Deretchin Digest
April 2026 Edition
A Note From Mrs. Oliver
Happy April! Spring is in full bloom, and you can feel the excitement across campus. This is one of the busiest—and most fun—times of the school year. Classrooms are buzzing with hands-on activities, creative projects, and meaningful discussions as we continue strong into the final stretch of the school year. It’s amazing to see how much progress our students have made!
As we move further into spring, attendance remains incredibly important. Every school day counts, and being present helps students stay connected and confident in their learning. Thank you for your continued support in making school a priority.
STAAR testing is also approaching for grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Our teachers have done a wonderful job preparing students, and we are confident they will do their very best. Encouragement from home—along with a good night’s sleep and a positive mindset—goes a long way!
Lastly, I want to thank you for your partnership. Your support, kindness, and involvement make our school such a special place. Together, we are helping our students grow into confident, capable learners.
Let’s make April a fantastic month!
Sincerely,
Tina Oliver
Upcoming on the Deretchin Calendar
April 2- 1st grade program, 6:00, Bruster's Spirit Night at Deretchin, 5:00-8:00
April 3- Student and staff holiday
April 6- No School
April 6-10- National Assistant Principals Week
April 7 - Kindergarten Graduation Pictures
April 9 - Sakekawa Spirit Night
April 11 - Instrument Selection for Rising 5th Graders, 9:00-3:00
April 14 - STAAR RLA 3rd & 4th
April 15 - STAAR RLA 5th & 6th
April 16- STAAR Make-Ups
April 20 - Character Club, 3:30
April 21 - 6th Grade Field Trip, STAAR Science 5th Grade
April 22 - Earth Day, STAAR Science Make-ups
April 24 - Spotlight on Resilience, 9:15 in cafeteria
April 25 - 6th Grade Band/Orchestra Solo Contest
April 28 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, STAAR Math 3rd & 4th
April 29 - STAAR Math 5th & 6th
April 30 - STAAR Math Make-ups
May 1 - National School Principals Day, National School Lunch Hero Day, Spirit Night at Plush Nails
STAAR TESTING INFORMATION
PTO Information
April is a busy month as we prepare for the upcoming school year! Please join us at our last PTO General Meeting on Monday, April 13th at 8:30am where we will vote on the 2026-2027 proposed budget and executive board slate. You can RSVP here.
You can review the proposed budget by viewing the March 19th Meeting Minutes.
2026-2027 Proposed Executive Board Slate
President: Narcisa Rincon & Maria Arambarri
VP Membership: Kelley Bouchard
VP Fundraising: Megan Tinnell & Amber Henley
VP Programs: Shelby Bardo & Sarah Spillers
Treasurer: Meagan Anthony
Secretary: Allison Van Houten
Parliamentarian: Michele Nicol
Upcoming Spirit Night Events:
4/2: Bruster's Ice Cream Truck @ Deretchin, 5-8PM
4/9: Sakekawa (both Woodlands locations), ALL DAY
5/1 - 5/2: Plush Nails
And don't forget to check out our current Spirit Wear Sale! All shirts are $5!
Follow us on social media @deretchindragonspto for year end updates!
Michele Nicol
President, Deretchin PTOEmail: president@deretchinpto.org
Counselor's Corner
Class Placement
This is the time of year that we start planning for next year. Please provide us with any information that would be helpful when placing your child in class for the 2026-2027 school year. We do not take specific teacher requests, but we welcome any other input you may have. Please email your child's current grade level counselor by April 17, 2025. Be sure to include your child's first and last name, current grade level, and homeroom teacher.
Darcy Kieke (1st and 3rd) dkieke@conroeisd.net
Jenna Hendon (PK, K, 2nd and 4th) jhendon@conroeisd.net
Mary Ann Correa (5th and 6th) macorrea@conroeisd.net
Character Pillar of the Month: Resilience
Habits of the Week:
Bounce back after challenges and tough times.
Don’t quit, have grit!
FAIL- First Attempt In Learning
You don’t come to school to be perfect.
UPCOMING DATES:
4/9/2026 Yes to Youth Webinar: (click here for more information)
Facing Anxiety: Tools for Students & Families
6:30 PM-7:30 PM
4/20/2026 Character Club 3:30-4:30PM
4/24/2026 Spotlight Ceremony on Resilience 9:15 AM in the cafeteria
5/7/2026 Spotlight on Ambassadors (Grades 1, 2, 3) 9:15 AM in the cafeteria
5/8/2026 Ambassador Spotlight Grades (4, 5, 6) 9:15 AM in the cafeteria
GT Summer Testing
The CISD GT Department is offering another testing session for students who are interested in testing for the Gifted and Talented program. Parent referrals for testing will be accepted from April 1-30 only. If a student took any GT test this school year, he/she is not eligible to participate in this round of testing.
Summer Testing for Kindergarten thru 6th will take place at Ride Elementary School on May 28 and 29, 2026 from 8 am-12 pm. Please complete this form to register for summer testing: https://forms.gle/Nr1HHZmYJ6moJUN69. Please contact Jenna Hendon, jhendon@conroeisd.net, with any questions.
Registration for 2026-2027 school year:
*Current Students - In July, parents will receive an email for each student with a "snapcode" to access the Online Emergency Card. This will be your "registration" for the 2026-2027 school year. If you have moved within the school zone, make sure to send your campus Registrar an updated utility bill (light, gas, or water).
*Ongoing 7th graders - Your students will automatically filter back to their main campus. You will receive an email in July with a "snapcode" for your Online Emergency Card. There is no reason to reenroll; however, you may need to update your student's vaccine records with the Deretchin Nurse before May 15th. After May 15th, please contact your main campus school nurse.
*Dual Language Students on a Transfer - Your students will automatically filter to the Deretchin campus unless you haven't submitted the yearly transfer application. You should have already received an email regarding the application. You will receive an email in July with a "snapcode" for your Online Emergency Card that will have the campus Deretchin. There is no reason to reenroll.
*Prekinder Students Zoned to Galatas, Tough, Powell, Buckalew, Bush, Glen Loch, Eissler - Parents will receive a letter with the process for your student.
*New to Conroe ISD with no student ID number will open on April 7th. Please be sure to register for the 2026-27 not 2025-26 - https://deretchin.conroeisd.net/o/des/page/registration
Families moving over the Summer:
Current students - If your family is moving over the summer, please contact Cory Ognisty at cognisty@conroeisd.net to receive a Summer Mover form. The email must provide the student's first and last name and where the student will be moving to. All forms must be submitted by May 15. Forms submitted after May 15 will be processed in August therefore your student will still be in our system until we return from summer break. Record requests will be available in August.
Current 6th Grade Students - If your student is not attending or is anticipating not to attend at McCullough Jr High for the 2026-2027 school year, parents will need to fill out Summer Mover Form and return to Deretchin by May 15. Your child's records will be kept at Deretchin. Forms submitted after May 15 - student records will be sent to McCullough and will be processed in August. Therefore, your student will still be in our system until we return from summer break. Record requests will be available until late August.
Current PreK Students Zoned to Galatas, Tough, Powell, Buckalew, Bush, Eissler or Glen Loch - If your student is not attending or is anticipating not attend your main campus for the 2027-2028 school year, parents will need to fill out the Summer Mover Form and return to Deretchin by May 15. Your child's records will be kept at Deretchin. Forms submitted after May 15 - student records will be sent to their main campus and will be processed in August; therefore, your student will still be in our system until we return from summer break. Record requests will be available until late August
District- Wide Early Childhood Registration Fair is April 11 at Wilkinson Elementary - https://www.conroeisd.net/page/early-childhood
I Am Texas Writing & Art Contest
The Bryan Museum in Galveston, TX is hosting a statewide writing and art contest focused on the theme “I Am Texas”. The CISD Social Studies department is inviting schools to participate in this opportunity.
For the writing portion of the contest, students in Grades 2-5 can submit a letter written to someone, past or present, who has contributed to Texas history or culture, or is their personal hero. Grades 6-12 may submit non-fiction or fiction writing based on artifacts in the Bryan Museum's collection. The art portion of the contest is also open to Grades 2-12 and must be focused on the "I Am Texas" theme. Prizes for top artists and writers range from $50 - $1,000! The contest deadline is Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Please click on the link below for more information
Pre-K News
Kindergarten News
Happy April!
We are getting so excited about wrapping up the school year! In Bluebonnet ELAR, we will begin our unit "America- Our Great Country." In math, we will continue numeration/comparing numbers and begin an introduction to measurement. In science, we will learn about plants and animals. We will celebrate Earth Day with some fun activities! 🙂 In social studies, we will continue our study of economics, learn about income, and culture traditions/celebrations. We will also be sending home a calendar to kick off our Kindergarten A-Z Countdown so be on the lookout for some fun activities to help make the end of this school year amazing for our Kindergarten students!
First Grade News
We are excited to share with you what’s happening in our classroom over the next few weeks!
In math, we will be reviewing some important concepts such as word problems, addition and subtraction, number lines, fractions, and place value. These foundational skills will help your child build confidence in math and make connections to future lessons. Students will also be introduced to a new unit about time!
In language arts, first graders will be starting a new unit called Heading West: Exploring the New Frontier. In this unit, students will explore informational writing, use a graphic organizer, and build content knowledge and draw connections to social studies. Students will also be reviewing long vowel sounds a and o. They will be learning new ways to spell these sounds in their writing.
In science, we are diving into the fascinating world of animal life cycles. Students will learn about the stages of different animals' lives, and we are anxiously awaiting the hatching of our chicken eggs. It’s a real-life science experience that we can’t wait to share with them!
In social studies, we will be learning about economics. Students will learn about goods, services, saving, spending, needs, and wants.
First Grade Show - "How Does Your Garden Grow?"
Mark your calendars! Our First Grade Show, "How Does Your Garden Grow?", will take place on Thursday, April 2nd at 6:00 pm at the school. It’s sure to be a fun and memorable event, and we’d love for you to join us!
Thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to a wonderful rest of the year!
Warmly,
The First Grade Team
Second Grade News
Spring is in the air, the weather is getting warmer, and we have some fun activities planned this month with our Poetry Slam and Economics Fair!
Our readers are starting their final Foundations unit reviewing vowel sounds and tricky spellings. We really appreciate your help with learning spelling patterns each week. We are discussing different genres in class. Please talk about the books your child reads at home and mark the genre on their weekly reading log. We are excited for our Poetry Slam on April 24!
Our mathematicians will continue to practice adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers this month, as well as adding collections of coins or reviewing data analysis. Kids love to count coins and this is an easy thing to practice at home. At the end of the month, we will introduce your children to the concepts of multiplication and division.
In science, we will learn about animal characteristics and behavior, as well as life cycles. We will become economists in Social Studies and learn about spending and saving, supply and demand, and needs and wants. This will prepare us for our Economics Fair on May 1.
En el mes de abril comenzaremos una nueva unidad. En ella estudiaremos las palabras homógrafas. También pasaremos tiempo con las preposiciones y las frases preposicionales. Volveremos al uso de sufijos y prefijos, pero expandiremos el repertorio. Entre los repasos que tendremos, está el orden alfabético y los tiempos verbales.
Third Grade News
In April, we will start Unit 9 of our Bluebonnet ELAR learning. Our students will study the development of Colonial America. They will identify and explain the reasons for the establishment of the 13 colonies, including economic opportunity, religious freedom, and the search for new resources. Students will compare and contrast the characteristics of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, including climate, geography, economy, and daily life. They will also learn about significant individuals and their contributions to colonial life.
Through reading a variety of literary and informational texts, students will develop skills in identifying main ideas, analyzing text features, and describing how historical events shape communities. By the end of the unit, students will be able to explain how and why the colonies were formed and describe the impact of colonial life on early American history.
We have loved our Area and Perimeter Unit in math! We will continue our Measurement Unit by learning about capacity, weight, time and money! We will finish out April with our Financial Literacy Unit before we are busy with reviewing to ensure we are ready for our 3rd grade STAAR test on April 28th!
In social studies, we will finish up our culture and traditions unit. Students will be able to explain the significance of various ethnic and/or cultural celebrations and will compare those ethnic and/or cultural celebrations in the local community with other communities. We will then start our Economics Unit where students will understand the purposes of earning, spending, saving, and donating money.
In science, we will continue our unit on organisms and their environment. Students will identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain and predict how changes in a food chain. Students will also learn that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that function to help them survive within their environments.
Fourth Grade News
The month of April will be filled with a lot of review of what we have learned this year.
In math, we will review the concepts of place value, fractions, geometry, data analysis, and measurement. We will also focus on problem solving strategies by breaking apart multi-step word problems. Our Math STAAR test will be on Tuesday, April 28th.
In science, we will continue learning about organisms and how they undergo similar life processes and have structures that function to help them survive within their environments. We will also differentiate between inherited and acquired physical traits of organisms. We will end the month discussing patterns, cycles, systems, and relationships within
Environments by identifying and describing past environments based on fossil evidence, including common Texas fossils.
In social studies we will learn about the newly formed Republic of Texas and the challenges they faced as an independent nation. We will also learn about the annexation of Texas into the United States and Texas’ role during the Civil War.
We begin our new unit this week, "Innovation and Technology." This unit encourages students to explore the many ways that human ingenuity has transformed energy into the productivity at the center of our modern civilization. This nonfiction literature is the story of Texas and the industry that provides people with affordable energy. Students will be asked to analyze texts to identify the text structures used, provide evidence to comprehension questions and claims, and write an argumentative essay.
FIFTH GRADE NEWS
This month in English Language Arts, we will continue to prepare for our STAAR that is taking place on April 15. We will be starting a new unit where students will learn about June 19, 1865, when General Granger announced in Galveston, Texas that enslaved people were free—now celebrated as Juneteenth. They will also review President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to understand why this day is important, along with the impact of the 13th Amendment.
Through read-alouds, independent reading, and partner activities, students will explore African American contributions from 1865 to today. At the end of the unit, students will read selected excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to discuss ideas about justice, and law.
This month in math, we are excited to dive into personal financial literacy! Students will explore real-world concepts like gross and net income and practice creating and balancing a simple budget.
Starting April 13, we will begin our STAAR review unit. This is a great opportunity for students to revisit and strengthen all the skills they’ve learned this year as we prepare for the Math STAAR test on April 29. We are looking forward to seeing all of their hard work come together!
In science and social studies, students are reviewing for the Science STAAR test on April 21st. We will work on a STAAR dictionary with many academic vocabulary from our units this year. Students will also complete games, task cards, quizzes, relays, and other activities to reinforce concepts learned, while also earning STAAR Dragon Dollars to spend in their classroom reward store.
We are learning about the expansion of the United States after the Civil War and immigration and the second industrial revolution.
SIXTH GRADE NEWS
We are now gearing up for the STAAR assessments which will take place on April 15th (ELA) and April 29th (Math). Please help your child to get a good night sleep and to eat a healthy breakfast on those mornings. We also have a field trip to Daikin Park, Home of the Houston Astros, that is scheduled for April 21st. We went on this excursion last year and it was so much fun that we decided to do it again this year. Be on the lookout for details to come home regarding this.
In language arts, we have been working very hard to review everything that we learned all year long in preparation for the STAAR test. The students are doing STAAR-like passages with the new question types, task card rotations, and a variety of other practice activities. We know that our students are ready to demonstrate all of their knowledge on the upcoming STAAR.
In science, we are currently working on cells and their functions. We will then be learning about the organization of ecosystems. In social studies we are learning about Southwest Asia and North Africa. Our next unit is over Sub-Saharan Africa. We are excited to continue our journey around the world!
In math, we are currently learning how to describe variability of quantities using numerical summaries of data, where students are analyzing data using measures such as mean, median, range, and interquartile range to better understand how data is distributed. We will also begin our STAAR preparation unit. During this time, we will revisit key concepts covered throughout the year to provide students with a focused refresher. In addition, we will discuss and practice effective test-taking strategies to help students feel confident and prepared as they approach the STAAR assessment.
Music News
We have so many great things happening in the Music Department in this new grading period!
In elementary music, kindergarteners are having fun with adding new songs and games to reinforce steady beat and note reading skills. Kindergarten is also working hard on learning songs for their Kindergarten Graduation in May. 1st graders are excited to perform their musical “How Does Your Garden Grow?”, which will be performed on April 2, 2026, at 6:00pm. 3rd and 4th grade students continue to work on reading note names and how to count rhythms on numbered beats. They are also working on sight singing and learning to recognize notes on the piano. 4th graders are also learning about musical instruments of the band and orchestra in order to prepare them for choosing a fine art elective for 5th grade and possibly selecting an instrument on April 11. If you are interested in Band or Orchestra class in 5th grade, please be sure you have signed up to try instruments on April 11 at Deretchin!
In band, our 6th grade students are preparing for Solo and Ensemble contest on April 25th! All 5th and 6th Grade Band students are required to learn a solo and ensembles are optional. 5th Grade students will perform their solos and ensembles in class during the week of April 27. 6th grade students who do not participate in the Solo & Ensemble Contest will perform during class. Both groups have also started working on the Spring Concert Music.
In orchestra we are hard at work on solos and ensembles. All 6th graders are required to learn a solo for class, and have the option to perform that solo for a judge at the Solo Contest! Last year we had about seven kids going, this year we have 24 students!
Intermediate General Music has had a great time working on and performing their Musical Theater projects in class and we will soon dive into Recorder Karate..
Happy Spring! Both the 3rd/4th Grade and Intermediate choirs are doing a fabulous job working on music for their spring concert and festivals. Please see the weekly choir newsletter for information about spring rehearsal schedule, performances and festival field trips. Congratulations again to the 10 Deretchin students who performed with the Conroe ISD 6th Grade Honor Choir Saturday, March 28, 2026. It was a beautiful concert!
Melody Childs-Music/Choir
Michelle Gastler-Music/Band
Zackary Grahn-Music/Band
Avery Chambers-Music/Orchestra
PE News
It is hard to believe that April is already here! We are loving the nice warmer weather. March was a very busy month for us. Our students had a ton of fun at Field Day! We greatly appreciate all of the parent support to make the day a success!
Our third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders will be completing FitnessGram testing in April. The FitnessGram test assesses health-related fitness components: aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. Push-ups, curl-ups, PACER, trunk lift and shoulder stretch are the tests that are used to assess the health-related fitness components.
Please remember that safe, comfortable tennis shoes are very important for your child to wear on the day that they attend P.E. class. Flip flops, sandals, Crocs, boots, shoes with high heels, and slippers are not safe shoes on P.E. days. Please make sure that students come prepared with appropriate footwear so they can participate and have a great time! Keeping your student safe is our top priority!
Library News
If you’re interested in volunteering in the 4th quarter, please sign-up here: http://tiny.conroeisd.net/aCPab . Please note there are quite a few days in which there are no slots available. This is due to testing, and we are a closed campus.
Please have your students look out for library books. The last day to check out books is Friday, April 24th and all library books will be due Friday, May 1st. We will also have our last Book Fair in May. Look out for more details in the month of May.
We will have our Book Fair, May 8-15, 2026! Our late night is Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer. I’ll definitely need your help. : o)
Happy Reading,
Cristofer W. Mattern
Deretchin Mission Statement
Deretchin Elementary School is a school for the community, promoting a safe and nurturing learning environment while developing the whole child and encouraging excellence in all we do.
Deretchin Shared Vision Statement
Deretchin Elementary is a community that builds on best practices in order to help our students reach high academic, social, and emotional goals. Our school collaborates with our parents and community to provide a safe and positive culture the embraces the diversity on our campus where everyone is equal and achievements are celebrated.
Information
Email: toliver@conroeisd.net
Website: https://deretchin.conroeisd.net/
Location: 11000 Merit Oaks Drive, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 832-592-8700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeretchinCISD/
X: @DeretchinCISD
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.