BBE Parent Newsletter

Aug 31: First day for lunch guests

Sept 2-4: PTO Silent Auction

Sept 7: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

Sept 10: Donuts with Grown Ups (Last names A-M) in the cafeteria

Sept 11: Donuts with Grown Ups (Last names N-Z) in the cafeteria

Sept 18: Professional Day - NO SCHOOL for students

Sept 25: PTO Meeting at 9 am

Sept 28-Oct 2: Fall Book Fair

Another Great Week in Orbit!

What a great start to our school year! Our Bears are settling into routines, building relationships, and showing us more and more each day what it means to LEAD the Way! It is amazing to see the learning, laughter, and energy throughout our building—and we are just getting started!

As we move into the next few weeks, we have some exciting opportunities for our families to be involved. Beginning August 31, we will welcome lunch guests! We love having our families visit and share a little lunchtime with their Bears. Please be sure to review the procedures for lunch visits so we can keep things running smoothly for everyone.

We also have several exciting PTO events coming up, including the PTO Silent Auction, September 2–4, and our PTO Meeting on September 25 at 9:00 AM. Our PTO plays such an important role in making Bear Branch a special place, and we appreciate everything they do for our students and staff.

And, of course, mark your calendars for Donuts with Grown-Ups! We will welcome families into the cafeteria on September 10 for last names A–M and September 11 for last names N–Z. We can't wait to start the day with some of our favorite people!

Looking a little farther ahead, we have a Labor Day holiday on September 7, a Professional Development Day on September 18 (no school for students), and our Fall Book Fair September 28–October 2.

There is a lot happening at Bear Branch, and we are so grateful to have you along for the journey. Thank you for continuing to partner with us, support our teachers, and encourage your students to live out our values of Legacy, Excellence, Achievement, and Dedication each day.

We may be exploring the universe this year, but one thing is certain: there's no better place to be than BBE!

Bears LEAD the Way! All the Way!

JSO

There's still time to register your student for Early Morning Childcare or the afternoon Adventures Program. As you are making your final preparations for the first day of school, visit https://www.magnoliaisd.org/departments/childcare to learn more about our programs.

Early Morning Childcare: FREE to all families; open at all elementary and intermediate campuses at 6:30 AM on regular school days; registration is required.

After School Adventures: low-cost program open at all elementary campuses for students in grades pre-k through 6. (Intermediate students are bussed to your zoned elementary campus to attend Adventures.) Registration is required.

Child Nutrition is offering several ways to access the Free and Reduced Lunch Application that is paperless!

• Visit the Free & Reduced Application website https://nlappscloud.com/. Click on the green button in the center of the screen that says START APPLICATION.
• Visit the MISD website, under Departments find Child Nutrition.Click on the HOME page on the top of screen. In the first paragraph "Meal Applications" click the https://nlappscloud.com/ link. Click on the green button in the center of the screen that says START APPLICATION.
• Scan the QR code below, and also on the flyer attached. This takes you directly to https://nlappscloud.com/.

Has your student been absent? No need to send in a note or email, just click the link above to submit a parent excuse note that is sent directly to our attendance secretary.

New this school year, the district is launching SMART Tag to improve the safety and security of students who use bus transportation in our district. The cards will also be used anytime students ride a bus, including field trips and extracurricular activities.

Visit our website for more information.

Parents,

If your student loses their Smart Tag ID card, you can request a replacement card through this link/QR code. You will need a My School Bucks account to pay for the replacement card. Once the order has been placed, administrators will be notified and will get your student a new card.

* Click HERE to register for early morning drop-off

* Doors open at 7:55 am

* Students are tardy at 8:40 am

* School releases at 3:55 pm

* Transportation changes should be made with the front office by 3:00 pm. If your student needs to leave early please also notify the front office by 3:00.

* MISD 2025-2026 calendar

*SB 12 requires districts to provide at least two opportunities for in-person conferences during each school year for each parent and their children's teachers. Please contact your child's teacher if you wish to set up a conference.

School bus riders - Please be patient for the first couple of weeks as buses will take longer than normal as the drivers and kids are getting to know their routes.

Morning Procedures:

• Car rider drop-off time is from 7:55-8:38 AM. If your child is buying breakfast from the cafeteria, they need to be dropped off prior to 8:38 AM
• Do not use cell phones while you are in the school zone. This includes the school parking lot.
• Please drive through the car line and drop off, do not park and walk up. This poses a safety risk for children and also slows down the car rider line for everyone.
• If you are the first car unloading, pull completely forward.
• Pull as close to the car in front of you as safely as possible.
• Have your child/ren ready to exit the car as soon as you pull into the loading/unloading zone. Please have them all packed up and ready to go.
• For the safety of your child/ren, have them exit on the right side of the vehicle.
• Please do not change lanes or pass cars that are in the line.
• The car rider entrance doors to the building are closed promptly at 8:38 AM when staff members enter the building. If you arrive after 8:38 AM, you must park and walk your child into the front office to be signed in.

Afternoon Procedures:

• Dismissal begins promptly at 3:55 PM. Please make plans to pick your child up on time.
• Display your child’s car rider number where it will be easily viewed by the staff.
• Be mindful of staff recording your car rider tag number, do not speed past them
• All parents picking up their child(ren) should join the car rider line. Parents are not permitted to walk up and pick up their child.
• If someone other than you picks up your child, he/she MUST have that assigned tag with your number displayed
• Please remain in line and follow the cars out of the parking lot. Do not go around any car while in line or after your child(ren) has been loaded.
• If your child needs help with a seatbelt or car seat, please pull around and park to assist them.
• If you arrive after 4:15 PM, please park and walk into the front office to sign out your child.
• When picking up your child from the Adventures After School Program, park in the parking lot and walk up to the doors to sign out your child. Do not park in the bus lane at any time.

Drivers without the tag will park and go to the front office with their driver's license to sign the student(s) out.

If you do not have a tag, you may pick yours up at the front office.

Click here for the MISD form with more directions on how to order.

This is the only MISD option for birthday celebrations, snacks or cupcakes cannot be brought from home. Orders should be placed 2 weeks in advance.

Important Reminders

• In order to allow students and teachers time to establish cafeteria routines and procedures, August 31st will be our first day to welcome lunch guests on campus.
  
• Students are not allowed to bring a friend(s) to the guest table
  

• Due to privacy rights, no video or photography is permitted in the cafeteria

• 5 minutes before the end of lunch, "Focus & Finish" will be announced. At this time all students return to the homeroom table & guests exit the cafeteria.

• Lunch guests are not permitted to walk students to class after lunch.

Do you know an extraordinary teacher, principal, or district staff member who goes above and beyond for our students? Nominations are now open for the 2027 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards!

This program honors outstanding educators across Texas and provides significant cash grants to both the winners and their schools. Submitting a nomination takes just a few minutes and is a wonderful way to show appreciation for our dedicated school community.

How to Nominate: Submit your nomination online at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards website by clicking on NOMINATE.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the amazing educators who make a difference every day!

Do you know an extraordinary teacher, principal, or district staff member who goes above and beyond for our students? Nominations are now open for the 2027 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards!

This program honors outstanding educators across Texas and provides significant cash grants to both the winners and their schools. Submitting a nomination takes just a few minutes and is a wonderful way to show appreciation for our dedicated school community.

How to Nominate: Submit your nomination online at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards website by clicking on NOMINATE.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the amazing educators who make a difference every day!

Assistant Principal & Campus Behavior Coordinator: Vicki Winegardner

Counselor: Raquel Stone

Academic Coordinator: Mary Meeks

Email: vwinegardner@magnoliaisd.org
Website: https://bbes.magnoliaisd.org
Location: Bear Branch Elementary School, Farm to Market Road 1488, Magnolia, TX, USA
Phone: 281-356-4771
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bearbranchelem/