Bertram Family Connection

• Monday, August 30th: Virtual Q&A Session for GT students new to BCISD - 6 pm
• Tuesday, August 31st: Parent Orientation Night 5:30 pm-7 pm
• Monday, September 6th: No School - Labor Day Holiday
• Friday, September 10th: Fall Picture Day -CANCELLED Photographer asked to reschedule

Parent Orientation is an important evening event to learn about what your child will be learning in their current grade level. On Tuesday, teachers will offer two 40 minute sessions that will be identical. One from 5:35-6:15pm & 6:20-7pm. Sessions will be hosted in your child's classroom. All 4th and 5th Grade sessions will be hosted in the library.

We will offer child care in the gym for students enrolled at Bertram Elementary with our certified non-classroom teachers. Drop off starts at 5:30 pm. Please pick your student up directly after the 2nd session ends at 7 pm. We encourage parents to use our child care option in the gym for students enrolled at Bertram Elementary or arrange other child care. This will allow your time with your child's teacher to be focused and efficient.

If you have students in more than two grade levels, teachers will be emailing their presentations home the next day.

We have made a few changes to our morning and afternoon car line to help speed up drop-off and to minimize cars on FM 1174/243.

• Please turn onto Grande Street to enter the car line. You will turn right on Central Blvd. to and then enter the school parking lot to drive by the gym.
• Please do not block driveways of homes on Grande Street or Central Blvd.
• Do not park on Main Street.
• If you would like to park and walk your child into the school, please park in the front parking lot. This is not a student drop-off area. The adult with the child will need to walk with them into the school.
• Please stay off your cell phone while in the car line.
• Please have your Car Rider tag in your car every day.

Car Rider Tags for new students will be coming home on Monday. If you need a replacement tag, please email jaheine@burnetcisd.net.

We will be rescheduling our Grandparent's Day event for later in the fall. We currently cannot invite visitors into the cafeteria. The late summer heat makes an outdoor event at this time a challenge for many grandparents. Stay tuned to a new date and time coming soon!

We want your child to be as successful as possible at school. Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. We will be using the Second Step program in your child’s classroom to teach these critical skills. The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:

1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way. Your child will be learning a lot this year—and he or she will need your help!

Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are optional, simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows. If you have any questions about the Second Step program, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life.

Our school is growing and it is important that everyone know and follow the transportation change process.

• If your child has a change in transportation, please email ber-transportation@burnetcisd.net by 1:30 pm. This includes daily changes and permanent changes. Please indicate in your email if the change is just for today or if it is for every day.
• At 1:30 pm, this email box is checked for a final time and all changes will be made.
• After 1:30 pm, we print the transportation lists for teachers and dismissal staff.
• No changes will be accepted after this time.
• If you have an emergency, you may call and speak to Mrs. Harris about the situation and we will work together to support your student.
• Voicemails, notes, text messages, phone calls, and emails to any other email address are not acceptable changes of transportation and will not be processed.
• We do not accept transportation changes from students. Parents and guardians must communicate any changes by using the ber-transportation@burnetcisd.net email address.

If your child is identified as Gifted and Talented and you are new to BCISD, you are invited to a virtual question and answer session with Mrs. Taylor, our GT Coordinator. The session will be held on Google Meets. During this session, Mrs. Taylor will discuss the GT schedule, what types of projects and learning happens in GT, and how GT students are supported on our campus.

If your child is not currently identified as Gifted and Talented but you are interested in the program, there will be a general information night later in the Fall.

Starting Thursday, August 19th through September 18th, families and visitors will need to check in with their ID in the office starting at 7:25 am in order to walk to classrooms. Families and visitors will not be able to enter the classroom.

To ensure that all students are adequately supervised, teachers are not available for parent conferences at this time.

Once instruction begins at 7:40 am, families and visitors will not be permitted to walk to classrooms unless they have a prearranged meeting with a teacher or staff member.

Birthday treats are allowed this year. Please send single-serve items. Items can be sent with students or dropped off in the office before 2:30 pm.

Birthday celebrations are reserved for the last 15 minutes of the day. Please communicate with your child's teacher if you intend to send in treats. They will be able to let you know the specific time.

At this time, parents may not visit the classroom for birthday celebrations.

If your child forgets their lunch, you may drop it off at the office. If your child does not have a lunch at lunchtime, they will be served a free hot lunch.

Optional Student Accident Insurance is available if you are interested. The enrollment flyer is attached. If you would like a paper copy, please email Ms. Aline at jaheine@burnetcisd.

• 7:15am Student Drop Off/ Breakfast
• 7:25am Office Opens
• 7:40am School Begins
• 7:45am Students arriving after this time are marked tardy
• 9:00am Students not in attendance are marked absent
• 1:30pm Any transportation changes DUE, please email: ber-transportation@burnetcisd.net
• 2:30pm All Early Checkouts must be complete - Remember to bring your picture ID to complete early check out
• 3:20pm Student Dismissal
• 3:45pm Office/School Closes

Email: ber-transportation@burnetcisd.net
Website: https://bes.burnetcisd.net/
Location: 315 Main Street, Bertram, TX, USA
Phone: 512-355-2111
Facebook: facebook.com/bertramelementary
Twitter: @BurnetCISD