Buckalew Buzz
March 7th, 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.
*disclaimer that items published in this newsletter may change due the COVID-19 pandemic*
From Mrs. Price
Happy Monday Buckalew Family!
We have an exciting month of March ahead! Our Field Day is happening this Thursday, the day before students kick-off Spring Break. Several emails and social media posts have gone out regarding this event. The last "blast" went out via email on 3/4/22. Please review that email for a successful Field Day and for volunteer information. The same information is also in the Buzz below.
We have Spring Break starting Friday March 12 for students. We hope your entire family has a wonderful Spring Break! Our school resumes Monday, March 21 with our last grading period of the school year and our biggest spring fundraiser around the corner!
Please be on the lookout for information on our Buckalew Bash, our Spring Carnival happening Saturday March 26, 2-5pm. Our silent auction with AMAZING items kicks off March 20th. Please pay attention to PTO social media and blasts. All fundraising efforts go to continued campus "upgrades" as our school embarks on being almost 25 years old.
We thank you for your continued support.
Have a great week,
Jill Price

Mrs. Price and the Spirit Team at Buckalew are looking for ideas for our 22-23 school theme. We have had the themes "Geared Up for Success", "Better Together", You can BE Anything", "20 Years Strong", and "We are Buckalew".
Upcoming Events (dates may alter or change due to the pandemic)
March
10- Field Day
11-18 Spring Break
21-National Down Syndrome Day-wear brightly colored mismatched socks
26- Carnival
31- 4th Grade Program
April
1- PTO Meeting
2-National Autism Awareness Day
15-Holiday
18- Holiday
28-2nd Grade Program
May
6- PTO Meeting
9-13- Campus Closed to Visitors due to testing
10-3rd and 4th Grade STAAR Math
11- 3rd and 4th Grade STAAR Reading
26- Student Last day/ KG Program and 4th Grade Graduation
26- Early Release Day 12:10
August
10 - School resumes
Registration Intention for School Year 2022-2023
Parents and Guardians,
If you have not completed your 2022-2023 Registration Intentions form, please click on the link below. Please complete one form for each child. This allows us to determine our staffing needs for the upcoming school year and accurately predict our enrollment for student placement.
Thank you for your help.
Click HereChange of Clothes
Accidents and spills can happen at school. We have a few clothes in the clinic we can provide but are limited in sizes. Now is a good time to check your child's backpack and make sure they have a full change of clothing ( shirt, pants, underwear, and socks) in a Ziploc bag. As the weather changes daily in Texas, make sure the clothes are weather appropriate.
If you have any specific nurse related questions, feel free to email me at: awhiddon@conroeisd.net
Parents of students who have received COVID-19 positive results are asked to complete the self-report in the SSO portal:
YMCA
- From Specials -
Field Day - March 10, 2022
Thank you in advance to all the parents who are planning on volunteering to make this event a success.
Here are a few friendly reminders:
- If you are volunteering for Field Day, you need to be signed up and approved as a CISD Volunteer before 10th March. This is an annual requirement. APPROVAL CAN TAKE UP TO 48 HOURS, so please get this part taken care of as soon as possible. https://apps.conroeisd.net/volunteer/
- If you are volunteering, please bring your ID. We will do our best to have all pre-registered approved volunteers arrive to a pre-printed name badge upon arrival.
- Please also note that this is event for Buckalew Students only. We ask that you do not bring other siblings to this event.
- Make sure your Buckalew student is in proper PE shoes and layered clothing depending on the weather.
- Please provide a water bottle that your Buckalew student can have with them throughout Field Day with their name on the bottle.
We still have some spaces for volunteers to sign up to help run one of our almost 70 games for the students. To register please follow these links.
1st and 2nd grade
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4CA5A928A3F58-kindergarten
3rd and 4th grade
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4CA5A928A3F58-3rdand
KG 8:30-11:00
1st 8:30-11:00
2nd 8:30-11:00
3rd 12:15-2:45
4th 12:15-2:45
Kindergarten
Kindergarten parents will be asked to lead groups of kindergarten students during Field Day. If you would rather run an event please use the links above. We will send additional volunteer information via email. This is one of the favorite days for our students. Thank you for helping make great memories.
Rain date: March 25 , 2022.
Book Fair
Our Spring book fair was a success! Thanks to all who supported our library and bought Books. We had over $13,000 in sales! The monies we earned from Scholastic for putting on the book fair will be used to buy new library Books.
Library News
- Counselor's Corner -
Join Lunch Bunch Counselling Groups
New counseling groups are forming this month and will begin meeting the week of April 4th. Each group meets once a week for five weeks during lunch. The deadline to sign-up is Thursday, March 31st.
Group topics include dealing with BIG emotions (fear, anger, frustration, sadness), having a growth mindset, coping skills, and character traits such as perseverance, honesty, kindness, and gratitude. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me at kpoints@conroeisd.net.
If you are interested in having your child join us, please fill out the below link:
2022 Sibling Request Placement Considerations
Each year our placement committee tries its best to honor sibling requests. Sibling requests are when a parent asks that his or her younger child have the same grade level teacher as his or her older child. Unfortunately, due to the importance of balanced classes, sibling requests are the only placement considerations we can accept.
If you would like to send a sibling placement request to our placement committee, please fill out the following link by April 25th. Unfortunately, the committee cannot accept emailed or handwritten requests.
May Character Focus - I Can Make Wise Decisions!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTMIHyuoi5DpFEl6b4ljpK1hDAUUzAWSVrHg5A5CZF7PyXAw/viewform
- Information For Ongoing Reference -
Buckalew Bistro Reservations
We are so excited to announce that we are no longer asking parents to make a Bistro reservation, due to CISD Safety Level being reduced from 3 to 2. You are welcome to come into our school without a reservation.
However, please be mindful that our Bistro is a classroom dedicated to parent to have lunch with their child so there are limited chairs and tables available.
- Students lunchtime is 25 minutes. Please allow time to complete the required check-in at the front office prior to your child’s lunchtime.
- Please arrive early to allow you to sign in the front office. Please bring with you, your driver’s license. Without identification, we cannot allow you into the building to have lunch with your child. You will then be given a visitors name badge. This will notify our staff that you have permission to enter the building.
- If anyone other than the parent or legal guardian is coming to have lunch with a student, we will require permission from the parent or legal guardian. Please either send a note with your child in the morning OR email contactbuckalew@conroeisd.net
GRADE ARRIVE AT BISTRO EXIT
KG 11:20 11:50
1st 11:50 12:20
2nd 12:20 12:50
3rd 12:10 12:40
4th 11:40 12:10
Please exit the Bistro promptly when your lunchtime has ended as the next grade level reservations begin immediately. Returning your child to the cafeteria by the above listed time will ensure they have a smooth transition to their next activity, and then visitors will head back to the front office to exit the building.
As we have learned throughout this year, things may change so we appreciate your understanding if we need to return to reservations via Signup Genius.
Drop Table
We offer parents the courtesy of a drop table to deliver forgotten items, which is located just inside the entrance foyer. There are pens, paper and tape available for you to use to clearly identify items for your child to collect. We will call the classrooms at 10am to inform all students of items on the drop table. After 10am, kindly email your child's teacher as we are unable to leave the Front Office to deliver items or interrupt the Teacher's instruction.
We will do our very best to make sure your child receives their forgotten item.
Thank you for understanding.
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.
Absences
When your child is absent, please call the school attendance line (281-465-3410) or email Jayne Bull (jbull@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.
Moving House?
In the event you are moving house, please email your new proof of residency document (i.e. a recent gas, water or electric bill/ or your signed and dated Lease or Sales Agreement) to jbull@conroeisd.net. Please also include your chil(ren)s full name and home room(s) teacher(s).
Need A New Car Rider Sign?
Severe Weather Dismissal
No students will be biker/walkers on a Severe Weather Day. Bus and Car riders will remain the same. Administration will use the call our Messenger System to notify parents of a Severe Weather Day. The system does not guarantee immediate contact. If the area is under a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning (not watch) as determined by the weather service, severe weather will be called. Severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings can be located on the local news stations and their websites.
Please ensure that you have your child’s car rider sign visible in the windshield of your car. If someone is collecting your child on your behalf, please email written consent to buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net. They will need to provide identification when asked.
There is no “Rainy Day Dismissal”.
- PTO Information -
Carnival - March 26, 2022
Admission Wristbands and Tickets for our Annual Buckalew Spring Carnival are now on sale! Buy in advance and save $3 on your admission!
Carnival Admission Wristbands give access to ALL outdoor activities and game booth prizes at the Buckalew Bash Carnival! Tickets can be purchased to participate in the kids raffle or to purchase food from our concession stands. Tickets will be sold in bundles of 10. You can purchase your admission wristbands and tickets through our PTO website below:
Admission Wristbands & Tickets purchased in advance will be delivered to your student on Thursday, March 24th in their classroom. The last day to purchase in advance will be Wednesday, March 23rd at 11:59 PM.
Silent Auction
Do you own or know a business that would like to donate to the Buckalew Bash Carnival Silent Auction?!
Your business will be recognized as a partner of our school on our carnival website and in the carnival event program!
The auction will be online again this year and will begin on March 20th!
Please contact Alison Barger (alison.middaugh.barger@gmail.com) or Brandi Sherman (brandi.w.sherman@gmail.com) to donate!
Yearbook
Create a message that your child will remember forever. The yearbook dedicates several pages of recognition ads for families to leave sweet messages to your child. $25 sale ends Thursday, Feb 10.
Buy here: www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1480167/Buckalew-Elementary-School/
Mitchell Intermediate School - PTO Information
Hello Incoming Mitchell Intermediate 5th and 6th Grade Families,
It is that time of year when we are actively recruiting incoming 5th and 6th grade parents who are interested in learning more about PTO at Mitchell. Your talents, skills, and interests are so appreciated! If you are interested or have any questions, please let me know!
Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
Joanna Altimas
Mitchell PTO Parliamentarian jaltimas@gmail.com
TWHS Highstepper Clinic
Please sign up as a CISD VOLUNTEER
Click the button below to complete the form. You will need your drivers license number;
Library Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer in the library, please contact our library volunteer coordinator, Rhonda Villasenor at libraryvolunteer.buckalew@gmail.com
If you would like to help with our Scholastic book fair, please contact Kerri McWilliams at: kerrimcwilliams@hotmail.com.
CISD Is Hiring!
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.
Active Start and Breakfast
Breakfast is served in our cafeteria from 7:30-7:55 daily. See below for menu.
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 Jo Whitten at jojowhitten@me.com or Val Eissler veissler@gmail.com
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 the "free" lunch. For some students, they are eating the "free" lunch and then getting a second lunch, which costs $3.85. 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 the "free" 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 $3.85. If you are providing a lunch/snack and want your child to take advantage of the "free" lunch, a note would help the staff on duty make sure your child is eating what you expect, as there are different staff on duty each day. 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, including the "free" breakfast or lunch, and if necessary put a limit on the account by contacting our cafeteria directly. It is a blessing that all students are provided a "free" breakfast and/lunch again this year, however it does become confusing for our elementary students.
Breakfast
Meal Includes Entree, Fruit, and 1% or Skim Milk Daily
There is no charge for student breakfast meals during the 21-22 school year
Non-Student Meal/2nd Meal $2.60
Lunch
Meal Includes Entree, Vegetable, Fruit and 1% or Skim Milk Daily
There is no charge for student lunch meals during the 21-22 school year
Non-Student Meal/2nd Meal $3.85
Entree A la Carte $2.25
Fruit/ Vegetable/ Juice/ Bread A la Carte $1.10
Milk A la Carte $.90
If your child will be purchasing a second meal or extra items, 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.
MySchoolApps is the fast and secure way to apply for free and reduced meals online. Click GET STARTED to find out if your District participates.
If your Child is Absent
Dreambox for Math can be found on your child's "SSO" and is online and can be done at home, without parent support. We recommend no more than 7 lessons a week at home, independently. Parents assisting their child with Dreambox will alter their path and not provide independent pathways for your child.
Reading either with your child, or your child independently reading is one of the best things you can do with your child in their absence from school. Ask comprehension questions: who, what, where, when, why?
for your reference
The content on the Roadmap to Remaining Open webpages is designed to provide information relevant for the 2021-2022 school year. The details on this page are subject to change as we receive guidance from the Texas Education Agency, Governor’s Office, and State and local officials. Please check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Join our Incredible PTO!
As part of the Buckalew community, all families are invited to join the PTO which meets monthly. We so appreciate our active and generous volunteers who continue to shape the success of Buckalew and strengthen our students’ foundation for learning. We have many volunteer opportunities and need you to continue making Buckalew an outstanding school. Please consider joining the PTO fun. Please follow the Buckalew PTO's social media as they update it regularly!
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.
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 will receive TWO car rider signs (orange) at Meet the Teacher night. If you have multiple children, you family car rider signs will be found in your youngest child's homeroom. 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 at the Biker Walker doors (under the patio) at dismissal in order to walk or bike home. Our 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.
Buckalew Student Addendum
