Converse Family Newsletter

Dear Converse ES All-Star Community,

It has been a wonderful and successful start to the school year! We've had a great first few weeks, and it's been a joy to see our campus come alive with the energy of our students and staff.

Our theme this year is "Converse ES All Stars: Growing Together, Achieving More!" and we are already living up to that motto. The positive start to the school year is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and you, our families.

We've been focusing on building a strong community, and our use of restorative practices has been a key part of this. We are seeing success in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued. This foundation of strong relationships is what allows for true academic learning to take root and flourish.

In their classrooms, our students are already having fun learning and are showing incredible growth. Their excitement for knowledge is contagious, and it's clear that they are ready to achieve great things this year.

Important Dates

• Monday, September 1: No school (Holiday)

• Wednesday, September 3: School Picture Day!

We look forward to an amazing year of growth and achievement together!

Sincerely,

Miriam Huerta

Converse ES Principal

September 1: Staff & student holiday (campus closed)

September 3: Fall picture day

September 5: Games with Grand Friends

September 18: Parent Engagement Meeting

September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

September 25: Open House (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

September 29: Staff Development (campus closed to students)

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School hours are 7:30 AM - 2:50 PM.

JISD 2025-2026 School Calendar

Monday is a holiday for students and staff, the campus will be closed. Classes resume on Tuesday.

This month, we've been talking a lot about kindness. It’s amazing to see how one small act can create a ripple effect throughout our school community. I encourage you to watch this short video with your children about the power of kindness:

https://youtu.be/QMnEP2DYfmI?si=0ho6LFmCh6uCGIcO.

Let's continue to spread kindness, one ripple at a time!

As we maintain our focus on campus safety and security, we wanted to inform you that we will be conducting a practice LOCKDOWN drill during the week of September 8. We want to ensure that all students, staff, and visitors are prepared in the event of any emergency, including what actions should be taken during a LOCKDOWN. Practice of emergency procedures through drills and training can reduce confusion.

• We will not be conducting any live scenarios during our LOCKDOWN drill, meaning there will be no loud simulations, blank rounds, or explosive sounds.
• “DRILL IN PROGRESS” signage will be posted at the front entrance to the school building.
• NO VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE BUILDING DURING THE DURATION OF THE LOCKDOWN DRILL.

We invite you to review the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocols on our district’s safety and security website http://www.judsonisd.org/safetyandsecurity.

Thank you for your continued support.

Starting in September, students could earn a prize, just for being ready to learn on time. Each student will be assigned a number in their classroom. Once a week, if their number is called at 7:30, they earn a prize just for being at school! Students must be in their classroom at 7:30 to win the prize. Students still making their way to the classroom from the car line will not be eligible.

🌟🌟Our top grade level is 3rd grade with 97.68% average daily attendance!

🌟Runner up is 1st grade with 97.54% average daily attendance!

Picture Day is coming on Wednesday, September 3!

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT3NCRGD. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

Last week we sent home a flyer with a slip to return if your child has a "grand friend" that will participate in our Games with Grand Friends event. Returning the slip helps us to know how many people to expect so we can plan appropriately.

We will also offer the opportunity for our grand friends to check in at the school office in advance. This can save you time at the event.

The Judson ISD beginning of the year forms are available for completion. These forms are required to support various programs, health related services, and the distribution of the Student Code of Conduct. Forms are provided to families via the Skyward Family Portal to allow for easy access by all JISD families and online submission of all forms.

Please login into Family Access today to complete your forms.

https://skyward.iscorp.com/JudsonTXStuSTS

Form Completion Deadline: September 1, 2025.

Dear Converse ES Families,

Coming soon on September 18 at 9:00 a.m. in the Parent Center we will have our first Parent Engagement meeting. Throughout the year we will offer other parent trainings on what students are learning in the classroom. We hope to see you there! If you are in need in any assistance when it pertains to your child's academics, please feel free to reach out to one of us.

Mrs. Bailey (bbailey@judsonisd.org)

Ms. Gregor (kgregor@judsonisd.org)

Families in need of school supplies, clothing, food, or community resources are encouraged to contact Mrs. Covington, our school counselor, for support and assistance.

Throughout the year, staff will be recognizing students who demonstrate different character traits each month. At the end of each month, teachers will select one student from their class who has best exemplified that month's trait to be celebrated and awarded a certificate in recognition of their character.

September's Character Trait: Citizenship

Being a good citizen means being a kind and helpful member of our community, both in the classroom and beyond. It’s about understanding the importance of rules, showing respect for others, and contributing positively to the world around us.

We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for nurturing these values. Here are some simple ways you can help your child become a good citizen:

• Promote Kindness and Respect: Encourage your child to be kind to everyone they meet. Talk about the importance of treating others with respect, even when they disagree.

• Discuss Rules and Why They Matter: Explain that rules are in place to keep everyone safe and to make our community run smoothly.

• Encourage Community Involvement: Look for opportunities to volunteer together, whether it’s helping a neighbor, participating in a local clean-up, or donating old toys or clothes. This teaches children the value of giving back.

• Practice Good Manners: Simple actions like holding a door open for someone, saying "excuse me," or waiting your turn are all part of being a good citizen. Model these behaviors and praise your child when they do the same.

• CIS-SA is partnering with Compudopt, a nonprofit dedicated to providing computers and affordable internet solutions to those in need.

Details:

• Families must register online to be considered. Registration link: compudopt.org/computergiveaway.
• The distribution will be conducted lottery-style, with up to 300 laptops available.
• To qualify, families must not own a working computer at home.
• Selected families will receive a free computer with a 2-year warranty and tech support.
• Families will be notified via text and email if selected, so it’s important their contact information is accurate.
• Important: On the registration form, there will be a question about organizational affiliation—families should select Communities In Schools to ensure they are considered for this event.

At a special board meeting held on August 18, 2025, the Judson Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to call for a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to be placed on the November 4, 2025, ballot. This election seeks to ask voters to decide on securing supplementary funding for our District.

The Board approved a Maintenance & Operations rate of $0.7669 and Interest & Sinking rate of $0.3127 for a total tax rate of $1.0796, which is an increase of $0.045 from last year.

The VATRE is being considered in response to a projected $37 million budget deficit, driven by a lack of unrestricted state funding and inflationary costs such as energy, fuel, insurance and other cost of living expenses that have steadily increased in the last five years. If approved by voters, the VATRE would generate an estimated $21 million in additional revenue, helping to stabilize the budget and preserve essential programs and services for students, as well as recruit and retain our qualified educators.

Judson ISD will host a series of community forums and publish an efficiency audit on its website to provide transparency and engage with stakeholders ahead of the election. Early voting begins on October 20, 2025, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

If you need assistance with:

• Classroom - please start with your student's teacher. You can email or send them a Dojo message.
• Academics - if you don't find resolution with the teacher, please contact one of our academic trainers: Brooke Bailey or Kimberly Gregor.
• Counseling/Social Emotional Needs/Family Resources - you can contact our counselor, Erica Covington.
• Absences / Absence Notes - if your student is absent, please email your parent or doctor's note to Monica Collins. Also, please note the school only accepts 5 parent notes a semester.
• Special Education - any questions about special education (SE) can be directed to SE campus lead, Ashton Webster.
• Behavior Concerns - please contact assistant principal, Heather Schumacher.
• Medical Needs & General School Concerns - please contact the school at (210) 945-1210 someone can assist you.