Eagle Update

Happy Friday! What a fun Read Across BHE week we had culminating in our Book Character Day Parade.

With Daylight Saving Time beginning this week, I know those first few morning wake ups can be a bit of a struggle! Darker mornings and lighter evenings often make it harder for students (and adults) to wind down at night and get out of bed on time. Unfortunately, this time of year often leads to an increase in morning tardies. When students arrive late, they miss out on vital morning announcements, community-building moments, and core instruction. It can also be disruptive for the rest of the class when friends enter late throughout the morning.

Pro-Tips for the Time Change:

• The Night Before Win: Pack bags and lay out clothes before bed to save precious morning minutes.

• The Early Alarm: Set those clocks 10 minutes earlier this week to ease into the new schedule.

• Straight to Class: Remind students to head directly to their room as soon as they arrive at school.

There are several events happening the week after Spring Break - one is our annual Field Day and the other is AISD Pride Week. Please see information below about both of these events. Coach Williams needs parent volunteers to make Field Day a success. If you can, please click on the volunteer link to help us create a successful Field Day for all students.

Have a great weekend and as always, thank you for your support of our fabulous school.

Kati Achtermann

March 9th Assembly - Ms. Bartlett's class will lead the pledges and we celebrate birthdays through Spring Break.

March 16 -20 Spring Break

March 26 - BHE Field Day

March 27 - Spring Individual and Class Picture Day

March 31 - Student and Staff Holiday/ Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Day

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

Get this Spring started off right by joining us for "It's My Park Day" at Barton Hills Elementary Park! We'll meet at the picnic tables at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 7th, and get to work shortly thereafter. It’s going to be a fun morning of community and giving back.

We'll provide the tools and gloves, so all you need to bring is a water bottle and comfortable clothing (and maybe a rain jacket!). As a special thank you, all registered volunteers will receive this awesome T-shirt designed by local artists, plus access to some great deals at local businesses!

⚠️ Important Weather Update: Due to current weather forecasts, Austin Parks Foundation will make a final decision regarding the event on Friday if the forecast looks dangerous. In the event of inclement weather, we may:

• Delay the start time to later on Saturday.

• Reschedule to Sunday, March 8th.

• Postpone to the following Saturday, March 17th.

• Cancel the event entirely.

• We will reach out to all registered volunteers once a decision is made.

Until then, there is still time to register at the link below to reserve your spot and receive your T-shirt!

Simply click on the link below and fill in the blanks. We can also confirm volunteer hours, if needed.

BHE It's My Park Day Registration

We are once again honored to be an official Austin Parks Foundation Project, and your support is invaluable. Please sign up and join us in showing our park some love!

Please contact TJ Powell (powell.aw@gmail.com or 512.924.8022) if you have any questions. We hope to see you all there!

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 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