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Vernagene Mott Elementary School

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News

Welcome! You've come to the right spot for all the latest news from the Mott Owls and Pflugerville ISD.

Click here for our campus newsletters.

Ms. Chiamara was recently the Librarian of the Day!

She checked in library books, read a story using Novel Effect to Ms. Grey's class, added some titles to a book list for me to purchase, interviewed Ms. Portillo and got me a great quote for an article about No Place For Hate. She also worked on shelving in the everybody section.

In addition to winning this opportunity at the Owl Pfest Silent Auction, she is also highly qualified as she made it to the Million Word Club this year as a second grader!

2026 Extreme Night

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The image shows a group of children engaged in a creative activity, surrounded by various art supplies and materials on a table in the foreground, while other children can be seen in the background.
A young person in a blue cap and white shirt is sitting on the floor, examining a grid-like game board with various images on it.
A group of children in colorful shirts are gathered around a table, engaged in a hands-on activity involving various craft supplies and materials.
A man in a black shirt is sitting at a table, working on an electronic device with a young child sitting next to him.
A young child is standing on a blue platform inside a plastic enclosure, with adults surrounding them and using a hose to spray water on the child.
A group of people, including a person on a scissor lift, are gathered in an outdoor area with a brick building and blue sky in the background.
A hand is holding a device that is emitting a blue light onto the palm of the hand, with drawings visible in the background.
A group of young students are gathered around a table, engaged in a hands-on activity involving wooden craft sticks and scissors.
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A group of students are engaged in a collaborative activity at a table in a colorful and vibrant classroom setting.
A group of people, including adults and children, are gathered around a table, engaged in a hands-on activity involving various craft materials and supplies.
A young boy wearing a Pikachu-themed shirt and cap is holding a doughnut and standing next to a large bottle of purified water.

Extreme Science Night at Mott Elementary was an absolutely amazing and unforgettable evening of hands-on discovery, scientific inquiry, and pure fun. 

Mott Elementary was transformed into a bustling hub of innovation and excitement for our annual event. Every grade level, from kindergarten through fifth grade, eagerly participated in a diverse array of interactive stations. Students and families explored cutting-edge technology, including programming Ozobots, Spheros, and Blue Bots, and experiencing immersive virtual reality with VR headsets. The night also featured exciting engineering and physics challenges, such as a Make-and-Take Workshop where students designed and built catapults and helicopter flyers. A spectacular highlight was the presence of a huge, inflatable planetarium that transported students to the cosmos. Another popular station allowed students to feel what it was like to be inside a bubble!

Extreme Science Night was a resounding success, fostering a love for STEM subjects and demonstrating that learning can be an incredibly fun adventure!

 

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The image shows a group of children of diverse backgrounds standing in front of a banner that reads %22HELPING HANDS DI 2026%22. The background features a cityscape with clouds and a sun, suggesting a positive and hopeful message.

Mott Owls had a wonderful time at this year's Destination Imagination!

Our "Super Owls" Team participated in the Helping Hands Early Learners Challenge (Pre-K thru 2nd Grade) where they created and presented a play about community helpers working together to solve a problem!

  • Caliana A
  • Thomas B
  • Riley N
  • Ira P
  • Andrea R

Our "Spectacular 6" Team competed in the Becoming Super Fine Arts Challenge (3rd-5th Grade) where they created and presented an origin story that showed how one hard choice can set two characters on two different courses, as one becomes a superhero and the other becomes a supervillain. In the challenge they incorporated stage makeup and a technical costume to enhance their presentation. Out of 14 participating teams in the challenge, our Mott "Spectacular 6" team earned and received 6th place medals!

  • Ceana A
  • Jayda B
  • Kylie B
  • Maia I
  • Abigail R
  • Kubra S

We are incredibly proud of all the hard work, creativity and time the students put into their work. The key theme to the feedback we received from the judges for both of our Mott teams is how strong their teamwork was and how polite and collaborative they were towards one another. Our Mott Owls are truly amazing!!

Mott Elementary Student's Courageous Question Puts Her on Stage with Justice Sotomayor

Mott Elementary celebrates 4th grader Lael, whose thoughtful question about courage and integrity was selected and asked during the Just Shine book tour with Justice Sonia Sotomayor. 

Lael's question was: “Is it hard to keep doing what’s right even when people think you’re being mean or wrong?” 

Justice Sotomayor responded with honesty, encouraging Lael and all students to have courage and help someone each day.

We are incredibly proud of Lael’s character, preparation, and bravery.

Mott Elementary Featured in Save Texas History Essay Contest

We are delighted to share some exciting news regarding one of your talented students! Karen Gregory,  a fifth grader, participated in the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) highly competitive 2025 Save Texas History Essay Contest and achieved the distinguished status of a finalist.

As a result of her outstanding work and thoughtful exploration of Texas history, Karen Gregory is now being prominently featured in our inaugural Save Texas History Essay Contest StoryMap! This innovative, interactive digital platform showcases the incredible depth of research and writing submitted by our top contestants. We invite you to explore her feature and the work of other exceptional student historians by following this link: Save Texas History Essay Contest StoryMap.

This recognition is a testament to Karen's dedication to academic excellence and her passion for preserving and understanding the rich history of our great state.

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The image depicts a 4th and 5th grade science fair event scheduled for January 16th from 8:30 to 11:30 in the library. Two young students, a boy and a girl, are shown in the foreground wearing lab coats and conducting a science experiment with bubbles and beakers.
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Mott Hosts Successful Science Fair

In January, Mott proudly hosted its annual Science Fair in the library, showcasing the hard work and curiosity of our student scientists. This year, a total of 46 science fair boards were presented, highlighting a wide range of questions, investigations, and creative thinking.

Of the 14 students who received information about advancing to the regional level, 8 completed the required steps to move forward in the competition.

Fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hack, was integral in the success of the fair and shared his pride in the students’ efforts:
"The students produced well organized and visually clear science fair boards that effectively communicated their questions, procedures, and results. They demonstrated strong ownership of their projects and were able to confidently explain their work. Overall, student engagement and pride in learning were evident throughout the process. I couldn't be more proud of the work our students continually come up with."

The event was a wonderful celebration of inquiry, problem-solving, and student achievement.

 

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Becoming Animal Experts with ClassLink and PebbleGo

Our first graders have been busy building their research skills as they explored the ClassLink platform and learned how to access digital resources on their own. Once logged in, students used PebbleGo, a kid-friendly research database, to investigate an animal of their choice.

They learned about habitats, diets, physical traits, and fun facts, taking notes, sharing discoveries, and proudly using new vocabulary like mammal and nocturnal. The excitement was contagious, and the library briefly felt like a very enthusiastic mini–wildlife center.

This introduction to research helps students develop confidence, curiosity, and the skills they need to find and understand information. Our first graders aren’t just reading about animals, they’re becoming experts.

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The image shows two children wearing costumes, one dressed as a Minion from the Despicable Me franchise and the other in a cowboy-themed outfit. In the background, there are two other children, one wearing a red furry costume and the other in a casual outfit.
The image contains several photographs depicting children in various costumes and settings, including a child dressed as a ladybug, another wearing a character costume, and two children in casual clothing.
A police officer in uniform stands in the foreground, while in the background, people in costume, including a dinosaur character, are gathered on a paved area.
The image shows a group of people dressed in various Halloween costumes, including a cow-patterned outfit, a tiger-themed outfit, and other colorful and festive attire. The background depicts a parking lot or outdoor setting with people walking around, suggesting this may be a Halloween-themed event or gathering.
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For the past nine years, our school has celebrated the magic of reading with our beloved Character Literacy Parade. Students and staff alike dress up as their favorite book characters, bringing stories to life and fostering a love for literacy in our community.  

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Mott Students Participate in the Greater Austin Regional Science Fair

The Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair is one of Texas’ largest regional science fairs with almost 3,000 students from 3rd through 12th grade. It encourages and rewards innovative student research and provides scientists, engineers and other professionals a chance to volunteer in the community.

Mott Elementary was represented by 8 students. Each of our students earned either a 1st or 2nd place ribbon from the judges. We are so incredibly proud of the work the put into their projects and they courage it takes to present to judges in a room with so many talented students from all around Austin. Way to go!

Raegan L- 1st place

Shaina M- 1st place

Zoe A- 1st place

Gabe B - 1st place

Cadence H - 2nd place

Harper M - 2nd place

Karen G- 2nd place

Liam B- 2nd place

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Two young children, a girl and a boy, are sitting at a table in what appears to be a classroom or daycare setting. The girl is wearing a pink and blue tie-dye sweater and a hat with a pom-pom, while the boy is wearing a striped hat. The background includes shelves with various toys and decorations, suggesting a playful and engaging environment.
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Second Grade Storytime: A Sensory Experience with The Spice Box

Mott second graders enjoyed a special storytime featuring The Spice Box, a beautiful story about a family spice box and the treasured memories passed down through generations. This meaningful tale came to life as students explored the story using all their senses.

A second-grade parent generously shared part of their family’s culture by bringing in their own spice box and preparing traditional dishes for students to experience. As they listened to the story, students were able to see, smell, and taste the flavors that connect food, family, and heritage.

Students sampled Poha, a traditional Indian breakfast dish, and Sooji Halwa, a sweet treat. This hands-on experience helped students deepen their understanding of the story while celebrating culture, family traditions, and the powerful role our senses play in memory.

It was a storytime our students will not soon forget!

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A vibrant and textured American flag made of torn and layered paper, with a background of stars and stripes in shades of blue, white, and red.
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A group of people, including children, gathered in a school gymnasium or community center, with a person in military uniform holding a flag and leading what appears to be a ceremony or event.
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The image shows a group of uniformed individuals standing in front of an American flag and a Marine Corps flag, with a stage or performance area visible in the background.

Fifth Grade Veteran’s Day Celebration
Our fifth graders performed a beautiful concert in honor of Veteran’s Day. The same students also collaborated to create the stunning American Flag mural featured at the event! We’re so grateful to all the families and honored guests who joined us to recognize and celebrate our Veterans and Active Service Members. A special thank-you to the Hendrickson High School Color Guard for their impressive flag presentation.