February 7, 2024
Happy Lunar New Year 2024: Year of the Dragon
Happy Lunar New Year 2024! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! Saturday, February 10th marks the year of the Dragon. I want to wish you all an amazing year filled with love, laughter, and lots of good fortune. Whether you're enjoying delicious food, spending time with family, or just soaking in the festive vibes, I hope this new year brings you nothing but happiness and success. Click Here to learn more about Lunar New Year.
Warm Regards,
Linh Hoang
Principal
Donations of Treats and Snacks Needed for Celebration of Growth and Efforts on February 16th
We are done with the middle of year NWEA and DIBELS testing. On February 16th, we will celebrate our students' efforts and growth on the NWEA and DIBELS. We will need treats and/or snacks for this special event. Parents, if you would like to contribute, please send in your donations to the front office by Monday, February 12th. Only packaged and store-bought snacks and/or treats can be accepted. Thank you in advance for your support.
National Counselors Week - Ms. Calix
I would like to take a moment to highlight the exceptional contributions of Ms. Calix, our incredible school counselor. Ever since Ms. Calix joined the Bush team, she has played a crucial role in creating a positive and supportive learning environment for our students. She comes to work bright and early at 7:00 am to great students at the door and assist with independent walkers for dismissal duty daily.
I have observed Ms. Calix consistently go above and beyond, providing guidance to our students during challenging times and helping them develop the social skills needed for success in school. Her dedication to fostering a positive atmosphere has made a lasting impact on the well-being and growth of our students. I truly appreciate the weekly newsletters that she sends each week containing tips for exercising self-care and schedules for guidance lesson. Let's unite as a school community this week to celebrate Ms. Calix and express our gratitude for her commitment to the well-being of both students and staff at Bush Elementary.
Please join me in recognizing the outstanding efforts of Ms. Calix during National School Counselor Week. Your words of appreciation and acknowledgment will undoubtedly mean a lot to her.
SDMC Meeting - February 8th
At Bush Elementary, our Site-based Decision-Making Committee (SDMC) meetings, comprised of parent representatives, community members, faculty, and staff, convenes quarterly to provide valuable input and serve as an advisory council to me as the principal on essential items such as the accountability ratings, school improvement plan, campus budget, essential guidelines, and school policies, etc. The 3rd Quarter SDMC Meeting is scheduled on Thursday, February 8th at 3:25 p.m. in the school library. Below are the agenda items for the upcoming SDMC meeting:
- Accountability Ratings
- Review of the School Improvement Plan
- Budget Updates
- Homework Policy for next year
- Afterschool Programs next year
- Attendance Incentives
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Safety During Arrival and Dismissal
This meeting will be open to all parents who registered via Microsoft form at least one day in advance to speak on a specific topic relating to the agenda items or sit in as an observer. All registered parents who wish to address the committee will be given a 1-minute time frame to speak. After all registered parents have presented, non-SDMC members are welcome to stay as observers for the duration of the SDMC meeting. I kindly request that all non-SDMC members or observers refrain from speaking during the meeting. This is to honor the committee members' volunteered time and to ensure that we can discuss the items on the agenda efficiently. Please note that due to limited space in the library, we reserve the right to dismiss participants who have not registered via Microsoft form to participate in the meeting. Any parents who wish to discuss concerns not addressed during the SDMC meeting may schedule a separate meeting with me. Your involvement in the SDMC meetings is vital to the growth and development of our school. Your perspectives, ideas, and feedback contribute to creating a more enriching educational experience for our students. I look forward to a productive upcoming SDMC meeting.
Black History Month!
Did you know?
- Thurgood Marshall was the first justice to serve in the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Barack Obama was the first Black President in the United States.
- Kamala Harris is the first Black Vice President of the United States.
- Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to sign with the WNBA.
No School on Monday, February 19th due to HISD Staff Development
100 Days of School Celebration! - Tuesday, February 13th
To show our school spirit and commemorate this special day, we encourage all Bush students and staff to dress up like they are 100 years old or express their creativity by creating a 100 days of school t-shirt.
Bush Elementary Loves to Learn! - Wednesday, February 14th
Show your love of learning at Bush Elementary by wearing red, pink, or white and/or any heart motifs on Wednesday, February 14th. Students will be exchanging Valentines on this day so please make sure you send your child with Valentines for every student in the class.
Go Texan Day! - February 23 - Mark Your Calendars
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back! Students are encouraged to wear their “Go Texan” Western clothes to school on Friday, February 23th in support of its return. Please make sure students leave their horses, spurs, and lassos at home!
Parents will be invited to come watch their child participate in Go Texan Day activities on Friday, February 23, during their child's enrichment time shown below.
5th Grade – 8:15-9:10 a.m.
PK/K - 9:15-10:10 a.m.
1st Grade – 11:45–12:40 p.m.
2nd Grade Pusparani/Hacopian/Phillips – 10:15–11:10 a.m.
3rd Grade – 1:45–2:40 p.m.
4th Grade – 12:40–1:40 p. m.
Parents must bring a government issued photo identification to enter the building. Please be advised there will be a lot of parents attending and we only have three check in stations to process security checks, also parking will be difficult on this day. Do not park in in any red painted curb areas in the carpool or bus lanes. You are highly encouraged to arrive early to clear our security check in process.
Attendance Matters
The estimated funding lost due to student absences is $71,320.92 so far.
If your child is healthy, then your child must be at school. If your child is sick, has a fever at or above 100, or is vomiting or other intestinal issues, then your child must be at home. Please send your child to school with a note to excuse the absence for illness.
There are days built into the calendar along with a long summer break for family time and trips. We encourage you to plan your family time around designated district holidays and breaks. Click on the following link to review the district calendar: https://tinyurl.com/34vb2npe
Campuswide Attendance Incentives
We will be implementing campuswide incentives to promote student attendance. Please talk to your child about the importance of coming to school and share with them our campuswide incentive plan below:
Weekly: Every Monday, we will announce classrooms with perfect attendance last week. Perfect Attendance sign will be placed outside the door for those classrooms.
Monthly: On the first day of each month, any student who has perfect attendance from the previous month will earn lunch in the classroom or on the courtyard with the teacher. Parent volunteers will assist with covering lunch duty in the cafeteria for students who did not make perfect attendance on the following days: March 1, April 1, May 1, and June 3.
End of each grading cycle: The school will provide treats & Free Dress Pass for any students with perfect attendance.
End of Year: Awards for students with Perfect Attendance and Merit Attendance (missing only 1 day).
Quinn's Social Emotional Learning Corner - February 7
Hello readers! Previously, we discussed what emotions were and how they were formed. This week, we’ll talk about how to validate emotions. All emotions are natural and normal. There is nothing wrong with any specific emotion. Everyone feels them, but some feel them stronger than others. However, sometimes we might get frustrated with someone for feeling a certain way or “overreacting.” Sometimes, people let their emotions take over. However, instead of getting angry, try to empathize (or understand the emotions.) You can seek to understand before trying to make your thoughts understood.
One strategy to try is the “Stop, Think, and Talk” method we mentioned previously. As a refresher, "Stop" might mean sitting down and taking deep breaths. (Try not to demand that your child "calm down" because that can be wrongly interpreted as dismissive.) Next, you can ask them to "Think" about what physical sensations they feel in their body (e.g., tightness in stomach, lump in throat, etc.) Then, ask them to "Think" about how they are feeling and why. After a few minutes of quiet reflection, "Talk" about how they're feeling and why they're feeling that way. At first, it might be difficult for them to share their emotions because it may feel shameful to feel angry, sad, or disappointed. But, remind your child that all feelings are valid. Everyone feels their feelings in different ways. Thanks for reading this week’s article. That’s the conclusion of our feelings and emotions articles. I’ll see you next week to discuss loneliness and separation anxiety.
SEL Activity Recommendation: Consider an emotion that overwhelms you and brainstorm ways to soothe your body and brain.
February 16th Virtual Coffee with the Principal
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 225 427 893 646
Passcode: 63yNBa
After3 Afterschool Program for 2024-2025 School Year
I am exploring the possibility of bringing the After3 Program to Bush Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year. After3 is an after-school program based in Houston that offers care and enrichment opportunities for school-age children. This is NOT a free program. Their mission is centered on delivering the highest quality care for students, with a strong focus on education, self-respect, respect for others, and community involvement. To learn more about the After3 Program, click on the following link: https://www.after3asp.com/programoverview.
After you've had a chance to review the program, I would greatly appreciate your input regarding your interest in enrolling your child in After3 at Bush Elementary for 2024-2025. Depending on the level of parental interest, we may be able to commence the After3 program at the beginning of the next school year.
To express your interest, Please Click Here to complete a brief survey. This survey will remain open until Wednesday, February 7th. If you require additional information about After3, please feel free to reach out to them directly at 713-269-5936 or via email at after3asp@gmail.com.
Safety During Pick Up and Drop Off
Safety is our number 1 priority at Bush Elementary. Please respect our safety procedures. Below are some important safety reminders during pick up and drop off:
Parking
Please DO NOT park on the driveway of Westerloch Dr. and Parkway Plaza adjacent to the school to drop off or pick up your children during arrival and dismissal. It is illegal to block moving traffic during these peak time traffic times and you may be ticketed. You may use the carpool lane or safely park in the surrounding streets if you wish to park your car. We have added the No Parking yard signs to mark the areas on the driveway that cannot be blocked. See the picture below as a reference.
Jaywalking
If you park across the street, please use the crosswalks and refrain from cutting through the driveway. You can also be ticketed for jaywalking. This is a safety concern that is not worth saving a few extra minutes of your time.
No Parking on Westerloch Driveway Adjacent to the School
No Parking on Parkway Plaza Driveway Adjacent to the School
No Jaywalking on the street
Safety at Bush Elementary
Safety is our core value. Students must be safe before they can learn. Parents must have a government issued photo identification to show at the office to enter the building. Parents, grandparents, and other family members will not be allowed into the building without a government issued photo identification.
There will be quite a few parents attending these events and to speed up the check in process, please have your government issued photo identification in your hand when you enter the building.
Please respect our safety procedures and have your government issued photo identification on hand to enter the building.
Bush Elementary School Tours
We welcome all new prospective parents to tour Bush ES!
West Briar MS School Tours
Are you new to the area? West Briar MS is offering school tours.
LUNCH or RECESS Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers to help supervise and assist students at lunch in the cafeteria on Fridays.
We also need volunteers to help supervise students safety during recess time at the big playground area only everyday during the following slots:
-
Slot 1: 10:10 am – 10:55 am (2 volunteers needed)
Slot 2: 11:10 am – 12:00 pm (2 volunteers needed)
- Slot 3: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm (2 volunteers needed)
- Slot 4: 12:50 pm – 1:25 pm (2 volunteers needed)
Only the parent (no siblings) may take part in the supervision. Please be mindful that this is an active volunteer opportunity to spread love to all children and not a time to enjoy lunch or recess with your own kiddo.
Parents must complete the following three steps before volunteering:
Step 1: Click Here to register online to get VIPS approved each year.
Step 2: Click Here to sign up to volunteer for the Cafeteria.
Click here to sign up to volunteer for Recess.
Once you're VIPS approved. Please note that this is not just a one-time commitment, but rather we need consistent volunteers showing up on a regular basis at lunch time and recess.
Step 3: Click Here to watch the quick training video before volunteering in the cafeteria.
Click Here to watch the quick training video before volunteering at recess.
Step 4: Bring your driver's license to sign in when you 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 and during recess!
TalkingPoints Communication
VIPS Approved
All adults entering the buildings MUST show a government issued photo identification at the front office every time you enter the building.
If you are coming into the school to volunteer and/or attend field trips. then you must be VIPS approved.
🐾 Bobcat Birthdays 🐾
Ms. Hoang would like to wish a very special birthday to:
Zara K. who turned 6 years old on February 6 and is a kindergardner in Ms. Tang's class.
Lilia K. who turns 11 years old on February 10 and is a fifth grader in Ms. Hravbovsky's class.
Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!
Birthday Book Club
Starting Wednesday, we will announce all student's names on the morning announcements for their birthday. However, if you Join the Birthday Book Club, it will make your child’s day extra special! Your child will have their name printed in the Paw Prints newsletter, choose a book to donate in their name for the school library with a framed group photo posted outside the library AND have their name on the electronic marquee during the week of their birthday (if option selected). See www.BBEpto.com for details.
Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates @bbep
Wrap Around QR Code
Paul Revere Food Distribution
PTO Board Nominations
Are you looking for the ultimate volunteering opportunity? The PTO board wants to add you to our team!! We are taking nominations for board members for the 2024-2025 school year. We have positions that vary in amount of time needed and positions that can be done all/mostly at home or on school grounds. You can nominate yourself or someone else. Click HERE to complete the nomination form…it’s that easy. Nominations are open until March 1st. If you have any questions, please reach out to Michelle Jackson (presidentbbepto@gmail.com)
PTO Board Meeting
Friday, February 9, 9:30 am
PTO Room - T 508
All Dues- Paying PTO Members are invited to our monthly meetings. Not a Member yet? Join Today! PTO meetings follow a pre-set agenda where board members typically discuss PTO related business including fundraising efforts, events, volunteering and more!
Movie Night- February 24
Join us for a viewing of “Trolls Band Together”, on Saturday, February 24th.
Gates open at 5:30pm
Movie will start at 6:20pm
(if you are Volunteering you get early bird parking at 5:15 and early entry).
$5 entry for pre-sold entry wristbands; Wristbands required for ALL guests over age 3
All children MUST be accompanied by an adult (older siblings DO NOT COUNT as chaperones).
Wristbands will be on a pre-sale till the 22nd of February, then will be $6 at the gate. We will have food, drinks and trinkets for sale. You can also pre-order a whole pizza!
Yearbook Sales & Photos
Order your 2023-2024 yearbook before March 18th and receive a discount! Yearbooks will be $30 and starting March 18th the price will increase to $35.
If you have a 5th grader and you can add a special dedication to the yearbook for your student for $20. Dedications must be purchased by MARCH 1st. For 5th grade only.
We recommend one PER CHILD. Yearbooks are distributed during the last week of school. No orders will be accepted after March 24th, so order now at www.BBEpto.com !
If you have photos from Fun Friday, please email those to bushptoyearbook@gmail.com
Volunteering Makes Our School Better
Schools that have a strong school volunteer base perform better. There are so many demands placed on our school with limited financial resources. Any volunteer effort can help bridge that gap at no additional cost to the school. Taking things off the plate of teachers, administration, and staff frees them up to do what they do best—educate our children.
Check our Volunteering Calendar, there are currently opportunities for:
Daily library support (help Mrs. Miller)
Lunch helpers
Recess monitor
Bobcat Bazaar (formerly School Store on the Go)
MOVIE NIGHT (Saturday, Feb. 24) - Winter PTO fundraiser
Signup to be on a committee that volunteers to help with various things around school, such as: Last minute brigade, decorating committee, and/or IDEA committee.
On another note, thank you to all the volunteers who have been submitting your hours to participate in the Bob's Spot drawing.
Congratulations to the family of Alefiya Kapasi! You are the winner of Bob’s Spot for the months of February - March. (Bob the Bobcat's parking spot is a reserved space in the carpool lane parking lot. (Volunteer for an upcoming event to have YOUR name entered)
Finally a big shout out to our PTO Board Members who were selected as Volunteer of the Month: Fern Kennedy (November), Valerie Shaikh ( December) and Nikki Vedi (January)
Did you know it takes you only one hour a week of volunteering to make a difference? What are you waiting for? VOLUNTEER!
Who do I contact?
2023-2024 Parent Handbook
Wrap Around Specialist
Maria Quevedo
Registrar
Adriana Rosales
Administrative Assistant
Zonia Flores