Helms Newsletter #35
May 22nd, 2023
🗓 UPCOMING DATES:
THIS WEEK (May 22nd-28th):
- Monday-Friday: Dress Up Days (see flyer below)
- Monday-Friday: Prek-3rd End of year ceremonies
- Monday, May 22nd: Inflatable slide for ALL GRADES during ancillary. (Water feature during after school only til 5pm.)
- Tuesday, May 23rd: Ready to Grow Gardens - Sunflower lesson (upper grades)
- Wednesday, May 24th: Ready to Grow Gardens - Sunflower lesson (lower grades)
- Thursday, May 25th: Make up Expo Day for presentation of GT Projects 3:30-4:30pm
Friday, May 26th: Last PTA Spirit Shirt Sale, FRONT of school (during morning drop off)
Friday, May 26th: Summer Backpacks will be sent home with Pre-K students
NEXT WEEK (May 29th-31st):
- Monday, May 29th: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day!
- Tuesday-Wednesday: Dress Up Days (see flyer below)
- Tuesday-Wednesday: 4th & 5th grade end of year ceremonies
- Wednesday, May 31st: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
FUTURE:
- June 6th-July 3rd: Summer School at Sinclair Elementary (invite only. Contact Ms Jerrols janechia.jerrols@houstonisd.org)
- School Supplies - check Helms PTA social media over summer (Instagram and Facebook)
- Learning apps on CLEVER available through part of summer.
- Saturday, June 24th: Summer Playdate with PTA, water play and popsicles (9:30-11am, Helms playground) - check Helms PTA over summer (Instagram and Facebook)
- Wednesday, August 16th: Summer Playdate with PTA, water play and popsicles (5-6:30pm, Helms playground) (check Helms PTA FB for updates over summer)
- Saturday, August 19th: Summer Playdate with PTA, water play and popsicles (9:30-11am, Helms playground) (check Helms PTA FB for updates over summer)
- Meet the Teacher (TBD) (check Helms PTA FB for updates over summer)
- Monday, August 28th: First Day of School (Helms uniform policy)
- October 7th: Masquerade Gala de Mascaras (annual auction - contact Hello@HelmsPTA.org to help during the summer)
End of Year Ceremonies:
- Monday, May 22nd: PreK end of year ceremony, 8-9am (cafeteria)
- Tuesday, May 23rd: Kindergarten end of year ceremony, 8-9am (cafeteria)
- Wednesday, May 24th: 1st grade end of year ceremony, (8:30-9:30) (cafeteria - doors open at 8. Ceremony starts promptly at 8:30.)
- Thursday, May 25th: 2nd grade end of year ceremony, 8-10am (cafeteria)
- Friday, May 26th: 3rd grade end of year ceremony, 8-9am (cafeteria)
- Tuesday, May 30th: 4th grade end of year ceremony, 8-9am (cafeteria)
- Wednesday, May 31st: 5th grade end of year ceremony, 8-9am (cafeteria)
- Everyday: Playground is open to the public after 6:00pm once after school program ends. NOTE-Playground open to Helms families 3:10-3:45pm. Enter through front reception. VIPS approval required.
- Volunteer 9:00-10:30am on Mariposa Mondays or Wetlands Wednesdays
- Spirit Shirt / College Shirt Fridays
- February-July: Spanish Spelling Bee (see flyer included)
- Free dress for the rest of the school year
- Donation bin for gently used uniforms til May 31st
Summer Countdown Dress Up Days
Social Skills Program - Campus Wide
Our Social Skill for the week is below.
Additional resources to use at home can be found on the website www.projectclass.org.
May Lunch Menu
Summer Reading
Summer Educational Resources with Clever
Students may continue to access their CLEVER accounts until the accounts reset after first couple months of summer.
What is Clever?
Clever is an online portal that let's families access ImagineEspanol, ImagineMath, LearningA-Z, and MyOn, in just one place with one log in. Within Clever you'll also find other online learning programs and resources such as BrainPop, KhanAcademy, and Houston Public Library Services. Clever eliminates the need to remember multiple usernames, passwords, and websites. The learning programs available vary based on your student's classes.
How to run the learning programs on Clever:
A computer with the Google Chrome browser may be the easiest way to run most programs on Clever. Since the programs within Clever have different operating system requirements, not all programs will work on tablets or phones or on different web browsers such as Safari. In the future, we may provide more guidance on running the programs on tablets or phones.
On a computer, open your web browser (Chrome needed for ImagineEspanol) and type Clever.com and follow the steps to log in as a student at HISD or just use this direct link: Clever for HISD.
Two options to log in to CLEVER:
1) CLEVER BADGE (scan QR Code provided by teacher)
2) ACTIVE DIRECTORY (type in username and password. Passwords may change over time.)
Re-SPARK Playground Donation Button
Homeless Project Success
Thank you PTA!
Thank you to:
Glenna Mathews (President)
Vanessa Rojas (VP of Programs)
Krystle Gibbs (VP of Membership)
Christina Cardenas (VP of Fundraising)
Maggie Strobel (VP of Communications)
Brooke Longoria (VP Outdoor Spaces)
Sarah Dalton (Treasurer)
Jaqueline Velasquez (Secretary)
Amber McCullagh (Parliamentarian)
LaTasha King-Crump (Historian)
Save the Date!
Mark your calendars and call your babysitter - Masquerade Gala de Máscaras is October 7th at Lodge 88!
Senior Clap Out
Attendance Appeals
🎒They went home with report cards.
🚨Any student who did not meet the 90% Attendance Rule & does not submit an attendance appeal, will be required to attend summer school.
☎️ If you have any questions on the attendance appeal document, contact Ms. Pat at 713 867-5130 or phernan6@houstonisd.org.
Used Uniform Drive
Please drop off gently used uniforms at the front office bin by May 31st.
Accepted items:
- navy, red, or white polo shirts
- youth size Helms spirit shirts
- khaki or navy uniform bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts)
- red, khaki, or navy uniform dresses
Accelerated Reader News - From Ms. Raygoza
Library Soft Closing
Helms Summer Playdates!
Free Summer Camp Info
Info on HISD Summer School, HISD Athletic Camp, HISD Fine Arts Camp, HISD STEM Camp:
https://www.houstonisd.org/summer.
Update 4/30: Frank Black Middle School will also host a STEM camp.
MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION:
After School
Thanks for a great year! Helms PTA After School will be continuing for the 2023-2024 school year. Information regarding next year will be emailed out to existing After School students and posted to the Helms PTA website over the summer. Contact afterschool@helmspta.org for questions.
CALENDAR DETAILS:
End of Year Ceremonies
Friday, May 26th: Spirit Shirt Sale with PTA
February - July: Spanish Spelling Bee
Wetland Wednesdays & Mariposa Mondays
- 9:00am-10:00am
- VIPS approval required
Previous School Newsletters & PTA LinkTree
HISD 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
HELPING HELMS:
- Help reSPARK the playground:
⁃ Refer any businesses or individuals passionate about this cause our way.
⁃ Donate directly at https://helmspta.org/product/re-spark-2023/
- Sign up for a committee or volunteer to serve as a board member. Contact Hello@helmspta.org.
- The Helms PTA After School Program welcomes involvement from our parents. If you have an activity (craft, sport, skill, etc.) that you would like to share with our students, please reach out to Nadia Heffernan, the After School Director at AfterSchool@helmspta.org or at 281-310-1838. Volunteering can be a one-time activity or as often as fits your schedule.
- After school program is looking for creative toys, games and crafts that are no longer feeling the love in your house. Drop off anytime at the school reception marked “After School”.
- Click here for teacher wishlists.
Register with VIPS to volunteer on campus
Anyone volunteering for the school during school hours must be VIPS approved for safety reasons. Applicants register, complete an online orientation, and consent to a background check. Volunteers must reapply each year. After completion, look for an email verification from donotreply@raptortech.com confirming your application has been received. Approval process may take 0-5 days.
CONNECT WITH HELMS FAMILIES ONLINE:
HELMS PTA
HELMS ELEMENTARY
“Two Languages, Endless Possibilities”
Principal: Alexander Gonzalez agonza30@houstonisd.org
Assistant Principal: Helen Anguiano helen.anguiano@houstonisd.org
Magnet Coordinator: Julie Hernandez jhernan2@houstonisd.org
Registrar/Attendance Clerk: Patricia Hernandez phernan6@houstonisd.org
Nurse: Debra Engler Debra.Engler@houstonisd.org
Email: agonza30@houstonisd.org
Website: https://www.houstonisd.org/domain/22
Phone: 713.867.5130