The Candlewood Connection- Week 8

Dear Candlewood Families,

As we begin Week 8, I want to thank you for your continued support and partnership. The first grading period has moved quickly, and I am proud of the hard work our students and staff have demonstrated each day. Together, we are building a positive learning environment where students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

This week starts with Monday as professional development and parent teacher conferences. I encourage all parents and guardians to regularly monitor grades through Skyward and discuss academic progress with your child. Reach out to your child's teacher for a conference slot (emails are located below) for 9/28 or on 11/3. Open communication between home and school is one of the most effective ways to support student success.

Attendance continues to be a major focus. Every day of instruction matters, and students who attend school regularly are positioned for greater academic success. Thank you for helping your child arrive on time and ready to learn each day.

As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We appreciate your cooperation with campus safety procedures, visitor protocols, and student check-out expectations. These measures help ensure a safe and secure learning environment for everyone.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child each day. We value our partnership with our families and appreciate your continued support of Candlewood STEM Academy. Together, we can ensure every student has a successful and rewarding school year.

Have a wonderful week!

Rachelle Diaz

📲 JISD Families — Stay Connected!

THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT- YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THIS APP FIRST

STEP 1: Download the app today:

iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/judson-isd/id6748925972

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?

id=com.apptegy.judsonisd&hl=en_US

ONCE YOU HAVE THE APP DOWNLOADED THEN FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

🔐 Login Checklist for Rooms:

1️⃣ Open the Judson ISD App

2️⃣ Tap the Rooms icon at the bottom

3️⃣ Click “Continue to Sign In”

4️⃣ Enter the email or phone number linked to your Skyward account

5️⃣ Check your email or text for a verification code

6️⃣ Enter the code to complete login

📚 Need help? Visit the Rooms Help Center: https://edurooms.stonly.com/kb/en/ or email JISDwebmaster@judsonisd.org.

This week, we are proud to recognize Ms. Zapata as our Eagle of the Week!

Walking through the halls of Candlewood, you can always spot Ms. Zapata in her element—patiently leading her class, reinforcing high expectations, and using every opportunity to help her students practice and master new skills. She reminds her students daily that they are capable, and thanks to her consistency and intentionality, their growth is clear for all to see. Ms. Zapata exemplifies a growth mindset. No challenge placed before her or her team is too great to overcome. She is not afraid to ask questions and suggest solutions, and is always prepared to advocate for her students.

Her dedication ensures her young learners are ready to thrive both today and throughout their entire educational journey. We are so proud to celebrate Ms. Zapata! Congratulations on being named our Eagle of the Week—you make our school soar! 🦅✨

We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the Judson Police Department for their quick response, professionalism, and dedication during our Open House event. Your presence and immediate response to a situation in the neighborhood, helped ensure the safety and security of our students, parents, and staff. We are incredibly grateful for the support you provided to our community. Thank you for stepping in an unsafe environment, ensuring that we are felt safe and protected!

When students attend school regularly, they are more likely to stay on track academically, participate in meaningful classroom discussions, build positive relationships with peers and teachers, and feel connected to their school community. Even missing just a few days each semester can cause students to fall behind on important learning opportunities that cannot always be replaced.

At Candlewood STEM Academy, our goal is for every Eagle to be in school, on time, and ready to learn each day. Families can support strong attendance by establishing consistent morning routines, scheduling appointments outside of school hours whenever possible, and encouraging students to make school a daily priority.

If your child is absent, please be sure to submit an excuse note as soon as possible. Parents and guardians may email attendance documentation directly to Ms. Huston, PEIMS, at cweattendance@judsonisd.org

Together, we can help every Eagle maximize learning opportunities and achieve success. Thank you for making attendance a priority!

🦅 Eagles Learn. Eagles Lead. Eagles Soar. 💙

Arriving late or leaving early disrupts a student's learning journey and overall classroom success.

Lost Instructional Time Even 10 to 15 minutes of missed class adds up significantly over time. Morning routines set the stage for the day, establishing key objectives, introducing foundational concepts, and building focus. Missing this time leaves students struggling to catch up. Similarly, early departures cut off essential end-of-day reviews, instructions for homework, and hands-on activities.

Disrupted Classroom Rhythm Late arrivals and early dismissals do not just impact the individual child; they create constant interruptions for the entire class. Teachers must pause instruction to catch students up or manage departure logistics, breaking the group’s focus and flow.

Social and Emotional Impact Walking into a lesson that is already underway can cause stress, anxiety, and confusion for a student. Consistent routines build confidence, while irregular attendance patterns can leave kids feeling disconnected from their peers and classroom community.

Prioritizing full-day attendance ensures students receive unbroken instruction, build strong habits, and stay fully engaged in their learning environment.

Candlewood Eagles have lost:

11343 minutes of instruction due to early pick-ups

56427 minutes of instruction due to late arrivals

This is equal to losing 161.4 days of instruction lost since the first day of school

Help us maximize student learning by arriving to school before 7:30AM and making appointments after school and avoid picking up students early.

It's time to get your Candlewood STEM Academy Spirit Shirt. Our spirit shirts are only $15, and we still have plenty available in children's sizes: XS, S, M, L and XL! We also have a few adult sizes remaining. Shirts are available for purchase in the front office. Don't forget...Spirit Shirt Fridays are EVERY FRIDAY!

• September 15-October 15th Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 28th Student Holiday/Staff Development/Parent Teacher Conferences

On Monday, 9/21/26, we are starting a SchoolStore program to help our school raise money. A lanyard with information explaining how the program works will be sent home with your student. Your student will earn a participation prize when they return the filled-out lanyard to school, and they can earn more great prizes when your family and friends help our school raise money. So don't forget to send the filled-out lanyard back to school, and thanks for your support.

• October 2nd- Custodian Appreciation Day
• October 5th World Teacher's Day/ CIP Formative Assessment Review
• October 7th at 4:30 PM-Dyslexia Information Night, Bike rodeo, and Pink Out Wednesdays Begin
• October 9th-12th-Student and Staff Fall Break, No School
• October 13th-Together we are more! Wear grade level specific colors
• October 14th- Watch D.O.G.S. orientation meeting
• October 21st-Unity Day, wear orange
• October 26-30th- Red Ribbon Week (Details to follow)
• October 30th- Storybook Character Parade at 2:00 PM

Every Wednesday in October, our Eagles are invited to wear pink as we show kindness, love, and support for people in our community who are affected by breast cancer. 💕

Wearing pink is a simple way to remind others that we care, we support, and we stand together! 🩷🦅

Eagles, let’s paint Candlewood PINK! 🌸
#ThinkPink #CandlewoodEagles #BreastCancerAwareness

World Teachers’ Day is October 5th! 💙💚🧡💜

Our teachers pour their hearts into our Eagles every single day, and we’d love to show them just how much they are appreciated! 🦅❤️

We’re asking our wonderful Candlewood STEM Academy families to help us stock the teachers’ lounge with drinks and snacks as a special treat for our amazing staff! ☕🍿🥤🍫

📅 Donations can be dropped off at the front office by October 5th.

Not sure what to bring? We’ve put together an Amazon Wish List with some snack and drink ideas to make it easy! 🛒👇

Amazon Wish List

Every snack, drink, and thoughtful contribution is a little reminder to our teachers that we see them, we appreciate them, and we are grateful for all they do! 💙

The Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program is a school-based family engagement program designed to bring positive adult role models—traditionally dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures—onto campus to volunteer, support students, and help create a safe, welcoming school environment. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mrs. Diaz at rdiaz@judsonisd.org and she will put you in touch with our "Top D.O.G.", Mr. Fetter.

At Candlewood STEM Academy, we don't just teach STEM—we give students opportunities to experience it!

The Texas Education Agency defines STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education as a method of hands-on teaching and learning where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities.

Core Pillars of TEA STEM

The state's approach focuses on several actionable components to ensure high-quality education:

• Hands-on, Inquiry-Based Learning: Focuses on active participation over rote memorization.
• Real-World Application: Students are challenged to use academic concepts to solve practical, local, and global problems.
• Design-Based Thinking: Encourages iterative design, testing, and creative problem-solving.
• Career Readiness: Aims directly at equipping students with the skills required for the modern workforce.

• Kinder: This week our Kinder Eagles investigated different textures (soft, hard, bumpy, smooth, and rough) and practiced communicating with partners and the class about things they learned.

• First: First and second grade Eagles learned about chromatography and used it to test their hypothesis about marker ink. After the investigation, they learned that black marker ink actually contains many different colors!

• Third: Third grade Eagles created their own plan to demonstrate how forces change the motion and location of an object.

• Fourth: Fourth graders compared the properties of ingredients before and after mixing them into a solution.

• Fifth: Fifth grade students got the chance to use microscopes this week as they examined sand and water independently before observing it after it was combined. Watching the grains of salt dissolve in water was very fun!

If you need to reach someone at our campus, please call 210-662-1060 or send an email. You can request a conference. Below are the emails for our faculty.

Families Did You Know...

Journaling helps children strengthen their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills by giving them a safe space to express their thoughts, reflect on their experiences, and build confidence as communicators. As we celebrate the midpoint of Hispanic Heritage Month, what better way to commemorate special moments than by creating a Family Memory Journal.

What is a Family Memory Journal?

The Family Memory Journal is where students with their family members work together to complete a journal. It can be daily or weekly. Through storytelling, conversations, drawings, and writing, your child will record family memories, traditions, and dreams for the future. It only takes 15-20 minutes for each entry. Together, talk about an event or memory you would like to record. It can be about how unique your family is or a special memory you don't want to forget. Take turns writing. Let your child add drawings. The important thing to remember is this is a way to celebrate you.

We encourage everyone to have fun sharing experiences, traditions, and dreams for the future. Together, we can help our students become confident writers and lifelong storytellers! 📖❤️

Enjoy I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff and David Catrow. A story about a mom and son writing back and forth to each other. Happy Reading and Writing!

Click here for: Family Access to Skyward for STAAR Assessment Results

Click here for: Texas Standards from Lead4ward.

We are happy to welcome families to join their students for lunch during their designated 30-minute lunch period! We love having families be part of our school community and enjoy sharing this special time together.

To help ensure a safe and positive experience for everyone, we kindly ask that visiting family members:

• Arrive in school appropriate attire.
• Check in at the front office upon arrival and receive a visitor tag.
• Wear your visitor tag at all times while on campus.
• Remain on campus only for your child’s designated 30-minute lunch period.
• Sit together with your child at the designated family lunch tables.
• Please remain in the designated lunch area and do not wander around campus or visit other areas of the school.
• Once lunch has ended you should return to the front office for checkout.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, welcoming, and organized environment for all of our students. We look forward to seeing you at lunch! If you are visiting for lunch, please understand that your visitor's badge only gives you access to our cafeteria. Parents should not be following students out to recess or back to classrooms without authorization through the front office.

Please be advised that effective September 1, 2026, adult meal prices will increase across the district. This increase is necessary to ensure that Judson ISD Child Nutrition adult meal paid prices accurately meet strict USDA regulations.

New Adult Meal Pricing

• Breakfast: $3.52

• Lunch: $5.34

Click below for our daily menu.

https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/CandlewoodSTEMAcademy

We believe that students can make responsible decisions regarding their behavior when they understand the rules and the consequences of violating them. We ask students and families to please carefully read this Handbook, especially Section III, which sets out the Student Code of Conduct, and request all students to listen attentively and actively participate during class discussion/presentations on this topic at school. If students are in need of assistance, they should ask for help before a problem arises.

At Candlewood STEM Academy, grades are intended to reflect each student's understanding and mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Teachers use a variety of assignments, classwork, assessments, and observations to monitor student progress and provide meaningful feedback throughout the year.

Families are encouraged to regularly monitor their child's academic progress through Skyward Family Access, communicate with their child's teacher, and review graded work sent home. Working together helps ensure every student has the support they need to be successful.

For detailed information regarding grading practices, report cards, progress reports, and district grading guidelines, please refer to the Judson ISD Grading & Reporting Handbook.

We’re excited to kick off our Zearn Masters Challenge again at Candlewood STEM Academy! 🚀

What is Zearn?
Zearn is an online math program that gives students extra opportunities to practice, build confidence, and strengthen their math skills. 💻🧠

🏆 How do you become a Zearn Master?
It’s simple! Students need to complete at least 3 Zearn lessons each week, for a total of 12 lessons during the month.

💻 Students can practice at home, too!
All students can access Zearn from a device at home through ClassLink. They already know their ClassLink login information and password, so they’re ready to get started!

🔄 A NEW CHALLENGE EVERY MONTH!
At the end of each month, we’ll pull our Zearn report to see how many of our Eagles have earned the title of ZEARN MASTER! 🦅🏆
🎉 And there’s an extra reward… Zearn Masters will receive a special treat! 🍭
So, Eagles, log in, get practicing, and show us what you can do!

Who will become our next Zearn Masters? 🤔🏆

The 2026–2027 Judson ISD Campus Volunteer application is now open. To streamline background history checks, all applications are now processed online. Approved status carries through the entire school year, so we encourage you to apply today, so you are ready before your first event!

Eligibility & Clearance Guidelines:

• Age Requirement: All volunteer applicants must be at least 18 years old.

• Annual Renewal: Volunteer applications must be renewed every school year.

• Volunteer Code of Conduct

• How to Apply: Applicants must submit an application online. You can visit Judsonisd.org (Careers > Campus Volunteers)

  
  

Do I need to apply online?

• YES – The online application is only required if you are:

  • Attending an off-campus field trip

  • An athletics event worker (non-district staff)

  • A non-parent volunteer

  • Assisting with any after-school event

    
    Click here to complete the Volunteer Application: https://judsonisd.schoolspring.com/

• NO – On-Campus Events: If you are volunteering in the classroom or helping with an on-campus event during school hours, simply bring a valid photo ID and check in using the Verkada Verification System at the school's front office.

• EXEMPT – Active JISD Employees: Current district employees do not need to fill out the volunteer application. To get campus clearance, simply present your official JISD employee badge and check in using the Verkada Verification System at the school's front office.

What happens after I apply?

• Check Your Inbox: Once you submit your application, look out for an automated status update email from the SchoolSpring application system.

• Notify Your School: Provide a copy or confirmation of the approval email to your child's campus to finalize your clearance.

Please contact your child's campus secretary if you have any questions or need assistance with the process

All fees associated with the Judson ISD Adventure Club After School Program must be made via the My School Bucks website. We do not accept cash or check payments in-person or over the phone. Beginning the 2026-2027 school year, a 4.95% recurring program fee paid to My School Bucks will be added to each transaction during checkout. This is a consumer transaction processing fee

Kitz Corner

4813 Lakebend West Drive

San Antonio, TX 78244

210-263-7353

Spirits Heart Childcare

3155 Ackerman Rd

Kirby, TX 78219

210-451-9553

Blocks N Tots

6322 FM 78

Old Seguin Rd Ste. 119

San Antonio, TX 78244

Virtual Passes will be implemented beginning this school year. We appreciate your assistance in helping communicate this important information to our families.

Additionally, our School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is currently looking to recruit two additional parent representatives from the district, as well as two student representatives from our secondary campuses.

If you know of a parent or student who may be interested in serving on the SHAC committee, please have them contact me, or feel free to send me their information so I can follow up with them directly.

The Judson ISD Health Center, in partnership with University Health, is open throughout the summer and offers a variety of healthcare services, including:

• 💉 Required immunizations
• 🩺 Sports physicals
• ❤️ Wellness visits
• 🤒 Care for minor illnesses

📍 Judson ISD Health Center
3000 N. Foster Road
San Antonio, TX 78244
(Located in front of Wagner High School)

📞 To schedule an appointment, call 210-644-2750.

Additional immunization services are also available throughout the San Antonio area. Please review the immunization flyer below for other clinic locations, dates, and times.

Additional Appointment Numbers

• UIW Nursing Cardinal Clinic: 210-283-6331
• University Health: 210-358-8680
• San Antonio Metro Health: 210-207-8790

For more information about required school immunizations, please visit the Judson ISD Health Services webpage using the link below.

Families, please be on the lookout for the Judson ISD Elementary Physical Education Parent/Guardian Participation Acknowledgment Form. This form provides important information regarding PE participation, temporary activity restrictions, and procedures for communicating any health-related concerns that may impact your child’s participation.

Please review, sign, and return the form to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Your signature acknowledges that you have received and understand the district’s PE participation procedures.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe, active, and ready to learn! 💙

Thank you so much for your continued partnership as we work together to make arrival safe, smooth, and successful for all of our Eagles!

Morning Arrival

Walkers or car rider students are dropped off in the front or back of the school. One important reminder we’d like to emphasize: once students arrive on campus, we ask that families allow them to enter independently rather than walking them into classrooms or staying on campus. A member of the school staff is always present at the car rider lane to welcome students. Morning arrival is anytime between 6:45 am-7:25 am at the front and back of the school. ALL students should be in their classroom by 7:30 AM. If arriving before 7:00 am, students should report to the cafeteria. If arriving anytime between 7:00 - 7:25, the students should report to their classroom. Gates in the back will be shut at 7:25 AM, and all drop offs will be in the front of the school. If students arrive after 7:25, they MUST be brought in by a guardian and signed in at the front office. He/She will be considered tardy.

School personnel are always present in the car drop off area for reasons of security and to help students with any bags or heavy loads.

Those first few minutes of the school day are incredibly valuable! At 7:00 AM, our teachers are already busy:
🍎 Serving breakfast in the classroom
💙 Building relationships and classroom community
🧠 Providing social-emotional learning
📚 Beginning instruction and getting students ready to learn

We want to make every single minute count! When families enter classrooms or remain with students after arrival, it can interrupt these important routines and take valuable time away from our teachers and students.

Dismissal

Please note: Dismissal is at 2:50 PM, not 3:00 PM.

We will dismiss our car riders from the cafeteria. All car riders must have the 2026-27 car rider tag available. If not, you will be asked to present your ID. Walkers will be dismissed on the east side of the campus.

🚗 DISMISSAL – CAR RIDERS
• All car riders will be dismissed through the back car rider loop.
• A pink car rider tag must be displayed in your windshield.
• Please have your pink tag ready to help us quickly and safely identify students.

🚶‍♀️ DISMISSAL – WALKERS
There are several dismissal locations depending on how your student is going home:
• Family Pick-Up: Walkers being picked up by a family member will be dismissed near the playground or west end of campus. Please have your pink tag ready to show identification. Families must park in the parking lot (not the fire lane) or walk up to get their walker.

• Pre-K Walkers: Pre-K students who are walkers and do not have siblings will be dismissed through the Pre-K door.

• Independent Walkers: Students who are walkers and will not be picked up by a family member will be walked and escorted to the corner of the street, where they will be released.

💙 We truly appreciate everyone’s patience, cooperation, and understanding as we work through arrival and dismissal each day. Our number one priority is making sure every Eagle arrives at school and gets home safely and securely.

Ms. Kia Bailey-Counselor

Mrs. Tiona Morris-Social Worker

Ms. Sabrina Borges-Communities in Schools

At Candlewood STEM Academy, we know that students learn best when they feel safe, supported, and connected. Our Social-Emotional Health and Counseling team is here to support the whole child and help our Eagles navigate the many feelings, friendships, challenges, and experiences that come with growing and learning. Ms. Bailey and Ms. Morris loved seeing all our Eagles back on campus! They would like remind all returning families to complete their updated registration in Skyward for the 26-27 school year. There are forms that must be completed for them and Nurse Guzman to be able to support your child throughout the year.

Our counseling team can support students with:

• 🦅 Social skills and friendship building
• 💙 Managing emotions and developing coping strategies
• 🌱 Building confidence, resilience, and self-awareness
• 🤝 Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• 🎯 Goal setting and positive decision-making
• 🏫 Adjusting to school, new routines, or changes at home
• ❤️ Connecting families with campus and community resources
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Providing families with support, resources, and referrals when needed

Our counselors may work with students individually, in small groups, or through classroom lessons and campus-wide activities. We also partner with families and teachers to help identify ways we can best support each student.

You Are Never Alone!

If your child is experiencing a challenge, having a difficult time adjusting, or you simply have a concern and aren’t sure where to turn, please reach out to us. You do not have to wait until a problem becomes big to ask for support.

At Candlewood STEM Academy, we are more than a school—we are a community. Together, we can help every Eagle feel supported, valued, and ready to soar! 🦅💙

When children feel overwhelmed 😔, sometimes a calm presence speaks louder than words. That's the power of co-regulation! 💙

This week, we're diving into how our steady, predictable responses help children feel safe and supported. Co-regulation isn't about being perfect or demanding instant compliance—it's about connection first, correction later. When we slow down, ease up on extra demands, and give space for feelings to settle, we're actually helping their nervous systems find calm. Pretty amazing, right? 🧠✨

Take a peek at the flyer for practical ways to show up during those big feeling moments—before, during, and after. Your presence truly does make all the difference! 🤝

The Eagle Boutique is a resource for our Candlewood STEM Academy families and community, offering gently used clothing, shoes, and hygiene products at no cost. We have children and adult sizes available and welcome families and community members who may benefit from this resource.

If you would like to visit the Eagle Boutique, please contact our CIS Site Coordinator, Ms. Sabrina Borges, at sborges@judsonisd.org, or our Social Worker, Ms. Tiona Morris, at tmorris@judsonisd.org. We are happy to help!

When our community is cared for, our Eagles can soar! 🦅💙

Texas Compulsory Attendance Law - each school year a student is required to attend a minimum of 90% of the days, within a school year, to be considered for promotion to the next grade. If a student has 17 or more absences, Texas Attendance Law states a student has NOT met expectations and should be retained. The Attendance Law includes both EXCUSED and UNEXECUSED absences when calculating the 90% rule.

TRUANCY - refers to unexcused absences only. A parent can only provide five parent notes to justify an absence, per school year. A note covers ONE DAY, not a span of days. ALL NOTES must be submitted by the third day following the absences. We will not accept notes after the third day.

A student who misses:

3 days (unexcused) - will receive an attendance warning letter.

5 days (unexcused) - will place the parent on an attendance contract, complete attendance classes with the truancy department.

8 days (unexcused) - parent will be referred to court ordered remediation at the courthouse with the Bexar County Truancy Court Judge.

10 days (unexcused) - parent will be required to appear before the Bexar County Truancy Court Judge.