HAPPY WEDNESDAY, THUNDERBIRDS!
Thanks to all the families that signed up for PTA last week during the annual membership drive! PTA funds so many important missions at THES and your support positively impacts each and every Thunderbird. There is still time to become involved in PTA, sign-ups are open year-round on our school website: https://www.travisheightselementary.com/join-the-pta
SCHOOL REOPENING
Welcome back to all of our students who have chosen to return to campus! Please note that Austin ISD will continue to offer a 100% virtual learning option for as long as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) allows us to do so. As a public education entity, we must provide on-campus learning to anyone who desires to return in-person. At Austin ISD, we are committed to doing this in the safest way possible for our students, staff, and families following the guidance of Austin Public Health.
On October 5, our campus began a phase-in process with 25% capacity. Additional details regarding the district’s reopening plan can be found HERE:
The Travis Heights Elementary Reopening Plan represents our most current thinking and is still a work in progress. We have solicited feedback from the Travis Heights Safety Committee and AISD District Division of Operations.
Please read through the Travis Heights Campus Reopening Plan and let us know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your willingness to follow the procedures and expectations during these times. We look forward to working with you to ensure your students have the best educational experience possible.
We highly recommend that you download the new AISD app on your smartphone for helpful district information plus a quick COVID-19 Screen & Go function to keep students and staff safe!
BUS TRANSPORTATION
*parents/caretakers must wait with students at bus stops*
Austin ISD is committed to providing safe, reliable transportation to our students. We are implementing protocols that all families who qualify for bus transportation should know if they plan on using this service. The full plan for our bus-riding families can be found on the Open for Learning Plan Version 4.
Below are highlights of this communication:
- update your parent contact information in Parent Cloud.
- take your child’s temperature each morning and don’t send students to school if they are sick, have symptoms, or have a temperature at 100.0 or greater.
- prior to boarding the bus each student’s temperature will be checked with a touchless thermometer.
- accompany students to the bus stop and school in case your child registers a temperature greater than 100.0.
- If a child has a temp 100.0 plus they will be sent home with their parents.
- Masks are required on all AISD buses
- To reduce virus exposure on buses, we encourage families to drop off or walk with their students to school.
- Bus drivers will wear personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, and face shields to be used during temperature screenings.
- All buses will have hand sanitizer and will be disinfected regularly.
- Seating will be one student per seat with the seat behind the driver closed for social distancing.
ADMIN + PARENT ZOOM & COFFEE CHAT: CAMPUS UPDATES
Friday, October 9, 10am
Join Principal Navarro for coffee and campus updates. This brief meeting will go over the current status of our reopening and any important Information going forward. There will also be an opportunity for Q & A.
Meeting ID: 822 8356 2911
Passcode: jf8izD
UNDERSTANDING ATTENDANCE
Parents, please watch this video clip to better understand student attendance in AISD. If you have any questions please reach out to the THES registrar Ms. Gio Montalvo at giovanna.montalvo-sanchez@austinisd.org or (512) 414-4495.
AISD TO CONTINUE FREE MEALS THROUGH DECEMBER
Starting the week of October 5, AISD will change from daily to weekly (seven-day meal packs) curbside service. On Thursdays, the team will distribute components for 14 meals (seven breakfasts and seven lunches). Meal sites will be closed Monday through Wednesday and Friday. This change responds to community feedback to provide a more efficient and convenient meal pick-up option for families. To review meal information, please visit austinisd.org/openforlearning/meals.
DISTRIBUTION SITES
Thursday 7-9am
Elementary schools: Blackshear, Oak Hill, Padron, and Widen
Middle schools: Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy and
High schools: Crockett Early College High School.
Thursday 10am-1:30pm
Elementary schools: Allison, Blanton, Blazier, Campbell, Casey, Galindo, Govalle, Guerrero Thompson, Hart, Houston, Kiker, Kocurek, Linder, Langford, McBee, Metz, Oak Springs, Odom, Patton, Perez, Pickle, Pleasant Hill, Rodriguez, St. Elmo, Sunset Valley, T.A. Brown and Uphaus Early Childhood Center.
Middle schools: Burnet, Dobie, Lamar, Lively, Martin, and Paredes
High schools: Akins, LBJ, and Travis early college high schools and McCallum
Special campuses: Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.
Thursday 3:30-5:30pm
Elementary schools: Dawson and Pecan Springs
Middle schools: Covington
High schools: Eastside Memorial Early College High School and Anderson.
THUNDERBOARD PARENT MEMBERS NEEDED
The Thunderboard serves as the primary governance and decision-making body for campus-based programming at Travis Heights Elementary. Parents that serve on the Thunderboard help shape the current programming and the future of THES. All parents and guardians that live in the district and have a child at THES are welcome to apply for one of these positions. Download and fill out the Standard Membership Application HERE and return it to the THES office by 10/15/2020.
If you have any questions, or are interested and would like some help with the application due to language or technology issues, please speak with Mrs. Navarro or email thunderboard@travisheightselementary.com.
OPERATION THUNDERJOY
Many of you have asked about Operation Thunder Joy, the holiday assistance provided by generous THES parents and their friends. This year, the operation is selecting families who have never been served previously. If you have received assistance in the past, you are not eligible this holiday season. Students will be selected by the PSS, with recommendations from teachers and THES staff. The selection process begins on October 8th. If you have questions or you need help with the application process, please call the Travis Heights Elementary Parent Support Specialist Sura Jasim at 512-943-7763 / 512-841-0855 or email at sura.jasim@austinisd.org
Families can apply HERE!
AISD FALL COMMUNITY EQUITY SUMMIT
Thursday, October 15, 4-8pm
Please join us virtually for the Austin ISD Fall Community Equity Summit: Our voices, our stories hosted by the Office of Equity, and the Cultural Proficiency & Inclusiveness. Connect with us as we engage with AISD students, families, teachers, staff, and community members as they share their individual and collective stories about:
- Multilingual Education
- Special Education Services
- Antiracism and Inclusiveness in AISD
- Equity and Virtual Learning
Please share information about this district community event that is open to all students, staff, and community members. RSVP by clicking here. Translation in 9 languages will be available: American Sign Language, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Pashto, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese.
The event is open to the first 1,000 participants via Zoom. The event will appear on AISD TV and Facebook Live. For more information, email equityoffice@austinisd.org or call 512-414-9572.
FREE COVID TESTING
NEW RESOURCE! FREE COVID-19 Testing is available through Austin Public Health (APH). COVID-19 testing is recommended for those who have COVID-19-related symptoms, have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and have traveled in the last 14 days
Staff and students can schedule free testing by using THIS LINK.
View APH testing site locations HERE.
Free COVID-19 Testing Information Flyer
BIKETOBER: BIKE TO SCHOOL MONTH
As part of Biketober, the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative holds its AISD Bike Rodeo online with the Bicycle Skills Challenge at Home program for students throughout October.
Questions? Please email cycleacademy@ghisallo.org
The bike education program helps students safely explore their world while getting active outdoors. During the 30-minute program, students will learn and practice bicycle safety and riding skills, including:
- proper helmet adjustment and usage
- starting and stopping
- verbal and hand signals
- scanning and
- bike control, and obstacle avoidance.
Ghisallo Cycling – Riding, Walking, and Driving Safety Info with Spanish