Originally delivered on 10/29/2023 11:47 am

SUBJECT: DeBakey PTO Newsletter - October 29, 2023

DeBakey PTO

DeBakey PTO Newsletter

October 29, 2023


In This Issue
  • Important Upcoming Dates
  • Sign up to continue to receive newsletter
  • School News
    • Principal Herrera's Update
    • Reminder to Vote
    • HISD Trustee Candidate information
    • Soccer Practice, Mondays & Wednesdays @ Roberts Elem
    • Athletic Interest Form
    • Classes of 2024, 2025 & 2026 Dues Reminder
    • Senior Signing Day Wish List
    • Beta Club Art Supply Drive
    • StuCo Period Product Drive
    • PTO Uniform Store Updates
    • NHS Save the Dates
    • Need Field Day Chair & Committee
    • October issue of DeBakey Digest
    • Order Yearbooks
    • Community Support for DeBakey Needed
    • HOSA dues 
    • PTO meeting calendar
    • Birthday & Celebratory Greetings - Fundraising
    • Donate Coffee/Tea to Support Teachers
    • Fall Fest Pics
    • Ongoing Food Bank Volunteer Opportunity
    • Need for Scientific Symposium Speakers
    • Travel Abroad Opportunities Info
    • New WhatsApp chat for Class of 2025 Parents
    • Save the Date - Nov 2 Poetry Cafe
    • New HISD 2023-2024 Calendar
  • Odds and Ends
    • VIPS application
    • Class of 2024 - SchooLinks FAQ 
    • Reminder: Student Volunteer Requirements
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES


  • Now to Nov 3 - early voting
  • Nov 2, 4-5 pm - Poetry Cafe
  • Nov 2, Lunch - Next Uniform Pick Up
  • Nov 7 - Election Day
  • Nov 10 - No School
  • Nov 14, 6:30-8 pm - PTO meeting (in person)
  • Nov 14-15 - Picture Days (new date!)
  • Nov 15, after school - NHS induction rehearsal - juniors and seniors
  • Nov 16 - NHS induction ceremony
  • Feb 23 - save the date - Scientific Symposium




Newsletter Sponsor - AP Tutors!
Sign up for this Newsletter (again!)

This newsletter is distributed through "Membership Toolkit" which requires all members to update their information each summer. 

Please take 2 minutes to update your information so you will continue to receive this newsletter throughout the school year. 


Update your membership info here

Principal Herrera's Update

Arrival Time: We expect all our students to be in their classrooms by 7:45 am, the official start of the school day. Please help ensure your student is in compliance.

Phone Policy: Students may use phones before school, after school or during lunch. With teacher approval, phones may be used for instructional learning. Please take a moment to remind your student of this policy. 

Physics Teacher Update: We are pleased to welcome Ms. Josephine Guillory as our AP Physics I and AP Physics II teacher. Ms. Guillory taught physics at DeBakey from 2014-2020. She comes back to us with 20+ years of education experience. Please welcome her back to our campus!


Early Voting Now - Nov 3; Election Day Nov 7

Don't forget to do your research into the local elections and cast your ballot during early voting or on Election Day. 

Reminder: As part of the TEA takeover of HISD, the elected Board of Trustees was replaced by a new Board of Managers. But, there are two HISD Board of Trustee position candidates on the ballot. The Board of Trustees currently serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Managers. After at least two years under the TEA and when HISD meets certain exit criteria, elected trustees will begin to roll onto the Board. 

It is important that we still do our research and vote!

More information here:

https://www.harrisvotes.com/

HISD notice of Board of Trustee Candidates
Soccer Practice @ Rice coming soon
Interested in Athletics?

Sign up using the below link to indicate interest in one of the following sports:

  • Basketball
  • Gymnastics
  • Running Club
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball


Athletic Interest Form here!

Classes of 2025 and 2026 Senior Dues

Hey Classes of 2025 and 2026! 

Now is your chance to get ahead and start paying your senior class dues for next year. By paying ahead of time, you will help the parent volunteers who plan our senior events. The more money they have collected early on, the easier it is to figure out the budget and plan some cool events!

Class of 2025 and 2026 Dues can be paid via Schoolpay.com 

Senior Signing Day Wish List

Please use this Amazon wish list to support our Senior Signing Day!


Amazon wish list linked here

Beat Club Art Supply Drive thru Nov 9
Uniform Store - only open Oct 5 @ lunch
Click here to visit the PTO Uniform Store!
National Honor Society Save the Dates

National Honor Society - Juniors and Seniors:

November 15, after school - rehearsal

November 16 - induction

More information to follow.

We need a Field Day Chair & Committee!

PTO is looking for a volunteer to lead this fun event and committee members to help support! The event takes place the day before Spring Break.

The DeBakey Field Day is wonderful highlight for the DeBakey Students in the spring.  Typically, the festival includes a carnival like atmosphere with lots of games, rides, food trucks, ice cream, and cupcakes.  You would be responsible to work with the administration to ensure all activities have been ordered, the food trucks have been requested, and that we have enough water, ice cream, and cupcakes/snacks for all the students.  This may require requesting donations.  This position does not require a lot of time throughout the year but is incredibly involved from approximately January until the event occurs just before Spring Break.

Interested? Contact- president@debakeypto.org

October edition of the DeBakey Digest!

Make sure your student sees a copy of the latest edition of the student newsletter, the DeBakey Digest, link below.


DeBakey Digest, October edition

Order 2023-2024 Yearbooks Now!

HELP US RECRUIT COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR DEBAKEY

Are you a business owner or do you know a community member who'd like to help our school? 

The DeBakey High School PTO works to raise funds through the generous contribution of parents and local businesses. These funds are used in the school to make a significant impact in the lives of students, families and staff by providing enrichment activities that bring learning to life and improving relationships through community events. 

We are currently looking for community members who would like to join our PTO as a corporate sponsor for the 2023-24 school year. By becoming a sponsor, you will directly impact more than 900 students as well as staff and families in your community. As a PTO, our funds enhance the following resources and programs: 

Enrichment Programs 🐾 Art Department 🐾 Music Department 🐾 Theater🐾 Educator Classroom Support 🐾 Staff Appreciation 🐾 Technology 🐾 Sports 🐾 Student Events 🐾 Student Supplies 🐾 Clubs 🐾 and more 

We offer multiple tiers of sponsorship opportunities to fit your needs and budget. All sponsorship levels include visible recognition to our students, staff, and families. If you are interested in supporting our PTO, but cannot commit to a sponsorship we are grateful to accept any level of donations. 

Sponsor Directory Listing -  $200                       https://www.debakeypto.org/packet/40459998

  • DeBakey Sponsors are featured in the DeBakey PTO website under “Sponsor Directory” page.

 

Annual Newsletter or Website Sponsor - $1000https://www.debakeypto.org/packet/40460160

Website Sponsor

  • DeBakey PTO Website Presented by (your company/business name or logo)” on top of PTO website.
  • Website sponsorship is to last the entire school year. Starts as soon as sign up and ends on the last day of school.
  • Announcement of your company/business sponsorship throughout the school year on DeBakey PTO Facebook.
  • Acknowledgment at our monthly PTO Meeting
  • Included in sponsor directory

Newsletter Sponsor

  • “DeBakey PTO Newsletter Presented by (your company/business name or logo)” on top of PTO Newsletter.
  • Newsletter sponsorship is to last the entire school year. Starts as soon as sign up and ends on the last issue for the school year.
  • Newsletter goes out once a week to 200+ families.
  • Announcement of your company/business sponsorship throughout the school year on DeBakey PTO Facebook.
  • Acknowledgement at our monthly PTO meeting.
  • Included in sponsor directory

 

Benefactor Wall Plaque - $500                                              https://www.debakeypto.org/packet/40460309

The Benefactor Wall prominently displays the donors’ names in the shape of a DNA helix in the central area of the student atrium/cafeteria. The DNA structure reflects the school’s STEM focus.

General Donation of Any Amount                     https://www.debakeypto.org/packet/40459919       

Any support you can provide would be meaningful as a community partner supporting excellence in education for DeBakey students.

Support DeBakey while you shop!

Enroll in the Randalls and/or Kroger loyalty programs and select DeBakey as your organization to receive contributions based on your shopping. 

Log in to your loyalty account and select "community rewards" - search for the DeBakey PTO or enter our code VX994. 

An easy way to support our school while you buy your groceries! 

REMINDER: PLEASE PAY HOSA DUES ON SCHOOLPAY.COM

HOSA dues can be paid via schoolpay.com 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for PTO meetings
PTO MEETINGS 2023-2024

Join us to learn more about what the PTO is doing to help our school and get involved! All meetings will be 6:30 pm - 8 pm.

  • Nov 14 in person
  • Dec 12 virtual, Home for the Holidays edition
  • Jan 9 virtual
  • Feb 13 in person
  • March 19 virtual
  • April 9 virtual
  • May 14 in person, vote on new PTO board

More information will be shared as we get closer to each date.


birthday message on screen
Purchase Birthday & Celebratory Greetings to Support our School

Parents, the DeBakey PTO is offering Birthday & Celebratory Greetings.   These are messages that will be displayed on the monitors around the school. You can send your child a birthday message or tell your child congratulations for a major accomplishment.  The Birthday & Celebratory Greetings are only $20.

  • The messages are posted the week of the event only, they are sent in the Friday before the event date.
  • The messages MUST be received by the PTO two weeks prior to the event via the following link on the PTO website in the Fundraising section https://www.debakeypto.org/packet/38437847
  • You may select a background for the message on the google form.
  • Belated birthdays & ½ birthdays are acceptable.
  • All messages must meet the approval of the administration.
  • The message will be removed if the student asks the administration to remove the message.

Email fundraising@debakeypto.org with any questions.

Show our DeBakey Teachers some Love!

Drop off at reception or ship donations of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or Keurig pods to the school for the PTO to distribute in our teacher lounges. 

Back to school season is always stressful - let's make sure our teachers feel our appreciation every single day!

Friday's Fun Fall Fest!

A big thank you to our tireless PTO, parent and teacher volunteers who helped make this past Friday's Fall Fest a fun break for our students from all their hard work! Students enjoyed pumpkin decorating and other activities which included a super scary Haunted House!

A Fun Friday for all! Thanks!

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity

Support our community by volunteering at Houston Food Bank events right on our campus. Multiple dates are available via the Sign Up Genius link below. Volunteers will be stationed outside in the DeBakey parking lot, so dress for the weather.

There is a particular need for bilingual volunteers.


Volunteer Sign Up Here

Recruiting Speakers for our Feb 23 Science Symposium

Parents, guardians, community, alumni- if you or someone you know might like to present about their interesting career to our students, please contact us for more information. This is an event for our students. We welcome engaging speakers preferably STEM, medical, finance, motivational and passionate persons willing to share. 
President@debakeypto.org

Travel Abroad with DeBakey - lots of interesting opportunities below for 2024 & 2025
Link to Paris & the Chateaux Spring 2024 Trip Info
Link to Switzerland, Italy, France & Spain in 2024 Info
Link to Japan 2025 Trip Info
New 2023-2024 HISD Calendar

Don't miss checking the new (as of last week) 2023-2024 HISD Academic Calendar - there are several changes to note which effect days the students have school/do not have school this year. Changes in summary:

  • Friday, October 13 is now a professional development day (no school for students)
  • The professional development day previously scheduled for Nov 7 is now rescheduled to Friday, November 10th.
  • HISD winter break will now start on Friday, December 22nd and end on Monday, January 8th rather than prior calendar which ended the break on Tuesday, January 9th.
  • We will have school on Tuesday, February 20th (previously this was a professional development day for teachers).

Calendar is linked below.

2023-2024 HISD Calendar

Class of 2025 Parents Want to Stay in Touch?

There's a new way for the Class of 2025 Parents to communicate with each other and find out what is going on with all things DeBakey! Join the Class of 2025 Parent WhatsApp chat group using the below link.

WhatsApp Class of 2025 Chat

November 2 - Poetry Cafe

Poetry Cafe will be 4-5 pm on November 2nd. Mark your calendars for an entertaining event!

Time to Renew Your VIPS application!

Parents and Guardians, it's that time of year! Even if you have been VIPS approved in the past, you must renew your application and be approved each year. You must be VIPS approved to volunteer in any capacity at any HISD school. Please apply now so you are ready when the volunteer opportunity arises!

Register for VIPS approval here!

Information below for our Class of 2024 seniors - SchooLinks is replacing Naviance
Reminder: Student Volunteer Requirements

REMINDER:  Every DeBakey student must have at least 100 community service to graduate with a DeBakey diploma.

Remember, colleges look at the community service and how you give back to your community when choosing a candidate to accept into their school. The summer time is a great chance to get caught up and to give back to the community.

Guidelines for Community Service Hours >>

Volunteer Opportunities in Houston >>

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