The Booker Bulletin

Mar 12 - Family Curriculum Night 3rd -5th grade - 5:30 PM- 7pm

Mar 13 - Black History Gallery Expo

Mar 16 - 20 - Spring Break

Mar 24 - EASTER BUNNY PICTURE FORMS DUE

Mar 26 - EASTER BUNNY PICTURES (Free dress code for those taking a pic)

DISTRICT GT EXPO

Mar 27 - TELPAS testing window closes

Mar 23- April 17 - STAAR ALT testing window

March 28 - Saturday School for ALL - Come one Come all - LAST DAY TO PLAY!

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May 1st - Kinder Graduation Pics

April 1 - April 30 - PreK Round Up

April 3 - Good Friday - Student Holiday

April 17 - KINDERGARTEN CAP AND GOWN PURCHASE DEADLINE

April 10 - Saturday Super Success Day

April 13 - 24 - STAAR Testing window

Booker Bengals,

As we head into Spring Break, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible work happening across our campus. Our GT Expo and Black History Gallery Walk were truly outstanding! Our scholars showcased creativity, critical thinking, and pride in their learning, and it was wonderful to see families and staff celebrating the achievements of our students. Thank you to our teachers, students, and families who helped make these events so meaningful.

I also want to recognize the dedication of our students and staff who continue to show up for Saturday School and additional learning opportunities. Your commitment to growth and academic excellence demonstrates what it truly means to be a Booker Believer. Bengal Pride is strong, and the hard work our scholars are putting in now will pay off as we approach the final stretch of the school year.

This is an important time to recharge so our scholars return ready to finish strong. When we return, we will begin our 15-Day Countdown to STAAR and our 25-Day Countdown to End-of-Year (EOY) assessments.

While we want students to rest and enjoy time with family, we also encourage light learning throughout the week to keep their minds sharp. Here are a few ways students can stay engaged while minimizing excessive tablet or screen time:

Suggested Learning Activities During Spring Break

• Amira Reading (Grades 3–5) – Continue building fluency and comprehension.

• Sirius STAAR Practice (Grades 3–5) – Targeted reading and math STAAR-aligned practice.

• i-Ready Math (Grades K–5) – Reading and math practice to strengthen key skills.

• Writable (Grades K–5, STAAR Practice 3-5) – Writing practice to build strong responses and critical thinking.

• Amplify Boost (Reading intervention lessons) K-5

• Summit K12 Science - 5th graders

In addition to digital resources, encourage students to:

• Read a book for at least 20 minutes each day

• Practice math facts or problem solving

• Write a short journal entry about their day

• Spend time outside being active and creative

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Have a wonderful Spring Break, Booker Bengals. We look forward to seeing everyone back rested, recharged, and ready to finish the year strong!

With Bengal Pride,
Dr. Keisha Womack
Principal, Booker Elementary
Striving for Excellence – Getting Booker Better, Faster! 🐾

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.

• Spring Break is almost here!

• From March 16–20, Spring ISD students and staff will take a well-deserved break. It’s a great time to slow down, spend time with family and friends, and recharge before the final stretch of the school year. Whether you’re traveling, exploring the Houston area, or just enjoying some extra time at home, we hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and fun Spring Break. We’ll see you back soon, ready to finish the year strong.

• Del 16 al 20 de marzo, los estudiantes y empleados de Spring ISD disfrutarán de un descanso bien merecido. Es un buen momento para bajar el ritmo, pasar tiempo con la familia y los amigos, y recargar energías antes del último tramo del año escolar.

Ya sea que viajen, exploren el área de Houston o simplemente disfruten de un poco más de tiempo en casa, esperamos que todos tengan unas vacaciones de primavera seguras, relajantes y divertidas. ¡Nos vemos pronto de regreso, listos para terminar el año escolar con fuerza!

Our 2027-2028 Feeder Pattern Options Survey (http://www.springisd.org/FeederPatternSurvey) is now available, and we need your support in helping us spread the word. Please share the survey with your campus staff, students and families and encourage them to participate.

Survey Link: http://www.springisd.org/FeederPatternSurvey. The survey will remain open through May 1 at 5:00 p.m. Thank you for your partnership in helping ensure our community’s voices are heard.

• Spring ISD families, staff and community members — we want your feedback. Two Feeder Pattern options have been developed for the 2027–28 school year, and the district is seeking community input before presenting a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Please review the two options and share your preferred feeder pattern by completing the survey.

Deadline: May 1 at 5 p.m.
Take the survey at http://www.springisd.org/FeederPatternSurvey

Your feedback will help guide the decision that will shape feeder patterns beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

• Familias, empleados y miembros de la comunidad de Spring ISD: queremos conocer su opinión. Se han desarrollado dos opciones de patrones de alimentación escolar para el ciclo escolar 2027–28, y el distrito está solicitando la opinión de la comunidad antes de presentar una recomendación a la Mesa Directiva. Le invitamos a revisar las dos opciones y compartir cuál prefiere completando la encuesta.

Fecha límite: 1 de mayo a las 5 p.m.
Participe en la encuesta en http://www.springisd.org/FeederPatternSurvey

Sus comentarios ayudarán a orientar la decisión que definirá los patrones de alimentación escolar a partir del ciclo escolar 2027–28.

• 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

Graceful Gowns *Senior Girls Only*

• Senior girls, you’re invited!

The Graceful Gowns Initiative is offering a FREE prom and formal gown experience for graduating senior girls. This special event is designed to help students celebrate prom with confidence by providing a boutique-style experience that includes a formal gown, shoes, accessories, personalized styling support and even lunch — all at no cost. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the registration link provided to reserve your spot. Early registration is encouraged.

March 28, 2026.
Spring ISD Community and Family Engagement Center

17125 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77090

The Graceful Gowns Initiative ofrece una experiencia gratuita de vestidos de gala y graduación para estudiantes de último año de secundaria. Este evento especial está diseñado para ayudar a las estudiantes a celebrar el baile de graduación con confianza, brindando una experiencia tipo boutique que incluye vestido formal, zapatos, accesorios, apoyo de estilismo personalizado e incluso almuerzo — todo sin costo. El espacio es limitado y se requiere registro. Para registrarse, escanee el código QR en el volante o visite el enlace de registro proporcionado para reservar su lugar. Se recomienda registrarse con anticipación.

28 de marzo de 2026

Spring ISD Community and Family Engagement Center

17125 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77090

Join our Spring ISD Steps Up for Students team as we come together to raise awareness, promote understanding and support autism research. Students, staff, and families are invited to walk with us and help make a difference in our community.

April 11, 2026

9- 11 a.m.

City Place – 1250 Lake Plaza Dr. Spring, TX 77044

Únase a nuestro equipo Spring ISD Steps Up for Students mientras nos reunimos para crear conciencia, promover la comprensión y apoyar la investigación sobre el autismo. Estudiantes, empleados y familias están invitados a caminar con nosotros y ayudar a marcar una diferencia en nuestra comunidad.

11 de abril de 2026
9:00–11:00 a.m.

City Place – 1250 Lake Plaza Dr., Spring, TX 77044

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

• Spring ISD Special Education Services invites families to join our Parent Connection: Understanding the ARD Process workshop. This session will help parents feel prepared and confident participating in ARD meetings — from understanding who is involved to knowing your rights and how goals and services are decided. Empower yourself to ask questions, share input, and collaborate with your child’s school team. For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Gereke at 281-891-6286 or ChristopherG@springisd.org

Wednesday, March 11
6- 7 p.m

Spring ISD Community Engagement Center- 17125 Ella Blvd. Houston, TX 77090

Spanish-only presentation

• Los Servicios de Educación Especial de Spring ISD invitan a las familias a participar en nuestro taller Parent Connection: Entendiendo el Proceso ARD. Esta sesión ayudará a los padres a sentirse preparados y con confianza para participar en las reuniones de ARD — desde comprender quiénes participan hasta conocer sus derechos y cómo se determinan las metas y los servicios. Empodérese para hacer preguntas, compartir sus ideas y colaborar con el equipo escolar de su hijo(a). Para más información, comuníquese con el Dr. Christopher Gereke al 281-891-6286 o a ChristopherG@springisd.org.

Miércoles, 11 de marzo
6–7 p.m.
Spring ISD Community Engagement Center – 17125 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77090
Presentación solo en español

• Safe, reliable transportation matters for our students, families, and staff every single day. The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis is launching a Mobility Plan and inviting community members to share input on how transportation can better serve our neighborhoods — including safer routes and stronger connections to schools and opportunity.

In-Person Session
Thursday, March 5
6:30–8 p.m.

Fallbrook Church. 12512 Walters Rd., Houston, TX 77014

Virtual
Tuesday, March 17
5:30–6:30 p.m.

Virtual meeting link coming soon

• El transporte seguro y confiable es fundamental para nuestros estudiantes, familias y personal todos los días.

La Oficina del Comisionado Rodney Ellis está lanzando un Plan de Movilidad e invita a los miembros de la comunidad a compartir sus ideas sobre cómo el transporte puede servir mejor a nuestros vecindarios — incluyendo rutas más seguras y mejores conexiones hacia las escuelas y las oportunidades.

Sesión Presencial
5 de marzo de 2026
6:30–8 p.m.
Fallbrook Church. 12512 Walters Rd., Houston, TX 77014

Sesión Virtual
17 de marzo de 2026
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Enlace de la reunión virtual próximamente

The Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers (HHAE) Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for its 2026 Academic Scholarship Program! Graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue degrees in architecture, engineering, or surveying are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted online by March 31, 2026, at hhae.org/scholarships/. Award notifications will be sent by May 29, 2026, with recipients recognized during an award ceremony in July 2026.

Additionally, HHAE has launched a new resume bank initiative for current scholarship recipients, designed to connect students with internship opportunities through partner firms that support the organization.

Please share this opportunity with students, families, and community members who may be interested. For questions or additional information, contact Luis Dinarte, Scholarship Committee Chair, at luis.dinarte@wsbeng.com or 281-895-2247.

SPA- Programa de Becas Académicas 2026 de Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers (HHAE) (SOLO PARA ESTUDIANTES DE ÚLTIMO AÑO DE SECUNDARIA)

El Comité de Becas de Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers (HHAE) ahora está aceptando solicitudes para su Programa de Becas Académicas 2026. Se anima a los estudiantes que se graduarán de preparatoria y que planean obtener un título en arquitectura, ingeniería o topografía a presentar su solicitud.

Las solicitudes deben enviarse en línea antes del 31 de marzo de 2026 en hhae.org/scholarships/. Las notificaciones de los premios se enviarán antes del 29 de mayo de 2026, y los beneficiarios serán reconocidos durante una ceremonia de premiación en julio de 2026.

Además, HHAE ha lanzado una nueva iniciativa de banco de currículos para los actuales beneficiarios de becas, diseñada para conectar a los estudiantes con oportunidades de prácticas profesionales (internships) a través de firmas asociadas que apoyan a la organización.

Por favor, comparta esta oportunidad con estudiantes, familias y miembros de la comunidad que puedan estar interesados. Para preguntas o información adicional, comuníquese con Luis Dinarte, Presidente del Comité de Becas, al correo electrónico luis.dinarte@wsbeng.com o al 281-895-2247.