Bobcat News
May 2020-2021
Greetings Bobcat Families,
It’s MAY, in the Home Stretch!
While this second semester brought its challenges with winter storm in our past and uneasy decision about STAAR; I have been so impressed by the hard work our students have put into in-person and virtual learning. My favorite part of each day is highlighting the great work our students are doing in our teacher professional learning communities! I’ve made a commitment to jump on several virtual class meetings this week and love seeing our student’s faces when the Principal appears on the screen!
Also, I wanted to take another opportunity to thank you all as parents and carers for your fantastic support over the last 9 weeks. I am particularly appreciative for everything that you have been doing to support learning here at school and from home. With two teenage daughters myself, I know how difficult it is to juggle working from home with supporting your own children with their schooling, and this is of course in addition to dealing with all of the normal challenges of family life. Our academic and social skill data shows we are moving in the right direction - to support our learning goals - kudos!
The school has also received a number of messages of thanks and support from so many of you over these past few weeks, and these are all received very gratefully indeed. Thank you.
Last, this week is teacher appreciation. Below, you can read an excerpt of my reflection of the Brookhollow Elementary teachers in recognition of their hard work this year.
Mrs. Harris
BES Special Moments...
Little girl (one of Angie's I find out a bit later) walks up with her daddy. She says hello to me and walks past me as I am watering. She picks up a water can and begin to fill it up from our water reservoirs. I stop watering and walk up to her to introduce myself to her and her father. She tells me she is in Mrs. Williams class and she is there to water her classes thirsty plants. She then excuses herself to go water her newly planted corn and bean plants that Mrs. Williams class had planted earlier in the week. I talk with her father for a bit finding out they have been walking up to the school about 3 times a week to look after their new baby plants. She proceeds to water different parts of the whole garden although her father keeps trying to go back home. She finally gets done, puts up her watering can where she find out, tells me goodbye and they leave. Holy cow! What a wonderful and heartfelt feeling.
Love this kind of stuff!!!!
Mr. Sim's Reflection
Need to Know...
- 5th Grade Parents/Guardians Only: Invite for Park Crest Middle School PTO meeting in May.
- All BES T-shirts are now $5! The PTO has a plethora of this year's Bobcat tshirts remaining, both styles (5th grade names and blank). Parents can email ptobrookhollow@gmail.com to order. Cash/check preferred.
- STAAR Parent Letter (see further down in this newsletter)
- Future Virtual Learning Survey
- PfISD Parent Letter
-----------------------------------------previous------------------------------------------------
- 5th Grade students going to Kelly Lane Middle School 21-22 band interest information
- 5th Grade students going to Park Crest Middle School 21-22 band interest information
- Your pictures are needed for our 20-21 Brookhollow Elementary Yearbook. Link
Celebrating Brookhollow's Great Teacher Leaders...
We have amazing teacher leaders on our campus. Collectively we are honored to have the following lead us for the 21-22 school year as...
Teacher of the Year...
Suzanne Murphy has stepped up immensely in many ways to help out the Special Education team not just this year but for the last two during a shift in leadership, therefore supporting the school community. As a team member she saw a need and didn't hesitate to take on extra tasks to ensure that our students remain successful. Her contributions and dedications in educating the children; she is an amazing professional, very humble, very modest. The compassion she has for her kids is second to none. Ms. Murphy gets her students as early as three and makes huge leaps and bounds with her leadership skills and the support of her paraprofessional. Together, make for 100% learning progression of all her students.
I asked her in years past why she has chosen to teach special education in one of our talks, I captured what she said, “…the population of students I am able to work with accept people unconditionally, "This lesson takes most people and cultures a lifetime to achieve. I'm grateful for having these students to help me understand this phenomenon. ” We have all seen her work, a student enters and within weeks or months the student is showing mastery. She leads her team of teachers towards success maintaining a ‘will’ to want to come to work and be a part of such an inviting work environment.
Humanitarian of the Year...
Amy Pullin goes above and beyond each day to make sure all students are successful. As a early childhood paraprofessional, she is very devoted to her work and always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She will help in any way at any time throughout the entire school. She loves the students and cares deeply about each one of them. Any person who has asked her for help she has been willing to assist them. She has knowledge of the current assessment programs and uses them to test students regularly. Ms. Pullin has learned along side her supervisor with great respect. This year, Ms. Pullin had to go above and beyond to support our students, both remote and in-person, during an unprecedented and challenging time in our district. Her hard work ensures more individualized instruction for our learners. She also helps to build a welcoming school culture and nurturing environment that supports the success of all our students. Ms. Pullin has passion, energy, and creativity. Her contributions are invaluable. She works with other staff outside her room to learn and grow. And is always looking to see how she can improve upon herself, the students, and the school!
Rookie Teacher of the Year...
Coach Manuel Duarte has transformed PE in such a short time with new and innovative ideas to get the kids moving. The kids, even the virtual ones, can't wait to see what's next. You'd never know Coach Duarte is a first year teacher. Coach Duarte uses fun and music to help kids get fit for life.
He is a very positive role model for the children....always upbeat and using kind words. He keeps the students engaged and his coworkers, appreciate him.
Lessons are designed to target activity promoting health and fitness as observed by his supervisor. The goal in my physical education classes is to involve students in as much activity as possible so they are working on the six components of health-related fitness: cardio respiratory, body composition, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and stress management.
Coach Duarte has been the most AWESOME addition to our special areas team and BES family. He has his routines and procedures down, he is consistent with is classroom management and he is always on the ball. Duarte isn't one of those gym class teachers standing on the sidelines, blowing a whistle while instructing the students. He uses music -- usually the kind that tends to get kids moving!
"I have always used music in my classes," Duarte said. "It is motivating. I try to use all types of music and especially pop tunes that are current -- but I have to choose songs with good language and that are positive and motivating. I use music for warm ups, cool downs, specific activities, and often just as a background." His future is bright!!
Events
Social and Emotional Learning
Click on Givers picture icon above to see what "House" won!!
Safe, Respectful, Responsible!
Bobcats - Continual Improvement!
There are soooo many good reasons to want to send your child to a summer enrichment program. Click on above link to find out more.
PTO - Yearbooks 2020-2021
We are continuing to work on the yearbook and we are getting some fun photos! We are wanting to include both on-site and virtual students in a Zoom screen photo with their classes. The teacher's could easily take these during a class. Our email address for yearbook photos is yearbookbespto@gmail.com. We want to include everything that has happened at Brookhollow this year and show what a robust and fun school year we've had, even with all of the challenges! Please use the link above to send any photos you have for the yearbook as well.
PfISD COVID Updates
BES PTO Board
Secretary: Kantrelle Burkland
Co-Treasurers: Starlet Sattler and Mary Friesenhahn
Vice President: Rani Sabban
President: Haley Ashcroft
Our hospitality team consists of Yolanda Ferguson, Kandice Friestman and Kantrelle Burkland
Communication
We highly encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher as the primary for learning assistance. Our teachers are including celebrations like birthdays, learning rewards, and affirmations for social and emotional participation.
Please let your child's teacher know if you haven't been getting the emails from BES messenger or PfISD Communications. Our office staff will be happy to check your email and update any new emails for you in Skyward.
Below is a list of ways to reach out and stay informed with up-to-date information.
BES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrookhollowES/
PTO Remind 101: 81010 and text this message@BESPTO18
- Grades: access to your child(ren)’s grades and attendance through the Skyward district software student information system.Parents - Family Access Instructions (download PDF)
Need your Skyward Family Access User Name?
Send an Email to: parentportal@pfisd.net
Subject Line = Skyward Family Access Account