HAPPY WEDNESDAY, THUNDERBIRDS!
Fall is officially in the air and you all have been working so hard — lots to celebrate this week!
THES Fall CARnival
Thursday, October 29, 4:30pm
Thunderbirds, this year our traditional fall carnival will look a little different – THES will host a school-wide Storybook Character Parade! Please join us to celebrate and welcome the Fall. We will not dress up during the day this year, but students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character after school as they enjoy driving or walking by the school. No weapons or dangerous-looking items will be permitted to accompany a costume. Teachers will be dressed to impress and will be passing out goodie bags to all of our Thunderbirds! If you have small packaged items, trinkets/ toys, candy, or snacks to help load up our bags, we would be very appreciative. If so, please bring by the school and we will pick up from you curbside. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office at 512.414.4495.
Lively Middle School has also invited us to participate in their Fall Fest Car Parade from 5:30-6:30. After you leave THES, be sure to drive through Lively to show off your costume and get MORE TREATS!
SAVE THE DATE – HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY
Thursday, October 29, 7pm-8pm
Put on your costume, grab some lights, and get ready to boogie your buns until you’re done! Our famous Travis Heights Zoom Dance Party with a Halloween Twist! DJ Jason will be spinning your favorite Spooky tunes and some modern favorites to get us moving so hard, we’ll wake the dead!
Reminders: You need two devices to participate. One will stream the music from https://www.twitch.tv/jmolinmusic
The video will be on Zoom. For safety reasons, Zoom info will be sent via Class Dojo.
ADMIN + PARENT ZOOM & COFFEE CHAT: CAMPUS UPDATES
Friday, October 30, 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: 964 7623 2276
Passcode: joinus
FREE FLU SHOTS FOR STUDENTS
October 26 – 30
Because #AttendanceMatters you are invited to join Austin ISD in knocking out the flu! Nurses from Health Heroes will be on campuses administering free influenza vaccines to students. Complete your child’s consent form today and help us #KnockOutFlu.
The parental consent form is required to be submitted before receiving services.
- Please submit the consent form at the clinic site where you plan to take your child at least three (3) school days before the scheduled clinic date.
- Please bring a copy of your insurance card with the consent form if the student is insured. Students do not need insurance to participate.
- Students need to be ages 4 and older and an AISD student to participate.
Please contact your campus the school day before the clinic to learn approximate start times. Please visit THIS LINK for a full schedule of vaccines.
BOO the FLU
Saturday, October 31, noon-3pm
This spooky season just got a little less spooky as Austin ISD, in partnership with Sendero Health Plans, will hold Boo the Flu this Saturday at Travis Early College High School and the Graduation Preparatory Academy at Travis, 1211 E. Oltorf St. Austin, TX 78704.
Boo the Flu is a drive-thru event where flu shots will be distributed to members of the community who are uninsured or with limited resources, from the safety of their cars. Community resources will be available. People who attend will also have a chance to win prizes that will be raffled off. For more info visit https://www.austinisd.org/announcements/2020/10/26/flu-shots-be-distributed-boo-flu-event
REPORT CARDS & PARENT CONFERENCES
The first grading period report cards will be emailed on Friday, October 30th. Teachers will hold a minimum of one conference with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of each student each grading period. Teachers will be reaching out to families to hold a parent-teacher conference by the end of the grading period. If you have not received your child’s report card or have any questions regarding progress reports or teacher conferences, please contact your child’s teacher directly.
OPERATION THUNDERJOY
Calling all who are able to give more this holiday season! Each year, Operation Thunderjoy collects meaningful holiday gifts for the 50 Thunderbird families most in need. In past years, items such as clothes, shoes, large grocery gift cards, beloved toys, bikes… even necessities such as prescription glasses, beds, A/C units, and extermination services were donated.
This year, the pandemic is making personalized gift requests and collection tougher, but we’re still determined to bring joy to the lives of those who need it most. We’ll make it work primarily via gift cards or products that are more universally needed.
Can you — or people/companies in your network — dig deep and pitch in? We are seeking gift cards or donations in the following categories:
- Grocery / Food / Accessible Dining
- Big Box Store (Walmart/Target)
- Clothing / Shoes / Outerwear
- Hygiene Products
- Books / Educational Toys/Games
- Gas Cards (Shell / Chevron)
- Cash (for more specific needs)
To donate, or find more info please visit: https://www.travisheightselementary.com/operation-thunderjoy/
TRANSITIONING BETWEEN REMOTE & ON-CAMPUS LEARNING
Austin ISD is proud to offer a choice between remote learning and face-to-face instruction for the 2020-21 school year. The timeline for switching from one instructional model to another is as follows: Transitioning from on-campus learning to remote off-campus learning will occur when a student/parent or guardian chooses to do so.
Transitioning from remote off-campus learning to on-campus learning will occur as soon as possible, but not to exceed five school days. The next request will occur at the beginning of the next grading period. For more info, please visit https://www.austinisd.org/openforlearning
MASKS
As a reminder, if you are coming to campus, please be sure to bring your masks. We have masks here but invite parents to send students with a mask and also a backup mask. Thank you!
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
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- Download the AISD App today for iPhone and Android.
- Keep up with what’s happening in the District by watching this week’s AISD in 3.
- Visit the Austin ISD’s Community Learning Spaces webpage.
- BLEND is Austin ISD’s online learning platform. Tutorials are available in English and Spanish.
- Austin ISD is now offering free seven-day meal packs at curbside sites.
- Follow Austin ISD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
AFTER SCHOOL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Austin ISD knows the value of high-quality after-school learning opportunities. After-School programs provide students with safe, enriching, and structured learning environments. To support Austin families and staff, a variety of afterschool programs are available. Please note this list is not comprehensive and some programs may only accept students from certain schools. For more information on the various after-school offerings and enrollment requirements, please visit the following websiteS or reach out to your campus.
Programs
Boys and Girls Club of the Austin Area
Circle C Child Development Center
Twilight Evening School Program
Twilight Evening School Program
IMMUNIZATIONS
Texas requires that all students in grades K-12 meet the minimum state immunization requirements. This applies to students receiving both in-person and virtual learning.
It is important to note that there have been no exceptions made to these immunization requirements, due to COVID-19, by the State. All immunization requirements should be met by families by October 30, 2020, for both in-person and remote learners.
You can find more information about the minimum Texas Immunization Requirements here: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/school-requirements.aspx.
Please reach out to your Campus Health Room Staff for more information on resources that can be given to families and any questions you may have.
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 10/30/2020.
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.
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