WELCOME!!
TOP 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARK TWAIN ELEMENTARY!
1. WHERE TO PARK? Parents in all grades are encouraged to park and walk their children into the building! Parking is available in the Braes parking lot by the ball fields, library and on the side streets off Braes Blvd. There is no parking on Braes Blvd. between Underwood and Aberdeen. There is also no parking allowed on Aberdeen between Braes and Stella Link. The Underwood parking lot is reserved for KINDERGARTEN PARENTS. Kindergarten Procedures – Parents may park in the Underwood lot and walk their children into the building through the gate at the northwest corner of the building (by the Kindergarten playground). All Grades – In the morning you may drop off your child in the classroom beginning at 7:50 a.m. After school all students in all grades will walk to the cafeteria with their teachers for carpool dismissal and extended day programs.
2. CARPOOL? The following guidelines are in place for arrival and dismissal at Mark Twain: The carpool lane for drop-off and pick-up of all students in grades K-5 is located on Aberdeen (south side of school). Cars may enter only from the west bound lane of Aberdeen – turning right into the drop-off lane. Traffic heading east on Aberdeen will not be allowed to turn left into the drop-off lane. If you choose to drop off your children, pull into the carpool lane and Safety Patrol students will direct the students to the cafeteria. Students will be allowed to exit cars only from the passenger side of the car. Dismissal for all students in grades is at 3:00 p.m. Students can be picked up at the classrooms or in the cafeteria at 3:00 p.m. If you choose to use the carpool lane, then you will enter the lane in the same manner as drop-off. Students will be called from the cafeteria and escorted to the cars. Parents must stay in their cars!
3. LUNCH? Join your student for lunch! Feel free to join your Twain student during his/her lunchtime – you can bring lunch or join them while they eat the school lunch. There are designated tables or parents and students plus your student can ask one friend to join them if they wish. See your teacher for their specific assigned lunchtime. Students can pay for lunch with cash OR school issued lunch cards which can be pre paid in advance. Payments must be made in CASH to the HISD Food Services cashier in the cafeteria during drop off hours each morning. HISD Food Services Parent Online, an on-line meal payment system is available for your child’s school meal purchases. You can conveniently prepay for your child’s meals using a credit card and avoid the hassles that can occur with cash handling. Register an account for your child today at www.parentonline.net. Please note that there is a five percent convenience fee per transaction.
4. DRESS CODE? School colors are red, white and blue and our mascot is a Tiger! Every day a dress code is enforced: http://www.marktwainworldschool.org/dress_code.php with the last Friday of each month a “free dress day” plus a few extra “free dress day” passes that will be given out throughout the year. Every Friday students are allowed to wear “Twain Event” t-shirts from previous events such as our Spooky Spaghetti and Huckleberry Bash events. Typically a few weeks before each event t-shirts will go on sale at the school store and students are allowed to wear those shirts everyday leading up to the event.
5. INFORMATION? Mark Twain school information is distributed to the entire school every week on Tuesdays. You will receive information in your welcome packet asking how you want to receive information – Communication Folders which means you will receive emails with information on Tuesdays or Communication Folders with hard copies of information your child will bring home Tuesday nights. Class or Grade specific information will also be sent out via these folders with the exception of timely information or class specific information.
6. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS? There are after school programs available. Contact Sylvia Ponce De Leon at 713-529-3507 or ciasp2@sbcglobal.net or visit http://www.marktwainworldschool.org/extended_day.php for more information.
7. HOW TO GET INVOLVED AT MARK TWAIN? Look for a welcome packet the first week of school detailing what you need to do to be involved with the PTO and Mark Twain Elementary. Mark Twain has a very active PTO and they welcome your involvement in any way.
8. MARK TWAIN ON THE WEB? The Mark Twain Elementary school website is www.marktwainworldschool.org.
The Mark Twain Elementary PTO website is www.marktwainpto.org. Both are full of valuable information pertaining to the school and its many activities both school and PTO sponsored.
9. THE MARK TWAIN COMMUNITY? Feel free to approach your Twain teachers, Twain staff and Twain parents about anything! We are all here to help and welcome you to our wonderful Mark Twain Community.
10. IMPORTANT DATES? August 20th – Back to School Supply Sale and Volunteer Fair! See your classroom roster, pick up your school supplies and Twain shirts for the First Day of School on Monday, August 22nd – see you then!
