Eagle Update

Happy Friday and Happy Spring Break. I hope all our families have a great week. As a quick reminder, the week we return we have three events:

1. AISD Pride Week (I've left the specific in the "New" Section)
2. Field Day on Thursday, March 26th (also in the "new" section)
3. Individual and Class Picture Day on Friday, March 26th. Order forms will come home on Monday, March 23rd (we didn't want them to get lost over Spring Break) and I've included online ordering info in the "New" section

We also have some PTA updates and an upcoming event. Our PTA has a newly updated website! Please check it out at bheeagles.com. April 2nd is the PTA Spring Fling. See the flyer below and take advantage of Early Bird Pricing until March 23rd! And our PTA has yard signs for you! If you would like a yard sign please feel free to grab one from the front of the building near the main entrance. They are ready to be in your yard!

We are making progress on registration and enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. We have reached 29% of our families who have enrolled and completed their annual forms. Our goal is 100% by April 10th - please take a moment over Spring Break to complete this process if you have not. Additionally, we will have our Early Learning Day on Thursday, April 2nd inviting all new incoming kindergarten families to join us from 8:30 to 9:30 am. If you have an incoming kinder student, or know a neighborhood family who does, please share the Early Learning Day information below.

The next Eagle Update will come out on Friday, March 27, 2026. Have a wonderful Spring Break and we'll see everyone on Monday, March 23rd!

Kati Achtermann

March 16 -20 Spring Break

March 23 - 7:40 Assembly with Ms. Goodin's class leading the Pledges

March 26 - BHE Field Day

March 27 - Spring Individual and Class Picture Day

March 31 - Student and Staff Holiday/ Dolores Huerta Day

April 2 - Early Learning Day (Incoming Kindergarteners) and PTA Spring Fling

April 6 - Student Holiday/Staff Development Day

April 8 - STAAR ELA 3rd - 5th

April 9 - STAAR ELA 3rd - 5th Make Up Day

April 15 - STAAR Science 5th

April 16 - STAAR Science 5th Make Up Day

April 22 - STAAR Math 3rd - 5th

April 23 - STAAR Math 3rd -5th Make Up Day

April 24 - Health and Wellness Fair

Greetings and happy Youth Art Month and Women’s History Month! This month we are learning about several women artists, many connected to the Pop Art movement.

Kindergarten: Students learned about warm and cool colors and began self-portrait projects inspired by the book The Colors of Us by Karen Katz.

1st & 2nd Grade: Students learned about contemporary pop artist Julia McLaurin, known for transforming everyday things—such as food containers—into large ceramic sculptures.

3rd Grade: Students explored the work of Yayoi Kusama and began intricate eye paintings inspired by motifs in her artwork.

4th Grade: Students created Pop Art paintings inspired by things that are popular to them, such as emojis and favorite foods. On Friday, they also learned about Corita Kent, a screen-printing artist who used her work to promote messages of peace and justice.

5th Grade: Students continued their Pop Art–inspired clay projects, including brightly painted clay cupcakes. They also began coil pots inspired by the work of Maria Martinez, a renowned Pueblo potter we will study more next week.

Field Day is Almost Here! 🎉
We’re excited for Field Day on March 26, 2026 and would love for parents to join the fun!
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities to help make the day a success. Volunteer shifts are 45 minutes, and you’re welcome to sign up for one slot or stay for the whole day—we truly appreciate any time you can give.
Schedule:

• 7:45–8:45 AM: Set Up
  
• 8:45–11:00 AM: Kinder, 1st & 2nd Grades
  
• 11:45 AM–2:00 PM: 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
  
• 2:15–2:50 PM: Tug-o-War & Hula Hoop Contest
  

Please remember that all visitors must sign in through the front office since perimeter gates are secured during school hours, and four-legged friends should stay home. 🐾

Every year, to highlight the district's commitment to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all, Austin ISD hosts its own Pride Week. We believe that when students feel safe and can show up as their full selves at school, they’re better able to engage in learning and achieve academically.

This year, pride-themed activities will take place outside instructional time such as before or after school, during morning meetings, lunch or advisory periods.

Our campus Pride Week committee has planned the following activities aligned with the districtwide theme “beYOUtiful”:

• Monday - All are welcome! Wear your favorite school t shirt to show we're one community.

• Tuesday- Our community is beYOUtiful! Mix It Up Lunch! Take the opportunity to sit with new people and celebrate our diverse community.

• Wednesday - I am beYOUtiful! Each grade level wears a different color:

• Kinder - Red
  First Grade - Orange
  Second Grade - Yellow
  Third Grade - Green
  Fourth Grade - Blue
  Fifth Grade - Purple

• Thursday - BHE Field Day (already scheduled)- Come have fun and celebrate being beYOUtiful.

• Friday - beYOUtiful Day! Wear something that makes you feel confident and proud to by YOU! This is also our spring class and individual picture day which was already scheduled.

We understand that families have different perspectives, and we respect every parent’s right to make decisions for their child. If you have specific questions or concerns about your child please reach out to their teacher..

Find out more district wide information by viewing our Pride Week 2026 FAQs.

Thank you and we look forward to celebrating Austin ISD Pride Week with you!

When schools are closed, it can be tough for some Austin ISD students to get healthy meals at home. Families may access community resources to locate food assistance in their area while Austin ISD offices and schools are closed for Spring Break.

• Central Texas Food Bank (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• United Way for Greater Austin - ConnectATX (www.connectatx.org)

• Texas Health and Human Services - Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to speak to a live operator.

• • • • •

Cuando las escuelas están cerradas, puede ser difícil para algunos estudiantes de Austin ISD obtener comidas saludables en casa. Las familias pueden acceder a recursos comunitarios para encontrar asistencia alimentaria en su área mientras las oficinas y escuelas de Austin ISD están cerradas por las vacaciones de primavera.

• Banco de Alimentos del Centro de Texas (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• United Way for Greater Austin (www.connectatx.org)

• Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas - Llame al 2-1-1 o al (877) 541-7905 para hablar con un operador

The Imagination and Cognition Lab at the University of Texas at Austin’s Children’s Research Center conducts brief, engaging studies (approximately 20 minutes) designed as fun, game-like activities that explore children’s thinking, perception, and behavior.

Our goal is to make research participation accessible to families in the Austin community while contributing to a greater understanding of children’s cognitive development. Please see flyer below about a Toy Study seeking participants:

The School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is an advisory group appointed by the school board, comprising members representing various segments of the community. According to state law, the majority of the members must be parents of students enrolled in the district and not employed by the district. The AISD SHAC includes parents, community members, students, and school staff, all collaborating to enhance the health of students and families through coordinated school health programs. Texas law mandates that all school districts maintain a SHAC and requires that notice of each SHAC meeting be posted at least 72 hours in advance on a bulletin board located in the central administrative office of each campus within the school district (TEC Section 28.004).

The SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) typically holds meetings on the third Wednesday of each designated month: January, February, March, April, September, October, and November. These meetings take place from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. They are held virtually on Google Meet for the months of March and April.

SHAC Meeting Dates and Locations

AISD invites you to join them to celebrate Dolores Huerta & Cesar Chavez Day!

Join Austin ISD for the 25th Annual César Chavez and Dolores Huerta Marche De Justicia and Celebration on Saturday, March 28, celebrating their lifelong commitment to workers’ rights and social justice.
While the event is free, participants are encouraged to register via Eventbrite.

The event will feature live performances from Austin ISD’s own Mariachi del Mar, local Ballet Folklórico, and various solo artists.

Details:

Where to Meet:

Austin ISD students, staff and families are asked to meet at 9:15 a.m. at Terrazas Branch, Austin Public Library located at 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702. The parade will conclude at Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Hillside located at 307 Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702, where a community festival will begin at 10:15 a.m.

Length of Parade:

The parade route covers approximately 0.7 miles through East Austin, with an estimated walking time of 15 minutes.

Transportation & Parking

• Transportation to and from the march will be the responsibility of each participant.

• Please see the attached planned walking route and site plan of the parking lot. Parking is available on 3rd and 4th street near Pan Am and the library.

What to Bring/Wear:

• Clothing suitable for the weather

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Sunscreen is highly suggested

• Hat and/or sunglasses

• Bring water. Additional bottled water will be available during the march.

Austin ISD families are encouraged to march with our group

The submission window for the GT District Showcase is now open and will close on April 10, 2026, and the flyer can be found in English and Spanish at the link below:

Extend arts-based learning and experiences into the summer! To connect Austin ISD students and families with accessible arts experiences over the summer, MINDPOP created Austin’s 2026 Summer Arts Guide. It features free and paid opportunities for students and their families to attend plays, see live music, visit museums, and participate in arts-based summer camps, all from the Creative Learning Initiative’s community arts partners.

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

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!

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

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

We are required to have monthly safety drills - an evacuation drill every month and then one other type of drill. We will have our first safety drill this week and it will be a lockdown drill. To learn more about our AISD drill procedures please see the link below.

We've had a great first week and I wanted to highlight some arrival and dismissal procedure reminders:

• When dropping students off in the front circle drive (morning) or picking up in the afternoon, do not get out of your car. Please have students exit and enter on the passenger side of the car. We will have 5th grade Safety Patrol and staff to assist with car doors.
• Students should have everything they need when they exit the car.
• Please make sure students can buckle/ unbuckle their seatbelt and are ready to exit! We work hard to keep that car line moving so everyone makes it to class on time.
• Do not park in the staff parking lot at arrival or at dismissal.
• Keep all dogs/pets at home.
• Do not go around cars in the front drive.
• Do not use the front drive as a turn around zone! It is one way only.
• Do not use the back parking lot as a drop off zone. It is for staff parking only.
• Adhere to the NO PARKING zones - even when there are no orange cones to remind you.
• Stay off cell phones/devices in school zones (and yes, our front drive is included). No conversation/call is more important than our students safety.
• Always cross at crosswalks

We love volunteers and have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Every volunteer must complete a volunteer application which much be renewed each year. To get started, volunteers must fill out the application. Once the application is processed and background check is completed (you will receive an email notification) you will present your photo ID.

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.

AISD Weather Guidelines

• Temperature guidelines have been established in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for students participating in outdoor activities at Austin ISD.

• The listed temperatures, heat indexes, and wind-chill factors are designated figures for terminating and/or modifying outdoor activities including: Athletics, Fine Arts, PE, and recess.

• AISD_Temperature Weather Guidelines

Website: bartonhills.austinschools.org/school
Location: 2108 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2013
Facebook: facebook.com/BartonhillsPTA
Twitter: @bheeagles

Instagram: bheeagles