Welcome Back, Twain Tigers!

Twain Tigers, welcome back to school!

STAY CONNECTED

Be in the know about what is going on at Mark Twain Elementary and in your child’s classroom! All school communications come through Twain Times and Parent Square.

Twain Times
The Twain Times is a weekly school-wide newsletter that is emailed to parents. The Twain Times includes important information including updates from Principal Rawson, school calendar, events and other important information. Register here.

Parent Square
Parent Square is the communication platform between parents and teachers. All information from teachers, administrators and the PTO will come through Parent Square, and parents can reach their child’s teacher on this platform.

Student Directory
New families can register to share their contact information and have access to the online directory (accessed via the directory’s Membership Toolkit app). Returning families, please update your information for the school-wide directory, and you can choose which information to share. Find the link here.

New Families
Would you like a guide to help you learn more about Mark Twain?  Someone you can ask questions?  Sign up here to join an ambassador group!  
We have grade-level groups, language groups, and cultural groups available.  After you sign up, we'll have your Mark Twain Ambassador email you.

Bonus! The shout-out is an opportunity to purchase space in the Twain Directory to honor your child, wish them well for the upcoming school year, or congratulate a 2023 graduate.  Or, parents have the option to pick their own message/greeting.  A photo can also be included in the shout-out. Purchase your directory shout-out here.

SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL

School volunteers: Mark Twain needs you! The school has volunteer needs both big and small. All PTO committees and events need volunteers, and volunteers are also needed in the school. Lunchroom helpers sign up for a block of time to help our students eat and tidy their spots in the cafeteria in a timely manner. Parent tutors assist students with math subjects at the beginning and end of the day. Teacher workroom volunteers complete copying, collating, and other tasks to allow teachers to fully utilize their planning time. Click here to register your interest in volunteering.

Volunteering: All parents who volunteer in the school or with children must be certified through HISD’s Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program. The registration process is quick and can be found here.

Friends and Family: A crucial part of our overall PTO fundraising program. Your DONATION helps support classroom setup, event expenses, technology upgrades, facility needs, and our IB program.  These funds DIRECTLY support and benefit Mark Twain Elementary. All donations are tax-deductible. Click HERE to donate! Please check if your employer will match your donation. Questions? E-mail Marvin Itzep.

Spooky Spectacular: Mark your calendars for Mark Twain Elementary’s fun annual fall festival and fundraiser! Spooky includes inflatables, a haunted house, a costume contest, games, food, and Boo Booths, a marketplace for neighborhood businesses. We need volunteers for this spooktacular event. Please email Chairs Karen Huang and Mary Katherine Roberts at spooky@marktwainpto.org if you would like to be on the Spooky Spectacular committee or if your business would like to be a sponsor for the event. 

Huckleberry Bash: It’s time to save the date to go for the GOLD at our 2024 Olympic Bash! You will not want to miss finding your spot on the podium at our adults-only fundraiser on Saturday, February 24, 2024, to support our winning school. Flip, Dribble or Spike your way to the Huckleberry Bash table to sign up for the committee by contacting Chairs Mallory Rissmiller and Holly Stapleton at huckleberrybash@marktwainpto.org.

FOR THE KIDS

Yearbook: Order your yearbook this fall, link coming soon! We will need your help putting together the 2023-2024 Mark Twain yearbook! Be on the lookout – soon you’ll receive instructions for uploading fun pictures of your student, their classmates, and school events. You can reach this year’s Chairs Alexandra Excell and Onora Beltran Zatorski at yearbook@marktwainpto.org.

School Store: The school store is open year-round with school uniforms, supplies, and other fun Mark Twain items for your child. Purchases can be made here.

If you pre-ordered school supplies, the school store volunteers have delivered them to your classroom. If you pre-ordered uniforms, you can pick them up from the store at Meet the Teacher. Any uniforms not picked up will be delivered to your child’s classroom the first week of school.  Please direct questions to schoolstore@marktwainpto.org.

Birthday Grams: Wish your child a happy birthday by ordering a special Birthday Gram. Your order includes a “Happy Birthday” serenade performed by 5th grade students after morning announcements, a gold crown to wear all day, and a goody bag. All proceeds are used to support Fifth Grade Commencement activities. Order your Birthday Grams here.

ENRICHMENT

Art a la Carte: An innovative program designed to expand students’ appreciation of historically significant art and architecture.  Art a la Carte introduces kindergartners through fifth graders to the visual arts. With parent volunteers as their guides, students learn about famous artists, painting, sculpture and architecture, often in a historical context. Please watch the Twain Times for information on volunteer signups or contact chairs Elizabeth Garcia and Donna Boyd at twainptoart@gmail.com.

Black History Program: Parents who would like to volunteer for the Black History Program, please contact Mrs. Carter at KCarter3@houstonisd.org.

Cub Scouts: It is never too late to join Cub Scouts! Calling all boys and girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Cub Scout Pack 34 is committed to providing an enriched scouting program to students. Let’s get outdoors and have some fun! Contact Pack34Houston@gmail.com for more information.

Cultural Exchange: International Festival and International Potluck are the cornerstone events of our international school. To participate in or help organize these events, please email Ebru Senol, Prathima Guniganti or Deepa Ramachandran at twaininternationalfestival@gmail.com.

Dad’s Club: The Mark Twain Dad’s Club encourages community and supports various PTO activities, including the Spooky Haunted House and the Twain Dance. If you are a Mark Twain Dad and would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact MJ Jackson, RJ Sealock and Clay Colvin at twaindadsclub@gmail.com.

Diversity, Inclusion & Awareness Committee: Interested in joining a committee that strives to expand our understanding of concepts and ideas that build equality, inclusiveness and embrace diversity by: creating a safe place for open and honest conversations, problem solve and innovate new ways to make our planners, events, and ultimately our community more inclusive? Join Twain in Solidarity: Diversity, Inclusion & Awareness Committee by contacting Krystal Carter at TwaininSolidarity@gmail.com.

Girl Scouts: Prepare for fun, friendship, and new adventures while making the world a better place. Girl Scouts look at our world and take action to change it for the better. They make friends, challenge themselves with new experiences, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!” Contact Ruby Salazar at rsalazar@sjgs.org.

Name that Book: The Name that Book program acquaints HISD students with classic to contemporary award-winning books. Lists are here for K-2 and for 3-5, and more information is available on the HISD Name that Book information page. The contest for K-2 will take place February 2024, and the 3-5 preliminaries and finals will take place in February and March. K-2 sponsor is Ms. Friesen. The 3-5 grade sponsors/teachers are Ms. Wheeler  and Ms. Arnone. Learn more about HISD Library Services here. 

Robotics: Ms. O’Neal is anticipating an exciting year for the robotics team.  Please watch the Twain Times for more information on this year’s program.

Makerspace: – Welcome to Mark Twain Makerspace, where creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning come together! The makerspace is a dedicated area where students can engage in hands-on activities integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). The Twain Makerspace provides students with the tools, resources, and space to explore, experiment, and create a wide range of projects. The makerspace fosters creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills, encouraging students to turn their ideas into reality. This year we are excited to incorporate 3D printing and additional activities within the makerspace. Mrs. O’Neal and Mrs. Friesen are looking forward to your visit to the Twain Makerspace.

Track Team and Tiger Trot: Calling all aspiring Track and Field athletes! If you are a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader and enjoy jogging and running, and if you want to be a part of a fun and exciting team that will get to compete with other schools, then join Mark Twain Track. Registration forms will be available after the school year begins, due in November, and try-outs will be held in December. Also, mark your calendars now for the Tiger Trot on Saturday, December 16. With 5k, 3k and 1k options, this family fun run is open to the whole community. Registration will begin by October. For more information, contact Coach Jody at jbourque@houstonisd.org.

UIL: UIL includes district-wide competitions designed to complement the academic curriculum and challenge students. More information about the competitions can be found here.  Mark Twain Science teacher, Krystal Carter, leads Twain students from grades 1-5 in preparing for and competing in UIL competitions. Please email her with any questions or interest at KCarter3@houstonisd.org.

GRADE-LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES

Every parent of a Mark Twain student is a part of the PTO and is an integral part of our school community. If you have questions or would like additional information, please reach out to VP of Volunteers and Grade Levels, Louise Le, at vips@marktwainpto.org, and she will connect you with your grade-level representative. These volunteers, as well as any other PTO Board member, can help if you have any questions or concerns.

Kindergarten: Maisie Jackson and Stacy Keding Romagosa

1st Grade: Emily Spinner

2nd Grade: Swati Srivastava

3rd Grade: Michele Hayes

4th Grade: Emily Harbison

5th Grade: Krystal Carter, Laura Curry, and Ginny Kerlin