Converse Family Newsletter

Dear Converse ES All-Star Community,

As we prepare to honor Veterans Day on Tuesday, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Your bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to our country are deeply appreciated.

We are proud to recognize Ms. Jennifer George, a member of our Converse ES staff, who served in the United States Navy. Thank you, Ms. George, for your service and continued commitment to our students and school community.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Fields, Superintendent of Judson ISD, for his service in the United States Air Force. His leadership and dedication continue to positively impact our district.

To all our military families—thank you for the strength and support you provide to our military personnel. Your contributions are an important part of our school’s heart and spirit.

We invite you to join us for our Veterans Parade on Monday at 9 AM as we celebrate and honor our heroes. Please see the details further along in this newsletter for more information.

Reminder: There will be no school on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

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

Sincerely,

Miriam Huerta

Converse ES Principal

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

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!

Throughout this week show your support of our Veterans by dressing up. Each day there will be a different way to show your appreciation and support.

Monday, November 10 -Students can wear red, white, blue, camouflage, or Military Branch clothing representing the Armed Forces in honor of our great country and those who have served. They can bring flags and signs from home to display during the parade. Students need to have appropriate jackets since they will be outside to honor our Converse Veterans for the Veterans Day Car Parade! Tuesday, November 11 – No School - Veterans Day Holiday

Wednesday, November 12 - Wear Military Branch Shirts

Thursday, November 13 - Wear Purple for Military Families

Friday, November 14 - Wear Red, White, Blue, or Camouflage

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.

We are excited to introduce Officer Villanueva as our new campus police officer. With over 25 years of law enforcement experience in both Bexar County and Travis County, Officer Villanueva brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to our school community. We look forward to his presence on campus and the expertise he brings to help ensure a safe and secure environment for all students and staff.

On Wednesday, students learned about resiliency when NED's Resiliency Ride visited our school. The assembly was 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.

Hello Converse Elementary School Families – We’ve officially launched Kids Heart Challenge – let’s build healthy hearts together at school and at home!

Here’s how your family can get involved today - Click Here: Converse KHC Website to access our school’s page – or download the AHA Schools app– sign up today!

• Help kids with special hearts by making a donation to the American Heart Association and/or sharing your page with friends and family
• Complete Finn’s Mission to learn Hands-Only CPR and earn your Lifesaver cape!

You can visit our school page anytime to see student and class rankings and how your student can be involved in the fun activities we have for this year!

Any student who raises $150 gets to slime Coach Lopez and Coach Rios. Any student who completes Finn’s Mission will wear their cape on Fridays.

🎯 Raise $50 and you’ll earn a BOGO Spurs ticket and an exclusive courtside opportunity to watch the players warm up! ✨🏀

Thank you for helping our students learn healthy habits and life-saving skills!

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.

Several fieldtrips are coming up and teachers are asking for parents to volunteer as chaperones. If you are considering to volunteer as such, please complete the JISD volunteer form now to ensure you are approved in time for the fieldtrip. This process takes time so please complete the form as soon as possible.

Research shows that actively practicing thankfulness has profound benefits for elementary-aged children. It directly contributes to their happiness and optimism, helps them develop resilience when facing challenges, and is a key ingredient in building empathy. When children recognize the good things in their lives, they naturally become more mindful of the needs and efforts of others.

We are integrating discussions and activities around thankfulness in our classrooms this month, but the most powerful lessons always begin and are reinforced at home.

Simple Ways to Teach Gratitude at Home

Teaching gratitude doesn't require grand gestures; it thrives in small, consistent daily rituals. Here are four practical strategies you can easily incorporate into your family routine:

1. Model Thankful Behavior: Children learn by watching us. Make sure your child hears you thanking the bus driver, the grocery store clerk, or a helpful neighbor. Instead of saying, "The food is ready," try saying, "Thank you, Dad, for making such a wonderful dinner for us tonight." Modeling is the single best teaching tool you have.

2. The Dinner Table Check-In: Make it a nightly routine to ask everyone—including yourself—the same simple question: "What is one thing you are grateful for today, and why?" The "why" is crucial, as it helps children articulate the positive feeling associated with the event.

3. Encourage "Thank You" Notes (or Drawings): The act of putting effort into thanking someone deepens the feeling of gratitude. Whether it’s a quick text to a relative who sent a gift, a written note to a teacher, or a simple drawing for the custodian, creating a personalized acknowledgment teaches them to value generosity.

4. Use the Language of Effort: Instead of simply saying, "I love your new coat," try shifting the focus to the person and the effort involved: "I'm so grateful that Grandma spent time choosing that perfect coat for you." This helps children see that gifts and acts of service come with time, effort, and thoughtfulness, not just from thin air.

Thank you for partnering with us to build a school community defined by kindness and appreciation. When we work together to instill these values, we are truly preparing our students for a rich and fulfilling life.

⭐⭐Top Grade Level: 4th Grade!

How To Understand Student Data

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.

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.

Is your family in need of food? Please take a look at the 2025-2026 Food Distribution guide below!