Mr. Van's Class
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NEWSLETTER
Music • Art • Physical Education
Nov/Dec 2026
Busy Koalas, Big Things Ahead
Things are moving full speed ahead in Essential Areas, and there's no sign of slowing down! From music and masterpieces to miles and milestones, our Kocurek Koalas have been keeping us busy!
November brings an exciting opportunity for some of our fifth-grade singers as they represent Kocurek at the Austin ISD All-City Choral Festival on November 7. And believe it or not, our Winter Choir Concert on December 10 is just around the corner!
Meanwhile, Marathon Kids is in full swing in PE, our young artists are exploring everything from self-portraits to 3D drawing and sculpting, and Music classes have officially entered the wonderful (and occasionally squeaky) world of recorders! Our Music Memory students are also approaching the halfway point in this year's musical journey.
There's a lot happening, and we're just getting started! Keep reading for a closer look at all the creativity, hard work, and exciting opportunities happening in Music, Art, and PE.
It's a great time to be a Koala!
Your Essential Areas Team
Music Teacher/Choir Director
Mr. VandeWalle (a.k.a. Mr. Van)
Meet Mr. Van, your music teacher at Kocurek Elementary School! He's been sharing his musical talents in Austin ISD since 1999 and has been an "instrumental" member of our Kocurek school community since 2007. Mr. Van is a skilled saxophone and clarinet player, and he's a proud graduate of Texas State University (SWTSU) where he received his degree in Music. In his spare time, you can catch him performing with the Wimberley Valley Big Band. Get ready to make beautiful music with Mr. Van!
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Art Teacher
Mr. Gagliardi (a.k.a. Mr. G)
Introducing Mr. G, your art teacher at Kocurek Elementary School! He's been teaching in Austin ISD since 2011 and has been a cherished part of our school family since 2012. Mr. G is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he found himself heading in the direction of becoming an educator. Besides being an excellent teacher, he enjoys studying Kung fu during his spare time. Get ready to explore your creativity under the guidance of Mr. G!
Physical Education Teacher
Coach Coles
Introducing Coach Coles, one of our new PE teachers at Kocurek Elementary School! This will be her 7th year teaching and her 6th year in Austin ISD. Originally from Wisconsin, Coach Coles has found a new home here in Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting Zilker Park with her dog Oliver, trying new restaurants, and enjoying the Texas sunshine. Get ready to have fun, stay active, and discover your strengths with Coach Coles!
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Physical Education Teacher
Coach Hien
We would like to introduce Coach Hien, one of our new PE teachers at Kocurek Elementary School! This will be his 7th year teaching in Austin ISD, and he has experience teaching Physical Education, Dance, and Yoga. Mr. Hien enjoys helping students stay active, build confidence, and have fun through the learning process. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, dancing, and shopping at H-E-B. We are excited to welcome Mr. Hien to the Kocurek family!
Music Notes: Melodies Unleashed
There's never a dull (or quiet!) moment in the Kocurek music room! From our youngest Koalas finding the beat to our older students discovering the joys of playing an instrument, we've been making plenty of music and having a great time along the way!
🎵 What's Happening in Music Class?
Our 3rd–5th graders have officially entered the world of recorders! We're learning to read music, master new fingerings, and turn those little black dots on the page into actual melodies. Is it always beautiful? Well... not quite yet! But every squeak is a learning opportunity, and we're getting better with every note!
Want to help your young musician practice at home? Visit our Recorder Practice Page for helpful resources and music.
Our Kindergarten students are busy exploring steady beat through movement, singing, and musical games. Meanwhile, our 1st and 2nd graders are taking their musical skills a step further as they learn to read, write, and perform rhythms. We're building the foundation for a lifetime of music-making!
🎼 Music Memory: 6 Down, 10 to Go!
We've officially explored 6 of our 16 Music Memory selections, and our students are becoming quite the musical detectives! From recognizing famous melodies to identifying composers and musical works, there's a lot to remember!
Our second Music Memory Exam is coming up around the beginning of December, so now is a great time to start reviewing. Families can help their Koalas prepare by visiting our Music Memory Practice Site. A little listening practice at home can make a big difference!
🎤 Our Koalas Are Taking the Stage!
We're excited to have a strong group of Kocurek singers representing our campus at the Austin ISD All-City Choral Festival on Saturday, November 7! These talented fifth graders will join outstanding elementary singers from across Austin ISD for a special day of music-making. We're proud of their hard work and can't wait to see them shine!
❄️ Save the Date: Winter Choir Concert!
The holiday season will be here before we know it, and our Kocurek Koala Choir is preparing to celebrate with music!
📅 Thursday, December 10, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM
🎟️ Admission is FREE, and everyone is invited!
Our young singers have been working hard, and we'd love to see our Kocurek families come out and support them. Bring the family, invite the grandparents, and enjoy an evening of music!
From our first steady beats to our biggest performances, there's plenty to celebrate in the Kocurek music room. Thanks for supporting our young musicians!
Beyond the Canvas: Creativity in Action
Our Kocurek artists have been busy creating, experimenting, and discovering how art can tell stories, express emotions, and bring ideas to life! From colorful shapes to famous masterpieces, every grade level has been exploring something exciting.
🌈 Kindergarten: Shapes & Colors
Our youngest artists have been inspired by Eric Carle and Henri Matisse, discovering how simple shapes and bright colors can create amazing works of art.
🎨 1st Grade: Art with Feeling
Through the works of Vincent van Gogh and Romero Britto, students are exploring how colors, lines, and patterns can express emotions and bring artwork to life.
🏞️ 2nd Grade: Landscapes & Stories
Second graders are learning how foreground, middle ground, and background create depth in landscapes. They've also explored how Faith Ringgold combined art and storytelling to share meaningful experiences.
🖼️ 3rd Grade: Picture This!
Inspired by Frida Kahlo, our third graders are discovering how portraits can reveal personality, emotions, and interests through creative details and symbolism.
🌊 4th Grade: Making Waves!
Fourth graders have been exploring Hokusai's famous The Great Wave off Kanagawa, learning how lines, shapes, and contrast can capture the movement and power of nature.
🕺 5th Grade: Art in Motion
Inspired by Keith Haring and Henri Matisse, fifth graders are using bold colors, expressive lines, and simplified figures to bring movement and energy to their artwork.
Art is about more than making something beautiful. It builds confidence, encourages creative thinking, and helps students see the world from different perspectives.
Ask your young artist what they've been creating in class! You might be surprised by the creativity, knowledge, and inspiration they have to share. Keep creating and stay colorful!
PE Chronicles: Adventures in Motion
Hey there, Koala Fam!
We’ve been having an absolute ball in Physical Education class lately!
We just wrapped up our unit on catching and throwing. We practiced everything from soft underhand tosses to precise overhand throws, and learned some new games- Battleship and Ultimate. It was amazing to see them improve every class- You could say they really caught on quickly!
Now, it’s time to bounce into our next exciting adventure: Basketball! Over the next few weeks we will be working on dribbling and passing skills, shooting form, and as always Sportsmanship! I am so proud of how hard our students work and how encouraging they are to one another. They always give 100%, and that is simply nothing but net!
How to Keep the Fun Going at Home: If you have a basketball or playground ball at home, ask your child to demonstrate a quick chest pass or show off their favorite dribbling drill! Practice at home is a great way to build muscle memory—and a fun way to spend some active quality time together.
Looking forward to a slam-dunk month ahead,
Coach Coles
Hello Families!
We have exciting programs happening in P.E. this semester:
1. Marathon Kids Running Program
We’ve officially kicked off Marathon Kids! This is a running program designed to improve heart health, endurance, and overall physical conditioning. Students are tracking the number of laps they complete to work toward their mileage goals.
They will also be competing in a friendly, school-wide challenge — we’ll be tracking totals by class and grade level each month to see who runs the most! It’s been amazing to see students recognizing their growth and efforts the last few months!
2. Jump Rope Training
We are also starting our jump rope training. Students will be learning new skills and tricks as we prepare for our school Jump Rope Contest on December 17th.
Please encourage your kids to stay active at home and ask them about their laps and jump rope skills. Thank you for your support!
Coach Hien
Upcoming Choir Concerts
The Koala Choir Rocked Their Spring Concert (May 2026)
As prescribed in the Texas Education Code, Section 25.092 and Senate Bill (SB) 140 of the 82nd Legislative Session, a student must attend 90% of a given class in order to receive a grade.
Grading and Attendance
Each student in kindergarten through 5th grade will receive a grade in Music, Art and PE each 9 weeks. In order to receive grades as prescribed in the Texas Education Code, Section 25.092 and Senate Bill (SB) 140 of the 82nd Legislative Session, a student must attend 90% of the given class. Each student will attend Music, Art, and PE approximately 15 times per 9 weeks. This means they need to be in attendance for 13 of the 15 classes to receive a grade. Students that do not reach the minimum attendance will receive a NA in lieu of the numerical or alphabetic grade.
Essential Areas in Action!
