Cedars E-News

MARCH 2025

Message from Principal Rauls

3-23-25

Dear Cedars Families,

I hope you had an extraordinary Spring Break! As we prepare for the final quarter of the school year, we want to remind everyone of the importance of students arriving on time by 7:45 am. We offer a free breakfast starting at 7:15 am.

As a result of raising over $21,000 in just two weeks, students will enjoy a NUT Week from March 24-28. Thank you for your continued support!

🎊Week 2 Prizes:🎊

Top Class & Pizza Party - Ottinger’s Class ($4,080)
Top Seller & Kalahari Prize - Kalea Miller ($1320) & April Andrade Silva ($1320)
Important: Week 3 prizes will reset and begin again on Monday, May 24, 2025. We will announce the Week 3 prizes on Monday.

🕹️Chuck E Cheese 🕹️

Cedars International Academy PTO invites you to have fun, play games, and enjoy dinner at Chuck E Cheese on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 4-9 pm at 10515 N Mopac Expy, Austin, TX 78759.

🧬Measles Outbreak🧬

Austin Public Health (APH) is monitoring the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas. We encourage staff and families to be aware of the symptoms and take preventive measures.

🔹 Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with infected surfaces.
🔹 Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, and a red rash that spreads from the face downward.
🔹 Vaccination is the best protection—two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles.

Families must ensure your child’s immunizations are up to date. If you suspect measles or exposure, contact your healthcare provider before visiting.

To get vaccinated, people can go to their health care provider or a pharmacy. Vaccines are also available through the Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net Providers. Use the maps located on the measles outbreak page to locate a TVFC or ASN provider. Pharmacies can vaccinate people 14 and older without a prescription. Children under 14 need a prescription to get the MMR vaccine at a pharmacy.

For more information, visit the Texas DSHS Health Alerts.

Reminders:

March 24- Students return from Spring Break
March 24-29 - NUT Week (Uniforms are not required)
March 24- Chocolate Fundraiser and Principal Reading Challenge continues
March 27 - Report cards go home
March 27 - PTO Chuck E Cheese Night from 4-9 pm, 10515 N. Mopac Expressway
March 28 - Friday After School Tutorials for select students begin at 1 pm.
March 31-April 4 - College & Career Week (NUT Week)

For the most up-to-date information on school events and activities, please regularly check our website at www.cedars-academy.org, view the March Cedars E-News at https://secure.smore.com/n/cy1jx and follow us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/CedarsInternationalAcademy/.

Click this link to view the March Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/cy1jx.

Sending warm virtual hugs and best wishes,

Heather Rauls

Principal

📆 Upcoming Events

March Theme: Women's History, Respect, & Read Month

March Character Trait: Respect and Courtesy

3 - Read Across America Day
3 - Spring Principal's Reading Challenge
3 - PTO World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser Begins
4 - 8th Grade Graduation Meeting at 6:00 pm
5 - Educational Diagnostician Day
10 - Soccer Game vs. KIPP @ KIPP Austin Ridge (6:15 pm)
12 - Soccer Game vs. East Austin College Prep @ East Metro Fields (5:30 pm)
13 - PTO Meeting - 3rd & 4th Perform, STAAR Tips 6 pm
14- Early Release Day 12:30 pm & No Aftercare
17-21 - Spring Break
27 - Report Cards
24 - STAAR Alt 2 Begins
27 - Chuck E Cheese Family Night
31-4/4 - College & Career Week & NUT Week
Monday (3/31) - College Day - Wear a college shirt or jersey with jeans
Tuesday (4/1) - College Roommates Day - Find a friend and dress like a twin.
Wednesday (4/2) - Career Day - Dress up for your future career.
Thursday (4/3) - Cedars Spirit Day - Wear Cedars Spirit attire.
Friday (4/4) - Cedars House Day - Wear Cedars House attire.

🎠Chuck E Cheese Family Night

🎓College & Career Week

🌻Spring Break

🍫World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser

We are excited to announce that Cedars PTO has decided to bring back the World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser. This fundraiser will benefit all of our students and school. Our Academy needs your help! We earn 50% of the profit, which will be used for field trips, enrichment activities, school supplies, etc.

How Does It Work?

It’s an easy fundraiser! Students/Parents get a box of chocolate to sell.

We will have a variety of chocolate boxes to choose from. Sell the chocolate, turn in your $60.00 in cash, and get another box. Our fundraiser starts on 3/3/25 and ends 4/4/25.

WE CANNOT TAKE BACK ANY CHOCOLATE. You must return $60 for each box that you check out.

To Make It Fun, We Have Prizes!

📕Spring Principal's Reading Challenge

Principal Rauls has challenged the students at Cedars International Academy to participate in the 2025 Spring Principal's Reading Challenge. Our students’ involvement in this initiative supports our ongoing effort to accelerate learning and help every student become proficient and confident readers.

This year, we challenge the students to read each night for at least 20 minutes and log the information in the reading journal daily. On May 2, 2025, return the Reading Challenge journal to your homeroom teacher.

THE CLASS THAT RECORDS THE MOST MINUTES WILL WIN AN AMAZING FIELD TRIP!

Why are we participating in this reading challenge?

Reading is the single most important activity in a child’s education. Research shows that children reading daily are better prepared for formal education. Please help us motivate all our students to read more while encouraging a love of reading. Thank you for your continued support!

Heather Rauls, Principal

Click Button for the Spring Principal's Reading Challenge Letter & Reading Log

🍎PTO Meeting March 13

Event Information

PTO Meeting (3rd & 4th Grade Performs)

Join us for the PTO meeting in the cafeteria on March 13 at 6:00 pm where 3rd & 4th grade students will perform.

We will serve dinner and provide free childcare.

When?

Thursday, Mar 13, 2025, 06:00 PM

Where?

Cedars International Academy, North Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Austin, TX, USA

location_on Open maps

💗Educational Diagnostician Day

Help us celebrate our amazing, dedicated, and hard-working Special Education Director and Educational Diagnostician, Mrs. Reichenau, during Educational Diagnostician Day on March 5, 2025. Please share your love by sending thank you letters, gifts from her favorite things, and more!

Click the link to access her favorite things!

💖🖤💛💚Black History Program Shoutout

Dear Cedars Families,

I want to thank the Dream Team (Anslee Connell, Liz Evers, and Coach Gonzalez) for an incredible Black History Program on February 27. Thanks to all the families who came out to performance. We had a record number of families attend the event. Our students did a phenomenal job bringing the story of the Children’s Crusade of 1963 to life.

The performance was not only deeply moving, bringing many of us to tears, but also a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of the young heroes who helped shape history. Thank you, Miller, for sharing the vision that created a space for learning and ensured this important story continues to be told and remembered.

A heartfelt shoutout to Janice for a delicious Soul Food dinner. Thanks to Janice, Aisha, Curteisha, Conely, and Esther for cooking the food. Dr. S, Donna, Esther, Aisha, Conely, Brittany Woods, Reichenau, and Tejada, for serving, and thank you to everyone else who helped and contributed to the Soul Food dinner!

Thank you to Mrs. Carbajal and Ms. Lopez for an exceptional cheer performance. The girls were phenomenal, and we appreciate you empowering them to choose this performance. Their passion for the message was truly evident and deeply felt.

Kudos to Moore, Silva, and Aguilar for managing the front and ensuring a smooth and safe arrival and dismissal for the performance. A big shoutout to Coach Caldwell and the HT students for their help setting up before the show and serving after the performance. Your support was truly appreciated!

A huge shoutout to the National Junior Honor Society members who helped set up and tear down the stage. As well as the cleanup crew! We are grateful for your hard work and support!

A big thank you to all the teachers and staff who attended, supported the show, and contributed in any way, including those I may have inadvertently missed.

It was the best show yet!!! 💖🖤💛💚

Sending virtual hugs and warm wishes,

Heather Rauls