A big thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the Dad’s Club “G-Force” Rocket Launch last Sunday. The weather was great, the rockets were soaring and most importantly our Twain families had a blast. The winners of the Rocket Launch Contest were…
We look forward to seeing even more families come out to the Rocket Launch next year!
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/04/18/dads-club-rocket-launch-day/
Mark Twain PTO provides the annual supply packet sale as a service to families. The packets are sold at cost and are not a fundraiser. Packets will be delivered to your child’s classroom before the 1st day of school. Make next year’s back to school shopping easy and order today!
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/04/08/order-school-supply-packs/
This is the 4th article in our series to provide you additional insights and resources regarding the fantastic experiences your children shared (or missed) at Science Night.
by Rohini Sigireddi, Rice University (Mark Twain Alumna’03)
I began my interest in science at Mark Twain. I distinctly remember one first grade science lesson about measurement. This exercise introduced us to standard units of measurement, meters for length, grams for weight, and seconds for time. In Mrs. Anisworth’s fifth grade class, I recall learning about metric prefixes, which allowed me to understand how these units of measurement could be manipulated, to kilometers, milligrams, and microseconds. In my later studies in high school and college, I began to explore the importance of one special prefix, nano.
Nanotechnology is the study of small things, which are on the scale of nanometers, items that are 109 times smaller than a meter. Nanotechnology is a burgeoning field, with applications in science, engineering, and medicine. Notable accomplishments in this field include the discovery of a nano-sized carbon structure, buckminsterfullerene, which is a molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms, arranged in a soccer ball-like structure. This structure, colloquially referred to as a ‘buckyball,’ was discovered by scientists Richard Smalley and Robert Curl, of Rice University, and Harold Kroto, who were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize. Other important nanotechnology discoveries include the fabrication of carbon nanotubes, which have unique electrical properties and can be used to improve conductivity of electrical wires, and gold nanoshells, which have been used to treat breast cancer, and are currently in phase I clinical trials.
Nanotechnology is a field of growing importance. It is prudent to introduce children to nanotechnology at a young age, as they will explore science at the nano-level in their future science classes, and use products largely enhanced by nanotechnology.
I hope that you share my interest in introducing nanotechnology to the younger generations. I have included some helpful links to spread the message of nanotechnology.
NanoKids: This site, produced by Rice University, provides a workbook, and series of nanotechnology videos for kids.
Nanozone: This is a kid-friendly website produced by the University of California – Berkeley.
Nanooze: This site provides approachable explanations of recent discoveries in science and technology.
Nanotechnology: Discovery Channel: This site provides excellent pictures of nanostructures that may be interesting for kids to view.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-
NSF: Nanotechnology Initiative Network: This site provide links to all NSF funded projects designed to introduce nanotechnology to kids.
http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/
Past articles:
Beyond Science Night: Programming
Beyond Science Night: Hands-on Renewable Energy for Kids
Beyond Science Night: Geologist for a Day
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/04/07/science-night-tuesday-march-19th/
High-Five to Tina Lee and the Jackson Jazzy Jaguars for winning 1,000 eBoxTops for Mark Twain Elementary! Tina, BTFE Classroom Coordinator, submitted a photo of the Field Day T-shirt to the Hanes T-Shirt Design Challenge nationwide sweepstakes in February. Tina described how Ms. Jackson’s 1st Grade Twain Tigers came up with a couple of themes, voted for the winning theme paralleling our national November elections, and how the shirts were made by a classroom parent. WAY TO GO!
Go to the Rewards Page for more details on how your class can earn additional box tops.
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/04/05/box-tops-update/
Thank you to those families who came to Mark Twain’s 2013 Kindergarten Round-Up on March 8. We hope you and your children benefitted from the program and are excited to enroll.
If you were unable to make Round-Up and have not toured the school, please mark your calendar for the following tour dates at 10am:
We are expecting maximum capacity in the kindergarten class again next year and want zoned families to secure their spots as early as possible. If you have not already submitted an Intent to Enroll Form, please do so as soon as possible.You can download the form on the active button above or complete one in the school office.
Please also provide proof of residency: two recent copies of utility bills or lease agreement with most recent rent receipt attached.
Submitting the Intent to Enroll and proof of residency secures your child’s place in the incoming kindergarten class.
However, you will also need to register your child during the week of May 20-24 from 8:30-11am each day.
Please call the Mark Twain Office at 713-295-5230 to make an enrollment appointment or to ask any questions.
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/03/27/kindergarten-enrollment-2013-may-20-24-from-830-11am/
We had 7 Mark Twain teams compete against private, public and charter schools from all over Houston at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament on Saturday, March 2nd. The teams have been practicing diligently for 5 months on their long- term and spontaneous problems in preparation for the competition. I was amazed to see the students display so many principles from the IB learner profile – they were inquirers, thinkers, open-minded, reflective, caring, good communicators and risk-takers. A HUGE thank you goes out to Tonya Crombie, the coaches and all the parent volunteers for making the OM program so successful this year!
All teams are commended for their incredible hard work and efforts, and 3 of our teams are going on to the State Odyssey of the Mind tournament. Congrats teams and coaches!
Problem 1- Pet Project – Alec Mafrige, August Gross, Ibrahim Ozgel, Olivia Alejandro, Yusuf Ozgel, and WenXuan Zhou (Coached by JinJuan Zhou and Carole Mafrige)
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/03/06/congratulations-mark-twain-odyssey-of-the-mind-teams/
Mark Twain Elementary’s very own Lily Vitt, 4th grade, recently won the HISD District spelling bee!Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/02/25/lily-vitt-wins-hisd-spelling-bee/
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2013/02/24/pto-officers-and-board-members-nominations-for-2013-2014-school-year/
The Online Student Directory is now available. You can lookup registered students or parents by name or class by going to the “Search Directory” tab of the Online Directory. Of course you need to register first to use the online directory. Registering is also a great way to ensure you receive the weekly Twain Times newsletter and news blasts.
If you have any questions, email twaindirectory@hotmail.com or contact Nicole Shah at 713-256-6220.
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2012/09/10/dont-miss-out/
If you have information you would like to include in the Twain PTO Website please follow these procedures:
Forward questions to twainptotech@gmail.com.
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2012/09/01/need-to-add-something-to-the-twain-pto-website/
Our Friends & Family Campaign is an important part of our overall PTO fundraising program. This year we will raise funds for teachers, students, classrooms as well as technology support, curriculum enrichment, staff appreciation, facility enhancements, IB certification, teacher training and much more. Please consider supporting these endeavors and more by making a tax-deductible donation to the Mark Twain PTO and participating in our Friends & Family Campaign. Below you will find information regarding giving levels and associated benefits as well as information on Corporate Matching Gift Programs. In advance, we thank you for your support!
Mark Twain PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2012/08/23/friends-family-campaign/
Thank you to all Mark Twain Parents who contributed to the fund to purchase our very own Twain Weather Bug Station! Because of the overwhelming support of our parents from the Bash and continued support throughout the year, our station is up and running!!
WeatherBug Schools® is a unique program that combines a fully automated Weather Tracking Station with online, standards-based learning to deliver a fascinating educational experience for every grade level. The weather station will give teachers real time access to weather data specific to Mark Twain, as well as lessons to help them use this tool to get the maximum benefit for our students. This program will also increase community awareness through partnerships with local news stations who can include our data in their weather forecast. It provides an exciting opportunity to boost learning across the curriculum.
You can also download the app to your smart phone to get up-to-date weather information. Visit: http://weather.weatherbug.com/ for more information and to sign up.
Permanent link to this article: http://marktwainpto.org/2012/05/01/twain-weatherbug-station-is-up-and-running/
