Ortega at UT Volleyball Clinic

CIMG0043.jpg a photo by ortegaelementary on Flickr.

Ortega playing Volleyball games and learning skills at the UT Volleyball Clinic, Saturday, March 5th, 2011. Click on the image for more pictures.

Lloyd Doggett Speaking to Schools Proposed to Close - Community Meeting at Space 12

Hello Everyone,

In order to quickly and efficiently get the word out about the Lloyd Doggett meeting this Wednesday SAUS created a facebook invite. Even if you are not on facebook you can still use the link to view the invite. If you are on facebook please send out the link and invite school and community members. I tried to send it to each school's Facebook page, but it's only letting me invite individual friends, so we really need all of you to invite people from your respective schools! Thank you! :)

We're capping this at the first 180 people which is the maximum capacity at Space 12. That means you must RSVP on the Facebook invite or come early to get a seat.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160213914035786&index=1

Lloyd Doggett 

Meeting This Wednesday

6-8 pm
Space 12
3121 E. 12th Street
Austin, TX 78702

Congressman Doggett wants to talk through the $830M issue at the Federal level and then will answer any questions we have. Many schools up for closure are in his district, so he especially wants to speak to schools that are on the proposed school closure list, but all are welcome!

Thanks!
Jacquie Benestante

Ortega on Local News KXAN

Schools prepare for rally at Capitol: kxan.com

Ortega's neighborhood came out to support the school by tying ribbons onto the fence surrounding Ortega. This Art Project was put together by neighborhood artists in the community and we appreciate all our neighbors who were able to come out to support Ortega! Students and parents were interviewed shared how Ortega is important to our community and why we cannot let it to close.

This Artwork welcomed Dr. Meria Carstarphen on Thursday morning when she came to Ortega for a meeting to talk with parents about solutions to the projected budget deficit for this year. Dr. Carstarphen spoke very positively about Ortega and our efforts to be an outstanding school and talked about ways we can continue to strive for the best for our students.

13 More Kids!

Talking with Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Dr. Fry and Dr. Paul Cruz,  at the last SAUS meeting, she mentioned AISD would like each school to be at 85-105% capacity. Ortega is at 81% capacity with 305 students, out of the 374 seats that we have available.

85% would be 318 students, that means we only need 13 more kids at Ortega!

13 more kids is very possible! Please be asking family, friends, and neighbors, if they are looking for an Exemplary school to send their kids to. Ortega accepts transfers in, too.

Considerations concerning closing schools, in list of importance:

1. Capacity - % of how many classrooms vs. kids

2. Structure - Ideas on how Ortega might make changes - ie K-6 or K-8

3. Minor Boundary Adjustments - Ortega's school boundaries are very small

4. Programs - What kinds of programs does Ortega offer to students, What kinds of future programs can Ortega offer?