Bearkat Chat
#BearkatBEST - April 2024
Our Vision: Educating the whole child: mind, body and spirit!
Mote's Notes
Thank you ALL for a wonderful month of March! We are so thankful for all our Bearkat families!
The fundraiser was a success! We will be able to have field trips, cultural arts events, parties and so much more. We did not quite make our ultimate goal to fulfill our full PTO budget needs though so we will continue to have restaurant spirit nights, we will consider having a fall fundraiser and we will host our first ever family painting event with a big silent auction/raffle on April 30th (more info to come soon).
We are looking to find a few companies that might be interested in sponsoring our playground covers so if you have a name or a contact , please let me know (Black@cfisd.net).
The eclipse in coming Monday (the weather does not appear to be stellar for us but we will certainly try to make the best of it.) If you have not yet completed the permissions online, please do so here. The link will be turned off at 5pm on Sunday.
Nature trails is scheduled for this week - Tues/Wed, however, the weather is not looking great for that either. We will make a decision on Monday before the end of the day regarding Tues & Wed. Thank you for your patience as we will not be able to reschedule for this year if we have to cancel.
Students are working so hard to finish up the year learning more and more each day. Please remember to ask them to share all their new learning with you each night.
We are heading into heavy testing season - STAAR and end of year tests so please pay close attention to our no visitor days. We apologize for this inconvience but it is necessary due to schedule changes and testing security guidelines. Thank you for understanding. Please also try to make sure all students are present from here to the end of the year as we do still have so much to cover and they don't want to miss out.
- Lost and Found is pretty piled up so if your child is missing something you may want to remind them to check it this week. All items currently in lost and found will be donated on April 15th.
-Registration for Prek and K opens Monday, April 8 and our Prek/K (new students) Round Up is May 3rd. Please share with your friends and neighbors.
-Below the dates here is a link to a PDF file for parent input regarding class placement next year. Please complete and send to the respective AP before April 26, 2024.
-Click Below on the link to watch some snap shot photos from this month.
Thank you for sharing your children with us! We love our school and our students - check out these millions of smiles!
Here are a few dates to save:
April 9 - Nature Trails 3rd/5th
April 10 - Stuko Dollar Day - Bring a stuffed animal
April 11- PTO Spirit Shop and General PTO meeting AM & PM option. & TECH FEST @ Berry Center 5:30-7:30
April 12 - Kinder Field Trip
April 15 - Teacher Work Day
April 16 - STAAR 4th & 5th (No visitors for lunches)
April 17 - STAAR 5th & 3rd & CFISD Job Fair (No visitors for lunches)
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - STAAR 5th and 4th (No visitors for lunches)
April 24 - STAAR 3rd (No visitors for lunches)
April 25 - ChickFilA Night
April 26 - StuKo Dollar Day
April 30 - PTO painting with Lapushansky and Mote (w/ Silent Auction)
May 1 - FireDrill & VIPS luncheon at Berry Center
May 2 - PTO Spirit Shop
May 3 - Kindergarten Round Up
May 7 - 2nd grade Concert 9 am
May 8 - Stuko Dollar Day
May 14 - PTO Budget Planning Meeting AM / BIG CPOC PM
May 16 - Kinder Concert AM
May 17 - 5th Grade Day @ Main Event
May 20 - 5th grade Field Trip
May 21 - VIPS Breakfast in Cafe
May 22 - Stuko - Dollar Day
May 23 - PTO spirit Shop
May 27 - Student/Staff Holiday
May 28 - May 31 (NO LUNCH VISITORS THIS LAST WEEK UNLESS YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING)
May 28 - Graduation Walk for Seniors and 5th grade "clap out"
May 29 - Global Day of Play - Boosterthon LipSync if earned
May 30 - Grade level Meeting & CyWood Graduation
May 31 - Last Day of School for Students
June 1 - CyFair HS graduation
Please complete this form and return or email it in before April 26th.
Lenny's Tales
March was so much fun! A lot of celebrations. I celebrated my birthday with decorations, new toys, and a pup-cake. I even received my first cell phone. 21 in human years and I finally was able to experience what the cell phone hype is about. The squeaker was hidden really well. I was able to spend a lot of time in the library this month. We had two authors visit. I was able to join one of their sessions and sat in the back of the library. The students were taught how to draw and create comic characters. I was read to a lot this month thanks to my 1st grade friends. Mrs. Butler’s class had books about the beach and being a pirate. After they read me the books, they celebrated their 120th day of school. It was also pirate and beach themed! We had a week off then when we returned to school and the festivities continued. The students participated in a color run after a week of working hard on fundraising. I love running and was so excited when I was able to join at the end of the day. They even put pretty colors on me.
March was a lot of fun with the celebrations. I know we have an eclipse in April, I cannot wait to see what that is about. As always, I love my Bearkats. #INeedThemMoreThanTheyNeedMe
#HeartOfABearkat
NEWS from ART
Greetings!
I wanted to share the link to view the artwork for the TEAM art contest!
Just follow the link and enter the grade level on the drop-down menu, scroll through and enjoy the artwork! 🙂
https://www.taea.org/TEAM/gallery-region.asp?Region=4N&Division=
Congratulations to five Black Elementary Artists chosen for the contest!
5th Grade - Avery McGonigal
4th Grade - Harper Vanya
3rd Grade - Allen Krantz
2ndGrade - Avery Rodriquez
1st Grade - Roxanne Galvan
Each of these Artists has earned a medal for the TEAM Art contest! Yay!
As soon as they come in, I will award them with their TEAM medal! 🙂
Thank you for supporting the ARTS! ❤️
Bobbi Lapushansky
Art Teacher
Black Elementary
Librarian Info
Communication to 5th grade parents
Dear Parent/Guardian of a CFISD 5th Grade Student,
The parent/guardian of a 5th grade student may opt their child into the Young Adult
collection of books at their campus library. The description of the Young Adult collection is
available in the Parent Portal which can be accessed by clicking the link on the district website
(https://www.cfisd.net/domain/10). If you would like to choose for your student access to the
Young Adult collection, please visit the parent portal and select opt-in. If you do not want your
student to access theYoung Adult collection, no action is needed. Your student will have default
access to the Juvenile collection of books unless you have opted your student out of the library.
If you have any questions, please contact your campus librarian.
Bringing Out The Best for March
Future Goodson Grizzly's - School Supplies and Grizzly Express
Thank you Spring Creek BBQ for Hosting our March 5th Fundraiser Night
Bearkat PTO
Presidents Corner
Thank you for all of your amazing support in our first Black Elementary Color Run! We have raised over $59,000 to help fund things like field trips, Cultural Arts presentations, holiday & end of year parties, and so much more! We could not have these events without you. We appreciate you!
It’s time to vote for PTO Board positions for the 2024-2025 school year! Voting for the board will take place at the General PTO meeting on April 11, 2024 at 9:30am as well as 6:30pm in the cafeteria.
The positions are: President, Membership, Cultural Arts, Fundraising, VIPS1, VIPS2, Secretary, Treasurer, Technology. A description of each position can be found on our website:
Are you interested in chairing a position next year? We will go over all the different ways you can volunteer at the school at this meeting as well.
We hope to see you there!
Elena Velasquez
PTO President
Upcoming Events
4/9 & 4/10 - 3rd & 5th Grade Nature Trails
4/11 PTO General Meeting @ 9:30 & 6:30pm
4/30 – Paws & Paint with Mrs. L & Mrs. Mote
5/17 - 5th Grade Day Celebration @ Main Event Tomball
5/21 - VIPS Appreciation Breakfast
PAWS & PAINT - April 30th - 6:00 - 7:00 PM
We’re excited for our first ever Paws & Paint event with Mrs. L & Mrs. Mote! This will be a school wide paint along event that will be led by our very own art teacher Mrs. L., along with Mrs. Mote! Be on the lookout for ticket information coming soon! We will also be having a silent auction at this event, so get ready to check out the baskets that we will have available, provided from local businesses, as well as super fun school experiences to bid on.
Birthday Wall
Summer birthday? No worries! We will celebrate all summer birthdays during the month of May. So be sure and send in those requests. It will be the highlight of your student’s day.
*Please send your submissions at least 2 weeks in advance.
HOSPITALITY
Thank you, Bearkat Family, for always answering the call for donations when the Black PTO Hospitality
teams asks. Now the time has come to plan how we can celebrate our Teachers and Staff for Teacher’s
Appreciation Week. If you work for a business, know a business, or you are an individual that would be
willing to help sponsor an event, meal, or snack that week please reach out to us at
hospitality@blackpto.net. Every little bit helps us to show our teachers and staff how much we
appreciate all that they do for our school and students.
Sign-up genius links will go out soon with specific ways to contribute. Thank you, parents, for all that
you do.
SRC
Volunteer Of The Month
Our Top Bearkat Volunteer of the Month for February is Mary Kay Moritz with 18.00 hours. Here are some of the perks of being the top volunteer of the month -
· Convenient Reserved Parking Space with your name on it at the front of the school
· You will also be recognized on a Volunteer of The Month sign in the front office and in the Bearkat Chat.
· One Friday lunch with your Bearkat during the month (VIPS must be notified of date prior to let the front office know)
Thank you to all our volunteers dedicating your extra time at the school! **Don’t forget to log your offsite volunteer hours on the PTO webpage: https://blackpto.membershiptoolkit.com
Junior Achievement
Parents,
We have an in-class volunteer opportunity for grades 1-4 this spring as we kick off our Junior Achievement Program. Junior Achievement is a program that focuses on teaching a combination of economics and social studies at an age-appropriate level. Subjects include businesses in our community, taxes, needs and wants, spending and saving, how to start a business, etc.(see attached link) About Junior Achievement
Each class needs at least one volunteer to teach 5 sessions to the students. All teaching materials are provided including a teaching script, so you don't have to come up with your own. You coordinate directly with the teacher on days and times that work for the classroom. The kids love this program and would love to have someone step up to take this on in their classroom. Please sign up using the signup genius link: Junior Achievement Grades 1-4
Additional Information
1. Each session lasts about 30 minutes
2. Training is online format at your own pace for each session
3. No training required if you have taught in the previous years
4. All materials are provided
5. You coordinate times and days directly with the teacher
6. Materials will be available for pick up within one week of sign up
7. You can start as soon as you have determined times that work with the classroom and you have your materials
8. Sessions must be complete by the end of the spring semester
9. Total time involved including training, prep, and driving to school 5-6 hours for all 5 sessions
10. There will be a few online forms to fill out upon completion of teaching sessions
11. Please contact Sara Martin at juniorachievement@blackpto.net for more information.
The following teachers are still in need of a JA volunteer:
1-Acosta
1-Barco
1-Petzolt
1-Tello
1-Butler
2-Lee
2-Bailey
2-Wilkes
3-Berrios
3-Ford
4-Singer
4-Chaffin
4-Steinocher
BIZTOWN
· Please consider signing up to help volunteer for the 5th grade field trip to BizTown this year on May 20, 2024.
· What is BizTown? It's a mock town located at the Junior Achievement Center in Houston. Students have to elect city officials, run businesses, learn about mortgages, and work with the student-led city council, etc. Students will be going to and from the facility on buses like a normal field trip that will last the majority of the school day. This is a great learning opportunity, and it requires volunteers as Junior Achievement is a non-profit organization.
· We need at least 40 volunteers to make BizTown happen for our 5th graders. One 1.5 hour in-person training session is required. You can not show up the day of the field trip and expect to attend without training. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to and from, both, training and the field trip.
· Training Dates (One is required):
May 14, 2024 @ 4-5:30
May 16, 2024 @ 4-5:30
Biztown Volunteer Training Sign Up
· Field Trip Date:
May 20, 2024
· Location:
BizTown Facility
3710 Dacoma St
Houston, TX 77092
· Please email Sara Martin at juniorachievement@blackpto.net for more information.
Fifth Grade Events
5th Grade Day
When: Friday, May 17th 9:00am-2:00pm
Where: Main Event Tomball
24620 Tomball Parkway
PARTY FEE: Have you paid your PTO party fee?
Party Fee of $25.00 includes: 5th Grade Day event (Main Event), t-shirt, memory book.
All shirt sizes for students are acquired through your 5th grade day payment. Any shirt sizes we don't have by March 8th will be filled as a youth XL.
Click link here to Pay: https://www.blackpto.net
Would you like to make a donation to this event?
Black Elementary PTO - 5th Grade Day Donation 2023-2024 (blackpto.net)
5TH GRADE DAY VOLUNTEERS: We are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. Only adult volunteers will be able to attend the event at Main Event. No siblings can attend. Each volunteer will be assigned a shift to assist that day. If you would like to volunteer, please go to the link below to purchase a package, which will include your shirt & your lunch for that day.
https://www.blackpto.net/form/m/271944
If you have any questions, please email 5thgradeday@blackpto.net
PAW PRINT REVEAL
If you have any questions, please email 5thgradeday@blackpto.net
Additional 5th Grade Day Fundraising – Bearcreek Skating Rink Spirit Night 4/8 6pm-8pm
https://www.blackpto.net/home
Membership
WHAT DOES PTO FUND?
Field Trips for all grades
Cultural Arts events for all grades
Holiday Parties
End of Year Parties
Playground Equipment
Staff Development
Back to School Staff Luncheon
Field Day
Music/PE Equipment
Author Days
Technology
5th Grade Celebration
Veterans Day Program
Staff Appreciation/Hospitality
STAAR Testing Snacks
Lenny the dog
WHAT DOES PTO DO?
Yearbook
Book Spirit Night Events
School Wide Event Volunteers
Birthday Wall
Science Resource Demos (SRC)
Staff Appreciation Events
Spirit Shop
Manage PTO Website
Marquee
Junior Achievement
Class Parties
5th Grade Sidewalk Paws
School Shirt Sales
Organize volunteers for: Workroom, Library, Book Fair, HRC, Nature Trails, Hearing and Vision Screening, Clinic, etc
HOW TO HELP?
Become a PTO member
Donate to fundraisers
Participate in Spirit Nights
Shop at the Spirit Shop
Volunteer
HOW TO JOIN?
Joining PTO by registering at blackpto.net
You are not committing to volunteer, but only to help support our school and all that we provide our students. Volunteering is a FUN bonus! Getting involved and meeting new people all while supporting Black Elementary!
Questions: contact Membership@blackpto.net
Safety Information
District Childfind
Childfind services
The Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District Special Education Department provides educational services to over 10,000 students with special needs.
Teachers, instructional aides, speech pathologists and related service personnel provide instruction and related services to students who have a disability. Students are eligible for special education services from the age of 3 through 21. Students who have hearing and vision disabilities may receive services from birth.
To be eligible for special education services, students must meet eligibility requirements as a student with an orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, auditory impairment, visual impairment, diagnosis of deaf/blind, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, learning disability, speech impairment, multiple disabilities, autism, non-categorical early childhood, or traumatic brain injury.
Cypress Fairbanks ISD instructional arrangements for elementary school-aged students include in-class support, resource classes and speech/language therapy. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE, formerly PPCD), adaptive behavior, and LIFE Skills classes are offered as cluster services at the elementary level.
In-class support, resource classes, LIFE Skills, adaptive behavior and speech/language services are available at all secondary level campuses.
Related services may include psychological services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility training, school health services, adaptive equipment and special transportation.
Other special education service options include the Dorothy Carlton Center, the Maybelline Carpenter Center, homebound, adaptive physical education, itinerant and on-site services to the visually impaired.
As part of the Northwest Harris County Cooperative for the Hearing Impaired, services for students who have auditory impairments are offered at Birkes Elementary, Matzke Elementary, Spillane Middle School and Cy-Ridge High School. In addition to receiving instruction at the on-site campuses, students may be served by itinerant teachers, speech pathologists, and/or an audiologist at their home campus.
Are you the parent of a pre-school (3-5 years) or school aged child and have concerns regarding your child’s physical, speech, and/or emotional development? Is your child experiencing academic problems which could interfere significantly with educational success? If so, contact the Special Education Department at 281-897-6400 to discuss your concerns and learn more about the referral process.
Tipline @ Black Elementary
Cy-Fair Tipline is an anonymous reporting system that allows students and parents to communicate school concerns or threats to their campus administration through the Internet or via text messaging. Students and parents are able to submit reports/tips via text or email anonymously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To access the system: http://www.safe2helptips.com/cf148s. This link is also located on the school website under 'Contact Us'.
School Messenger
School Messenger
School Messanger -
Siga los siguientes pasos para registrarse y recibir alertas de emergencia del distrito.
OTHER FLYERS AND INFO
Thank you to the following corporate sponsors that support our school.
Black Elementary Info
Email: black@cfisd.net
Website: black.cfisd.net
Location: 14155 Grant Road, Cypress, TX, USA
Phone: 281-320-7145