IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:  BURBANK MS AND HISD REOPENING INFORMATION

Dear Burbank Parents and Students,

First and foremost, I hope that everyone is healthy and safe.  As you have seen in the news and on the HISD website, we will begin this school year virtually due to the ongoing COVID – 19 Pandemic.  In preparation for the upcoming school year, here is some important information I would like to share with you.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR: 

Here is a timeline for the re-opening dates:

• October 19, 2020: Face-to-face instruction begins*
• September 8, 2020 – January 29, 2021: First semester of virtual learning for students/parents who choose online-only instruction.

*Parents will have the option to choose virtual instruction for the fall semester (through January 29, 2021) or entire school year (through June 11, 2021).

The entire Academic Calendar is at 2020-2021 Academic Calendar .

For more detailed information regarding the reopening, please visit HISD Reopening.

BUILDING HOURS: 

Burbank will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Due to  COVID19, the building is closed to the public. The majority of meetings will be held virtually.  Any in-person meeting must be requested by email to our Secretary, Ms. Dorelia Zepeda at dzepeda2@houstonisd.org.  You may also call the school at 713-696-2720.  Please refrain from coming to the building unless you have an appointment and are cleared by our staff to do so. If you do come to the building, you must wear a mask and follow established safety protocols.

BEGINNING OCTOBER 19, 2020: VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON LEARNING SCHEDULE

On October 19, 2020, Burbank will transition from only Virtual Learning to Virtual and In-Person Learning. The school hours will remain 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. You can see the new schedule by clicking BMS Virtual and In-Person Schedule

IMPORTANT:

1. If you selected in-person and have not reported to school this week, you need to contact the school and explain why.  If you do not communicate with the school and we cannot contact you, you will be changed to virtual on Friday. 
2. Parents/Students who selected in-person and are absent from school will be marked absent for attendance, even if they participate virtually.  
3. The only exception to these rules will be if a student is required to self-quarantine due to COVID-19.  This must be approved by the school.
4. The selection for in-person or virtual learning for the 5th six weeks opens on Monday, March 1, 2021. Parents can go on HISD Parent Connect and change their student’s selection under Forms. If you do not change your selection, your student will remain with their current selection. The selection period will only be open until Friday, March 5, 2021.  After this time, due to planning purposes, we will not accept changes.  The 5th six weeks begins on March 22, 2021.  
5. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school. 

VIRTUAL LEARNING:  

HISD and Burbank will continue to use Microsoft Teams and the HUB as the platforms for virtual teaching, learning, and posting of assignments. 

Click Microsoft Team Download  to download the app for your computer.

Click Instructions on How to Use Teams to learn about it. 

Click Video on How to Work With Teams  to see a step-by-step video demonstration. 

Log In to HUB to go to the HUB (must have HISD student access). 

BMS VIRTUAL LEARNING STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK:

Please click Virtual Learning Student and Parent Handbook for more information on virtual learning.

HISD CONNECT AND PARENT PORTAL:

Parents can access their child's schedule, monitor grades, and student profiles through the HISD Parent Portal.  Letters with student access codes were sent to parents via regular mail.  If you need help getting an access code, you can call the school at 713-696-2720.   

VIRTUAL LEARNING PARENT COURSE: 

We highly encourage parents to take this virtual learning course in order for parents to become familiarized with virtual learning the resources that are available to parents and students. You may access the course through this link:

https://www.houstonisd.org/ParentCourse

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

GRADES: 

Unlike the end of last school year, this year all grades will count and participation in virtual learning is mandatory.  Students who do not complete assignments will receive a zero for any missing assignments.  These grades will be calculated in the student’s final average for the year.

ATTENDANCE: 

Attendance and participation in virtual learning will be mandatory.  Attendance will be taken daily.  Students will be expected to log in on a daily basis, interact with their teachers, and complete assignments in order to be counted as present.  Students with less than 90% attendance are in danger of being retained at the end of the school year.

TECHNOLOGY DISTRIBUTION:

Starting the week of October 12, 2020, we will be doing technology distribution and troubleshooting by appointment only.

Please call the main office to setup an appointment with Mrs. Carranza or send her an email at vcarranz@houstonisd.org

As of December 3, 2020: Burbank Middle School has a few extra electronic devices available.

If there are students that need a device, they may pick up a Technology Agreement Form from Ms. Carranza's office in C-102 during lunch. Students need to return it to Ms. Carranza in room C-102 after parents fill it out and sign it so that they can receive the device. 

If you have the ability to print from home, you can download the form here.  This will expedite the process of acquiring the technology. 

Tech Distribution FAQ:

Do I have to use an HISD device?  No. You can use your own home laptop, desktop, or tablet.  However, some of the software students will use work better on laptops and desktops than tablets.

What is the HISD Home Survey?  The HISD Home Survey was a survey that HISD parents filled out last year that indicated their technology needs.  We will base our initial distribution of technology on the response of the survey.

If I didn’t fill out the survey last year, will my child be eligible for a device?   Yes, however, our initial distribution will go to those that replied “No Device” on the survey.  If you are new to HISD, you will have to register at Burbank and let us know of your technology needs. 

What if I can’t come to Burbank at the designated days/times listed?  Don’t worry.   We will work with you to make other arrangements to pick up your device.

What if my student was at Burbank last year and has a device from last year?  Do I need to return it? No.  Any 7^th or 8^th grader returning to Burbank that got a device last year, can keep the device they have.  They may return it if it is not working.  

My child has a device from Burbank, but we won’t return to Burbank this year. Can I take the device to the new school?  No, you must return the device to Burbank.  The new school will issue you their own device.

My 6^th grader has a device from elementary school, can we keep that device?  No, you have to return any device from the elementary school to the elementary school.  Burbank will give you a Burbank device.

We have only one home device, but two students.  Will each one of my students receive a device?  Your child must be enrolled in Burbank to get a device from Burbank.  Our goal is to give one device per Burbank student. 

What safety measures will you have in place during technology distribution?  All our staff members are required to wear masks and follow safety protocols.  All parents and students must wear a mask when picking up their device.  Please bring your own pen in order to reduce the amount of contact.

I don’t have internet.  What can I do? At this time, we do not have Wi-fi hotspots.  For students without internet, please refer to the information and list of internet providers below.

REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT: 

Until further notice, all registration and enrollment will be done electronically or touch-free. In order to enroll a student, you can pick up an enrollment packet located in the entrance to the school by the teachers' parking lot on Bauman St. The packet contains the directions and necessary documents to enroll a new student.  You can take the packet home, fill it out, then return it back to the school by placing it in the bin located in the entrance to the school by the teachers' parking lot on Bauman St. The gate to the parking lot will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for you to drop off your enrollment packet in the bin. Please do not return the packet to the box.  Place them in the secure bin.

If you chose to do electronic enrollment, the following must be scanned and emailed to Ms. Barron.  

1. Parent/Guardian’s ID
2. Student’s Birth Certificate
3. Student’s shot record
4. Proof of address in the form of a current gas or light bill, or a current lease in the parent/guardian’s name.
5. For students that are new to the district, the last report card showing promotion status to the current grade level.
6. Click Registration/Enrollment Form to download the enrollment form. Please complete, scan, and email to the registrar with the rest of the required documents.

Students who attended Burbank last year in the 6^th or 7^th grade will automatically be re-enrolled in 7^th and 8^th grade this year.  Incoming 6^th graders will automatically be enrolled if Burbank is listed as their zoned school on their last report card.  If a student is new to HISD or recently moved into the school zone of Burbank, registration will be necessary.  To check enrollment status please email Ms. Barron.  

STUDENT INFORMATION PACKETS: 

All parents and students must complete and return the forms contained in the enrollment packet mentioned in the section above.  The packet contains forms that must be updated each year.  You can pick up an enrollment packet located at the front of the building on 315 Berry Rd.  The packet contains the directions and necessary documents that must be on file for every student.  You can take the packet home, fill it out, then return it back to the school by placing it in the bin located in front of the school on 315 Berry Rd.  The gate will be opened Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for you to drop off your enrollment packet in the bin.  

Please do not return the packet to the box.  Place them in the secure bin.

RECORDS REQUESTS: 

Requests for student records can be emailed to Ms. Guzman at  AGuzman@houstonisd.org

MAGNET APPLICATIONS AND STUDENT TRANSFERS:

At this time it is not possible to apply for our magnet program or request student transfers.  If you have any questions about prior magnet or transfer applications, please email Ms. Vasquez at AVasque1@houstonisd.org

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND 504 CONTACT: 

For inquiries regarding Special Education, please email our Special Education Department Chair, Mrs. Mendez  at LMendez4@houstonisd.org.  For inquires regarding 504, please email our 504 Liason, Ms. Sandoval, at CSandov2@houstonisd.org

ELL/DUAL LANGUAGE: 

For inquiries regarding English Language Learners and our Dual Language Program, please email our ELL/Dual Language Coordinator, Dr. Velasquez, at MVelasqu@houstonisd.org

OTHER PERSONNEL CONTACT INFORMATION: 

If you would like to contact Burbank Administration, Counselors, or Teachers, please go to Burbank MS Personnel where you will find a list of all our staff members and their contact information.

Please continue to check the Burbank MS Website and the HISD Website for more information and updates. We look forward to virtually meeting our new students and parents soon.

Sincerely,

David Knittle

Principal

Burbank Middle School