Bullpup Bulletin

Bullpup Families,

October has certainly brought some unexpected challenges, but one thing remains constant...the strength and resilience of our Bullpup family! As we welcome our students and staff back to school following the recent hurricane, I want to begin by expressing my sincere hope that each of our families is safe and doing well. We recognize that the storm may have impacted families in different ways, and our thoughts continue to be with those who may still be navigating challenges as a result.

It has been wonderful having our Bullpups back on campus and seeing our classrooms come alive again! As we settle back into our routines, our priority is to provide a sense of normalcy, consistency, and support while continuing the important work of teaching and learning. We know that returning to familiar routines and reconnecting with teachers and friends can make a meaningful difference for our students.

As we move forward, we remain laser focused on student learning, growth, and success. October brings exciting opportunities for our students and families, including Red Ribbon Week and our upcoming Fall Carnival. We look forward to celebrating these special moments together while continuing to make every instructional day count.

Please know that if your family is experiencing challenges or needs additional support following the storm, we encourage you to reach out to our school. We are here to help in any way we can.

Wishing our Bullpup families a safe, positive, and productive remainder of October!

💚 Ms. Seegars

Kindergarten Corner:

Kindergarten is off to a wonderful start! Our students are learning what it means to be a member of our school community while building important academic and social skills each day.

We are practicing learning routines and classroom procedures, including how to transition between activities, take care of our materials, listen attentively, and follow directions. Students are also learning how to follow school rules, make safe choices, and show kindness and respect to others.

Building friendships is an important part of kindergarten! We are learning how to work and play with our friends, take turns, share, solve problems, use kind words, and work together as a team.

We are learning about letters and their sounds, practicing how to recognize and write letters, and working with high-frequency words. We are also developing our listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through stories, songs, and classroom activities. We are working with numbers, counting, sorting, and so much more.

And that is just the beginning! Kindergarten is filled with opportunities to explore, create, question, discover, and grow. We are so proud of the progress our young learners are making and look forward to all the exciting learning ahead!

Kindergarten Parents, with the weather turning cooler soon, we will be spending more time outdoors at PE and recess. This is a great time to have your Kindergartener practice putting jackets on by him/herself, including turning the sleeves right-side out first and zipping or buttoning.

Sincerely,

Ms. Holley

Kindergarten Grade Level Chair

📣 Early Release Reminder, Bullpup Families!

Due to CHS Homecoming, Bob Sikes Elementary will dismiss at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, October 16.

The CHS Homecoming parade begins at 3:00 p.m. We hope everyone enjoys the celebration! 💚🐾

🐾❤️ Bullpups Make Healthy Choices! ❤️🐾

Bob Sikes Elementary will celebrate Red Ribbon Week, October 26–30!

Red Ribbon Week encourages children to make healthy choices and live drug-free. At the elementary level, we focus on caring for our bodies, making safe decisions, and asking trusted adults for help. Our spirit days bring these messages to life in a fun way!

🔴 Monday, October 26: “RED-y to Make Healthy Choices!” — Wear red.

🏈 Tuesday, October 27: “Team Up for a Drug-Free Future!” — Wear your favorite team jersey or school spirit shirt.

🧦 Wednesday, October 28: “Sock It to Unhealthy Choices!” — Wear colorful, silly, or mismatched socks.

🌟 Thursday, October 29: “Our Future Is Bright!” — Wear bright colors or neon.

📚 Friday, October 30: “Good Character, Great Choices!” — Dress as your favorite storybook character! Bring the book or a picture of its cover, if available.

For Storybook Character Day, choose a school-appropriate costume that allows comfortable participation in learning, recess, and PE. Please leave costume masks, toy weapons, and scary or gory accessories at home. Simple, homemade costumes are welcome!

Families, take a few minutes this week to talk with your child about healthy habits and safe choices. Thank you for helping our Bullpups build bright futures!

💚 We are laser focused on healthy choices!

📣 We’re Looking for New SAC Members!

Bob Sikes Elementary is seeking families, staff, and community members to join our School Advisory Council (SAC). This is a great opportunity to share your ideas, learn about school initiatives, and help support decisions that promote student success.

Join us for our next meeting:

📅 Tuesday, November 17

⏰ 3:00 p.m.

📍 Media Center

SAC is a great opportunity to share ideas, learn about school initiatives, and help guide decisions that support student success. Your voice and participation matter - we hope to see you there!

Calling all Bullpup families!

We’d love for you to join us for our Bob Sikes Elementary PTO Meetings!

Second Wednesday of each month at 2:45 PM in the Media Center (Unless there's a holiday).

PTO is a great way to get involved, stay connected, and help make this school year extra special for our students and staff!

Our next meeting is November 18th - We hope to see you there!

• Monday, October 5 - Fundraiser Winners - Pizza Bash in the MPR (Daycare) at 1:00pm
• October 15 - 16 - Health Screenings (Kindergarten, 1st grade and 3rd grade students - POC Nurse Freeman

• Friday, October 16 - End of the 1st Nine Weeks Grading Period
• Friday, October 16 - CHS Homecoming Parade - BSE will Release Early at 1:15pm
• Wednesday, October 21 - Fundraiser Winners - Popsicle Party at 1:00pm (Make-Up Date)
• Friday, October 23 - KG Field Trip
• Friday, October 23 - Report Cards Available to Families in FOCUS
• October 26 - October 30 - Red Ribbon Spirit Week (See Flyer for Details)
• Tuesday, October 27 - Fall Picture Make-Ups
• Tuesday, October 27 - SAC Agenda Meeting at 3:00pm
• Wednesday, October 28 - Patriotic Pups Meeting in the Gym @ 7:15am
• Friday, October 30 - PTO Fall Carnival 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Looking Ahead - November Important Dates:

• Tuesday, November 3 - Intramural Cross Country Contest (North End) - 4th/5th Grade Competing Selected Students
• Wednesday, November 4 - Coffee with the Counselors (Parent Event) from 9:00am-10:00am
• Tuesday, November 10 - Veteran's Day Celebration
• Wednesday, November 11 - No School - Veterans Day Holiday
• Friday, November 13 - World Kindness Day
• Friday, November 13 - 1st Grade Field Trip
• Tuesday, November 17 - SAC Meeting in the Media Center at 3:00pm
• Wednesday, November 18 - Patriotic Pups Meeting in the Gym @ 7:15am
• Wednesday, November 18 - PTO Meeting in the Media Center at 2:45pm
• Thursday, November 19 - PTO Holiday Court Crowning
• Friday, November 20 - Career Day Schoolwide Event
• November 23 - November 27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, November 30 - 4th Grade Field Trip

School Recognition Days for October: ** District Wide Observation

• • National Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15**
  • Principal Appreciation Month - October 2026**
  • Bullying Prevention Month - October 2026
  • Dyslexia Awareness Month - October 2026
  • Fire Prevention Month - October 2026
  • Manufacturing Day - October 2**
  • School Custodian Appreciation Day - October 2**
  • Disability History and Awareness Weeks - October 5-16**
  • Fire Prevention Week - October 5-9
  • World Teachers Day - October 5
  • Coaches Day (Academic and Instructional) - October 6
  • World Mental Health Day - October 10
  • School Lunch Week - October 12-16
  • Boss's Day - October 16
  • School Bus Safety Week - October 19 -23**
  • Red Ribbon Week - October 23-31
  • World Occupational Therapy Appreciation Day - October 27

🍂🎃 Join us for the Bob Sikes Elementary PTO Fall Carnival! 🎃🍂

📅 Friday, October 30

⏰ 5:00–7:30 p.m.

📍 Bob Sikes Elementary School

Bring the family for an evening of food, games, and tons of FUN! Don’t miss your chance to dunk some of our faculty and staff in the dunking booth! 💦

🎟️ Save on wristbands!

Preorder for $25 by Thursday, October 22, at 8:00 a.m. Return the preorder form to your child’s teacher with exact cash or a check. Wristbands will be $30 at the gate, cash only.

Wristbands include unlimited play at booths that accept tickets! Cake walk prizes are limited to one cake per wristband.

Tickets will also be available for 50¢ each or 50 for $20. Bring cash for tickets, concessions, and event-night wristbands. Food is purchased separately.

💚 We can’t wait to see our Bullpup families there!

Bullpup Families, we are still missing several Federal Impact Aid (FIC) Cards. These cards were due on September 30, but we still need your help!

If you have not returned your child's FIC card, please complete it and send it to school tomorrow, Friday, October 16!

These cards are important because they help secure funding that supports our students and schools.

Thank you for taking care of this important matter and for your continued support of Bob Sikes Elementary! 💚🐾

Original Message: FIC Cards – Very Important: The Federal Impact Aid Program provides funding to schools impacted by federal property and federally connected children. These dollars are vital to support teachers, programs, and resources at Bob Sikes. Each year, eligibility is determined through the Federal Impact Aid Survey Form, also known as the FIC card. Please take a minute to complete and return your card to your child's homeroom teacher by Wednesday, September 30th. Every card turned in directly supports our students and school funding.

Bullpup parents and caregivers, you're invited to our next Coffee with the Counselors on Wednesday, November 4th, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. at Bob Sikes Elementary!

This special session is designed just for parents and caregivers! More information about our upcoming topic will be shared soon.

💡 We want to hear from YOU! Our counselors want to focus on topics that matter most to our families. If you have suggestions or ideas for future sessions, please reach out to Mrs. Megan Hanley, our Mental Health Counselor, or Dr. Crystal Blake-Griffin, our School Counselor.

All ideas are welcome! Your input will help us provide meaningful information, resources, and support for our Bullpup families.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Dr. Blake-Griffin and Mrs. Hanley

At Bob Sikes, our schoolwide expectations guide how we learn, interact, and treat one another.

P - Practice Safety

A - Act Responsibly

W - Work Hard

S - Show Respect

As the excitement of a new school year transitions into daily routines, we encourage families to continue reinforcing these expectations at home.

💡 Family Challenge: Ask your child to share one way they demonstrated PAWS at school this week!

Strong communication between home and school helps ensure our Bullpups receive the support they need.

We encourage families to:

• Stay connected with your child's teacher and monitor academic progress.
• Review school communications and upcoming event reminders.
• Check the FOCUS Parent Portal for important student information.
• Participate in school events, PTO opportunities, and School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings.
• Reach out whenever you have questions or concerns.

Your partnership matters, and we appreciate everything you do to support our school!