December 1, 2021
Mark Your Calendars!
Fall Picture Day Retakes
Fall Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, December 8. Students retaking their photos do not need to follow dress code guidelines, all other students must be in regular dress code. However, students do need to be dressed appropriately for a regular school day. Ball gowns, party shoes, and suits are not practical for children to wear to school.
You may also order, by using the QR code on the picture above.
UPDATE - Is That My Jacket?
We have many jackets in our Lost and Found waiting to be picked up by their rightful owners. PTO will assist in returning the jackets with names on them next week. On the morning of December 8, all jackets without names on them will be placed on tables by the bike rack outside for parents to come and find their child's jacket. If your child has lost a jacket without a name in it, please make sure to stop by the bike rack on December 8 between 7:20 am and 7:45 am. All jackets and sweaters that are not picked up by December 17 will be donated.
Date: December 8
Time: Morning Arrival -7:20 - 7:45 am
Location: By the Bike Rack
As a reminder, please label your child/children's jackets/winter clothing so that we can return their lost jackets to their classrooms. Also, please remember that in school, students need to have dress code jackets in solid red, white or navy. Their outside jackets worn for recess do not need to be in dress code colors, they can be any color.
Social and Emotional Learning with Ms. Jones
Focus: Diversity and Culture
It is important to recognize diversity in our community. We must celebrate our differences as well as our common interests because it helps unite and educate us. When we learn about our differences, we can understand each other's perspectives to broaden our own and to fully experience and educate ourselves.
Here are some reasons to learn about diversity:
- Knowledge is the key to tolerance.
- To gain a new perspective on the lives of others around you as well as around the world.
- In a word, heritage.
- People all around need to understand and learn to appreciate other cultures, and this is one way to accomplish that.
- Through each other's diversity, we become more aware of our own. Not only do we become more aware, we gain a sense of pride for the diversity of our own culture.
- Understanding people and their backgrounds is crucial to personal and community growth.
- Because diversity makes the world go round!
- It's energizing and thought provoking.
- To help us all spend some time together--we understand and appreciate each other's cultures so much more!
Printable:
Celebrating Diversity- Holiday Celebrations Around the World
By Big Life Journal
This special time of year brings joy to many homes and celebrations come in different ways! No matter what holiday your family celebrates, use this fun craft to explore and learn about traditions around the world.
Westside Feeder Souper Food Pantry
The Westside feeder pattern of HISD has opened food pantries at two of our neighboring elementary schools. If you are interested in visiting one of these food pantries, please see the dates, times and addresses of the two schools listed in the flyer below. You will need to sign in at the front offices of these schools and ask for their wraparound specialists.
COVID-19 Vaccine - Elementary Students
Absence Notification
If a note is not received within 3 days, then the absence is recorded as unexcused.
Rainy Days
Dismissal Reminders
Please abide by the No Parking signs on the streets around our school and our neighboring schools. Several parents have received parking tickets from HPD in the past because they were parking in a No Parking zone. When cars park in No Parking zones, it is difficult for our busses and vans to turn into our bus lane.
We're asking for the parents of walkers that park their cars on the other side of Westerloch across from the school to NOT u-turn by the carpool lane entrance once they've picked up their child(ren) and are heading home.
We have seen many students and some parents walking across the street not using the crosswalks. This is extremely dangerous and we ask that all walkers and bike riders use the crosswalks. Westerloch Dr. and Parkway Plaza Dr. are very busy streets during morning arrival and dismissal. If you cross between parked cars, ongoing traffic cannot see you.
We are so happy to see so many of our students riding their bikes to school now that the weather has gotten nicer. Please remember that all students are required to wear a bicycle helmet when riding their bikes to and from school. We want to keep all of our Bobcats safe.
Bush PK Lottery 2022 - 2023
On September 10, HISD School Choice opened up the system to apply for the PK lottery for next school year. The Bush PK program is only for families that are already enrolled at Bush Elementary and have another child who will be 4 on or before September 1, 2022. Students must meet PK eligibility requirements such as being economically disadvantaged or qualifying as English as a Second Language.
The site will accept applications from September 10, 2021 - March 10, 2022. Families will be notified by HISD School Choice on April 7, 2022 if their child was accepted into Bush Elementary's PK program or if their child is on the waitlist. Go to HISDChoice.com to apply. Bush Elementary's PK program is only one class with 22 students that must be comprised of siblings of currently enrolled Bush students. The only way to apply for and be part of the lottery for Bush Elementary's PK program is to apply online at the address shared above.
Pets at Bush
Safety continues to be our top priority, and while we love our furry visitors, we ask that you keep them at home during arrival and dismissal. We have several students, faculty and staff members who are allergic to dogs and cats and students who are very afraid of dogs. Please keep them at home.
Handbook Highlights
Early Pick Ups
Spectacular Science!
Bobcat Birthdays!
Ms. Rose would like to wish a very special birthday to:
Valentina C. who turned 11 years old on Nov. 25th, and is a fifth grader in Ms. Butera's class.
Sabira S. who turned 11 years old on Nov. 25th, and is a fifth grader in Ms. Butera's class.
Andrew P. who turned 9 years old on Nov. 29th, and is a third grader in Ms. Nguyen's class.
Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!
Birthday Book Club
Help your child celebrate their birthday and support the library and other programs that enhance the educational experience of Bush students by joining the Birthday Book Club.
Your child will be given a personal "Happy Birthday" greeting during the morning announcements and Paw Prints shout out from Ms. Rose! The donation will be recognized with a nameplate in a new book from the library. A group photo of all the other BBC members with the same birth month will also be displayed in the library display case.
It only costs $20 for a Birthday Book Club Membership (Add Electronic Marquee display for $10 more). Please visit www.BBEPTO.com for more details or to make your purchase.
Enrollment Schedule:
February – July Birthdays: Enroll through January
Nature Center
Yearbook Photos!
We are looking for some pictures for the yearbook. We need first day of school, Movie Night, Nature Center, friends, and siblings photos. If you have any, please share them with us! Please send no more than 5 photos for all events to bushptoyearbook@gmail.com and label pictures with your child's grade.
Bobcat Boosters
Thank you to all the families that have contributed to the 2021-2022 Bobcat Boosters! We continue to "Work Hard. Be Kind. Dream Big!" Keep an eye out for the keychain that will be given to all the families who donated.
School Store
School Store On The Go was cancelled November 19th due to the holiday festivities, but WILL resume again this Friday during lunches!
LOOKING AHEAD
December 11- Nature Center Event
Bush Buddies Walk- February 18
Field Day- March 11
We are now on Instagram! Follow us for the latest updates @bbepto. And Don’t forget to sign up for our Weekly E-Blast!
COVID-19 Updates, News, and Resources
Update to COVID-19 Positive Notification
HISD's COVID-19 protocol has been updated in regards to terminology use and reporting. At all HISD campuses, this means that when there is a positive case in your child's homeroom class you will be notified in writing by the principal. The message you will receive is below. Please note that this message will be sent after the nurse has worked to identify close contacts, and, is simply for notification and does not require further action (i.e. quarantine). I want to thank you all for your diligence in ensuring that students are wearing their masks and that we are all remaining healthy.
Sample Message: This message is to inform you that an individual in your child's homeroom has reported testing positive for COVID-19. Your child has not been identified as a close contact and there is no action required of you at this time. This notification is for your awareness only. Due to privacy requirements, we cannot release the name of the COVID-positive individual or details that may identify them; however, it is important for you to know this individual is self- isolating until they are cleared to return to our campus. As a reminder, HISD has health and safety protocols in place to help prevent the spread of illness. We are asking our staff and families to do their part by adhering to these protocols, and not reporting to their worksite or sending their student(s) to school when they are ill. We appreciate your continued support as we work together to ensure the safety of our students and staff.