Buckalew Buzz
January 24, 2019
Buckalew Elementary School
Buckalew Bears Motto:
"Today I choose to Be Kind, Work Hard, and DO MY BEST!"
Email: donotreply@conroeisd.net
Website: www.buckalew.conroeisd.net
Location: 4909 Alden Bridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX, United States
Phone: 281-465-3400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuckalewCISD/#
Twitter: @buckalewbears
From the Principal,
I wanted to take a moment to welcome over 20 new families to Buckalew that have joined our school this month! We welcome you and hope you find that the BUZZ has a lot of information and immediate ways parents can get involved.
Our school board has just approved the 19-20 school calendar for next year and it will remain in the BUZZ under "In every Buzz" for your planning purposes as we appreciate all vacations and preventable absences planned outside of the school calendar.
Our bookfair and spirit nights are also scheduled in February and planning for our Buckalew's Annual Carnival is well underway. If you want to get involved, our next PTO meeting is February 1st.
Have a great week,
Jill Price
Important School-Wide Dates:
Please see your teacher's communication for grade-level and class-specific events.
January:
25th- Class Photos
25th- 2nd Grade After School Fundraiser Playdate
29- FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON ANXIETY Kelly Locke LPC/Mental Health Specialist CISD Guidance & Counseling January 29, 2019 6:00 - 7:30 pm @ Buckalew Elementary
February:
1st- PTO Meeting 9:30am
1st-Kindergarten Valentine Playdate- 3:10- 4:30
Feb 5th- Spirit Event at MOD Pizza in the Indian Springs Shopping Center
7th- Book Fair late night- 3:00- 6:00 p.m.
8th- Progress Reports,
8th-Playground Celebration- after dismissal-5 p.m.
11th-14th- Book Fair
Feb 16th- Yearbook Recognition Ad deadline
18th- Student Holiday/Teacher Staff Development Day
22nd- Go Texan Day! Wear Cowboy/Cowgirl Gear
March:
Mar 4th- Spirit Event at Gringo's Mexican Kitchen @ 30420 FM 2978
Parent Workshops and Counseling Information
- FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON ANXIETY Kelly Locke LPC/Mental Health Specialist CISD Guidance & Counseling January 29, 2019 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Buckalew Carnival
The Buckalew Carnival is quickly approaching and as you know the auction is a main attraction and huge fundraiser for Buckalew PTO. The auction team is looking for any Buckalew families who may be willing to donate auction items from their business or company. We are also looking for any of you creative parents to donate a hand made item that we could add to this years auction. Please contact Kathleen Miller kathleenmiller919@gmail.com or Shelly Alexander shelly9679@yahoo.com if you'd like to donate or have further questions.
Thank you for your support! As always our auction would be nothing with out the support of our amazing Buckalew Bear families!
Attendance is Important
In the event your child will be absent from school, please call the attendance line at 281-465-3410. To insure the accuracy of your child’s ‘excused’ and ‘unexcused’ absences, please call the attendance line EACH DAY your child is absent.
Following an absence, please send a note explaining the reason for your child’s absence. If your child will be out for an extended period of time, please let his/her teacher know, as well as our attendance clerk.
School hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:00 and students will be counted tardy if they are not in their classroom at that time. Attendance is taken at 9:00 a.m. each day. If your child is absent at 9:00 a.m. due to a doctor’s appointment, he/she will be counted present if you bring your child back to school on the same day with a doctors statement that verifies the appointment.
When students are absent, they are expected to make up all worked missed. Students will have the same number of days to complete assignments, as they were absent. The student handbook states that make up work cannot be given in advance of absences.
Please avoid scheduling vacations while school is in session. State law requires that children miss no more than 10% (18 days) of the school year. If a child misses more than 10%, they do not have the required attendance to be promoted to the next grade.
Additionally, Attendance is a major component of our state’s accountability system. Our attendance percentage is factored into every measure of our accountability, which impacts our school ranking.
Regular attendance is very important. Every day is packed with valuable instruction that cannot be reproduced at home. Attending school regularly has a huge effect on your child’s academic success, and success later in life. Parents play a key role in setting an example as to the importance of regular attendance and arriving to school on time.
Please feel free to direct all questions or concerns to Jayne Bull at 281-465-3410 or jbull@conroeisd.net.
The Positivity Project Comes to Buckalew!
This year, Buckalew will be joining forces with The Positivity Project to teach our students such character traits as:
- Teamwork
- Perspective
- Bravery
- Gratitude
- Kindness
- Self-Control
- Perseverance
- Enthusiasm
- Forgiveness
- Leadership
Each week, we will be recognizing students from every grade level who exhibit "Paws"itively Awesome Character! Each student is recognized on the announcements, they receive a certificate to take home, a "PAW" with their name on it displayed in the main hallway. Check out this week's winners!
Community Partners
We would like to thank Wheeler Pediatric Dentistry for their continued support to our school!
At Wheeler Pediatric Dentistry, children are our only patients. From video games to TVs over the dental chairs, we want our patients to enjoy their visit and have fun. Our office is designed to allow you to spend as much time with our doctors and staff as necessary to discuss concerns and get questions answered. Parents are encouraged to accompany their child in the treatment area to become participants in the experience. We look forward to seeing you at your next visit!
To learn more about our community partner please visit their website: Wheeler Pediatric Dentistry | The Woodlands, TX Dentist | Spring, TX Dentist
We Love Our Volunteers
Buckalew Elementary LOVES our volunteers!
It is never too late to start volunteering at our great school. There are plenty of small and large opportunities that can use your help. Contact Tracy K. to help you get involved.
SPIRIT EVENTS
MOD Pizza on Tuesday, February 5th
Join us at MOD Pizza in the Indian Springs Shopping Center for our February Spirit Night. Dine in or carry out any time all day. MOD Pizza with donate 20% back when you mention you are with Buckalew.
Gringos on Monday, March 4th
Come out for a great meal at Gringo's Mexican Kitchen @ 30420 FM 2974. Dine in or Carry out any time all day. Gringo's will donate 20% back when you mention you are with Buckalew.
Always There Bears!
Congratulations to the following classes for having excellent attendance in the month of December!
Kindergarten Mrs. Mader's Class
1st Grade Mrs. Ramirez's Class
2nd Grade Mrs. Wilson's Class
3rd Grade Mrs. Garrett's Class
4th Grade Mrs. Thibodeaux's Class
Playground Celebrations-Save the Dates!
Friday Februrary 8th- After School-5pm
Saturday April 13 - 9-11am
Spring 4th Grade Choir
Choir at Buckalew is open to ALL 4th grade students! As we begin the spring semester, I would like to extend the offer to anyone who has newly arrived at Buckalew or missed the opportunity last semester to join for the spring semester!
Choir meets on Tuesdays after school from 3:05-4:05 pm. We will have a spring concert, participate in a district choral festival, have lots of fun, and make lasting memories in this last semester at Buckalew for your 4th graders! If you are interested in signing up, please fill out the Google Form online or complete a form, which can be found in the front office reception. The deadline to sign up to participate in choir this semester is January 29th. Your students MUST have a form filled out AND turned in before they may attend choir practice.
I hope to see many new faces as we continue choir this semester!
Musically yours,
Mrs. Ramirez
BOOK FAIR INVITATION
Book Fair Preview
Monday, February 4th - Wednesday, February 6th
All students will preview the Book Fair during their library time.
Join us for Family Night
Thursday, February 7th
3:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sales Week
Monday, February 11th - Wednesday, February 13th
7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 14th
7:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Students may shop during their regular library time, before school from
7:30 a.m. – 7:55 a.m., and during their recess time.
*During sales week, parents are welcome to have lunch with their child and then shop the Book Fair afterward.
If you would like to volunteer for the Book Fair please email: buckalew.bookfair@gmail.com
Congratulations to this year’s Western Art Winners!!!
Kate Millard, Daniel Rangel, Luke Vadala, Adelynn Valora
Kaitlyn Kaufman, Ray Minami, Kylie Kumin, Mia Smyth
These eight students were selected to represent Buckalew at the Western Art Show this past weekend. Their art work was part of a huge showcase displaying talent from all over the district! These students did an AMAZING job!! Thank you to all of our Buckalew Bears for your hard work and determination while creating your Western art!! As always, it was so hard to narrow it down to only eight! Keep up the good work bears!!
-Mrs. Doak
YEARBOOK NEWS
Order your Yearbook now to secure your copy at www.jostens.com $35.00. Yearbook personalization is $6.00.
Order your custom Recognition Ad for your student at www.jostenadservice.com (separate from your yearbook order). Yearbook Ads are a great way to celebrate student success and milestones and reflect on the person your student has become! Ads are easy to create: choose your design, upload your picture and create your message. 1/8 page at $25.00. Deadline to upload your Ad is 02/16/2019.
++++++++ IN EVERY BUZZ +++++++++
Buckalew Visitors and Volunteers
Safety is our top concern, and surveillance cameras are placed at all doors and in the hallways of our school. Each camera records all activity. All outside doors are locked including the front doors. Please be sure to have your driver’s license with you during every visit to the campus.
Upon arrival, please see the receptionist for a visitor’s tag. The receptionist will ask for your driver’s license. It will be scanned using a system that is connected to the database that provides an alert of any person who may jeopardize the safety of our campus. If no such alert is discovered, the receptionist will then electronically permit entrance into the building.
Each time you enter the school, please remember to bring your license. The nametag given to you on each visit will show the date and the purpose of your visit. Please know that every visitor must have a name tag, and anyone without it will be stopped. Even though this is time consuming, it is essential to our children’s safety. For your child’s protection, parents and visitors are not allowed to go to their child’s classroom to pick him or her up during or at the end of the day. All check out is through the front office. Please allow students to walk to classrooms independently in the mornings and to go to the designated areas for dismissal in the afternoons.
If you need to pick up your student, you will be asked for your driver’s license. Students will only be released to parents with ID, unless we have written correspondence or an email to brobinson@conroeisd.net with identifying information on who will be picking up the student.
If you plan to be in the building during the school day at any time during the school year, please fill out the volunteer application on the CISD website: https://apps.conroeisd.net/volunteer/. This must be done yearly and will be necessary in order to volunteer in any position on campus.
Student Handbook
Give the Gift of a TAE "Teacher's Achieving Excellence"
Log Into "Parent Access" by clicking:
and click on the "Teachers/Staff Excellence" Tab.
Feel free to type your own message and send any staff a positive message!
Wear any day to show your Buckalew Pride!
Work-Hard Wednesday Shirt!
Active-Tee
Calling All Bears!! Big-Bear, Little-Bear Program
We are excited to start our new program for the 2018 - 19 school year called Big Bear/Little Bear. This program is for new families entering Buckalew to be placed with a veteran Buckalew family. If you are new to the area or new to Buckalew, please contact Mrs. Lozinak and she will connect you with a "Big Bear" family who will help you navigate for an easy family-friendly Buckalew start.
Heather Lozinak: havillano@yahoo.com or 402-661-0547.
PTO DOES THAT!
Our PTO believes in the students, staff, and families at Buckalew. By becoming a PTO member you have the voting power to affect the enrichment and lives of our students. Also, by contributing to our fundraisers, you are making all kinds of quality programs and events available to ALL of our students! Become a PTO member for $25 and see how your PTO dollars are benefiting your child.
http://buckalewspiritstore.com/product/buckalew-elementary-pto-membership/
Click to see what's going on in Buckalew's PTO!
The purpose of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to:
(a) promote the welfare of children at Buckalew
(b) to foster cooperation between parents and teachers in the education of children at Buckalew
(c) to unite school and community efforts in securing for all children the best education
(d) to engage in fundraising activities for the educational and recreational benefit of Buckalew, its children, teachers, and staff as determined by the PTO and in accordance with the PTO by-laws.
KROGER CARD
A new school year is about to start and that means it is time to link or re-link your Kroger Plus Card with the Buckle Elementary PTO barcode.
Even if you have signed up before, you have to renew each August! Just register online at www.krogercommunityrewards.com Once you register, every dollar you spend at Kroger means money for Buckalew-even those lattes at Starbucks!
Please clip and save your Box Tops. Our first collection drive will start October 1st.
Thank you for supporting Buckalew by participating in Kroger Community Rewards and Box Tops for Education!
2018-19 AND 2019-20 School Calendar
We appreciate your support of public education and the value of attendance. Because of YOU and our amazing staff, Buckalew continues to rank among the best in the state and we are very proud of that and want it to continue!
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES
Parents just a reminder to send all transportation changes to school with your child in their backpack. E-mail changes are for emergency changes only and must be made before 2:00 p.m. Please note weather is not considered an emergency. For emergencies only, e-mail brobinson@conroeisd.net and make sure you get a confirmation that your change was received. Classroom teachers do not always check emails throughout the day or may even be absent and that request would not be received in time. If you have sent a note with your child it is not necessary to e-mail the note to the front office. Thank you.
Safety Reminders from our Police Department:
- Please remember to remind your children NOT to cross until the crossing guards are at their posts in the morning. The building is not open until 7:30.
- Please remember if you are in your car, to wait for the crossing guards not only to cross the children, but for the crossing guards themselves to make it back to the sidewalk.
- Please remember to stay off your cell phones when driving in school zones.
- Please remember their are NO DOGS allowed on school property. This is for your personal liability and the safety of all of our students.
- Please remember there are no U-Turns in front of the school.
- Lakeside Park- if you are dropping your kids off or picking them up from Lakeside Park please park your vehicle to do so. It becomes a safety issue to just drive up and let your kids out or have them get in without parking. Please use our car line in the back of Buckalew if you want just drop off your child.
Parent Access Login
Canvas Login
Lunch Information:
A Full Price student meal is $2.85 and for a 2nd meal is $3.55. “Extras” range from $.50-$2.00.
Did you know you can put limits on your child’s account? You can limit your child to one complete lunch so your child is getting the complete lunch on the menu.
You can also limit your daily expenditures or snack choices or ala carte by calling our cafeteria at 281-465-3467.
Lost and Found
Be sure to label your child’s belongings that they bring to school (jackets, sweaters, water bottles, etc.). Lost and Found fills up quickly with the cold weather. Lost and Found is located outside of the school gym.
For specific questions, please contact Kalyn McQuain at kalyn@mcquainagency.com.
Amazon Smile~ You shop. Amazon gives.
Select Buckalew Elementary School as your charity!
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organizationHow do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?
On your first visit to AmazonSmile smile.amazon.com, you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.ExxonMobil Grants
Calling all ExxonMobil employees, their spouses, children or retired employees.
You can help Buckalew Elementary receive a grant by doing what you love, volunteering. ExxonMobil Volunteer Involvement Program is a program that encourages its people to get involved within their community. It is as simple as doing what you are already doing, volunteering. By volunteering at our various school events (IE: Library, Carnival, workroom helper etc.) you can earn Buckalew a sizable grant. All we need is your 20 hours of individual or team (not to be combined) volunteer hours recorded. If you are interested in this program, please email Tracy Kumin at volunteers@buckalewbearspto.com
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The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner. For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.