The Booker Bulletin

Jan 26 - Weather Winter Snow Day

Jan. 27 - Back to School - Wear your warm ups!

Jan 29 - Return Saturday School Tutorial Permission Slips

Jan 31 - Saturday School - 3rd-5th graders - Must have permission slip returned by Thurs. Jan.29th

Feb 2 - 6 - DISTRICT STAAR BENCHMARKS & STATE FIELD TESTS

Feb 12 - Tentative Parent Game Night - Performance Playoffs

Feb 9 - 13 - Career Week

Feb 16 - Student Holiday

Feb 17 & 18 - Intervention Days - Select Students

Feb 19 - Parent/Teacher Conference - Confirm your scheduled appointment w/your child's teacher!

Feb 16 - 20 - Mid Winter Break

Feb 16 - Mar 27 - TELPAS testing window

Mar 23- April 17 - STAAR ALT testing window

April 13 - 24 - STAAR Testing window

Dear Booker Families, Staff, and Scholars,

As we prepare for next week’s benchmark assessments, we are excited to show our district that Booker Elementary is truly diving deep into learning, strengthening mastery, and aligning our daily instruction to ensure every scholar is successful. These upcoming benchmarks are important. They help us gauge how well our scholars are progressing, how effective our instruction and interventions are, and how we adjust instruction, acceleration, and enrichment to meet student needs. Simply put—this data helps us get better, faster, for our students.

How Families Can Support Scholar Success

Your partnership is critical, and we ask for your continued support in the following ways:

1. Be on time and attend school every day

• Scholars may arrive as early as 7:35 a.m.

• Instruction begins promptly at 8:05 a.m.

• Any arrival after 8:05 a.m. is considered late and disrupts learning—not only for your child, but for the entire classroom.

2. Limit early pickups
When scholars are checked out early, they miss:

• Core instruction

• Intervention support

• Acceleration and enrichment blocks

These instructional components are essential to academic growth and directly impact student performance on benchmarks and state assessments.

3. Reinforce focus and achievement goals at home

We ask families to talk with scholars about being laser focused, engaged, and purposeful during the school day. Sitting in classrooms simply to socialize does not prepare scholars for success. Every instructional minute matters—especially as we approach assessments that guide our instructional decisions.

Looking Ahead

These benchmarks will help us determine how we intervene, accelerate, and align our daily practices moving forward. Our staff is committed, prepared, and united in ensuring scholars are receiving high-quality instruction every day.

Families, we need your help to protect instructional time and reinforce the importance of attendance, punctuality, and focus. When we work together, our scholars thrive.

Thank you for your continued partnership and belief in Booker scholars. Together, we will continue to Get Booker Better Faster.

With pride and purpose,
Keisha Womack
Principal, Booker Elementary

STATE LAW - HELP US HELP YOUR CHILD WHILE AT SCHOOL!

In accordance with Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), parents now must opt in to allowing their child to be seen in the school clinic during the school day.

Please note that if you do not choose to opt in:

• Your child may only be seen in the clinic for emergency situations.

• Regular or non-emergency visits to the nurse (such as headaches, stomachaches, minor scrapes, or other routine concerns) will not be allowed.

• You will be contacted to pick up your child for non-emergency situations.

• screenings like eyesight, hearing, and scoliosis can not be performed.

We urge you to carefully consider this decision, as opting out significantly limits our ability to support your child’s health needs during the school day.

Thanks,

Nurse Hughes

https://mhahouston.org/mental-health-resources/

Houston offers extensive mental health resources, from immediate crisis support via 988 or the Crisis Text Line (HOME to 741741) to ongoing care through organizations like The Harris Center, MHA Greater Houston, and specialized services for LGBTQ+ individuals (Montrose Center) and veterans (Combined Arms). Key providers include the Harris Center (county-wide), MHA Houston (advocacy & resources), and UT Health's Psychiatric Center for advanced care, with 2-1-1 available for referrals.

Crisis & Immediate Support

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for immediate help.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.
• 2-1-1 Texas: Call or text 2-1-1 for local referrals to health and human services.
• Harris County Psychiatric Center: For emergency psychiatric care.

Key Organizations & Centers

• The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD: Comprehensive behavioral health services for Harris County residents.
• Mental Health America (MHA) of Greater Houston: Offers resources, support groups, and information for youth, adults, and families.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater Houston: Provides free education, support, and advocacy.
• The Montrose Center: Specializes in mental health and HIV/AIDS services for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Combined Arms: Connects veterans and their families to resources, including mental health.

Specialized & Other Services

• DePelchin Children's Center: Mental health services for children and families.
• Legacy Community Health Services & Avenue 360: Offer integrated health and mental health care.
• Memorial Hermann Counseling Center: Reduced-fee counseling.
• UT Health Houston: Offers psychiatric services, including inpatient care.

How to Find More Resources

• The Harris Center: For county-specific services.
• MHA Houston: For a broad resource guide.
• re:MIND: For support groups and community links.
• HHS Find a Provider: For local mental health authorities in Texas.

Who Takes What (STAAR)

• Grades 3-8: All students take STAAR in Math, Reading, 5th Grade Science, and 8th Grade Social Studies, depending on the grade.
• Grades 3-8 Special Education: All students in CASE take STAAR ALT Math, Reading and 5th only take Science.
• High School (EOCs): Students take assessments for specific courses (Algebra I, English I/II, Biology, U.S. History) as they complete them.
• Special Populations: Decisions for students with 504 or Special Ed needs are made by their ARD/504 committees; Emergent Bilingual (EB) students by their LPAC.

General Testing Windows (Examples from 2025-2026 Calendar)

• December: STAAR EOC (End-of-Course).
• April: STAAR Grades 3-8 (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies).
• June: STAAR EOC Make-up.

Key Calendar Resources

• Official Calendar: Find detailed dates, including make-up windows and reporting deadlines, on the TEA Student Assessment Testing Calendar page.
• Important Dates Page: Texas Assessment website calendar.

Important Notes

• District Scheduling: Districts set the specific days within the TEA-provided windows.
• Optional Tests: STAAR Interims (for practice) and the Through-Year Assessment Pilot (TTAP) are optional for districts. STAAR Field Tests to collect data to improve future assessments.

Booker Families, Staff, and Scholars,

As we move deeper into a critical phase of learning, I want to take a moment to celebrate our progress while clearly outlining what is ahead—and how essential your partnership is during this time. Right now, if Booker were to take STAAR, our performance places us at a “C” rating. That is growth worth celebrating, and we are incredibly proud of our scholars and staff for the strong work demonstrated last semester. But, every instructional day matters, and momentum is key as we push forward together.

Families, please take time to ask your child:

• Did you meet your MOY goal?

• What are you doing right now to meet your STAAR and EOY goals in Reading, Math, and Science?

The countdown continues:

• 51 days until STAAR

• 19 school days until TELPAS for our ESL and Bilingual scholars

We are excited to share that tutorials officially begin this week, providing targeted support and enrichment for our scholars. In addition, we encourage families of our 3rd–5th grade scholars to join us for Curriculum Night THIS WEEK. This is an important opportunity to learn more about grade-level expectations, STAAR readiness, and how you can support your child at home.

Please also mark your calendars for the following upcoming dates:

• January 23rd - Curriculum Night

• February 17–18: Campus Intervention Days

• February 19: Parent Conferences

These opportunities are designed to ensure no scholar falls through the cracks. Do not wait to see where your child is academically. Partner with us now. Please confirm your parent conference appointment as soon as possible so we can work together to support your child’s success.

While tutorials were delayed earlier this semester, our confidence and focus have not changed. Our instructional plans, targeted interventions, and daily execution remain strong. Booker is geared up, focused, and ready to deliver results.

This work is about more than testing—it is about growth, consistency, and changing outcomes for students. Through intentional instruction, strategic support, and shared accountability, we remain committed to moving Booker from a Forced F to a C or better. And while a C reflects progress, we all know the goal—a “B” is for Booker.

Thank you to our teachers for your relentless commitment, to our scholars for rising to the challenge, and to our families for standing shoulder to shoulder with us in this journey. Together, we will continue to Get Booker Better Faster.

• At Spring ISD, we know it takes a village!

• Parents, join us as partners in your child’s education and make a difference by volunteering at our schools. Together, we can help every student succeed!

• En Spring ISD, sabemos que se necesita un equipo. Padres, únanse a nosotros como aliados en la educación de sus hijos y marquen la diferencia como voluntarios en nuestras escuelas. ¡Juntos podemos ayudar a todos los estudiantes a alcanzar el éxito!

At Spring ISD, student safety is our top priority. EVERY student must have their ID badge to ride the bus. Our Badge Up for Safety policy keeps riders safe and allows parents to track rides in real time through the Smart Tag app. Learn more:https://www.springisd.org/smarttag

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

FRONT OFFICE VISITS

DOORBELL PROCEDURES & POLICY

VISITOR EXPECTATIONS & INTERACTIONS

THE IMPORTANCE OF UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION

Booker Families,

We love celebrating our Bengals! To ensure we honor birthdays while protecting valuable instructional time, please remember the following:

✅ Birthday celebrations are limited to 15 minutes
✅ Cupcakes and boxed juice only
❌ No pizza or full meals please
✅ Cupcakes must be store-bought, sealed, and labeled
✅ Please drop items off before 12:00 PM or send with your child (car riders may bring treats in the morning)

With classes of up to 24 students, we must keep celebrations brief so our students can continue learning and thriving. Our goal is to make birthdays special without interrupting instruction — thank you for partnering with us!

We appreciate your support and understanding as we keep our Bengals focused, learning, and growing! 🐾💙

Students are not allowed to have any electronic devices or cellphones on or out during the instructional day. Any student violating this policy will be assigned a consequence.

The mySpringISD portal provides an easy platform for staff and families, where they can access all of their digital resources, including Schoology and the Home Access Center. The single sign-on option gives parents, students and staff instant access to all their online resources from any device and any location.

To get started, log on to my.springisd.org, and sign in by using your parent Spring ISD network login username and password.

If you need login access or assistance, please call our registrar, Ms. Velasquez, at 281-891-8756.

We would love to have you! Please complete both forms to volunteer at Booker Elementary! It is important to do both forms. One is tailored just for us and specifies what you'd like to do as a volunteer and the other application is a district mandate for all Volunteers in Schools.

Booker Volunteer Interest Form

Spring ISD Volunteer Website

Spring ISD VIP Volunteer application:

PRESS 1 - REGISTRAR - Ms. Velasquez - dvelas1@springisd.org

PRESS 2 - ATTENDANCE CLERK - Ms. Yulissa Camacho ycamacho@springisd.org

PRESS 0 - RECEPTIONISTS - Ms. Enciso/Ms. Martinez

PRESS 3 - Counselor - Mrs. Ashleigh Foley - afoley@springisd.org - 281-891-8755

PRESS 4 - School Nurse - Ms. Shereka Kossie - skossie@springisd.org - 281-891-8757

FAX NUMBER: DIAL 281-891-8751

Website: https://booker.springisd.org/

Location: 22352 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 281-891-8750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booker.bengals.3
Twitter: @BookerBengals

Ready to give some flowers to your amazing staff? Teams, parents and students,

Nominate outstanding employees for the Board of Trustees Employee Excellence Award, which recognizes those who go above and beyond for students and our Spring ISD community. To nominate, click here

NEW: Free Adult Computer Classes

• Ready to build your computer skills?

• Spring ISD is offering Free adult computer classes for our families and community. Scan the QR code to register.

Jan. 26 – March 11

Mondays & Wednesdays | 5:45–7:15 p.m.

• ¿Listo para mejorar tus habilidades en computación? Spring ISD ofrece clases gratuitas de computación para adultos para nuestras familias y la comunidad. Escanea el código QR para registrarte.

Del 26 de enero al 11 de marzo
Lunes y miércoles | 5:45–7:15 p.m.

NEW: Free Adult Spanish Classes

• Learn Spanish. Build confidence. Connect. Attention families!
  Spring ISD is proud to offer free adult Spanish classes designed to strengthen language skills and support lifelong learning.

Classes are held at the Spring ISD Community Engagement Center ad run for seven weeks.

Jan. 27 – March 12, 2026 Scan the QR code to register today!

NEW: Free English Adult Classes (Clases de inglés gratis para adultos)

• Clases gratuitas de inglés para adultos ¡Atención, familias!
  Spring ISD ofrece clases gratuitas de inglés para adultos interesadas en mejorar sus habilidades de lenguaje y comunicación. Las clases se impartirán en el Centro Comunitario de Spring ISD durante siete semanas.
  Regístrese escaneando el código QR.

• Your 2022 Bond Money at Work: Stay informed about the latest Bond project updates at our campus! These improvements not only enhance learning spaces and resources for our students but also promote energy efficiency and long-term cost savings. Thank you for your continued support!

Click here for High-Priority Maintenance Projects at our campus.

Click here for General Bond Updates.

• Your 2022 Bond Money at Work: Thanks to the 2022 Bond, Booker has recevied bullet proof windows and transaction trays installed and upgrades to our camera and WiFi system. This will allow us better safety and security and technology to help serve our staff and scholars. Next up, will be our fencing around the school premises and our new marquee! Coming soon! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue enhancing our campus. #BondUpdates