1. Art and Diseño

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ISSUE NO. 5
February 1, 2015
February Highlights
Block House Creek
Elementary
401 Creek Run
Leander, TX 78641
Phone: (512) 570570-7600
Fax: (512) 570570-7605
Attendance: (512) 570570-7628
bhc.leanderisd.org
Those Bears are at it again!
Count the paws and check
your answer on the back
What’s Insid
e:
From The Principal
P. 2
Library News
P. 3
Upcoming Events
P. 5
Bear Essentials
P. 6-7
Counselor Corner
P. 9
PTA Positions
P.12-13
Movie Night
P. 14
Valentine’s Flowers
P. 15
PTA Board Members P. 12
What an amazing half of the year. I cannot
believe February is already here. I want to
thank our PTA Board and all of our awesome volunteers for all they have done.
The teachers, staff and PTA would like to
thank all our volunteers with a breakfast on
February 13th. Without you we would not
be able to put on events or support our
teachers in the classrooms. So keep up
the good work.
It is that time again to start thinking about
our 2015 – 2016 PTA Board. If you or
someone you know is interested in getting
more involved now is the time to join.
There are many board positions open so
you can pick the level of involvement you
would like. Most of the current board
members are full time working parents and
some are even students furthering their
education. Please check out this newsletter and your Wednesday folders to see
what we have available. It is vital to the
success of our BHC PTA to have new members each year. Our nominating committee
consists of Ashlea Lee, Shannon Skolaut,
Christina Hansanuwat and Macy
Beauchamp. If you have any questions
regarding the board positions please contact
them or anyone else on the board. Our next
General meeting and movie night will be March
27th at 6:30 p.m. Please come and find out
what you can do to help our school. I truly hope
you consider joining our fun group of parents.
WE NEED YOU!!!
Keep saving your Box Tops!! The next Box Top
Collection Contest ends on February 20th. Our
school earns 10 cents for every Box Top we
turn in. Those dimes add up fast! We made
$1,148.00 for our Art Department last fall.
Let’s push for more during our spring collection.
Proceeds will go to help the school get new
radios for safety.
Our next event is Valentine’s Day Flowers. Valentine Flowers are on sale now! The deadline
for ordering flowers is February 11th, no exceptions. There are a limited number of flowers
available, so be sure to order yours ASAP. All
flower orders will be delivered on Friday, February 13th, at the end of the day. Order yours
today!
Thank you for a great year!
Tori Kenney
PTA President
Reminder from School Administration:
After the 7:45 tardy bell, students MUST be dropped
off at the front of the school. The parent drive
through doors lock automatically at that time. School
Administration has observed numerous students being dropped off only to be locked out of the building.
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FROM THE DESK OF DR. CADY . . .
Wow! I can’t believe how quickly the first semester has gone by. I have just a couple of reminders
for this month’s news. To begin, all classrooms have just completed their first semester benchmark tests. Please review your student’s testing data that is coming home so you are able to provide additional support for areas needing continued work.
Another mid-year reminder is to encourage all parents dropping students off at school in the
morning to remember that the front drive through area is for day care vans and buses only. Students are to be
dropped off either in back parent drive through lanes (where safety patrol members assist exiting cars) or in the
front of the school along the curb near flag poles.
In February we will practice all our yearly drills again. Students will practice lock down, tornado and fire drill at different dates during the month. As an additional reminder, in the event of bad weather during the school day only
those individuals listed on your student’s emergency list will be able to check students out from school. Please go
to TxConnect to update your current information as well as the people listed for emergency purposes.
Dr. Deana Cady
Principal
Send BOX TOPS in by Feb 20th!
Order your Valentine’s Day Flowers by Feb. 11th. Supplies are limited. Order TODAY!
10 cents for every one collected!!!
Proceeds will go to new 2-way radios for the
school’s safety updates.
Last collection raised $1,148 for the Art Department! Way to go BHCE!!
Please make sure they are trimmed and not expired.
PTA members:
Don’t Forget—
Bhc Pta
Spirit Day Friday!!!
Spirit Wear On-Sale Now!!!
GET YOUR NEW BHC SPIRIT WEAR!
Order ONON-LINE or watch for order forms with prices & details!
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All classes will be conducting some aspect of research this 9 wks. Some of the research skills to be taught (depending on the grade level) are:
Navigating the library databases, evaluating valid & credible online resources, using a book’s text features such as table of contents, index,
captions, glossary, etc. to find information. Other research skills are note taking, summarizing, keyboard shortcuts, searching strategies.
5th grade is exploring possible careers with Ms. Mercer & Ms. Rausch. After choosing one career to research, the students will be presenting their
info. in a Google Presentation.
4th grade is choosing a famous Texan to research. The biography facts they find out will be used to write a speech in their Lang. Arts class. This will
be their biographical character to be presented in the Spring 4th grade Show-Off play with Ms. Loesch.
3rd grade researching a Science topic in lib. classes. 2nd grade will be researching biographies
1st grade will researching animals, using the library’s new database, PebbleGo. Kindergarten will be researching Rainforest animals.
Newsletter Available Online at www.bhc.leanderisd.org
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Watch for info on Dine-Out Nights Supporting BHC !
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BHC Bulletin Board
UPCOMING EVENTS
STAFF BIRTHDAYS
Feb
3
Feb
Suzie Marksbury (PT)
10 Angela Newberry (PE)
2-3
No School! Staff Development Days
2-6
Counselor Appreciation Week
19 Wendy Mask (3rd)
6
K-2 Rouse HS Play
20 Kelly Elliott (Secretary)
10
PTA Mtg 6pm in Portables
11
Valentine’s Day Flowers Orders DUE
13
Spring Picture Day
13
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
20 Libby Reeves (2nd)
22 Donna Reynolds (Dyslexia)
23 Jennifer Wellbrock (Kinder)
Classroom Valentine’s Day Parties
13
Flowers delivered
19
Fuel Up to Play 360 Meeting
20
Box Tops Collection Date
PTA members:
Bhc Pta
http://bhce.my-pta.org/
Newsletter Online at : www.bhc.leanderisd.org
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Kinder Team:
Greetings, Kindergarten Parents!
Thank you to all of the Kinder parents who volunteered their time and resources for our holiday celebration! We hope that you had a
fun and relaxing winter break with your students.
This month in math, we will continue to explore teen numbers. We will learn multiple methods of solving addition and subtraction
problems within 10. We will classify and sort two- and three-dimensional shapes. We will also collect, sort, and organize data into
three categories and use this data to create picture graphs.
In phonics, we will continue to sound out and write words using letter sounds and begin exploring word families.
We will complete a Jan Brett author study in Language Arts this month and utilize her books to make predictions and retell the main
events and important facts in text.
This month in science, we will begin our new module, "Move It!" Students will explore objects in order to understand that matter has
properties and can be manipulated through force, motion, and energy.
In social studies, students will explore our state and national heritage by examining the celebration of patriotic holidays and the contributions of individuals. Students will learn about historical figures that have contributed to the community, state, and nation and
how good citizens shape the community.
We hope to see you at our Valentine's Day party on February 13th.
First Grade: First graders worked hard in com- Third Grade:Hello Parents! Here are some of
pleting the middle of the year testing. Each child strived to do their
best during this testing period.
This month First Graders will be learning about:
* Science: Fur, Feet, Feathers and Fins
* Social Studies: National Patriotism
* Writing: Descriptive words in our writing.
the skills we’ll be working on to begin our 3rd 9 weeks!
Our BIG Math goals for this 9 weeks are for students to...
* write numbers in expanded notation (129= 100+20+9)
* relationships amongst coins (i.e using different coins to equal 10
cents)
•
How do people, organisms, and events change the envi
ment?
•
Why is it important to interact responsibly with the environment?
In Social Studies we’ll be starting an integrated unit with science
called “Earth’s Interactions.” The Social Studies part of this unit will
focus on the people, and how they adapt to the physical environment
they live in, as well as, how people affect the environment. Some
questions to ask your child during this unit are:
ron-
The Science part of “Earth’s Interactions” will focus on the physical
You can practice these skills at home to help your child be success- land and the different natural events that cause it to change. . Some
questions to ask your child during this unit are:
ful!
• What impact do rapid changes in the Earth’s surface have on land
Second Grade: So much has been going on in 2
and communities?
nd
grade already in 2015! The students are having a great time as civil engineers exploring the engineering design process while learning about types
and properties of matter. Be sure to ask your child to tell you what he/she
has learned about matter, bridges, types of bridges and other structures.
Students have recently designed, built, modified and tested bridge models
to hold as much weight as possible.
This month, students are currently in the process of choosing and researching an important person in history, or a person still living, that has made a
positive impact on society in some way. This research project will culminate with our 2nd Grade Living Museum Night on February 26th from 6:007:00. Students will be presenting, in character, all they have learned from
their research.
•
What changes the environment (patterns)?
During Reading, we’ll begin learning about tall tales, fables, legends,
and myths. Some questions to ask during this unit are:
•
How are cultural beliefs and values portrayed in traditional literature?
•
In what ways do folktales, tall tales, fables, myths, and legends
impact cultures?
Finally, in Math we’ll begin our 9 weeks by reviewing multiplication,
and bringing in and focusing on how it relates division. Here are a
couple of questions to ask your child during this unit:
As you read with your children each day, be sure to engage them in discus- •
sions about what they are reading including the setting, character names
and listing events of the story in order. Much time will be spent this semester helping our 2nd grade readers to be able to effectively communicate, •
in writing, about what they are reading.
How does knowing my multiplication facts help me with division
facts?
How are sharing and grouping in division the same and different?
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Fourth Grade:
Fifth Grade: Look What’s Going on in Fifth
Grade:
“Children must be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think.” In Social Studies, your child will be learning about the conflicts
—Margaret Mead
that led up to the Revolutionary War. Students will understand that
Be sure to be asking your fourth grader “Why?” questions. It is assistance from allies, knowledge of terrain, military tactics, and
the surest way to get them thinking and possibly come up with
motivation allowed a weaker and less powerful army to win and
their own answers. We, as teachers, spend a lot of time teaching the result of this war had global implications.
children HOW to think. Thinking is the driving force in educaIn Science, students will develop a deeper understanding of the
tion.
Earth and its relationship with the Sun and Moon. Students will
During the months of January and February, fourth graders will build on their understanding of how forces cause change to the
continue to work on mastery of math facts (0-12). Flash cards,
Earth’s surface over time. They will also construct knowledge
practice sheets, card games, etc. are some great ways to reinabout Earth’s resources and their responsibility to preserve them
force those basic skills. You can even visit some of the fourth
for future generations.
grade teachers’ websites for some interactive games and practice for math skills, science concepts and reading/writing prac- Language Arts will be focusing on biographies and autobiographies. Authors of biographies gather insight on their topic by ustice. The more they practice their skills, the better.
ing a collection of information from interviews, journals and letEvery child should be reading and writing daily. Although we
ters. Authors write an autobiography based on a personal aspect of
spend lots of time on both of these at school, it never hurts to get their life in which they may look at letters, journals, and diaries to
in that extra practice at home. Keep telling your students child- include as snippets within their autobiography.
hood memories of your own or refresh their memory of imporIn Math, your child will be extending their learning of multiplicatant events in their lives.
tion and division of fractions. They will also work on graphing,
Fourth graders will hear from some authors in the next few
geometry and volume. A huge focal area this 9-weeks, will also
months and hopefully be inspired with some great ideas and
be personal financial literacy. The students will gain a better unmore writing tools to add to their toolkits!
derstanding of how to manage one’s financial resources effectively
in order to be financially secure when they get out into the real
world. Some of these areas will be to understand different types
P.E.: Jump Rope for Heart gets started this month! We are of taxes, types of income, the advantages and disadvantages of
different payment methods, keeping financial records and balancjoining schools across the country to focus our students, staff
ing a simple budget. These concepts could really lead to some
and families around Heart Disease. Students and their families
great conversations at home and the opportunity for your child to
can raise money for the American Heart Association online at
www.heart.org/jump or by downloading the app. On your smart learn from your personal experiences.
phone or tablet, search jump/hoops in your App Store. We also
Arts 5th grade has launched into an exearn PE equipment that helps us keep fitness fun for your kids! Performing Arts:
citing (and loud) recorder unit! You can still buy recorders from
Thank you for your participation!
Ms. Loesch for $5.
Art: 5th grade is tackling Picasso cubism style self portraits
with acrylic paint.
4th grade is beginning the early stages of researching and learning
about their character for our Texas themed Show Off Night in
May.
4th grade is studying chuck Close style abstract self portraits
using a grid.
3rd grade is learning about Technical Designers in Performing Arts
such as, Scene Design, Choreographer, Directing, Composing, and
Costume Design.
3rd and 2nd grade are wrapping up the Sleeping Gypsy mixed
media project.
2nd grade is studying Carnival of the Animals and the poetry of
Ogden Nash in preparation for a unit on public speaking.
K and 1st grade are finishing Jim Dine Valentine Art before
starting to work with clay.
First Grade is studying Peter and the Wolf to learn about instruments and their voices, as well as, dynamics!
http://bhce.my-pta.org/
Kindergarten is studying Carnival of the Animals as
an introduction to the musical families. We are also
talking about dynamics like Presto/Largo, Piano/
Forte.
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Newsletter Online at : www.bhc.leanderisd.org
The LISD "Clothes Closet" is a service program supported by the
generous donations of businesses or individuals from our community
and LISD school PTA drives. The Clothes Closet operates by friendly,
helpful LISD PTA volunteers. The Purpose of the Clothes Closet is to
provide gently worn, clean, school clothing as well as brand new
underwear and socks to students that will appropriately fit a child
between the ages of 4-18 or pre-K thru high school.
LISD Clothes Closet Coordinator: Abbie Williams [email protected]
Find us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LeanderISD-Clothes-Closet/190480951015679
Address: 300 West Drive, Leander, TX 78641
Normal hours of operation during the school year are every Tuesday
from 10am - 12pm and one Saturday a month, from 10am-12pm.
The Clothes Closet is closed on school holidays and bad weather
days.
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School Counselor Notes:
In February, BHC students will be doing the “Fill the Bucket Challenge”. Students will have a sheet of buckets to
color in when they fill others’ buckets. If they complete the sheet in the month of February, their sheet will be
added to the “BHC Bucket Hall of Fame” and they will receive a small prize. The challenge is based on the book,
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Students have learned how kindness fills others’ buckets as well as their own.
Meanness dips into others’ buckets as well as their own. I encourage families to continue this concept at home. Discuss ways that you fill and dip into buckets at home.
Kindness Week is February 9-13. The C2 Club will be doing fun activities with the school to celebrate this week!
MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION
The 5 Grade students will be visiting Wiley Middle School on March 12th for the 5th Grade M.S. Orientation. Students will be
transported by bus to Wiley M.S. They will learn about the school, experience lunch, and create their schedule for next year. More
information will be coming home prior to the visit. If your student will be attending a different middle school, please contact Ms.
Mercer as soon as possible. She will make sure you have information regarding that school’s orientation. (Parents must provide
transportation for students attending another school’s orientation.)
th
TESTING DAYS- *please note that there has been a change in 5th grade Math testing days:
March 30 & 31: 4th Grade Writing STAAR Testing (two days)
March 31: 5th Grade Reading STAAR Testing
April 21: 3rd & 4th & 5th Grades Math* STAAR Testing
April 22: 3rd & 4th Grades Reading STAAR Testing, 5th Grade Science STAAR Testing
May 12- 5th Grade Reading STAAR Re-Testing
Make-up testing for absent students will be during the 1-2 days after the regular testing days
Please be aware that on STAAR testing days we will not be able to have visitors on campus. This affects all grade levels. Please do
not plan on eating with your children or volunteering on these days, except for STAAR Hallway Monitors. If you are interested in
being a hallway monitor, please contact Ms. Mercer at [email protected].
If a student leaves school once testing has begun, they will not be able to finish the test later. If a student arrives late, they may not
be able to take the test. Please do not plan any appointments for your child on testing dates.
To help your child have a successful testing day:
Limit activities the night before
Get a good night’s sleep
Eat a healthy breakfast (don’t load up on carbs like pancakes that put the mind to sleep)
Wear comfortable clothes
Arrive to school on time
Bring a water bottle and books to read if finished with testing (we are unable to disturb classrooms so please don’t bring items
to be delivered during the day)
Thank you for helping BHC have successful testing days!
BACKPACK PROGRAM DONATIONS
We continue to collect items for the Leander ISD Backpack Program. Please consider donating to this program that provides food
for our students who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend. Items may be dropped off at the front office. When donating
items, please keep in mind that individual servings and easy open (or pop-top) cans are preferable.
Starred (*) items are the most needed items.
*Cereal (individual servings that can be eaten without milk), Instant oatmeal, Nutrigrain bars, *Pop-tarts, Fruit cups / Applesauce
cups, Individually wrapped snack items (goldfish, granola bars, crackers), Ramen Noodles (with or without vegetables), *Easy Mac
(macaroni & cheese), *Hormel microwave meals, *Canned soup / stew (pop-tops preferred), *Chili (pop-tops preferred),
*Spaghettio’s / Ravioli (pop-tops preferred), Instant rice / potatoes, Canned chicken / tuna, Peanut butter (no glass), Jelly (no glass)
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Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
For more info go to:
http://www.engr.utexas.edu/wep/k12/girlday
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The PTA needs YOU!
Joining does not require a huge time commitment. Give as much of your time and talents
as you are able to. Everything helps! Support
your school in a meaningful way. Be part of
the decision making process. Help decide on
events and where raised funds go. You can
make a difference!
Grandparents welcome!
Being a PTA member comes with perks! Here are some
companies that provide discounts to members!
Check out the positions that make up the
PTA on the following pages. See if one fits
your areas of interests. Make use of your
unique talents and gifts!
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PTA Board Elections for the 2015-2016 School Year
Nominations to be made at the March 27th General Meeting
Elections to be held at the April 13th General Meeting
If you are interested in a board position please let one of our Nomination Committee members know or contact
any board member. All nominations need to be turned in by March 20th. The Nomination Committee consists
of the following people:
Ashlea Lee
[email protected]
Shannon Skolaut
[email protected]
Christine Hansanuwat
[email protected]
Alternate
Macy Beauchamp
[email protected]
Here is a list of positions and a little about each position. Each board member takes on other responsibilities on
top of what is said below. The board meets about once per month starting in May 2015 and in the summer
months has planning meetings to decide what activities to do during the year and who will help with the
activities. You must be a current PTA member to be elected and all board members must join PTA for the year
in which they serve on the board.
The following are positions that are elected by the General membership at the meeting. Also listed are the
Committee Coordinator positions the new board appoints at their May meeting. All Coordinator positions can
have committee members with them to help out.
President - The presiding officer of the PTA, directing the executive and the general meetings and will oversee
Plans of Work from the board members. The President accepts fiduciary responsibility of the PTA. We prefer
that the incoming President be familiar with PTA procedures and it would be most beneficial if they have
served on a PTA board.
Vice Presidents - We can have up to 4 Vice Presidents. They act as an aid to the President and support each
other.
Secretary - Responsible for keeping accurate records of all business transacted at each executive and general
meeting of the PTA
Treasurer - The custodian of the funds for the PTA, receiving and distributing all funds according to the
bylaws and approved budget. This officer will keep detailed records of sales tax due and file all appropriate
forms with the IRS. The Treasurer will prepare reports for each executive and general meeting of the PTA's
financial records.
We also have several positions who are appointed by the new board at the May meeting. They are as follows:
Historian - Keeps a history of the PTA year in photographs and information. Will compile a memory book at
the end of the year.
Parliamentarian - Keeps the meetings running smoothly, advise the presiding officer on questions of
parliamentary procedure.
Membership Coordinator - Promotes PTA, sells memberships, compiles a database of members, and submits
membership to TX PTA.
Room Parent Coordinator – The BHC line of communication with all the room parents. Keep room parents
current on all events and needs of the PTA and staff.
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Theme Basket Coordinator – Contacts the Bear Fest theme basket parents regarding the very popular theme
basket ticket drawing held each year at BHC. Hold a meeting with theme basket parents to help them
understand what the theme baskets are, help them pick their theme and advertise for the all important drawing at
Bear Fest.
Volunteer Coordinator – Solicit and advertise for volunteers for all events at BHC, record volunteer hours to
Leander, Contact High school volunteer programs to get volunteers for our events.
Fundraising Coordinator - Research fundraisers and find the best one for our school. Promote, run and
problem solve the fundraiser. Go to local businesses and ask for donations or food and or prizes for our
carnivals, book fair and other events throughout the year.
Family Dine Out Night Coordinator – Ask local businesses to consider hosting a dine out night for BHC
where the school gets a percentage of the profits from that night’s sales.
Newsletter Coordinator – Create a monthly newsletter for the PTA, find advertisers, get submissions and
pictures to be added into the newsletter, copy and distribute the newsletter.
Reflections Coordinator - Coordinate with TX PTA and their Reflections program to get it up and running at
BHC. Reflections is an arts contest with areas like: choreography, art, composition, and many more.
Hospitality Coordinator – Coordinate hospitality for school staff from PTA (i.e. lunches, birthday table)
Teacher Appreciation – Coordinates the week of gifts and treats for the school staff from PTA.
Carnival Coordinator – Coordinate with committee co-chairs to set up and run carnivals and events at BHC
(Bear Fest, Cookies & Cocoa with Santa, Secret Santa Store, Valentine Flowers, Movie Night)
Website Coordinator - Update website with events, news, pictures, forms and other information.
Budget Committee Coordinator – Establish a budget for the PTA's fiscal year
Cares and Concerns Coordinator - Help the counselor with the Sock, Coat and Underwear Drive, the Giving
Tree, the Penny Drive, The food drive. Coordinate Clothes Closet volunteers, Lost and Found days.
Kinder Camp Coordinator - Organize Kinder Camp and host events during the summer. Contact new kinder
parents inviting their new Bears to Kinder Camp.
Spirit Wear Coordinator - Create a logo and secure a vendor for our spirit wear. T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags,
lunch boxes, and other logo items.
Book Fair Coordinator - Plan, set up, and run the fall and spring book fairs for the school.
Label Collection Contest Coordinator - Collect, process, and mail off all labels that we collect in a timely
fashion. Report contest results to teachers and coordinate prizes with the winning teachers.
Kona Ice Coordinator – Contact Kona Ice and schedule Kona Ice Days at BHC. Schedule people to meet the
trucks, hang signs to advertise the fundraiser and make sure the dates get in the newsletter and on the morning
announcements.
Marquee – Update the school marquee as needed with current events.
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MARCH 27th
Admission is FREE
Concession items $1
15
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The P
TA
needs
YOU!
Bhc Pta
Answer: 27 paws!
2014-2015 PTA BOARD
Tori Kenney
President
512-809-1187
[email protected]
Naysa DollingerDollinger-Tidey
1st Vice President
512-799-4380
[email protected]
Shannon Skolaut
2nd Vice President
512-917-4799
[email protected]
Michelle Kuhn
3rd Vice President
512-422-0740
[email protected]
Nicole Wells
4th Vice President &Newsletter
Coordinator
619-208-2628
[email protected]
Tanya Clarkson
Secretary
512-633-6992
[email protected]
Greta Walsh
Membership Coordinator
659-7638
[email protected]
Tina Reckaway
Historian &
Room Parent Coordinator
512-986-4975
[email protected]
Ashlea Lee
Volunteer Coordinator & Parliamentarian
501-658-6762
[email protected]
Teresa Stover
Spirit Wear Coordinator
512-922-0598
[email protected]
MaryAnn Navarrete
Cares & Concerns
512-947-8285
[email protected]
Elizabeth Guerrero
Reflections Coordinator
512-775-7215
[email protected]
Kathy Madden
Teacher Liaison
512-570-7600
[email protected]
Katie Bartow
Book Fair & Spirit Wear
Coordinator
512-736-4102
[email protected]
Macy Beauchamp
Label Collection Coordinator
512-786-6007
[email protected]
Don’t Forget!!! Now you can purchase your PTA
Membership, Spirit Wear, Event Tickets and much
more on line through the PTA ONON-Line Store!! Visit
http://bhce.myhttp://bhce.my-pta.org/ and click on Store for
more details.