Converse Family Newsletter

Dear Converse ES All-Star Community,

What a wonderful week we've had! Our theme of Converse ES All Stars: Growing Together, Achieving More! was truly on display during our recent Grand Friends Day. Seeing so many of you and your loved ones in our school was a highlight of the year. Thank you for making it such a successful and heartwarming event.

Important Reminders

This week, we will be conducting a practice lockdown drill to ensure the safety of our entire community. We have reviewed all safety protocols with our students, and we ask that you please remind them to follow these directions carefully and calmly. Practice drills are a crucial part of our safety plan, helping us to be prepared for any situation.

As we continue to build on the great success of these first weeks, we want to remind everyone about the importance of being on time. To make the most of our learning day, please ensure your students are in their seats and ready to learn by 7:30 a.m. Punctuality is a key habit for success, and it helps us all start our day smoothly.

We have had a fantastic start to the school year, and it is a privilege to partner with you in your child's education. We are excited about all the achievements that are yet to come.

Sincerely,

Miriam Huerta

Converse ES Principal

September 18: Parent Engagement Meeting (9:00 AM)

September 18: Bike Rodeo (5:30 - 7:00 PM)

September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

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

September 29: Staff Development (campus closed to students)

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

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

JISD 2025-2026 School Calendar

On Thursday, September 18, Converse ES will conduct its Bike Rodeo & Family Fitness Night. Please email questions to Coach Lopez or Coach Rios.

Please note the following about the event:

• Please complete the Bike Rodeo Sign Up Sheet by September 16.
• It will be held from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM.
• Kindergarten - 5th grade students only.
• The bike rodeo will be held in the lower deck of the back parking lot.
• Students are responsible for their own bikes in the assigned area.
• Only two-wheeled bikes will be permitted to compete in the district bike rodeo which will be held on October 15, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Rutledge Stadium.
• Students must have their own bikes to participate and all students participating in the bike rodeo must wear a helmet.
• Start times are on a rolling basis (you start when you get there).
• Students who are participating in the bike rodeo must return to campus with a parent or guardian.
• Students bikes will not be kept/held at school.
• Students are welcome to use the marked areas on the lower back parking lot for practice during evenings and weekends.
• Students who use training wheels can participate in the campus Bike Rodeo, but they cannot proceed to the district Bike Rodeo.

The Kona Ice truck will be parked in the back parking lot on September 25 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Plan to stop by to enjoy a cool treat during Open House!

Please be sure to practice our Cougar Pride Mantra with your scholar!

Converse Elementary School Mantra

I am a Converse Cougar.

I am powerful and intelligent.

I have the power to create my own path.

Nothing can stop me from living the life of my dreams.

Cougar PRIDE means we demonstrate:

Personal responsibility

Respect

Integrity

Determination

Excellence

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.

🌟🌟Our top grade level is 1st grade with 97.53% average daily attendance!

🌟Runner up is 4th grade with 97.38% average daily attendance!

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)

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.

A very important medical device was stuck between chunks of concrete and no one on the campus was able to get to it. Because it was a necessary item for one of our students, we knew it was important for us to get. We reached out to the JISD maintenance department and they quickly responded to our call. Thank you, Mr. Poe, for coming to our rescue and getting the medical device for our student!

Dollar Tree donated bags of school supplies to Converse ES and we are so grateful for their donation! We will hand out the bags of supplies at Open House on Thursday, September 25, and we will hand them out while supplies last.

Thank you, Dollar Tree, for your generosity!

The September Edition of the SPED Parent Newsletter is now available. This edition includes information regarding upcoming community events such as the Traders Village Annual Corney Maze, the San Antonio Museum, and Parents as Partners training series. Please take a moment to read the news.

https://secure.smore.com/n/auj0em

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 Rooms 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.