Articles from PBSTeachingActivitiesBooksResearch
The Mandarin Center of the Universities of St. Thomas and Wenzao Ursuline will be participating in St. Thomas’ International Festival on Thursday April 7, and invites the community to attend and learn more about different cultures!
And we need you. Nominations are now open for the 2022-2023 PTO Board roles and for the SDMC Parent Representative.
We encourage you to run for any and all roles – most of the current board members are all planning to step down to give new folks a chance. Oh, you’ll see them on committees and supporting our kids and teachers in other ways, but the following roles are all open for you to take a chance.
While we do have a few folks raising their hands for some roles, we want to hear from you. Who has great ideas? Who has experience? Who’s been at the school since it started? Who’s new and energetic?
The nominating committee wants to hear from all of you! The nominating committee includes Jack Hulland, Matthew Yang, Eboni Butler. The new bylaws ask us to present a slate of candidates at the April PTO Meeting. At that time, we will also take nominations from the floor at the meeting. Send your interest, questions, bios, and anything else to the nominating committee.
Want details on these roles? Check the new bylaws for the official details and then stay tuned here and on LivingTree as your current board talks about the roles we are hoping to share with you. See below for my experiences as PTO President – next year, I’ll be around to support the PTO and new board as the Immediate Past President and advisor.
The PTO president sets the priorities for their board. By working with the board and administration to create an annual budget and calendar, the president determines what the board spends their time and energy focused on. As part of this primary responsibility, the president coordinates the meetings and activities of the board, and presides over and sets the agenda for both the board and general meetings. Any committee chairs that do not liaise with other board members report to the president – each board member liaises with one or two committees and supports their work directly.
In addition, the president is the primary liaison to the school administration, working with our principal directly to support the needs of the school and teachers. The president leads and supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities. Most weeks, I spend between 5-10 hours on PTO work. More when it’s CNY or another busy time; less other weeks.
Is it a big job? Yes, of course. But you are not alone! You will have an entire board and committees to rely on, including the immediate past president to ensure historical knowledge and a good transition.
If you’re good at delegating, listening, asking the right questions, and making a strong plan, you could make a good president. Do you have an idea of what you think the school needs? What you’d like to see happen? Are you good at supporting your team, removing their obstacles, and leading with your work and energy? Then you could be a great president.
The president is a voting member of the PTO board.
Please join your PTO, MIMS families, and friends for a happy hour on Marcfh 25 at 5:30 pm at Axelrad. Your kids are welcome until 8 pm.
Interested in supporting the PTO and your school next year? We’re recruiting for PTO Board for 2022-2023 and hope you will come get your questions answered about running for the board or parent SDMC representative.
Come meet some MIMS families at dinner/happy hour Friday night! Adults and kids are welcome at King’s Bierhaus from 5:30 – 8:30 PM.
Lunar New Year is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar. Each year, MIMS PTO hosts a festival to celebrate with our families and to raise money for the school.
This year, join us on February 19th for performances from students, a dragon dance and a lion dance, a martial arts exhibition, great food, inflatables or other fun children’s activities, and more.
In 2022, join the MIMS’ CNY festival on 19 February 2022 from 10 am until 2 pm, with food, inflatables, climbing wall, dunk tank, performances, and more! All activities will be outside and we ask that you wear your masks if not actively eating or drinking.
Inflatables, Performances, & ActivitiesThis year’s festival will include a climbing wall, a dunk tank, inflatables for all ages, such as an obstacle course and hungry hippos, free crafts, and plenty of free games activities. Plus, don’t miss singing and dancing performances by our students, our MIMS Dragon Dance team, and stay to the very end for a lion Dance by the Lavang Lion Dance Team. Full performance schedule is available (see below).
Come ready to bid on some high-value items in our silent auction, such as camps and spa treatments.
We’ve also got some great raffle prizes, including themed baskets, book packs, and an arboretum membership.
All great festivals have great FOOD and this event is no exception! Food trucks include Churrascos, Nola Po Boys, Foreign Policy, and more. PLUS, 3 dessert trucks, food from Lemongrass, and drinks from Coffee-Q, among others.
Purchase tickets, t-shirts, wristbands, and raffle tickets.
T-shirts, tickets, wristbands, and combo packs will be available for pickup at MIMS on Feb. 16, 17, or 18 after school, the 18th before school, and at the festival on the 19th. You can buy all your items online OR in person at these times.
Parking will be limited – consider using a ride-share! Drop-off points are on Yorktown and McCulloch.
If you do drive, please plan to park on Yorktown, Hidalgo, or McCulloch, but be kind to the neighbors and don’t take up all the neighborhood streets. Also, don’t park on Alabama, ok?! Some parking will be available at nearby hotels and parking structures – more on that soon.
MIMS parking will NOT be available, but you can use St. George’s parking as available.
Want to be part of the fun?! We have many volunteer opportunities. All MIMS families should plan to give at least one hour – sign up here. You can also contact festivals@mimspto.org to get involved.
Sponsorships available – please contact fundraising chairs Viola Caretti or Lisa Barrow for additional details. Online payment at https://bit.ly/CNYsponsor
Family or business recognized by name on our website in a static banner that will remain up through the end of the 21-22 school year.
All of the above, and the static banner will include a link to the business.
Family or business name and/or logo will be included in any printed promotional materials related to the event.
All of the above, and advertising materials provided by the donor (business cards, flyers, brochures, etc.) will be included in all materials distributed related to the event.
All of the above, and a business will get a dedicated promotional post on our website. Families or individuals can opt for a dedicated post on a charity of their choosing (subject to approval by both MIMS PTO and the charity).
Option to have a dedicated booth space at the event to distribute promotional materials, and interact with MIMS families directly.
All of the above, and family or business name and/or logo will be printed on a banner to be displayed in front of the school along West Alabama Street. The banner will remain up until the end of the 2021-2022 academic year.
Option to have a dedicated booth space at the event to distribute promotional materials, and interact with MIMS families directly.
Did your child just get offered a seat for Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (MIMS)? Our PTO and the families at our school look forward to having you join the school and be part of our MIMS family. Get to know us a little better with this new video or n join us for our 2022 Lunar New Year Festival! Hope to see you soon.
Join MIMS families for a drive-in movie. We’re showing Encanto (in Mandarin) on 11 February.
Gates open at 6:30 pm; movie begins at 7 pm.
Buy tickets in advance – parking is limited. We have a maximum of 50 spots for cars, including 4 VIP spots. We are allowing walk-up spots as well – bring your own chairs!
Buy tickets today – limited parking!
February is Black History Month! Join us in celebrating the achievements and paying tribute to the struggles of African Americans. You can visit the link below to learn more. From the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to the Library of Congress, to the National Park Service, there are so many great resources and (virtual) events this month for the whole family!
Join us for the monthly MIMS PTO meeting at 12 noon on Friday, Feb. 4 – meeting held on Zoom.
Draft agenda is available – send email to secretary@mimspto.org if you have items to add to the agenda.
MIMS PTO is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91209289735?pwd=R3JjQ045bnBqcFhYUy9jTW1QSXlsdz09
Meeting ID: 912 0928 9735
Passcode: 522192
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,91209289735#,,,,*522192# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 912 0928 9735
Passcode: 522192
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abcbAIqajp
Start making your plans to join the fun. More details and updates coming soon.
Food, inflatables, climbing wall, dunk tank, performances, and more! All activities will be outside and we ask that you wear your masks if not actively eating or drinking.
Start now with pre-sales (extended through Feb. 7) and volunteering!
Want to be part of the fun?! We’ll be posting volunteer opportunities soon, but you can also contact festivals@mimspto.org to get involved.
With many thanks to Doris for our t-shirt and poster design.
Support MIMS and enjoy some great food!
Join us on Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9 at Tapester’s Grill for Spirit Night! Mention you’re with MIMS and a portion of your dine-in, drive-thru, or to-go order will go directly to MIMS’ PTO. Feel free to place an order ahead of time and pick it up at the drive-thru. Tapester’s Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm!
To check out their menu and place an order, please click here (http://www.tapestersgrill.com/).
Tapester’s Grill, 4520 Beechnut St., Houston, TX 77096
This month’s PTO meeting is being moved to Friday, January 14.
As usual, the meeting will be at 12 noon via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 912 0928 9735 Passcode: 522192
If you have any questions or concerns that you’d like added to the agenda, please let us know.
The next PTO membership meeting is Friday, December 3 at 12 noon, via Zoom.
The draft agenda is here: Agenda Dec MIMS PTO Membership Meeting (1)
If you have changes or additions, please let us know. The final agenda will be posted on Friday.
One of the major items for the agenda is the review of the bylaws update undertaken by the Bylaws Committee. You may want to review the proposed updates before Friday’s meeting: MIMS PTO BYLAWS – 11_7_21 update for review
