September

09/07 - No School - Labor Day Holiday

09/08 - Face-to-face Instruction Begins for Second, Third, and Fourth Grades

09/09 - PTO General Meeting via Zoom | 6:30 PM (login information below in PTO section)

09/16 - Read For a Better Life Kick-off

October

10/09 - Student Holiday

10/12 - Holiday

10/13 - Second Nine Weeks Begins

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)

Hello Bush Bobcats,

I am going to keep this message brief. I know there is a lot of information to process this year already. Two big things this time:

• Thank you for your patience and support. We are committed to being better each day than we were the day before. That's even more true in these times.
  
• The PTO's fall general meeting is September 9 at 6:30 on Zoom. I hope to see everyone there. The login information is in the PTO section at the bottom of this issue of the Banner.

This is an amazing community, and it is my privilege to serve you all. Have a great three day weekend.

Take good care,

Dr. Jarod Lambert

Principal

If you need to make a same day transportation change. Please email bush@conroeisd.net BEFORE 2:00 PM. This will allow time for staff to make the change. If you need to advise of a future change, please email the teacher directly.

Early Release

If you need to pick up your child before regular dismissal we ask that you pick them up BEFORE 2:30 PM. At this time, we are beginning the dismissal process at 2:45 PM. We want to make sure you have picked up your child and are able to leave the parking lot without getting placed in car-line.

Lunch Drop Off

At this time we will not accept any lunch drop-offs. If a student has forgotten their lunch, we will make sure they receive one from the cafeteria.

Playground

At this time the playground is closed to the public.

Volunteers & Visitors

At this time we will not have any volunteers or visitors on campus.

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 on the first day of in-person instruction. We will need these devices to ensure that we have technology on campus for students to use during in-person instruction.

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.

***New for 2020-2021***

In order to keep our Bobcats safe, we are putting some new arrival and dismissal procedures in place.

ARRIVAL

The school doors will open at 7:30, and students will report to their homeroom classes.
All children will need a transportation tag with their bar code on it. On the first day of in-person instruction (August 26 or September 8), after you drop off your child, please be patient as our staff gets your child’s transportation tag from the stations on the front porch. This tag is needed to pick up your child at the end of the day. If students arrive by bus, the transportation tag will be sent home on first day of in-person instruction.

Bikers and walkers: Bikers and walkers will enter through the gate on Crown Ridge and enter the school through the exterior doors on the playground side of the building. Bikes and scooters will be placed next to the walls of the building (look for the signs for each grade level). Kindergarten students will enter in the building through the exterior door closest to the front of the building. First and third graders will use the second door from the front of the building (the third grade hallway). Second and fourth graders will enter through the door farthest from the front of the building (the fourth grade hallway). All doors will be labeled to assist you. Parents will not be allowed past the playground sidewalk on the third and fourth grade side.

Car Riders: Car riders will enter through the main doors for their side of the building. Parents must stay in their cars if they are dropping off a car rider. Please wait for our staff to retrieve your child’s transportation tag once you have dropped off your child.

DISMISSAL

As we assess our dismissal routines adjusted for COVID-19 and to start the year, we will begin dismissing our bikers and walkers at 2:45. All biker and walker students will exit through the gate on Crownridge Drive, and no parents are permitted inside the gate during dismissal or after school. We will be staggering the dismissal times in order to allow for social distancing and to avoid large groups of people on the sidewalk on Crownridge. Please maintain social distancing as you wait for your children to be dismissed.

• 4th grade | 2:45
• 3rd Grade | 2:50
• 2nd Grade | 2:55
• 1st Grade | 3:00
• Kindergarten | 3:05
  

Kindergarten and first grade parents must have a yellow or blue transportation sign with a bar code to pick up students. Parents of second, third, and fourth grade students are encouraged to have a transportation sign.

Car rider dismissal will look a little different this year. We are asking that parents form a line on Crownridge drive so that all cars turn right into the parking lot. We expect that this will greatly speed the dismissal process as we scan transportation tags for dismissal. (See more information below.) As always, we ask that drivers turn right when leaving the parking lot during dismissal as well. There is a traffic sign indicating that the exit from the parking lot is a right turn only at these times.

All students will be given a transportation sign with a bar code. This tag must be displayed in the passenger side window with the bar code showing. If you are picking up multiple children, layer the signs so that each bar code can be seen. Once your transportation sign is scanned, you will be assigned a number and your child will come to the sign with that number. If you do not have a sign with a bar code, you will be asked to pull into a parking spot so we can locate your child.

Please be patient as we work through the newness of our dismissal process this year. We have put a number of mitigation strategies in place to minimize any potential exposure to COVID-19. We do not have a firm grasps on how many children will arrive or be dismissed through the car line at this time. Our staff is working to ensure that your child goes home safely and as quickly as possible.

Clinic Phone - 936-709-1609

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

Evelin Padilla, Clinic Assistant

epadillaguerrer@conroeisd.net

Beginning August 13, curbside food distribution for breakfast and lunch will take place at all CISD campuses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Meals will be distributed this way:

• Tuesday: 2 breakfast meals/2 lunch meals
• Thursday: 3 breakfast meals/3 lunch meals
  

At Bush, curbside distribution will take place on the bus ramp. Meals are no longer free for all students. Please think of this as an additional food service line. Student lunch accounts can be used to purchase meals, and students who receive free or reduced meals will purchase at the same price as they would inside the school.

To purchase meals at curbside, you must use the student meal card for your child. This card is located in parent access center. The card links to your child's account. You may pay with cash in the line, but no change will be made. Any change will be applied to your child's school lunch account. You can also pre-pay online at www.myschoolbucks.com or by sending cash or check to the cafeteria for your child's account.

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

Click here to complete the Request for Assistance Google Form

All Bush students have had my virtual counseling office loaded into their Canvas and Seesaw accounts. I hope they have had a chance to view the many resources available from books to games and coping skills. Check out my board for the August counseling lessons, new lessons coming soon. Students may click on the links under “Counseling Lessons” to “Meet the School Counselor” and learn “What does a School Counselor do?. I will continue to update counselling lessons as the year progresses.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your student. As we navigate this new way of learning and connecting remotely, I am here to help and support you. In the midst of these unprecedented times, I believe the most important things we can teach our students are kindness, patience and grace for themselves and others. We are stronger when we work together and lean on each other for support.

Click here to visit Mrs. McGhee’s Virtual Counseling Office

Click here to to Meet the School Counselor

Click here to learn What does a School Counselor do?

Sincerely,

Angie McGhee

amcghee@conroeisd.net

936-709-1608

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.

Do you want to skip to the front of the Car line for an entire semester? Avoid a long wait and hop to the front of the line with the Car Line Royalty Pass! This year we've added a 2nd place royalty spot as well!

Birthday Marquee shout outs are a fun way to celebrate your Bobcat! There will be two shout outs available each month. This is also a great photo op and will be even more colorful this year thanks to all of the amazing rocks our students painted, and left at the marquee during quarantine!

Proceeds from the auction will be used by the PTO to meet needs identified by the school. So far this year the PTO has been able to supply the school with 48 web cams to aide in virtual teaching/ learning. With your support, we will be able to continually support the faculty and staff of our amazing school!

Topic: Bush PTO General Meeting

Time: Sep 9, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84166907498?pwd=Q0xDckMvc1lQbGJRY1hnRlRGL1JWUT09

Meeting ID: 841 6690 7498

Passcode: 177266

(Link graphic to this address)

https://fs23.formsite.com/bushpto/ywvojsrsyx/index.html

With the purchase of an annual family membership to the PTO, you 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 which 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 concerns 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. As an added bonus, you get a copy of the student directory when it is published!

Please note, if you purchase a "Bush Basics" package, it includes a membership. For those choosing the a la carte option, the membership is at the bottom of the order page.

We show our teachers and staff appreciation by hosting a monthly meal. In years past we have banded together to provide homemade meals served to them by our PTO staff. Due to COVID-19 we must now cater every lunch.

We will be catering from Noe's in September!

If you would like to contribute this month and support our hardworking teachers and staff sign up at

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094daba92ba0fb6-september.

Funds can be sent through PayPal: President@Bushpto.com or Venmo: @Rachael-Osmus. All money collected beyond this month's lunch costs will automatically be rolled to the following month.

Thank you for all of your support!!!

Yearbook Assistant: Assist yearbook lead in organization, design, layout and distribution of yearbook.

Directory: Coordinate the layout of the directory and work with Communications VP to create an electronic publication. (Some excel experience is helpful)

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 of the event.

If interested, please contact Nancy Sheely at nancysheely@gmail.com

Spirit Wear Still on Sale at BushPTO.com - Shirts * Hoodies * Baseball Caps * Hair Bows * Backpack Charms * Car Decals * Personalized Lables * Drawstring Bags

Spirit Friday gear is available for purchase at www.bushpto.com. New this year, Bobcat caps, which can be worn to school on Spirit Fridays! Plus, be sure to check out the personalized lables, and pawprint tattoos!

Both in-person and virtual classes will be counted for our monthly spirit contests!

Anything ordered now will be shipped when we place our third and final order, which will not arrive until the end if September.

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.