Bryant Bulletin
September 6, 2024
Bryant Bulletin Translations Available by Opening in a Google Chrome Browser.
Message from Mrs. Pierce
We have had a blast this week with the fun dress up days and learning about each house from our House Council leaders. Monday is our first grade level house meetings of the year and Kinder/PK sorting day! We can't wait for all the fun. Students are encouraged to dress up and rep their house colors. Be creative!
Next week we celebrate our Bengal Grandparents! We love seeing our grandparents on campus. Each student will be allowed 2 lunch visits during the week instead of the usual 1 visit. Please use these visits for grandparents only, if possible. The same person cannot visit more than once in the week. If grandparents will be coming without a parent or guardian, please be sure that a parent or guardian fills out THIS FORM prior to the grandparent visit to ensure smooth entry into the campus. Space is limited, please arrive early. Thank you for understanding if we have to turn away visitors for a lunch period. No Strollers will be allowed this week. Fridays are usually very busy days on a regular week, so if possible, please try to visit on a different day.
If you have a praise for one of our staff members, please CLICK HERE to fill out the form. Our staff loves to hear from our parents!
From Our Counselors
Save the Date - Bryant's Multicultural Festival will be held on Thursday, October 3rd, from 5:30PM - 7:00PM. Families will have the opportunity to travel "around the world" and learn fun and interesting facts about countries represented by our Bryant families without leaving the Bryant cafeteria and gym.
We are looking for families to showcase their heritage and culture with displays, music, games, crafts, presentations and more. If you are interested in participating, please complete this form so that you can showcase your heritage and culture.
Need to Reach the Counselor?
Students at Bryant have the opportunity to talk with our School Counselors, Penny Flores (grades K, 2 & 4) and Julie Akerson (grades PreK,1, 3 & 5). If you would like to get in touch with either of them, please contact Dr. Flores at 281-234-4331 or at penelopewflores@katyisd.org or Mrs. Akerson at 281-234-0676 or at julianarakerson@katyisd.org.
Fall Picture Day 9/12
Volunteers needed to assist with picture day. Click the picture above or the link below to sign up to help!
Please see the information on Fall Picture Day coming up on Thursday, 9/12.
Abrakadoodle Afterschool Art Classes 10/29 Sign up now!
Abrakadoodle Art Classes are beginning on 10/29 afterschool. Use the link below to sign up.
http://www.abrakadoodle.com/tx-katy-and-west-houston-register
Gifted & Talented Program Testing
Parents may request screening for the Gifted and Talented Program for their students by submitting a Parent Checklist by the published deadline.
Please visit the district website for more information.
BreakoutEDU Learn & Play Session
Do you like Escape Rooms? The problem solving and engagement encountered while trying to escape can easily be transferred to a classroom activity. But instead of breaking out of the room, the students try to break into a locked box.
The school has 5 Breakout Kits available in the library for check out! I would love to help you incorporate them into your lessons. There are pre-made games for any subject and grade level, or we can customize a game based on your class needs.
Come for a session to learn more about the BreakOut kits and try out your skills and open a few locks with a team.
Thursday, Sept. 19th from “All remaining car riders” until about 4:30… depending on how fast you open your box.
Upcoming Events
9/9-9/13 - Grandparents Week
9/9- House Meeting Day- Go all out & represent your house!
9/12 - Fall Picture Day
9/12 - Campus Technology Night 5pm
9/19 - PTA Creature Teacher (Student only event during Specials)
9/19 - Watch DOGS Kickoff Meeting 6pm Gym
9/20 - NO SCHOOL (Student Holiday)
9/30 - PTA General Meeting 9am LGI
9/30-10/4 - Fall Book Fair
10/3 - Multi-Cultural Night 5:30pm Gym
10/14 - Columbus Day (Staff & Student Holiday)
10/18 - House Rally
10/25 - PTA Trunk or Treat Event 5:30pm
House Happenings
*News From the Bryant PTA*
PTA Calendar of Events
Mark your calendars. Events and dates are subject to change.
Stock the Lounge
We're on a mission to Stock the Lounge for our amazing Bengal staff! Make it easy by using our Amazon link to have items delivered directly to the school. Please sign up to let us know what you're sending. Your support is greatly appreciated!"
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5FHBVMTU653J?ref_=wl_share&viewType=grid
Sign-Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CABA92FA1F8C52-51081577-stock
The PTA is thrilled to bring the Creature Teacher exhibit to our school, offering students an exciting and educational experience with fascinating animals. Get ready for a wild adventure in learning. (Student event only)
Volunteers Needed!
Please click the link below to volunteer with our many upcoming opportunities.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePSIggH9TTal8CTLTALNTPmP735iuZLMROQcVp-rd-G6-zPw/viewform
If you are interested in a chair position please fill out the form below. If you have additional questions please reach out to president@officialbryantpta.com
Volunteers Needed for Fall Book Fair
Online PTA Spirit Wear Store
Spirit wear is available to purchase online at https://www.officialbryantpta.com/online-store
Join PTA!
Get involved and make a difference. Join at www.joinpta.org
Connect with the Bryant PTA
Facebook: Robert & Felice Bryant PTA
Instagram: bes.pta
X (Twitter): Bryant Elementary PTA
GENERAL CAMPUS INFORMATION AND REMINDERS
Arrival & Dismissal Information
Click on the picture below to enlarge the map.
Map to Enter Car Rider Drive
Arrival & Dismissal Instructions & Procedures
***There should be NO cars turning onto Hidden Village Dr from Kingsland to enter the car line. ALL CAR RIDER VEHICLES NEED TO CIRCLE THE SCHOOL TO ENTER THE CAR RIDER DRIVE BY MAKING A LEFT TURN. NO RIGHT TURNS INTO THE DRIVE, PLEASE. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping our car rider line run safely and smoothly.***
(see map above for requested route)
**IMPORTANT: There are NO TURNS from any direction off of Kingsland on to Hidden Village Dr. to enter the car rider drive. ALL TRAFFIC must circle the school by turning on to Willowmoor Ln. (west side of school).
Hidden Village Dr. is specifically for our busses, Ivy Kids daycare drop off, & resident entrance. If you are attempting to use the strip center as a place to park for your student to walk over, please still circle the school the same as the car riders to make a right turn into the first driveway of the strip center near Ivy Kids. Please respect the parking of the businesses that are open at arrival & dismissal times.
Car Riders:
Arrival: The first 16 cars will line up at each numbered spot in front of the school. The remaining car riders will stage for arrival via double stack lanes in our car rider line and take turns by zippering in one car at a time from the left & right stack lanes. To help speed up the arrival, please have your student ready to get out of the car when you arrive to a numbered spot. Tardies will not start for any car that is in the car rider line prior to the drive entrance gate being closed at 8:10am. Anyone arriving after the gate has been closed at 8:10am must come park in the front of the school to walk in and sign their student in tardy with the Front Office.
**If the gate is closed and you must park to sign your student in, please understand the cars you may see dropping off in the car rider line arrived BEFORE the gate was closed.**
Dismissal: All Car riders will use Willowmoor Dr. to the west and circle the school to make a LEFT turn ONLY into the Car rider drive. Car riders stage for dismissal via double stack lanes in our car rider lane which wraps behind the school. Staff members will be entering your dismissal number and color into a Google Doc which is shared inside the school. It is imperative that once you have entered the left or right lane, you cannot change lanes. This causes great challenges because staff members are staging students inside using the order recorded in the Google Doc. If you are picking up your child as a car rider, please use the HANGING TAGS provided for you. If families are carpooling, a great idea is to use a hanger with clips to show more than one dismissal number on your rear-view mirror. Please hang the tag(s) from the rear view mirror, not in the corner of the window. If you do not have the physical number for the child or children you are picking up, you will not be able to pick up a child from the car rider line.
When instructed to line up at the front of the school, please pull as far forward to the nearest cone as possible. For everyone's safety, DO NOT exit the car line by pulling out from the cones into the left lane. The left lane is exclusively for our students in Special Programs.
Daycare Riders:
On our transportation survey above, you can tell us your child’s teacher and the name of their daycare bus. Daycare busses pick up on the East side of the school nearest the cafeteria doors.
Walkers/Bike Riders: (Students that walk/bike from/to HOME)
Arrival: All walker/bikers will enter the campus through the doors closest to the bike racks via the path that runs between the main drive and the staff parking lot. (See map) At no time should any student be crossing the car rider line directly in front of the main doors of the school.
Walker/bikers are considered students that are traveling to school FROM their home. All others should be car riders utilizing the car rider drive. Please DO NOT drop your student off by stopping on Kingsland and letting them out on the sidewalk to walk to school. This is not a safe option.
If being dropped off at the shopping center across Hidden Village to the east, vehicles MUST follow the instructions for car riders to circle the school and come up Hidden Village Dr. to make a RIGHT turn into the first driveway near the daycare. Please refrain from turning in to or exiting out of the shopping center drive closest to Kingsland as this causes large traffic backups and delays our busses. **There will be NO TURNS on to Hidden Village Dr. from Kingsland.** We appreciate your assistance with this to help our busses stay on time.
Dismissal: Students in PK-1st will be released to an adult only. If you have a PK-1st grader that you would like to walk home with an older sibling, please see the directions in the manila envelope provided during Meet the Teacher. The older sibling will not need a dismissal number to pick up their younger sibling. Parents MUST have the physical dismissal number in your hand in order to pick up your PK-1st grade child from school. If you do not have the number in your hand you will be asked by a staff member to go to the front office to show your ID. If you have a student in grades 2-5, once you have collected your PK-1st student, please proceed to the parent waiting area at the east end of the biker path on Kingsland. You may then walk WITH your student in their assigned/teacher led group until released by the teacher at the crossing guards on Willowmoor. No student should be pulled from their assigned group for safety reasons.
Students in 2nd-5th will leave campus on their own in a teacher led grade level group. Parents may not wait in the area of the walker door near the bike racks for 2nd-5th students. Students MUST remain with the group until released by a teacher at the crossing guards stationed at the intersection West of the school. Parents of westbound students may meet their students on the west side of Willowmoor or at the trees just to the east of the bike rack sidewalk on Kingsland. Eastbound students will be released at the sidewalk edge on Kingsland. If you must meet your westbound child prior to the Willowmoor release, please wait on the sidewalk on Kingsland and you may walk WITH your student in their assigned grade level group until they are released by the teacher at the crosswalk at Willowmoor & Kingsland. No student should be pulled from their assigned group for safety reasons.
Bus Riders:
Click here to check current bus routes.
Katy ISD has the SMART tags for all bus riders. SMART tag™ is a system designed to increase the safety and security of students who use school bus transportation.
A secure on-board tablet on each school bus:
- Records when and where students get on and off their bus
- Provides bus arrival notifications for school administrators and parents
Our student ID cards are safe and secure. We use PVC cards with a passive RFID chip containing only a unique identification (UID) number. The UID in the chip is read by our card reader, and our system uses it to reference student information. The latest cloud technology, encryption, and security protocols ensure your child’s information is secure.
This school year, the SMART Tag web-based Parent Portal will be replaced by the SMART Tag app, which will send push notifications to registered mobile devices and tablets, providing parents with instant updates about delays, route alterations, or emergencies.
The SMART Tag app will provide families with real-time information compared to the web portal because the information will come directly from the app instead of through parents’ mobile carrier.
The SMART Tag app will provide Katy ISD families with a faster, more reliable mechanism for tracking students’ bus ridership, and will allow parents to customize the notifications they receive.
Every Katy ISD bus is equipped with a tablet that reads the ID cards of student riders when they board and exit a bus. The system also helps drivers to verify the identity and bus route of each rider.
Parents who already have a SMART Tag account will be able to use the same log-in information on the app.
Katy ISD Transportation is available to elementary students residing greater than a ½-mile radius and secondary students residing greater than a 1-mile radius from the patron’s property line to the nearest school property line.
Parents may download the app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Please click HERE to read more about the SMART tag™ system
Attendance Information
A parent/guardian of a school-age child has the responsibility to require that his/her child attend school regularly. When sickness or another reason necessitates an absence, a note signed by the parent/guardian or day-of online absence reporting is required prior to or when the student returns to school. If a student fails to submit a note from the parent or the school does not receive a day-of online absence report, the absence will automatically be considered unexcused.
Please report student full day absences by 12pm on the day of using the online link by clicking HERE.
· Full day absences must be reported for the current day via the absence reporting form under the Absence Reporting section on the Bryant Elementary website before 12pm. (https://www.katyisd.org/BES)
**Absences reported after 12:00PM will be entered the following day resulting in an attendance unexcused call out.
· If a prior day absence was not reported, contact the attendance clerk via email or phone.
· All doctor and parent notes must be received by the attendance office within 5 days of the absence. Notes can be dropped off, emailed, or faxed to 281-644-1965. After 5 days, notes will no longer be accepted.
You do not need to contact the attendance office to notify that your child will be late/checked out early due to a dr. appt or other business.
Attendance Errors
· Teachers are responsible for taking attendance for each day. Please contact the Attendance Office (same day) as the first point of contact regarding a student's presence/absence/tardiness in class, especially if you have received an automated call from the District. If a correction is to be made, the the attendance office will correct it.
· For healthcare appointments and teacher corrections, please allow at least 48 hours to update the system. Parents can access their student's attendance history on the Home Access Center to verify corrections.
· If your child was in another classroom or office, i.e. nurse, speech, counseling, etc., please give at least 48hrs for those changes to be made to your child’s attendance record.
You may contact our Attendance Clerk, Nikki Saenz, with any questions.
NicoleEApodaca@katyisd.org or 281-234-4406
Bell Schedule
Doors open: 7:48am - Students walk straight to class.
Tardy bell: 8:10am
Attendance bell: 9:35am
Dismissal bell: 3:20pm (12:25pm for Early Dismissal)
Late Arrivals
**NEW THIS YEAR** After 6 tardies in a grading period, students will be required to stay after school to make up their missed time.
Tardies will not be counted until the week beginning September 3rd to allow for the learning process of our arrival procedures by parents and students.
Early Check-Outs
Anyone checking out a child must be on the child's enrollment notification as a parent/guardian/emergency contact. In the event you need a person other than those on your emergency contact list to pick up your child, a note and/or notice from the parent/guardian is required prior to for the date of the check out. A valid and unexpired ID is required for check out. The latest time you may check out your student is 2:45pm. Anyone arriving after this time will not be able to check a student out. No exceptions.
REMINDER: Early checkout cutoff time is 2:45 PM (11:45 AM on early dismissal days). Please arrive before 2:45, bring a current government issued photo ID, and give at least 10 minutes for the sign out process. If someone other than a parent/guardian/emergency contact is to check out your child please read below for instructions.
Checking a Student Out Early
- Only a parent/legal guardian/emergency contact may check out a student. You must show your valid physical ID to enter the building and complete the sign out process. You MUST present a picture ID when checking out your student. The ID must be a non-expired, government issued ID. No pictures or copies will be accepted, no exceptions.
- Allow a minimum of 10 minutes to sign out a student to give enough time to pull the student from class and meet you in the office.
- Students may not be checked out after 2:45pm PM (11:45 AM on Early Dismissal Days)
- In order to have someone else check out a student, the parent/legal guardian must first email the Bryant Elementary email (bryantelementary@katyisd.org) in the morning with the following information:
- Copy of parent/legal guardian ID/DL
- Legal name of student and grade
- Legal name of person checking out student
- Reason for dismissal
- Expected check out time
**NEW** Emergency Contact Checkout Information
New this year is the ability of Emergency Contacts on your student's account to be able to check out your student without written authorization from a parent/guardian for each occurrence. The school will not contact the parent/guardian to verify authorization. Please ensure your emergency contacts are up-to-date and correct in your student's account when you submit your Annual Student Enrollment Update via the email sent out earlier from the district. If you need to make any changes after the Annual Student Enrollment Update is submitted, please email our Registrar Staci Dakus at StaciRDakus@katyisd.org from the parent/guardian email on file with Katy ISD with the changes. If adding/deleting a contact, please include full name and phone number of the emergency contact and whether you are adding or deleting. Please allow up to 5 school days for the change to take effect.
Changes in Transportation
Transportation must be either sent in with your student on the day of the change by printing and filling out this form, emailing bryantelementary@katyisd.org from a registered email on your student’s account, or by coming up to the vestibule of the school with your valid physical ID to verify guardianship before 1:45pm. If emailing, please be sure to include student’s name, grade, teacher, change of dismissal (include bus #, address, and stop location if changing to bus), and the date(s) of the change.
Item Drop Off for Students
You may bring items for your student up to the school until 9:45am for a guaranteed delivery to the classroom.
Any item dropped off after 9:45am (that is not medically necessary) will be taken to a grade specific basket in a passing area to be picked up as the students head to lunch or specials. Please note: the classroom is not notified of the item, the teachers will check the baskets as they pass.
**No guarantee the item/lunch will make it to the student on time if dropped off after 9:45am**
**Labels, pens, and tape are available in the front vestibule for you to place on the item being dropped off. Please place all labeled items in the grade level cubby of the shelf next to the front table in the vestibule.
Lunch Visitors
Parents and Guardians are encouraged to come eat lunch with their students. Each student may have a lunch visit one time per week. Only grandparents on the approved form linked below may visit without a guardian. All other visitors MUST be accompanied by a guardian. Due to space limitations, only 3 visitors per student will be allowed at a time. This includes non-school age siblings (under age 5 and not enrolled in Katy ISD). If too many visitors at one lunch period, strollers may be denied and/or visitors may be limited. Fridays are very busy days for visitors. If you can visit on a different day other than Friday, please do so. Review the cafeteria visitor procedures below. Violation of these procedures will result in loss of visitor privileges.
PARENTS: Please click here to list Grandparents who have your permission to visit your student.
***Form must be filled out from a guardian email listed on the student's account at the school***
Snack Time Information
Please click on the picture below for a larger image.
A+ Pay & Go App -- Birthday Marquee & Birthday Book Club
The Birthday Marquee is for your student's name to appear on the lighted front marquee for the week of your student's birthday from Sunday to Saturday. Please sign up at least 5 school days prior to the week of the birthday. Cost is $25.00
For Birthday Marquee, once you log in, click: Elementary > Elem A-H > Bryant Elementary > Campus Fundraiser
The Birthday Book Club is for your student's name to be added to the Book Club Calendar, a book plate with their name is placed on the inside cover of the book of their choosing and donated in the honor of his/her birthday, they will be recognized on the morning announcements, and they get to be the first to check the book out.
For Birthday Book Club, once you log in, click: Elementary > Elem A-H > Bryant Elementary > Library > Birthday Book Club
Child Find
Tracey Bashay - 1st & 5th
Abby Bankston- PK/Kinder & 3rd
Jana Knight - 2nd & 4th
Visit the Katy ISD Child Find Information Page for more information about Child Find.
District Information
2024-2025 Updates to Telecommunication Rules & Procedures
Please click the picture below for a printable image.
Physical/Hard Copy Government-Issued Identifications
As Katy ISD continues its review of safety practices and protocols, it's essential to stress the significance of physical/hard copy government-issued identifications for accessing campuses/facilities, student registration, and student pickup. The district is strictly enforcing this requirement and will no longer accept paper or digital copies of driver's licenses, visas, and passports at any of its campuses or facilities, for these purposes. Katy ISD greatly appreciates the community's cooperation with these safety procedures and the ongoing partnership to maintain safe and secure environments across campuses.
See below for examples of acceptable forms of IDs.
Dress for Sucess
"How-To Guide" for Parents on the Home Access Center (HAC)
Need to know how to view a report card, student grades, or other information? Check out the how to guides in the Home Access Center or click below.
Home Access Center (HAC) User Guide (English) Home Access Center (HAC) User Guide (Spanish)
How to View Progress Report/Report Card in HAC
To view your student’s IPR/ Report Card, login to MyKaty Cloud and select the Home Access (HAC) tile:
Select the “Grades” icon – IPR or Report Card Tab
Please be sure to type your full name in the space provided and click the acknowledge button to verify receipt of the report.
Volunteers & Raptor Registration
Annual volunteer registration launched July 1.
Katy ISD requires all volunteers serving on or off-campus during or after the instructional day to register with the district through its Raptor security system.
Katy ISD’s Raptor safety protocol will require volunteers to register (or re-register) annually thus creating a new volunteer profile each year. The district’s 2024-2025 school year volunteer registration process launched July 1. The link will be included in Katy ISD’s PowerSchool student enrollment plus readily available via campus eNews and on district and campus websites.
The District's Raptor Volunteer Initiative provides an additional layer of protection for our Katy ISD students, staff, volunteers, and visitors, prioritizing the safety and security of our entire Katy ISD family.
Once registered and approved, individual volunteers can submit and track hours via their volunteer profile for every Katy ISD campus at which they volunteer. The system also provides quick and easy submission of individual off-campus volunteer hours.The 2023-24 Volunteer Registration update will feature:
An expanded range of volunteer functions for athletics, fine arts, and CTE (Career and Technical Education).
Enhanced communication capabilities with volunteers, allowing for better district-to-volunteer messaging.
Raptor ensures quick and easy volunteer registration allowing individual volunteers to create and manage a personal volunteer profile. In addition, the Raptor Volunteer Initiative will:
- Provide an additional layer of protection for Katy ISD students, staff, volunteers, and campus visitors.
- Unite all district volunteers into one Katy ISD volunteer community.
- Measure and communicate the positive impact of Katy ISD volunteer organizations.
- Submit and track hours via their volunteer profile for every Katy ISD campus at which they volunteer.
- The system also provides quick and easy submission of individual off-campus volunteer hours.
Join our volunteer community and register today!