September 2026 Newsletter

Dear Tipps Families,

We are off to a wonderful start to the school year! Our students are already diving into learning, making new friends, and getting into great routines. Thank you for the support you’ve shown—it truly makes a difference in creating a positive, engaging environment for all of our children.

Staying Connected

At Tipps, we value open communication and strong partnerships with families. If you ever have a concern, please reach out in this order so we can best support you and your child:

1. Classroom Teacher – your first point of contact
2. Grade-Level Assistant Principal (AP)
3. Principal

This process ensures your concerns are addressed quickly and by the person most directly connected to your child’s daily experience.

Opportunities to Get Involved

We love and appreciate our parent volunteers! There are many ways to serve this year, including:

• Room Parents – supporting teachers and classrooms. Link to sign up to be a room parent: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044CABA82FA20-65426209-2026
• PreK & Kindergarten Readers – sharing stories with our youngest learners. More information on how to sign up to be a "reader" will be provided soon.
• Library & Workroom Helpers – assisting with organization, materials, and projects.

In addition, we will host monthly volunteer meetings on the first Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Our first meeting is Friday, September 4th at 9:00 am. These meetings are a great way to stay informed and connected.

We are so excited about the year ahead and grateful for the incredible partnership we share with you. Together, we will make this a year of growth, success, and joy for every child at Tipps Elementary!

With Appreciation,

Felicia Thomas, Principal

Assistant Principal Support:

Michele Ferdinand - michele.ferdinand@cfisd.net - Life Skills/SPED

Jennifer Turvan - jennifer.turvan@cfisd.net - Grades 2 - 5

Shannon Weatherford - shannon.weatherford@cfisd.net - PK, Kinder and 1st grades

Counselor Support:

Jessica Perez - Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades - Jessica.perez@cfisd.net

Ursula Herndon - Life Skills, 1st, 3rd and 5th grades - Ursula.herndon@cfisd.net

Join us for our Annual Open House on Tuesday, September 15th starting at 5:30 pm. You will have the opportunity to visit your child's classroom and speak with their teacher(s). There will also be other stations for you to visit including the Spirit Shirt station, Volunteer station, Snack station and more. All students who attend will earn PBIS Points. We look forward to seeing you soon!

(Note - Parking at the church is in their back parking area.)

Our annual Title I Parent Meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 15th as part of our Annual Open House. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person; there is another option to attend a Google online meeting on September 18th at 9:00 am. If you would like to attend the virtual meeting; just scan the QR code to join the meeting. Thank you again for your support!

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. We hope you can join us at our informational meeting on Friday, September 4th at 9:00 am in the Library. We will provide light refreshment and go over the different needs of our campus. Thank you for your consideration and support!

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.

School Cash Link:

https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/

Students wear their Spirit Shirts on Fridays and on school sponsored field trips. Students in PK, 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.

Each student will receive two photo ID badges at the beginning of the school year at no cost. The badges and the unique student number will be used to account for students utilizing transportation services, checking out library books and textbooks, purchasing food items from the cafeteria, providing a means for easy identification of students in common areas of the school and for other uses as determined by campus administration. One of the badges will be attached to the student’s backpack and is required to be utilized for transportation services. The second ID will remain at the campus. Students must have the ID badge in their possession each day and follow campus procedures related to wearing the ID badge.

If a student loses the ID, a replacement must be promptly purchased in the front office. Replacement costs are as follows: • Plastic ID: $3.00 • Lanyard: $1.00 • Plastic Sleeve: $1.00 - If all items are needed, the cost is $5.00. Emergency Bus Passes are $1.00 each.

Parents are welcome to pay for badge replacements by sending a cash payment with their student or coming to the front office and paying with a debit/credit card.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will be issued red plastic sleeves and must have the sleeve and badge to ride the school bus home. If the student is not identified with the red plastic sleeve and badge, they will not be allowed to ride the bus home. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are to be met at the school bus at the bus stop to be released. Additionally, if no one is available to meet the pre-kindergarten or kindergarten student at the bus, the student will be returned to the campus.

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.

For the 2025-2026 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.

https://www.cfisd.net/fs/pages/59895

Please talk with your student about this new policy. All devices - Smartwatches, Tablets, Game Systems and Cell Phones must remain in the student's backpack during the school day while on school property.

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!

In order to find out bus information for your student(s), register for an account with My Ride K-12 via their website OR download the My Ride K-12 app.

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.

Sign up is below - click the little square with sign up link.

REMINDERS: All parent guests are to sit on the stage with their student during the appointed lunch time. Parents are not allowed to use the Student Restrooms or go into the Instructional areas. Parent guests are asked to depart the cafeteria 5 minutes before the end of the student lunch time and proceed immediately to the front office to sign out and return the visitor pass. We appreciate your support and thank you for adhering to these guidelines.

Tipps Elementary School is a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) School. This means that ALL students receive a FREE Breakfast and a FREE Lunch. Students enrolled at Tipps Elementary do not need to complete a free/reduced application. (Note - if you have students attending other CFISD schools, you might need to complete a Free/Reduced application depending on the CEP status of the campus.)

Thank you to all of our families who have completed the Income Survey. This is a requirement as all students receive a free breakfast and lunch each day. Below you will find QR codes in English and Spanish plus files in English and Spanish should you wish to print a form and return to the school. If you have not completed the Income Survey, please scan the QR code or open and complete the attached document.

The Nutrition Services Department operates under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. These programs are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). All our food and beverages must meet strict federal program guidelines. To do this successfully, we employ several registered dietitians, food and nutrition professionals, and valuable staff who help ensure our meals meet these guidelines.

We are very excited to be able to offer off campus field trips for all grade levels again this year. The schedule is listed below so that you can plan accordingly All students are encouraged to wear their Tipps Spirit Shirt on the field trip. This allows for easy student identification while on the field trip. Spirit Shirts can be purchased at the front desk using a debit/credit card or in School Cash - https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/

Pre-Kindergarten - Friday, October 2nd to Houston Interactive Aquarium

1st grade - Thursday, October 8th to The Oil Ranch

Kindergarten - Friday, October 23rd to Dewberry Farm

2nd grade - Thursday, October 29th to the Houston Zoo

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. Parent Chaperones 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. Thank you for your support and understanding.

The flyer provides additional information regarding the rally night on September 10th.

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/

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 at the end of each month.