Mathews Messenger, 11

Hello, Wonderful Mathews Community! Wow, wow, wow! I'm still beaming from Saturday's Ye Olde Octoberama. The decorations, the community, the games and fun! Even with a brief interruption of the festivities, I heard nothing but positive feedback from all in attenance and it was so much fun to see both our current and former students and families coming together for the love of Mathews. I am in awe of the planning committee and beyond grateful to the many volunteers who came together in the months, weeks, days, and hours before and during Octoberama to make sure it was a day to remember for all. Thank you to all of these talented folks and to everyone who joined us on Saturday to celebrate and support our school!

We're going to continue with good things this last few days in October and have a full week ahead at Mathews Please see below for some highlights:

Our Mathews Ofrenda Opening – Monday
Our campus Ofrenda will open on Monday as we honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed. Families are invited to contribute photos or small mementos throughout the week. Thank you for helping us create this meaningful display together. The ofrenda will be on display through November 3rd.

Book Character Dress-Up Day – Friday
Friday is Book Character Dress-Up Day! Please remember this is not a Halloween costume day and students should dress as a character from a book they love. Even better if they bring the book along! It's important to know that costumes are not allowed to have weapons of any kind and we need to see our students' faces, so please no full face coverings or masks. Our teachers and staff will get in on the fun as well, and it's always a treat to see what the teams come up with. I love the creativity this event inspires!

Author Visits and Literacy Events
This week we’ll welcome author Chris Barton on Monday, who will present to our 2nd and 3rd grade students. Then, on Friday, we’ll launch our school-wide author study of Jacqueline Woodson’s inspiring works. Lower grades will explore her picture books, while upper grades will read Brown Girl Dreaming. We can’t wait to dive into her powerful storytelling together!

Other Happenings

• Monday afternoon is our October CAC Meeting on Google Meet.

• Monday evening is a district School Consolidation Meeting

• Thursday morning: PTA Meeting at 8:00 am in the cafeteria. All are welcome, either in person or virtually!

• Saturday: Our 6th Grade Orchestra performs at the Monster Concert at 5:00 pm and everyone is invited to this fun event.

• Sunday: Don’t forget to turn back your clocks as daylight saving time ends and we fall back one hour.

Thank you for being a part of our beautiful school community. Here's to a wonderful week of teaching and learning!

Monday, October 27:

• Mathews Ofrenda on Display
• Chris Barton Author Visit at 9:00 am for 2nd and 3rd Grades
• CAC Meeting at 4:00 pm on Google Meets - All CAC Members
• AGENDA
• Google Meet Link
• District Consolidation Meeting at 5:30 pm: Registration Link

Thursday, October 30:

• PTA Meeting at 7:50 am in the Cafeteria

Friday, October 31:

• Book Character Dress Up Day!
• School-wide Assembly at 8:00 am on Google Meets/Blacktop
• New Draft Consolidation Plan Released at 5:30 pm

Saturday, November 1: 🎂

• Happy Birthday, Julie Ramirez!
• 6th Grade Orchestra at Monster Concert at 5:00 pm at Austin High - Luke, Grace

Sunday, November 2:

• Fall Back - Daylight Saving Time Ends - Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!😁

• November: Native American Heritage Month!
• November 1: Happy Birthday, Julie Ramirez! 🎂
• November 2: Fall Back - Daylight Saving Time Ends 😁
• November 4: Staff Development/Student Holiday/Election Day
• November 6: Shelter and Evacuate Drills
• November 7: Native American Heritage Month Celebration
• November 10-11: 5th Grade Trip to Camp Champions!
• November 11: STAAR Reading Interim Assessment I for 3rd Grade
• November 12: Fall Picture Day
• November 13: UT Physics Circus at Mathews
• November 18: STAAR Math Interim Assessment 1 for 3rd Grade
• November 18: STAAR Reading Interim Assessment 1 for 4th-6th Grades
• November 19: STAAR Math Interim Assessment 1 for 4th-6th Grades
• November 20: Thanksgiving Luncheon
• November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break

We are delighted to welcome two new members to our Special Education Team! Sophia Radden-Kennedy is our newest Resource Teacher and Berit Aase will serve as an Intensive Support Teaching Assistant. Please see below (or click HERE) for more information about these talented educators.

Families - please make sure to follow our school procedures for a safe arrival and dismissal. There is no parking in the bus lane from 7:00-8:00 am and from 2:30-3:20 pm. If you would like to walk your child to the front of the school, please park in the neighborhood and walk in. This helps keep traffic flowing. Thank you for your cooperation!

To review the draft plan for consolidation, please see the district site here: https://www.austinisd.org/consolidate.

Click HERE to submit feedbac, questions, concerns to the Austin ISD,

• Monday, Oct. 27 from 5:30–8:30 p.m.
• Virtual RegistrationEnglish/Spanish - Audience: Districtwide
• Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
• In person at the Delco Activity Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Dr, Austin, TX 78724 - English/Spanish - Audience: Districtwide

It's officially Science Fair season! In Innovation Lab this month, your students got more information and some brainstorming time. Here, you'll find the presentation they received, along with some helpful planning info.

Here are the specific dates to keep in mind this year:

Important Science Fair Dates:

• Oct 29- students submit experiment form for teacher approval
• Nov 12 - all student experiment questions approved and communicated. Once the experiment question is approved, students may start their experiment at home.
• Dec 1 - All experiments must be completed
• Dec 9 - Exhibits to school, set up in gymnasium
• Dec 10 - Science Fair during the school day for students and judges only
• Dec 10 - After school, families are invited to visit the science fair

Optional Science Fair Work Days (sign up for a time slot here)

• Thursday, Nov 13: 3-4:30
• Tuesday, Nov 18: 3-4:30
• Tuesday, Dec 2: 3-4:30

They also received the attached packet, which will act as the outline for your student's project.

Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer for the Science Fair Committee, Sign up to confirm your student's participation, and be sure to review the safety guidelines for projects as you get started (attached).

Individual school picture day is Wednesday, November 12th! Please see below for more information:

The Elementary Curriculum Parents’ Newsletters for Humanities and STEM are finalized and ready to be shared with parents. These newsletters are designed to keep families informed, engaged, and supported in their child’s learning. Please click on the button below to access the newsletters:

Austin Youth Fitness is starting a Bike train on Friday afternoons at Mathews! They have room for nine students. Click on the picture below for more information:

Want a smoother check-in when you come to school?

Download the Raptor App to save time at check-in and ensure your ID is in our system and ready to go!!

1. Download the app

2. Snap a picture of your ID

3. Creates your QR code

The Fish Art Contest sparks the imagination and provides valuable lessons about fish and the importance of conserving Texas' aquatic resources. Art, science, and creative writing foster a connection to the outdoors and inspire the next generation of stewards.

The Texas Fish Art Contest is open to all Texas students in grades K through 12. Only one entry per student per year. It is a 2D format only, with physical entries mailed to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Artwork is judged in four age categories (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12). Texas includes two other award categories: Special Species Award and Mighty Minnow Award.

For more information or to enter, visit: https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/tffc/texas-fish-art-contest/

Did you know that Mazilla Cares is here to support our Mathews community? Through this program, we’ve been able to provide (through donations):

• Grocery gift cards

• Weekend food baskets

• Entrance fees for school fundraising events

• Scholarships for after-school enrichment programs

• Outerwear and footwear

• School supplies

Our Mazilla Cares Liaison, Valerie Pardo-Jules, works alongside the school counselor to coordinate parent help during times of need, such as the winter holidays, meal assistance, and school supply drives.

All family information remains 100% confidential and is known only to the school counselor. Families who need support should contact Stephanie Reyna, School Counselor, at stephanie.reyna@austinisd.com.

How you can help:
If you’d like to join the Mazilla Cares committee, share new ideas, or connect us with resources that could benefit our families, we’d love to have your support. Every contribution—big or small—makes a difference.

Together, we can ensure that every Mathews family feels supported and cared for. 💚

If you have not completed the new required consent forms for Physical and Health Related Services, Mental Health Related Services, and School Sponsored Clubs, please see the links below. These are new forms required by SB12 and must be completed for each student.

• Mental Health Services Consent Form: English Spanish
• Physical Health Services Consent Form
• Student Club Participation Consent Form

During the most recent legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481, banning student use of personal communications devices on school campuses during school hours. We now have a clear set of disciplinary measures for violations. Please see the button below for more information:

Of course! Here's a version tailored for a school newsletter:

📣 Stay in the Loop with Konstella!

We use Konstella as our official school communication platform and we want all families to be connected! Sign up now to recieve communication from Mathews. You'll add connect your account with your child's teacher after classes are announced on the 14th.

Konstella makes it easy to receive important announcements, classroom updates, event details, and volunteer opportunities—all in one place. It’s quick to sign up and even easier to stay informed and engaged in your child’s school experience.

✨ Don’t miss out—sign up today and stay connected all year long!

Need help getting started? Click the button below for directions!

Please click on the button below to access the 2025-26 AISD Student Success Guide (Code of Conduct).

Please click the button below to access the 2025-26 Mathews Parent/Student Handbook:

We’d love for you to join our PTA! By becoming a member, you’ll help support our students, teachers, and school community through events, volunteer opportunities, and important initiatives. Whether you have a little time or a lot, your voice and involvement make a big difference. Join us in creating an amazing school year together!

Scan the QR code or click the button below to join our amazing PTA!

Did you know that 9:45 a.m. is our official attendance time each day? This is earlier than last year when the official time was 10:30 am. According to the State of Texas Attendance Policy, students must be present at school at 9:45 a.m. to be counted for the day. Any student who is not on campus at that time will be marked absent, even if they arrive later.

Whenever possible, we kindly ask that you schedule medical or other appointments to ensure your child is in school at 9:45 am so your child is counted present and their learning time is maximized.

Attendance not only supports your child’s success in the classroom but also directly affects our school’s state funding. Thank you for your partnership in helping every student shine!

Are you interested in volunteering at Mathews? We'd love to have you! Austin ISD uses Voly for all volunteers in our school and everyone is required to sign up through the system. Please see below for information on how to sign up to volunteer at our school:

Volunteer Requirements and Application Process

To ensure student safety and maintain a secure environment, all volunteers must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a Volunteer Application, which must be renewed each school year.
  • The application takes approximately five minutes to complete and should be submitted as early as possible.
  • Applications can take up to five business days to process.
• Pass a background check as part of the Volunteer Application process.
• Present your photo ID at the campus to be scanned into Raptor
• Represent yourself and Austin ISD in a professional manner and treat students, staff, and other volunteers with respect.

Additional Information:

The Volunteer Application is separate from the campus Raptor check-in process, which ensures all names are screened for safety and security purposes. All campus visitors are required to sign in and print either a visitor or volunteer badge.

How to Become a Volunteer

1. Create an Account: Visit austinisd.voly.org to sign up.
2. Complete the Application: Fill out your profile, select the schools you’d like to volunteer with, and submit the required information, including:
   • Full name
   • Email address
   • Address
   • Confidentiality agreement
   • Volunteer guidelines acknowledgment
   • Background check consent form
3. Pass the Background Check: Background checks typically take 2 hours to 5 days to process.
   • You must wait until your background check is cleared before volunteering.
   • Once cleared, you will receive a notification email confirming your approval.
4. Find Opportunities: After receiving your clearance, explore and sign up for volunteer opportunities that match your interests.

It is recommended that families whose students are eligible for General Education transportation to check their bus information by checking the district’s “Bus Stop Finder''.

Families whose students have special needs will receive their information in person from their bus teams. *Please keep in mind routes and stops may change periodically.

AISD’s transportation team offers families the “WheresTheBus” app, which provides timely information about the location of their student’s assigned bus only, including when it will arrive at their stop. Please promote the app to your school communities.

The free app is available on any device with internet access (smartphone, tablet, personal computer, iPad)—and takes less than five minutes to install. Instructions are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation.

Review Guidelines Governing Student Conduct on School Buses

AISD school buses are an extension of the classrooms—and student safety and behavior on buses are a top priority. Please review the duties and responsibilities of students, drivers, parents, and administrators to ensure the safety of our students, which are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation

Meal Application Information

• Austin ISD works with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible for meal benefits through state funded programs and will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application.
• Only one application is needed for an entire household.
• Families must complete a new application each school year.
• The outcome of the application is determined by household size and income; please include all household members to ensure accurate eligibility.
• Austin ISD follows the Texas Department of Agriculture income guidelines to determine if a student is eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
• Students are permitted to receive meal benefits based on last year’s meal status only until October 1, 2024 or until a new meal application has been processed.

How to Apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals

• Online: Preferred method for faster processing.
  • Create an account and apply at www.SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD, or
  • Download and complete an English or Spanish application; email to foodservicebusinesssupport@austinisd.org.
• Paper Applications:
  • Available from school front offices beginning in August.

Questions about meal applications? Please contact Food Service at 512-414-0251.

School meal resources:

• SchoolCafé - One app for all your school meal needs.

• View daily breakfast and lunch menus for our school.

• View nutritional information, ingredients, and allergens for each menu item.

• Make prepayments for additional servings of food or healthy a la carte snacks.

• Set a la carte restrictions.

• How to create a SchoolCafé account, add student(s), make payments, set up automatic payments, and low balance alerts - English / Spanish

• Request for Dietary Accommodation Form

• AISD Wellness Policy English / Spanish (Guidelines surrounding food and beverages provided on campus, celebrations, food for instructional purposes, rewarding with food, and fundraising)

• Connect with AISD Food Service on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X)

August 19-October 17

Austin ISD offers Gifted and Talented program services on all campuses. GT Advocates on each campus supports teachers, students, and families with resources and information. All campuses in Austin ISD offer Gifted and Talented identification and placement. Parents and caregivers can submit their child’s name to be evaluated for Gifted and Talented services by opening the link below.

Please be aware, all 2nd graders will be screened this fall therefore parents of 2nd graders do not need to fill out a recommendation form.

Open this link for more information about GT Services:

• https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/gtfamilies/home

Open this link to fill out a form to recommend your child for testing:

• https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2d7e6d3b76b145828eb75b7a66f8e1c9