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Family Newsletter
By Nayeli Santoyo & Collaborators ● May 12, 2023
Smart Brevity® count: 6 mins...1526 words
Hello Families!🌺
“Can you believe it? We are only a couple weeks away from the end of this school year!” 🎉
We are very excited for all our 2022-23 graduates —don’t forget to check our weekly senior graduate profile— 🎓 ⬇️
If you have not already done so, please register your students for the next school year—one less thing on the to do list!✏️
…and check out this event for parents and caregivers ⤵️
Now, let’s get started…
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1 Big Thing: Austin ISD educators, staff & volunteers shine bright at Salute🏆
🎉The 2023 Salute Awards are in the books, recognizing some of Austin ISD’s outstanding educators, staff and volunteers for their dedication and excellence.
🥇And the winner is: Out of a strong field of finalists, the 2023 Salute winners announced at Wednesday’s ceremony are:
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Classified Staff of the Year – Monica Castro, Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy
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Librarian of the Year – Stacey Smith, Govalle Elementary
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Counselor of the Year – Cynthia Diaz, Small MS
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Assistant Principal of the Year – Matthew Kenny, Blanton ES
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Principal of the Year – Keith Moore, Campbell ES
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Teacher of the Year
Elementary – Megan Vasquez, Becker ES
Secondary – Samantha Marion, Rosedale School
Honored: Salute 2023 also honored this year’s Teachers of Promise, as well as Austin Ed Fund Grant Program award recipients, 2023 APIE Champions, APIE Hall of Fame inductees and Austin ISD teachers and staff who completed National Board Certification this year.
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2. Austin ISD student tech inventory; ALL devices to be disabled May 25💻
💻In preparation for a district-wide tech inventory this summer, Austin ISD is asking students and families to return ALL tech devices – iPads, laptops, charging cords, hotspots, iPad cases, etc. – to their campuses.
Exceptions: This does not affect Special Education-specific devices that are checked out through that department.
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If a device is needed for a Dual Credit/ACC course, devices will be distributed to students the last week of school. Devices for on-campus summer programs will be provided.
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Parents or guardians can complete an OPT-IN form via their Parent Portal account to request a device.
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Devices will be available for pick-up on May 26, and May 30 through June 2.
Go deeper to learn more about the pick- up locations for summer devices.
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3. Virtual repurposing session kicks off new commitment to once-a-semester updates 💻🏫
🏫On May 9, Austin ISD Director of Real Estate and Asset Management Jeremy Striffler hosted a virtual session on repurposing. Nearly 200 people registered to attend. Striffler and district leaders pledged to provide regular updates at least once every semester.
What they’re saying: “It’s about stewardship,” Striffler said, “and I know that word may have religious connotations for some. But, to me, this is an opportunity to care for land that the district has been trusted with over many decades. It needs to serve and meet community needs.”
🔎Catch up quick: The following is a brief synopsis of the status of each of the district's closed and underutilized campuses.
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Anita Ferrales Coy - will be redeveloped with housing for Austin ISD teachers, staff and families, and a new Alternative Learning Center. The district is seeking a development partner to build and manage the housing.
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Former Rosedale School - is in the process of determining repurposing goals. Community input strongly favors individual houses or duplexes rather than apartments, and preservation of a playground and green space.
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Pease Elementary - will offer child care as soon as Fall 2024, a need identified by community input. The district is seeking a partner to operate the early childhood education center.
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Sims Elementary - is beginning its community input process with two sessions in the next month (see below), as well as a survey.
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Metz Elementary - serves students district-wide by housing Library, Science, Health and Nursing Services, in addition to providing staff training facilities. Metz is also home base for the project teams working on the 25 school modernizations that are part of the 2022 bond. Further repurposing plans are on hold.
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Brook Elementary - houses the district’s Special Education Department. Further repurposing plans are on hold.
🗓What’s next? The district will hold a virtual community input session for Sims on Tuesday, May 23 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and an in-person session on Tuesday, June 6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sims campus. Both sessions will be offered in English and Spanish.
📣Go deeper with the district’s repurposing process.
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4. 🏫 Anderson senior wrestles the most out of school, life 🎓
🎉Austin ISD continues a month of celebrating the graduating Class of 2023 with a profile of Anderson senior Pete Regalado, stand-out wrestler and future Marine Corps reservist.
🎒For Pete Regalado IV, a senior at Anderson High School, the focus and dedication required in wrestling has meant lots of positive changes on and off the mat – even though he only went out for the sport this year, when many of his teammates had been training and competing for years.
🎓The few, the proud: When Pete graduates on Thursday, June 1, he will also take the first step toward a career with the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
🎖Pete says the diversity, determination, and discipline of the Marine Corps Reserve captured his attention because he wants to absorb the Marine culture of working with a purpose to achieve his goals.
💛Role model: Pete says he hopes to be a good example to his brothers and sisters, and make his parents proud of him, especially his mother.
🏠Austin is his hometown, but is not his mother’s, who grew up in Monterrey, Mexico. Pete calls learning about both cultures and being bilingual “the best of two worlds – my family makes me want to do the best I can do.”
📣Parting words: Pete advises students coming up behind him to stay busy, stay involved in a sport or school activity, and ask lots of questions of their teachers.
Go deeper and read more about Pete’s story.
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5. Austin ISD registered nurses are coming to High Schools for 23-24🩺
💉The district is currently hiring high school RNs for the upcoming school year, and will gradually hire for our middle and elementary schools in phases.
🏫The goal is to be fully staffed with RNs at every Austin ISD campus.
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This move will bring Austin ISD in line with the majority of districts across the country and supports best practices in nursing standards.
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While the change may initially come with increased costs, it will allow us to leverage some federal reimbursements and other savings over time.
⚕Why it matters: Student’s medical needs are continuously evolving and increasing. Direct collaboration among campus leadership, Austin ISD Department of Health Services and Nursing and our RNs will best position us to make critical decisions that meet the complex needs of our students.
🩺What they’re saying: “Austin students deserve the nationally recommended model of staffing a licensed RN at each school for bell-to-bell coverage," says Austin ISD parent and School Health Advisory Council Member Kelly Tarun. “A school nurse is an integral part of any campus staff. Bringing RNs in-house will enhance the learning environment for all children.”
Our partners will continue to play a vital role in providing the services our students need as we work through this transition.
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Nayeli’s uncle is visiting from Chicago 🏙 for the weekend, and she plans to spend some family time.☀🍃
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