September

09/24 - Bush PTO Chick-Fil-A Spirit Day

October

10/1-31 - National Principal Month

10/02 - School Custodian Appreciation Day
10/09 - Staff Development - No Students

10/12 - Holiday - No School

10/13 - Second Nine Weeks Begins

10/16 - "Paw-Some" Awards on Announcements (Wear RED for Responsibility)

10/19 - Boosterthon Virtual Kick-off (more information to come)

10/26-30 - Red Ribbon Week

10/30 - Boosterthon Virtual Event (more information to come)

November

11/3 - Staff Development - No Students

11/23 - 11/27 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

11/30 - Students Return

Hello Bobcat families! It's been a busy start to the year and an opportunity for all of us to get better at something new. I told someone today that we'll figure it out is the way of 2020. No matter what this year has thrown at us, we have figured out how to adjust and keep moving forward. With the continued support of each of you, we will continue to do that.

One of the things that we have adjusted is dismissal. We began the year changing a few things—including dismissing early. With the work we have done and the practice we have had, we are ready to move dismissal closer to the normal time. Beginning Monday, dismissal will begin at 3:00. Me started the year dismissing at 2:45 so that we would have the opportunity to work within the building to move biker/walkers, bus riders, and car riders without internal traffic jams. That process has gone beautifully. Thank you for your patience as we have made these adjustments. We run dismissal at 3:00 for a couple of weeks, and then we should be able to move to the normal dismissal time of 3:10.

It occurred to me as I spoke with parents at the Fall General Meeting of the Bush PTO that I had not shared why we made some of the changes we have made. We simply asked that you change some of our routines, and you did it. So, I'd like to take just a minute more of your time to explain why changes were made in the dismissal car rider line.

As you have probably noticed, we are scanning bar codes on transportation signs this year. In the car rider line, these bar codes link up with a district application that pulls up the child's name and assigns them to a "flight." Flights organize students into groups of nine for our nine dismissal signs. Within the building, students stay in their classrooms until their names appear in a flight. Then, we release three flights at a time inside the building to line up. One at a time, flights leave the school for students to enter their cars.

This new system does a couple of very important things for us: 1) it allows us to maintain social distance in the car rider line, and 2) it allows for a very quiet dismissal and more students hear their names the first time they are called for dismissal. We are averaging about 20 minutes from the time the first flight leaves the front doors to the last car rider car leaving the parking lot.

I appreciate so much your patience as we have implemented this process. It is a safer, quieter, and, yes, quicker process than what we have used in the past. Your patience and support has allowed us to make a change that has been very beneficial to the school and your children. Thank you!

Take good care,

Dr. Jarod Lambert

Principal

In addition to the information in Dr. Lambert's message above about car line, we wanted to share two things.

1. Our teachers begin their morning collaborative meetings Monday morning. This means there will be fewer adults on the front porch opening doors. We will still have staff members opening car doors, but our rapid line may slow down slightly as we adjust this process. It would help the flow of the line greatly if all students are on the passenger side of the car when they arrive in the morning.
2. At dismissal, please keep your transportation sign in the window after it has been scanned. This helps the staff members who are getting students into cars to confirm with the child which car they should be in.
   

We are beginning the process of confirming instructional settings (online or in-person) for the second grading period. The second grading period begins October 13, and it will take us a little while to ensure that all students are in the selected instructional setting. Please complete the form found using the link below by September 25. If you can complete it sooner, that would be much appreciated. If the form is not completed for your child, we will assume that you want to remain in the same instructional setting. Form link: http://tiny.conroeisd.net/3bpXJ

Thank you for your support and for helping us to ensure that all students are in the appropriate instructional setting. Should you have any additional questions please email bush@conroeisd.net

Absences not related to COVID-19:

One of the advantages to having the Remote Learning option is that a child may be out for a short time period for an illness unrelated to COVID. Let's say, for example, your child was diagnosed with strep throat. During the time your child is recovering from that illness, s/he can continue to learn (and be marked present) by engaging with online content in Seesaw or Canvas. Please communicate this information to our front office by sending an email to bush@conroeisd.net so we are aware of the days your child will work remotely.

Attendance Clarification:

If children who are in-person learners are not physically in the building at 9:00 AM (when attendance is taken), they will be marked absent for the day.

• Should you arrive after attendance time without a doctor's note, it will be an excused absence.
• Should you arrive after attendance and have a doctor's note for that day, the absence will be taken away.
  

If children who are in-person learners are absent from school due to COVID-19 symptoms and do not engage on Seesaw or Canvas, they will still be marked absent. If these engage in Seesaw or Canvas, they will be marked as attending remotely.

Thank you,

Mrs. Brenda Hooker, Registrar

bhooker@conroeisd.net

936-709-1610

If your child has borrowed technology from Bush during the ramp-up period and they will be returning to in-person instruction, the Chromebook and charger must be returned to the school as soon as possible. Chromebooks and chargers should be returned to the homeroom teacher. Please tape a piece of paper with your child's name to the Chromebook so that we properly identify who has returned the device.

Clinic Phone - 936-709-1609

RETURN-TO-SCHOOL CRITERIA

Per Conroe ISD guidelines: If your child has a fever or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19 and does not get tested OR is not cleared by their healthcare provider with an alternative diagnosis, it is assumed the child has COVID-19 and may not return to school until the following 3 criteria are met:

1. Has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

2. AND child has improved symptoms.

3. AND at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Please email or fax (936-709-1699) healthcare provider date of return to school confirmation or COVID-19 test results to the nurse clkirchner@conroeisd.net or bush@conroeisd.net in order to return to school sooner than the 10 day isolation period.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

· Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater to or equal to 100 dg F.

· Chills

· Cough

· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

· Fatigue

· Muscle or body aches

· Headache

· New loss of taste or smell

· Sore throat

· Congestion or runny nose

· Nausea or vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Shaking or exaggerated shivering https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html

PLEASE NOTIFY THE NURSE OR THE FRONT OFFICE IF YOUR CHILD DEVELOPS ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS.

TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance – 8/27/20

Individuals Confirmed or Suspected with COVID-19

Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are test-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met:

In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:

1. at least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);

2. the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and

3. at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above. O

If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) obtain an acute infection test (at a physician’s office, approved testing location, or other site) that comes back negative for COVID-19.

Possible COVID-19 Symptoms

· Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater to or equal to 100 dg F.

· Chills

· Cough

· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

· Fatigue

· Significant muscle or body aches

· Headache

· New loss of taste or smell

· Sore throat

· Congestion or runny nose

· Nausea or vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Shaking or exaggerated shivering

Please notify the nurse or front office if your child develops any of the above symptoms

MEDICATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Prescription medication must be in the original container, properly labeled including the student’s name, the name of the medication, directions concerning dosage, the schedule for administration, expiration date, and the date the prescription was filled. No expired prescription medication will be administered. No more than a ninety (90) day supply of a prescription medication may be checked in at one time.

Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, cough or cold medicines that could potentially mask COVID-19 symptoms will require a written order from your child’s health care provider. Special Medication Note: Due to CDC COVID-19 guidelines nebulizer medications cannot be administered at school at this time.

CURB SIDE MEDICATION SIGN IN

Please email or call the clinic if your child will require a scheduled or prescription medication for this school year. A medication permission form will be emailed to you, or let us know if you need to pick up a paper copy.

Medications will be dropped off via curb side delivery Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30-2:30. Please email clkirchner@conroeisd.net or call 936-709-1600 (front office) or 936-709-1609 (clinic) to let us know that you are here for medication drop off. Nurse Cheryl will come out to your car to collect the signed forms and medication.

CLINIC STUDENT CLOTHING REQUEST

In case of restroom accidents, spills, muddy clothes, please keep a complete change of clothes in your child’s backpack in a zip lock bag to have on hand. The clinic will not have extra clothes in the clinic to provide our students. Parents will be called to bring clothing changes if their child does not have extra clothes available in their backpack. Thank you for your help!

STUDENT ILLNESS

Please contact Nurse Cheryl if your child is absent from school with an illness; fever, sore throat, headache, body aches.

MEDICAL ALERTS

If you indicated a medical diagnosis or medical alert on the health portion of the on-line registration, please contact Nurse Cheryl by email clkirchner@conroeisd.net or call 936-709-1609.

Stay Healthy,

Nurse Cheryl Kirchner, RN

clkirchner@conroeisd.net

936-709-1609

Evelin Padilla, Clinic Assistant

epadillaguerrer@conroeisd.net

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Throughout the year, different organizations come to Bush wanting to assist our students and families with school supplies, clothing, and other various needs. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that makes student educational records confidential, prohibits us from releasing student information to these agencies without your permission. To help us work with these groups in the most efficient way possible, we ask that if you are interested in such assistance, you complete this google form. Please complete this form only if you would like to receive assistance. Information submitted will go directly to the Bush counselor.

Assistance programs vary from year to year, giving us permission to release your information does not automatically mean you will receive assistance. It does let us know that you would welcome such assistance and would be willing to have your information released to these organizations. In turn, these groups agree to use your information only for the purpose of their assistance program(s). It is also required that your consent for release of information be updated annually. If you have a question, feel free to contact your me at amcghee@conroeisd.net

Sincerely,

Angie McGhee

amcghee@conroeisd.net

936-709-1608

Click here to complete the Request for Assistance Google Form

Click here for Coronavirus Resources

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.

The content on the Roadmap to Reopening webpages is designed to provide information relevant for the 2020-2021 school year. Questions and comments may be submitted through the form at the bottom of this page. https://www.conroeisd.net/roadmap-to-reopening/

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.

PTO purchased these picture buttons, so our Bobcats can see their teacher’s smiling face!

You too can help by joining the PTO. Visit the PTO Shop on www.BushPTO.com and purchase a family membership. Memberships can be purchased on the Bush Basics order form!

With the purchase of an annual family membership to the PTO, you get a copy of the STUDENT DIRECTORY when it is published. You also get input and voting rights on how the PTO budget is spent, as well as voting rights for executive board members. You will receive a monthly member newsletter that updates you on what is going on with the PTO, including board meeting minutes and it provides you with an opportunity to ask questions and have areas of concern addressed. A membership is also a direct donation to the PTO. Those funds help us cover our minimal operating expenses, as well as cover funds we give to the school for field trips, student scholarships, recess supplies, and campus enhancements.

VP of Communications: Oversee the communication which includes the volunteer coordinator, directory leader, formsite creator, webmaster, marquee coordinator and social media leader offering assistance when needed. They will also create and distribute electronic communications to the PTO membership when needed.

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)

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

Bush Shirts, Bush hats, and Bush tattoos can all be worn! Virtual and Online students will be counted. Order Bush T-shirts at BushPTO.com before supplies run out. Click HERE

We have a limited number of school supply packs for Kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grade available for purchase. Contact Kathy Ritchie at kathy@kathyunleashed.com for availability and purchasing.

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.