November 2026 Newsletter
Tipps Elementary School
Dear Families,
We hope this message finds you enjoying the cooler weather. As we embrace this beautiful season of change, we want to take a moment to express how thankful we are to partner with you and your student. Your support and engagement are extremely important as we work to provide your student with the best educational experience.
Important Announcements
Upcoming Events:
- Annual Curriculum Night - Tuesday, November 17th at 5:30 pm
- Fall Book Fair - November 13 - November 19, 2026
- Teacher Workday - Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Student Holiday)
- Thanksgiving Break - November 23 - November 27, 2026
Attendance Matters
- Student Attendance: We want to remind everyone that consistent attendance is crucial. Students who miss less than 90% of instructional days may face retention. They are allowed to miss up to 18 days for the entire school year. Please help us achieve our district goal of 95% attendance by ensuring your student(s) are in school every day.
Celebrations from October
- Hispanic Heritage Program: A big thank you to everyone who attended our Hispanic Heritage Program. I also want to thank all of our staff members who worked very hard to organize the event. We had a great turnout and learned a lot about different cultures/countries.
With Gratitude,
Felicia Thomas, Principal
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is a Student Holiday. School will resume for all students on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
(Tuesday, November 3rd is Election Day - Please consider voting if you have not already done so!)
Enjoy your day off!
Tipps Elementary invites you to consider becoming a volunteer at our campus. You decide when and how much time you can volunteer. There are many opportunities for you to help our school achieve excellence. Join us on Friday, November 6th at 9:00 am for our Parent Volunteer Meeting. Thank you for your consideration and support!
Volunteer Links:
Link #1: Room Parent Sign Up - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044CABA92CA20-65969316-tipps
Link #2: VIPS Parent Registration link ( Registracion de padres/tutores VIPS)
Link #3: VIPS Parent Volunteer training link (Entrenamiento para voluntarios del districto)
If you would like to be a volunteer, you need to create a Volunteer Portal Account and receive your account information and password from donotreply@raptortech.com (may take up to 5 business days).
We are grateful for the time and energy you are investing in supporting our campus! Achieving greatness is a collaborative effort, and we are excited for a strong partnership. All volunteers are expected to maintain confidentiality while working at school. All things that are seen and heard at Tipps about children and their families should be considered confidential information. Trust must be established and maintained for our Tipps program to continue on its path of success. Prior to volunteering at Tipps, we ask that all volunteers complete this agreement.
Our theme for 2026-2027 is: BEE Amazing, BEE Kind, BEE Smart, BEE You! Cost of a Spirit Shirt is $12.00 and can be paid in School Cash or at the front desk with a debit/credit card.
School Cash Link:
https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/
Students wear their Spirit Shirts on Fridays and on school sponsored field trips. Students in K, 1 and 2nd grades have scheduled field trips in the fall. Grades, 3, 4 and 5 go on their field trips after STAAR Testing in the spring.
Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and we are here to make your registration process as smooth and straight-forward as possible. Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is committed to providing a welcoming educational environment where every student can thrive. Whether you are a first-time parent registering a kindergartener or a family new to our district, our online registration system is designed to help you complete the enrollment process efficiently and with ease. We look forward to partnering with you in your child's educational journey.
New Student Registration for 2026-2027 is OPEN.
- New students (grades K-12)
- Qualified Pre-K - Qualify with either Language or Income
- Tuition-based Pre-K - CFISD Community or Out of District Families
Link to Enroll for 2026-2027 - Enroll Now
Inscripción de estudiantes nuevos - inscripcion-estudiantes
To learn more about our Pre-K & Kindergarten programs, visit our Pre-K Program options and Kindergarten Program pages.
Immunization Reminder for Parents
To ensure a smooth start to the new school year, all students must be up to date on required immunizations before attending classes. Students who do not have current immunization records on file will not be permitted to begin the school year until all requirements are met.
Please review your child’s immunization records and submit any updated documentation to the school clinic as soon as possible. We encourage families to schedule appointments early to avoid delays. Students with a conscientious exemption for immunizations must also have a current state exemption form on file in the clinic. Expired exemption forms will not be accepted.
MEDICATION Policy: Students cannot transport medications to and from school per District Policy. All medication must be brought in the original container to the clinic by a parent or adult. Parents must fill out a permission form to administer medication in the clinic. Any prescription medication requires a doctor’s signature as well. Medication must have a current expiration date. Over-the counter medication should be unopened. Prescription medication (including inhalers) must contain the proper pharmacy label with the student’s name. Pharmacies will give an extra bottle of medication for school use if requested. Antibiotics and similar medications ordered 1-3 times daily can usually be given at home. Medications given 4 times a day can be given at lunch if original container is received in the clinic and a parent permission form is filled out.
Please contact the clinic with any questions at 281-345-3354. Nurse Keating and her clinic assistant are ready to assist you with any concerns or questions regarding clinic policies.
Hi, we are Ms. Herndon and Ms. Perez your Tipps Elementary School counselors. We work with Tipps students individually, in small groups, and/or in their classrooms.
Our job is to support your child through social and emotional wellness so they can be successful academically and socially.
Ms. Herndon works with Life Skills, and 1st, 3rd and 5th grades.
Ms. Perez works with PK, Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades.
If you would like to contact us with any questions or concerns, please email us at:
ursula.herndon@cfisd.net or jessica.perez@cfisd.net. You may also reach us by contacting the front office at 281-345-3350.
A new Texas Law (House Bill 1481) requires school districts to prohibit student use of all personal communication devices during the school day. Therefore, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is updating its personal communication device policy.
During the school year, the use of all personal communication devices is prohibited during the school day. Devices must be turned off and stored in the student's personal bag or backpack at all times during the school day.
The new law defines the term "personal communication device" to include:
- Cell phones and two-way radios
- Smart Watches, smart Glasses, and smart Rings
- Non-CFISD tablets, iPads, personal computers/laptops
- Any gaming device with messaging and internet capacity
- Headphones, earbuds, and any other Bluetooth audio device
- Any personal communication device not issued by CFISD
If there is a personal or medical emergency, your child may request to call you from the front office or the nurse’s office.
CFISD is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices, including those that are confiscated. Students and families are encouraged to leave valuables at home or use devices responsibly.
Parents can help as follows:
- Talk to your student about this new law.
- Remind your student to keep phones off and stored during the school day.
- Ensure your contact information is up to date in eSchool.
- Contact your campus administration with questions.
Please note that our school hours are: 8:15 am to 3:35 pm
Doors open for all students at 7:55 am. Students are tardy after 8:15 am. Dismissal begins promptly at 3:35 pm. If you are late picking up your student(s); you will need to park in the front parking area and enter at Door #1 to the front office to sign out your student(s). Thank you!
Afternoon Dismissal begins promptly at 3:35 pm. Parents with students who are car riders should be lined up in front of the school with their car rider number displayed no later than 3:50 pm. If you forgot your tag with assigned number, you will need to park and come to the front office to pick up your student. Now that our procedures are in place and students are familiar with the process; the car rider line pickup is complete by 4:00 pm. If you arrive after this time, you will need to come to the front office to sign your student out.
Students who are bus riders, day care or walkers will go to their designated dismissal locations.
Any transportation changes need to be submitted in writing. We are unable to make any changes after 2:30 pm. No changes over the phone or by email.
Parent Lunch Visits are on Fridays only. If you would like to eat lunch with your student, you must register on the Sign Up Genius Link. There is a limit on the number of visitors for each grade level lunch. If the spots are filled on the day you request to visit, you will need to look ahead to the next available date. Questions can be directed to the front desk at: 281-345-3350.
If you would like to have lunch with your student, please click on the signup genius link.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49A5AB2FA6FBC43-52562227-lunch#/
QR Code to Register to Participate in Fundraiser
Permission Slip Reminder
Be sure to turn in your signed permission slip.
QR Code to Pay for Products
Field Trips for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades will take place in May, 2027. If you would like to order a spirit shirt for your student or if approved adult chaperones would like a shirt, please pre-order now to ensure you receive a shirt.
Permission Slips will be sent home with each student. Please complete and return at your earliest convenience. All students must have a completed permission slip in order to go on the field trip.
Students are encouraged to wear their Tipps Spirit Shirt on the field trip. If your student does not have a spirit shirt, they can wear a black/gold color shirt on the field trip.
School Cash Link: https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/
New Field Trip policies are in effect this year, and the only adults who can attend the field trip are Homeroom Parent/Room Parent. NO Siblings (No exceptions) are allowed on school field trips.
If you are interested in serving as a Parent Volunteer; you will need to complete the Volunteer training. You can get additional information by sending an email to: nancy.delgado@cfisd.net
Note that there is a limit on parent volunteers per homeroom class and it is first come - first serve.
Parent Chaperones/Volunteers are tasked with assisting with supervision of students while on the field trip. Teachers will work with parent chaperones so that our students remain safe on the field trip. Field Trips are considered "School Events" and as such, families are not able to participate in these trips. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Celebrate your child's birthday on our Digital Marquee. Ads are $10.00 each and include the transaction fee. All ads can be purchased in the School Cash Online Payment System (No cash sales for birthday ads). Please allow at least 1 week lead time from purchase date to insure that your ad is loaded to the marquee. Ads will run for 1 week.
School Cash Link: https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/
We have a sticker machine and it has just been stocked with new stickers. All stickers are 75 cents.
There are 3 golden tickets and if your student receives a golden ticket, they will receive a special sticker bundle. (Bring to front office to redeem for your prize)
CONGRATULATIONS to 3rd grade Student Santiago on getting a golden ticket and receiving a prize pack of stickers.
Proceeds from the sticker machine go to our PBIS student program.
Please write your child's name on all jackets, coats, hoodies, lunch kits and water bottles. This will help us return the item to your student. All unclaimed items will be donated on December 18th.