Lion families,

It’s been a fast and exciting start to the year. This is always a great time as the seasons begin to change and with it brings cooler mornings and a crispness in the air. As we “fall” into October, our first full grading cycle is almost complete. I encourage you to check your student’s grades in Skyward in an effort to ensure that they are finishing out this 1st 9 weeks cycle in a strong manner. The grading period ends this week on Thursday, October 10th, so it is imperative that students are communicating with teachers about his/her assignments. Also, if you would please join me in saying thank you to our teachers! It seems they are continued to be asked to do more… often times with less, and they have been remarkable to start the year working relentlessly to ensure our students have the best possible experience. We are blessed all the way around at Oak Hills!

There are a couple of Oak Hills programs on campus that deserve some recognition! Recently, our choir students, under the direction of Ms. Norris and Ms. Seulean, did an outstanding job of performing to a packed house at Lake Creek High School. I don’t believe the auditorium has ever been as full as it was last Monday night for the performance… it was an awesome night! Also, congratulations to our cross country runners on a great season. They have either won or placed in every meet they have entered. Coach Pedjase and Coach O’Neal are extremely proud of the work the kids have put and the resulting success. Finally, our OH Band put on a stellar performance at their fall concert last week. One would have never known it was the first time that these students had performed as a collective group. Congratulations to Mr. Ibarra and our OH band on a fantastic show!

Thank you to all who contributed to the MoTown Showdown PB & J drive! Collectively MISD students collected over 6000 pounds of jelly and over 2000 pounds of peanut butter to support our local Montgomery County Food Bank.

October will continue to offer many opportunities for students to be involved in activities on and off campus. Please take a minute to scroll through various upcoming events below. We hope that each of you has the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends over the Fall Break.

Thank you,

G. Whitehead

OCTOBER DATES

10/4 - Lake Creek Homecoming Football vs. MHS

10/7 – 7th Navy/Gold Football @ Waller

10/7 – 7th White Football @ Knox JH

10/8 – 8th Navy/Gold Football vs. Waller

10/8 – 8th White Football @ Knox JH

10/10 – Pep Rally

10/10 – Volleyball @ Montgomery JH

10/11 – 10/15 – Fall Break

10/16 – Anti-Bullying Day (Wear Orange)

10/17 – Band’s Halloween Bash

10/17 – Volleyball @ Magnolia JH

10/18 – Pink OUT (Wear Pink)

10/21 – 7th Navy/Gold Football @ Tomball JH

10/21 – 7th White Football @ Moorehead JH

10/22 – 8th Navy/Gold/White Football vs. Tomball JH

10/24 – Volleyball vs Waller

10/25 – Choir Cereal Breakfast @ 6:50am

10/25 – PTO Fundraiser Celebration

10/25 – Band at Lake Creek Football

10/25 – OH Theatre Fall Play @ 7:00pm

10/26 – Region Band Auditions @ Stockton JH

10/26 – OH Theatre Fall Play @ 7:00pm

10/28 – 11/1 – Red Ribbon Week

10/28 – 7th Football vs. Magnolia

10/29 – 8th Football @ Magnolia

11/1 – Pep Rally

11/1 – PTO Meeting @ 8:30am

11/1 – OH Theatre Fall Play @ 7:00pm

Montgomery ISD is inviting all senior citizens in our community to join us for breakfast with our Class of 2025 Graduating Seniors. Dr. Ruffin will share about the great things happening in our schools and our amazing students will provide entertainment and tours of campus, sharing a peek into their mornings in MISD.

• Montgomery HS: October 7
• Lake Creek HS: October 9

Breakfast will begin at 8:30am and will be served by MISD CTE Culinary Arts students, followed by a special message from Dr. Ruffin. The morning will be wrapped up with student-led tours. You can RSVP here to let us know you're coming: https://forms.office.com/r/pthkSsvAhW or call to RSVP: 936.276.2106

Red Ribbon Week is right around the corner! We have fun activities and dress up days planned, so start getting your AWESOME outfits ready for October 28rd - November 1st!

The thing that is tricky about self-control is that it is easier to talk about than to practice (and model!). Every time you lose your temper, you’re missing an opportunity for self-control. When you skip out on your workout routine that you’ve said you need to do, you are missing an opportunity to model self-control. But more importantly, when we make a mistake and fall short of self-control, one big part that we also miss is admitting to our kids that we made a mistake. Showing self-control doesn’t mean you never slip up or make mistakes. It means you learn to admit your mistake and make amends.

Questions to consider:

• Do you consider yourself to be a person with a fair amount of self-control? Why or why not?

• How can I “teach” self-control to my teen?

• In what ways do I allow my child to practice self-control?

Questions to ask your student:

• Who do you know that has lots of self-control? How do they demonstrate self-control?

• What does self-control look like for a teenager?

• How can our family support you when it is hard for you to maintain your self-control?

Hello Lion Family!

It has been a busy year in the clinic, and we are asking for your help! Parents, please ensure that your students know their important phone numbers. With the new cell phone policy of “away for the day” it is important for students to have their important phone numbers memorized. If your information is not current in Skyward, we are unable to assist them with phone numbers.

We would also like to remind students and parents of the importance of eating breakfast and lunch daily. This helps keep your student focused and starts them on a healthy trend for the day by alleviating some of those 1st period and 6th period headaches and stomachaches. We have been seeing an influx of students at arrival of school and shortly after 1st period begins and again after lunches because students are not eating.

Mass screenings are coming up. Hearing and vision screenings for 7th grade students are scheduled for later this month. Scoliosis screenings will likely be in the spring for 7th grade girls and 8th grade boys.

As the fall months are approaching and the weather is changing, we will be gearing up for Flu season. The flu and the common cold are the illnesses that seem to plague everyone most in the cooler months. These illnesses can appear out of nowhere and can really take a toll on your health. We ask that everyone do their part and be as proactive as possible to reduce the spread of anything possibly contagious. Please remind students to wash their hands and please keep students’ home that do not feel well.

All medications require a doctor’s signature yearly to be administered here on campus. This now includes over the counter medications due to a change in the Texas Board of Nursing laws. We do not roll consents over from school year to school year and we do not hold medications over the summer. Students are not allowed to transport or pick up medications.

*Health condition paperwork and action plans need to be done EVERY school year. Orders do not carry over to the next school year and health conditions are added yearly to your student’s profile in Skyward for teachers and staff, without updated documentation or doctor’s orders, we do not add conditions.

Illness Requiring Exclusion from Schools-

Fever, Diarrhea, and Vomiting-exclude until symptom free for 24 hours without use of suppressing medications.

Per Texas Administrative Code TITLE 25 HEALTH SERVICES PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES CHAPTER 97 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUBCHAPTER A CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES RULE §97.7

Free and Reduced Meals

If your child(ren) received free or reduced-price meals last school year, please remember that you must submit a new application for the 2024-2025 school year if you have not already done so. Participation does not automatically carry over year to year.

If you do not apply, your child(ren) will lose their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals and will be charged for meals starting September 26, 2024. Meal prices are:

· Breakfast K-12: $1.50,

· Lunch Grades K-5: $2.75, Grades 6-8: $3.25+

Families who qualify for free or reduced meals may also become eligible for other forms of assistance, such as reduced fees for extracurricular activities, afterschool programs, and internet access.

How to Apply: · Online: Complete your application at www.myschoolapps.com.

· Paper Application: Can be picked up from School Front office. Contact the Education Service Center (ESC) at 936-276-2600 to have a paper application mailed to you.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the ESC office at 936-276-2600. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

English: In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Comidas gratis y a precio reducido

Si su(s) hijo(s) recibió comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido el año escolar pasado, recuerde que debe presentar una nueva solicitud para el año escolar 2024-2025 si aún no lo ha hecho. La participación no se transfiere automáticamente de un año a otro.

Si no presenta la solicitud, su(s) hijo(s) perderá su elegibilidad para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido y se le cobrará por las comidas a partir del 26 de septiembre de 2024. Los precios de las comidas son:

· Desayuno K-12: $1.50,

· Almuerzo Grados K-5: $2.75, Grados 6-8: $3.25+

Las familias que califican para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido también pueden ser elegibles para otras formas de asistencia, como tarifas reducidas para actividades extracurriculares, programas extracurriculares y acceso a Internet. Cómo aplicar: · En línea: Complete su solicitud en www.myschoolapps.com.

· Solicitud en papel: Se puede recoger en la oficina principal de la escuela. Comunícate con el Centro de Servicios Educativos (ESC, por sus siglas en inglés) al 936-276-2600 para que te envíen una solicitud impresa por correo.

Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita ayuda, llame a la oficina de ESC al 936-276-2600. Gracias por su atención a este importante asunto.

(1) correo: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o (3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov. Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

To view the MISD Attendance Policy and Frequently Asked Questions click HERE

Here are a few tips to consider:

● Have your student arrive at school on time and attend every class period, especially the official attendance-taking period (9:15 AM JH and HS).

● A student who is tardy to class will be subject to the consequences established at each campus in accordance with the possible consequences in the MISD Student Code of Conduct.

● What happens if your student needs to see a doctor/dentist/therapist? If possible, we encourage you to schedule appointments outside of school hours. Obtain and submit a medical note for documentation to provide to your student’s Campus Attendance Specialist. Documentation is needed so the absence will be coded correctly.

● When you receive an absence notification, please follow up with your student and the campus attendance specialist. If you have documentation for your student’s absence, please submit as early as possible (it is recommended to submit within 48 hours). If you believe a teacher has marked a student incorrectly, please have your student reach out to the teacher of the marked period.

Oak Hills Attendance Specialist:

Mrs. Vanessa Villarreal

Email: OHJHattendance@misd.org

Phone: (936)276-4315

Fax: (936)276-4323

Gifford Whitehead, Principal

Preston Clark, Assistant Principal (L-Z)

Amy Gollogly, Assistant Principal (A-K)

Website: https://oakhillsjh.misd.org/
Location: 19190 Keenan Cut Off Road, Montgomery, TX, USA
Phone: 936-276-4300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakhillsjuniorhigh
Twitter: @oakhillslions