There is SO much happening at Twain! I hope you'll join us this Friday for our second PTO meeting. Coffee & Conversation begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a special performance from our Kindergarten ROCKSTARS before the meeting begins at 7:45 a.m.

Next week is our International Potluck on Wednesday, September 23, and then...can you feel it?! SPOOKY SEASON is almost here!

Our Spooky Chairs are looking for volunteers, and our young artists have ONE MORE DAY to turn in their Spooky T-Shirt designs! Designs are due Wednesday Sept 16th by 3pm in the Rotunda.

Thank you for continuing to show up, participate, volunteer and support our school. It truly means so much, and I LOVE seeing our Twain families getting involved and making these events and traditions so special for our kids!

And if you haven't had a chance to jump in yet, we would LOVE to have you! We have lots of volunteer opportunities coming up, whether you have a little time or a lot. Check them out here and come join the fun!

As always, please reach out with any questions — I'm always happy to hear from our Twain families.

$100K, 50 states and an Orbit visit...LET'S DO IT, TWAIN TIGERS!!

Mallory Rissmiller
PTO President

WE NEED YOU TWAIN TIGERS!

There are so many ways to jump in and get involved at Twain right now! From helping with our Lunch Crew or in the Library, to volunteering at International Potluck, Spooky Spectacular, or our Fall Fun Run — there is something for everyone!

Whether you have 30 minutes, a few hours, or want to take on a bigger role, we would LOVE to have you. These events, programs and everyday extras happen because of our amazing Twain families who give their time to help make our school so special.

FIND YOUR PLACE AT TWAIN!

Want to get involved but not quite sure where you fit? Let us help!

Join our Twain Road Crew, our general pool of amazing parent volunteers ready to jump in when and where they're needed. Tell us a little about your time, talents and interests, and we'll help connect you with opportunities that are a great fit for YOU!

Whether you have an hour here and there, a special skill to share, or you're ready to roll up your sleeves for something bigger — we have a place for you at Twain!

Visit our Volunteer Hub to join the Road Crew and explore all of our current volunteer opportunities.

GET VIPS READY!

Planning to volunteer at Twain? Don't forget that all volunteers must be VIPS approved each school year — whether you're helping in the classroom, chaperoning a field trip, attending a class party, or lending a hand at an event.

Not approved yet? It's quick and easy! Visit houstonisd.org/vips to complete the training and background check.

Get it checked off your list now so you're ready when a volunteer opportunity comes your way!

Congratulations to our Spooky Wristband Raffle Winners!
Each winner will receive a FREE wristband to Spooky Spectacular!

🏆 Kindergarten — Samuel Rosenberg, Lopez
🏆 1st Grade — M.E. Gutierrez, Vamvakias
🏆 2nd Grade — Théo Sabin-Humphries, Rodriguez
🏆 3rd Grade — Caleb Wolfe, Camel
🏆 4th Grade — Scarlett Dyer, Chamblin
🏆 5th Grade — Allison Quioto, Bernal

CURRENT TOP 5 CLASSROOMS

🥇 Team Rodrigues (4th)
🥈 Team Bazan (5th)
🥉 Team Clayton (2nd)
⭐ Team Shepard (5th)
⭐ Team Baldwin (3rd)

Don't see your classroom? There is still time! Share your fundraising page and watch YOUR class climb to the top!

🔥 NEW: GRADE LEVEL DONATION CHALLENGE! 🔥

Which grade can make the BIGGEST jump in donations?

The grade with the greatest percentage increase in total donations will win:

☀️ 30 minutes of EXTRA RECESS
🧊 PLUS popsicles during their bonus recess!

⏰ Challenge ends Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 AM!

🏆 The winning grade will enjoy its reward that afternoon!

TWO WAYS TO GIVE:

1️⃣ Register + Donate Online: FundHub Site

2️⃣ Donate by Check:
For donations of $250+, you can avoid platform fees by donating via check — and Twain keeps 100% of your donation!

Checks should be made payable to Mark Twain Elementary PTO and turned in to the front office. Please include your student’s name and teacher so they receive credit toward their incentives.

Let’s go, Twain Tigers! Register, donate, and share your fundraising page with friends & family worldwide. We already have donations from 32 states and 5 countries! Can we reach all 50 states?

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Fundraiser: September 4 – October 4
Fun Run: September 25

• Race Day Schedule (during grade level special times):

DON’T FORGET THE REWARDS!
Students and families can earn even more prizes throughout the Friends & Family campaign!

NEXT STOP ON THE TWAIN TIGERS WORLD TOUR! 🌎

Pack your appetite and join us for one of Twain's favorite community traditions! Our International Potluck is an evening to celebrate the cultures, flavors, and families that make our Twain community so special.

Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy an evening of food, friends, and flavors from around the globe!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Wednesday, September 23
6:00 PM • Twain Cafeteria

Questions? Contact our Cultural Exchange Directors:
Elizabeth Wagner, Farrah Najmuddin Lang & Danielle Ward-Griffin

WE'RE KICKING IT OFF WITH EUREKA MATH!

Ever wonder why your child is solving a math problem that way? Come learn the what and why behind Eureka Math!

Join us for an informative and interactive session led by our very own Paige Hohos, where you'll learn more about Eureka Math's conceptual approach and practical ways to support your child at home.

You'll also get hands-on practice with the same strategies and tools our students use in the classroom, so you can feel more confident when it's time to help with homework or reinforce what they're learning at school.

📚 Grades 3–5
Wednesday, September 16 at 7:45 AM

✏️ Kindergarten–Grade 2
Thursday, September 17 at 7:45 AM

📍 Twain Library
☕ Refreshments will be served!

We hope you'll join us! It's a great opportunity to better understand what our kids are learning in the classroom — and maybe make math homework a little easier for everyone!!

SPOOKY SPECTACULAR IS OUR BELOVED FALL FESTIVAL!

Calling all Twain parents and volunteers! Spooky Spectacular has a lot of moving parts! To keep things simple, we are forming committees to lead some activities. Amazing volunteers are so important to a huge event like Spooky Spectacular - we couldn't do it without your help!

OUR COMMITTES:

Cake Walk: Coordinate sweet treats and manage the musical chairs-style game area.

Not So Scary Hallway: Design a fun, kid-friendly walkthrough experience with decorations that delight without scaring.

T-shirts: Join the merch crew! Help count and verify the fresh shirt orders and deliver the spooky swag to classrooms.

Costume Contest: Help host the ultimate runway show! Recruitment goals include scouting judges and finding an energetic emcee to hype up the crowd.

Passport Challenge (NEW!): Help launch our brand-new activity! Organize the game cards, set up exploration checkpoints, and manage the exciting prize station. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Saturday, October 24
10:00 AM • 2:00 PM

Questions? Contact our Spooky Chairs
Connie Pei, Gavin Erie, or Jennifer Floyd

Fifth Grade Class Reunion

Come reconnect on familiar ground with the Mark Twain Class of 2026! Gather at Huckleberry Park to meet up with former classmates.

We can't wait to see each other again! 

Register here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/Lj9/i/_Auction/yxqz/

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Date: Saturday, September 26, 10:00 AM • 2:00 PM

Location: MTE Spark Park

Hosted by: Tonesha Borner, Kim Burns, Laura Curry and Jillian Silvius 

TEACHER TREAT TROLLEY TIME!

Our amazing Twain teachers and staff enjoyed a special visit from the Treat Trolley! 

Our lovely volunteers rolled through the halls with a cart full of snacks, drinks, and sweet treats — a small way to show our teachers and staff just how much we appreciate everything they do for our Twain Tigers each and every day. 

There were lots of smiles, plenty of treats, and some very happy teachers! 

Thank you to our Twain families for supporting the PTO and helping us create these little moments of appreciation throughout the school year!

Looking for Twain gear, spirit wear, personalized goodies, or a special way to celebrate your Tiger? We've got you covered! Visit the Twain Marketplace to explore all the ways to shop, show your Tiger Pride, and support our school.

SCHOOL STORE
Stock up on Twain essentials, school gear, and more.

SUGAR LAND INK SPIRIT STORE
Show your Tiger Pride with spirit wear for the whole family.

LET JEN DO IT!
Shop personalized Twain favorites and custom goodies.

BIRTHDAY GRAMS
Make your Tiger's birthday extra special with a birthday celebration at school!

Did you know there are easy ways to support Twain through purchases you're already making? Check out these ongoing fundraisers and help us earn money for our school all year long! 

MABEL'S LABELS
Select Mark Twain and start shopping!

MINTED
20% off Code is: FUNDRAISEMARKTWAIN

BOX TOPS
Download the app, scan your receipt and support Twain

Did you know we're looking for parents to help bring new clubs to Twain? If you have an interest or talent you'd love to share with our Tigers, we want to hear from you!

Service Club • Chess Club • Art Club • Drama Club • And more!

Have another great idea? All ideas are welcome! Visit our Clubs page to explore current clubs and learn how you can help start something new at Twain.

Don't wait until the end of the year to order your 2026–2027 Twain Yearbook! Purchase your copy now to take advantage of early-bird pricing and guarantee you'll have all the memories from our Twain Tigers World Tour to look back on for years to come. 

Tiger Tracks – Good News Edition is all about celebrating the people, moments, milestones, and everyday wins that make our Twain community so special!

Saw a kind moment on campus? Want to shout out a teacher or staff member? Have a student accomplishment, team victory, community achievement, or simply something that made you smile?

Big wins, small victories, and everything in between—we want to celebrate it!

NEVER MISS A BEAT! 

From school events and PTO meetings to parent gatherings and special Twain traditions, stay up to date with everything happening in our community.

Have news, an event, or an announcement for a future edition of Twain Times? Submit your content through our website and we'll help get the word out!