Jaguar Tales

Hello, Jaguar Family!

We are moving into a short week this week. Please remember that students will not attend school on Thursday (10/3) and Friday (10/4) of this week. On Thursday, our staff will be engaged in professional learning and planning. Friday is a student and staff holiday. Classes will resume on Monday, October 7, 2024. We hope our families are able to use this time to relax and engage in activities that bring joy.

Please take note that we have extended the permission slip gathering and payment collection for the grade level field trips through tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 30. More information can be found below. Please reach out to your child's grade level AP if you have questions about the field trip.

Have a great weekend! Go Jags!

Larissa Ortiz

Cedar Valley Middle School Principal

Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org

512-428-2307

**PERMISSION SLIP and PAYMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH MON. SEPT. 30**

We are excited to announce an opportunity for our students to interact in a fun and exciting way. Each grade level will be attending Reunion Ranch for a day of fun and games. We are looking forward to a good time!

Dates:

• 6th grade → Tuesday, October 8
• 7th grade → Wednesday, October 9
• 8th grade → Thursday, October 10
• 
  

Time of Departure from CeVMS: 9:15am (we will not be able to wait for anyone who arrives late)

Time of Departure from Reunion Ranch: 1:00pm

Arrive at CeVMS: 1:30pm

Price: $22 per student, includes activities, transportation, and lunch (hot dogs, chips, and soda).

Parents, please complete the following (Due Sept. 30, 2024):

1. Pay the $22 fee online using the school store for each student attending.
2. Complete the permission form for each child attending.

• 6th grade form
• 7th grade form
• 8th grade form

**If you would like to sponsor another student, please send a check or cash to the counselor's office, labeled “Student Assistance.”

FAQs:

• Can my child bring their own lunch?
• Yes, however the price will remain as $22.
• Can I join my child on the field trip?
• No, this is a student and school staff event.
• Will my child be swimming?
• No.
• What should students wear?
• Students should wear clothing that will allow them to be active, but should still be within the RRISD dress code.
• What will my child do if they decide not to go on the field trip?
• Students who do not attend the field trip will complete alternate assignments left by their teachers.
• Can students bring their phones?
• Yes, however they are responsible for its safekeeping and appropriate usage.
• Should students bring backpacks to school that day?
• Yes, they will be attending 1st, 7th and 8th period. Students will leave backpacks in their advisory teacher’s classroom.

For any questions, please direct them to your child’s grade level administrator:

6th - Jennifer_Bingham@roundrockisd.org

7th - Marc_Scott@roundrockisd.org

8th - Andrew_Carroll@roundrockisd.org

Our Jaguar Cross Country teams have had TWO successful meets with the last week.

McNeil Invitational Results - Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024:

• Boys finished 2ND AT PLACE OVERALL out of 21 schools and we had boys place top 50 or above out of 327 runners.
• Girls finished 3rd PLACE OVERALL out of 21 schools and we had girls place top 42 out of 327 runners.
• Top performs include: L. Brasil (1st overall), S. Garcia, S. Garvey, I. Ore, W. Miller, B. Smith.
• Cedar Valley was the best OVERALL school out of RRISD. Our runners placed higher than every school in our district!

District Cross Country Meet - Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024:

• The boys came in 2nd to Walsh MS by only 5 points! They battled and worked hard and definitely have their sights set on winning district next year.
• The girls team is YOUR 24-25 XC middle school district champs!!! We are so proud of every single runner and it truly was a team effort as we only had 11 girls on the team.
• Top Boy runners: I. Ore, W. Miller, A. Thakar, J. Douglas, L. Meyer.
• Top Girl runner: L. Brasil, S. Garcia, A. Yang, S. Garvey, B. Deegan

Special thanks to Coach M. Davila for leading our athletes to a successful season!

Wednesday, October 2 is School Custodian Appreciation Day and at Cedar Valley, we are fortunate to have the BEST team of custodians. As members of the Jaguar community, they take pride in keeping our campus looking great, providing a safe and clean learning environment for our students. We are so grateful to our custodians!

If you would like to send a note of thanks, these are the members of the custodial team:

We have seen an increase in phone use during the day. Please be reminded of our cell phone policy. More information can be found on our campus website.

Cedar Valley is a phone-free learning environment. Students are required to keep their phones, earbuds, headphones in their backpacks between 8:10-3:35.

Parents, please refrain from calling and texting your student during the school day. In the event of an emergency, please contact our main office at 512-428-2300 and we will get the message to your student.

Reflections Program - Reflections has been an art program in many schools for over 50 years. The 2024-2025 PTA Reflections theme is “Accepting Imperfection”.

Students can express their creativity by choosing one or more of the 6 art categories in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts to create new original pieces of artwork that tell their unique story of what this year’s theme “Accepting Imperfection” means to them!

Who can compete? Any student whose parent/guardian is a current member of the Cedar Valley Middle School PTA. Not a member? Signup for a membership here.

The entry deadline is on Tuesday October 22 to the CeVMS Reflections Chair

Suneeta Belforte .

Please download the Rules for participation requirements to ensure your art meets the requirements for each art category entered.

• Student Program Rules Packet (English/Spanish).
• Student Entry Form (English/Spanish).
• Click Here for the digital entry form.
• Click here to explore the 2024-25 PTA Reflections Theme: “Accepting Imperfection”.

• Dance Choreography English | Spanish

• Film Production English | Spanish

• Literature English | Spanish

• Music Composition English | Spanish

• Photography English | Spanish

• Visual Arts English | Spanish

• Accessible Arts Rules English | Spanish

• Single Page Rules English | Spanish

• Student Entry Form English | Spanish

For more information visit www.txpta.org/reflections or email reflections@cevmspta.org with any questions.

“The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.”

“The International Baccalaureate® (IB) enjoys a high level of respect and recognition among the world’s higher education institutions. For students, success in the IB often results in advanced standing, course credit, scholarships, and other admissions related benefits at many universities.”

McNeil High School is now officially authorized and is offering the full IB Diploma Programme to our junior and senior students. Students from McNeil HS feeder schools as well as Round Rock HS feeder schools may attend McNeil for the IB Diploma Programme.

Check out both of the linked videos to learn more about the International Baccalaureate programmes around the world and benefits from students currently enrolled.

The IB Diploma Programme - A Broad and Balanced Education

International Baccalaureate: Empowering Learners to Thrive and Make a Difference

Attention middle school students and parents/guardians:

It’s never too early to start looking at future options/pathways for your student during his/her high school years and beyond. If your student would like to start on the IB prep. pathway, please fill out this form with some basic information for the McNeil HS IB Diploma Programme Coordinator.

Certain classes will be highly recommended in middle school and during your student's freshman and sophomore year to put them on the pathway to participate in the IB Diploma Programme during the junior and senior year.

NOTE - filling out this form does not mean that your student will be automatically placed in the IB Diploma Programme at McNeil. It merely indicates that you are interested in the IB pathway for your student, and it will give the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator preliminary information letting her know of your interest. You will also receive additional information via email.

Additional information:

IB Diploma Programme Presentation

FAQ form - have a question about the IB Diploma Programme at McNeil HS?

IB Parent Pack

• Emilee Hinegardner, McNeil HS IB Diploma Programme Coordinator - emilee_hinegardner@roundrockisd.org

• Dr. Sonia Baker, McNeil HS Lead Counselor - sonia_baker@roundrockisd.org

We'd love to see you get involved in a club this year! Take a look at the club offerings and consider joining!

Please keep in mind the list is still being updated for this school year. We should have everything updated over the next week.

We look forward to having a crowd to cheer on our sports teams this year!

Football Schedule

Volleyball Schedule

Cross Country Schedule

It's an exciting time to be able to attend extracurricular events in RRISD. We all love it when a crowd shows up to cheer on our teams. Please keep in mind that attending such events comes with expectations. We ask that parents review these expectations with their students before each event.

Be Safe:

• Stay SEATED in the bleachers unless going to the restroom or concession stand.

• Items prohibited on campus are prohibited at games.

• Unsafe behavior such as horseplay, fighting, and running could result in being removed from the event.

Be Respectful:

• Use a voice level and appropriate language. Do not play music from your phone or portable speaker.
• Show school spirit with cheers or applause. Cheer for CeVMS not AGAINST the other team.
• Listen and respond quickly to instructions from adults.

Be Responsible:

• Follow guidelines for food & drinks.

• Throw away all trash before leaving the stands/gym.

• Call for a ride at the end of halftime. If a student is picked up after 15 minutes of the game ending, it may result in loss of privilege to attend the next game/ event.

These expectations apply to all RRISD extracurricular events. We hold high expectations for students as a spectator at Cedar Valley, but even higher ones when you are visiting another gym or stadium in Round Rock ISD.

Please be aware that students may be asked to leave the event if these expectations are not met. This will also result in losing privileges to attend other events for the school year.

Girls' Basketball tryouts will take place on October 21, 22, & 23, 2024.

7th Grade will be from 7AM into 1st Period Athletics.

8th Grade will be from 8th Period Athletics until 5 PM.

All athletes must have a physical on file with the coaching staff and all Rank One online forms completed to be eligible to tryout.

Athletes must attend all three days of tryouts to be considered for a team.

Please contact Coach Banks with any questions: kaytlynn_banks@roundrockisd.org.

Our teachers are here to help! In the event you need help with an assignment or understanding a concept better, please attend tutorials with your teacher. Please keep in mind, a pass is needed to attend tutorials in the morning.

CeVMS Tutorial Schedule

(posted in many areas at school, as well)

Spiritwear is now available to purchase through our online store! You can place an order anytime and it will be delivered to your child's advisory class within a few days!

Check out our new shirt design for the 2023/2024 school year! The shirt was designed by an eighth grade art student at Cedar Valley! Help support our school and teachers by purchasing a shirt today!!!

One of the best ways to show your student that education is important to you, is by volunteering at their school. There are lots of different ways to contribute your time, support and resources.

Please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form below to help us match your interests with the school's needs (such as Staff Appreciation, Concessions, Fundraising or School Dances).

CeVMS Volunteer Interest Form

This does NOT commit you to anything other than possibly receiving emails when we need help in your areas of interest.

Beginning the 2024-25 school year, PTA Memberships will be completed and paid directly from the Texas PTA site.

For further Information, please visit Memberships.

All events at Cedar Valley can be found on the Cedar Valley Master Calendar.

Did you know that you can add the Cedar Valley Master Calendar to your calendar? Simply click on this link to access it and add it to your calendar!

Visit our Cedar Valley PTA Online Store to make donations and purchase your Cedar Valley merchandise at our one stop shop! Merchandise will be back online shortly.

To join PTA, click here. We're happy to have you on board!

Vision: Fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners

Website: https://cedarvalley.roundrockisd.org/
Location: 8139 Racine Trail, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-428-2300
Facebook: facebook.com/rrisd.cedarvalley
Twitter: @cevmsjags

Front Office Staff

Administrative Associate - Principal's Office: Ms. Cristol Alvarez, 512-428-2316

Administrative Assistant - Counseling Office: Ms. Marilyn Beal, 512-428-2348

Attendance: Ms. Dana Harrison, 512-428-2305

Receptionist: Ms. Allison Samuelson, 512-428-2301

Registrar: Ms. Vicky Escruceria, 512-428-2315

Counselors

6th Grade Counselor: Ms. Gabrielle Kerr

7th Grade Counselor: Ms. Heather Mills

8th Grade Counselor: Ms. Elizabeth Guidry

Administration

Principal: Ms. Larissa Ortiz

6th Grade Assistant Principal: Ms. Jennifer Bingham

7th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Marc Scott

8th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Andrew Carroll

Nurse Clinic

Campus Nurse: Nurse Mina Shimomura

Records Specialist: Ms. Kristie_Rocheleau