October Family and Community Bulldog Bulletin

🐾🍂 PAWFEST is almost here! 🍂🐾

Our annual PTA school festival is right around the corner, and this year we're adding a fun fall twist! We hope all of our Bulldog families will join in the excitement and help make this year's PAWFEST a success! Whether it's attending, donating, or volunteering your time, there are so many ways to be part of the fun. Every little bit of support makes a difference, and we can't wait to celebrate with our Bulldog community! 💛🖤🐾

🍂🐾 Our Fernandez PTA Silent Auction is going STRONG! 🧡💛

The bids are rolling in, and we've added EVEN MORE amazing items to our auction! There is something for everyone, and you don't want to miss out!

🎉 Check out some of the incredible items up for grabs:

🎢 Family Adventures: SeaWorld San Antonio, San Antonio Zoo, Natural Bridge Caverns, The DoSeum, Great Room Escape, and more!

🎳 Fun Experiences: PINSTACK bowling, Chicken N Pickle, and more!

🍽️ Food & Treats: Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane's, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more!

💎 Special Gifts: A beautiful diamond necklace from Americus Diamond, a custom hat and accessories basket, and other goodies!

🏫 One-of-a-Kind School Experiences: Principal for a Day, Associate Principal for a Day, Pie a Teacher, special 5th Grade Promotion seating, and MORE!

🍁 And we're still adding items! Be sure to check back often to see what's new and keep an eye on your favorite bids!

📅 Bidding closes Saturday, October 24, at 2:00 PM Central Time.

🐾 You do NOT have to attend Paw Fest or be present on October 24 to win! Anyone can participate in the auction!

❤️ PLEASE SHARE! Send our auction link to your coworkers, friends, family members, and anyone who loves a great deal while supporting a wonderful cause! You don't have to be a Fernandez family to bid.

🔗 BROWSE & BID HERE:
https://givebutter.com/c/PawFest/auction

Every bid helps support our Fernandez students, teachers, and school community. Thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success! 🖤💛🐾

🎉🐾 PAWFEST IS ALMOST HERE! 🐾🎉

Get ready for one of our BIGGEST events of the year! Fernandez Elementary's PAWFEST is happening on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.! 🍁🎃

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of games, rides, delicious concessions, and Bulldog fun! Admission is FREE, and tickets for games, rides, and food are just $1 each!

🎟️ Skip the line and purchase your tickets in advance! Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the link below to pre-purchase your PAWFEST tickets.

👉 https://fernandezpta.square.site/shop/bulldog-day/6

PAWFEST is one of our PTA's biggest fundraisers, and every bit of support helps make a difference for our Bulldogs! Whether you're volunteering, donating, purchasing tickets, or simply coming out to enjoy the fun, we appreciate your support!

💛🖤 We can't wait to see our Bulldog families there! 🐾

It is time to get a new and updated FAST PASS.  Safety is our number one priority and we ask that each grading cycle visitors stop by the office to get a new and updated FAST PASS. 

What is a Fast Pass?

A fast pass allows you to enter the building without having to scan your driver's license each time you visit the campus. Whether you are coming in for breakfast, lunch with your child, or stopping by to see a parade, have your fast pass ready to show our front door monitor each time you visit our school. If you forget your fast pass, be sure to bring a valid ID to get scanned by our front office staff. Fast passes and visitors badges must be worn and visible at all times while on campus.

What if I already have a Fast Pass from last year?

Last year's fast pass will not be valid for the upcoming school year. Every parent and/or guardian wishing to obtain a Fast Pass will need to scan their valid ID for the new school year.

How to Obtain a Fast Pass?
Stop by the front office to get your Fast Pass. Make sure to bring your current driver's license to be scanned.  Fast Passes must be renewed each grading cycle. 

Background Checks

Although a background check is not required to obtain your fast pass, it will be required to be a volunteer on campus and on field trips. Click on the link below to fill out the NISD Volunteer Background Check.  A new background check must be completed every school year and take approximately two weeks to clear. Fill yours out now, so you don't have to worry about it later.

NISD Background Check Link

💛 Día de Muertos at Fernandez Elementary 💛

Beginning October 14th, our Fernandez family will have the opportunity to honor and remember loved ones and pets who have passed by placing a small framed photo on our campus ofrenda.

If you would like your child to participate, please send a small framed photo and label the back with your child’s name and teacher’s name so the photo can be returned in November.

Thank you for helping us create a meaningful space where we can honor the memories of those who hold a special place in our hearts. 💛

Get ready to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, October 26–30! ❤️ Throughout the week, we’ll encourage our Bulldogs to make healthy choices while having fun with special dress-up days!

Check out our school counselor, Mrs. Quiroz’s, monthly newsletter: Click Here to Read

💛🐾 October is National Principals Month! 🐾💛

We are so excited to celebrate our amazing principal, Mrs. Barraza! Her leadership, dedication, and heart for our students, staff, and families make Fernandez Elementary such a special place to learn and grow.

Thank you, Mrs. Barraza, for leading our Bulldog family with passion, purpose, and so much love. We are grateful for all you do each and every day!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.💕 We will honor and show support to the fighters and survivors of our Bulldog families and friends that have been affected by wearing 🩷PINK🩷 every Wednesday this month. 💗🐾

🐾 Fernandez Families, We Need YOU! 💛🖤

Our PTA has several open positions, and we would love to have more of our amazing parents, guardians, and community members involved! Whether you enjoy being creative, connecting with families, supporting school events, or helping behind the scenes, there’s a place for you.

No PTA experience is necessary, just a willingness to help make Fernandez an even better place for our Bulldogs! 🐾

Interested or want to learn more? Please reach out to PTA President Vanessa Novosad at vnovosad1101@gmail.com.

💛 Together, we can do great things for our Bulldogs! 🖤

Helpful Dismissal Reminders

There are two dismissal areas:  Front Drive: ALE, ECSE, PreK, Kinder, and 1st Grade  Back Bus Loop: 2nd thru 5th Grade

2nd through 5th grade siblings will join their younger siblings in the front pickup area. 

iDismiss Cards: Please have your card ready and clearly displayed on your rearview mirror. Families participating in parent walk-up dismissal should have the card in hand. This helps our team identify families quickly and prevents delays in your child’s dismissal. If a card is not present, you may be asked to provide identification to verify student pick-up.  If you need a new dismissal card, please stop by the front office.

Loading Zone: Please pull as far forward as possible and stop at the designated car signs so our staff can load students safely and efficiently. 

Buckling Up: If your child needs assistance buckling up, please pull completely through the loading zone to help them do so. For front-of-school dismissal, you may continue to the shaded tree area or pull safely into the parking lot.

Neighborhood Safety: Front Pickup families—including ALE, ECSE, Pre-K, Kinder, and First Grade—please be mindful of our neighbors when lining up near Lucky Draw St. and DeLeon Dr. Please do not block the cul-de-sac or driveways, park near stop signs, or make U-turns on Ridgebrook St. These actions can limit visibility and disrupt the safe flow of traffic.

Speed Limit: Please follow the posted speed limit while in the school zone and drive slowly through the car line to help keep everyone safe.

 At 3:20, all remaining students are sent to the front office where parents/guardians may sign them out.   

Change of Way Home for Students: If you need to change your child’s normal dismissal routine, please call the office no later than 2:30 p.m. This is to ensure that the message reaches the teacher in time for dismissal. 

🐾 Every Day Counts, Bulldogs! 💛🖤

We are off to a great start with our attendance efforts this school year! During September, our Bulldogs showed improvement, reaching our 95% daily attendance goal on 10 school days! We even reached an impressive 97% attendance on September 16! 🎉

While we have had some great days, we still have work to do! Our weekly attendance has ranged from 92% to 95%, reminding us that every school day matters. Our goal is to consistently reach 95% or higher each day, and we know we can get there with the continued support of our Bulldog families!

As we move into October, let's keep the momentum going! Getting to school on time, staying for the entire school day, and attending regularly all make a difference. We will continue celebrating our Bulldogs through fun attendance incentives and campus-wide rewards as we work toward our goal.

Thank you, Bulldog families, for making attendance a priority! Together, let's make October a great month of showing up, learning, and growing! 🐾

Attendance Matters! Help your child stay on track academically by planning family vacations during scheduled school breaks whenever possible. Missing school can mean missed instruction, assignments, assessments, and opportunities to learn. Use this calendar to plan ahead and make every school day count!

Our Bulldogs stepped up to the plate during Attendance Awareness Month, and we are excited to announce the winners of our PTA Sponsored: September Class Attendance Competition! 🐾⚾

🥇 1st Place – Donut Party! 🍩
4th Grade – Ms. Dumas

🥈 2nd Place – Popcorn Party! 🍿
2nd Grade – Ms. Langhorne
4th Grade – Mrs. Fernandez

🥉 3rd Place – Popsicle Party! 🍦
2nd Grade – Ms. Jackson

Congratulations to our winning classes for making attendance a priority! 🎉 A big THANK YOU to all our Bulldog families for helping students arrive at school each day, ready to learn.

Let's keep the momentum going! Remember, our campus goal is 95% attendance every day! 

Every day counts, Bulldogs! 💛🖤🐾

Please be sure to communicate with your child's teacher and send a note in if they will be absent. Once a student has accrued 3 unexcused absences in the system, NISD will generate an Attendance Warning Notice that will be emailed to the parent/guardian. This Attendance Warning Notice is added to your child's school record. An example of what you will receive is shown here.

Texas House Bill 1481, also known as the "Phone-Free Classrooms" bill, mandates that all public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas must implement policies prohibiting students from using personal communication devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, and other devices, during the school day.

All personal communication devices must be kept in backpacks and/or out of sight throughout the instructional day and placed in a designated area (cubbies). This is consistent with our current practice but now includes all communication devices. Personal communication devices include, but not limited to, cell phones, SMART watches, personal tablets, Air Pods and other technology devices. 

As we begin the school year, we are getting our students used to the Morning Arrival procedures. You can help your child learn the routine too!

• Our doors open to students at 7:00 a.m.
• Breakfast is served from 7:00-7:40 a.m. in the cafeteria.
  • Students will go through the line. Parents may eat with their child.
• Students not eating breakfast wait in cafeteria 7:00-7:15 a.m.
  • Pre-K students report directly to the Cafeteria to wait with their class, even if they are not eating breakfast.
• At 7:15a.m., students walk to their grade level area to wait with a staff member. Parents may walk their child to their hallway during this time WITH A FAST PASS or Visitor Pass.
  • Pre-K will report directly to the Cafeteria to wait with their class, even if they are not eating breakfast.
  • ECSE SC & ALE students will report directly to their classroom.
• 1st Bell Rings at 7:40 a.m.
  • Students begin going into their classrooms to prepare for instruction.
  • Parents exit the school building.
  • Front Lobby doors close at this time and students walk to class independently.
  • Cafeteria stops serving breakfast.
  • Students eating breakfast head to class.
  • Late arrival breakfast is served at Front Lobby doors. 
• 7:45 a.m. Tardy Bell rings and classroom instruction begins with Daily Announcements
  • All visitors have exited the building.
  • Any student entering the building after this time is marked tardy.
• 9:00 a.m. Students arriving at school after this time are considered absent unless a doctor's note is provided. Student MUST be checked into the office by a parent or guardian if dropped off after 9:00 a.m.

PTA SIGN UP LINK 

District: Northside         School: Raul B. Fernandez ES 

The Fernandez ES PTA helps support students, teachers, and staff! Joining PTA helps us provide that support. 

Some of the events they help with include:

• Field Trips
• Trunk-or-Treat
• Bulldog Day
• Student Incentives
• Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
• and MUCH MORE!!

By joining, you can help support our school and our students! 

Our campus is filled with hardworking staff members who pour their hearts into our Bulldogs. Take a moments to shine a light on the awesome things that they do or just a simple thank you to brighten their day. Click the link submit a Pawsitively Awesome Shoutout!

https://forms.gle/aCfaE2gJJxBvsztU6

The parent pickup car line is a No Phone Zone. For the safety of all, please refrain from using your phone while picking your child up in the parent pickup car line. 

The safety and security of our students, staff, and families is a priority at Fernandez ES. 

Click HERE to read about the Safety Initiatives in NISD for the 2026-2027 school year and learn more about our Standard Response Protocol.

Common Response Language:
NISD will continue use of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) that provides common language across campuses and with local law enforcement agencies in the event of a potential threat. Families should review and be familiar with the SRP language as identified on the graphic to the left.