
Helms Newsletter #16
December 18th, 2023
🗓 UPCOMING DATES:
THIS WEEK:
- Wed 12/20: Pre-K Field Trip (PTA Sponsored)
- Wed 12/20: Nutcracker Christmas 2nd - 5th choir and dance group (see more info under PTA Corner)
- 2nd-3rd: Student performers arrive at 4:30pm at cafeteria. Performance 5:30-6:30pm
4th-5th: Student performers arrive at 6:15pm at the "t building" Performance 7-8pm.
- Thur 12/21: Ready to Grow Gardens for 3rd/4th/5th (PTA Sponsored) Volunteer Opportunity
- Fri 12/22: NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK BEGINS
- WINTER BREAK til Jan 8th!
FUTURE:
- Mon 1/8: STUDENTS BACK FROM BREAK/Grade cycle 4 begins/Ancillary Schedule Rotates
- Fri 1/12: Grade Cycle 3 Report Cards available on HISDConnect portal
- Mon 1/15: NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day
- Wed 1/17: January Coffee with the Principal 8:30am Cafeteria
- Wed 01/17: PTA General Meeting 6 pm, Helms Cafeteria
- Mon 1/22: SDMC Meeting
- Everyday: Playground open to Helms families 3:15pm-3:45pm. Enter through front reception. VIPS approval required. Playground is open to the public after 6:00pm once after school program ends.
- Helms Spirit Shirts can be worn everyday!
Social Skill for the Week - Kind Words
Kind Words
LUNCH MENUS
Pre-Kinder Lunch Menu - December
Kinder-5th Grade Lunch Menu - December
Attendance Note:
Please remember to send absence notes to Ms. Pat Hernandez at phernan6@houstonisd.org
WINTER BREAK RESOURCES
Link to access Clever for HISD
HOLIDAY DRESS UP DAYS
Dec. 11th - 21st
HISD UPDATE: 2024-2025 School Year Start Date
HISD plans to propose that the first day of school for the 2024-2025 academic year be no earlier than August 7 and no later than August 14. HISD will then request input from all staff and families more broadly beginning on or around January 19. The District plans to submit the final proposed calendar to the School Board on February 8.
To learn about the other DOI exemptions and how stakeholders collaborated to develop a thoughtful plan grounded in the best interests of HISD students and staff, see here.
Carpool Protocol & Pedestrian Safety Reminders
Please do not cut into the carpool line at Lawrence St or Nicholson St.
For 22nd St, the carpool line starts at Shepherd.
For 21st St, the carpool line starts at Ashland.
Please respect the car pool lines when picking up students. Help keep our little ones safe.
SCHOOL CHOICE INFO
HISD extends magnet tours into January. Check with individual schools as scheduling may vary widely.
Info directly below is from the district about info sessions for school choice.
HISD Families:
Please join HISD Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole for an online information session about the School Choice Application and Enrollment Process for the 2024-2025 school year. Chief Hole will share key dates, improved tools, and resources that will be available for families, and details about the improvements made to give more families access to quality choices in our District.
We are offering two virtual information sessions on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Each session will last one hour and will include a chance for participants to ask questions. Please sign-up for one of these meetings below:
- Wednesday, December 20, 2023; 4:00pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
- Wednesday, December 20, 2023; 5:30pm: Webinar Registration - Zoom
These meetings are open to all current and prospective HISD families, but we ask that you pre-register for the meeting you wish to attend.
Families can also choose to attend an in-person event in their Division. The same content will be shared at these meetings. In-person meetings will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 5:30-6:30pm at the following locations:
- North Division: Waltrip High School
- Central Division: Heights High School
- South Division: Seguin Elementary School
- West Division: Bellaire High School
BoxTops for Helms
No more clipping! Simply use the Box Tops app and scan your receipts within 14 days of purchase to earn 10¢ per Box Top for Helms. The Box Tops app automatically finds the Box Tops products on your receipt. In the app, search “Helms” – we are listed as “Helms Community Learning Center.”
A Nutcracker Christmas Performance
*** THE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO 2 SECTIONS. PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGES. ***
Wednesday, December 20th @ Helms Cafeteria
2nd-3rd grade: Student performers arrive at 4:30pm at cafeteria. Performance 5:30-6:30pm.
4th-5th grade: Student performers arrive at 6:15pm at the "t building" Performance 7-8pm.
Due to limited seating, immediate family is preferred.
Note: Program participants should have received permission forms by now. Must be signed by parent for participation in the program.
NUTCRACKER COSTUME INFORMATION:
The Helms PTA will assist with the purchasing of special dance costume items. For those needing black low heel shoes, white ballet shoes, white tights, or a white leotard please text Brooke Longoria 254-498-2079. Below are details for costumes.
New for 2023-2024 School year- Helms Yearbook
Helms PTA is excited to bring to Helms Elementary, it's first ever school wide yearbook. The yearbook will have dedicated pages for each grade and classes. The yearbook will also feature highlights from clubs, events, and more.
Want to get involved? Email the committee at mailto:helmsyearbook@gmail.com
PTA After School Program
We are excited to offer a wide range of activities such as hip hop, art club, sports, culinary, coding, and more. The enrichment programing may change based on instructor availability. For questions, please email AfterSchool@helmsPTA.org or visit the HelmsPTA.org website.
Resources
Parent Portal HISD Connect for PowerSchool
The district's Student Information System (SIS), HISD Connect by PowerSchool, includes student contact, enrollment, and demographic information, as well as grades and online resources.
Parents are given a unique code, or access ID, for each of their students and are able to use those codes to set up an account to access their students' profiles through the parent portal. Parents who haven't received their student's access ID should contact their school.
HISD 2023-2024 Academic Calendar
PLEASE NOTE: THE CALENDAR WAS UPDATED ON 8/24/23.
Winter Break is now Dec 22-Jan 5th.
School will be in session Feb 20th.
Helpful Links
Clever for HISD (access learning programs and more)
HISD Connect (AKA parent portal or PowerSchool. Access students grades, attendance, and forms.)
Memorial Hermann Hogg Health Center (provides medical and dental service with no out of pocket cost for Helms families)
Register with VIPS to volunteer on campus
What is VIPS? VIPS stands for Volunteers in Public Schools. It is HISD's volunteer management program. You may also hear it referred to as RAPTOR.
Anyone volunteering for the school during school hours must be VIPS approved for safety reasons. Applicants register, complete an online orientation, and consent to a background check. Volunteers must reapply each year. After completion, look for an email verification from donotreply@raptortech.com confirming your application has been received. Approval process may take 0-5 days.
WRAPAROUND SERVICES:
CONNECT WITH US:
HELMS FAMILIES
Grade Level Chat Groups (ask a community member for invite)
HELMS PTA
Email: Hello@HelmsPTA.org
Website: www.HelmsPTA.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelmsDLPTA/
HELMS ELEMENTARY
“Two Languages, Endless Possibilities”
Principal: Alexander Gonzalez agonza30@houstonisd.org
Assistant Principal: Helen Anguiano helen.anguiano@houstonisd.org
Magnet Coordinator: Julie Hernandez jhernan2@houstonisd.org
Registrar/Attendance Clerk: Patricia Hernandez phernan6@houstonisd.org
Nurse: Joanna Phillips Joanna.Phillips@houstonisd.org
Email: agonza30@houstonisd.org
Website: https://www.houstonisd.org/domain/22
Phone: 713.867.5130