Buckalew Buzz

Buckalew Bears Motto:

"Today I choose to BE Kind, Work Hard, and Do My BEst!"

Our school hours are officially 7:55-3:10. 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/
Twitter: @buckalewbears

Buckalew Family,

What fantastic weather we experienced this weekend and today! Below, you'll find a Buzz filled with information. I want to express my gratitude to the PTO parents who joined us for our inaugural meeting on Friday. The participation was outstanding and hope to keep that momentum going throughout the year. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to join the PTO. Our work at Buckalew would not be possible without our exceptional Parent Teacher Organization!

This Friday, we're scheduled for fall pictures, and our first book fair is just around the corner. We've had a wonderful start to the school year, supported by an incredible community of devoted teachers, staff, students, and parents.

Thank you for sharing your children with us,

Mrs. Price

**Please pay close attention to homeroom teacher newsletters for class-specific events.**

September

9/13- Fall Pictures

9/16-9/20 Book Fair Preview

9/23-9/27 Book Fair Sales

October

10/3- Walk to School Day

10/3- Watch Dog Introduction and Kick Off/Pizza Dinner..more to come!

10/4- PTO Meeting, 11:30 Library

10/10- Storybook Parade/End of First Grading Period

10/11-No School for students

10/14- HOLIDAY- Columbus Day

10/16- Fine Arts Education Day

10/23- TWHS Red and Green Parade

10/25- TWHS Homecoming

10/28-11/1- Red Ribbon Week

10/31- Halloween

November

11/1- PTO Meeting, 11:30 Library

11/1- Fall Picture Retakes

11/4- No School

11/5- No School for students (Election Day)

11/6- Boosterthon Kick Off on Announcements

11/14- Boosterthon Fun Run! (date change)

11/18-22 Generation Texas Week

11/21- KG Feast, 4th Grade Program

11/22- 3rd Grade Feast, Turkey Trot, 1st Grade Thanksgiving Traditions

11/25-29- Thanksgiving Break

December

12/5- 2nd Grade After School Playdate

12/10 4th Grade After School Playdate

12/12- 4th Grade Choir Concert

12/20- End of First Semester, Student Early Release, Jingle Bell Jog

12/20 @12:10- 1/6- Winter Break

January

1/7 School Resumes

All visitors must be able to provide a government issued, photo I. D. at each visit. Photos of the I.D. will not be accepted. Visitors will check in at the front office and receive a Visitor Badge which must be worn at all times in the building. When leaving the building, visitors must check out with the front office and return the badge.

In order to volunteer at school, a Volunteer in CISD Application must be completed.

Please visit volunteer-in-cisd to complete the process, or click on “Volunteer (Parents)” in your student's Parent Portal.

We are excited about a new year in the cafeteria. Here are some things to help you navigate breakfast and lunch at school so your child can be successful. Please see the following information regarding eating breakfast/lunch at school and changes for the 2024-25 school year:

• Please load money onto your child’s school lunch money account through My School Bucks.

• Please complete a Free/Reduced Lunch Application if you believe you might qualify.

Please note this very important change regarding Lunch Charges effective today:

• Per board policy, we have a new charge process that has been established that limits students to 15 charges (1 charge = a breakfast and a Lunch).
• Once a student has charged 10 times, a school administrator will contact you to make you aware of the situation and discuss options on how to clear your child’s charges, how to use My School Bucks, directions on completing a Free/Reduced application, or will consider any special circumstances.
• Please be aware of the process once your child has 15 charges. Please know that we will complete this task with the utmost discretion as possible:
• Elementary/Intermediate Students (EC – 6): Students that reach or surpass the 15-charge limit will receive a modified meal as follows:
• Breakfast would consist of milk and cereal
• Lunch would consist of a sandwich and milk.
• Junior High and High Schools (7 – 12):
• Students that reach or surpass the 15-charge limit will have charging privileges removed until a full payment has been made, a payment plan has been initiated, or a campus administrative override has occurred for extenuating circumstances.

Thank you for helping us provide your child the best experience at school to meet their breakfast and lunch needs effectively and efficiently!

If you’ve moved, changed your name, never registered, or are unsure about your voter registration status, visit https://elections.mctx.org by October 7 for the November 5, 2024 election. Already registered? You can confirm your information at the Montgomery County Elections website, too.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Conroe ISD will be hosting the Talk Saves Lives presentation at Lone Star College - Montgomery from 6:30-7:30 PM in room G102. If Conroe ISD staff attend, they could earn CEUs for it. If you have any questions, please email ldtaylor@conroeisd.net.

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.

😃Click Images to sign up.

LOTS going on in the library this month!!

September is Library Card Month. Once again, we are collaborating with the Montgomery County Memorial Library System to encourage reading. If you would like to apply for a library card, please use this form. Families can return the form to their local branch and receive their library card.

Our Scholastic book fair is on the way! Preview week is September 16-19 during their library and art classes and book fair buying week is September 23-26 during their library and art classes. Flyers will be going home soon in their weekly folder with information on setting up an e-wallet and more.

HatsOfftoReading

September 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Step into an enchanted fairytale at The Pavilion’s Hats Off to Reading celebration in the Event Center. In partnership with Conroe Independent School District, the FREE and festive literacy event begins at 5:30 p.m. and encourages early reading by offering various literacy-based activities such as games, making reading pointers, storytelling time and so much more. Children also have the opportunity to choose and take home a FREE book! All are invited to join Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast for her storybook theater on the stage.

The Houston Symphony will perform Once Upon a Symphony after the event. Tickets are not required for this completely free event and gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show.

Join the PTO and Support our Buckalew Bears

Please support our school by joining our amazing PTO. The link below will take you to the Buckalew PTO website, where you can join the PTO and explore ways to get involved at Buckalew.

It is a great way to get connected with our Buckalew community and other parents.

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.

Next PTO meeting will be Friday, October 4 @ 11:30am in the Buckalew Library

President- Brooke Roberts

VP Fundraising- Chelsey Martin

VP Communications- Felisha Hennessey

VP Parent Involvement- Christine Schaible

Co-Treasurer-Carrie Foster

Co-Treasurer- Rachel Simpson

Secretary- Jainelle Kemp

Parliamentarian- Anna Russell

Volunteer with PTO

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 here.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and check out our website BuckalewBearsPTO.com.

Directory Opt-Out Information

Directories will be coming out shortly. If you do not want your family’s information included, please fill out and submit the appropriate form. This can take up to 15 days to process so please do so immediately as directory information will be pulled September 30th, 2024.

Directory Opt-Out Information

Directories will be coming out shortly. If you do not want your family’s information included, please fill out and submit the appropriate form. This can take up to 15 days to process so please do so immediately as directory information will be pulled September 30th, 2024.

Get the form here.

Yearbook Information

Please follow the directions below to purchase your yearbook here: www.treering.com/validate and enter our school’s passcode: 1016910708713746 Please direct any and all questions to Kristen Stocker or Kate Herring at buckalewyearbook2023@gmail.com

You have until 4/15/25 to create your custom pages

Good news... The Scholastic Book Fair is coming!

SAVE THE DATE for September 23-26!

Get ready to empower your reader with book choice. Start exploring together: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/buckalewelemsch1

Interested in volunteering in the library?

Email buckalewptovolunteers@gmail.com for more information on how to get involved!

Lost and Found

Please label all of your kiddo’s belongings, especially sweatshirts and jackets.

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.

For state law information on attendance, please visit: https://buckalew.conroeisd.net/attendance/

School hours are from 7:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. The tardy bell rings at 7:55 a.m. and students will be counted tardy if they are not in their classroom at that time.

Our goal is to ensure the safe dismissal of all students from our building. To facilitate this, please refrain from coming to the Front Office at dismissal time to retrieve your child from class. We are unable to release students directly from the classroom or hallway during dismissal. After 2:30 p.m., students will not be released from the Front Office.

Should you need to check out your child before 2:30 p.m., kindly visit the Front Office with your identification. Upon your arrival, we will call your child to the Front Office for dismissal. For safety reasons, we cannot call your child to the Front Office without your presence.

Please be aware that if you are checking out your child during specials, lunch, or recess, it may require additional time to locate your child and for them to collect their belongings. If you have appointments, we advise allowing extra time for checkout.

Our school community includes numerous children and families who commute by biking or walking. It's common for family pets to accompany you. However, for everyone's safety and to limit liability, we ask that you do not bring your dogs into the biker and walker area past the designated signs. There are two signs in place that provide space for your pets while keeping them out of the congested zones during peak times. We recognize that many children are fearful of dogs, regardless of how friendly and well-behaved they may be. Additionally, there have been instances of dogs clashing with each other near this area. Therefore, we respectfully request that if you bring your dog, please ensure they remain outside the marked boundaries while you and your children are entering or leaving the school.

We appreciate your cooperation.

If you have lost or need a new car rider sign, please email the following email address with your child(rens) full name, home room teacher and grade, we will send 2 copies home with your child:-

buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net

Active Start is a before school "free play" for students arriving at school from 7:30-7:45. Weather-permitting, students go to the k-2 playground prior to the start of school. Students arriving after 7:45 will go straight to homerooms.

Breakfast is served in our cafeteria from 7:30-7:55 daily. See below for menu. See fees below for both breakfast and lunch.

If someone other than a parent or guardian is checking out a student from our campus, we require a note sent with your child in their backpack on that day, or an email sent to buckalewtransportation@conroeisd.net. Without a note from a parent or guardian, the Front Office will call to obtain permission for your child to leave our campus.

The Emergency Card filled out at the start of the school year enables us to contact someone if we cannot reach a parent or guardian. However, it does not grant permission for those emergency contacts to check out a child at any time.

Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as our goal is always to ensure the safety of our students while they are on our campus.

All parents should have received two Car Rider/Dismissal Signs at the Meet the Teacher event. These signs are crucial for safety when dismissing over 800 students. We appreciate you keeping one sign in each vehicle.

For Kindergarten only: Kindergarten parents at the Biker Walker are required to bring this sign when picking up their child at the Biker Walker doors. With our increasing enrollment and the rotation of staff members on duty, this ensures the correct kindergarten student is released to their caregiver.

Regarding taking a photo of the sign: Many have inquired if a photo of the Dismissal Sign on their phone is acceptable. The answer is yes! You are welcome to take a photo to have on your phone in case of transportation changes, loss of the sign, or emergencies such as severe weather. However, please note that the original sign is preferred, as it is easier for the staff calling dismissal to read. Using a cell phone may delay the line.

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.

Our school provides a drop table in the Front Office for parents to leave items their children have forgotten. Pens, paper, and tape are available to label these items clearly. At 10am, we will notify the classrooms about the items available for pickup on the drop table.

Please ensure that lunches and birthday cookies are clearly labeled and delivered to our school by 11:00am. This allows us to transport them to the cafeteria on our lunch cart in time for the designated lunch periods. Our staffing is limited after this time.

We appreciate your cooperation.

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.

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 $3.40

Fruit/Vegetable/Bread $1.75

Milk $1.15

Lunch

Student Lunch $3.20

Student Reduced Lunch $.40

Non-student Lunch/ 2nd Student Lunch $5.00

Entree $3.35

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.

We encourage children to bring water bottles daily. Ensure your child's name is written clearly on the bottle using a permanent marker. Water bottles should have sealing lids to avoid spills in backpacks, lunches, desks, and on clothing.

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

PDF to help you navigate Buckalew-specific dates, procedures, and information. Please note that all information in the attached handbook is subject to change due to state and local policy updates.

We thank you for planning ahead. Please use this calendar for your planning purposes to maximize instructional days. We have calendars for the next two school years below.