Bridgeport families,

Welcome back! We hope you had a great winter break and were able to rest, recharge and spend time with loved ones. We are so excited about the new semester and all of the academic growth and student success that will take place this second half of the school year! January is a great opportunity to reset and prioritize goals for the year, and last week we had a great two days of professional development doing just that. Our staff is energized and excited to support the educational journey of your students this semester!

January is also School Board Appreciation Month! We want to take this opportunity to give a huge shoutout and thank you to our seven elected trustees. We are so grateful for the incredible men and women who serve on our school board, dedicating their time and energy to making sure Bridgeport ISD is a great place to learn. The theme of this year’s School Board Recognition Month is Locally Elected, Community Connected. This is a great community which has elected some incredible men and women to our Bridgeport ISD School Board. We are grateful for these men and women and the support our students and staff receive from the greater Bridgeport community!

Due to your partnership to prioritize student attendance, we had the highest attendance rate for the first semester of school than we have had in the last two years! Woohoo! Friendly reminder: our attendance taking time is 10 a.m. every morning. Please leave your students with us for the morning and schedule medical appointments after 10 a.m. when possible. Thank you, BISD parents!

As a reminder, all of our campuses and offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Students and staff alike will have a school holiday and classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Staff Kicks Off New Semester with Professional Development

Our new semester started off strong last week with district-wide professional learning with our amazing staff! We are excited for all of the academic growth that is going to take place this semester!

BHS Course Selection Information Night

Current 8th-11th grade parents are not going to want to miss the BHS Course Selection Information Night this Thursday, Jan. 11 from 6-7 p.m. in the BHS Commons! Both parents and students are welcome to attend and learn more about course selection at BHS including information on Advanced Placement (AP), Dual-Credit, OnRamps and CTE courses.

Board of Trustees Approve the 2024-25 Academic Calendar

At the board meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, the Board of Trustees approved the 2024-25 academic calendar for next school year. The final draft of this calendar reflects feedback received from teachers, administrators, parents, and our District Educational Improvement Committee. The first day of school for the 2024-25 school year will be Wednesday, Aug. 14 and the final day of the school year will be Thursday, May 22, 2025. Click here to view the calendar.

Bridgeport ISD Inclement Weather Procedures

As we approach the winter months, please make yourself aware of our inclement weather procedures and school closing announcements!

In the event of inclement weather, the superintendent may close or delay the start of school. Parents and students should visit the district's website, bridgeportisd.net, for current and accurate weather-related postings, as well as expect an email from the district or your campus principal. Information will also be posted on the district's official social media pages and disseminated to local radio and television stations, including WBAP 820 AM, KRLD AM, KDFW Channel 4, KXAS Channel 5, WFAA Channel 8, and KTVT Channel 11. 

Make sure that your contact information is up-to-date in Ascender in the event that school is closed or delayed in the event of inclement weather!

Healthy Habits

As we enter into the winter months, it is more important than ever to ward off sickness with good hygiene! Maintaining healthy habits helps keep your child healthy and happy and in the classroom! 

Good attendance plays a significant role in your child’s academic success. 

When your child attends school regularly, they have the opportunity to excel academically and to be accustomed to a positive daily routine for learning.

Regular attendance allows for students to be involved in lessons, develop relationships with their peers, and make the most of their education. It also gives teachers the opportunity to assess each student and to effectively plan ahead.

Excessive absence can lead to students missing out on important information or falling behind in their studies. Regular school attendance is an important indicator of your child’s performance and success as they grow into adulthood.

Compulsory attendance laws require students to be present for an assigned number of days each semester to get credit for a course or grade level. Details on enforcement of compulsory attendance can be found in the Student Handbook or by contacting the Assistant Principal at each BISD campus.

We hope that you understand the importance of good school attendance and will take steps to ensure that your child is present each day and ready to learn.

Tips For Promoting Healthy Habits

1. Make sure your child consumes a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Children need essential nutrients to develop properly, focus and stay healthy.

2. Encourage your child to stay physically active. Take them for walks, bike rides or other physical activities they enjoy.

3. Ensure your child gets enough quality sleep. A lack of sleep can lead to difficulty concentrating, low energy, and moodiness.

4. Teach your child proper hygiene practices. Have them wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, playing or before meals.

5. Teach your child to drink lots of water to stay hydrated and maintain regular restroom habits.

6. Keep your child up to date on scheduled vaccinations and regular medical checkups.

7. Monitor your child’s daily dietary intake and exercise routine.

8. Lead by example by having healthy eating habits yourself and modeling behaviors you want your child to follow.