Bear Bulletin
February 28, 2021
Topics Included in this Newsletter
- Note from Mrs. Spencer
- Winter Weather Emergency Needs Survey
- Resources for Families in Need
- Parent U: March 11th
- Rising 6th Grade Transition Meeting: March 2nd at 6 p.m.
- Information for Families Traveling Internationally
- McKinney-Veto Homeless Education Assistance Act
- SBMS Yearbook: Pictures Needed!
- Safety Information and Expectations for SBMS Students and Families
- SBISD Transfer Window Opened Feb. 8th
Message from Mrs. Spencer
Hello, SBMS Bears,
It is hard to believe we just have ten more school days until Spring Break! As we approach the anniversary of the onset of the pandemic, I can't help but reflect on celebrations and things for which to be thankful for this school year:
- Approximately 82% of students have returned to face to face instruction at SBMS. SBISD is at about 77% which speaks to the effectiveness of the LearnSBISD plan and the commitment of our community, staff and students.
- We have cycled through several athletic seasons and performing arts events and have seen kids test themselves, work collaboratively together and enjoy their sport and/or performing art. While each of the events have looked differently, it has been so nice to see children involved in these activities. Kudos to kids, parents, faculty and staff for all of their hard work and commitment.
- Some of the innovations that have come to be in all of this might be worth keeping! I know I prefer a zoom meeting over leaving campus and have definitely enjoyed more outside time with family.
- The SBMS Bears for Bears closet is open and ready for students to come get clothes, food, toiletries, and other items that they may need. HUGE thanks to our SBMS PTA Bears for Bears Committee for their commitment to this important initiative.
As we close in on the end of the third nine weeks, please note the following:
- Honors Assemblies are coming out this week related to the second nine weeks. We are only waiting on MY part- videoing our awesome NJHS crew doing their introductions.
- IF you or your family has encountered difficulty with food scarcity or poor wifi since the winter storm, we are happy and able to help at SBMS. We have both food to share and wifi hotspots to lend. Just call SBMS or email me (Stefanie.spencer@springbranchisd.com) and we are happy to assist.
- Please pay careful attention to the information from the district regarding international travel. There is a process for quarantining that families who travel internationally will need to follow. Please submit your form by March 5th.
I believe that is it for a Sunday! Enjoy the day with family.
See you Monday, Bears!
Stefanie Spencer, Principal
Winter Weather Emergency Survey/Necesidades de emergencia para el clima invernal
Possible Resources for Families In Need
If you or your family are experiencing food or water scarcity in response to the recent winter weather emergency, the following organizations may be able to help:
East Spring Branch Food Pantry
Water Distribution Sites (Click2Houston)
Water and Food Distribution Sites (ABC13)
Houston Food Bank Helpline: 832-369-9390
March 11th Parent U: Building Strong Family-School Connections
Featuring Sydney Chaffee, 2017 National Teacher of the Year
Please register for this Parent U to learn how schools and families can work together as partners and ways to build meaningful two-way communication and trusting relationships to support Every Child. Everyone can benefit from attending this virtual event!
Register Here
Rising 6th Grade Parent and Student Transition Meeting: Tuesday, March 2nd at 6 p.m.
We are gearing up for our Elementary Transition Events! A special Bear Bulletin newsletter was sent out to parents of Rising 6th Graders a few weeks ago: https://www.smore.com/r0kae. The newsletter contains information about course selection and SBMS. Key information is as follows:
- Parent (& Student) Transition Meeting Click here for the parent meeting flier, course schedule documents, advertising videos for electives and other helpful tools.
- Week of March 8th: Course selection forms will be due and entered into our scheduling program.
Information for Families Traveling Internationally During Spring Break
As we look forward to spring break in the weeks ahead, we write to affirm that SBISD will follow the Presidential Executive Order of January 21, 2021, requiring international travelers to follow the applicable CDC COVID-19 guidance.
What does this mean for anyone traveling internationally?
- International travelers, regardless of mode of travel, will be required to quarantine upon return.
- Individuals who test for Covid-19 three to five days following return from travel must stay home for seven calendar days. Individuals who do not test must stay home and quarantine for ten calendar days.
- Families who plan to travel internationally should submit the Student Travel Form (attached) directly to their school administrator by March 5, 2021.
We remind anyone traveling, even if traveling domestically, to double check with your destination regarding required rules before you travel.
VIEW FILLABLE FORM AT LINK BELOW:
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act provides immediate enrollment and education stability for displaced and homeless children and youth. Families who may have been displaced by the recent winter storm are encouraged to complete the student residency questionnaire. The form (found here) may be returned to your campus counselor, attendance clerk, or Communities in Schools (CIS) staff member.
You can also return the form via email to ExternalFunding@springbranchisd.com. For any additional questions, you may contact your campus CIS or call 713-251-2495 or 713-251-2335.
If you and your family have any specific needs or any questions, please communicate directly with your campus administration.
SBMS Yearbook: Pictures Needed!
March 3 is the LAST DAY to order a PERSONALIZED yearbook!!
-If you have any photos from Winter Storm Uri that you would like to share, please share with me at sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com. These can be photos like kids playing in the snow or even photos of damage, huddling by the fire or under blankets etc. if you feel comfortable sharing for the yearbook. I know most of us may not necessarily want to revisit those memories right now...but it deserves to be included as one of the major events of this school year.
-Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has sent me photos. For parents that have sent me more than 10 photos of one child, you don’t have to worry about sending any more since we are trying not to include any students more than a few times. If you have photos of other kids you haven’t sent, feel free to keep sending those. Again, thank you so much for all your help; you are a huge part of why this year’s yearbook is going to be so great!
-Photos we still need: pictures from track meets, hanging out with friends
-If you would like to purchase a yearbook from last year, you can purchase it for $50 and pick it up from the front office. You can pay by check or cash to the front office. Please email me if you would like more information at sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com
Sara Boyle
Journalism Teacher, Yearbook and Newspaper Adviser
Spring Branch Middle School
LearnSBISD Safety Reminders for SBMS Bears
As always, here are a few reminders in the hopes of keeping everyone healthy, safe, in school and a focus on student learning is maintained at SBMS:
- Report of Exposure: Please report any direct, prolonged exposure your child has had with family members or friends who have been recently diagnosed. This will help Ms. Mulvey determine next steps and lessen the spread of COVID-19. You may do so by calling 713-251-4400 or emailing Ms. Mulvey at mercedes.mulvey@springbranchisd.com.
- SBISD Health Screener: Within every edition of this newsletter every Sunday is a reminder to complete the SBISD Health Screener. Please help us keep everyone healthy, well and in school by completing that screener and refraining from sending any child to school who is demonstrating those symptoms or has exposure to someone who the family believes needs to be COVID tested. If you are unsure whether or not your child should report to school, please reach out to me, Mr. Barry, and Ms. Mulvey and we can try to help you.
- Bringing Items to SBMS: SBMS will only allow the drop off of the following: chromebooks, assignments, books for Language Arts or medicine for the school nurse. Unfortunately, we are seeing too many families dropping off items to the front office that are unrelated to these things. The LearnSBISD plan indicates no drop off of items should be occurring and that visitors to the campus are restricted. As we watch numbers of parents dropping off items to our office and numbers of COVID cases tick upwards, we are tightening up our practices to make clearer what is of necessity and what is not. To ensure that your child has a back up plan for lunch, please visit SBISD Child Nutrition and put money on their account so they can purchase a lunch: https://www.springbranchisd.com/about/departments/finance/child-nutrition-services/payments-and-refunds.
- Health and Safety Reminder: One of the many unfortunate issues related to COVID-19 is that the signs and symptoms for COVID-19 can mirror other illnesses. Our LearnSBISD plan requires parents to complete a Health Screener for their students each morning and indicates that students must not report to school with symptoms delineated within that screener to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. When a child visits with Ms. Mulvey, our SBMS Nurse, and presents symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 she must follow a protocol that involves presenting the symptoms and context for the child (duration of symptoms, if a parent has tested positive or exposure to someone else has occurred) to the SBISD Intake Nurse and then work with the family to send the child home for a period of time. We fully recognize how stressful the "here and now" is for all families, but ask that your interactions with our nurse are kind and patient. We are happy to ask questions on your behalf and answer any questions you may have, but please know the health and safety of all students, their families and our staff are at the forefront of all that we do at SBMS. This is a very difficult year to serve as a school nurse and we are so grateful that Ms. Mulvey chose this as her life's work.
- SBISD Mask Policy: SBISD requires all school-aged students and staff to wear masks covering their noses and mouths all of the school day, except for when eating or drinking. Gaiters are allowed, but please be sure that students are able to wear them consistently and cover both their noses and mouths. Some students are having to hold their necks forward to keep their gaiters up and over their noses and mouths, so parents may wish to ask their children to wear masks if they prove easier and more comfortable for your child in that regard. Students not consistent in wearing their mask over their noses and mouths may face disciplinary consequences up to and including changing their learning model.
SBISD Health Screener for In-Person Learners
Prior to the start of the school year, all families completed the SBISD Health & Safety Protocol Parent Acknowledgement Form. Included in these protocols is ensuring that every child coming to campus has a completed SBISD Health Screener every morning.
As a reminder, the health screener can be accessed via the district website (there is a blue box on the homepage titled ‘HEALTH SCREENER’ or by clicking here.) High school students may complete their own screener, but not those of their siblings.
Parents, it is critical that you report to your child's school if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, has had prolonged (15 or more minutes) direct exposure to someone who is COVID-19 positive, or is displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Please do not send your child to school. Please do complete the health screener and report to your school attendance office or nurse immediately. Please be sure to provide your contact information including a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.
View this video to see how to turn the screener into an icon (like an app) on your phone or tablet home screen for easier access: