Bearkat Chat
#BearkatBEST, #❤️ofaBearkat - December 2023
Our Vision: Educating the whole child: mind, body and spirit!
Mote's Note - A note from the Principal - Kyla Mote
We are hoping to make this a December to remember with all the fun events and learning happening. Just to name a few, we have our Family Holiday night coming up on Tuesday, Mother Goose is visiting on Thursday, illustrator and author Ross Burach is coming on Friday, we have a 4th grade concert on the 19th and then party day is the 21st.
HOLIDAY NIGHT INFO 5:30pm-7:00pm:
We hope everyone is able to join us on Tuesday night. If the weather is dry leading up, you may find parking on the "greenbelt" heading into or out of the school off of Grant Road. You may also park along the car rider line single file - please only park on the right side so that when people want to leave there is still a way to exit. Please do not park there until after 5pm due to car riders leaving school that day. HEB does not allow us to park in their loading zone behind their building so please be careful there. They had cars towed last year. Jeremiah's has decided to support us with a 20% giveback night if you need a quick snack after the event or maybe after you grab dinner.
HOLIDAY PARTY INFO:
ECSE/PREK/K/1/2 - Dec. 21st 9:45AM-10:30AM
LS/3/4/5 - Dec. 21st 11:15AM-12:00PM
We are also hosting holiday parties "old school" style - in the classrooms this year on the 21st. Each student may have two guests total but all guests must be pre-registered to attend. Please sign up here to attend. Students may be signed out from the classroom that day if pre-registered. If you are not attending the party but picking up your child early - please send those notes as early as possible - the line may be long that day.
STAFF FAVORITES and more:
I have had a few people ask again for the link to our staff favorites - please click here to find your staff members favorites for the season. We also love to take care of our 7 cafe staff, 7 custodial staff and 21 bus drivers in December. If you would like to help us take care of them, please send gifts or giftcards with your child - to Mrs.Mote (labeled for Cafe/Custodian &/Or Bus Drivers) if you would like.
Student Council is currently holding their "warm drive". They are collecting new blankets, new scarfs, new socks, new and used jackets to donate to those in need. Please consider helping them if you have extras laying around or see them on sale.
We are closed Dec. 22-Jan. 7 - Please have a safe and wonderful break!
A few quick reminders:
Attendance - it is very important that our students are at school everyday. Please use the student holidays to schedule doctor appts and vacations as much as possible. When they are absent they are missing out. (If students are truly sick, please stay home to support not spreading it and having others miss out.)
Here are a few dates to save:
Dec. 4 - Fire Drill
Dec 5 - HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD family Fun Night at school 5:30-7pm
Dec. 6 - Fall Picture Retakes
Dec. 7 - Mother Goose will visit Prek & K, Interim Testing for ELAR 3rd/4th/5th
Dec. 14 - Interim Testing 3/4/5 - Math
Dec. 19 - 4th Grade Concert 6:30pm-7:30pm
Dec. 21 - Holiday Parties in classrooms (Prek -2 9:45-10:30, 3rd-5th 11:15-12:00) Lunches will be at different times. Schedule coming soon but we will not have lunch visitors.
Dec. 22-Jan. 5 - Student Holiday for Winter Break
Jan. 8 - Everyone is back to school
Jan. 9 - Fire and lockdown drill
Jan. 9 - Campus Spelling Bee Finals 5:30-7:00pm
Jan. 16 - Parent Information Night - Topics: STAAR , My.cfisd.net resources, TELPAS, and Viewing student test/assignments/grades 5:30-6:30 in Cafe
Jan. 18 - 5th grade Science Interim Testing
Jan. 23 & 24 - 3rd and 5th - Nature Trails
Jan. 30 - Name That Book Gradelevel competition during the day - District Spelling Bee at night
Feb. 2 - Class Picture Day
Feb. 3 - PTO Sweetheart dance - 6-8pm
Feb. 6 - 3rd and 5th STAAR FIELD TESTS - No visitors due to a schedule change
Feb. 20 - 2nd & 3rd Healthy Hip Hop Cultural Arts Event, Parent Info night 5:30-6:30
Feb. 21 - Prek Field Trip to SRC
Feb. 22 - Name That Book School Evening Competition
Mar. 5 - Spring Picture Day & Spring Creek BBQ Night
Mar. 6 - 1st grade Field Trip to Houston Interactive Aquarium
Mar 8 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Blue Bell
March 11-15 - Spring Break
March 19 - Parent Info Meeting
March 26 - District Name That Book
Optional Fun Dress Days for December
Lenny's Tales
I am so excited for these holiday events coming up in December. From what I saw on the schedule we have Holiday Around The World; Family Fun Night. I sat in a meeting with some of the fantastic staff members that are planning this event. There are going to be entertaining games. We also have the 4th grade performance around the corner too.
This month I was able to attend many classes to discuss what they are thankful for. It was so sweet to hear what these kids had to say about their families. I also attended some classes during their counselor lesson. That was definitely entertaining. Watching all of the grade levels decide if they had a big problem or a small problem, then they figured out how to resolve the issue or make it better. I will tell you all that our Bearkats are super smart. I feel so privileged to get loved on by those super brains!
I am ecstatic to see our students return after their 2 week break. I know they will return to school refreshed, and ready to get the second semester going. After those two weeks, it feels like a year that I have not seen our friends. They come in taller, smarter, and ready to go. I do hope that all our Bearkats and their families have a wonderful and safe winter break!
Librarian Info
Communication to 5th grade parents
Dear Parent/Guardian of a CFISD 5th Grade Student,
The parent/guardian of a 5th grade student may opt their child into the Young Adult
collection of books at their campus library. The description of the Young Adult collection is
available in the Parent Portal which can be accessed by clicking the link on the district website
(https://www.cfisd.net/domain/10). If you would like to choose for your student access to the
Young Adult collection, please visit the parent portal and select opt-in. If you do not want your
student to access theYoung Adult collection, no action is needed. Your student will have default
access to the Juvenile collection of books unless you have opted your student out of the library.
If you have any questions, please contact your campus librarian.
Bearkat PTO
Presidents Corner
We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! We are very thankful for each of you & are excited for all the holiday fun December will bring! This includes the Family Holiday Night & the classroom parties. There are so many ways that you can get involved at Black Elementary & give back to the school that supports our students. If you want to know more about PTO & how you can contribute, please email me @ president@blackpto.net.
Thank you!
Elena Velasquez
SRC
VIPS TEAM
ALL HRCs, Liaisons & Committee Chairs - Please make sure to review the policies and procedures in the Volunteer packet provided at the meeting or if you were not able to attend it was sent home via your student’s backpack, Please sign the Confidentiality Oath and return to Amy Wurdeman, VIPS2 PTO.
Please note: You must be a CURRENT paid member of the PTO and have signed and returned the Oath of Confidentiality before serving/volunteering for your assigned position.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering, please e-mail Jessica Mauro at vips1@blackpto.net or Amy Wurdeman at vips2@blackpto.net.
Our Top Bearkat Volunteer of the Month for November is still open during the Thanksgiving break so make sure you log all hours worked outside of school! The BEST top volunteer perk in December is the convenient Reserved Parking Space at the front of the school for party day and any other day you are at the school in December!! You will also be recognized on an award sign in the front office. Thank you to all our volunteers dedicating your extra time at the school! **Don’t forget to log your offsite volunteer hours on the PTO webpage: https://blackpto.membershiptoolkit.com
Please mark your calendars for the following events:
· December 21, 2023 – Holiday Parties (In Classroom)
o Pre-K – 2nd Grade – 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
o 3rd – 5th Grade – 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
· Party pre-registration will open in December. You must pre-register to attend your student’s party. (2 person max – no siblings)
PENDING LIAISON Position – *We still need a First Grade Liaison! Please contact Jessica Mauro, VIPS1 at vips1@blackpto.net if interested.
PENDING HRCs Needed: *We still need HRCs (Homeroom Coordinators) for the following classrooms:
- · Avant (ECSE)
- · Fischer (Pre-K)
- · Fritch (3rd)
- · Morrison (5th)
A sign-up genius is posted on the Black Elementary Facebook page for interested volunteers or reach out to VIPS representatives.
FIFTH GRADE EVENTS –
· 5th Grade Day –
o May 17, 2024 at Main Event Tomball
o The theme this year is “5th Grade is FIRE!”
o Volunteer opportunities to be announced soon.
· Fifth Grade Paws – Paw Prints are live on the PTO Website and will be in vinyl this year. They will be displayed in the FRONT of school – these will be customizable with different add-ons.
Paw print reveal will be on a Saturday in January – date to be determined. Please contact Kylie Nichols at pawprint@blackpto.net for more information.
· 5th Grade Memory Book – We need your photos!! Please see the Memory Book flyer sent home in your student’s backpack and on the PTO Black Elementary Facebook page for more details. The due date is December 15, 2023 for the cover art contest. Please look for flyer to come home in your student’s backpack.
· You can e-mail your photos to Julie Patterson at 5thgradememorybook@blackpto.net
● También es importante que utilicen colores brillantes en su obra maestra.
● **FECHA LÍMITE** para todas las entregas es el 15 de diciembre de 2023.
Envie un correo electrónico a 5THGRADEMEMORYBOOK@BLACKPTO.NET con cualquier
Field Trip Information -
CULTURAL ARTS
The arts encourage creativity, innovation, and self-confidence. The Cultural Arts program at Black Elementary achieves this by utilizing community-based programs that come to our school for a firsthand and up-close peak into the arts. We are excited to have several amazing programs visit our school this year, including The Houston Grand Opera, Main Street Theater, and the Fly Dance Company. We look forward to seeing the students’ smiling faces in the audience. Stay tuned for more information.
Thanks! Cassie Rauch
BIRTHDAY WALL
HOSPITALITY
We are including another Signup Genius for items needed, perhaps you know a business that would donate some pastries please feel free to email us at hospitality@blackpto.net. If you know of any business or individual that would like to donate anything to Black PTO Hospitality, please contact us. Donations from businesses and individuals allow us to spoil the teachers and staff even more. Please remember all the countless sacrifices that they make each in every day during and outside of school hours. If you have any questions at any time, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
https://www.blackpto.net/home
Membership
WHAT DOES PTO FUND?
Field Trips for all grades
Cultural Arts events for all grades
Holiday Parties
End of Year Parties
Playground Equipment
Staff Development
Back to School Staff Luncheon
Field Day
Music/PE Equipment
Author Days
Technology
5th Grade Celebration
Veterans Day Program
Staff Appreciation/Hospitality
STAAR Testing Snacks
Lenny the dog
WHAT DOES PTO DO?
Yearbook
Book Spirit Night Events
School Wide Event Volunteers
Birthday Wall
Science Resource Demos (SRC)
Staff Appreciation Events
Spirit Shop
Manage PTO Website
Marquee
Junior Achievement
Class Parties
5th Grade Sidewalk Paws
School Shirt Sales
Organize volunteers for: Workroom, Library, Book Fair, HRC, Nature Trails, Hearing and Vision Screening, Clinic, etc
HOW TO HELP?
Become a PTO member
Donate to fundraisers
Participate in Spirit Nights
Shop at the Spirit Shop
Volunteer
HOW TO JOIN?
Joining PTO by registering at blackpto.net
You are not committing to volunteer, but only to help support our school and all that we provide our students. Volunteering is a FUN bonus! Getting involved and meeting new people all while supporting Black Elementary!
Questions: contact Membership@blackpto.net
Clinic
· Please remember to pack an extra set of clothes in the backpack for toileting accidents or spills for all grade levels.
· Students may NOT bring medication (including cough drops) with them to school. Any medication must be brought up by an adult and signed in through the clinic.
· If your student received a green See to Succeed packet, they are eligible to go on a district sponsored field trip next semester to receive a free professional eye exam and glasses. If have any questions, would like more info, or need an extra packet, please send an email to Dixon.gates@cfisd.net
Fundraising
VIPS Team
Thank you to the large number of volunteers that attended the VIPS HRC/Committee/Liaison
Information Meeting on October 5th! We had a great turn out and really appreciate your desire to be involved at Black Elementary as a volunteer. If you were not able to attend the meeting, your packet was sent home in your student’s backpack on Monday, October 23. Please make sure to review the policies and procedures in the packet and sign the Confidentiality Oath and return to Amy Wurdeman, VIPS2 PTO. If you have any questions regarding volunteering, please e-mail Jessica Mauro at vips1@blackpto.net or Amy Wurdeman at vips2@blackpto.net.
· December 21, 2023 – Holiday Parties (In Classroom)
· Pre-K – 2 nd Grade – 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
· 3 rd – 5 th Grade – 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
· Party pre-registration will open in December. You must pre-register to attend your student’s party. (2 person max)
PENDING LIAISON Position – *We still need a First Grade Liaison! Please contact Jessica Mauro, VIPS1 at vips1@blackpto.net if interested.
PENDING HRCs Needed: *We still need HRCs (Homeroom Coordinators) for the following classrooms:
· Avant (ECSE)
· Fischer (Pre-K)
· Fritch (3 rd )
· Morrison (5 th )
A sign-up genius is posted on the Black Elementary Facebook page for interested volunteers.
Fifth Grade Events –
· 5th Grade Day –
o Please note change of date – now scheduled for May 17, 2024 at Main Event Tomball
o The theme is “5th Grade is Fire!”
o Be on the lookout for a 5th Grade Day flyer coming home soon
o Committees are being formed to help with this fun event for the Fifth Grade Class. It is
going to be AWESOME so don’t miss out on helping! Look for volunteer opportunities to be announced soon.
· Fifth Grade Paws –
o Paw Prints will be in vinyl this year and will be displayed in the FRONT of
School. These will be customizable with 3 different add-ons & will be available to purchase soon. Please contact Kylie Nichols at pawprint@blackpto.net for more information.
5th Grade Memory Book
Safety Information
District Childfind
Childfind services
The Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District Special Education Department provides educational services to over 10,000 students with special needs.
Teachers, instructional aides, speech pathologists and related service personnel provide instruction and related services to students who have a disability. Students are eligible for special education services from the age of 3 through 21. Students who have hearing and vision disabilities may receive services from birth.
To be eligible for special education services, students must meet eligibility requirements as a student with an orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, auditory impairment, visual impairment, diagnosis of deaf/blind, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, learning disability, speech impairment, multiple disabilities, autism, non-categorical early childhood, or traumatic brain injury.
Cypress Fairbanks ISD instructional arrangements for elementary school-aged students include in-class support, resource classes and speech/language therapy. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE, formerly PPCD), adaptive behavior, and LIFE Skills classes are offered as cluster services at the elementary level.
In-class support, resource classes, LIFE Skills, adaptive behavior and speech/language services are available at all secondary level campuses.
Related services may include psychological services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility training, school health services, adaptive equipment and special transportation.
Other special education service options include the Dorothy Carlton Center, the Maybelline Carpenter Center, homebound, adaptive physical education, itinerant and on-site services to the visually impaired.
As part of the Northwest Harris County Cooperative for the Hearing Impaired, services for students who have auditory impairments are offered at Birkes Elementary, Matzke Elementary, Spillane Middle School and Cy-Ridge High School. In addition to receiving instruction at the on-site campuses, students may be served by itinerant teachers, speech pathologists, and/or an audiologist at their home campus.
Are you the parent of a pre-school (3-5 years) or school aged child and have concerns regarding your child’s physical, speech, and/or emotional development? Is your child experiencing academic problems which could interfere significantly with educational success? If so, contact the Special Education Department at 281-897-6400 to discuss your concerns and learn more about the referral process.
Tipline @ Black Elementary
Cy-Fair Tipline is an anonymous reporting system that allows students and parents to communicate school concerns or threats to their campus administration through the Internet or via text messaging. Students and parents are able to submit reports/tips via text or email anonymously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To access the system: http://www.safe2helptips.com/cf148s. This link is also located on the school website under 'Contact Us'.
School Messenger
School Messenger
School Messanger -
Siga los siguientes pasos para registrarse y recibir alertas de emergencia del distrito.
OTHER FLYERS AND INFO
Thank you to the following corporate sponsors that support our school.
Black Elementary Info
Email: black@cfisd.net
Website: black.cfisd.net
Location: 14155 Grant Road, Cypress, TX, USA
Phone: 281-320-7145