• Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the school hours at Bryson?

    Our doors open at 7:05 a.m. Students are led to their classrooms by their teachers beginning at 7:20 a.m. All students are dismissed at 2:50 p.m. 

    What if my child is absent?

    According to state attendance regulations, we must have a parent letter or doctor’s note for any student absence within five days of the absence. While your phone calls are greatly appreciated, they do not excuse an absence. Parent notes should be handwritten or emailed to the attendance secretary and the student’s homeroom teacher.  Please reference the student’s first and last name along with the absence date and reason.  

    Absences are excused for illness, appointments with a health care professional (with a note or receipt from the health care professional), serious illness or death of a member of the student’s immediate family, or an emergency that prevents the student from being in school. Upon return to school, a student absent for more than five consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would be considered to be in violation of compulsory attendance laws.

    How can I get work for my child who is ill and at home?

    Call the school (817-237-8306) and request that work be gathered for your child. Calls should be made before noon. The work can be placed in the office to be picked up by a parent or guardian after 2:00 p.m. or it can be sent home with a sibling or another student at parent request.

    What is the best way to arrange an early dismissal for my child?

    It is requested that a parent or guardian send a note with their child. Sending a note allows time for the teacher to prepare your child for any assignments or lessons that will be missed because of the early dismissal.

    A parent or guardian will need to provide a valid ID when checking a student out of school. To avoid loss of instructional time, students will not be called to the office for dismissal until the parent arrives in the office. We request that students are not called from class after 2:30 p.m. unless there is a family emergency. Please plan all appointments accordingly.

    Can I visit my child at school?

    Parents and guardians are always welcome at Bryson. We encourage and support parental involvement. Before visiting any area of the school, all visitors should stop by the school office, check in, and receive a Visitor's Pass. A valid driver's license must be submitted for scanning. Parents and siblings are welcome to join their child for lunch; however, siblings and/or other children should not accompany parents or guardians to a classroom as they may provide a distraction to the students and the educational process.

    What time does my child go to lunch?

    Lunch at Bryson begins at 10:50 a.m. and concludes at 1:05 p.m. Check your child's teacher page for specific class lunch times.
     
    Can I bring a treat for my child's class to celebrate a special event?
     
    In order to comply with the rules for Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value as set forth by the  and provide a learning atmosphere that is as supportive as possible to all students, Bryson does allow parents to provide snacks or treats to celebrate student birthdays. Treats must be store-bought and unopened. Any treats will be handed out by the teacher at the end of the school day. Bryson recognizes all students on their birthday by announcing their names on the morning announcements and providing a special birthday pencil. Students who have a birthday during the time of the year that school is not in session are also recognized. Teachers often have small recognitions or rewards for students in the classroom as well. We will also have classroom parties/celebrations during designated times of the school year as provided in the Elementary Student Handbook. Parents are encouraged to attend and may be asked to provide food or snacks for those occasions.

    What if I need to contact my child while he or she is at school?

    If you need to get a message to your child during the school day, please call the school (817-237-8306) and inform the office staff. The office staff will ensure the message is delivered to your child's classroom teacher as well as the student. Please contact the school before 2:00 p.m. if you need to leave a message for your child. 

    How can I contact my child's teacher?

    Most teachers and grade levels have daily communication notebooks (BOB) for sending notes to school and to a teacher. This same method is also used by teachers to communicate with parents. Each teacher has an email address posted on the classroom website. To access teachers' websites, please click on the Staff Directory link. A message can also be left with one of the office staff members at 817-237-8306. A parent or guardian may call the school outside of regular school hours and leave a message with the General Delivery mailbox. Any messages will be transferred to the teacher's voicemail. 

    What if my child needs to take medication while at school?

    Over-the-counter medication needs to be sent in its original container. It should be accompanied by the OTC Medication Form which is available on this web site or in the Student Handbook which is provided each school year. Prescription medication should be sent to the school in the container with the prescription label. A Prescription Medication Form should be sent with the medication. Please note that a doctor must sign this form. You may wish to download it before visiting the doctor.

    When is the STAAR test?

    The dates of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, are determined by the Texas Education Agency. Visit the STAAR Information page for more information and full testing calendar.