WALNUT BEND ELEMENTARY PTO
NEWCOMERS HANDBOOK
2012 – 2013
10620 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77042
713-917-3540
www.walnutbendelementary.com
Welcome to Walnut Bend Elementary!
The PTO would like to welcome you to our Walnut Bend Family.
This booklet was put together to give you some basic information about how things
work here at Walnut Bend, and to introduce you to the PTO and the wide variety of
activities in which the PTO is involved. Walnut Bend has a long history of dedicated
parent volunteers who help to support our school and our wonderful teachers.
The booklet includes:
 Calendar of School Events
 PTO Officer and Committee Chairs
 PTO Committees
 Who, What, When, Where Why and How?
Frequently asked questions
Other useful sources of information include the Walnut Bend website
(www.walnutbendelementary.com), and the HISD website (www.houstonisd.org).
The PTO is here to help! If you have any questions after reviewing the material in
this booklet, or at any other time during the school year, please feel free to contact
any of the PTO officers. We look forward to getting to know you and assisting you
and your child.
2012-2013 Walnut Bend Events
August
20th -23rd
 22th Meet the Teacher & Tool Up
Night (5:00 to 7:00)
27nd First Day of School Parent Coffee
September
3rd Labor Day No School
5th PK-1st Orientation (6:00)
6th 2nd-5th Orientation (6:00)
10th First PTO Meeting
17th No School
19th SDMC Meeting
28th Family Bingo Night
October
17th SDMC Meeting
23rd 4th & 5th Grade Program
24th Early Dismissal (1:05)
19th SDMC Meeting
26th Individual Pictures
29th Turn in Pumpkins for Pumpkin
Contest
31st Character Parade
November
10th Fall Festival (11:00 to 2:00)
12th PTO Meeting (6:30)
14th Early Dismissal
21st-23rd Thanksgiving Holiday
28th SDMC Meeting
December
7th Santa Pictures
18th 2nd-3rd Grade Program
19th SDMC Meeting
20th PTO Christmas Teacher Luncheon
21st Class Parties
24th Winter Break Begins
January
8th School Begins
14th PTO Meeting (6:30)
21st No School
23rd SDMC Meeting
30th Early Dismissal
February
8th Class Pictures
19th- 22nd Book Fair
 19th K- 1st Program
 21st Reading Night
20th Early Dismissal 1:05
27th SDMC Meeting
March
4th PTO Meeting (6:30)
11th-15th Spring Break
20th SDMC Meeting
29th No school
April
2nd STAAR Testing (4th & 5th Grade)
3rd STAAR Testing (4th & 5th Grade)
17h SDMC Meeting
23rd STAAR Testing (3rd & 4th Grade)
24th STAAR Testing (3rd, 4th & 5th Grades)
May
6th- 10th Teacher Appreciation Week
 10th Teacher luncheon
13th PTO Meeting
23rd Environmental Science Expo
27th Memorial Day No School
June
6th Last Day of School
PTO Board and Committee Chairs
PTO Board
President:
Jennifer Marlowe
832-837-9176
st
1 Vice President:
Kay Schneider
713-532-6432
nd
2 Vice President:
Amy Vogel
713-705-0927
Treasurer:
Penny Blair
281-831-5250
Corresponding Secretary:
Helena Epps
281-799-9653
Recording Secretary:
Kristen Berglund
713-398-8947
Parliamentarian:
Janice Anderson
jennmarlowe@hotmail.com
schneide.mark@sbcglobal.net
amysvogel@hotmail.com
penny@kenblair.com
devocean2@hotmail.com
kristen_berglund@att.net
Janice_anderson@yahoo.com
Committee Chairs
Book Fair
Chair: Melissa Berry
Box Tops
Chair: Melissa Berry
713-898-5896
mberry96@hotmail.com
713-898-5896
mberry96@hotmail.com
Copy Club
Chair: Open
Fall Festival
Chairs:
Toni Niece (donations)
Kay Schneider (games)
Kristen Berglund (publicity)
Jennifer Marlowe (volunteers)
Family Bingo Night
Chairs: Karen Wallace
Fundraising
Chair: Toni Niece
281-435-5963
tniece@sbcglobal.net
schneide.mark@sbcglobal.net
kristen_berglund@att.net
jennmarlowe@hotmail.com
kdewallace@yahoo.com
tniece@sbcglobal.net
Grade Level Chairs
Chair Overseer:
Kristen Berglund
713-398-8947
kristen_berglund@att.net
Kindergarten
1. Melissa Berry
713-898-5896
mberry96@hotmail.com
First Grade
1. Kristen Berglund
2. Jennifer Marlowe
713-398-8947
832-837-9176
kristen_berglund@att.net
Jennmarlowe@hotmail.com
Second Grade
1. Karen Wallace
281-435-5963
kdewallace@yahoo.com
Third Grade
1. Amy Vogel
713-705-0927
amysvogel@hotmail.com
281-799-9653
713-725-2499
devocean2@hotmail.com
dmgbrown@gmail.com
713-532-6432
schneide.mark@sbcglobal.net
Pre K (Open)
Fourth Grade
1. Helena Epps
2. Diana Brown
Fifth Grade
1. Kay Schneider
Hospitality
Back to School Breakfast
Melissa Sale
Holiday Teacher Luncheon
Christina Filkins
832-272-8863
Teacher Appreciation Week
Kay Schneider
713-532-6432
Publicity
Chair: Jennifer Marlowe
School Store
Chair: Liz Beal
832-837-9176
mlsale@sbcglobal.net
cfilkinsmay2000@hotmail.com
schneide.mark@sbcglobal.net
jennmarlowe@hotmail.com
lizbeal@hotmail.com
Tool Up
Chair: Janice Anderson
janice_anderson@yahoo.com
PTO Standing Committees
Committee
Fall Festival
Purpose
A fall festival is held in November. It is one of our bigger
fundraisers. Lots of volunteers are needed to help work the
different booths and carnival games. The committee also
works to solicit area businesses for donations and
underwriting of the event.
Book Fair
The annual Book Fair promotes reading and enriches the
library and classrooms through book donations and funds
raised through book sales. Volunteers are needed for set-up
and closing, as well as to work shifts throughout the Fair.
Box
Tops
for Funds are raised by redeeming “box top” coupons from
Education
certain products. Also, Walnut Bend can be specified as the
beneficiary of purchase credits from certain on-line retailers.
Grade
Level The Grade-Level chair is responsible for coordinating certain
Chairs
classroom and school events.
The Grade-Level chair
-Pre K
coordinates the two class parties (winter holiday party and
-Kindergarden
end of the year party). The grade level chair helps coordinate
st
-1 grade
classroom help as needed for the grade level teachers and
-2nd grade
finds volunteers to watch the classrooms during the teacher
rd
-3 grade
holiday luncheon and teacher appreciation luncheon. The
-4th grade
grade level chair is responsible for sending out all
th
-5 grade
correspondence to the parents for their grade level. Finally,
the grade level chairs for Pre-K, K, 1st and 2nd grades are
responsible for coordinating the stuffing of Wednesday
folders each week (Wednesday folders contain informational
material for parents from teachers, school administration,
PTO and HISD).
Hospitality
The committee is responsible for coordinating PTOsponsored teacher breakfasts and luncheons, as well as
teacher appreciation week.
The committee provides
decorations and refreshments for PTO functions and events as
determined by the executive committee. Volunteers are
needed to provide food, to set up for events, and to serve as
hosts/hostesses.
Product
Sales The product sales fundraiser is a major PTO fundraiser.
Fundraiser
Students sell products (cookie dough, wrapping paper, etc)
with a percentage of the total product being rebated to the
PTO. Volunteers are needed to assist with distributing
fundraiser information to students, collecting and proofing
order forms, and distributing filled orders to students.
Publicity
School Store
Fundraising
Committee
Tool Up
Xeroxing/Teacher
Resources
Web Site
Write and distribute stories and/or photos about Walnut
Bend or its students to area publications (newspapers,
neighborhood newsletters, etc.) Volunteers are need to
develop and help distribute appropriate articles.
Students can buy school supplies, Walnut Bend T-shirts and
other school merchandise at the school store. The school
store is open before the end of school on Fridays and during
school wide events.
The fundraising committee will assist in developing
partnerships with area businesses. Solicit donations for
various PTO events. Manage the publicising and coordination
of “Walnut Bend” nights at area resturants .
Tool –Up occurs during the week before the start of the new
school year. The PTO arranges for the easy purchase of school
supplies for students in all grades. Parents can purchase the
required supplies and have them delivered to their student’s
homeroom during the first week of school. Volunteers are
needed to staff the various tables at Tool-Up and assist with
the distribution of supplies to the classroom.
Assist teachers with Xeroxing of classroom materials and
preparation of other miscellaneous teaching items, to allow
teachers more time to concentrate on lesson planning.
Volunteers are needed to work shifts each school day.
Maintain the PTO page on the Walnut Bend school website.
The Who, What, When, Where, Why
and How of Walnut Bend...
Answers to some of the most often-asked questions of Walnut Bend parents. For additional not
answered here, please contact the school office, your Grade Level Chair or any of the PTO Board
Members.
 Who
…do I contact if my child is having a problem at school?
Generally, your first contact should always be your child’s teacher.
Call or email your child’s teacher when the problem initially arises. Your call
or email will be returned as soon as possible. In addition, Walnut Bend has a
very concerned administrative staff that may also be contacted, as well
access to numerous other specialists. For problems that are not as serious, it
may be appropriate to simply write a note to the teacher in your child’s
Agenda Book.
...do I contact if I have a question about a class party or
special event?
Contact the grade level chair. They coordinate the class parties and
special events for the grade level.
…do I contact if my child has an after-school activity?
Send a note to your child’s teacher (via the Agenda Book) if your child
is going home with a friend or participating in an after-school activity that
requires a change in their daily routine. The child’s teacher must be notified
by 2 PM any day there is a change in the normal after-school routine.
 What
… is Tool Up?
The week before the start of school, PTO conducts “Tool Up” an
opportunity for parents and students to get ready for the start of school.
Students can purchase all the required school supplies for their respective
grade level in convenient pre-packaged bundle and have the school supplies
delivered to their homerooms on the first day of school. Parents can also
obtain car pool numbers. Tool up is a great opportunity for you and your
child to take care of many necessary tasks associated with the beginning of
school. This year Tool Up will be held on:
 Monday August 20th 9:00 to 12:00
 Tuesday August 21st 9:00 to 12:00
 Wednesday August 22nd 5:00 to 7:00
 Thursday August 23rd 9:00 to 12:00
…Clothing and Supplies will my child need to start the school
year?
Your child’s Agenda book has a section in the front that outlines the
dress code for all students. A Walnut Bend T-shirt for field trips and spirit
days is very popular. Almost all students utilize a backpack-it should be large
enough to hold weekly folders, a lunchbox, and a few library books. If
classroom supplies were not purchased through the PTO at Tool-Up, a list of
needed supplies is available from the office and on the schools website.
…is the Agenda Book?
The PTO supplies every child at Walnut Bend with an Agenda Book. It
is a valuable information resource, and you should take time to become
familiar with it. In the front of the Agenda Book is a section with information
on school policies and procedures. There is also a school calendar, with a
detailed listing of school functions and events. The bulk of the agenda book
consists of a day-by-day organizer. Students use the Agenda Book to record
their daily homework assignments. Teachers send notes to parents via the
Agenda Book, and vice-versa. It is good to get in the habit of checking your
child’s Agenda Book each and every day. Many teachers request that the
parents initial the Agenda Book each day to ensure necessary communication
is occurring.
…time does school start and end?
The first bell rings at 7:25 am, and all students are expected to be
seated in their classroom by the time of the tardy bell at 7:35 am. Students
arriving after the tardy bell must report to the Main Office and receive a
tardy slip. After the third tardy slip, the parents will be contacted to try to
remedy the late arrivals. After six tardy slips, the student will be assigned
after-school detention.
The dismissal bell at the end of the day rings at 2:45pm.
… is Eagle’s Nest?
Walnut Bend Elementary Eagle’s Nest is an after-school program
(until as late as 6:00pm) that provides a safe, fun, and well-supervised
environment where a variety of activities enhance each student’s academic
performance, increase self esteem, promote healthy lifestyle choices.
Academics are reinforced through study hall and assistance with homework.
Enrichment classes in dance, science, art and sports will be offered at an
additional cost. Space in Eagle’s Nest is limited sign up will be held at tool up.
…events at the beginning of the school year are the most
important for parent to attend?
There are three key events during the first month of school. The first
is Tool-Up, which occurs the week before school starts (see FAQ above). This
year, on Wednesday , August 22nd , all students are invited to a Popsicle Party
during the evening session of Tool-Up, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. During the
social, parents and students will have an opportunity to tour the new school
building and familiarize themselves with the school. The second event is
Orientation Night for your child’s grade. Orientation Night will be on
September 5th for Pre-K-1, September 6th for 2nd -5th grades. This is an
excellent opportunity for your to meet your child’s teacher, for you to learn a
bit about what your child will be doing and learning during the school year,
and for your to ask any questions you have of your child’s teacher or of the
school’s administrators. The third event is the PTO general meeting on
September 10th at 6:30. This meeting is an opportunity for you to meet the
members of the PTO, to hear the PTO’s plans for the school year, and to learn
about volunteer opportunities within the PTO. The PTO plays an important
role in improving the educational experience for all the children at Walnut
Bend, and our goal is to have as many parents as possible working toward
that goal.
These are the most important events that parents should try to attend.
There may be others for your child’s class or grade level. Notices for other
events will come home in your child’s Wednesday folder.
...is the Wednesday folder?
Each Wednesday, your child will bring home a special folder. It may
contain notices from the teacher, the grade-level chair, the school
administration, PTO, and/or the school district (HISD). Be sure to check
your child’s Wednesday folder each week, to be sure that you do not
miss out on important information.
…is the Nature Center
The Nature Center is Walnut Bend Elementary School’s outdoor
classroom. Along with teaching about growing plants for food in our
vegetable garden, teachers can expand on the lessons taught in the classroom
in many subjects, including writing and social studies. The Nature Center
runs on donations of money and labor. We have volunteer workdays for the
community to come out and help. Keep an eye out for notices! Be a part of
making something fun and beautiful!
…does joining the PTO involve?
It’s simple and painless! All you have to do is sign up, either at ToolUp, returning the forms that are sent home at the beginning of the year in the
Wednesday folder, or any time during the school year (just contact any PTO
officer), and pay your annual dues ($10 per family). Joining the PTO is
important, as it shows that you support the PTO’s efforts to work with the
teachers and administration to make Walnut Bend the best school it can be.
Once you’ve joined the PTO, your level of involvement in PTO activities is
entirely up to you. Some parents have more free time, and are very heavily
involved in multiple PTO committees and activities. We love them! Other
parents have less free time, and we’ll see them mainly at school functions.
We love them, too! The important thing is to join the PTO. We need
everyone’s support!
…are the most important “Don’t Miss” activities with my
child?
There are many activities to share with your child during the year.
Your child’s teacher will notify you of specific classroom and grade-level
activities throughout the year. Ask the teacher to tell you which events are
important for a parent or close family friend to attend. The school weekly
newsletter will also provide information on upcoming events.
…should I do if my child requires medication during the
school day?
HISD policy states: “School personnel are NOT to administer medical
treatment or medication, including over-the-counter drugs”. If your child is
on a short-term medication, such as an antibiotic, please schedule the
dosages so that your child receives a morning dose at home and the
remaining dose(s) when s/he returns home from school in the afternoon.
Please cooperate with the school by following the above guidelines. The
health and safety of your child(ren) are our prime concern.
Prescription medication can be administered at school only when
advance written parental and physician permission is on file. HISD Form
#40.3740, which is available from the school nurse, must be signed and on
filed before any long-term medication may be given. Only personnel
designated by the principal may administer prescribed medication to a
student during the school day. For additional information, please contact the
school nurse.
..should I do in case of severe weather?
In the event of weather so severe that there is a possibility that
schools may be closed, parents are asked to stay tuned to the radio or
television for updates from HISD administration. In addition, Walnut Bend
can automatically send out a recorded telephone message to all parents. (For
this, and many other reasons, it is important that the school have an up-todate phone number for each student.) You may also call the HISD weather
hotline at 713-267-1704. Parents are asked to please NOT call the school. If
the school is to be closed, the decision and announcement will be made prior
to 6:30 am.
The school is not authorized to dismiss school early unless so directed
by HISD administration.
 When
…can my child celebrate his/her birthday?
Many parents arrange for a celebration of their child’s birthday at
school. A small celebration within the classroom or playground is allowed,
but must take place after the final lunch period of the day. Parents may bring
an appropriate snack or treat (cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, etc are OK, but
candy is not permitted, due to HISD’s policy on healthy food consumption at
school). Check with your child’s teacher a week or so in advance to arrange
for an appropriate time and place (and to learn of any classmates with food
allergies or other dietary constraints).
…can I have lunch with my child?
Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child any day. Be sure to
sign in at the school office and get a visitor’s nametag before meeting your
child in the school cafeteria at the designated lunch time. If the weather is
cooperative, parents can take their child (plus one additional classmate)
outside to eat on the picnic tables at the outside entrance to the cafeteria.
(Note: Food purchased at a restaurant, for example, McDonald’s cannot be
brought into the cafeteria. It may be eaten outside at the picnic tables.) Since
lunch time is relatively brief, parents are asked to not take their child off
campus for lunch.
***Please note, a driver’s license or official identification card is
required by each adult visitor to enter the school. This card will be scanned
and reviewed by the Main Office to create an identification badge for each
visitor.***
 Where
…is Walnut Bend’s website?
The school website address is: www.walnutbendelementary.com
The website is a great starting point for other questions you may have. We
are continually adding more information to the website so be sure to check it
periodically. If there is additional information you would like to see posted
on the website, please let our website coordinator know.
…can I purchase school supplies and school t-shirts?
The Walnut Bend School Store will be open one morning and
one afternoon weekly for making purchases of school supplies, spirit shirts,
and other spirit novelties. The school store is sponsored by the PTO and run
by volunteers along with 5th grade students managing store operations.
 How
… will my child’s teacher communicate with me?
Your child’s teacher will send home important information and
homework with your child via the Wednesday folder and the homework
folder, respectively. If your child’s teacher wants to schedule a conference or
has a question for your, he/she may call your or write a note in your child’s
Agenda Book. If you have a question for the teacher you may also write a
note in the Agenda Book.
…can I set up a conference with my child’s teacher?
To request a conference, write a note in your child’s Agenda Book, email your child’s teacher, or leave a phone message at the school office. The
teacher will get back with you to set up a time you can both meet (generally
either during the teacher’s planning period, or after school.) Please
understand that car pool times and class events are not conference times.
Scheduled conferences take place twice each year.
…does my child purchase a school lunch?
Students may either bring money each day they wish to purchase a
school lunch, or you can pre-pay your child’s lunch online at
www.parentonline.net . You will need your child’s student ID to register but
once you have signed up you can put as much money as you like in their
account. You can monitor the choices they are making in the cafeteria as well
as have the website send you a reminder when their account balance is low.
For the 2012-2013 school year, breakfasts are free for every student.
Lunches are $2.25 regular price or $0.40 for reduced price. Your child can
also purchase additional items such as ice cream, chips, drinks etc. which
range from $0.25 - $1.75.
…are field lessons handled?
Field lesson permission slips will come home in your child’s weekly
folder, usually two to three weeks in advance of the field lesson. All students
are transported on HISD school buses. Parents are encouraged to assist in
chaperoning field lessons. You can sign up to be a chaperone using your
child’s permission slip for the field lesson. Prior to chaperoning, parents
must complete a background check and be approved. The background check
form can be picked up at the school office or on this HISD website
(www.hisd.org). The completed form and documentation should be turned
into the school office. Teachers will receive a list of approved chaperones.
…do I get my child’s birthday announced on the marquee?
The general sign-up occurs as part of the during the September Family
Bingo Night and parents contribute $15 to have their child’s name
announced on the school marquee on the week of their birthday. If you don’t
make it to family fun night, you can send a note with your child’s birth date,
accompanied by $15, to school or drop it off at the front desk. You should
make the request at least two weeks prior to your child’s birthday.
…do I volunteer for a PTO activity?
If you see a particular PTO committee or activity that you would be
interested in volunteering for, we would love to have you! We really, really
need more people to help with the activities that we have committed to
support for 2012 – 2013. The simplest way to get involved is to call or e-mail
any of the PTO officers. The time commitment required for our many
volunteer opportunities spans a wide range (anywhere from an hour or two
a week, to an hour every other week, to a couple of hours once every month
or two), so hopefully you can find something that works for you. The folks in
the PTO are really pretty friendly, and we have a lot of fun with all the
activities we’re involved with for the school.
…are teacher gifts handled?
Teacher gifts from individual students generally are given before the
December holidays and/or at the end of the school year. Each family has its
own unique way of giving – some children make their own gifts or bake
something. Others may purchase a gift. How or what you or your child do is
up to you.
…do I keep up with all the information that comes home from
school?
First off, parents are strongly encouraged to read all the information
that comes home from school. Your child’s teacher, the school office, the
Principal, and HISD will all be sending home information for you to read
and/or forms for you to complete at various times during the school year.
The best way to stay on top of your child’s education is to be familiar with
what is happening at school.
Having said that, here are three suggestions for keeping up with all
the paperwork.
 Keep a school calendar in a convenient location in your house so you can
readily see what events and activities are upcoming.
 Since most information comes home in the Wednesday folder, try to set
aside 15 minutes on Wednesday evening to go through everything.
 Keep a separate folder, notebook or file for information pertaining to
each child.