HISD Superintendent Mr. House, visited Bush Elementary this morning. He enjoyed seeing the teachers teaching and the students engaged in meaningful work in the classrooms. He was also impressed with all the student work displayed in the hallways.

It was so nice seeing so many parents at our Parents’ Nights the previous two weeks. I know parents learned so much about their child's classroom.

Below is the State of the School presentation in a slide show format.

Volunteers are needed to help supervise and assist students in the cafeteria at lunch. This is an active volunteer time and not a time to sit with or stand by your child. Parents will be supervising and helping all students in the cafeteria. Only the parent, and no younger or older siblings, may take part in the cafeteria supervision.

There are 2 requirements that must occur before parents may volunteer in the cafeteria.

1. VIPS approved - online approval process

2. Attend training that happens on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

Please use the link below to sign up to volunteer once you're VIPS approved. This is not a once a month time to volunteer, but rather we need consistent volunteers showing up on a a regular basis at lunch time.

Please make sure you bring your driver's license to sign in to enter the building. Also, be prepared to show a copy of the certificate/email that shows that you're VIPS approved at your first time volunteering.

We look forward to having cafeteria volunteers at lunch time.

BBE Lunchroom Helpers

Picture Day is Tuesday, October 11. On Individual Picture Day, students do not need to follow dress code guidelines. However, students do need to be dressed appropriately for a regular school day. Ball gowns, party shoes, and suits are not practical for children to wear to school.

Stay tuned for additional details!

The Gifted and Talented department will hold three Family Information Sessions in the upcoming weeks via Microsoft Teams. Please click on the link for additional information.

GT Family Information Sessions

Grades 1-2 Name That Book is a five-member competition team. Interested students must request a permission form from the library and return it with a parent signature by September 30 giving students permission to take the qualifying test in October. Students must score high enough on the test to qualify for the five-member competition team. This challenging test is designed for students who have read and reread the 25 books on the required list. Team meetings will be on Thursdays after school.

Grades 3-5 Name That Book Club is for students who have read the 25 required books and are interested in trying out for the Name That Book Team in December. The purpose of the club is to prepare students for competition. Applications are available in the library and are due by September 30. The club will meet on Tuesdays after school beginning in October. A qualifying test will be given to club students on December 6 to determine the six-member competition team. Only team members will continue to meet in January.

For more information, visit the Houston ISD Library Services page.

Please be advised that walker numbers are finished being inputted at 3:10 p.m. Walker parents will need to go to the front office to pick up their child starting at 3:10 p.m.

Throughout the school year, this section of the newsletter will highlight key points from the Bush Parent Handbook. School begins at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving after 7:40 a.m. are tardy. Students arriving after 9:00 a.m., without a doctor's excuse, are marked absent.

Vacations

Please remember to plan your family vacations and trips during regular school holidays like Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break. Family vacations cannot be considered excused absences by the State of Texas. As a result, they are recorded as unexcused absences. All students must have a 98% attendance rate. Every day at school is important. All students must attend school up to and including the last day on May 31, 2023.

Early Pick Ups

Please do not plan to pick up your child after 2:30 p.m. from the office. To ensure a safe dismissal, students will not be called to the office to be picked up after 2:30 p.m. Thank you for helping to make dismissal safe for all our students.

Nurse's Rule

Please do not send your sick child to school. If your child has a fever, pink eye, or upset stomach, please keep him/her at home. We have lots of folks under our roof every day. For the health and safety of ALL students, it is very important that children stay home when they are ill. Students who have thrown up during the night or who are running a fever cannot be sent to school. Students must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school. When your child returns to school, please send a signed note stating the days your child was absent and the reason for the absence.

Safety is our number one core value. We must be safe before we can teach, learn, and grow. Safety

policies and procedures are constantly reviewed and revised as needed. ALL adults entering

the building MUST show a government issued photo identification at the front office every time entering the building.

The identification will be run through a background check device before an adult may receive a visitor’s

pass. If parents are coming into school to volunteer and/or to attend field trips, then they must be VIPS approved. Information about being VIPS approved is available on the HISD website and in the Parent Handbook.

View the 2022-2023 Back To School Guidelines

Bush Elementary is not responsible for patrolling the streets in the Bush Elementary zone. However, we can ask for parents to "Be Kind" while waiting for the carpool lane to start moving and once the cars start moving up in the carpool lane.

Please "Be Kind" when navigating around parked cars. Have your carpool number displayed so the other cars will know that you're not one of the parked cars and won't attempt to pass you. Please stay in your car and be prepared to move once the line starts moving.

Please do not block any entrances to parking lots while stopped and waiting for the carpool lane to begin moving. Also, please allow the cars attempting to enter or exit the West Briar Middle School parking lots to do so.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the streets around Bush Elementary safe.

It is so important to set aside time each week to spend with your family. Sometimes we need a break from screen time and work to just build on relationships within our own family.

Spending time with family builds confidence for all of its members. Parents can teach children to build self-esteem through specific skills such as problem solving and communication. They can also model the ability to love oneself without degrading others.

We can also take the opportunity to share ideas and adventures!

*This Week's Printable: You + Me Suitcase

By Big Life Journal

Try this week's activity with your family! A collection of wonderful activities that you can do at home with your family to add to your suitcase of adventures.

The Spectacular Science Word for the week of September 19th is scientific method.

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

Genaro V. who turned 11 years old on September 20 and is a fifth grader in Ms. Hillman's class.

Jaiveer K. who turned 7 years old on September 20 and is a first grader in Ms. Baldwin's class.

Jesus N. who turned 8 years old on September 23 and is a second grader in Ms. Adkin's class.

Kangchen W. who turned 7 years old on September 24 and is a first grader in Ms. Baldwin's class.

Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!

Thank you all once again for the amazing amount of donations. Our students are very fortunate to have a community like ours.

For donations this week, we can focus on clothing items:

-Uniforms (new or like-new)

-Sweaters (following school dress code)

-Shoes (all sizes)

-Underwear

-Socks

Please remember to fill out a SAF if you think your student might need help. I am here to assist our students to be the best ones out there🤓.

Our PTO membership drive is open! Paw and Bobcat levels are only available through September 23rd, and will not be offered after this date. Need based financial assistance for membership is available via PTO Pals, no questions asked (this will provide a Cub Level membership).

Join by this Friday, September 23rd to help the school reach our membership goal for a school-wide FREE DRESS DAY!

Donate to join and support the PTO today and enjoy all the benefits of membership! A Cub level donation gives you the opportunity to vote on the PTO budget and elections, and you will receive a copy of the Bobcat Calendar available exclusively to PTO members. A Paw level donation gives you all the benefits of the Cub level, PLUS an adorable paw print magnetic clip. A Bobcat level donation gives you all the benefits of the Paw level, PLUS an included adult size BBE Spirit Shirt (and the opportunity to purchase additional adult shirts) AND your children’s name and age printed in the Bobcat Calendar on their birthday. All magnets and shirts will be delivered to your child's classroom in October. A portion of Paw and Bobcat level donations go to support PTO Pals, a no-questions-asked program for any family wanting to join the PTO but who needs financial assistance to do so.

Joining the PTO does not obligate you to help with any PTO events or activities, attend meetings, or participate in any way– it is simply a way to invest in the success of all our students at BBE (but of course we welcome all those who would like to give of their time as well).

For any questions related to membership, please contact bushpto.vp@gmail.com.

School Store On-The-Go is back! School Store OTG is a time for the students to put their money skills to use and pick out a fun item or two to use in the classroom or take home.

School Store OTG will be set up a little differently than last year. We will only be open for ONE grade level each week, so be sure to check the calendar so you know when your student will have it.

The store will be open in the afternoons (not during lunch) on the following Fridays:

September 23 - (this week!)- 4th grade

September 30 - 3rd grade

October 7th - 2nd grade

October 14th - 1st, Kinder and PK

If you choose to send money with your student on their given day, please be sure it is in a safe location, such as their backpack, until the end of the day. The PTO and staff are not responsible for any lost money. Also discuss with your student how to act appropriately with money and be considerate of those who may not have as much or any money that day. Remember to always BE KIND.

Families can also shop our school store online or visit us in person every Wednesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30am.

Purchase apparel and select school supplies such as agendas, zipper pouches, notebooks etc. Items purchased online by Thursday at 5:00pm will be delivered to your child’s classroom on Friday.

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

Anyone entering the building will need to present a photo ID at the main office.

Join us at the Nature Center!

We’re looking for students (and families!) to help us in the Nature Center. Please see below regarding our upcoming events. All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Events are weather permitting and space is limited. Sign up soon!

This Friday, September 23rd from 3:15pm-4:30pm Rainbow Rock Garden + Nature Center Clean Up

Friday, October 7th from 3:15pm-4:30pm Pumpkin Painting + Planting

Friday, October 14th from 3:15pm-4:30pm Pumpkin Painting + Planting

Mark your calendar for the 2022 Book Fair! The Book Fair will run from October 17th through the 21st.

Look for more information coming soon, and please contact ptobbelibrary@gmail.com with any questions about the Book Fair.

Join us on October 18th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM for a fiesta to celebrate the return of the Annual Book Fair Dinner!

Come and shop the Book Fair, and feast on delicious beef, chicken or potato flautas, Mexican-style rice, and refried beans, plus condiments, drinks, and a dessert. The cost is $10 per person and tickets are ONLY available via ONLINE presale by October 12th.

The Book Fair will be open during the event, and you may come and shop even if you are not dining with us.

Please contact family.hospitality.bbe@gmail.com with questions about the Book Fair Dinner.

Join BBE PTO Board members at our inaugural First Fridays and Second Saturdays Social Hours! We would love to get to know fellow BBE parents and guardians, and it’s time to rectify our lack of connection with one another after the forced isolation of the last few years. There are two opportunities to chat and relax, so please attend whichever fits your schedule– or come to both!

First Friday: October 7th at 8:30 AM @ Minuti Coffee, 1275 Eldridge Parkway, Suite 200

Second Saturday: October 8th at 5:00 PM @ The King’s Head, 1809 Eldridge Parkway

We are now collecting the 5th grade fee on the BBE PTO website. This fee covers the 5th Grade t-shirt (dress code approved), holiday party contributions, and the End-of-the-Year Celebration and gift bags. There is also the option to “Help a Friend’ if you would like to donate to help cover the cost for families who do not have the means.

This year, we have also added the option of donating to the holiday teacher gift in advance. Donations for this are available in $5 increments. This donation is entirely voluntary.

Please purchase your 5th grade fee and any add-ons HERE.

What is the Volunteer of the Month?

Each month the VIPS Directors will recognize people who come up to the school to volunteer in any aspect.

How do you become the Volunteer of the Month?

Show up, help out and lend a hand. VIPS will be keeping track of who is signing in on the binder in the front office and who goes above and beyond to make Bush great. Each month we will randomly select the winners.

Can I nominate someone for Volunteer of the Month? Yes! Send an email to bushpto.vips@gmail.com with the volunteer name and why they should be recognized. Even if your nomination doesn't get picked this month we will share the nice note with the person nominated.

Spreading kindness starts with parents. This is a fabulous way to show our kids that small acts of kindness have big impacts.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsors for donating the prizes!

Common Bond Bakery on Eldridge

Nothing Bundt Cakes on Memorial

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.

We are looking for 2022-2023 Room Parents!

Room Parents help facilitate communication between the classroom and families at Bush. Get your background check completed now so you're ready to roll!

The following teachers are still in need of a Room Parent:

Ms. Pusparani- PSI

Ms. Munk- 4th grade

Ms. King- 4th grade

Please consider volunteering as an alternative Room Parent for other teachers in need. In the past, some of our fabulous teachers have not had this type of help.

By volunteering your time, you make the experience for every student at Bush extraordinary!

Please contact bushpto.vips@gmail.com with any questions about becoming a Room Parent.

We would love for families to send in any photos from the first day of school or other events happening in your child’s classroom. If you have any, please share them with us! Please send no more than 5 photos to bushptoyearbook@gmail.com and label pictures with your child's grade.

Please contact bushpto.partnerships@gmail.com for more information on becoming a business sponsor.

Subscribe to the PTO Events Calendar through iCal or Google

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

Families, we’ve brought back Bush’s twitter account! Please follow us for updates and peeks into learning @BarbaraBushElem.

22-23 Faculty and Staff

Counselor - Jewell Quinonez

(P) 281-368-2150 (ext: 275212)

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. 275105)

maria.quevedo@houstonisd.org

FOR ATTENDANCE -

Registrar - Adriana Rosales

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

arosale3@houstonisd.org