🦅The Candlewood Connection 🦅

Relevance in the real world

• Hands-on learning

• Application to Real-World

• Engineering Design Process

Balance of direct instruction & inquiry

• Direct instruction for more efficient, structured learning
• Inquiry for deeper, conceptual learning.
• Introducing concepts through direct instruction: Then, allowing students to explore the concept further through inquiry

Equitable Access to Grade Level Tasks

• Writing Across Content

• Thoughtful Conversations

• Progress Monitoring

Dear Candlewood Families and Community,

Thank you to our amazing faculty, staff, students, families, and community partners for all you do to make Candlewood STEM Academy such a special place. We are so grateful for your continued support and dedication.

We had an incredible time at our 3rd Annual Horse Clinic this past Saturday! This is one of my favorite family engagement events and I am so grateful to have Mr. George Allen as one of our community partners. With his help we were all treated to the delicious food prepared by Wack’em and Stack’em, scrumptious s’mores, awesome demonstrations, and live music by the Redland Road Band. The day was filled with fun and community spirit. Of course, the event would not have been complete without the wonderful horses brought by the South Texas Trail Riders and True Skill Women's Drill Team. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a memorable success!

With heartfelt gratitude,
Principal Diaz

rdiaz@judsonisd.org

This week we are proud to present the Eagle of the Week award to Ms. Huston. Keeping a school running smoothly requires an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes work, must of which often goes unnoticed. From managing extensive paperwork and phone calls addressing various parent concerns. Ms. Huston handles countless responsibilities with dedication and grace. While many would feel overwhelmed in this role, Ms. Huston arrives each ay ready to ensure that Candlewood has everything we need to succeed. We are grateful for Ms. Huston and her commitment to our campus!

This week, K-2 students began learning how to use our line following robot, Evo! Evo is a line following robot that uses color code for programming. Evo can follow lines and lights up differently based on the line it is following. Students will be learning more about color coding in upcoming classes.

Our 3-5 Eagles have started their Earth science units and have been modeling weathering and erosion in the lab!

Texas STEM Education Definition

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is 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.

📅 Thursday, January 15

☕ Coffee with the Counselor at 7:30 AM followed by our formative review and Spring SBDM

📅 Monday, January 19

🎓 Student & Staff Holiday

📅 Thursday, January 22

🏛️ Board Meeting | 5:00 PM – ERC

📅 Monday, February 2-6

School Counselor Appreciation Week

📅 Tuesday, February 3

100 Days of School Parade at 2:00 PM

📅 Wednesday, February 4

5th grade parent night at Kirby STEM Academy

📅 Monday, February 9

Teacher Prep and Planning Day-no school for students

📅 Monday, February 9-Friday, February 13

Kindness Week

📅 Friday, February 13

Food Truck Friday and Classroom Parties

📅Saturday, February 14

Valentine's Day

📅Sunday, February 15

School Resource Officer Day-Thank you Officer Espinoza 👮🏻‍♀️

📅 Monday, February 16

Presidents' Day-Teacher Prep and Planning-no school for students

📅 Friday, February 20

2nd grade field trip to the rodeo

📅Wednesday, February 25

School-wide Career Day

📅 Thursday, February 26

Kinder field trip to the rodeo

📅 Friday, February 27

Spring Parent Teacher Conferences-no school for students

EVO robots are officially in use, and our STEM class is enthusiastically diving into the world of coding and robotics. As our Agent of Change this week, a valued community partnership is providing our scholars with meaningful, real‑world, hands‑on learning experiences. Students are building, programming, and problem‑solving while strengthening critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity—skills that will support their success both in and beyond the classroom.

Classroom outdoor investigations are planned learning activities where students learn outside the classroom, such as on the playground, in the school garden, or around the school. Students observe, ask questions, collect information, and learn about the world through hands-on activities.

Outdoor investigations help students:

· Connect what they learn in class to real life

· Think deeply and ask questions

· Use their senses to explore and remember learning

· Work together with classmates

· Move their bodies and stay healthy

Outdoor investigations are especially powerful for early childhood and elementary students. They are effective because students learn best by doing and exploring. The investigations:

· Increase engagement and motivation

· Support experiential and play-based learning

· Encourage curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving

In Ms. Brady’s classroom, students took part in an outdoor investigation about sand dunes. Students built sand dunes using sand, rocks, shells, and plants. At the end of the day, the dunes were placed outside to see how wind and rain would change them. When students return to school next week, they will observe the dunes and talk about how weather affects land over time.

Child Nutrition and Cafeteria Services:

Candlewood Elementary is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) campus. 100% of our students will receive free breakfast and lunch. The school menu for breakfast and lunch is posted on the JISD website. While the cafeteria staff carefully plans every menu, sometimes delivery issues may cause a slight change in menu items.

Parents are permitted to eat lunch with their students. After signing in at the front office with their photo ID, parents may proceed to the cafeteria where a designated table has been set up for families to eat together. Adult guests must be listed in Skyward in order to gain access to eating lunch at school. You can check and update this list by accessing Skyward. Please make sure to bring a physical valid photo ID so you can be checked in at the front office.

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

💬 During the first week of school, your child will be added to their class roster so you can start messaging teachers!

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

• With more holidays coming up, this is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of Progress Learning, Amplify, and Zearn. You can access the programs by visiting JudsonISD.org, selecting ClassLink, and having your child log in just as they would at school. Even dedicating one hour a day can make a meaningful difference. Progress Learning provides customized lessons tailored to each student’s needs, helping them strengthen their individual learning paths. We also recognize students’ extra effort through our “Zearn Master” rewards program, which celebrates individual students for completing at least 12 lessons a month.

Students are encouraged to work on learning at home. Students can log into our learning platforms by following the steps below:

1. Go to judsonisd.org

2. Click Students

3. Click ClassLink

4. Enter Login

5. This will open their portal for Zearn (math only) or Progress Learning

The JISD Adventure Club is a program that includes homework time, mind-stimulating games, reading/quiet time, character and leadership-building activities, behavioral and etiquette skills, science centers, storytelling, music, art and crafts, board games, physical activities (games) and much, much, more. The Program Guidelines for Parents and Guardians explain the full policies, procedures, and program. The Adventure Club Program is available at 20 elementary locations throughout the district, proudly serving our K through 5th grade students.

Registration for new and returning students to participate in the campus-based Adventure Club After School Program is open. As per Program Guidelines, if a student's My School Bucks account has any unpaid tuition or applicable fees, the account balance must be paid in full prior to registering for the new school year. If a student was dismissed for behavioral reasons during the 2024-25 school year, the student is not eligible to participate during the 2025-26 school year.

The JISD Adventure Club program is open Monday - Friday with the exception of observed JISD school holidays.The JISD Adventure Club operates from the time of dismissal until 6pm. Be advised a $1 per minute, per child, LATE PICK UP FEE is charged after 6PM. Invoices are added to My School Bucks account accordingly and are due in full upon receipt. Mrs. Regina Lopez is our AC Supervisor. Please call 210-662-2414 for more information.

Spirits Heart childcare: 3155 Ackerman rD Kirby,TX 78219 210-451-9553

Kitz Corner: 4813 Lakebend W Dr San Antonio, TX 78244 210-263-7353

Kooper Kidz: 711 Culebra Rd San Antonio, TX 78201 210-257-8825

Future Mogul Learning Center: 5203 Eisenhauer Rd #103 San Antonio, TX 78218 210-233-6827

Little Scholars Childcare Academy: 6060 Montgomery Dr #112 San Antonio, TX 78239 210-800-3505

⏰SCHOOL HOURS – 7:30 AM – 2:50 PM

• Doors Open at 6:45 AM
• Breakfast Starts at 7:00 AM
• School Tardy Warning Bell Rings at 7:25 AM
• Instruction Begins! Students must be in their classroom seats by 7:30 AM
• Tardy begins at 7:31 AM
• 🚨 Dismissal is at 2:50 PM (Please note this is a change from previous years at 3:00 PM) 🚨

To help ensure the highest quality learning environment of all students, we strive to have minimal interruptions to the classroom schedule. One simple, yet powerful way to help boost this high quality learning environment is to have your child dropped off at school before 7:30 am. In this way, they are able to eat breakfast, unpack their things, and start the day smoothly. Any students who arrive in their classroom after 7:30 am will be marked tardy. In the event that you are running late and arrive after 7:30 am, you will need to accompany your child to the Front Office and sign them in. If you need any assistance with this process, please give us a call. If they arrive after 9:30 AM, they will be considered absent. If you are running late for pick-up, please park and come into the front office to sign them out. We appreciate if all students are picked up by 3:20 PM at the latest.

Congratulations Ms. Mayfield's class. All students had perfect attendance for the entire week and won the bragging rights to the ATTENDANCE MATTERS banner!! Keep up the great work!!

• The Texas attendance rules say that a student has to be in a class at least 90% of the time if they want to be sure to get credit for that class. This rule applies even if your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan.
• Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled. Ages 6-19 State law requires that a student who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached their 19th birthday, shall attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt.
• [If a student pre-k through 12th grade is absent from school for 10 or more days or part of days without an excuse within a 6-month period, the parent and/or student are subject to legal prosecution.]

Ms. Pulido CIS Site Coordinator hpulido275@judsonisd.org

Mrs. Morris School Social Worker tmorris@judsonisd.org

Mrs. Wilson Counselor awilson@judsonisd.org

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

Do you need clothing or school supplies? With generous donations from our community we have a boutique for our students and members of the community. Ask for a member of our counseling department for access!

Hello Families,

As most of you are aware, SB12 recently went into effect as law. It states that health professionals at school cannot provide care (except for emergencies) without written consent by the parent. This includes basic first aid such as ice packs, Band Aids, etc. However, emergencies will still be addressed. The forms are located in the Skyward portal under 25/26 Student Forms. There will be multiple forms in this section. Please complete the Health Services form with a YES or NO. You have the right as a parent/guardian to change your designation at any time. I do ask that if you decide to change your decision, to please contact me so that I can honor your request. Please complete these forms as soon as possible. I've included an image instructing how to navigate to them in Skyward.

Thank You for a Magical Winter Wonderland Concert! ❄️

Thank you to our amazing families, staff, and community for making our Winter Wonderland Concert on Thursday, December 11th such a joyful and memorable evening! We are incredibly proud of our PK, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and Honor Choir students, who truly shined on stage and filled the night with holiday cheer.

A special thank-you to our parents and guardians for ensuring students arrived on time, were dressed festively in red, white, and green, and were ready to perform. Your support and partnership played a huge role in the success of this event.

We are also grateful to our teachers, choir director, and staff who worked behind the scenes to prepare our students and create such a warm, magical experience for everyone in attendance.

✨ Thank you for celebrating the season with us and for always supporting our students as they learn, grow, and shine. What a wonderful way to spread joy and close out the semester!

Reach out to me on Dojo or email me at jposada@judsonisd.org

Josh Posada

Music Teacher

Candlewood Elementary School

jposada@judsonisd.org

As we go into December, students 2-5 will be painting a wintery night. They will be using different tones of blue to blend out in an ombre way and then use black to make shadows of mountains and trees. As kinder is preparing for their Christmas concert, they will be making their very own snowflake to hang up for display to show parents.

In technology 3-5 is learning how to make PowerPoints. They will choose their favorite movies, dissect them and then present a slide show of key parts and characters. 1st and 2nd will continue to learn more about keyboarding and keep practicing by typing sentences and playing keyboarding games.

Ms. Morales

Art/Tech Teacher

Candlewood Elementary
🎨💻

Happy New Book Year!

Please check student folders for any overdue book notices! Check cars, couches, closets, beds, bookshelves, etc. Students will have the chance to visit the library on the following weeks:
January 12-16
January 26-30

Grades K-2
1 book at check-out

Grades 3-5
2 books at check-out
*only 1 comic at a time. If a student has an overdue comic, they must return that comic before they get a new one.

Students will participate in physical education (PE) class 2-3 times per week. To actively participate in PE class, students must have the proper shoes. This is for their own personal safety, and to protect the gym floor. If students are wearing dress shoes, boots or sandals, please send a pair of gym shoes in their backpacks. Teacher can easily provide a quick minute for students to change footwear prior to the beginning of PE class. Students without the proper footwear will have to sit out from class.

Also, if students have a doctor's note stating any restrictions to their activity or movement, please send this note to the teacher. The school will ensure that the PE coach has the proper documentation to assist your child in the process of recovery. Medical notes that limit a student's participation in PE do not have any impact on a student's final grade. Additionally, the school will ensure that classroom teachers have these notes and that the limitations are applied to recess as well.

Winter Wonderland Classroom Activities

Grades 3–5:
Students will kick off a creative project by designing and building their very own Winter Wonderland scene using cardboard and other materials available in the classroom. This hands-on activity encourages imagination, teamwork, and problem-solving as they bring their winter visions to life!

Grades K–2:
Our younger learners will explore the magic of light and shadow by creating and using a “magic flashlight.” Through this fun experiment, they’ll uncover hidden images and learn how flashlights work while discovering the science behind light and shadows

📧 Email: dcaldwell@judsonisd.org

Ms. C

Academic Enrichment

Please see the message from Officer Garcia:

Parent Letter_Safe-Gun-Storage English (1).pdf

Parent Letter_Safe-Gun-Storage Spanish.pdf

Parent Involvement :Thank you for being our partner in your child's education! When we communicate and work together, your child succeeds! At Candlewood we pride ourselves on being transparent and doing what is best for kids. If you ever have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, please reach out to your child's teacher or anyone on the admin team. We are here to serve the children of our community. Thank you for trusting us with your children.

Shining a Positive Light: Our teachers, students, parents, and community are a direct reflection of Candlewood. What we say and represent about our school through our words, social media posts...etc. is critical to our school culture. Please join us in shining a positive light on all of the amazing things your students are doing at Candlewood. When we speak life, success and positivity into our school, we are speaking the same into our students...our future! What a bright future our Eagles have!

Volunteering: The volunteer application is for individuals who are attending OFF CAMPUS Field Trips ONLY. If you are volunteering to help in the classroom or at an on-campus event, you are ONLY required to check in using the Verkada Verification System at the campus front office.

https://www.judsonisd.org/departments/human-resources/volunteering

Spirit Shirt sales are still open while supplies last. We encourage you to purchase a school t-shirt for $10 (cash only). Our 25-26 school t-shirts will be available in youth sizes XS-Large and adult sizes S-XL. They are navy blue with red and white lettering on the front and our new STEM logo on the sleeve.

We will be selling retired Candlewood t-shirts too!

1 shirt- $3.00

2 shirts- $5.00

3 shirts-$7.00

4 shirts- $10.00

Each day our students recite the following campus-wide expectations and creed, repeating the mindsets that CSA is working to instill.

As a Soaring Eagle, I will:

Show self-control and Be Safe

Offer Kindness

Act Responsibly

Respect Myself and Others

I will S.O.A.R. with creativity!

Eagle Creed

• I am a Candlewood Eagle. I belong here.

• I have great expectations for myself. I know that I can succeed.

• I accept the challenge to become the best that I can be. I know that I learn more when I try hard.

• I will make today the very best day of all. I will share my important ideas and create new ones too.

• I promise to SOAR like an Eagle and shine like a star because this is important to me.

Parents are allowed to bring treats to the class for a student's birthday. You can drop these items off at the front office anytime of day. The office will deliver items to the classroom during break times so that learning schedules are uninterrupted. Teachers will ensure that treats and drinks are distributed to all students at the end of the day typically around 2:30.

Communication is key! To help keep our families and community updated, we will send out a weekly newsletter with information from our school and district websites, along with other important updates. In addition, please check:

• Class Dojo for announcements and messages

• Teacher updates and club sponsor information via email

• Our school website for key info, forms, and links to the student handbook

If you have any questions or need clarification, please call the office or email one of our admin team: Mrs. Diaz rdiaz@judsonisd.org, Ms. Latino clatino@judsonisd.org, or Mrs. Miles rdavismiles@judsonisd.org

When sharing information with our community, we use the following methods:

• paper flyers
• all calls-text, automated phone calls, and emails
• Class Dojo
• Candlewood Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/candlewoodelementary/
• JISD school website at https://candlewood.judsonisd.org/
• Campus Website at https://candlewood.judsonisd.org/

School Marquee