By Traci Riley and Jennifer Vickers

As neighborhood kids return to classes, things at our local school, Sinclair Elementary, are getting into full swing. This year, residents living near the campus are seeing the carpool line form a little earlier as HISD new elementary start times of 7:30 a.m. take effect. If your commute schedule coincides, please be sure to leave enough time to get to work while being mindful of the little ones heading to class. You’ll also notice the school’s after school program is putting out cones and doing their best to ensure students are safe after classes wind to an end.

Area residents will also want to mark their calendars for the evening of September 20 when Sinclair Elementary teachers will welcome parents for an open house from 5 - 8 p.m. They are hoping for significant attendance which will mean you may see some unfamiliar cars parked along the curb nearby that evening.

Of course, we should all mark our calendars for the fun fall activities the new school year brings. Once again, the Sinclair PTO will be hosting a Pumpkin Patch in October. Come to pick out the perfect seasonal decor and jack-o-lantern materials. It’s also a fun spot for seasonal photos for yourself or your little ones — furry friends included!

Just like last year, Sinclair PTO is organizing Spooky Saturdays with fun treats, crafts, Katz Coffee and more on Saturday mornings at the pumpkin patch. Make plans now to get your pick of the pumpkins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you to our Timbergrove businesses and their continued support of our neighborhood school!

• Saturday, October 6, 2018 Sponsor: Mark Brawley & Norhill Realty

• Saturday, October 13, 2018 Sponsor:Pop & Pan (new to the neighborhood)

• Saturday, October 20, 2018 Sponsor: Lynda Kornbleet & Payless Insulation

You also won’t want to miss the Annual Spooktacular Fall Festival on Friday, October 26, 2018 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. It’s a great event for the whole community with a trackless train sponsored by the TMCC, Food trucks, games, face painting, Halloween photo booth, a dunking booth, fun jump, haunted house and so much more. All proceeds benefit the Sinclair PTO and the school.

Looking for another way to support our local elementary school? Consider a donation to help stock teacher classrooms. Visit bit.ly/SinclairWishList to see what items educators have added to their wish list and purchase an item from Amazon with just a click! Also, the school is always in need of materials for special projects. Consider donating your collections of magazines, craft paper, or other supplies. Contact sinclairfriends@gmail.com to see if your items could be of use or to find other exciting ways to get involved with Sinclair Elementary.