Talon Talk

At Summitt ES, we ensure high levels of learning for each student, engaging both heart & mind.

Hello Summitt Community,

Our school has been filled with excitement and enthusiasm for the past two weeks! I’m truly grateful for the support we’ve received as we launch into this new year together. It’s been inspiring to see our classrooms come alive — filled with joyful learners, dedicated teachers and staff, and dynamic learning environments that are already sparking curiosity and engagement. The energy in our school is vibrant and full of promise for an amazing school year. Thank you for being such an important part of this strong start.

MAP Growth:

One of the district benchmarks in the areas of Reading and Math is NWEA MAP Growth-a norm referenced test. These results compare your child in their grade level to other students across the nation at their same age and grade level. I have included some information links below.

Students in K-5 are taking Beginning of the Year assessments through MAP Growth/NWEA for Reading and Math beginning this week. Our testing window closes the week of September 20. These results will be shared at Parent Teacher Conferences in mid October. Students will take this assessment on their school issued devices three times a year.

Our first Parent Coffee Chat will be held on Wednesday, September 24th @ 8:15 am. Our counselors and I will be sharing ideas and resources for helping your child be more successful both at school and at home.

For those who are new to Summitt, this is the Talon Talk, a monthly newsletter that is sent out to the campus and community, sharing happenings for the upcoming month.

Here are some items included in this month's Talon Talk:

• Back to School Night
• Koblenz Exchange Program Information
• Gifted and Talented Program information and nomination timelines
• Attendance Matters
• MAP Growth Testing Information
• New cell phone/electronic device policy and AISD Student Success Guide
• Counselor Corner/4th & 5th Grade Leadership Opportunities
• Health Room Updates
• Save the Dates

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday at Back-to-School Night. Thank you for sharing your amazing students with us!

With sincere appreciation,

Ms. Placker

August Talon Talk

Welcome Back Edition

When: Thursday, September 4, 2025

Back-to-School Night serves as a great avenue to learn more about your child's classrooms. Teachers have prepared engaging presentations, and they are anxious to share their expectations and goals for our Summitt students. This is not a time for individual conferences. Teachers will begin scheduling individual parent conferences for mid-October. More details to follow.

While we love our students dearly, we would like this evening to remain an “adult only” presentation. This will help ensure focus and minimal distractions for all who attend. Please do not leave children unsupervised on the playground during the evening.

Back to School Night Times:

5:30-5:40: Optional Welcome with Ms. Placker, assistant principals and counselors in the cafeteria

All Grade Levels (PK-5th)

5:45- 6:15 p.m: Session 1 (option 1 )

6:20- 6:50 p.m.: Session 2 (option 2)

We will be offering two identical sessions for all grade levels in order for families with multiple children to visit more classes. You do not need to attend both sessions for the same teacher.

We look forward to having you join us for Back to School Night to learn more about your Eagle’s year ahead!

Do you want to learn about the Koblenz Exchange Program?

We are looking for Summitt families who are excited to host German families in the spring of 2027 and travel to Koblenz, Germany in June of 2026. Our 4th and 5th grade students will be eligible to travel to Koblenz in 2026, but this year we need your support as we prepare to host Schenkendorf families in Austin! Please join us in the Summitt library on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm to learn more about the program and get involved!

Beginning the week of September 2nd, you may begin coming to campus on Wednesdays and Thursdays to have lunch with your child. Thank you for reviewing and following these guidelines:

• Please bring your driver’s license and check in at the front office.
• After signing in, please wait in the hallway outside the front office near the entrance to the cafeteria line.
• You and your child will head to our designated outdoor lunch area, “Eagle’s Landing,” located at the blue picnic tables near the Blacktop/Playground.
• In case of rain or cold weather, we’ll have tables set up inside the hallways for you to enjoy lunch together.
• Before the end of lunch, please walk your child back to the cafeteria so they can rejoin their class.
• Please do not escort your child back to class—teachers will pick up students from the cafeteria.
• After dropping off your child, please return to the office to sign out. Parents/guardians should not remain in the hallway outside the cafeteria.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment while making special memories with your child.

After the installation of our new exterior gate, we initially kept it locked throughout the school day until 4:00 PM. During the first two weeks of school, we closely monitored this schedule and found that all after-school students were consistently able to reach their class locations by 3:30 PM.

Based on this observation, we will begin unlocking the walk-up gate behind the annex at 3:35 PM daily.

Please note that several after-school programs are hosted on our campus, and some of their licensing requirements state that no outside students may be on the play area during their program time. We kindly ask for your understanding if you and your child are asked to relocate while these students are using the playground.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping all of our students safe and our programs running smoothly.

GT Referral and Screening Process

All campuses in Austin ISD offer Gifted and Talented screening in grades K-12 based on referrals submitted at bit.ly/2025AISDGTStart. If you are interested in seeing whether your child demonstrates a need for Gifted and Talented Services, please follow the link above. When a referral is submitted for a child, their parent or caregiver will be prompted to complete a Parent/Caregiver GT Observation Form.

Referrals are received by the Campus GT Advocate, who facilitates the implementation of GT assessment and services at the campus level. For questions about the GT identification process or services at your campus, please reach out to Lucie Cantrell, our Campus GT Advocate. Lucie.cantrell@austinisd.org

Referral Window for SY2025-26: August 19-October 17

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Absences and tardiness impact the whole classroom. Parents: Making sure your student is in school and on time every day is the law. You can input an absence note at the link below, or scan this QR code! Absence notes will only be accepted via this digital form; no paper notes will be counted towards absences.

AFamilyGuidetoMAPGrowthTesting-English

AFamilyGuidetoMAPGrowthTesting-Vietnamese

AFamilyGuidetoMAPGrowthTesting-Spanish

Per Texas House Bill 1481, if a student brings a cell phone or a smart watch/device to school, it must remain in the students’ backpack and be turned off during the school day. If a student needs to make a personal phone call home or contact a guardian, students can use the school phone upon request.

Smart Watches ARE NOT to be worn when at school.

For further information regarding AISD policies pertaining to personal communication devices and the disciplinary measures connected to any violations, please see the Student Success Guide linked below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MF70npyuY9-4eCWeRrvMEHNZg0IEvJ1w/edit?tab=t.0

This information was sent to all parents on Friday evening. If you have not completed the consent forms, please do so at your earliest convenience: The district must notify parents of staff services related to school counseling and give parents the opportunity to opt out before those services are provided to their child. [Mental Health Services Consent Form: English Spanish Vietnamese

Please watch the video linked below for an introduction to our counselors!

Meet the Counselors!

We love supporting our students in their leadership development. Fourth and fifth graders have an opportunity to support Summitt with leadership roles. Some roles are for both grade levels, some just for 5th grade. This is the link to the leadership google doc for your child to fill out. (You can help them, but please don't do it for them since some of the information is for them to answer.) The application is due on Friday, Sept. 5th so we can begin the training for the jobs.

Below is a list of the jobs:

Morning Announcements

Breakfast Helpers

Office and Library Helpers

Fifth Grade PALS

Choir

Newspaper

House Leaders

Flag Patrol

Safety Patrol

REAL ( new for No Place for Hate)

IMPORTANT: CONSENT NEEDED

In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 12, Austin ISD is providing this annual notice to inform you of the health-related services available to students at your child’s campus during the this school year.

These services may include (but are not limited to) the items below. As a parent or guardian, you have the right to withhold consent for all health-related services provided on your child's campus.

Please be advised that if you choose to opt out of these services, and your child becomes ill or sustains a non-life-threatening injury during the school day, the campus nurse or health room assistant will not be permitted to assess or provide care—except in cases of a life‑threatening emergency, as defined by applicable law and district policy. In such cases, you will be contacted immediately and will be required to pick up your child from school without delay.

Completing this form will ensure that we are providing only those services you have consented to and will help us remain in full compliance with Texas Senate Bill 12.

HEALTH ROOM UPDATES:

We would like to clarify the current medication policy. Prescriptions AND over-the-counter medications will require BOTH a written parent authorization form AND a written order from a U.S./Texas Licensed practitioner (a doctor).

The order must include:

• The patient name
• medication name
• strength
• dose
• delivery route
• frequency
• date from June 2025 or later
• signature by practitioner

The only medications students may carry and self-treat are for anaphylaxis, asthma or diabetes-and these all require the full packet from the physician (including consent and permission by the provider and parent/guardian to "self carry") and be provided to the health room as well.

We will not be able to accept any medications on campus until all required paperwork is received. Please note, over the counter medications requiring an order and consent from the parent also include cough drops, throat sprays, eye drops, and nose sprays. Over the counter medications must be in the original , unopened container and include the following:

Manufacturer's information

Net contents of the container

List of active and inactive ingredients and amount

Name of any habit forming drug contained in the medication

Cautions/warnings needed for the protection of the user

Adequate directions for safe and effective use

The first dose of medication MAY NOT be given at school. Forms for medication authorization and orders are located on the AISD website (Health Services and Nursing) and may also be obtained on campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the health room at 512-414-4256. or email the campus nurse @ amy.owen@austinisd.org.

Summitt Health Team

A big welcome back to the new school year! My name is Denise Richey, and I'm the librarian here at Summitt Elementary. I am so excited to open the library doors and see all our students, from pre-K to 5th grade, filling these halls with stories and discoveries. I believe the library is a source of joy and community, and I'm looking forward to another year of sharing that with your children.

What to Expect at the Library

• Our youngest students (pre-K to 3rd grade) will visit the library weekly. Our time together will be full of selecting books, listening to stories, and engaging in fun lessons that cover everything from digital literacy to cultural celebrations, scientific discoveries, and connections to fine arts.
• Our older students (4th & 5th grade) will be stretching their independence. They’ll have the chance to practice independent check-out and participate in collaborative lessons that support what they're learning in their classrooms.

A Note on Responsibility

All students have the privilege of borrowing books! I want the library to be a place where they learn and practice responsibility, not a place of punishment. Sometimes our younger students might even leave their library book in the classroom to help them with this process.

Here's how our book check-out system works:

• Books are checked out for two weeks.

• If a book is overdue, I'll send a reminder notice home.

• After one month, a missing book is considered lost, and a bill will be sent home. Check-out privileges will be paused at this time until we can make things right.

Please know that I am always willing to work with you and your child regarding lost or damaged books. My goal is to work together, so please reach out to me via email or phone with any questions or concerns at denise.richey@austinisd.org or (512) 414-4484, ext. 59091.

Volunteering Opportunities

With nearly 800 students and 30 classes a week, I am always so grateful for an extra set of hands! If you are a parent or grandparent who is interested in volunteering, please fill out this form: Summitt Elementary Library Volunteer Interest Form 2025-2026

Labor Day Holiday

No School, September 1st

Back-to-School Night: Thursday, September 4th

PTA Meeting: Monday, September 8th @ 6 pm

Koblenz Exchange Interest Meeting: September 9th -5:30pm

Watch DOGS Pizza Night - September 10th @ 6:30 pm

Student Holidays: No school for students September 22nd and 23rd (Staff Development)

Parent Coffee Chat: September 24th @ 8:15 am

CAC Meeting: September 29th at 3:30 pm in the library

Mid Autumn Festival: Friday, October 3rd

Student Holiday: No school for students, October 10th and 13th

Parent/Teacher Conference Day: Monday, Oct 20th (No school for students)

Parent Coffee Chat: October 22

Student Holiday: No school for students on November 4th (Staff Development)

Fall Break: November 24th-28th

Winter class parties: December 18th

Winter Break: December 22nd-January 5th (Students Return on January 6th)

• Let’s lift and recognize our teachers and staff for the exceptional work being done to serve students!

• Nomination categories include:

• Teachers

• Principals

• School Counselors

• School District

• Early Childhood Facility

Please share this recognition opportunity with your students, families, staff, and community members. https://heblovesteachers.com/

Students will be participating in PE 3 days a week and attend Music and Art 2 times a week. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on PE days. It is also highly recommended for them to wear closed toe shoes for Recess as well.

Students will go to recess daily and have a thirty minute lunch time.

Art teacher, Ms. Thora requests that you save all of your empty and clean cans for her classes.

For the safety of our students and entire campus community please do not bring you dogs onto our campus grounds, especially during arrival and pick up. Thank you.

Each morning, our school day will begin with a school-wide Morning Assembly in the cafeteria and gym. Our campus leadership team, counselors, librarian, teacher, and student leaders take turns facilitating Morning Assembly each day. Students sit by grade level and teacher.

Every Assembly includes a morning message, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Texas Pledge, a Moment of Silence, and our Eagle Pledge. On Friday's we sing our school song. Please have your child at school by 7:30 am so they can join us!

Ways for you to get involved:

• Join our Summitt PTA! Visit https://summitteagles.org/ for more information! (serve on committees, write grants, volunteer in the work room, support campus fundraisers, etc..)

• Summitt WATCH DOGS Attention all Fathers/Father-figures of Summitt students: Are you interested in spending a day at school, interacting with the students, being a positive role model, and providing an extra set of eyes & ears on campus? Sign up with the Watch D.O.G.S. Program & be your student’s “Hallway Hero” for the day! contact: summittwatchdogs@gmail.com for more information

• Become a Room Parent

• Parent Advisory Council with our counselors

Summitt Houses were created for all students and staff to feel a sense of connection, collaboration and care.

CONNECTION: At Summitt Elementary we have five houses. All students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade, are vertically assigned to a house at the beginning of the school year. Each school year begins with students learning the qualities and characteristics of each house’s trait which then leads to a school wide house reveal.

COLLABORATION: Students participate in a House Meeting with their fellow house members monthly. Students get to collaborate by participating in various activities and energizers. Students recite their motto and build connections during this time. Your child is encouraged to wear their house color on Tuesdays.

CARING: A house system helps to build a caring, supportive environment. Each student will be a valued member of a smaller group within the whole school. The purpose is to create an enjoyable atmosphere in which deep learning and effective teaching can flourish; a school with rigor and relevance.

Summitt Houses:

The House of Kindness (red, koala)

The House of Courageous (gold, lion)

The House of Collaboration (blue, wolf)

The House of Innovation (purple, raccoon)

The House of Tenacity (green, turtle)

Summitt House System allows for:

• Inclusive community of staff and students

• Reading buddies

• Multi age grouping opportunities

• Vertical teaming and alignment

• Student leadership/ownership