Eagle Family News

Vision: Every student will engage in a rigorous and integrative health science curriculum guiding them to make innovative 21st century contributions.

Mission: In order to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow, we will provide them with engaging health science experiences through cooperative learning and technological integration.

Core Values:

Community

Accountability

Respect

Empathy

Dear Eagle Families and Guardians,

We are thrilled to have successfully navigated the first six weeks of the school year! Our primary focus remains on maintaining the safety of all students while ensuring they receive high-quality instruction. We also want to emphasize the importance of open communication with teachers. Your partnership and engagement are crucial in supporting your child’s learning journey.

We would like to remind you of a few updates:

• Student Handbook: Student Handbooks were passed out during Open House. If you did not receive one we have extra copies in the front office. Your signature is required after reading the handbook with your child. Please turn in the signature page to the front office.

• Arrival and Dismissal: Student are expected to be in class by 8:30 am and picked up no later than 5:00 pm. Be mindful when dropping off not to block driveways or the entire street.

• Student Safety: We have held grade level meetings this week discussing student safety, campus expectations and consequences. Please monitor phone usage and report any important information to administration and/or the front office. You or your child can fill out an incident report on the campus website.

• Social Emotional Learning: Our campus, with the support of Ms. Boulais, our counselor will integrate social emotional learning lessons into the school day. This is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive both academically and personally. Please encourage respecting others’ feelings, and to respond with kindness even in challenging situations. If you need support reach out to Ms. Boulais (Biji.Boulais@houstonisd.org).

• Dress Code: A reminder that student may only wear blue jeans, blue khakis or brown khakis to school. Jeans and pants should not have any holes or rips. College and spirit shirts may only be worn on Fridays. Monday-Thursday students wear the grade level color polo shirt. On Mondays students may wear scrubs Students may wear hoodies but they must be a solid color. Please refer to the dress code below.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in the success of our campus. Please reach out to us if you have a question or concern.

Shelby Steward, Principal

BCM Biotech Academy at Rusk

Shelby Steward, Principal: Shelby.Steward@houstonisd.org

Kristin McDonald, Assistant Principal: Kristin.Mcdonald@houstonisd.org

Crystal Deville, STEM Specialist: Crystal.Deville@bcm.edu

Jordan Pulu, Teacher Specialist: Jordan.Pulu@houstonisd.org

School doors are open as early as 7:30 am.

Students will transition to class at 8:25 am. Please know that if students are not in their classroom by 8:30 am they are considered tardy. More than 5 tardies in a school year is considered excessive and can result in students struggling academically. Chronic tardiness will be addressed by a school administrator.

Passing Periods: Students will have three minutes to get to their next class. If they are late they will now receive a tardy from staff located throughout the building. This is to ensure students are not missing any instructional time.

• School doors open at 7:30 am
• Drop off location will be on Garrow Street through the main entrance.
• Students that arrive before 8:00 am will be held in the cafeteria. After 8:00 am students will either stay in the cafeteria or the Multipurpose Room based on their homeroom teacher.
• At 8:25 am their homeroom teacher will pick them up and escort them to class.

• Students arriving after 8:30 am will need to be walked to the main entrance to be checked in by their parent or guardian. Parent or guardian will need park their car and enter the building to do so.
• Parent or guardian will be required to check in late arrivals starting August 19, 2024.

Bus Riders

• At the first dismissal bell, students will walk towards Building B and line up where the outdoor patio area is that is located along Paige Street.

Car Riders/Walkers

• 6th Graders will be dismissed through the main entrance on Garrow Street.
• 7th and 8th Graders will be dismissed at Settegast Park.

Siblings

• The oldest sibling will join the youngest sibling at their grade level dismissal location.

• Students on campus after 4:10 pm will be walked to the main entrance on Garrow Street to be picked up. Parents will sign out their students for the day with Ms. Torres.
• Students should be picked up no later than 5:00 pm.
• Students that participate in afterschool activities should be picked up no later than 5:15 pm.
• Administration will contact parents for students that are picked up late consistently.

• September 23-27- Hispanic Heritage Spirit Days
• Wednesday, September 25- SDMC Meeting 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
• September 25-26- GT Testing
• October 3-4- No School (Fall Holiday)
• Wednesday, October 9- Noche de Ciencias
• Thursday, October 10- Blue Coat Ceremony (7th Grade Only)
• Wednesday, October 16- PSAT (8th Grade Only)
• Saturday, October 19- STEAMM Saturday
• Friday, October 25- High School Magnet Fair 10:30 am - 11:30 am (8th Grade Only)
• Friday, October 25- Halloween Dance 4:15 pm - 6:30 pm
• Saturday, October 26- Hispanic Heritage/ Fall Festival

Each month BCMBAR will recognize 3 students, one from each grade level for representing each of our core values: care, accountability, respect and empathy. Congratulate our students of the month for August!

Our teacher of the month is Ms. Penn. She is new to Rusk this year and teaches 6th grade Science. Our staff member of the month is Mrs. Duarte. Mrs. Duarte is one our front office clerks and has been at Rusk for 14 years!

Students can see a Hazel Health medical provider or therapist from home or school for anything from a sore throat to anxiety. Please sign up so your child can have access to health services all school year, at no cost to your family. You can find more information about Hazel Health in HISD at my.hazel.co/houstonisd