👋 Hello Bush Families!

It is hard to believe we are half way through the 2025-26 school year! What a blessing it has been to serve this community so far! The community support for Bush Elementary is outstanding!

The kids and teachers have had a full week so far! We look forward to class parties on Thursday and Friday! Please remember that we will dismiss early on Friday at 11:55.

Please take the time over the break to enjoy the people you hold dear and share in the magic of the season! It does look like the warmth will not only be in our hearts but outside with 80 degree weather! And so it goes here in Texas...

May all the blessings of the season be with you and yours-

Sarah Howard

Lost and found will be on the front porch from 9-12 Thursday and Friday! Please come claim any lost student items before we donate on December 19th!

PLEASE NOTE THAT PER DISTRICT POLICY THE SCHOOL CANNOT ACCEPT DOOR DASH OR UBER EATS ORDERS FOR STUDENTS

Please make sure to refer to your child's grade level newsletter for event information and times for Thursday and Friday!

For the safety of all students:

PLEASE do not drop off any students on Crownridge in the morning.
PLEASE refrain from cell phone use while in car rider line and in school zones.
PLEASE refrain from walking across Crownridge outside of a crosswalk, this is jaywalking and cars have the right of way.

These are citable offenses and we do not want to start or end anyone's day with that! Mornings and afternoons can be hectic, but the students' safety has to be a priority.

Thank you to Officer Melchor in assisting with our arrival and dismissal!

GT Referral Window

Referral Requests for Gifted and Talented Testing Referral requests are now open for the Conroe Independent School District Gifted and Talented program. Although the testing will not take place until late January, referral requests are accepted at this time. Referral requests can be made by the parents and/or campus staff. It is recommended that parents of 2nd grade students wait until CogAT scores have arrived before nominating their child because CogAT scores are part of the GT assessment. If you are interested in referring your child, you may want to discuss this with your child’s teacher. Referrals will be accepted October 1- December 19th, 2025. You can request a referral form from the front office or either Assistant Principal. You can also find the referral form and other GT information on the CISD GT homepage linked here.

Some things you just can't make up... so last year the PTO had a silent auction item and the top bidder got to hang their college flag on the school fence line for the 25-26 school year. As luck would have it, the winner was University of Texas! Thursday night an anonymous Aggie hung a Texas A&M flag next to the Texas flag. Unfortunately, we had to take it down. But, if this anonymous Aggie wants to pay the $250 the longhorn paid, your Aggie flag will fly again! I love a good rivalry... but fair is fair. Nonetheless, thank you to this Aggie fan, you made my Friday😄

Grade Level Lessons this month

In my role as your child's school counselor, I have the joy of visiting classrooms regularly to teach valuable social and emotional lessons. My goal is to equip students with the essential life skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom, covering topics like emotional regulation, problem-solving, and building positive friendships. Below, you'll find a brief summary of the skills and concepts each grade level focused on this month. Feel free to discuss these ideas with your child at home—reinforcing these lessons makes all the difference!

Pre - K

Our Pre-K lesson focused on learning to self regulate. We read the story Betty Spaghetti and practiced tensing and relaxing our muscles for a “spaghetti body”. How We Can Help Kids With Self-Regulation

Kinder

Kindergarten met Kelso the Frog and was introduced to Kelso’s conflict resolution curriculum. In this lesson we discussed the difference between small and big problems. Small problems are those situations that students are strong enough and smart enough to handle on their own by using a Kelso choice. Big problems are situations that are dangerous or scary and require a trusted adult to help us solve. Students practiced identifying small vs. big problems, and identified trusted adults to whom they could go to with a BIG problem. Kelso’s Letter to Parents Kelso’s Wheel

First Grade

First Grade started a review of Kelso’s conflict management curriculum. They discussed big problems and small problems and when to use Kelso’s Choices or tell a trusted adult. Kelso’s Letter to Parents Kelso’s Wheel

Second Grade

Second grade read Soda Pop Head by Julia Cook and learned that we can use coping strategies to calm when we feel angry. Students learned that once we can calm ourselves when we start getting mad or are mad, we are able to make better choices in how we respond to the situation.

Third Grade

Third grade discussed the difference between “Play-doh problems” and “rock problems”. Play-doh problems are problems that you have control over, you can make changes to affect the outcome of your problems. Rock problems are problems you don’t have control over. When you have a rock problem, you can use your coping strategies. Coping means dealing with a problem in a safe, healthy and effective way. We discussed and practiced a variety of coping strategies students may use when coping with a rock problem.

Fourth Grade

In fourth grade, we talked about the importance of replacing ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) with positive self-talk. The use of positive self-talk is helpful in regulating our emotions and coping with difficult situations. Students worked in groups to align positive self-talk statements with difficult situations. They did a great job of learning to work together and problem solve as a team.

Human Trafficking Awareness Month – Please Share With Your School Community

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and we are committed to equipping families with the knowledge and tools needed to keep students safe. Please help us spread the word by sharing this important opportunity with parents and your school community.

This one-hour session offers an overview of what human trafficking looks like in real-life contexts. Families will learn how trafficking happens, who is most at risk, key warning signs, and practical steps for prevention and reporting.

Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar

Flyer: Link

Presented by: Crime Stoppers
Date: Thursday, January 15
Time: 6:30–7:30 PM

Join via Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/kxv-quhc-too
Dial-in: +1 347-569-5890 | PIN: 449 789 135#

Conroe ISD Library Services has enabled checkout notifications, so you know the title of the books your student checked out. These notifications will be sent on days when your student checks out a book from the school library and will only be sent for the initial checkout. Daily notifications will no longer occur for the entire time a book is checked out to a student. State law and board policy do not allow an opt-out option for these notifications. If you have a question or concern about your student’s reading material, please contact your campus librarian.

Please remember that all transportation changes should be made through the Bush Transportation changes email.

Please use this address:

bushtransportationchanges@conroeisd.net

What else does our Foundation Committee do?

Reduce all behavioral and motivational barriers to learning:

Reduce misbehavior (disruption, disrespect, bullying)
Promote safety and prosocial behavior
Support academic instruction and social-emotional learning
Establish a positive climate
Enhance staff consistency

The Bush staff selected four Guidelines for Success that we want all of our students and staff to strive to demonstrate.

These guidelines serve as a framework for behavioral expectations in all settings. These are the foundation for lessons that teach students how to be successful. The staff references these guidelines when encouraging positive behavior and correcting irresponsible behavior.

The guidelines for success also serve as a guide for staff and students in evaluating their own behavior. Teachers will teach one related lesson to our guidelines for success each week in Morning Meetings.

Parents,

We want our community to be the safest place possible for our students, parents, and neighbors. We have partnered with The Woodlands Township to share this safety message that they created for The Woodlands community.

Please take time to watch this short video or read below for safety reminders on pathways through The Woodlands.

The Woodlands is blessed with more than 220 miles of pathways enjoyed daily by walkers, joggers, bikers, families, and seniors. To keep these pathways safe for everyone, we ask for your partnership in teaching children the proper way to share the trails.

Key Safety Reminders

Motorized vehicles prohibited – E-bikes, e-scooters, and other motorized devices are not allowed on pathways. They can reach dangerous speeds of 15–30 mph on trails designed for pedestrians.
Keep speeds under 10 mph – Bicycles and other riders must slow down, especially around curves, intersections, and areas with low visibility.
Use proper etiquette – Always pass on the left, alert others when passing, and stop at all posted stop signs.
Wear helmets – Serious injuries have occurred because riders of all ages weren’t wearing helmets. Helmets save lives.
Be aware of vehicles – Pathways often intersect with roads. Even if you have the right of way, check carefully for turning cars.
Respect other users – Pathways are for everyone, from age 9 to 99. Slow down and be courteous so all residents feel safe.

Why This Matters

Local officials and first responders have seen serious accidents caused by unsafe speeds, lack of helmets, and improper pathway use. The American Academy of Pediatrics even recommends children under 16 not ride e-bikes or e-scooters due to the severity of injuries.

SMART Tag Parent App- Parents of BUS RIDERS PLEASE READ

Parents please sign up for the SMART tag™ Parent App, as the transportation department is no longer providing Bus Hubs to notify parents of bus delays. This app offers real-time updates on your child’s school bus, including arrival alerts, and notifications for delays or route changes.

It's a reliable and convenient way to stay informed about your child's transportation. Please download the app, register, and link your child’s student ID to start receiving updates. The following link will provide you with instructions on how to register.

SMART tag Parent App Instructions

We already have a number of students losing their SMART tags. It is vital that they keep the SMART tags attached to their backpacks. Please help make sure that they stay attached to their backpacks at all times. We utilize the bar code for all dismissal types. Car riders, bikers, walkers, daycare, and bus ALL are scanned out with this card.

Please do not punch holes in the the actual SMART tag. This makes them inactive.

When a student loses their tag, there is a $5 charge for replacement. Bush will email you a link to School cash to submit your payment!

Thank you for your help with this process and keeping our students safe!

Parents, have you logged into the Parent Portal? Once you have created your account you are able to login to see your child's grades, manage your student's lunch account, complete a volunteer form for CISD. Please see the information below about how to create an account and login.

Bush Bobcat Brews Punch Card

Support the Bobcat Brews and treat your child’s teacher or staff member of your choice!

Bobcat Brews is offering a $10 punch card for you to purchase for your child's teacher/staff member of your choice. These punch cards make a thoughtful and practical gift for any teacher/staff, allowing them to easily purchase coffee, sodas, chips, candy, and other snacks from Bobcat Brews! Once you purchase the punch card, we will personally deliver it to your child’s teacher/staff member with a special note indicating who purchased it for them.

You may purchase for as many staff members as you'd like. Simply click on the name(s) you would like to purchase for, add your student's name, submit the form and then make your payment.

Thank you for your continued support of the Bobcat Brews Program!

*Punch cards CANNOT be sold to students*

https://conroeisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/70761/195/False/True

We are so excited to have you visit for Lunch!

Just a few helpful tips to make the most of your visit with your child:

Please be sure your visitor’s badge is visibly worn.
Please be sure to find the visitors’ table in the lunchroom to share this time with your child(ren). Student tables are for students only.
We know what a special time this is for you and your child. We do kindly ask that you only sit with your child.
Once lunch is over for your child(ren), please be sure to return to the front office to sign out with our office staff using the same hall you walked to get to the cafeteria. Please do not roam the halls.
Parents should refrain from walking their children back to class or recess once lunch is over.
PLEASE NO PICTURES OR VIDEOS

Upcoming Campus Events

December 19th- Early Release

December 22nd- January 5th- Winter Break

January 6th- Return to school

January 19th- Holiday

WATCH DOG Volunteers

Hello Bush Elementary WATCH DOGs! Thank you for your support and time volunteering at our school. The kids enjoy seeing Dads, Grandpas, and male figures in the lunchroom and at special events. Thank you for making our school community a great place. To sign up for a shift, please select a date below. These are not all day shifts but rather 2- 4 hour windows that will allow for more WATCH DOGs to sign up. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Be sure to complete the CISD Volunteer form prior to your volunteer day. CISD Volunteer If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Dobecka at spiker.danielle@gmail.com or 704-608-6496. Thank you for your support! Bush Elementary PTO

signupgenius.com

Contact Information

Sarah Howard, Principal

Christen Cannamore, Assistant Principal

Emily Maier, Assistant Principal

Angie McGhee, Counselor

Campus Information

Our school hours are 7:55-3:10. Students may arrive as early as 7:30 and will go to their homeroom beginning at that time.

Website: http://bush.conroeisd.net/
Location: 7420 Crownridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-1600

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.

Bush Banner- EARLY HOLIDAY EDITION