December 2023

Dear Baldwin Parents,

Happy December! It's hard to believe that we're already approaching the end of the the first semester. As we embrace the holiday season and reflect on the wonderful moments we've shared throughout the year, we also want to remind you of an essential and timely matter.

Registration for the upcoming academic year is now open, and we encourage you to take a moment to secure your child's spot for the next school year. In the past this process began in late spring, so I wanted to make sure I shared this change with you all. While it may seem a bit early to be planning for the future, having all students registered is crucial for us as it directly impacts our ability to make informed decisions regarding staffing and resource allocations. To register, please visit https://www.austinisd.org/enroll/2023-24 or log in to your parent portal. Your commitment to timely registration is invaluable and much appreciated!

As part of our school goals, we aim for a 96% or better attendance rate. Catching up on missed instruction is challenging for both teachers and students. That said, we understand that illnesses may occur and we kindly request that you only keep your child at home when truly sick. If your child is absent due to illness, please provide a note documenting the illness to the office or email Angie Vega at Angelica.vega@austinisd.org.

Here are some important events coming up this month:

December 4th: "December to Remember" Spirit Days Begin

Our festive spirit days commence on Monday, December 4th. These themed days are a fun way to wrap up the semester. No need to make any special purchases – if you can join us, that would be fantastic!

December 5th: PTA Sponsored "Winter Wonderland"

Don't miss our PTA-sponsored "Winter Wonderland" event on Tuesday, December 5th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, spread holiday cheer, and explore our book fair.

December 11 - 15: Human Sexuality and Responsibility Curriculum

During the week of December 11th to 15th, our Human Sexuality and Responsibility curriculum will be taught. Over 200 Kinder - 4th grade students will participate in those lessons and others will receive a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson during the same period. All relevant information was shared in last month's S’more to parents, and lessons will be conducted after morning meetings. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.

December 20th: Winter Celebration in Classrooms

On December 20th, our classrooms will host a "Winter Celebration." Each teacher will collaborate with room parent(s) to create a theme, select special activities, and discuss food choices. Remember to avoid sharing foods with minimal nutritional value and/or nuts with students. I have shared the schedule below. Please remember that we have many guests that come to these events so please allow enough time to check in at the office for visitor sticker-don’t forget your ID!

12/4 - December to Remember begins

12/4 - 12/8 - Book Fair

12/4 - 12/8 - Special Education Staff Appreciation Week

12/5 - Winter Wonderland

12/11 - CAC Meeting

12/13 - PTA Cookie Exchange

12/21 - 1/5 - Winter break

1/8 - Student Holiday/Staff professional development

1/9 - First day back from break

1/13 - Student/Staff Holiday

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I-7LwQQz0WxjQTOkIjv0hi4cl1PoRa4EQVU_l8xktRw/

All students that went through the GT testing process will be receiving letters before December 18th. These letters will inform parents if the student did not qualify (DNQ) or if they are GT or Talent Explore. Students that did not qualify for GT can be referred next year for testing if you wish. Newly identified students for Gifted and Talented (GT) will start receiving services on January 9th in their classrooms and will also be a part of the weekly GT pull-out program.

If you have any questions about the GT process or your student's results, please contact the campus GT Advocates:

Amber Reue, Assistant Principal

Amber.Reue@austinisd.org

Heather Chapman, Counselor

Heather.b.Chapman@austinisd.org

In December we are focusing on how to effectively interact with a diverse group of people. We are talking about how students need to learn about their own cultural traditions, beliefs, and backgrounds and be aware of others’ differences. Students will learn the importance of respecting others and accepting them for their cultural uniqueness. With this knowledge and skill, students will have positive, respectful and supportive relationships with peers who are similar to and different from themselves.

All information related to 5th grade transition to middle school is housed on our Baldwin Counseling website that can be accessed here. https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/baldwin-counseling/middle-school-transition

Applications to choice schools are housed in the https://www.austinisd.org/enroll site that is linked on the site mentioned above.

Thank you for your generous support of our Baldwin

Care and Share for the 2023 holiday season. We have a few items that still need to be picked up by a generous family. Thank you for your support of this awesome program! bit.ly/45HzAYx

Please turn in all Care and Share items on or before December 13 so we can distribute items to families in time for the holidays.