Converse Family Newsletter

Dear Converse ES All-Star Community,

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful and joyful Thanksgiving break! We are excited to welcome our All Stars back to school on Monday. We have 14 school days until the Christmas break, and we need every day to count. Attendance and punctuality are essential for academic success, so please ensure your child is at school and on time each day.

As we return to our routine, please help your child get back on their regular sleep schedule. Adequate rest is crucial for learning and overall well-being.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students shine bright. Together, we can make these next three weeks productive and meaningful.

Converse ES All Stars: Growing Together, Achieving More!

Sincerely,

Miriam Huerta

Converse ES Principal

Dec 2: 2nd Grade Field Trip to JHS Barnyard

Dec 3: 3rd Grade Field Trip to JHS Barnyard

Dec 9: 5th Grade Field Trip to Edwards Aquifer

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

Dec 22-Jan 2 - Winter Break

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

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

JISD 2025-2026 School Calendar

Our lost and found is overflowing!

Parents are welcome to check in at the front office and check the lost and found for your child's belongings. All lost and found items will be donated on December 19. Please collect your items before then!

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!

Kindergarten is selling World's Finest Chocolate bars for $1.00 (cash only) in order to raise funds for their field trip. You can buy them from one of the kinder teachers or the front office. Teachers will sell candy out of their classrooms in the morning before school (7:00 AM - 7:25 AM). If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Stanfield.

Several field trips 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 field trip. This process takes time so please complete the form as soon as possible.

As the Thanksgiving break approaches, we look forward to a time of rest, gratitude, and quality connection with our loved ones. In the spirit of strengthening our community, both at school and at home, I want to encourage you to utilize a simple, powerful tool we use daily in our classrooms: restorative practices.

Restorative practices are a social-emotional framework focused on building and repairing relationships rather than simply issuing punishment. In short, when conflicts arise—whether it’s a sibling squabble over a game, a disagreement with a cousin, or a messy misunderstanding—the goal shifts from asking, "Who is to blame?" to "How can we fix this, and how can we learn from it?"

The break is the perfect time to practice these skills, as families spend extended time together. It teaches children to understand the impact of their actions and to take responsibility for mending relationships.

3 Simple Restorative Steps for Families

When a conflict or misbehavior occurs over the break, try using these three simple restorative questions to guide the conversation:

1. What happened? (Allows everyone involved to state their perspective without interruption.)

2. Who was affected, and how? (This is the most crucial step. It helps the student understand the emotional impact of their actions on others—e.g., "When you grabbed the toy, your brother felt sad and frustrated.")

3. What do we need to do to make things right? (Shifts the focus from consequence to repair. The child is empowered to propose a solution, such as an apology, a hug, or a cleanup job.)

Using this approach helps teach empathy, accountability, and essential problem-solving skills, all of which are cornerstones of a positive school environment.

We wish you a joyful, peaceful, and restorative Thanksgiving. We look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready to learn on Monday, December 1st.

This past Thursday, November 13, club sign ups were sent home. Clubs are assigned to students as your child's teacher receives the form back. Clubs are filled on a first come first served basis. Once a club is full, your child will get their second or third choice. If all of their club choices are filled, your child's teacher will have a conversation and they will select a different club. The links to the club descriptions are below.

On Tuesday, December 2, we will be offering three workshops if you are interested in joining us. Feel free to join us for one or all of them.

Schedule:

• 8:00-9:00 am- Letters & Sounds (PK)
• 9:00-10:00 am- Reading Fluency (K-2)
• 10:00-11:00 am- Math Fluency (3-5)

If you are interested, please complete the google form below to RSVP by Wednesday, November 19. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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.

December's Character Trait: Kindness

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. Model kindness

Children copy what they see. Use calm words, show patience, apologize when needed, and let them witness small acts of generosity. Briefly explain your choices (“I’m taking a breath so I can respond kindly”) so they understand how kindness works in real life.

2. Teach feelings and empathy

Help kids recognize their own emotions and think about how others feel. Use simple questions like “How do you think they felt?” during everyday situations or stories. This builds empathy, which makes kindness more natural and automatic.

3. Create chances to practice

Give children real opportunities to help, share, and care for others. Praise specific actions (“That was thoughtful to help your sister”) and guide them gently when they make mistakes. Regular practice turns kindness into a habit.

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!