April 26, 2023

Bush Elementary is so fortunate to have such hard-working professionals working in our front office. Thank you, to Ms. Platt, Ms. Ayala, Ms. Gomez, Ms. Rosales, and Ms. Flores for their dedication to Bush Elementary! Next time you're in the office, thank the ladies for all they do for Bush Elementary.

Happy Wraparound Specialist Week to Ms. Quevedo! Bush Elementary is so grateful for the support she provides to our students and staff.

The District GT Expo will be held the week of April 24, 2023, virtually via Renzulli Learning. Three of our students were chosen to participate in the District Expo this year. We are very proud of them and their wonderful projects.

Congratulations to the following students for being chosen to represent Barbara Bush Elementary School at the District GT Expo:

Joy K. from Ms. Carlin’s class

Matthew Y. from Ms. J. Brown’s class

Allan Z. from Ms. Baldwin’s class.

We will be celebrating our annual Teacher Appreciation Week beginning Monday, May 1st through Friday, May 5th. There will be a variety of opportunities to demonstrate gratitude to our wonderful teachers!

Thank you for all the generous snacks and school supplies for our amazing staff– our carts of goodies are ready for Teacher Appreciation Week!

All BBE Families are cordially invited to attend our PTO Spring General Meeting

on Friday, April 28th at 9:30 am in the school Library. Hear all about our fantastic year and look toward the future with us in a glimpse at next year’s plans!

General members of the PTO will be afforded the opportunity to vote on the slate of nominees for the 2023-2024 PTO Board and on amendments to the PTO Constitution.

Our wonderful Counselor, Ms. Quinonez, will speak to parents and guardians about suggested coping strategies and other pertinent topics relating to the emotional health of our children.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served. All attendees must be VIPS approved to enter the school building while students are present.

Would you like to check on your child’s library book or help them search for just-right books in our library?

Now you can access your child’s account and search the Bush library catalog from home with our new online system called Accessit. The Accessit icon is now available once a student is logged into Clever.

The last day for students to checkout library books is May 5. All books need to be returned by May 11. Please encourage your child(ren) to look up their accounts and turn in their books on time. If a book is lost, please send the replacement cost of the lost book, so the librarian can order a library-bound replacement with processing. Thank you for your support of our Bush Library.

Barbie Miller, Librarian

bmille12@houstonisd.org

Registration will take place in-person at Bush Elementary. All adults entering the building must have a driver's license or government issued photo ID such as a passport to enter the building. Please make sure you bring all required registration documents listed on the Registration Check List.

*All dates and times are subject to change.*

Kindergarten Only

8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. each day listed below.

May 3

May 5

May 11

May 16

May 17

Grades 1 – 5 Only

8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. each day listed below.

June 2

June 6

June 7

Grades K – 5

8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. each day listed below.

June 26

June 27

Grades K – 5

8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. each day listed below.

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 22

August 24

Please see the Registration Check List below for the original items to bring to registration. We must have hard copies of the items and not images on a phone.

We all want to shield our children from uncomfortable situations. But we won’t be there every time our children are called a mean name, peer pressured, or shoved out of the way–especially as they get older.

That’s why it’s so important to teach your children how to stand up for themselves and others.

It's important to start teaching your kids how to stand up for themselves early on. This will help them feel more confident and capable when they're faced with challenging situations.

Learning to speak assertively builds confidence, nurtures healthy relationships, and helps children resist peer pressure and stay safe.

Role-playing is one of the most powerful ways to teach children assertiveness. When they practice responding to uncomfortable scenarios in a safe setting, they’ll feel more comfortable and confident speaking up in real life.

This week's printable:

“Say Something Role-Play Activity” By Big Life Journal

This activity uses social scenarios to teach children the skills to “say what you see, say how you feel, say what you need, stay or walk away.”

We're seeing some very unsafe and dangerous behaviors by parents during morning arrival.

• Parents walking through the small parking lot and then between the cars in the active carpool lane.
• Parents stopping their car on Westerloch Drive to let out their child in an active lane of traffic.
• Parents not using the sidewalks and crosswalks to get to school.

The carpool lane and Westerloch Drive are very busy in the morning. Please be a good role model for your child and all others watching you by taking a few extra minutes to be safe.

Please make sure your child is following Bush Elementary's dress code guidelines. Bush Elementary's colors are red, navy, and white. Khaki pants, shorts, and skirts may also be worn. If a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt are worn in the building throughout the day, then those items must follow dress code. Please also remember that only the Bush plaid may be worn, other plaids are not part of our dress code.

We're seeing many students wearing jeans with purposeful holes and/or tears and these type of jeans are not part of dress code. Only jeans that are a plain blue may be worn. Also, sweatpants or athletic pants are not part of the Bush dress code.

Finally, students must wear shoes that are safe for school with closed toes and closed heals. Crocs and sandals are not appropriate shoes for school and are not part of our dress code.

Please contact our Wrap Around Specialist, Maria Quevedo, if you're in need of dress code items. maria.quevedo@houstonisd.org

The Teacher Assistants are responsible for supervising the students in the cafeteria during lunch time. The Teacher Assistants are asking for parents' help in keeping the cafeteria calm and safe. Parents must follow these guidelines when visiting at lunch to pass out a birthday treat to their child's homeroom class and have lunch with their child.

• Only hand out the birthday treat to the students in your child’s homeroom class at the last 5 minutes of your child’s lunch.
• Birthday goodie bags are not handed out at lunch.
• Do not hand out any extra treats to any students in other classes.
• Only take your child (no other students may go) to eat at the hallway birthday table or at the courtyard table and understand that you will not be able to eat lunch in the cafeteria.
• Do not take pictures or videos in the cafeteria during lunch.

Parents not following these guidelines directly affects student behaviors in the cafeteria.

The Spectacular Science Word for the week of April 24 is fossils.

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

Mia L. who turns 7 years old on April 27 and is a first grader in Ms. Simone's class.

Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!

ParentingHelp Fatherhood Subcommittee Meeting: Do you think you’re at the end of your rope and ready to snap? Let’s improve our ability to recognize and manage stress for men, women, children, and the workforce:

Date: April. 27th (Thursday)

Time: 12:00p-1:30p

Where: Virtual (Zoom)

In this workshop we will:

• Discuss different types of stress among men, women, and children
• Identify your responses to stress
• Discuss strategies to cope with family stress
• Learn stress reduction techniques
• Learn healthier habits that will reduce our stress levels
• Learn how to have healthy family relationships by decreasing stressful triggers
• Learn how to reduce work-related stress

Emeka Okonkwo- LMSW, Trauma and Resiliency Practitioner, Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Social Worker in Sport Certificate, and Certified Personal Trainer

Organizations: Gate Keepers Advising

Antwanette Weaver

Executive Director

A Bold Story Never Ends

501c3 Organization Specializing in Mental Health Advocacy and Intervention

Mental Health Counselor with Fort Bend ISD

Rashan Carter, LCSW, MPA, Social Worker, Therapist, Author and Motivational Speaker

Organization: Passion & Purpose Fulfilled, PLLC

PLEASE CLICK LINK REGISTER VIA ZOOM https://depelchin.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkduCtpjovGNA19xmXwUt_rOOqdZhIlg5U#/registration

The STEM Department is hosting a Summer STEM Camp this June for students in grades 2nd-7th. The camp will offer fun and engaging hands-on learning activities focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) using LEGO Spike Prime robotics. Students will have the opportunity to explore deep space exploration through a unique approach to LEGO's curriculum merged with design thinking and literacy.

The camp will last for nine days over three weeks, including a unique field experience day. The camp will be offered at no cost to current HISD students at eight middle school locations, and district instructional staff will lead the camp. To be eligible, students must be in good academic standing and complete the application process on a first-come, first-served basis. By the end of camp, students will have collaborated to program robots, completed design challenges, and gained a better understanding of how STEM concepts apply to the real world. Please spread the word about this exciting opportunity for students to learn and have fun this summer.

When: June 12-27 (3-week camp session); June 19 will be a holiday for staff and students

Where: Clifton Middle School, Edison Middle School, Hamilton Middle School, Henry Middle School, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, Ortiz Middle School, Reagan K-8 Educational Center, and Revere Middle School.

How:

1. To apply for STEM Camp please visit: Academics/Summer School

2. Parent/Guardian complete the online application form before the

Deadline of May 19

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Thank you for going above and beyond to care for our school – we are thankful for the friendly faces we see in the front office each day!

Please help us to continue improving the volunteer support that we give our students, school and teachers, by completing this quick survey. If you complete the survey you can choose to be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card! This survey will close on May 26th.

Our annual Field Day will take place on Friday, May 12th! We need wonderful volunteers to help make it a fun and special day for the students! Please see the SignUp Genius for more information and to sign up to help. We look forward to having you join us!

If you would like to have a tie-dyed shirt like the students will be wearing, you can drop off a plain, white t-shirt in a clear, plastic bag to the BBE front office for Ms. Orta - please label the bag with your name and contact information so the shirt can be returned to you!

School Store will be open each Wednesday morning from 7:30-8:30 for parents, guardians and students to buy apparel or school supplies such as notebooks, agendas, crayons, etc. You must be VIPS approved to enter the school. You can also shop online at www.BBEpto.com. You must have (or make) an account to shop.

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

The School Store is open for students to shop on Fridays and some select Thursdays.

We offer pens, pencils, erasers, fidgets and more. Prices range from $0.10- $4. Please send money with your student on the correct week if they would like to shop. See below for the schedule.

4/28 - 1st Grade, Kinder, and Pre-K

5/5 - 4th and 5th Grades

5/19 - 2nd and 3rd Grades

5/26 - 1st Grade, Kinder and Pre-K

Please contact mybushstore@gmail.com with any questions about the School Store.

Come join fellow BBE parents and guardians at First Fridays with PTO. Each month, we get together at a different location and time, just to chat and relax– come and stay for an hour, or 15 minutes, whatever fits your schedule!

First Friday: May 5th 11:00am @ Blue Agave Cantina, 14555 Grisby Road - Meet us for lunch on the patio! This is a self-pay event.

Please contact presidentbbepto@gmail.com with any questions.

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.

If your student will next celebrate their birthday in the 2023-2024 school year, please wait until then to purchase your BBC membership.

Subscribe to the PTO Events Calendar through iCal or Google

For any questions related to PTO please contact Amy Gnau, presidentbbepto@gmail.com

22-23 Faculty and Staff

COUNSELOR

Jewell Quinonez

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

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. 275250)

maria.quevedo@houstonisd.org

FOR ATTENDANCE -

Registrar - Adriana Rosales

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

arosale3@houstonisd.org