Absence Line  281-641-1619

We have an absence reporting line for your convenience (281.641.1619). If you know ahead of time of an absence, a trip, or a doctor's appointment, please call that line or email claudia.nelson@humbleisd.net to let us know. A note to the teacher is important, but the office often does not receive this information when figuring out daily absences. The absence line will be listened to at about 9:00 a.m. each day.

A student who has a documented appointment with a health care professional during regular school hours will not be penalized for the absence and will be counted as having attended for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance in the district if that student begins classes or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. The appointment MUST be supported by a document such as a note from the health care professional.

All students who leave the campus early or come in late must be signed out/in the office. 

Letters go home to parents when their child is absent more than 7 and 12 times. This is to keep parents aware of student attendance records during the year. Also, letters go home for students whose tardies exceed acceptable levels during the grading periods.

After 3 unexcused absences, a letter from the district will go home. Per district policy, you have 48 hours to submit a note excusing your child's absence following an unexcused absence. After this time, it cannot be changed to an excused absence.

If a student arrives between 8:00 and 8:15, the student is to report directly to class for a tardy slip. If a student arrives after 8:15, parents must sign-in the student at the front office and the student will be given a tardy slip.  If a student arrives after 10:00, they will be marked absent unless they have a doctor's note dated that day.

If you have any questions after referring to the handbook, please call the office at 281.641.1600.

MISSION
The Bear Branch Elementary community will provide a positive, safe environment where all members are empowered academically and socially to succeed as lifelong learners. Our mission is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to build tomorrow's leaders.

VISION
We envision Bear Branch as a school where students and staff enthusiastically engage in learning within local and virtual environments. We see Bear Branch as a campus that encourages collaboration and cultivates a sense of belonging. We envision learning standards that are rigorous and relevant. We see learning standards that inspire creativity and problem solving. We see Bear Branch as a school that prepares students for success at the middle school level. Ultimately, we see our students with the requisite skills to successfully participate as a productive citizen in a global society.

See Complete Campus Improvement Plan

If your student is to return home by means other than their usual mode of transportation, the teacher must receive written and signed instructions from the parent or guardian.

Your child will not be allowed to change their mode of transportation unless a written notice is received BEFORE 2:45 p.m. It is also a good idea to copy the front office (email claudia.nelson@humbleisd.net) in case a substitute cannot access the email.  The front office will not take phone calls to change dismissal.

We understand that sometimes appointments are made at the end of the school day and you will need to check out your student. To reduce the number of disruptions during the final part of the day when teachers are winding up a lesson and giving instructions for homework, we ask that you not check out your child after 2:45 p.m.

All students living in Hunter's Ridge will be dismissed from the back of the school. All students living in Bear Branch and Kings Forest will be dismissed from the front.

Parents of front and back walkers, please arrange a meeting place with your child away from the car dismissal areas in the front and back of school. This will reduce the standing traffic that blocks these areas. Daycare buses will drop off and pick up from the front of the school this year.

Students that are picked up after 3:40 p.m. will need to be signed out by the parent/guardian in the front office. For the safety of our students, we ask that you not bring pets to school during arrival or dismissal.

If your student is to return home by means other than their usual mode of transportation, the teacher must receive written, signed instructions from the parent or guardian.  The Front Office will NOT take phone calls to change dismissal.  Your child will not be allowed to change his or her mode of transportation unless a written notice is received. 

***Please review and discuss the following information with your children. These are areas of safety you can help us with and be in support of so that we can maintain the level of safety at Bear Branch that your children deserve.

Student safety is the number one priority of Bear Branch Elementary. That includes a safe arrival and dismissal process. One of the primary concerns during school arrival and dismissal is keeping our students and staff safe. BBE would like to remind everyone of arrival and dismissal safety procedures and etiquette:

All school zones are No Cell PHONE zones. There should be no cell phone use in carline.

Students who will be regularly picked up at dismissal in carpool must have a carpool sign with the student name written largely and in black ink. Make sure your sign is visible. The sooner we see your name the quicker we can get students loaded. You may want to use a pant hanger to hang the from your rear view window mirror. This will make it more visible and very easy for us to see.
 
Always have your child exit your vehicle on the sidewalk only. This is the safest way for students to exit and enter the school. Never get out of your vehicle and have your student walk in front or back and cross other cars to enter the building. If you need extra time to help your student out of the car, or they are not buckled on the passenger side, please pull ALL THE WAY FORWARD past the first safety cone or into a visitor parking spot and out of the car line.

Ensure that your child is ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival. Do NOT hold up the line by sitting in your car while your student gathers backpacks, lunch kits, etc... The longer you sit, the longer those behind you must wait. If your child is having trouble leaving the car, please pull ALL THE WAY FORWARD past the first safety cone or into a visitor parking spot. Do not hold up the car line.

Do not double park vehicles in the drop-off lane as this creates a dangerous situation for the children who must then cross in front of other cars to enter the building. Additionally, do not park your vehicle along Tree Lane and exit to retrieve your child. This holds up the traffic flow.

Do not block the intersection in the parking lot. Allow room for cars behind you to pull up and enter into the parking lot.

Parents are to remain in the vehicles and keep the line moving. If your student needs extra help, please allow staff to load them in the vehicle from the sidewalk then pull ALL THE WAY FORWARD past the first safety cone.

Finally, PLEASE do not sacrifice safety for convenience. We all have the same goal of keeping each and every one of our students safe. Please allow adequate time for the drop off and pick up of your student. Thank you for your support of BBE.

The purpose of the Humble ISD dress code is to create an atmosphere where maximum teaching and learning can occur. The district believes that reasonable dress code regulations help to sustain a wholesome learning environment, one that supports the social, emotional, and intellectual growth of students, not only while attending Humble ISD, but also as a means of preparing them for future endeavors. The complete dress code can be found in the Humble ISD Parent/Student Handbook at the district website.

• Mini-dresses and mini-skirts shorter then mid-thigh, spaghetti straps, leotards, and halters as an outer garment are not acceptable. Blouses covering tube tops must be buttoned. The length of shorts must be between the knee and mid-thigh. Remember the fingertip rule!

• Male students are not allowed to wear shirts without sleeves.

• Sunglasses may not be worn in the school building.

• Shoes are to be worn. Heels above 1/2 inch and flip-flops are not permitted.

• Make-up is not permitted at the elementary level.

If you need an item delivered to your student, label it with your child's and teacher's names and place it on the bookshelf in the front foyer.  Safety Patrol will make deliveries at 10:00 am.  After that time, please email your child's teacher to them know there is an item for your child.  The teacher will send the child to retrieve their item.

Also, we do not deliver messages to the classrooms during school hours unless it is an emergency because the volume of messages that we receive in the front office causes distractions in the classroom.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding our policies, as we all want the best learning and safest environment for our children.

Checking Out Early
We understand that sometimes appointments are made at the end of the school day and you will need to check out your student. To reduce the number of disruptions during the final part of the day when teachers are winding up a lesson and giving instructions for homework, we ask that you not check out your child after 3:00 p.m.

Changes in Dismissal
If your student is to return home by means other than their usual mode of transportation, the teacher must receive written and signed instructions from the parent or guardian.

Your child will not be allowed to change their mode of transportation unless a written notice is received BEFORE 2:45 p.m. It is also a good idea to copy the front office (claudia.nelson@humbleisd.net) in case a substitute cannot access email.  The front office will not take phone calls to change dismissal.

Item Delivery
If you need an item delivered to your student, label it with your child's and teacher's names and place it on the bookshelf inside of the front office. Items are delivered by Safety Patrol at 10:00 am.  After that time,  you mail email your child's teacher so they may retrieve at teacher's discretion.

At 3:00 p.m. on days with inclement weather, campus administrators will determine if we will have a Severe Weather Dismissal based on the amount of visible lightning and/or thunder, heavy persistent rain, or freezing temperatures/precipitation. Rain-only does not constitute a need for a Severe Weather Dismissal.

During this dismissal, all children, except daycare van riders, will be considered car riders. No students will be allowed to walk or ride their bicycle home during an Inclement Weather Dismissal. The most efficient and effective way to 1. Get a message to your child if absolutely necessary or 2.  Give permission for someone else to pick up your child is to email the teacher and copy claudia.nelson@humbleisd.netin case your child has a sub.   

Kinder- 10:40-11:15

1st- Saunders and Perez: 11:00-11:30
Welch, Lopez, Schmidt: 11:05-11:35

2nd- Grabowski/Strate 11:25-11:55
Hernández/Means/Tims 11:30-12:00

3rd- 11:45-12:15

4th- 12:05-1:10

5th- 12:20 - 12:50 Lunch  (Doyle and McFarland)
12:25 - 12:55 Lunch (Moore, Hydes and Borgers)

Registration and Withdrawal
Student registration information may be found at the District Enrollment website.

Withdrawal Procedures
The registrar must have 24 hours notice when a child is to be withdrawn from Bear Branch Elementary.  The custodial parent will need to come to the office to sign the withdrawal papers.  A copy will be sent with the parent, as they will be needed to enroll the student in the next school.

All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time to classes in order to derive maximum benefit from the instructional program and to develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. Students who enter a class after the tardy bell are a disruption to that class.

• The tardy bell rings at 8:00 a.m., and students are expected to be in class at that time to receive instructions for the day. Promptness is stressed and is expected.

• Tardies may only be excused with a note from a doctor, dentist or other medical professional.

Your child’s health and well-being are important to us. If your child has any medical issues you did not include on the annual update at the start of school, please contact the school nurse at 281.641.1605.

Please also take a moment to update your contact information by logging in to Home Access Center (HAC).

You may change contact phone numbers by clicking the Registration tab, then by clicking the Edit button.  Home addresses must be verified.  If an address change is needed, take proof of residence to your campus registrar.  For questions, call 281.641.1600.