Parent Teacher Conferences All Next Week, 9/22-9/26!

The Bulldog Bark

Frank Vessels Elementary School

Issue 7: September 22 - September 26

A Great Place to Learn and Grow!

Go for the Gold!

Parent Teacher Conferences All Week!

Please remember that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday are early release days.

TK/K dismissed at 1:20 p.m. and 1st-6th at 1:25 p.m.

Please also note that Wednesday, September 24, is a non-student day to accommodate parent-teacher conferences.

Getting the Most Out of Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are an essential opportunity to build a partnership between home and school. These short meetings give you valuable insight into your child’s progress and help you and the teacher work together to support your child’s success. Here are some tips to make the most of your time:

Before the Conference

Talk to your child: Ask what they enjoy at school, what feels challenging, and if there’s anything they’d like you to share with their teacher.
Review progress: Look at recent work, grades, or teacher comments to identify areas you’d like to discuss.
Prepare questions: Write down what matters most to you so you don’t forget in the moment.

During the Conference

Academic progress: How is my child performing compared to grade-level expectations?
Strengths: What are my child’s greatest strengths or areas where they shine?
Areas for growth: What specific skills should my child work on, and how can we support that at home?
Classroom learning: How does my child participate in class discussions, group work, or independent activities?
Social-emotional development: How is my child interacting with peers? Are they confident, kind, and engaged?
Support strategies: What resources or strategies do you recommend for the home to reinforce learning?

After the Conference

Share with your child: Highlight the positives first, then discuss goals in a supportive way.
Follow through: Put agreed-upon strategies into action at home.
Stay connected: Keep communication open with the teacher throughout the year.

Parent-teacher conferences are most effective when parents and teachers see each other as partners. Your engagement shows your child that school matters and that the adults in their life are working together to help them succeed.

Dine Out All This Week!

School Site Council Elections

Please use the Google Form attached to vote for three of the five candidates for a two-year term on the Vessels School Site Council.

Elections run through Friday, September 26, at 4:00 p.m. The election results will be posted in next week's Bulldog Bark! Thank you for voting and letting your voice be heard!

Friends of Vessels

At Vessels Elementary, we are fortunate to have both the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Friends of Vessels (FOV) 501(c)(3) nonprofit working together to support our students.

The PTA provides programs and opportunities that benefit all students, such as field trips, assemblies, and school-wide events. Because the PTA’s mission is to serve every child, funds raised through membership dues and events are used to support experiences that reach the entire student body.

The Friends of Vessels (FOV), our school-based 501(c)(3) organization, helps “fill the gaps” by funding items and experiences that the PTA cannot cover. This includes grade-level or program-specific needs, such as classroom materials, enrichment opportunities, and special projects.

Because FOV is a nonprofit, donations are tax-deductible, and the group can also apply for grants and business partnerships to bring even more resources to Vessels.

Together, the PTA and Friends of Vessels make a powerful team: the PTA ensures all students benefit, while FOV provides flexibility to support grade-level and classroom-specific needs directly.

Parents are encouraged to get involved in either or both groups, whether by volunteering, helping plan events, or supporting fundraising efforts. If you’d like more information, please get in touch with mholman@cypsd.org

Read on the Green

We are thrilled to host Read on the Green (ROTG) on Thursday, October 2. Bring a book, lunch, blanket, lawn chair, and hat, and join us on the green! Gates will open at 12:15 p.m.

Important Notes:

All scholars, TK-6, will eat at the same time!

TK/K will gather in the Kinder yard.

1-6 grades on the big playground.

If you would like your child to join a sibling on the big field, please sign them out with a staff member at the TK/K gate.

Students will either have their backpacks with them or leave them on their classroom hooks for easy access at dismissal (1:20 p.m. for TK/K, 1:25 p.m. for grades 1–6).

The back Vessels gate will be closed.

Please use the main entrance or the cafeteria gate to enter and exit.

If you plan to leave before dismissal, students must be signed out through the Vessels front office.

Staff will be stationed at the gates, and Cypress Police will join us for added safety (as they do anytime our gates are open during school hours).

If you will not be attending or bringing lunch for your child, please let their teacher know in advance.

Please feel free to leave with your child at the end of the ROTG period. 1:20 p.m. for TK/K & 1:25 p.m. for 1-6 grade students.

We look forward to a wonderful week of learning, kindness, and community fun at Vessels!

Join is for Walk and Bike to School Day

Join us on October 8 as we walk or bike to school together! We will meet in the Del Sol School lot (5400 Myra Ave, Cypress, CA 90630) at 7:45 a.m. and at 7:55, we will walk together to Vessels to celebrate the day! There will be special guest and surprises, so please join us!