Buckaroo Bulletin

Hello, Bob Beard Families!

I recently came across a message from educator Dr. Brad Johnson about the importance of raising children who are teachable. It stuck with me, not only as a principal, but as a dad.

My son is four now, and one thing I'm learning is just how hard it can be to watch your own child struggle. Whether we're playing in the backyard or he's trying something new, my first instinct is usually to help. I want to show him how to do it, fix what went wrong, or make the frustration go away.

But I'm learning that sometimes helping him means not fixing it.

Sometimes I need to let him miss a few more times, be frustrated, or figure something out on his own. That's not always easy as a parent. But when I see the pride on his face after he finally accomplishes something that didn't come easily, I'm reminded why it's so important.

And I think about our Buckaroos in the same way.

Our children don't have to be the smartest in the class, the best athlete on the field, or the most talented person in the room. But they do need to be teachable.

Being teachable means being willing to listen, accept feedback, admit when you're wrong, and try again. It means understanding that when a teacher, coach, or parent corrects you, they're doing it because they believe you're capable of more.

Part of preparing our kids for life means allowing them to experience some discomfort along the way.

They're going to struggle. They're going to hear "no." They're going to make mistakes and sometimes fail. As parents, it's hard not to step in and remove those obstacles. I know because I feel that same pull with my own son. But sometimes the greatest gift we can give our kids is the opportunity to work through something difficult while knowing we're right there beside them.

Our job isn't to raise kids who always get it right. It's to raise kids who know what to do when they don't.

That's what I want for my son, and it's what we want for every Buckaroo. Kids who are confident enough to try, humble enough to listen, and resilient enough to keep going.

We'll support them, encourage them, and pick them up when they need us. But we won't remove every challenge from their path. Sometimes the challenge is exactly what they need.

I'm incredibly proud of the way our Buckaroos and our teachers have started this school year. Thank you for trusting us with your children and partnering with us in this work. We have a great year ahead of us!

Go Buckaroos!

—Mr. Kuhlmann
Principal, Bob Beard Elementary

• September 1 - Fall MAP Reading (Gr. 3 & 4)
• September 2 - Fall MAP Reading (Gr. 2 & 5)
• September 7 - Labor Day Holiday (No School)
• September 8 - Fall MAP Math (Gr. K & 1)
• September 9 - Fall MAP Math (Gr. K & 1)
• September 11 - Patriot Day
• September 11 - Grandparents Breakfast
• September 15 - Fall MAP Reading (Gr. K & 1)
• September 15 - Fall MAP Reading (Gr. K & 1)
• September 25 - Bike Rodeo
• September 30 - Festival of Nations (5:00 - 7:00 p.m.)
• October 9 - 13 - Fall Break (No School)

One of my favorite events of the entire school year is our Festival of Nations, and I can't wait to celebrate it again on Wednesday, September 30, from 5:00–7:00 p.m.

This evening is a wonderful opportunity for our Beard families to share the traditions, food, clothing, music, and customs that make their cultures unique. It's always incredible to see the rich diversity that makes our Buckaroo community so special, and it's one of the many things I love about Beard.

If your family is interested in hosting a booth this year, we'd love to have you join us! Please take a look at the information below to learn more about how you can participate.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Katie Alexander (kmalexander19@gmail.com), our PTA Festival of Nations coordinator. We hope you'll consider being part of this special evening!

We’re an “A” Campus!

Our State Accountability ratings have officially been released, and we have some incredible news to share with our Buckaroo community! Not only did Beard maintain our “A” rating, but we earned the highest overall accountability score of any elementary school in NISD!

This is an accomplishment that belongs to our entire Beard community. It reflects the hard work of our students, teachers and staff, and the incredible support we receive from our families. Thank you for continuing to value education, support our teachers, and partner with us to help our Buckaroos succeed.

We’re incredibly proud of what our Buckaroos accomplished, but we also know there’s more work ahead. We have another great group of students this year, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish.

Congratulations, Buckaroos! This “A” belongs to all of us!

When we celebrate Beard earning the top overall accountability rating among NISD elementary schools, that accomplishment doesn't belong only to the people inside our building. Everything we accomplish at Beard is a partnership with our families.

That includes another accomplishment we're incredibly proud of: Beard also had the highest attendance rate in the district last year!

Those two accomplishments go hand in hand. There is no denying the direct connection between students being at school consistently and the academic success they achieve. When our Buckaroos are here, they're learning, growing, and benefiting from the great instruction happening in our classrooms every day.

Thank you, parents, for making attendance a priority and recognizing the impact it has on your child's education. Our goal this year is 97% attendance, and we're already off to a great start at 97.69% for August!

Let's keep it going!

Being here matters. Every day matters.

On Thursday, August 20, H-E-B College Park hosted a fantastic event for the students and families of Beard and May Elementary. Thank you to all of our Buckaroo families who came out and supported Beard! Our families enjoyed plenty of samples, giveaways, and a fun atmosphere while the O'Connor and Brandeis bands battled it out.

The final numbers are in, and thanks to your incredible turnout, Beard earned the full $2,000 for our campus!

H-E-B will officially present the check to our staff on September 1 at our after-school staff meeting. A huge thank you to H-E-B College Park for continuing to be such a wonderful partner to Beard, and to our families for once again showing up for our school!

While NISD has asked voters to approve bond issuances in the past to address aging facilities, it has never put a VATRE on the ballot. So, what is the difference?

While a VATRE and bond election are often discussed together, they serve different purposes.

Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE)

A VATRE is designed to provide additional funding for a school district’s day-to-day operations. If approved by voters, the additional revenue would support the district’s contingent employee compensation plan and help reduce the district’s budget deficit.

Bond Election

A bond election is different from a VATRE. Bonds are used to fund major, long-term capital investments in facilities, infrastructure, technology, and other large-scale projects.

Parents may begin dropping off students as early as 7:00 a.m. in the front loop located in the main parking lot of the school.

If you'd like to walk your child to breakfast or to their classroom, you may do so before 7:40 a.m. Please park in a designated spot and use the crosswalk for safety.

After 7:45 a.m., parents will not be allowed into the building, as instruction begins promptly. Staff will be available to ensure students safely get to their classrooms.

If your child plans to eat breakfast, we recommend they arrive before 7:20 a.m.

Student dismissal begins at 3:00 p.m.

Parents have two options for pickup:

1. Stay in the parent pick-up line – One of our safety patrols will walk your child to your vehicle. Please remain in your car.

2. Park and walk up – You may park in a designated space and pick up your child directly from their designated grade level post.

If you need to pick up your child early, we ask that it be done by 2:30 p.m. Early pickups should be limited, as they reduce valuable instructional time.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience during dismissal.

Tardy Policy:
Students are considered tardy after 7:45 a.m. and will receive a tardy pass.
Please note: Tardies will not be counted during the first week of school.

Why Attendance Matters:
Attendance has a direct impact on your child’s academic success.Texas law requires students to attend school at least 90% of the school year.

• All absences count (excused or unexcused).

• Students with more than 17 total absences are at risk of failing the school year.

• Families may also be issued a municipal court warning and may be subject to a fine.

Late Arrivals:
Students arriving after 9:00 a.m. are considered absent for the day.
However, please do not keep your child home if you're running late. Coming in late is far better than missing an entire day of instruction.

If Your Child is Out:
If your child is ill or will be absent, please inform your child’s classroom teacher directly, as they are your first point of contact.

Thank you for helping us set your child up for a successful year at Beard Elementary!

In this month's edition from Mrs. McKay, our campus reading specialist, you'll find information on:

• Supporting your readers at home
• Tech Apps to promote reading engagement

Each month, our counselor, Mrs. Donnel, will share a newsletter to keep families connected to the work happening through our counseling program. You’ll find helpful resources and tips, along with a preview of upcoming classroom guidance lessons and topics our Buckaroos will be discussing at school.

At Beard Elementary, we love celebrating our students' achievements both in and out of the classroom! Our Buckaroos are doing amazing things beyond school, and we want to highlight their talents, passions, and accomplishments.

Whether it's sports, the arts, community service, or unique hobbies, we want to hear about it! If your child has a story, photo, or special moment you'd like to share, please email me at joshua.kuhlmann@nisd.net. Let's celebrate the incredible things our Buckaroos are achieving outside of school!

This month, we're shining the spotlight on three Buckaroos who had an unforgettable summer and represented Beard in amazing ways.

This summer, Rayansh “Ray” Singh and his cousin, Abigail John, co-founded Hope Through Music, a youth-led nonprofit organization that encourages children to use their God-given talents to bring hope, comfort, and joy to others through music and the performing arts.

For their first community performance, Rayansh and Abigail brought together a group of young performers to share music with residents of HomeSteady Assisted Living in Houston. In the weeks leading up to the event, they helped plan the program, practiced their musical selections, coordinated with the performers, and prepared to make the experience meaningful for the residents.

Rayansh has a deep love for music and especially enjoys playing the piano. Through Hope Through Music, he is learning that music can be more than a personal passion—it can also be a powerful way to serve others, build connections, and bring happiness to the community.

Rayansh and Abigail hope to inspire other children to discover how their own talents, no matter how big or small, can make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Learn more about Hope Through Music:
Website: https://www.hopethroughmusicfoundation.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopethroughmusicfoundation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopethroughmusicfoundation.org

First Performance Highlights:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbFG2uYDHgW/

Congratulations to Emily Ogburn on an outstanding accomplishment this summer! Emily competed in the San Antonio Citywide Bike Rodeo, where she earned first place in the 4th and 5th Grade Girls Division.

The Bike Rodeo challenges participants to demonstrate safe riding skills, balance, control, and knowledge of bicycle safety through a series of events. Competing against students from across San Antonio, Emily earned an impressive first-place finish in her division.

Way to go, Emily! We are so proud of your accomplishment and can't wait to see all you'll achieve this school year.

We are incredibly proud of 4th grader Bryce, who recently competed in the South Texas PGA State Championship!

Bryce finished 5th place in the 6–8-year-old division and was the only golfer from San Antonio in his age group to finish in the top five! 🏆

How cool is that? Way to represent our Buckaroo community, Bryce! We are so proud of you!

Calling all Dads! Join us every Friday morning from 7:10 - 7:45 for Beard Watch D.O.G.S! Help us start our Buckaroos' day off right with positive vibes, music, and high fives. Your presence makes a big difference—let's create a welcoming atmosphere together! To sign up to be part of our Watch D.O.G.S. team, or if you have any questions, please contact our Top Dog, Joshua Sennef at jmsenneff@naturahq.com.

Take a moment to share your gratitude for our amazing Bob Beard staff! Whether it’s a heartfelt message or a simple “thank you,” your kind words go a long way in lifting spirits and celebrating the people who make our school so special.

To give a staff shout out, please use the link below.

All messages will be featured in next month’s community newsletter!

• September 16 - Stephanie Grogan (Kindergarten)
• September 18 - Elizabeth Robles (Math Specialist)
• September 22 - Michelle Palacios (At-Risk IA)
• September 23 - Meaghan Cain (Special Education Coordinator)