Thank You Ms. Rose!

October is National Principals' Month. We want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing principal, Theresa Rose. Did you know that Ms. Rose has worked at Bush Elementary School since 1994? She started here as a teacher, then became an assistant principal and was named our principal in 2004. We are so fortunate to have such an experienced principal working with us at our school. Ms. Rose’s strong leadership helps to inspire our students, teachers and staff on a daily basis. Thank you Mrs. Rose, we appreciate all you do for us each and every day!

Westside HS Homecoming Parade

Friday, October 14

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Bush students will cheer on Westside HS as they celebrate Homecoming with a neighborhood parade. Bush students should wear their Bush shirts to show our school pride. Streets leading from Westside HS to Bush ES will be inaccessible before and during their route to Bush. Please do not plan on picking up your child between 1:00 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. this Friday afternoon.

We ask for your support by not blocking our students' view.

Please do not park along Westerloch Dr. or arrive for dismissal before 2:30 p.m. as the police will have the streets blocked off for the parade.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has revised the accounting of elementary students' attendance and now has it in line with high schools. This means that all absences count towards earning class completion/credit. Students must be in attendance at minimum 90% of the school instructional days to earn credit for the class, in addition to passing the class with a minimum yearly average grade of 70%. Elementary report cards will start to show an asterisk once students have at least 18 total (excused and unexcused) absences which means credit will not be earned. In an elementary school setting, this means that the student has failed a State of Texas promotion standard of being in class for at least 90% of the class days.

Students who do not meet attendance promotion standards will receive an Attendance Credit Appeal Application from the School Attendance Committee at the end of the school year. Parents may complete and submit the appeal form and document the extenuating circumstances that led to their child not being in school for at least 90% of the instructional days. The School Attendance Committee will meet to determine if the student is to earn credit and be promoted if the grade averages are also met. If the appeal is denied, then the student will be retained and required to attend summer school and meet the minimum 90% attendance at summer school to be promoted to the next grade. If the parent does not submit an attendance appeal, then the student is retained in that grade and must attend summer school and meet the minimum 90% attendance at summer school to be promoted to the next grade.

All absences, excused and unexcused, count towards the 90% attendance rule.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, Monday, October 10th, Barbara Bush Elementary students/staff shared the importance of taking care of their mental health! So many utilized their morning meeting to integrate discussions and activities to encourage this understanding, and others found additional ways to integrate social-emotional learning into their academics. Take a look at a few of the moments we captured, and please encourage your child to continue to utilize these practices to support their mental well-being in and out of the classroom!

The small parking lot alongside the carpool lane is not be used during morning arrival and dismissal time. The cars in the carpool lane pull out to move around the other cars once their child is dropped off or picked up. These drivers are not expecting parents and children to be walking in or through the busy carpool lanes before or after school. Please stay safe and do not park in the small visitors parking lot to walk your child to class or pick up at dismissal.

Key Points:

• Diesel’s Readers began Saturday, October 1st and runs through Monday, October 31st

• The program is open to elementary and middle school students

• Each participant who reads five books in the month of October will receive a free ticket to a Houston Dynamo or Houston Dash home game via email on Wednesday, November 2nd

• The top three schools with the most books read will win exclusive prizes and will be contacted on Friday, November 4th

Description:

Diesel’s Readers is a month long program that encourages students to read five (5) age-appropriate books approved by their librarian or parent/guardian. Once all five books are read, a parent or guardian will complete the form online to document their student's participation in the program. Each participating student will receive a certificate of completion via email. This certificate contains a QR Code where the student and parents can redeem their free ticket. This program will be hosted multiple times throughout the year, so check back later for more dates!

Prizes:

All participants who read five books in the month of October will receive a free ticket to a Houston Dynamo or Houston Dash home game

The top three schools with the most books read at the end of the program may choose one of the following prizes

• A behind the scenes tour of PNC Stadium and a pizza party for up to 50 students.

• A school assembly with Diesel, the Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash mascot

• A personalized jersey with the name of the school on the back.

Links:

• Website - https://www.houstondynamofc.com/community/reading

• Registration - https://houstondynamo.formstack.com/forms/readin

Join us on October 18th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM for a fiesta to celebrate the return of the Annual Book Fair Dinner!

Come and shop the Book Fair and feast on delicious beef, chicken or potato flautas, Mexican-style rice, and refried beans, plus condiments, drinks, and a dessert. The cost is $10 per person and tickets are ONLY available via ONLINE presale by October 12th.

The Book Fair will be open during the event, and you may come and shop even if you are not dining with us.

Please contact family.hospitality.bbe@gmail.com with questions about the Book Fair Dinner.

Bush Elementary has a Teacher Assistant vacancy. This position involves supervising students before school, at lunch, and after school. In addition, the teacher assistant supports the teachers by working with students in class.

Here are the requirements and details about this position:

60 hours of earned college credit documented in an official transcript

Fluent in written and verbal English, other language ability is always a great plus.

Duty hours are 7:30 a.m.– 3:45 p.m.

Duty schedule is the same as the teacher’s which is a few days longer than the students

If you’re interested, please send your resume to Zonia Flores at zonia.flores@houstonisd.org

Mark your calendars for our Fall Book Fair: October 17-21.

The book fair will be available online from October 14-26.

Visit the scholastic link to preview books and shop online: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/barbarabushelementaryschool

Don't forget tonight is the deadline to buy your tickets for the Family Dinner Event on Tuesday, October 18.

Please make sure your dismissal tag is visible, preferably hanging from your rear view mirror, when you get into the carpool dismissal line. If you don't have your number, then write it on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper so it can be easily seen by Ms. Rose when she is recording the number. Then, keep that number displayed until your child enters your car. The ladies on dismissal duty want to ensure the students are going into the correct car and this will greatly help if they can see the dismissal number too.

The Gifted and Talented department will hold three Family Information Sessions in the upcoming weeks via Microsoft Teams. Please click on the link for additional information.

GT Family Information Sessions

The Student Annual Verification is now available on the HISD Connect Parent Portal and must be completed by Friday, October 28.

The Student Annual Verification allows parents and caregivers the opportunity to verify or update their information—such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts—to stay connected to their student’s school.

If a parent or caregiver indicates that their home address has changed, the campus will contact them to obtain an updated statement of residence.

Parents and caregivers who have not set up their HISD Connect Parent Portal account and do not have their access code may contact their student’s school to obtain their student’s access ID.

As a reminder, the HISD Connect Parent Portal is a tool to track information related to students’ schedules, grades, attendance, academic history, and more.

Volunteers are needed to help supervise and assist students in the cafeteria at lunch. This is an active volunteer time and not a time to sit with or stand by your child. Parents will be supervising and helping all students in the cafeteria. Only the parent, and no younger or older siblings, may take part in the cafeteria supervision.

There are 2 requirements that must occur before parents may volunteer in the cafeteria.

1. VIPS approved - online approval process

2. Attend training that happens on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

Please use the link below to sign up to volunteer once you're VIPS approved and have attended the training. This is not a once a month time to volunteer, but rather we need consistent volunteers showing up on a a regular basis at lunch time.

Please make sure you bring your driver's license to sign in to enter the building. Also, be prepared to show a copy of the certificate/email that shows that you're VIPS approved at your first time volunteering.

We look forward to having cafeteria volunteers at lunch time.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4CACAA2EA0FB6-bbelunchroom

Please be advised that walker numbers are finished being inputted at 3:10 p.m. Walker parents will need to go to the front office to pick up their child starting at 3:10 p.m.

Throughout the school year, this section of the newsletter will highlight key points from the Bush Parent Handbook. School begins at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving after 7:40 a.m. are tardy. Students arriving after 9:00 a.m., without a doctor's excuse, are marked absent.

Vacations

Please remember to plan your family vacations and trips during regular school holidays like Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break. Family vacations cannot be considered excused absences by the State of Texas. As a result, they are recorded as unexcused absences. All students must have a 98% attendance rate. Every day at school is important. All students must attend school up to and including the last day on May 31, 2023.

Early Pick Ups

Please do not plan to pick up your child after 2:30 p.m. from the office. To ensure a safe dismissal, students will not be called to the office to be picked up after 2:30 p.m. Thank you for helping to make dismissal safe for all our students.

Nurse's Rule

Please do not send your sick child to school. If your child has a fever, pink eye, or upset stomach, please keep him/her at home. We have lots of folks under our roof every day. For the health and safety of ALL students, it is very important that children stay home when they are ill. Students who have thrown up during the night or who are running a fever cannot be sent to school. Students must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school. When your child returns to school, please send a signed note stating the days your child was absent and the reason for the absence.

Safety is our number one core value. We must be safe before we can teach, learn, and grow. Safety

policies and procedures are constantly reviewed and revised as needed. ALL adults entering

the building MUST show a government issued photo identification at the front office every time entering the building.

The identification will be run through a background check device before an adult may receive a visitor’s

pass. If parents are coming into school to volunteer and/or to attend field trips, then they must be VIPS approved. Information about being VIPS approved is available on the HISD website and in the Parent Handbook.

View the 2022-2023 Back To School Guidelines

The Spectacular Science Word for the week of October 17th is matter.

Ms. Rose would like to wish a very special birthday to:

Allen E. who turned 8 years old on October 3 and is a second grader in Ms. Adkins' class.

Matthew H. who turned 9 years old on October 4 and is a third grader in Ms. Mayces' class.

Robert H. who turned 9 years old on October 4 and is a third grader in Ms. Sherman's class.

Rio T. who turned 10 years old on October 4 and is a fifth grader in Ms. Hillman's class.

Tate M. who turned 9 years old on October 4 and is a third grader in Ms. Mayces' class.

Raghav B. who turned 8 years old on October 7 and is a second grader in Ms. Brown's class.

Serena L. who turned 10 years old on October 10 and is a fifth grader in Ms. Larson's class.

Maria N. who turned 6 years old on October 11 and is a kindergartner in Ms. Nguyen's class.

Marcus H. who turned 9 years old on October 11 and is a third grader in Ms. McKee's class.

Morgan Lee J. who turns 10 years old on October 12 and is a fourth grader in Ms. Garza's class.

Ava B. who turns 7 years old on October 15 and is a first grader in Ms. Brown's class.

Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!

Sometimes we may feel like life can be a world full of stressful situations and a rollercoaster ride at times. We must have self-management skills in place to help us cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Self-management is our ability to regulate emotions and control actions and behaviors. It's why we don't miss work deadlines or overreact to workplace conflicts. With remote work and hybrid working, self-management in business has become more important than ever. We know this more than ever dealing with the past two years.

It is also important that your children have the ability to manage their worries and have coping skills.

Worry is a caution signal. It's a natural response to a big event, change, or challenge. Worry is a way of thinking and feeling ahead: "Am I ready for this? What's going to happen? Is it safe to go ahead? What do I need to do to get ready? How will I do it? What if I feel nervous?"

Thinking through the part they worry about — calmly and with support from parents — can help kids get ready for what's ahead. When kids feel prepared, they can focus on the part they're looking forward to.

My Worry Monster- An Anxiety Coping Tool

See this week's printable by Big Life Journal

Our namesake, Ms. Barbara Bush, was an advocate for blood donations. She personally answered the call when blood donations were requested. In an effort to honor her legacy, Bush Elementary is hosting a blood drive!

Commit for Life Donor Link

Monday, November 14th

MP Room

8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

FREE BLANKETS FOR DONORS!

Contact Zonia Flores @ zonia.flores@houstonisd.org if you have any questions.

Positive Parenting Program works one-on-one with parents and caregivers to look at why children misbehave, how to get children to behave, what to do when children misbehave and how to parent positively in real-world, everyday situations.

Every parent needs a little help sometimes. Maybe your child doesn’t listen to you. Maybe he throws tantrums at the drop of a hat. Or maybe she just won’t go to bed. Well, you aren’t alone. The truth is, while there are many kinds of families, they all have one thing in common: raising children can be tough sometimes.

This training won't tell you how to be a parent. Instead, it will offer simple and proven ideas to help you deal with problem behavior, making raising your children easier and your whole family happier.

Go from timeouts to time together.

Interested? Please email maria.quevedo@houstonisd.org to sign up for this free event.

Date: November 17th

Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Bush Elementary Rm. T505

By now, you have hopefully chosen to take the first step in supporting our students and school by joining the PTO. Families who join the PTO take pride in the fact that their membership fees help to make the work of the PTO possible. However, in order for us to fund all of the programs and projects that the PTO undertakes, we ask that – if possible – families consider making an additional contribution to the PTO during our Bobcat Boosters Underwriting Campaign (going on now through Saturday, October 15th, 2022).

Bobcat Boosters is a direct fundraising campaign which means:

We will NOT ask you to sell promotional items such as gift wrap, cookies, et cetera…

100% of the funds given will support our school projects and programs

Families can choose the level they wish to donate; any level of support will help!

Some employers have a matching gift program which can double or even triple your donation

Because of the past generosity of BBE families, we have been able to fund key non-budgeted projects and programs that enrich and supplement our children’s curriculum and add value to their time at BBE. The critical funds raised during Bobcat Boosters have supported technology for classrooms; art, music, library, and physical education resources; special advancement programs; safe and reliable transportation for field trips; campus improvement projects; important programs and events (such as the school’s anti-bullying campaign and special performances for our students); and professional development/advanced education opportunities for all BBE teachers.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

School Store OTG is a time for the students to put their money skills to use and pick out a fun item or two to use in the classroom or take home.

School Store OTG will be set up a little differently than last year. We will only be open for ONE grade level each week, so be sure to check the calendar so you know when your student will have it.

The store will be open during lunch THIS Friday, October 14th, for 1st, Kinder and PK students only.

If you choose to send money with your student on their given day, please be sure it is in a safe location, such as their backpack, until the end of the day. The PTO and staff are not responsible for any lost money. Also discuss with your student how to act appropriately with money and be considerate of those who may not have as much or any money that day. Remember to always BE KIND.

Families can also shop our school store online or visit us in person every Wednesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30am.

Purchase apparel and select school supplies such as agendas, zipper pouches, notebooks etc. Items purchased online by Thursday at 5:00pm will be delivered to your child’s classroom on Friday.

Be sure to follow @bbepto on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates when we get new stock!

Anyone entering the building will need to present a photo ID at the main office.

Thank you to those who helped create a colorful Rock Garden in the Nature Center! We're looking forward to seeing you at our pumpkin painting event this week.

All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Events are weather permitting and space is limited. Sign up today!

Join us this Friday, October 14th from 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. for Pumpkin Painting + Planting!

Students will have the opportunity to purchase books during the school day with their class. The students can bring cash or you can load their eWallet on their scholastic book fair account. Click this link to set it up. The eWallet provides a secure, cash-free way for the students to shop at the Book Fair. Create a free account where you can pre-authorize a spending limit and have funds immediately available for the student to spend at the Book Fair. Keep in mind there is an 8.25% sales tax when you are sending funds!

You are encouraged to join the students at the Book Fair during the day. Your teacher will let you know your child's class scheduled Book Fair date & time. You must be VIPS approved before you enter the school during school hours. Click this link to go directly to the VIPS background check. Get it done now and you will be ready to go!

We are also looking for volunteers to help with the Book Fair. Sign up here if you are interested! You must be VIPS approved to volunteer.

Please contact ptobbelibrary@gmail.com with any questions about the Book Fair.

If you missed our First Fridays and Second Saturdays Social Hours last week, come chat and relax with us in November! We would love to get to know fellow BBE parents and guardians, and it’s time to rectify our lack of connection with one another after the forced isolation of the last few years. There are two opportunities each month, so please attend whichever fits your schedule– or come to both!

First Friday:

November 4th, 4:30pm @ Briarhills Park (Children welcome, of course! Bring your own snacks and beverages.)

Second Saturday:

November 11th, time and location TBD

We are now collecting the 5th grade fee on the BBE PTO website. This fee covers the 5th Grade t-shirt (dress code approved), holiday party contributions, and the End-of-the-Year Celebration and gift bags. There is also the option to “Help a Friend’ if you would like to donate to help cover the cost for families who do not have the means.

This year, we have also added the option of donating to the holiday teacher gift in advance. Donations for this are available in $5 increments. This donation is entirely voluntary.

Please purchase your 5th grade fee and any add-ons HERE.

Join the Birthday Book Club and make your student’s day extra special! Your student will receive a personal birthday greeting from Ms. Rose during the morning announcements, and have their name printed in the weekly Paw Prints newsletter, in a book for the library, AND on the electronic marquee during the week of their birthday.

We would love for families to send in any photos from the first day of school, or other events happening in your child’s classroom. If you have any, please share them with us! Please send no more than 5 photos to bushptoyearbook@gmail.com and label pictures with your child's grade.

22-23 Faculty and Staff

Counselor - Jewell Quinonez

(P) 281-368-2150 (ext: 275212)

Jewell.Quinonez@houstonisd.org

Click here to visit the BBE Counselor Corner

FOR RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH -

Wraparound - Maria Quevedo

(P) 281-368-2150 (ext. 275105)

maria.quevedo@houstonisd.org

FOR ATTENDANCE -

Registrar - Adriana Rosales

(P) 281-368-2150 (ext. 275104)

arosale3@houstonisd.org