Bush Banner
July 24, 2020
A Video Celebration of the 2019-2020 School Year
At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, we shared the fourth grade end of year video in the Banner. We'd like to highlight other grade levels in this edition.
A Message from Dr. Lambert
The 2019-2020 school year was memorable for so many reasons. On a personal note, it was my first year as principal. I cannot fully express how thankful I am to have been able to complete that first year with the Bush Elementary Community. We have gone through a lot together: severe weather dismissal and a power outage in my first week, a school closure due to a tropical storm and flooding, a medical emergency for an adult guest during our story book parade, re-zoning of elementary and intermediate schools in the TWHS and College Park feeder systems, a bond election (and Bush is a polling site), and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, this community has been gracious and thoughtful in our approach to these challenges. Simple words seem best: THANK YOU!
We are now entering the 2020-2021 school year taking on the continuing challenges presented by a global pandemic. It is a trying time, but the grace with which this community has approached the uncertainty and changing conditions provides a constant stream of hope. Please continue to check the District's Roadmap to Reopening web page for updated information. I have also linked Dr. Null's July 23 YouTube live update video below this message. I am thankful that we all have a Superintendent who serves our community with compassion and grace.
As we continue to work to solidify plans for the 2020-2021 school year, I want to share additional information with you that is specific to Bush. I'll provide weekly updates in the Banner going forward.
School Supplies and Spirit Wear
Mrs. Reeves and Bush Elementary PTO have done an amazing job with school supplies and spirit wear orders. We will work with the PTO to plan a process for distributing these items as needed at the beginning of the year. We want families who need access to supplies before we return to in-person learning to have them, and we want all of our Bobcats to get their spirit wear as soon as possible. More detailed information should be available in next week's Banner.
Technology Checkout
We are also working on a process for checking out technology equipment for students who need it for online learning. There will be a form for families to submit requests.
Wearing Masks
Staff at Bush will wear face masks this year. Final guidance on student mask requirements have not been provided yet, but I highly encourage students who are able to wear face masks at school to wear them. Schools are subject to Governor Abbott's executive order regarding masks. Under the current order, children ten and older are required to wear masks. Schools are required to comply with executive orders issued by the Governor. Whether masks are required or not, wearing a mask protects your child's ability to come to school. Based on rules from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), masks are an essential piece of determining if people are in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. Students and staff who are wearing masks are less likely to be required to leave school or quarantine. Wearing a mask protects our ability to work and to attend school.
Registration
We are currently registering students for the 2020-2021 school year. Information is available on the Bush web site (bush.conroeisd.net) and further down in this newsletter. You can also reach out to Mrs. Hooker, our registrar, for additional information. Please share registration information with you friends who have kindergarten age children if they do not receive the Banner.
Food Distribution
Conroe ISD continues curb side food distribution in July. Beginning in August, distribution will be available at all campuses in the district. More information will be forthcoming about changes to curbside food distribution provided by the District.
Take good care,
Dr. Jarod Lambert
Principal
Dr. Null's July 23 Update
Selecting an Instructional Format
If your child is currently registered at Bush, and you have an email on file, you should have received an email from the district registration system asking you to select in-person or online instruction as we begin the 2020-2021 school year. Please complete that selection process as soon as possible. The deadline for submission is July 28. Knowing everyone's selection as early as possible will allow us to finalize class placement and to determine how many teachers will be needed to teach our online classes.
If you did not receive an email regarding selection of online or traditional instruction for the 2020-2021 school year, please visit the Roadmap to Re-opening web site (link below) for additional information.
Teddy Bear Tea
As we continue to plan for the 2020-2021 school year, we are able to share some preliminary information regarding Teddy Bear Tea.
Teddy Bear Tea is our kindergarten meet the teacher event. It will be a virtual event this year, but will occur in real time. Once kindergarten class placements are finalized, teachers will email parents to provide information on accessing Teddy Bear Tea for their specific classes.
Teddy Bear Tea is currently scheduled for August 10, 2020 at 1:00. Teachers will create virtual meetings to introduce kindergarten to the our youngest Bobcats. There will also be an opportunity for teachers to meet briefly with individual families through videoconferencing.
We would like to thank the Bush Elementary PTO for its continued support of Teddy Bear Tea. Each year incoming kindergarten students receive a welcome package from the PTO. This year, in-person students will receive their packages on the first day of school. Our online kindergarten students will have their packets delivered to them by school staff.
Conroe ISD is offering both Traditional In-Person and Remote/Online Instruction. Both programs will follow Conroe ISD’s TEKS-based curriculum. Families will be asked to select one of these options when they complete their enrollment or information review in Enrollment Online (formerly known as InfoSnap). Should a family want to change their child’s selection, changes must be requested by midnight on July 28, 2020, by emailing or calling their child’s campus using the contact information at the top of the campus website. Changes to the selection can also be made at the end of the nine-week grading period.
Kindergarten Registration & New Student
If you have kindergarten age children or a new student who will be attending Bush next year, please register them. Kindergarten is always the most difficult grade for which to predict enrollment, and accurate numbers are helpful in the planning process for the coming school year.
To enter the Kindergarten program in Conroe ISD, a child must be five years old on or before September 1 of the current school year. Below is a list of documents that can be provided to establish identity and age for registration:
- birth certificate,
- passport
- school ID card
- military ID
- hospital birth record
- adoption record
- or other legal document that establishes identity
Should you have any questions please contact our Mrs. Hooker at bhooker@conroeisd.net she will be back in the building on July 22nd.
Please also encourage friends and neighbors with kindergarten age children who do not currently have children at Bush to complete the registration process.
Bush Elementary Summer Hours
Bush Familes:
Here are some books on managing worries for children. Many of these books are read online and may be found on YouTube.
How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear?
by Jayneen Sanders
Hey Warrior!
by Karen Young
The Huge Bag of Worries
by Virginia Ironside
When My Worries Get too Big
by Kari Dunn Buron
What to Do When You Worry Too Much
by Dawn Huebner
When Lions Roar
By Robbie H. Harris
The Worry Box
By Suzanne Chiew
Below are some books on resilience and perseverance for children.
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
By James Dean, Eric Litwin
The Most Magnificent Thing
By Ashley Spires
Salt in His Shoes
By Deloris Jordan & Roslyn M. Jordan
A Chair for My Mother
By Vera B. Williams
The Curious Garden
By Peter Brown
The Carrot Seed
By Ruth Krauss
Brave Irene
By William Steig
Please remember to check out my Counselor’s Corner on the Bush webpage for a list of community resources. https://bush.conroeisd.net/department/studentparent-resources/counselors-corner/
You can also find resources related to coronavirus online here. This page is updated as additional resources are identified.
Thank you and have a wonderful summer!
Mrs. McGhee
A Student Health Information Form should be completed online at the beginning of each school year. This form will give you an opportunity to list any medical conditions, allergies, medications and concerns you may have. It also includes emergency information for the clinic staff. This information is used to contact you or a person you designate if needed for your child. If a student has a medical emergency at school or a school-related activity when the parent cannot be reached, the school may have to rely on previously provided parental consent to obtain emergency medical treatment and information about allergies to medications, foods, insect bites, etc. Therefore, parents are asked each year to complete an emergency care consent form as part of the Student Health Information Form.
When your child is ill, please contact the school to let us know he or she won’t be attending that day. It is important to remember that schools must exclude students with certain illnesses for periods of time as identified in state rules. For example, if your child has a fever over 100 degrees, he or she must stay out of school until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
In addition, students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until they are diarrhea free without diarrhea-suppressing medications for at least 24 hours. Illness at school is evaluated by the health service staff in the clinic area. A child who demonstrates the following symptoms should be sent home from school.
- Fever of 100 degrees or more
- Suspected contagious condition or disease
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Severe stomachache, headache, or earache
- A child who is too ill to function in the classroom
Stay Healthy,
Nurse Cheryl Kirchner
936-709-1609
clkirchner@conroeisd.net
All SMS messages received from the Conroe ISD District Office and your child's campus will begin with "Conroe ISD:" and come from the subscribe code 67587. If you have not yet opted-in to receive SMS messages, you can do so at any time throughout the school year by texting "Y" to 67587.
This year's newest Bush Basics Gear ON SALE NOW!
A Few Yearbooks Are Still Available for $40
Forget to buy a yearbook? Email Rene at rene.murphy2010@gmail.com to buy a copy, first come, first serve.
If you already purchased a yearbook and were unable to pick up it up during distribution days in June, email Rene at rene.murphy2010@gmail.com to arrange pick up/delivery.
PTO Volunteer Opportunities for Next School Yea
Yearbook Assistant: Assist yearbook lead in organization, design, layout and distribution of yearbook.
Directory: Solicit advertisements from established contacts. Coordinate the layout of the directory and work with printer to publish (needs some excel experience)
Environmental - Flower Bed/Pots: Rresponsible for adding some color to our flower beds and the front of the school a few times a year.
If interested, please contact Caitlin Reeves at president@bushpto.com
Movie Night support team: This team creates a family movie night in January. This position can be done at any time day, night or weekends. You will be working under an experienced leader who will help you accomplish tasks. Commitment time is approximately 25 hours for the year plus 7 hours on the day on movie event.
If interested, please contact Nancy Sheely at nancysheely@gmail.com
PTO Feedback Survey
Please complete the survey found at the link below to provide your feedback about PTO.
Campus Information
Bush Elementary: A nurturing and inclusive community where students become empowered citizens and life-long learners. Every student, every day!
Our school hours are officially 8:00-3:10. Early morning programs (Movable Minutes, Art Club, Library and Tech Lab) open at 7:30 and students are allowed to move to classrooms at 7:48.
Email: bush@conroeisd.net
Website: http://bush.conroeisd.net/
Location: 7420 Crownridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-1600
The Conroe Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, Texas 77304; (936)-709-7700 and the Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, Texas 77304; (936) 709-7670.