issues.

If you have a problem logging in or tiles that should be available are not within the portal you should contact the parent support desk at 512.414.9187 for help.

iPad distribution will resume at the Travis Heights campus once we receive inventory.  More details to follow as we have them! Always feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or the office with further questions.

Additional up-to-date District Information here.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZPCgtUBlMCf_1NTnGO8HTlKlyouXgevSCQo_4hzMuc/edit?ts=5f1b9ff5#heading=h.llvx31nr1h32

ESSENTIAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES & PAPER PACKETS 

Distribution – on need basis Please communicate with your child’s teacher about your individual students’ needs. Supplies will be distributed during the week of September 2nd – 4th. Please refer to the schedule and Class DoJo communication for the day and time for material pickup. 

School Supplies to include: 

• crayons, pencils, glue, scissors, 2 folders, 2 notebooks
• Teacher/Grade level supplemental aids e.g. 100’s chart
• Consumables provided to compliment paper packets
• Paper Packets created by Austin Independent School District

PICK UP SCHEDULE

DOI DAYS (NO SCHOOL) MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 

As part of AISD’s District of Innovation status, the Travis Vertical Team (which includes Travis Heights) has added three in-service days. These are student holidays in addition to those on the AISD calendar: January 5, February 12, and March 12. Please note, other schools may have different dates than Travis Heights. Teachers Professional Development Days are as follows: October 12, February 15, and April 2.

AISD MOBILE APP – DOWNLOAD NOW 
Austin ISD is happy to announce the launch of their mobile app—a new way to stay connected. The app will allow all AISD students, staff, and families to receive notifications from the district and campuses for which they wish to subscribe. Other helpful tools include a COVID-19 self-screening for users to complete before coming into contact with others or before leaving home for work or school.

The app allows for quick access to:

• see the calendar for the current school year,
• links to
  • Parent Cloud
  • Parent Self Serve
  • WheresTheBus
  • School Café,
  • the School Directory, and
  • the latest news.

Locate the free Austin ISD Mobile App in the digital store for your mobile device by searching for Austin ISD. For questions concerning the new app, call 512–414–9187.

FARM FRESH FOOD BOXES 
AISD will continue to provide free, local Farm Fresh Boxes from The Common Market Texas through October 7 at specific AISD curbside meal sites.The boxes feature locally grown produce, such as peppers, melons, squash, carrots and other seasonal staples. The Common Market Texas, a mission-driven distributor of sustainable, local farm foods prepare and deliver the produce boxes to AISD. The produce boxes will be available at each curbside meal site one time through October 7th until they run out each day.  Distribution will take place from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m as follows. More info HERE!

• Wednesday, September 9: Dawson Elementary, Galindo Elementary, Linder Elementary, Lively Middle School, St. Elmo Elementary, Travis Early College High School
• Wednesday, September 16: Allison Elementary, Blackshear Elementary, Eastside Memorial Early College High School, Govalle Elementary, Martin Middle School, Metz Elementary 
• Wednesday, September 23: Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, Crockett Early College High School, Oak Hill Elementary, Odom Elementary, Patton Elementary, Sunset Valley Elementary
• Wednesday, September 30: Akins Early College High School, Casey Elementary, Covington Middle School, Kiker Elementary, Kocurek Elementary, Paredes Middle School
• Wednesday, October 7: Blazier Elementary, Langford Elementary, Perez Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Rodriguez Elementary, Uphaus Early Childhood Center, Widen Elementary

NEED HELP PAYING YOUR RENT?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent economic disruptions, many are facing difficulties paying their rent and utilities. The City of Austin has created a resource specifically for those facing such problems.

In mid-August 2020, the City of Austin and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) will launch a second the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants Assistance Program (RENT). The program is for income-eligible Austin renters that live within the city limits and are financially impacted by COVID-19. The program will provide direct rent relief of $12.9 million between August 2020 and January 2021.

For more information on the RENT program, please visit the City of Austin RENT Site www.austintexas.gov/RENT.

Update/use this link for applying for RENT Assistance Program that begins accepting applications on Wednesday. https://austin.covidrenthelp.org/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F

GUIDANCE ON GATHERINGS 

•  No in-person assemblies or gatherings for students or staff until further notice
•  Meet the teacher, back-to-school night, and parent conferences will be held remotely
• Performances will be held remotely
• PTA events will be held remotely
• Until further notice, schools are not allowed to plan large events such as all-school assemblies, social events, pep rallies, or fundraising events that bring groups of more than 10 people together.
• To ensure there are no large gatherings on school grounds, all school-wide events will be held virtually, including awards assemblies, fundraising events, schoolwide performances, and field days, until guidelines change.

Do you have information or an event to submit to THES’s Wednesday eFolder? Please visit our Folder FAQ page for submission requirements and guidelines.

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Thank you!