• Kindergarten 101

    HOW DO I STAY IN THE LOOP?

    Horn staff manages a very important form of communication called Living Tree.  This is an app you can download to your phone for updates from your child’s teacher as well as from the school administration. Your child’s teacher will provide you with more details on this application when school begins.

     In addition, each week, the Horn PTO emails a newsletter to you called “Cardinal Tweets.” In that email, you’ll find important upcoming school dates, information about current events, etc.

     And finally, please follow our Facebook page called “Horn Elementary” with the school logo as the profile image.  There you’ll also find current events as well as “shout-outs” to teachers and students.  This is a fun way to see our school shine in social media.

    WHEN AND HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO IS MY CHILD’S TEACHER?

    You will receive an email from your child’s teacher on August 17.

    WHAT SCHOOL SUPPLIES DO I NEED TO BUY?

    Good news! You don’t have to run from store to store in search of that three-ring binder with pockets. Horn PTO has organized the purchase for you---Early Bird Market will open online on August 19th and will remain open until early September. If you hadn’t preordered the supplies through 1st Day prior to July 1st, you will be able to pay for the supplies during “EBM”! All supplies will be delivered to your child’s classroom in time for the first day of school. Easy peasy!

    WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS?

    School hours are 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. School doors will open at 7:20 a.m. All students will go directly to their classrooms. If a student would like breakfast, they will pick it up on the way to their classroom. Staff will be positioned around the building directing and monitoring students. Homeroom teachers will be ready to welcome their students beginning at 7:20 a.m. Dismissal begins at 2:50 p.m.  

    HOW DO I HANDLE MORNING DROP-OFF?

    Horn Elementary is a closed campus which means parents are not permitted past the front desk at drop-off each morning. There are 2 main entrances for students in the mornings. If you are walking/scooter/biking to school, you will enter at the gates along Ave. B in between Holly and Pine. If you are dropping via car, the carpool lane entrance is along Pine Street. There is a traffic map on the Horn PTO website as well for easy reference!

    WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD IS TARDY?

    The tardy bell rings at 7:40 a.m. If your child is tardy in the morning, please walk your child into the front office upon drop-off and collect a tardy slip.  This slip should be given to your child’s teacher as he/she enters his/her classroom. The doors will close at 7:40 a.m. sharp!

    DO THEY NEED TO WEAR UNIFORMS?

    School uniforms must be worn Monday through Friday. The Horn gray logo shirt may also be worn Monday through Friday. You will have opportunities to purchase Horn special event shirts or spirit shirts throughout the year. These, in addition to class shirts, may be worn on Fridays or special designated days by the school.   

    Boys:

      • T-shirts or sweatshirts: solid red, white, navy blue or with the Horn official logo. 
      • Sweaters or jackets: prefer the same color as shirts, but not required.
      • Pants or knee length walking shorts: (NO OVERALLS) navy blue or khaki. Jeans must be size appropriate, hemmed, no holes and no faded color.  No baggy pants.
      • Footwear: appropriate for PE activities
      • No caps or hats worn inside; no earrings

    Girls:

      • T-shirts, collared shirts, or sweatshirts: solid red, white, navy blue or with the Horn official logo.  
      • Sweaters or jackets: prefer same color as shirts, but not required. 
      • Pants or knee-length walking shorts, skorts or jumpers with shirts: (NO OVERALLS); navy blue or khaki. Jeans must be size appropriate, hemmed, no holes and no faded color. No baggy pants. 
      • Leggings: solid red, white or navy leggings may only be worn with shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses and jumpers.
      • Footwear: appropriate for PE activities.
      • No caps or hats worn inside; no dangling earrings for safety reasons.

    Horn PTO has school T-shirts available for purchase on our website beginning in August. We will send out communication when that link goes live!

    CONSEQUENCES

    1ST time-The teacher will remind the student of the dress code and will send another copy of the Horn Elementary dress code home.

    2ND time-The student will be sent to the office. The parent will be notified of infraction in writing – a signature will be required.

    3RD time-The student will be sent to the office. The parent will be notified and the student conduct will be lowered daily by one letter.

     

    DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY CHILD G/T (gifted and talented) TESTED THIS SUMMER?

    No, all kindergarteners will be tested during the school year, unless they’ve already been identified as G/T. Stay tuned for more information from your child’s teacher.

    WHEN AND WHERE IS AFTER-SCHOOL PICK-UP?

    You have options for after-school pick-up:

      1. Your child can be a “walk-up or walker” to Avenue B.

      2. Your child can use the carpool driveway that runs along the east side of the school (adjacent to the teaching parking lot) if you are driving to pick-up.

    Parents need a Dismissal Form that clearly states the student’s last name, first name, and grade-level. 

      1. Your child can ride a daycare bus or go to iKids after school care on campus. 

    Your teacher will be in contact with you regarding your pick-up preference through an email sent on or before August 17th. Maps are located on the Horn School and Horn PTO websites. 

      • All early pick-ups before dismissal must occur before 2:15 p.m.

    WHAT TIME IS LUNCH?

    Lunch for each class is slightly different but will be mid-morning, around 10:45 a.m.  Your child’s exact lunch time will be provided to you by your homeroom teacher.

    LUNCH INFORMATION

    As of now, the school will provide free breakfast as a grab and go option beginning at 7:20 on Avenue B side and Carpool side once the student enters the building. As for lunch, please refer to your teacher’s e-mail sent on the 17th about how to apply for free and reduced lunch and how to open your child’s account on the school cafe website.Please do not eat with your child for lunch until September 26th. We want to make sure that all students are in their routine and everything is organized. If you decide to have lunch with your child after that date, please make sure that you are VIPS cleared as you will need to sign in at the front desk and receive a badge.

    Please do not bring treats to be passed out for a child’s birthday to lunch. This will need to be discussed with the teacher ahead of time and the teacher will pass them out during their recess time.

    No balloons, ice cream, candy or juices for birthdays. (Remember no peanuts or items cooked in peanut oil.) All food brought for a birthday must have enough for your child’s class. There are no birthday celebrations in the classroom.  

      • Students have their lunch periods for 30 minutes. If your child brings a lunch from home, please remember these tips:

        • Pack lunches with drinks and snacks that are nutritious and easy to open ( so that little hands can open themselves)

        • Have your child practice using their lunch box and thermos before the first day of school.

        • Limit candy and sweets, as that is usually what a child will eat first.

        • Juice boxes are okay, but please no canned soft drinks.

    WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD IS SICK?

    Should your child be sick, please email your child’s teacher as well as the school registrar, Ms. Donna Keller, at DKELLER@houstonisd.org and inform her of his/her absence.

    WORK LATE? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

    There are several daycares that will pick up your child from school. You can reach out to any of them for more information:

    Dragon Academy (713-305-9920)

    Holloway Day Care (713-665-7420)

    Idea Lab (832-993-1213)

    *iKids (@Horn) (713-665-5200) 

    *After school program at Horn is available from 3-6 p.m. For more information, please visit https://ikidsinc.com.

    JCC (713-729-3200)

    Robindell (713-667-9895)

    West University (713-668-2319)

    YMCA (713-664-9622)

    HOW DO I GET INVOLVED WITH THE PTO?

    If you haven’t heard, our school’s PTO is super active. Whether it is providing monthly lunches to our teachers and administrators or planning school-wide events, participating in Horn’s parent-teacher organization is fun and rewarding. To get involved, don’t wait! Email president@hornpto.org today!

    WHAT IS A DRESS-DOWN BAND AND A BIRTHDAY BAND?

    At Early Bird Market, you will have the opportunity to purchase dress-down bands for $5 each and a birthday band for $25 each.  Our children get one day a month to wear non-uniform apparel to school as long as they are wearing a dress-down band.  Your child may also have a “free dress” when wearing his/her birthday band to celebrate his/her special day.

    WHAT IS VIPS?

    VIPS stands for Volunteers in Public Schools. We hope to see you volunteering often at Horn, but in order to do so, you are required by HISD to register using this link: www.houstonisd.org/vipslogin