Hello BHE Families:

I hope you all have a lovely 3-day weekend. Next week we have one more STAAR testing day on Wednesday April 23rd for grades 3 - 5. . This means we will have no visitors on campus during the day on Wednesday (lunch, volunteers, etc.).

Can you believe we have less than 6 weeks of school left in this year? That means while we are wrapping up the 2024-2025 school year we are also planning for the 2025-2026 school year. A couple of information items:

• If you still need to register your student for the 2025-2026 school year, we need you to do that now.
• One of the most important tasks is creating the classes for the following school year. Parent input is considered to develop balanced classes for next year and foster a positive school-home partnership. And while not guaranteed, parent/caregiver feedback about placement is strictly based on input letters, not verbal interactions or promises between parents and staff. Know that the administration does not keep placement input from previous years; therefore, if there is essential student information to be considered, please provide that information in the current year’s parent input process as outlined below. Feedback is due by Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
  Input process: A letter regarding placement for next year is not required; however, if parents have extenuating circumstances or significant concerns, please see the following guidelines: (1) A separate letter (email attachment only) MUST be submitted. Limit to one-page (12 font size). Due to the amount of input received every year, general email communications WILL NOT be accepted. (2) Specific teachers or classmates or portable colors CANNOT be requested. All teachers on our teams are skilled and competent individuals. (3) Share traits and characteristics of your child(ren) that affect their learning. (4) Share the type of educational setting and class dynamic that you feel will best meet your child(ren)’s needs. (5) Email attachment MUST be sent to the Principal (kathryn.achtermann@austinisd.org), NOT the Classroom Teacher. Please note that I DO NOT schedule meetings to discuss next years placement. Thanks for your support as we strive to make the best placement decisions for your child(ren).
• PTA has arranged for parents to be able to pre-order school supplies. The supplies (directly from the Barton Hills grade level supply lists) will be pre-packaged, labeled, and delivered to Barton Hills before the start of the new school year. Please use this link to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/98837

Kati Achtermann, Principal

April 21 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

April 23 - STAAR Math 3rd - 5th Grade

April 24 - STAAR Math 3rd - 5th Grade Make Up

April 30 - Health and Wellness Fair

May 1 - Ninja Course Day (see details above)

May 9 - PTA Cultural Arts performance - Mariachi Band

May 16 -

• Kinder Celebration (8:00)
• Austin High Field Trip for First, Second and Fourth Grades (10:30 - 12:30)

May 20 - Field Day

May 22 - PTA Meeting and The Famous BHE Teacher Talent Show (5:30 PM)

May 26 - Memorial Day - Student and Staff Holiday

May 27 - Student Talent Show and Senior Walk at 2:15

May 28 - Color Run (afternoon - schedule TBD)

May 29 - Last Day of School For Students

• 8:30 5th Grade Celebration and Hall Walk

The BHE PTA and Coach Williams are excited to announce that Ninja Anywhere is coming back to BHE on Thursday, May 1. Please take a couple of minutes to preview their activities and complete their waiver. A waiver is required to participate and must be completed by Friday, April 25. (Students without a signed waiver will have an alternate activity.)

• Watch the 2023 BHE highlight video of Ninja Anywhere activities.
• Complete a waiver for each of your students.

We are so excited to offer this program. Students loved this event last year and we are excited to have them come back!

Step 1: Watch the 2023 BHE Ninja Anywhere Video if you want to see what to expect

BHE Ninja Day March 30 2023.mov (dropbox.com)

Step 2: Complete a waiver for your child by selecting "adult and child":

WaiverFile | Online Waiver Form Entry

Wednesday, April 23

We will have schedule changes on these days as well to accommodate the testing grades. Thank you for your understanding.

Dear Families,

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. This means noticing and valuing the world's beauty and people's skills and not taking things for granted.

Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence involves recognizing and enjoying what is admirable. Positive psychology identifies three types of goodness: physical beauty (like sunsets or music), exceptional skills or talents, and moral goodness (like character strengths). Appreciating beauty can inspire awe, skills can generate admiration, and moral goodness can elevate us. These feelings help us forget ourselves and find more joy and meaning in the world.

This strength helps individuals experience positive emotions and connect with the world around them. It is outward-facing, focusing on external beauty and excellence, often leading to deep absorption in awe or admiration, which can help alleviate anxieties. It is also linked to other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and purpose.

To practice and encourage this strength at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Thank you for your support!

Gran Show de Primavera will be on Friday, May 2nd at 7pm at Austin High School. It will feature 18 costume changes/styles of dance and live mariachi music. It is a family friendly event. Admission is by donation at the door.

Calling all Future O. Henry Mustang Families,

Join us at the 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament + Mixer at Zilker Sunshine Camp in Zilker Park. This adults-only event is Friday, May 2nd from 4:30-7:30pm, and it's a great way to hang out with friends and meet other OHMS parents, teachers and staff!

This event is always fun! We'll have BBQ, drinks and fun prizes for the top two teams!

You can buy tickets to attend, register a team to play cornhole, buy a ticket for a teacher or sponsor the event online.

Click here to become a sponsor, register to play or purchase tickets for yourself or for a teacher!

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Questions? Email Co-chairs Greta Goldsby or Meredith Marks

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, families, community members, and staff are invited to attend a three-part, virtual learning series focused on Autism hosted by VELA. Click on the links for more information about these opportunities Autism Learning Series (Eng), Autism Learning Series (Spn) .

Are you looking for a summer camp opportunity? We get lots of requests to share summer camp information with parents. BHE does not endorse any of these camps - we are providing the flyers as a resource for you. Please click on the link below to see some of the offerings.

Austin ISD’s Tools for Success (TFS) is a series of virtual sessions to empower families to learn more about Austin ISD services, programs, and community resources. Please see the link below for the topics and dates.

Austin ISD trustees approved the calendars for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years during its Regular Voting Meeting Dec. 19.

The final calendar version for both school years were developed by the Calendar Task Force and include faith based and cultural observances and staff development days:

• This includes Spring Break aligning with the University of Texas calendar (the third week of March).

• For the 2025-26 school year, the first day of class for students will be Aug. 19 and the last day of class will be May 28, 2026.

• For the 2026-27 school year, the first day of class for students will be Aug. 18 and the last day of class will be May 27, 2027.

• The total number of student instructional days is 169.

We are happy to share the new and updated process to be a volunteer with Barton Hills. AISD changed the system for volunteer registration and background checks so it has taken us a little longer than usual to get the information out to you. All BHE volunteers who will be in contact with children must complete a background check. Background checks are good for one year. If you’re a new volunteer or haven’t done a background check in the current school year, please click the link and follow the directions below. It’s quick and easy!

To begin the volunteer approval process, please click on the link below.

Austin ISD Volunteers

Questions? Contact our Administrative Assistant, Kathy Carr, at mary.k.carr@austinisd.org.

The Responsible Use Policy is now in place. Acknowledgement and adherence to the RUP is applicable each time anyone uses an AISD device, logs into our network and/or accesses the AISD portal and related applications. Please take time to review the K-5 Responsible Use Policy

Please see information below on the AISD Student Success Guide for the 24-25 School Year:

Education in this community represents a significant commitment of financial and human resources. The benefits a student derives from this investment depend very much on the student's attitude toward learning and the student's adherence to high standards of behavior.

The Student Code of Conduct that follows is the district's specific response to requirements of Chapter 37: Discipline; Law And Order of the Texas Education Code. The law requires the district to define misconduct that may or must result in a range of specific disciplinary consequences.

This code is an outgrowth of collaboration among district and campus staff, parents, and other community members and was adopted by the AISD Board of Trustees. It provides information and direction to students and parents regarding standards of behavior as well as consequences of misconduct. In the case of conflict between the Student Code of Conduct and board policy, the Student Code of Conduct will prevail.

• Please send in documentation of student absences using the School Absence Form on the AISD website or complete a paper form (pick up in Front Office).
• We, DO NOT accept phone calls or voicemail messages as documentation for a student's absence.
• Please have medical offices submit documentation of your student’s visit to “bartonhills@austinisd.org”.
• Please allow up to 72 hours (3 business days) for attendance to be corrected.
• Set up notifications for your student’s attendance and grades via Parent Self Serve.
• Students attending family trips during scheduled school days will remain coded as an unexcused absence. Car problems, traffic, or oversleeping will not be considered as an excused absence or excused tardy.

A student is tardy if he/she is not with their homeroom teacher when the 7:40 bell rings. If you arrive late to school, your student will be required to come to the office for a tardy slip before going to class.

What to do if your student must leave school early:

• When you arrive to Barton Hills to pick up your student, please be prepared with your photo I.D. Your student will be called to the attendance office to leave campus.

• Please do not plan to pick up your student from school 30 minutes prior to dismissal (ie 2:40 PM).

• You must sign the student out in the office. Leaving for any part of the day will result in an unexcused tardy. Students leaving for a medical appointment must bring a note from the doctor to excuse the absence/tardy.

For more information visit the district's attendance page.

AISD is launching a new App. Please see the flyer for QR Code

Maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for our students is our top priority. It is important to us that our safety protocols are in place AND that our students, families, and staff continue to feel a positive and welcoming environment each day. Please help us keep everyone safe.

Arrival:

• We will continue to have a secure morning arrival with families/caregivers saying goodbye before students enter the building. Parents/Caregivers may walk students to the front walkway during car drop off/walking drop off. Staff members will be outside and inside ready to greet, welcome, and support our students as they enter the building at 7:30. Parents will not be allowed to walk students to the classrooms and portables.
• The front doors will open for breakfast at 7:15 am. At 7:30 am, all students will enter the building.
• The first week our Kinder students will meet their teachers in the cafeteria before going to class. The teachers will be there to meet them and then walk together to the classroom.
• IMPORTANT: There is NO parking in the drive in front of the school between 7:00 - 8:00 am. This lane is reserved for drop off only. If you'd like to walk your child to the front door, please park in the neighborhood and walk to school together. Thank you!
• If you need to bring something to your child after they have entered the building, please leave it on the labeled cart outside the front doors with a clearly marked label. Please call the front office to let us know you are leaving an item (lunch, water bottle, device, etc.) and we will get it to your child.

Exterior Doors:

• All exterior doors will remain locked at all times during the school day. Portable classroom doors will also remain fully locked all day.
• Staff will check each exterior door weekly to ensure they close and lock as intended.

Dismissal:

• All kindergarten students will be dismissed with their homeroom teacher at 3:05pm.

• 1st- 5th grade car riders, walkers, and bikers will be dismissed from specific outdoor locations with their homeroom teacher at 3:10pm.

• Older siblings may join younger siblings at the younger sibling location.

• Third Base After School Care students will go to the cafeteria.

• *See map below for dismissal locations by grade level.

• Students must leave by 3:20 at the latest.

• Please see map below and note that areas in RED are NO Parking Zones - even for drop off and pick up.

Visitors:

• Visitors are welcome at Barton Hills for the purposes of student support. This may include scheduled parent teacher conferences and meetings, registration, pre-arranged volunteer opportunities, and other scheduled events.
• Lunch Visitors: You may come have lunch with your child. You must sign in at the office prior to going to the cafeteria. Please note that if you plan to have lunch with your students, you will need to plan to eat outside or at a separate designated table. Provide lunch only for your child. Do not arrange to purchase lunch for a group of students and then have your child pass it out. You may only have lunch with your own child - please do not invite other students to join you. *No lunch visitors for the first three weeks of school so we can work on routines and expectations.
• The main front doors are the only entry doors to the campus for visitors. The door buzzer/office communicator is on the right side wall by the front doors. Please push the button to communicate with the office and, once verified, we will buzz you in to the building.
• All visitors MUST sign in at the front office upon arrival AND sign out at the front office when leaving. Please remember to bring your photo ID with you when visiting campus. We will be using the 360 system to scan licenses and print out Visitor tags.
• IMPORTANT: Families, please do not ask a staff member to hold a side or back door open for you to enter the building. All students, parents, and visitors must enter through the front entry doors. Thank you!

Staff Training, Campus Drills, and Threat Assessment

• Our staff will be trained on safety prior to students entering the building.
• We will review safety plans and practices throughout the year.
• We will continue to hold all required safety drills with our students. Most of the drills will be announced drills so our students aren't surprised or alarmed by them.
• Barton Hills has an established threat assessment team comprised of administration, counseling and teaching staff. All members of the team have received Threat Assessment training from Texas State. Licensed Mental Health Providers and School Resource Officers are on call to assist when needed.

Phew! I know that's a lot to digest, but wanted everyone to know we're prepared for a strong, safe, and productive year.

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

Instagram: bheeagles