Bash – Also known as the Huckleberry Bash!  Our primary fundraiser for the school year, the bash is a fun party for adults, complete with themed costumes (encouraged), dinner, drinks, and dancing for those who are so inclined. This year’s theme gives a nod to the upcoming Olympics competition.

Class Funds – class funds are an easy way for Class Parents to take one collection for various needs throughout the year, including a class t-shirt, gifts for the teacher (at the holidays, his/her birthday, and at the end of the year), class parties (one at the holidays and one at the end of the year), and teacher appreciation week.  The class funds are completely voluntary for each student.

Friends & Family – the Friends & Family campaign is one of the ways we fundraise for our school.  The funds from the Friends & Family campaign go to the Mark Twain PTO.

Go Texan Day – this is a local holiday in honor of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.  Each year, students are welcome to dress in their favorite western/cowboy attire.

International Festival – hosted in the spring, families volunteer to host booths for their countries and share food with the rest of the Mark Twain community.  The day before the festival, students show off their heritage by wearing traditional clothing from their home countries during the international parade.

International Potluck – our International and Cultural committee provides the plates, utensils, and beverages, and you bring the food, in the form of a dish to share!  This event is a fun way for all families to share their favorite foods and their heritage.

Makerspace – run by Ms. O’Neal and Ms. Friesen, the Makerspace is a place where students learn to use technology to creatively solve problems.

Open House – A night to come into your child’s classroom to meet his/her teacher, learn about how his/her classroom operates, meet other parents in the class, and hear from your class’s room parents.

ParentSquare – our school’s messaging platform, providing information from the school administration, as well as the Mark Twain PTO.

Socials – Socials at Mark Twain are part of our Huckleberry Bash fundraiser.  Social hosts plan a party with different fun themes, the tickets are limited (get them while you can!), and the money from the ticket sales go back to the PTO as a fundraiser.  Teachers also sponsor socials for each grade level – there are a limited number of tickets for each class, and the tickets are bid on in an auction during the Bash.

Specials - we refer to our ancillary classes at Mark Twain as “specials” classes. The specials classes include Art, Music, Physical Education, Science, Outdoor Science, Spanish, and Technology. This year, students will spend three days at each class before rotating to the next.

VIPS - Volunteers in Public Schools is Houston ISD’s acronym for the volunteer program. All parents must be VIPS-certified to volunteer in school or as a chaperone on a field trip (register here).

WITS - Mark Twain has partnered with Writers in the Schools this year. K-3 students will participate in a 10-week program in their classrooms in either the fall or the spring.