Welcome Back!

It is so nice to have your babies back on campus. The second semester in PK is always so much fun to see- children really blossom throughout the semester! Thank you for all of your support last semester. Our wish is that 2023 is a year of happiness and growth for our community of learners- adult and child!

Please take a minute to read these important reminders.

Car Rider drop off line is from 7:15-7:45 AM.

Students entering through the front office after 7:45 AM will be required to sign in by the person dropping off.

Student drop off through the front office is for those that are walkers or need help from the front office. Please keep in mind that you must call to enter the front office.

713-251-7900

Please be mindful that late arrivals disrupts the classroom.

MORNINGS AT BEAR BLVD. SCHOOL

• Stay in your car and wait until 7:15 AM to drop off your child (children).
• Have your child ready to exit with name tag and backpack on.
• Please pull up to the curb as close as you can.
• Car rider drop off line ends at 7:45 AM.

AFTERNOONS AT BEAR BLVD. SCHOOL

• Parent pick up is through the car rider line ONLY.
• Parents can pick up students any time before 2:00 PM from the front office with a valid reason.
• Pick up after 2:00 PM gets complicated as our staff is getting ready for dismissal and there is no extra help to walk the student to the front office.
• You must have the yellow/lime green pick up tag to pick up your student through car rider line.
• If you do not have the pick up sign, you will have to wait until the students are sent to the office at 2:45PM.

• Please adhere to all traffic rules and regulations on campus and in our school zone.
  

ATTENDANCE REMINDERS:

• Attendance is Required (Even in PK): Remember, daily attendance is not only a requirement once your child begins school, but daily attendance benefits children academically because it prevents loss of instruction and builds healthy habits and approaches to school that will benefit kids for years to come!

• Send in Your Doctor's or Excuse Notes: If your child is out due to illness or a doctor appointment, we can excuse the absence IF we receive a doctor's note or note from you. SBISD does monitor attendance closely and campuses are expected to send Attendance Improvement Plans and meet with families for three or more unexcused absences. We know receiving that notification is no fun, help us by communicating in writing or in email (cristina.aguilar@springbranchisd.com) if your child is out for illness.
  
• Plan for Next School Year: As you prepare for elementary school, please use the newly posted school calendar to plan for family trips. It is now time for you to begin adjusting your vacations around the school calendar to avoid unexcused absences. You may access it here.
  

THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO BUILD GOOD SCHOOL HABITS!

Each year, parents, students, staff and community members are able to start the process for campus and district Teacher of the Year (TOY) selection by nominating teachers to be part of the campus ballot. Once campuses select their TOY, a district competition is then underway to identify the elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year at the district level. The process continues for selecting each Teacher of the Year for each region, state and finally, our nation!

The SBISD Teacher of the Year (TOY) Award recognizes and honors SBISD’s most superlative educators.

Nominees must:

• Support T-2-4 and demonstrate commitment to SBISD’s beliefs and values
• Be a dedicated, knowledgeable, effective and skilled teacher
• Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn –have a growth mindset
• Have the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues
• Play an active role in both the school and larger community
• Demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching
• Model SBISD Core Values

If you would like to nominate a teacher at Bear Boulevard, please use this link.

Prospective parents for next year are welcome to join us in touring Bear Boulevard School every Friday beginning January 27th at 9 a.m. The tours will begin with a brief presentation and then we will stop by classrooms briefly so visitors can get a feel for the work of an SBISD Prekindergarten Center. All visitors will need to bring their driver licenses or passports for security clearance through RAPTOR. We ask that no children accompany the tour.

Please note that only bilingual classes will be observed on January 27th as our mainstream classes will be on a study trip.

In celebration of our 100th day of school, students and staff are encouraged (but not required) to dress up like they are 100 years old! Please do not send your newly elderly PK students with canes or walkers (despite funny picture above), but otherwise be creative! We don't want to lose those items or create situations where they distract other students or themselves. :)

The Spring Branch ISD community is preparing for the 88th Texas Legislative Session, which runs from Jan. 10 to May 29, 2023.

“Since 2014, SBISD has paid over $472 million in recapture and has only received $168 million in state funding,” said SBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Blaine. “We need legislators to address the formulas used to fund public education. As a Chapter 49 recapture district, the amount the state takes in local taxpayer dollars is not sustainable for SBISD.”

The state takes, or recaptures, nearly 20% of SBISD’s local tax dollars, with additional increases expected, putting SBISD on an unsustainable trajectory. This year, $87 million will be taken from the district, while also reducing its share of public education funding with little transparency about how those dollars are used.

To target this issue and raise awareness about the state public school finance model, SBISD brought a diverse group of parents and community members together to form the School Finance Advocacy Team (SFAT). The 63-member group engaged in four meetings to date, where they heard from experts and worked collaboratively to learn about school finance and the implications on SBISD.

“We encourage the community to be a part of ensuring that Spring Branch ISD maintains its strong reputation as a premiere school district,” said Christine Porter, Associate Superintendent for Finance. “We need the support and commitment to let the legislature know that this is critical for our district.”

SFAT members determined top priorities for the legislative session, including a basic allotment increase, automatic inflation adjustment, cost of education adjustment, early recapture payment discount and full credit for the local optional homestead exemption SBISD provides our taxpayers.

“Our district leaders, SFAT and our entire community must work together to convince our legislators to increase the basic allotment for educating students and ensure that money paid into recapture actually benefits schools,” said Emily Sperandio, SFAT member. “Inflation has increased by 12% since the last bill passed in 2019, funding for necessary safety and security has increased, and the cost of education is higher, but the formula has not kept pace. It is time for the formulas to be fixed.”

SBISD’s required recapture payment will continue to increase if action is not taken. An increase will impact the district’s capabilities to sustain programs, services and resources families expect and deserve.

“The good news is that districts state-wide will be asking legislators to better fund public education,” said Chris Earnest, Board of Trustees president. “We have prepared our community to advocate for our district and let legislators know there must be increased state funding for public education.”

The next step is to expand the district’s capacity for community action. SFAT serves as a proactive strategy to develop a community that is educated on the matter and willing to advocate for SBISD.

“Educating the community and creating awareness around SBISD’s financial situation is key to motivating people to engage with lawmakers and push them for meaningful financial changes,” said Jennifer Espey, SFAT member. “When we make our voices heard, they listen and change happens.”

Do you have questions or want to get involved? Contact us via Let’s Connect or visit the SFAT site to learn when community meetings will take place. If you have a community group that would like to learn more on this topic, email partner@springbranchisd.com to schedule a presentation.

Just a reminder that the tardy bell for Bear Boulevard rings at 7:45 a.m. Letters will begin to go home with students who are experiencing excessive tardies. Please help your child access all of the procedures, routine and content each day by ensuring they arrive in time to allow them to be in class at 7:45 a.m. Even missing the morning routine of greetings and breakfast is a loss of instructional time as students are becoming independent on breakfast and beginning of the day routines.

Click the following links to access the calendar for Bear Boulevard School and a daily activity calendar from Dr. Jean, a master PreK teacher if you would like activities to do as a family with your child. The activities are just small moments where you can reinforce math, literacy or oral language development while building relationships with your child. Dr. Jean has lots of fun things for preschool age children. You can reach her website by clicking here. Enjoy!

BBS January Calendar

Dr. Jeans Activity Calendar for January

SPARK your child’s limitless curiosity in a safe, clean environment with world-class educators at SBISD’s FREE* Pre-K and Early Childhood Program.

What benefits will you see from early childhood education?

Higher IQ scores, increased vocabulary, more likely to enroll in and graduate college –
these are just a handful of benefits that students at SBISD receive. Education is FREE for all eligible kids*.

Click here to learn more about our Pre-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Program. Registration is ongoing!

CHOICE in SBISD begins when you decide to raise your children in our community. We offer students and their families a range of learning options. From your neighborhood school to our CHOICE schools and programs, each is committed to preparing students to achieve T-2-4. The School Choice Application is open Nov. 14, 2022 - Jan. 20, 2023. Explore your options by visiting the SBISD Choice Programs website by clicking here.

During the month of January, we will be talking through the character trait of Empathy. Being a good listener is an important way to practice empathy. As you are watching your favorite movie together as a family, lift up how different characters demonstrate empathy by being good listeners.

If you were unable to attend the meeting for prospective PK students for next year, you may access the newsletter here.

We are so fortunate to have this wonderful resource so close by! Stop by the East Spring Branch Food Pantry if you are in need of pantry items! Bring your picture ID, proof of residence and ID for children. The East Spring Branch Food Pantry serves residents of the following zip codes: 77024, 77043, 77055, 77080, 77091, 77092, 77041, and 77042.

They are open:

Monday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

As always, please us know if you or your family has a need. Ms. Lopez, our CIS Case Manager, may be able to connect you to a community resource that can help!

By now, you have received an invitation via email or text to join ReadyRosie, a tool to facilitate learning at home with your child. On ReadyRosie, you can discover activities and games you can play that relate to classroom learning and have more fun than ever with your

child through meaningful interaction.

Click here for the Welcome Video for Parents: English/Spanish

To get started, find the invitation your received from ReadyRosie in your child's Thursday folder. Teachers will also share how to use ReadyRosie during our Open House on September 27th from 5-6 p.m.

We are excited to have your children with us at Bear Boulevard. Parents often ask when to keep their children home from school. Please keep your children home from school if they demonstrate the following symptoms:

• Temperatures of 100.0 or higher. To return to campus, they must be fever-free for twenty-four hours without the use of fever reducing medicine like Tylenol or Advil.
  
• Vomiting or Diarrhea. Please keep your children home until they demonstrate no vomiting or diarrhea for twenty-four hours.
  

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact me at school by calling 713-251-7900 or through email at Leah.McCune@springbranchisd.com.

Sincerely,

Leah McCune

Mark your calendars for these important dates. More details will follow in relationship to campus events as those dates draw closer. As is always the case, dates are subject to change. Please read subsequent newsletters and check your child's Thursday folders for updates each week. Marque sus calendarios para estas fechas importantes. Más detalles seguirán en relación con los eventos del campus a medida que se acerquen esas fechas. Como siempre es el caso, las fechas están sujetas a cambios. Lea los boletines posteriores y revise las carpetas de los jueves de su hijo para obtener actualizaciones cada semana.

January:

• January 16th: Staff and Student Holiday (MLK, Jr Day!)
• January 26th: PK4 Study Trip to the Children's Museum: Brady, Ruelas, Aguirre, and Hernandez classrooms.
• January 27th: PK 4 Study Trip to the Children's Museum: Pea, Baxter, Bradley, Swope, Grant, Rampersaud, and Caballero classrooms.
  

February:

• February 6th-10th: National School Counselor Week!
  
• February 9th & 10th: Parent Conference/Early Release at 11:30 a.m. (NO PK3 PM)
• February 14th: Class Parties
• February 20th: Student Holiday/Staff "Flex" Day
• February 24th: Go Texan Day!
  

March:

• March 8th: Zoo Trip for all of BBS
  
• March 10th: End of the Third Nine Weeks
• March 13th-17th: Spring Break Holiday for Staff and Students
• March 18th: National School Speech Pathologist Day!
  
• March 21st: National School Social Worker (CIS) Day!

April:

• April 5th: National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day!
  
• April 7th: Holiday for Students and Staff
• April 26th: Administrative Professionals Day!
  

May:

• May 1st-May 5th: Teacher Appreciation Week!
• May 5th: School Lunch Hero Day!
• May 6th: School Nurse Day!
  
• May 24th: PK Fun Day and Last Day of School for PK3 PM
  
• May 25th: Last Day of School/Early Release at 11:30 a.m (NO PK3 PM)
  

All volunteers must register online through the SBISD website every year and pass a criminal background check. Volunteers approved during the previous school year may volunteer through September 30 of the current school year. At that time, the system will reset and all volunteers must re-register before being allowed on campus. We strongly encourage all volunteers to register between July 1 and September 30.

Please allow 8-10 days for the criminal background check process to occur. Volunteers who provide a valid email address on their application will receive an automatic notification if approved to begin your service. Once you receive this e-mail, please either contact the program or campus where you want to provide support. A list of those contacts can be found here.

All volunteers must bring a valid, government issued photo ID when they visit or volunteer on campus to have it scanned into the Raptor6 system. Each time you are on campus thereafter, SBISD requires volunteers and visitors to check-in at the front office and wear a Raptor6 issued name badge.

Thank you for recognizing that the safety of our schools, our students and our volunteers is of the utmost importance!

By applying to be an SBISD volunteer, you agree to abide by the SBISD Volunteer Ethics and Guidelines. For more information on volunteering, programs and to view a safety video, please click here.

Now that your child is beginning their T-2-4 journey, be sure you are clear on SBISD policies, procedures and expectations. The following publications are good resources for families/ Ahora que su hijo está comenzando su viaje T-2-4, asegúrese de tener claras las políticas, los procedimientos y las expectativas de SBISD. Las siguientes publicaciones son buenos recursos para las familias:

SBISD Student/Parent Handbook/Manual para padres y estudiantes: English/Spanish

SBISD Elementary Code of Conduct/Código de conducta de la escuela primera SBISD: English/Spanish

The following Code of Civility is a requirement and foundational practice of SBISD. You may reference it in our SBISD Handbook located here.

SBISD Code of Civility

Civility is the affirmation of what is best of each of us individually and collectively, not just an absence of harm. Therefore, SBISD requires that we communicate (faculty and staff, students, parents, guardians and members of the community) in the following manner:

Treat each other with courtesy and respect at all times:

1. Listen carefully
2. Share and opinions and concerns in a civil manner
3. Refrain from loud or offensive language
4. Refrain from profanity or offensive gestures
5. Refrain from threats, including but not limited to causing property damage or bodily harm.

Take Responsibility for your actions:

1. Share accurate information
2. Manage anger appropriately
3. Refrain from disrupting or interfering with classroom or school operations

Cooperate with one another:

1. Obey school rules and district policy
2. Respect each other's time
3. Notify one another when we have information that affects student safety or success
4. Respond when asked for assistance
5. Understand that compromise is key.
   

SBISD Parent Protocol for Problem-Solving Process

Although we strive for collaboration at all times, parents/guardians may require additional assistance in resolving a situation. Please familiarize yourself with SBISD's general problem-solving process, which includes:

1. Contact the appropriate campus staff member immediately. The most direct route to resolving a concern is to confer directly with the person involved. (Example: if the concern is related to the classroom, the teacher should be the person contacted).
   
2. If not satisfied, contact the appropriate administrator (Bear Boulevard Director) in charge of the campus and responsible for concerns that may arise from the school's operation. Explanations of policies and procedures, various clarifications and all types of campus information are available at the campus level.
   
3. Contact the appropriate central office administrator within a week. This may be a Director, Executive Director, Community Superintendent or Associate Superintendent. This step should be taken only when steps 1 and 2 have not resolved the concern.