Buckalew Buzz
December 12, 2022
Connect With Us!
Buckalew Bears Motto:
"Today I choose to BE Kind, Work Hard, and Do My BEst!"
Our school hours are officially 8:00-3:10. Students may arrive as early as 7:30.
Email: contactbuckalew@conroeisd.net
Website: https://buckalew.conroeisd.net/
Location: 4909 Alden Bridge Dr, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 2814653400
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BuckalewCISD/
Twitter: @buckalewbears
From Mrs. Price
Hi Buckalew Families,
We wish you all a wonderful holiday break ahead and hope you all have a safe and healthy time spent together. It is so hard to believe just how quickly the month of December has gone by, as well as the entire first semester of school.
Just a friendly reminder, we have an early release day this Friday, December 16th. Students will be dismissed their normal dismissal way at 12:10. If you are attending your child's holiday party, please make sure you've sent in your RSVP, and please bring your ID to the front office. If you wish to check your child out to go home, after the class party, you will do so from your child's homeroom teacher.
Our students will return on Wednesday January 4th, 2023.
We hope you have a blessed holiday,
Jill Price
Happy Holidays from our Buckalew Staff!
Update from Conroe ISD: YouTube Recap, Bond Planning Committee & Calendar Survey
YouTube Recap
Dr. Null discussed a variety of topics on last night’s YouTube live including safety, unprecedented growth, and the 2023-2024 calendar drafts. Please see the outline below for specific times.
- 10:00 - Welcome
- 13:00 - School Board Election Results
- 14:30 - Celebrations, Events and Updates
- 14:35 - 2023 Niche Awards: Best School District, Most Diverse School District, Best Place to Teach, and Best District for Student Athletes
- 15:25 - Congratulations, Houston Astros
- 17:05 - Transportation Updates and Improvements
- 18:45 - Generation Texas Week
- 19:40 - Construction Updates
- 22:00 - Veterans Day Ceremony
- 22:55 - Travis Food Pantry (collaboration with the Montgomery County Food Bank and Amazon)
- 24:45 - Students and Staff Holiday Donations
- 27:30 - Holly Jolly Jingle (presented by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
- 31:10 - Board Member Campus Tours
- 33:50 - Reader Man Visits Kindergarteners
- 35:35 - Realtor Course
- 37:05 - Mid Year Graduation
- 38:25 - Safety Updates
- 40:20 - Vaping Concerns
- 41:20 - Fentanyl Impact
- 43:25 - Keeping Inappropriate Items out of Backpacks
- 45:35 - Growth Updates
- 45:50 - Student Enrollment Numbers
- 47:25 - 2023 Bond Planning Committee Process
- 1:00:20 - Welcome, Dr. Hedith Sauceda-Upshaw
- 1:01:25 - School Calendar Process
- 1:24:15 - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
- Winter Break: December 19 - January 2
- Students return January 4
- Winter Break: December 19 - January 2
2023 Bond Planning Committee
Conroe ISD is requesting the participation of students, parents, business owners, community members, and employees for a Bond Planning Committee in anticipation of a bond on the November 7, 2023, ballot. The District is experiencing unprecedented growth and seeks the guidance of all stakeholders in assessing capacity and facility needs. Learn more and complete an interest form on the Bond Planning Committee webpage.
Conroe ISD Special Education December Newsletter
Buckalew Safety
Upcoming Events
**Please pay close attention to homeroom teacher newsletters for class-specific events.**
December
16 - Class Parties:-
KG - 10:45-11:30
1st - 8:45 - 9:30
2nd - 9:15 - 10:00
3rd - 9:45 - 10:30
4th - 10:15 - 10:45
16-Early Release 12:10
19- Jan 3- Winter Break
January
* Lockdown Drill and Fire Drill *
03 - Staff Workday (no school for students)
04- School resumes
19 - 2nd Grade Playdate. Click PTO webstore
February
7 - Kindergarten After School Playdate. Click PTO webstore
10 - 3rd Grade After School Playdate. Click PTO webstore
THANK YOU BUCKALEW FAMILIES!
A huge THANK YOU to all of the wonderful families who donated to our staff cookie day. You helped make this day so much fun for all of our Buckalew staff!
- From Nurse Alison -
Illnesses at School
We are still seeing many illnesses at school. Right now, Strep, stomach viruses, respiratory illnesses and Flu are being reported across the CISD school district ( and of course we are still seeing COVID cases).
I wanted to share a few ways to help your child and Buckalew stay healthy:
- Handwashing is the best way to stay healthy. Talk to your child regarding when and how to wash your hands.
- If your child is sick, keep them at home.
- District policy states a student must be free of fever, vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.
GT NOMINATIONS FOR 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR – Nominations are Due Friday, December 16
The window is now open for parent nominations for GT Screening and will continue through December 16. Parents may nominate their student for Spring GT Testing by completing the District Nomination Form, available through any 3rd and 4th grade teacher, or by asking Nikki in the front office. If you would like a form emailed to you, contact Mrs. Smith tonsmith@conroeisd.net. All second grade students participated in the CogAT assessment in October. The CogAT assessment will serve as a GT screener for second grade students. Parents may now nominate, one time per level of test. In other words, students may test once each school year to see if they meet district requirements and /or qualify in other subject areas. GT testing will be held at Buckalew during the school day the weeks of January 23 – 27 and January 30- February 3. Nomination forms may be returned to your student’s 3rd and 4th grade teacher OR to Nikki in the front office. ALL NOMINATION forms are due NO LATER THAN December 16!
- From The Attendance Office -
Dismissal
We strive to dismiss all our students safely from our building. Please do not come to the front office at dismissal time to call your child from class. We cannot dismiss students directly from the classroom or in the hallway at dismissal time. Students will not be released after 2:30 p.m. from the front office.
We are unable to call your child to the Front Office until you are here and have provided your identification. Thank you for understanding.
Absences
When your child is absent, please call the school attendance line (281-465-3410) or email buckalewabsence@conroeisd.net to explain the reason for their absence. To ensure the accuracy of your child's attendance records, please call, or email each day your child is absent.
Please remember that attendance is recorded 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 doctor's statement that verifies the appointment.
If your child will be out for an extended period, please let us know.
School hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:00 a.m. and students will be counted tardy if they are not in their classroom at that time.
- Parent Lunch Reservations -
- From Specials -
Library News
If you would like to volunteer in our library please contact our volunteer coordinator: Jenny Bardoux at buckalewptovolunteers@gmail.com. Our library is fun and BUSY!
Our library does not charge fines for overdue library books. We do however ask that you pay for a library book that has been lost or damaged while checked out to your student. We can have the cost of the book added to your School CAsh Online Account for easy payment. We prefer this option because the books we purchase for our library are reinforced and bound specifically for hundreds of checkouts. The book that has been purchased from a local book store or Amazon is meant for personal use and isn’t an equitable replacement for the lost or damaged library book.
Library books can be kept for up to 2 weeks till they need to be returned. Our library is open for active start for book checkout. So if your student forgets their library book on the day they are schedule to be IN the library, they can return them the following day and get some new books.
Each Sunday evening we send e-mail notifications if your student has an overdue book. Please feel free to e-mail with any questions!
Jennifer West
Buckalew Elementary
Librarian
- From Mrs. Points -
Counselor's Corner
Lunch Bunch
Social and Emotional Learning Objectives
I am self-aware.
I can manage myself.
I am aware of others.
I can build relationships with others.
I can make responsible decisions.
CISD Community Presentations
Our CISD Guidance and Counseling Department host parenting presentations throughout the school year. The following sessions are open this school year for any CISD parent to join:
https://www.conroeisd.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Copy-of-22-23-Community-Presentations-Flyer.pdf
.
- Information For Ongoing Reference -
Bring Your I.D
Need A New Car Rider Sign?
Active Start and Breakfast
Breakfast is served in our cafeteria from 7:30-7:55 daily. See below for menu. See fees below for both breakfast and lunch.
Checking out your Child
If anyone other than a parent/ guardian checking out a student from our campus, we will need a note, sent in with your child, in their backpack on that day or an email to buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net. If we do not have a note from a parent/guardian, the Front Office will call to get permission for your child to leave our campus.
The Emergency Card completed at the beginning of the school year is for us to be able to contact someone in a situation where we cannot get hold of a parent/guardian. It is not permission for those emergency contacts to check out a child, any time.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to keep our students safe whilst on our campus.
Car Rider/ Dismissal Sign
NEW THIS YEAR for KG: We are requiring Kindergarten parents only at Biker Walker to carry this sign with them to pick up their child at the biker walker doors. With our growing enrollment and various staff members on duty, it adds an extra layer to make sure we are connecting the correct kindergarten student with their care giver.
Take a photo of the sign? We have had several people ask if they can use a photo of this Dismissal Sign on their phone. The answer is YES! Feel free to take a picture to keep on your phone in case of transportation changes or loss of the sign, or emergency instances with severe weather. Please know that the original sign is IDEAL, as it is designed for those calling dismissal to be able to read. On a cell phone, that will slow down the line.
Transportation
1. Bus rider (eligible if home is 1 mile or further from school) Bus routes are posted online on and you can check the link below in "what bus do I ride". You can also register your child for the bus by clicking the link below in the Buzz.
2. Car Rider Signs. The car rider line will be at the rear of the school and the bus line will be at the front of the school. ALL Parents should have received TWO car rider signs (yellow) at Meet the Teacher night. Please display the car rider sign in your front passenger window so our staff can read your card. See below to help you navigate our car rider line if you are new.
3. Day Care. Day care vehicles drop off and pick up students in the front of the school with the buses. If your child will not be riding the day care bus due to an early pick-up or transportation change, please notify the day care so they know your child will not be riding that day.
4. Biker/Walker. Kindergarten students must have a parent/guardian/designated adult present with the car rider sign at the Biker Walker doors (under the patio) at dismissal in order to walk or bike home. All other Biker Walkers will exit the school near the bike racks. All other biker/walkers are released at dismissal to ride or walk home independently.
On severe weather dismissal days, students will not walk or bike ride home. If your child is a biker/walker as your primary mode, then you will be a car rider on severe weather days.
Please see updated District Covid-19 Guidelines in link below
Parents of students who have received COVID-19 positive results are asked to complete the self-report in the SSO portal:
Drop Table
We offer parents the courtesy of a drop table to deliver forgotten items, which is located in our Front Office. There are pens, paper and tape available for you to use to clearly identify items for your child to pick up. We will call the classrooms at 10am to inform all students of items on the drop table.
Student Lunches and birthday cookies will be taken to the Cafeteria, on a cart, for your child to pick up at their allotted lunch time. Please make sure ALL ITEMS are clearly labeled.
Transportation Change / Early Dismisal
You will be asked to provide photographic identification when collecting your child.
To make transportation changes, please send a note in your child's backpack to the teacher OR email: buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net prior to 2pm. Any changes submitted after 2pm will not be seen until the following day.
Lunch Information
We are working with our students on understanding the lunch-buying process. It can be quite confusing for our elementary students. We are currently speaking with our students and explaining to them, if they bring a lunch, they should eat their lunch before going through the line and purchasing an additional lunch. As we try and navigate each student through the lunch line, every child has a different need, and we never want to deny students from going through the lunch line. We encourage you to communicate with your child your expectations in either: eating the lunch you are providing/packing; buying extra lunch only and going through the line one time; or explaining that if they go through the line a second time, their account is charged again. We also encourage you to check your child's account, by going to the link below and you can check and monitor your child's purchase history, and if necessary put a limit on the account by contacting our cafeteria directly.
Breakfast
Reimbursable Meal Prices
$2.00 Full Price Student Breakfast
$0.30 Reduced Price Student Breakfast
$3.00 Non-Student Breakfast/2nd Breakfast
Ala Carte Prices
Entrée- $1.50, Milk- $.95, Fruit/Vegetable/Grain- $1.15
Lunch
Reimbursable Meal Prices
$3.20 Full Price Student Lunch
$0.40 Reduced Price Student Lunch
$4.20 Non-Student Lunch/2nd Lunch
Ala Carte Prices
Entrée- $2.30, Milk- $.95, Fruit/Vegetable/Grain- $1.15
Kettle Corn Popcorn-$1.50,
Slush, Brownie, Rice Krispy Treat- $1.00
Chips, Cry Baby- $.75
Freshly Baked Cookie, Fruit Roll-Up- $.50
You may prepay by using My School Bucks. You will find a link to this service, lunch menus, and other helpful information by clicking on the child nutrition resource button below. If you would like to put a cap on your child's spending on your lunch account, then please notify our cafeteria manager by calling 281-465-3467.
- PTO Information -
Buckalew Bears P.T.O
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 the best education for all children
(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.
Upcoming Events
The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 6th, at 11:30 AM in the Buckalew Library. We hope to see you there!
Lost and Found
Please take a look at the latest Facebook post about lost and found. Please let your child to stop by to get their belongings before we donate them all.
***WE DONATE EVERYTHING BY 12/15/22***
Lastly, write your child’s last name and First name or at least last name on their belongings. That helps us big time in finding the owners quickly.
If you have any questions, please reach out to gabinkwon@gmail.com or jojowhitten@me.com
Amazon Smile
Select Buckalew as your charity!
This is a simple & automatic way for you to support Buckalew every time you shop. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select a charitable organization & your selection will be saved for future purchases. Just remember to always login under smile.amazon.com.
Box Tops for Education
The traditional clipping of Box Tops is going away but the Box Tops app makes it so easy to just scan your receipt after you shop. Box Tops are worth $.10 each and can add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need. There are also times to earn Bonus Box Tops and the App will send you these notifications. Participating companies include General Mills, Green Giant, Pillsbury, Ziploc, Hefty, Juicy Juice, Annie’s and many more.
Remember to scan your receipt within 14 days of purchase or it will expire.
Yearbooks 2022 - 2023
Yearbooks are on sale now! Current price is $43! This price is good until December 30th. After December 30th, the price will increase! Limited quantities are printed each year so to guarantee you get a copy, please order your copy today!
https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/about-yearbooks
Yearbook Recognition Ads
Celebrate your kid and what they have done by creating a recognition ad! You can upload a photo or two and write something your kids will cherish forever! A wonderful memory the family can enjoy! Ads are $25. The deadline to submit ads is February 9th! You can create them in Jostens or create them in Canva and upload them to Jostens.
https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/yearbook-ads
Please sign up as a CISD VOLUNTEER
Click the button below to complete the form. You will need your drivers license number;
School Cash Online
We are very excited to announce that Buckalew Elementary will join in with other CISD schools and will be offering School Cash Online, which provides you with the convenience of paying online for school items such as trips, Scholastic Magazine subscriptions, and various activities. We really want to save you time when paying for school expenses, so we can’t wait for you to take advantage of this opportunity. School Cash Online is a great way to pay without the need for cash or checks!
Please follow the link below to register online (it takes less than 5 minutes!) Once you have registered your child, you will be able to see when they have a new item posted online for purchase. You also have the option to be notified whenever your child has a new school expense due, so you don’t have to worry about missing the deadline.
To set up an account and explore the system, please follow the instructions below. We look forward to hearing your feedback!
Register Online:
Step 1: Please click on this link: https://conroeisd.schoolcashonline.com/
Step 2: Register by selecting the “Get Started Now” and following the steps.
Step 3: After you receive the confirmation email, select the “click here” option, log in and add each of your children to your household account.
If you have any questions during the registration process or while shopping online, please select the SUPPORT option in the top right-hand area of the screen or you may contact the parent help desk at 1-866-961-1803 or at http://schoolcashonline.co./Home/Support or see the handout below.
CISD-Foldable-Brochure-English.pdf
Currently, in grades 1st-4th, the classes are utilizing Scholastic News and Storyworks Jr magazine subscriptions to read high interest non-fiction texts and to learn about text features and engaging stories and different genres. We thank you in advance for purchasing this wonderful subscription for your child.
For the first time, Buckalew will be collecting money through School Cash Online vs requesting parents send in a check or cash.
Thank you again for your support in our students.
Water Bottles
Children are encouraged to bring water bottles each day. Please clearly write your child's name on the bottle with permanent marker.
Lost and Found
A friendly reminder to please label all of your child's belongings with first name and last initial or last name. **Water bottles, lunch boxes, hats, and especially outerwear such as hoodies/jackets/sweaters are all great things to label as these items tend to pile up quickly in the Lost and Found, which is located right outside of the gym. We really hope to reunite these lost items with their owners before the break!
If you have any additional questions, please contact gabinkwon84@gmail.com