Converse Family Newsletter

Dear Converse ES All-Star Community,

Thank you for taking the time to attend our recent parent-teacher conferences. Your presence and engagement mean so much to us and play a vital role in your child’s academic success. When families and schools work together, our students thrive—and your support makes all the difference.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and commitment to your child’s learning journey. At Converse Elementary, we believe in Growing Together, Achieving More, and that includes growing alongside you as we support every student in reaching their full potential. Let’s keep working hand in hand to ensure our All Stars shine bright!

Here are some reminders of important dates:

📌 Book Fair – November 3–7

📌 Student Holiday – Tuesday, November 4

📌 NED Assembly – Wednesday, November 5
📌 Fall Picture Retake Day – Thursday, November 6

Thank you for being an essential part of our All Star community!

Sincerely,

Miriam Huerta

Converse ES Principal

Nov 3 - 7 - Book Fair (during the school day)

Nov 4 - Student Holiday / Staff PD (campus closed)

Nov 5 - NED Assembly

Nov 6 - Fall Picture Retakes

Nov 10 - Veteran's Day Car Parade 9:00 am

Nov 11 - Student & Staff Holiday

Nov 17 - 3rd - 5th Grade STAAR Interim RLA - CLOSED CAMPUS - NO VISITORS

Nov 18 - 5th Grade Fine Arts Field Trip

Nov 19 - 3rd - 5th Grade STAAR Interim Math - CLOSED CAMPUS - NO VISITORS

Nov 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break

Dec 19 - Staff Prep & Planning Day (campus closed)

Dec 22-Jan 2 - Winter Break

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

JISD 2025-2026 School Calendar

Book Fair begins Monday. A preview catalogue sheet was sent home last week. This will help you and your student look through what is available at the fair. Use the QR Code on the sheet to set up an ewallet that will help students stay on their set budget. Students will visit the library during the school day.

We would love to have parents volunteer to assist our students with the book fair. Please use this sign up sheet to schedule time to be with us.

NED's Resiliency Ride is visiting our school again! The assembly is filled with storytelling, humor, illusions and amazing yo-yo tricks where our kids learn the hidden message in NED's name:

Never give up

Encourage others

Do your best

Our School Yo-Yo Sale: November 6th-12th (7:00-7:30am)

Our school received this assembly at no-cost because another school paid-it-forward to us. We want to help pay-it-forward too, and you can help by purchasing a NED-messaged yo-yo. A NED Yo-Yo sale order form is coming home with your child this week. To ensure your child can get their yo-yo, please fill out the form and send it back to school with the payment. We accept cash only for all yo-yo purchases.

• LifeTouch will be at the campus on Thursday, Nov 6 for fall picture retakes.
• Any students who were not enrolled with us on Sept 3, will automatically be sent to take their pictures.
• If you would like your student to retake their picture, please notify your student's teacher so they know to send your student to take a picture.
• LifeTouch picture form with prices.

We are building a “Wall of Honor” in our Cafeteria. Your student can create the paper bricks to honor those in their lives who have served or are currently serving in the US military. Please include the name of your service member, branch, and your student’s name and grade on our brick template. Bricks from previous years can be used again. Extra bricks are available in the front office. They should be given to the front office or Mrs. Tilton and will be displayed in the Cafeteria throughout November.

Do you have an American flag that is faded, dirty, or torn? This year, we will be collecting American flags throughout the month of November that are no longer suitable for display. They will be taken to a local veterans organization for proper retirement. Any size fabric flag will be accepted.

Veterans and active duty members from our Converse community are asked to come drive through our parking lots and see signs of appreciation from our students in our annual car parade. It will be from 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. and starts in the front parking lot. We ask that you slowly drive past our students who will be outside and see their signs of appreciation for your service. You can decorate your car too!

On November 17 and November 19 our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be taking STAAR Interim. These assessments are similar to the STAAR that students will take in the spring. They help students become familiar with the testing format and are predictive of how students may perform on the Spring STAAR.

On these days, the campus is closed. Visitors and volunteers will not be allowed on campus on these two days. This will include having no lunch time visitors. There will be adjustments to specials, recess, and lunch schedules for these two days.

Competition is a natural part of life and learning, and it can be a great way to help children develop important life skills! As an elementary school counselor, I encourage you to focus on nurturing a healthy, positive approach to competition at home.

Here are a few tips to help your child thrive:

• Focus on Effort, Not Just the Outcome: Praise your child's hard work, perseverance, and improvement over simply winning or losing. This teaches them the value of the process.

• Emphasize Good Sportsmanship: Encourage them to be kind and respectful to others, whether they win or lose. Remind them that cheering on others and shaking hands after a game are just as important as the competition itself.

• Model a Growth Mindset: Help your child see mistakes and losses as opportunities to learn and get better, rather than as failures.

• Promote Self-Competition: Encourage your child to compete against their own personal best. Ask, "How much did you improve this time?" instead of "Did you beat your friend?"

By focusing on these principles, you help your child build resilience, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning and challenges.

⭐⭐Top Grade Level: 4th Grade and 1st Grade are tied with 97.07% average daily attendance

The November election is just around the corner. Information can be found on the Bexar County Elections page, but here is important information for you to know:

1. Am I a registered voter in Bexar County?
2. Early Voting Poll Locations
3. Early Voting is October 20 - 31

• Oct 20-24 from 8 AM - 6 PM
• Oct 25 from 7 AM - 7 PM
• Oct 26 from 12 PM - 6 PM
• Oct 27 - 31 from 7 AM - 7 PM

4. Election Day - November 4 and polls are open 7 AM - 7 PM

5. Election Day Poll Locations

6. Registered Bexar County voters can cast their ballot at any Bexar County poll site during early voting and on election day.

Please note that JISD gear is not allowed at voting locations since the district has an item on the ballot. In addition, Spurs and SA Rodeo gear are not allowed at voting locations either.

How To Understand Student Data

Students recently took their Beginning of the Year (BOY) tests in Math and Reading. If you would like to learn more information about what MAP testing is and what it is about, please click on the link below that will take you to the NWEA Family Tool Kit. Feel free to reach out to your child's teacher(s) with any specific questions you may have in regards to the BOY testing.

If you are in need of any academic help, please contact Mrs. Bailey (bbailey@judsonisd.org) or Ms. Gregor (kgregor@judsonisd.org). Have a great weekend!

Explore the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Please visit and check out what your child is learning this year ... https://lead4ward.com/resources/

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.

November's Character Trait: Gratitude

We are building a culture of gratitude at school, and you can help reinforce it at home! Try these simple, powerful habits with your family:

1. Share "Three Good Things": At dinner or bedtime, ask your child to name three positive things that happened that day—big or small. This simple routine shifts focus toward the good.

2. Be Specific with Thanks: When you thank your child or another family member, make it specific. Instead of just "Thanks," try, "Thank you for putting away the dishes; I really appreciate your help." This models genuine appreciation.

3. Acknowledge the Effort: When your child receives a gift or help, encourage them to focus on the kindness and effort of the giver, not just the item itself. A quick, spontaneous "thank you" is the goal!

We’re excited to welcome Brident Dental back to our campus on Wednesday, December 4, for free oral health screenings! Screenings will take place from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and each child’s screening will take approximately 4 minutes.

During the visit:

• Children will receive dental hygiene items.
• A licensed doctor will conduct a basic oral screening, including tooth brushing.
• Screening results will be shared with the school and families within 48 hours.

📌 Action Needed: Parents must scan the QR code below or use the link to complete the consent form required for their child to participate.

Please complete the Brident consent form or you can scan the QR code below. We will also send home a paper registration form with your child this week to ensure every family has an easy way to sign up.

Many families have not yet completed the required health forms in compliance with Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB12). If you haven’t done so already, please log in to Skyward and submit these forms as soon as possible to help us remain in compliance with state requirements.

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

Click here for information about the VATRE.

Click here to watch a video about the VATRE.

We encourage our students and staff to wear shirts that promote colleges or the military.

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.