February 27, 2026

Spicewood Principal Newsletter

Hello Spicewood Families,

As we head into March, I want to let you know that I will be on a planned medical leave from March 23 through May 4. I’m doing ok, and this is a routine procedure that I need to take care of. Please know that Spicewood Elementary is in excellent hands with our incredible staff, and we are fortunate to have Kelley Hirt serving as substitute principal during my absence. Ms. Hirt is a former principal in Round Rock ISD and has also led at an IB campus. She brings many years of experience and strong leadership, and we are excited to have her supporting our school community. I will certainly miss our students, staff, and families, but I look forward to returning as soon as I am able and finishing the school year strong together. My last day will be the Friday before Spring Break.

With that in mind, I am working ahead to ensure you continue receiving all necessary information during my absence. The newsletters during that time may be less personalized, but they will still include important updates, flyers, and details about upcoming school events. I have added more to the Upcoming Important Dates section to ensure major events are noted.

Please also be sure to check your child’s classroom newsletter regularly for additional information and specific classroom updates.

Sincerely,

Melanie Solis

Principal

Spicewood Elementary

Upcoming Important Dates:

3/6- Marathon Kids Finale (see info below) RSVP Due March 2nd

3/11- PTA Meeting

3/13- STEAM Day (Volunteers Needed- please see info below)

3/16-3/20- Spring Break

3/26- 5th grade Walk for Water Event

3/31- Kinder Round-Up (aka Early Learning Day)

4/3- No School for Staff and Students

4/8- STAAR Reading 3rd-5th

4/15- STAAR Science 5th grade

4/22- STAAR Math 3rd-5th

4/24- Field Day

4/26- Donuts with Grownups

5/1- 5th grade Exhibition

5/1-5/8- Teacher Appreciation Week

UT x Spicewood Collaboration!

For the second year in a row, our 3rd-5th student council members had the opportunity to meet with UT Design and Engineering students for a collaborative project regarding types of energy. UT students presented their interactive posters and products to Spicewood students, then interviewed them to gather information that will inspire their next project: educational toys and games. Thanks Spicewood mom and UT professor Vivian Ye for your cross-curricular work!

Last Thursday our 3rd grade students performed traditional folk dances. It was an amazing show and we are so proud of our students for trying something new!  

Thank you to our music teachers- Ms. Brown and Mr. Garcia as well as our Specials Team and 3rd grade teachers for supporting our students!

If your child participated in the TAG assessment, results will be sent home in a sealed envelope with your student on Monday. They will be passed out at the end of the school day.  Please make sure to check backpacks!

Mark your calendars for Friday, March 13, 2026! It’s time to spark some curiosity! We are thrilled to announce our annual STEAM Day, sponsored by the PTA. This high-energy day is dedicated to exposing our students to the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics/Music through immersive, hands-on discovery.
Instead of a typical school day, our classrooms and halls will transform into a hub of innovation. Students will rotate through various engaging experiences, including:

Interactive Inquiry Stations: A "children’s museum" style setup for self-led exploration.

Idea Lab Demonstrations: Professional-grade experiments to wow our learners.

Engineering Design Challenges: Creative problem-solving right in the classroom.

Robotic Play: Hands-on activities to build computational thinking and early coding skills.

Creative Arts: Integrated projects that prove science and art go hand-in-hand.

🤝 We Need Your Help!
To make this day a success, we need parent volunteers to help monitor stations and assist students with their activities. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to help—just bring your enthusiasm!

Want to be part of the magic? Here is the volunteer sign-up and Click Here to visit our STEAM day website! 

After a few chilly weeks that kept us indoors, we’re excited to be back on the track to wrap up our Marathon Kids running season! Join us for the Finale during your child’s Specials class — lace up and run alongside them or come cheer them on for the last 20 minutes of class as they finish strong.

Our students have done an incredible job setting mini SMART goals, staying committed to their progress, and building their endurance and stamina all season long. We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance! 

Kindergarten 8:45-9:35

1st grade 10:35-11:25

2nd grade 7:50-8:40

3rd grade 9:40-10:30

4th grade 12:50-1:40

5th grade 11:55-12:45

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP by March 2nd so we can pre-print badges.  Here is the link to RSVP.

Starting January 8, 2026, families can complete returning student forms for the 2026–27 school year. You’ll receive an email with your student’s Snapcode. Follow the instructions to quickly and securely complete the forms. If you don’t see your Snapcode, check your spam/junk folder or contact our enrollment team for help. https://www.k12insight.com/Form/Dialogue/DialogueFormDefault?k=PK4Y21G8T6LT@WT4F1KLT@DY8R8F2LT

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible Gala Committee for planning and hosting such a beautiful and fun event last weekend in support of our Spicewood students and staff. The evening was an immense success, and it was truly a reflection of the dedication, creativity, and passion of this amazing group of volunteers.

The countless hours spent planning, organizing, and preparing did not go unnoticed. This committee generously gave their time—often balancing full-time jobs and family commitments—to create an event that will have a lasting impact on our school community. Because of their hard work, our students and staff will directly benefit in meaningful ways.

We are so grateful for your commitment to Spicewood and for the love you continually show our school. Thank you for making this such a memorable and impactful evening for our community.

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2026 Spicewood Elementary Gala, and to everyone who participated remotely! With your generous donations, we raised over $80,000 which goes directly to supporting our school!! 

And...it's not too late. We still have limited slots available for some teacher experiences and most of the moms' grade-level parties. If you're interested in participating in these offerings, a link to sign up can be found here:

https://event.auctria.com/fb406f48-91fc-4425-8297-0af9e385bb69/

These will remain open through March 3rd, but availability is limited! 

Gala Committee:

Anna Corley, Megan P., Amanda Z., Pryscila, Annie L., Fernanda T., Lexie W., Evan B., Dorothy M., Kristin T., Emily C.

The Panther Patrol is a parent volunteer group that coordinates with Principal and Teachers to identify volunteer opportunites that engage the community in student mentorship and campus improvements.

Parents can sign up at any of our monthly days to spend the day at Spicewood helping teachers and administrators behind the scenes with anything ranging from landscaping, preparing activities for teachers, and much more!

The dates for the school year are listed on the form so plan ahead, take the day off and join us at Spicewood! Here is the link to sign up if interested: https://forms.gle/GQUx1F2cSPZqoGwL9