Buckalew Buzz
November 27, 2023
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/
Instagram: @buckalewbears
Twitter: @buckalewbears
From Mrs. Price
Buckalew Family,
I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving break! The next 3 weeks between now and the start of Winter Break, December 15, seems to always fly by! Please pay close attention to correspondence from homeroom classes over these next weeks. Our staff will be showing their holiday spirit the first 2 weeks of December. Your children are welcome to join our spirit fun! See the calendar below for details.
First, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to our community for not only meeting our $40,000 fall fundraising goal, but exceeding it by over $20,000! WOW!! With 63% of our pledges coming from grandparents, relatives, family friends, and "other", we love this fundraiser because our students have an absolute BLAST and we are able to reach outside of just our parent pledges!! Thank you to all of our parents who filled the remaining 37% of our pledges. Our glow run is always just as popular as our outdoor run, and this year didn't disappoint! Thank you to all of you who not only pledged, but attended this fun event! We ended our day going into Thanksgiving with Kona Ice as a sweet treat for meeting our campus-wide goal!
Thank you again to our PTO's Courageous Catherine Boeger, Terrific Taylor Erikson, and Exceptional Elizabeth Kutka and our amazing staff for all the work behind the scenes! Our PTO helps raise funds for Buckalew's operating budget through this PTO fall fundraiser. Our PTO supports the following: Grade Level Field Trips, Grade Level Instructional Needs, Playgrounds (replacement, repairs, and upgrades), Counseling Resources, Technology (instructional subscriptions for students), Campus Morale and Staff Development, ongoing updates, needs, and replacements of items as our campus is 25 years old this year! This also funds our PTO's beautification and landscaping budget, the book vending machine so every child will earn 1 book each year, monthly staff lunches, and PTO's basic operations. With exceeding our goal of $40,000 we are already working on adding water bottle filling stations, replacing our current water fountains. So very exciting!!
Our after school playdates are also starting this week. See below for details. The money toward these playdates will go directly back to each grade level team to determine what they need the most for their grade level.
Our 4th Grade is also hosting Children In Santa's Dreams Toy Drive in conjunction with the Conroe ISD Police Department. Last year, CISD provided Christmas gifts to over 1,196 children in 551 families. Buckalew has boxes set up in the front office for "NEW" unwrapped gifts for boys and girls of all ages. These gifts will be wrapped and given to families, who, without our support, may not otherwise have a Christmas. Collection will run from now through December 8th.
Last, we are excited to announce that we will be bringing WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) Program to Buckalew! WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a national program to help provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by male presence, that education is important. On January 18 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm, we will have our 1st annual ‘Dads and Kids’ Pizza Night at Buckalew. Dads and their current Buckalew student(s) will meet in the school cafeteria at 5:30 pm for FREE pizza and drinks. At 6:00 pm, we will have an informational presentation about our WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) Program. Please see below for RSVP to this event.
Thank YOU for your support and for sharing your children with us.
Mrs. Price
Buckalew After School Playdates
Save your child's after school playdate "date" now! More information will be coming through room moms and specific grade levels as grade level dates approach, but save the date now. The PDF below has live links to pay in advance for playdates for each grade level, so you can also RSVP now!
This year, money raised by these after school playdates, go directly back to each grade level teams to decide how to utilize this money for the growth of our students. That comes in many forms from technology, classroom books, treasure box prizes, instructional materials, and all the things your child's teachers typically invest their own money or wait until there are opportunities to fund certain needs. Each grade level uses these playdate funds differently, but your children have a BLAST with their buddies in a structured fun, after school setting with the entire grade level.
These are always very highly attended and we will be asking for your RSVP 3 days in advance for the teams planning purposes. You can start now and secure your RSVP by logging into your school cash account via schoolcashonline.com
Download Invite for Links
Download the Playdate Invitation here for each grade-specific link to schoolcashonline for your RSVP.
WATCH D.O.G.S.®️ (Dads Of Great Students) Program
‘Dads and Kids’ Pizza Night Event! FREE Pizza, Drinks and Fun!
Fathers and Father-figures,
On January 18 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm, we will have our 1st annual ‘Dads and Kids’ Pizza Night at Buckalew. You will meet in the school cafeteria at 5:30 pm for FREE pizza and drinks. At 6:00 pm, we will have a presentation about our WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) Program.
WATCH D.O.G.S.® is an innovative program being used by schools across America. It helps them to be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in their student’s life. We aim to have you spend a day or at least a few hours this year at Buckalew to be a positive male role model and provide an extra set of eyes and ears.
Dads, granddads, uncles, step-dads, and adult brothers . . . this is your chance to have a night out alone with your student in a fun, school atmosphere.
To participate, click the button below to register and RSVP by January 9, 2024, so we can get an accurate count for the pizza and save you and your kid(s) a seat!
Dates to Remember
Upcoming Events
**Please pay close attention to homeroom teacher newsletters for class-specific events.**
November
27 - December 8 - 4th Grade Toy Drive
30- 4th Grade After School Playdate
December
1- PTO Meeting
4- Grinch Day- Wear Green or Grinch-Gear
5- Holiday Hair, Don't Care- Wear your favorite holiday head gear!
6- Little Drummer Boy Day- Wear your favorite BAND or concert shirt
7- Frosty the Snow Man Day- Wear your comfy clothes
7-1st Grade After School Playdate
7- Choir Concert 6pm
8- Ugly Sweater Day
11- Candy Cane Day- wear red and white
12- Wear your favorite holiday attire to celebrate your family's cultural holiday tradition
13- Diamonds and Denim Day- dress in your sparkly or country attire best!
14- Joggers and/or Jammies day!
14- 2nd Grade After School Playdate
15- Wear your jingle bells for the Jingle Bell Jog and your favorite holiday shirt/outfit!
15- End of 2nd Quarter/Early Release 12:10
Dec16-Jan 2- Winter Break
January
3 - Students return to school from Winter Break
15 - MLK Day - NO SCHOOL
18- WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) Kick Off 5:30-6:30 (RSVP requested)
February
8 - KG After School Playdate.
16 - Inclement Weather Day - NO SCHOOL
19 - Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL
March
5 - Staff Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
11 - 15 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
29- 1 April Easter Break - NO SCHOOL
Toy Drive
Help 4th grade spread some Holiday cheer!
CISD police are collecting toys for our CISD families in need. Please bring in new unwrapped toys November 27- December 8th.
Collection boxes will be located in front of the library.
Holiday Market TWHS Band
GT NOMINATIONS FOR 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR – Nominations are Due Friday, December 15
The window is now open for parent nominations for GT Screening and will continue through December 15. Parents may nominate their student for Spring GT Testing by completing the District Nomination Form, available through any 3rd or 4th grade teacher, or by asking Nikki in the front office. If you would like a PDF copy of the form emailed to you, contact Mrs. Smith tonsmith@conroeisd.net. All second grade students will participate 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 22 – 26 and January 29 - February 2. 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 15!
Special Education Parent Newsletter
- Parent Lunch Reservations -
Lunch Reservations
Go to Lunch Reservations and find the green 'Parent Lunch Reservation' button on our Home page. It will take you through to Signup Genius from there.
Click Here to be redirected to our Website
If anyone other than a parent or guardian comes in to have lunch with a student, the Front Office will need a note from the parent/guardian giving permission for that person to have lunch with that child. Please either send a note in the back pack to the Front Office on the day OR email contactbuckalew@conroeisd.net.
Smartwatch and Cell Phone Guidelines
CISD PreK-6th Grade Cell Phone and Smartwatch Guidelines
At the October 17, 2023 CISD School Board Meeting, the trustees approved the PreK-6th Grade Cellphone and Smartwatch policy. The policy approved states:
● Cell phones and smartwatches may be used respectfully and responsibly before school and after school.
● Cell phones and smartwatches should not be used to capture video, audio, or images at school or on the bus.
● Cell phones and smartwatches should be set on silent mode and kept in backpacks, lockers, or other designated storage areas and should not be visible during school hours including instructional time, reward time, free time, lunch, and in the hallways.
● Use of cell phones and smartwatches may be permitted in extenuating circumstances with permission from a staff member. (ex. to notify parent/ guardian of a late bus)
A committee of campus representatives will determine how to best implement the policy, share the plan with staff members, students and parents. Basically, the district policy is no different than the Buckalew policy. We will work on an implementation plan over the next couple of weeks.
Currently Buckalew's Student Addendum states the following on Student Electronic Devices.
If a student brings an electronic device (cell phone, e-reader, smart watch, etc.) they bring them at their own risk. The school is not responsible for any damage, lost, or stolen electronic devices. The expectation is that electronic devices are powered off when students enter the building and stored in a backpack until they exit the building. Any communication between parent and student during the school day must go through the office or teacher.
Teachers will communicate with parents if there are times that personal electronic devices will be allowed to be used during classroom activities. Expectations for use will be communicated to students, and students will be monitored to ensure the devices are being used properly.
Students who do not comply with school procedures will have the device given to the assistant principal, who will contact the parent to discuss the concern and plans moving forward, and schedule a time for the device to be picked up. Please see CISD Student Handbook for further information on electronic devices.
- From Nurse. Alison -
CISD Illness Policy
Now that we are back to school students are sharing germs. Just a reminder about CISD's illness policy.
If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, he or she must stay out of school until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. In addition, students with diarrhea or vomiting must stay home until he/she is diarrhea and vomiting free without diarrhea or vomiting-suppressing medications for at least 24 hours.
Thanks for helping to keep our Buckalew Bears healthy!
Nurse Alison
- From Specials -
Library News
If you would like to be added to the library volunteer e-mail sign up genius, please contact Jenny Bardoux, our Library Volunteer Coordinator at msbardoux@gmail.com and she will add you to our list.
If your student has a lost or damaged book from last year it was added to School Cash Online in May and you received an e-mail letting you know you have an item to purchase. The expectation is those lost/damaged books are paid for BEFORE checking out books this year. Feel free to bounce back with any questions!
Library Book Notifications
Conroe ISD Library Services has enabled daily email notifications so you are informed of the items checked out by your student. Notifications for these daily messages can be managed in Parent Access Center (PAC). Please see instructions below to either enable or disable emails.
- From Mrs. Points -
Lunch Bunch
New lunch bunch groups for students will begin meeting the week of November 13th. Each group meets once a week for five weeks during students' lunch period. The deadline to sign up for a group is Monday, November 6th or when registration is full. For more information or to sign your child up for a group, please fill out the link below:
Conroe Cares
I am self-aware.
I can manage myself.
I am aware of others.
I can build relationships with others.
I can make responsible decisions.
Buckalew's Pawsatively Awesome Character Focus
November Gratitude
December Caring
January Wisdom
February Kindness
March Forgiveness
April Perseverance
May Citizenship
Generation Texas
Thank you for a successful Generation Texas week! It is important to the overall development of our children to begin exploring their interests and natural talents. Conroe ISD would like to continue this focus with the following event:
- Buckalew Bears PTO Information -
Boosterthon
We did it! Boosterhon was a huge success thanks to all the generous Buckalew Families and Friends. We were able to raise $63,645 towards school improvements.
Congrats to 1st grade, for winning Popscicles at recess for being the top earning grade level! Mrs.Hveem’s class won a silly string fight for being the top earning class in the whole school! All students got to have Kona Ice on Friday for meeting the school goal of $40,000 and for collecting money from all 50 States!
Thanks again to everyone who donated and to all the PTO volunteers that helped make the Fun Run a success.
Get involved with the Buckalew Elementary PTO!
Please consider joining the Buckalew PTO! Memberships and yard signs are currently available for purchase on the Buckalew Spirit store at https://buckalewbearspto.com.
Upcoming Events
December PTO Meeting: Friday, December 1 · 11:30 AM · Buckalew Library
Yearbook Information
It’s time to purchase the 2023-2024 Buckalew yearbook! Yearbooks will be 10% off until September 30, 2023.
New this year
-Parents have the option of purchasing either a hard copy or soft copy of the yearbook. You will be asked to choose your cover option during checkout.
-Parents can create two FREE custom pages that will print only in their child’s yearbook. Custom pages do not need to be completed at time of purchase.
-During checkout, the option to purchase a yearbook to donate will be present. Please consider purchasing a donation yearbook if possible!
To lock in the 10% discount price, please follow the directions above to purchase your yearbook using this link: https://web.treering.com/create-account/1016910708713746?PassCode=1016910708713746
Please direct any and all questions to Kristen Stocker or Kate Herring at buckalewyearbook2023@gmail.com
Kroger Rewards and Boxtops
Volunteer with the P.T.O.!
If you are interested in hearing about volunteer opportunities, please email BuckalewPTOVolunteers@gmail.com and let us know that you would like to be included on our volunteer list. You can also sign up using the QR code below.
Our Purpose
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.
Please Sign Up to be a CISD Volunteer
Click the button below to complete the form. You will need your drivers license number;
- Information For Ongoing Reference -
Bring Your I.D
Birthday/ Holiday Treats and Celebrations
Cookies are preferred birthday treats and must be store bought due to allergy, safety and sanitation concerns. Treats are served in the cafeteria during the students' lunch time and should be brought to school before 11am. No balloons, candles or deliveries.
Please email your homeroom teacher to check if there are any specific classroom allergies at least 1 school day beforehand.
CISD Parent Access Registration/ Login
Parents will need to register for Parent Access Center (PAC) account if their student(s) are new to Conroe ISD. Students previously enrolled in CISD will have an active PAC account. You can view your childs grades and other important information regularly. Instruction son how to register are below.
If you have difficulty accessing the PAC, please call CISD head office on 936 709 7752 or email helpdesk@conroeisd.net.
Arriving to School after 8am
Students are considered absent if they arrive at school after 9am unless they have a note from a health care professional for an appointment on that day.
Buckalew Safety
Need to send a Note to the Front Office?
From The Attendance Office
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.
School Absences
State law requires that children miss no more than 10% (18 days) of the school year. Students that miss more than 18 days are subject to not be promoted to next grade level. The law goes on to state that it is the parent/guardian’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and requires the student to attend school. It is important for students to remain in school until the close of each school day at 3:10 p.m. unless illness has caused a child to leave earlier.
Tardies
Instruction begins at 8:00 a.m. each day. Students that arrive at school between 8:01 a.m. and 8:59 a.m. are tardy.
Absences
State attendance is taken each day at 9:00 a.m. Students arriving after 9:00 a.m. will be marked absent for the day unless they have a signed note from a healthcare professional for an appointment that morning.
If your child is going to be absent, please contact the school attendance line at 281-465-3410 or send an email to buckalewabsence@conroeisd.net. Please state your child’s full name, grade, homeroom teacher, date or dates of absence, and reason for the absence.
Medical Appointment
If your child is arriving late or returning to school due to a medical appointment, please provide a health care provider’s note upon entering the school to ensure your student is not marked tardy or absent for the day. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment, please do so no later than 2:30 p.m. The student will not be called from their classroom until you arrive at the school. Please plan accordingly.
Moving ?
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.
If you are checking out your child prior to 2:30pm, please come into the Front Office and provide your identification. We will then call your child to meet you in the Front Office. Due to safety reasons, we cannot call your child to the Front Office unless you are here.
If you are checking your child out during specials or lunchtimes, please note that it may take a little longer to locate your child from their specials or lunch room and for us and them to get their back packs from their room. Please leave ample time for this if you have any appointments to attend.
Parents of Biker/Walkers - No Dogs!
We have an abundance of children and families who bike or walk to and from school. Many of your family members include your pets, joining you on your bike or walk to and from school. For your liability, and the safety of others, please refrain from bringing your dogs into the biker walker area beyond the posted signage. We have 2 signs in this area posted that should allow room for your dog, however, will prevent them from being in our most congested areas during arrival and dismissal. We have many children afraid of dogs, even though your dog may be friendly and well-mannered. We have also had dogs get into altercations with other dogs in front of this area and we kindly ask that if you choose to bring your dog, that they stay beyond the posted signs as you watch your child enter or exit our doors.
Thank you for your understanding.
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
For KG ONLY: 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. You can also register for CISD SMART TAG
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. There is no rainy day dismissal.
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.
Please make sure lunches and birthday cookies are clearly labeled and brought into our school before 11:15am so that we can send them to the cafeteria on our lunch cart, for the allotted lunch times. We have limited staff available after this time.
We thank you for understanding.
Transportation Changes
To make transportation changes, please send a note in your child's backpack to the teacher OR email: buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net prior to 2pm with your childs full name, grade and homeroom teacher. Any changes submitted after 2pm will not be seen until the following school day.
Alternatively, please print the form to the Front Office below:-
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
Student Breakfast $2.00
Student Reduced Breakfast $.0
Non-Student Breakfast/ 2nd Student Breakfast $3.30
Lunch
Student Lunch $3.20
Student Reduced Lunch $.40
Non-student Lunch/ 2nd Student Lunch $4.60
Entree $3.00
Milk $1.15
Fruit/ Vegetable/ Grain $1.75
A La Carte
- Extra entrees, extra sides, chips, cookies, etc. are all charged a la carte prices and are not included in the meal.
- For example, if a student gets a meal of chicken smackers, mashed potatoes, and milk, but wants an extra portion of chicken smackers, the extra portion is not considered a part of the meal and will be charged an additional $3.00.
- If a parent wishes to restrict a la carte purchases, please contact the Child Nutrition Office.
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.
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