Bobcat News
October 2020 Newsletter
Bell Manor Elementary School
Principal's Corner
We are nearing the end of the first six weeks and the beginning of a new six weeks - what an adventure the start of school has been!
Thank you for your patience as we navigated Canvas together the first few weeks, and then again as we navigated new procedures for in-person learning. There certainly have been several new experiences this year, but I have to share how wonderfully our teachers, your children, and you are pivoting with each new step! Each time I walk into a classroom or join a Google Meets, I am amazed at how our students are adapting to learning - and I have seen some pretty innovative techniques - a teacher pie-ing themselves for engagement in Google Meets was certainly a highlight and the students' excitement was inspiring!
I also wanted to take time to share how our safety protocols are going - we continue to use PPE and utilize the sanitizing products from our district. We did report 1 positive COVID case in September. In an abundance of caution, we have had 26 individuals tested and those have tested negative, the majority were allergies or common cold. Please click this link to view our District's Data Dashboard.
As we welcome nearly 110 students returning in the 2nd Six Weeks, we will review health safety protocols and continue with our arrival and dismissal procedures to mitigate congregations of large groups.
While we continue with safety guidelines, I want to remind you of the emphasis on instruction that is happening in our classrooms and across the campus. Our teachers are moving forward to ensure your students are academically prepared. Please partner with us in building your students' strong academic success - whether they are in-person or online. You will be hearing from your child's teacher(s) to schedule a Fall Parent Conference to occur before the end of the 2nd Six Weeks.
We look forward to another successful month!
With Love & Bobcat Pride,
Mrs. McCarty, Principal
5th Grade Rocks!
Smile!
Pre-K in PE!
Returning to Campus
A few reminders:
- The building opens at 7:30 am - for your child's safety, please do not leave your child unattended prior to the building opening.
- All students will remain in their car during temperature checks
- All students must wear a mask on-campus
- PK-2 students are dismissed at 2:50 pm
- G3-6 students are dismissed at 3:05 pm
Feeback
Please share what we are doing well and areas of opportunity! Together, Bell Manor will bloom!
https://forms.gle/MYz8Mc44EiZoTBQ6A
Positives:
- The drop-off line has been done by 7:42-7:43 am the past few mornings!
- We want to thank you and ALL the teachers for all the work you have put in this week! We look forward to learning more as we go! Just wanted to show off our learning stations!!
- Much better start today! We got this ⭐️
- Thank you for being awesome & knowing just what these kiddos (& their families) need! I know you have been hard at work for some time now. Our family (& community) sends you good vibes and lots of prayers your way. I'm sure there are some defeating moments - just remember we are thinking of you and most grateful for all you do!
Areas of Opportunity:
I can't get into my kid's Canvas account!
Please email me directly if this is still an issue - kerimccarty@hebisd.edu or you can email our Campus Technology Assistant at barrythigpin@hebisd.edu
Teachers are doing both online and in-person - how is this fair?
As enrollment numbers change with in-person and online learners, we are having to pivot class configurations to simultaneous classrooms. This assists some of our classes with keeping in-person class sizes lower, while still providing quality instruction to online learners. TEA requires PK-2 online learning to be asynchronous, while HEB ISD is requesting synchronous opportunities during the day. Our PK-2 teachers schedules may change as we continue to adapt to the ebb and flow of parent decisions for traditional/online learning. Many of our G3-6 classrooms have been functioning successfully in simultaneous learning environments since September 8th. If you have a particular concern in a grade-level, please email me at kerimccarty@hebisd.edu.
I have a 2nd grader and a 6th grader to pick up, when am I supposed to pick them up if they are dismissed at different times?
You are welcome to make one trip to pick up both students at 3:05 pm. The 6th grader will be picked up near the front entrance and the 2nd grader will be picked up at APod.
Upcoming Events
September 28-October 23 - Black & Blue Food Drive
See information below for how to bring items.
September 30 - PTA Membership Meeting
7:00 pm via Zoom. Please email bell.manor.elem.pta@gmail.com for the Zoom Link prior to the meeting.
October 5 - 1st Day of 2nd Six Weeks
Some students are returning to traditional learning on this day.
October 5 - Kids' Beach Club Sign-Up Open
See the flyer below for registration information for students in Grades 3-6.
October 9 - No School for Students
Staff Work Day
October 12 - School Holiday
No School for Staff & Students
October 14 - Individual Fall Picture Day
More information coming soon for traditional and online learners
October 22 - Play It Safe! Program
Please see the Counselor's Corner for more information.
October 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week
See information below Counselor's Corner
October 30 - last day to switch from OLO to TL for the 3rd Six Weeks
If you are wanting your child to attend in-person for the 3rd Six Weeks, please complete this form by 10/30: https://forms.gle/ForgJ4393boko5tE6
November 3 - No School for Students
Staff Professional Development Day
Black & Blue Food Drive
The canned food drive starts on September 28th and ends on October 23rd.
- For our Traditional Students, they will take their donation of canned or boxed foods to their homeroom teacher.
- For our Online Students, we will have a drive-through drop off at the main entrance every school day from 3:15 - 3:45. Your donation will be counted toward your homeroom class’ total.
Notes from the Nurse
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we have contacted parents regarding student's symptoms. Under an abundance of caution, we will call parents/guardians when a student is sent to the clinic with the following symptoms:
· Temperature of 100.0 Fahrenheit or above
· Shaking chills/feeling feverish
· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
· Cough, congestion, runny nose
· Sore throat
· New loss of taste or smell
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Persistent headache
· Unusual muscle aches or fatigue
· Close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days
· International travel in the last 14 days
Please be proactive, and if your child has any of these symptoms, keep them at home and contact your health provider. If your child begins to have any of these symptoms at school, they will be isolated and you will be contacted to pick them up immediately.
Thank you for your cooperation to make this school year successful. Please contact us if there is anything you need.
Nurse Moore and Nurse Bernadette
817-399-3457
Birthdays at Bell Manor
Transitioning from Online Learning to Traditional Learning
Counselor's Corner
Each year the Women's Center of Tarrant County presents the Play it Safe! Program to our students. Play it Safe! is scheduled to host virtual lessons with Bell Manor on October 22nd. If you would like for your child to opt out of this program after reviewing the information below, please email me at AngieLittle@hebisd.edu.
Thank you,
Mrs. Little
Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 26-30
If you have questions about Red Ribbon Week, please contact our counselor at AngieLittle@hebisd.edu
Merritt's Music Corner
All 4th, 5th and 6th grade students will need a recorder for music class. Recorders are available to purchase for $3.00 during your child’s music class day with Mrs. Merritt. If your child already has one, they may use the one they have.
If your child is online only, you may purchase a recorder online for $3.25 using the following link. https://hebisd.schoolcashonline.com/
Online orders are due by October 30th. I will send out an additional email to parents when the recorders are ready for pick up.
We will not play recorders in the school building. Students will need to keep recorders at home. Recorder lessons will be available in Canvas for online only students and for in-person students to practice what we learned in class. We will begin recorders starting the beginning of the 3rd six weeks.
We will have a Recorder Karate unit starting after the winter break. Students who can play the songs assigned in Recorder Karate will earn a belt for the level of that song to proudly display on their recorder.
Please contact me at stacymerritt@hebisd.edu for any questions or concerns.
Musically yours,
Stacy Merritt
Music Teacher
Bell Manor Elementary
Kids' Beach Club
Thank You, PTA!
We would love for you to be a part of our PTA membership! Please consider joining by clicking on www.joinPTA.org - and select Bell Manor Elementary.
Bobcat Adopters are Awesome
Cooper's Florist
Texas Health HEB Auxiliary
Fletcher Tax & Bookkepping
Attendance Matters
Missing just 1.5 days of school a month- Let's do the math...
One school year = 175 days of school for students
Kinder-12th Grade = 13 years of schoolMissing 1.5 days a month x 9 months= 13.5 days a year
13.5 days a year x 13 years = 175.5 days of school
This is a whole year of school missing from your child's education!
**Students in Online Learning MUST login to Canvas every day to be counted present!
Helpful Tips for Awesome Attendance
- Remind your child that school is their first and most important job!
- Communicate the importance of regular school attendance so they are hearing the same message at home as they are at school.
- Have a daily bedtime and morning routine. This healthy habit results in less sickness and maximum learning. See below for recommended hours of sleep.
- Official attendance is taken at 10:00 am. Tardies and early release count as being present for a partial day.
- A doctor's appointment for a couple hours does not justify missing an entire day of school. Bring students to school before or after a doctor's visit so they can get partial credit. Make sure to bring the doctor's note so it is excused. Check out your child's schedule below to schedule appointments at ideal times such as lunch and recess.
- If a student is running a fever, vomiting, or has diarrhea, they need to be kept at home. If they do not have these symptoms, send them to school.
- Always send a parent or doctor's note when absent within 72 hours so it is an excused absence. Did you know that work missed during unexcused absences can be only be graded for a maximum of 70% credit? See the Student Code of Conduct link below.
Schedules
HEB ISD Student Code of Conduct
How many hours of sleep should our students get?
October Lunch Menu
Bell Manor School-Wide Behavior Expectations & Areas of Excellence
1. Respect- Everything you say and do is KIND.
2. Behavior- Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Responsibility- You are responsible for your own learning. The teacher is responsible for your learning and safety; the teacher is the boss.
You may see some symbols in your child's MOOSE to celebrate areas of excellence.
Star - working hard
Heart - Kind to others
Check with a plus - Met a goal
Thank you for supporting our learning environment!