Grizzly Gazette

Happy December!

As we reflect back on this first semester, I wanted to thank all of you for your incredible support of our teachers, our support staff, and our school. You have truly been a blessing to me as we continue to bring York to GREATNESS. I wish you all the best holiday season and best wishes in the new year!

Sincerely,

Lindsay Ardoin

• Dec. 4: Cheer Board Meeting in Library at 6 PM
• Dec. 5: Boys Basketball Picture Day
• Dec. 6: Winter Dance 7-9 PM
• Dec. 9 :Cheer Fundraiser begins- Santa Gram sales
• Dec. 9: Drill Team Booster Meeting in the Library at 5:00 PM
• Dec. 9: Choir Winter Concert at GOHS at 6 PM
• Dec. 10: Orchestra Concert at York at 6 PM
• Dec. 12: York PTO Meeting at 9:30 AM
• Dec. 16-20: Finals Week
• Dec. 17: NJHS Holiday Party at 4:15 PM
• Dec. 17: Drill Team Board Meeting in Library at 6 PM
• Dec. 20: Early Release at 12:50 PM

Interested in trying out for track? We have both boys and girls teams at York, and trouts are coming up in January. See the image below for more information. If interested, please sign up here:

BOYS SIGN UP

GIRLS SIGN UP

Parents, the schedule for the final week of December is below. This includes mandatory and required semester exams for all students. If you know in advance that your child will not be present for an exam, you must let us know by filling out the form. Makeups will be made on January 8, 2025. CLICK HERE IF NEEDING A MAKEUP

8th grade students have been working on entering their high school 4-year plan electronically in Naviance (accessible through student's SSO). Please have a conversation with your child about their plan and continue to support them in entering courses. If your child has any questions, please have them email/message their school counselor, who will assist as soon as possible.

Click here for additional information regarding high school requirements and available courses.

January 16, Grand Oaks High School will be hosting an Academic Showcase. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the courses offered, different levels of academics, and high school requirements. It is highly recommended that our current 8th grade students attend!

PTO is asking for donations for our Holiday Cookie Exchange for teachers on December 16, 2024. More info can be found here: SIGN UP

Cheer will be selling Santa Gram candy canes during all lunches 12/16-23 and they will be hand delivered to classes during 7th period on the 23rd. Each Santa Gram will be $1 and can be purchased at lunches with cash OR through a cheddarup link that will be provided.

We are excited to announce the Watch D.O.G.S program is officially at York Junior High. This program creates volunteer opportunities for dads, uncles, grandfathers and other father figures to support our campus. We would love for you to join our Watch D.O.G.S family! For questions, please call our counseling department at 832-592-8989 . You can also email lhjohnson@conroeisd.net.

Please follow the steps below if you are interested in making a positive difference in the lives of our Grizzlies.

Referral requests are now open for the CISD Gifted and Talented program. Although the testing will not take place until late January, referral requests are accepted at this time. Referral requests can be made by the parents and/or campus staff. Referrals will be accepted October 1- December 19, 2024. You may request a referral form from the front office or the Assistant Principal, Melanie Vaughan. You can also find the referral form and the other GT information on the CISD GT Homepage.

• Students riding the bus will be dropped off in the back of the school. These students will then report to the cafeteria, if it is before 8:20 AM. If after 8:20 AM, they will go to HOMEROOM.
• Students riding their bike may LOCK their bike in front of campus, at the bike racks.
• Car Riders- please have patience and be nice to your neighbors. Use the "zipper" approach- one enters the front drive from the west side of Waterbend Cove, then the east side, and so forth and so on.
• Car Riders- we will allow "double stacking" of cars in both lanes to help more traffic flow on Waterbend Cove.
• Car Riders- follow the signage on the sidewalk and in the street. Pull all the way forward before dropping your child off from the passenger side.
• Car Riders- There will be several staff members outside to help you and TEACH you the "York Way." Most importantly, PULL ALL THE WAY UP, PAST THE FRONT DOOR, UNTIL ASKED TO STOP. The more cars we have pull all the way up, the more we are able to get kids out efficiently.

• York JH dismisses at 4:05 PM.
• As soon as buses begin to arrive, bus riders are called from their last period class to load.
• Car riders, walkers, and bikers, will be released out the front doors closer to 4:00-4:05.
• Car Riders- follow the same procedure as arrival. Drive SLOWLY and look for your child. Pull all the way forward and allow your child to enter from the passenger side.
• Do not CUT or PASS others in order to move to the front of the line.
• At 4:15 PM, any remaining bus riders will be released to wait in the cafeteria.

During the first week of school, we will begin the process 10-15 minutes early!!! Plan accordingly. Additionally, please know this is a work in progress. We will make adjustments as needed.

Some families have asked "what do we need?" Currently, we are collecting snacks and small food items for students in need. Check out our wish list here: AMAZON WISH LIST

As a friendly reminder, all students must be caught up on vaccines or have a current exemption form before they are able to pick up their schedules August. Incoming 7th graders are required to have their Tdap and MCV4 vaccines. Incoming 8th graders have no new required vaccines. If you have not already done so, please bring updated records to Nurse Allie, or email them to arweaver@conroeisd.net. Please reach out to the clinic for any questions or if you need assistance.

CHARGING UPDATES

Starting in the 24-25 school year, we are limiting the amount of charges that a child can make on their account. After a child charges 15 days of meals, they will no longer be able to charge, and will not receive a lunch. Please make sure you are up to date on payments.

Breakfast Meal Prices

· Student Breakfast $2.00

· Student Reduced Breakfast $0

· Non-student Breakfast/2nd Student Breakfast $3.10

Lunch Meal Prices

· Student Lunch $3.20

· Student Reduced Lunch $0.40

· Non-student Lunch/2nd Student Lunch $4.70 (Teachers, Parents, Siblings)

Parents can pre-pay online for meal accounts beginning August 1, 2024. Click the "Child Nutrition Information" link above.

Free and Reduced Meals

Parents can apply online for Free and Reduced meals beginning July 22, 2024, at https://www.myschoolapps.com

How to report an absence by email:

Parents email the Attendance Office at yorkattendance@conroeisd.net to report an absence.

Please include the student’s name, Student ID #, and reason for absence along with the parent or guardian’s contact information.

How to report an absence by phone:

Parents, please contact the attendance message line at 832-592-8616.

When to report an absence:

Parents, please notify attendance office within 24 hours of the student's absence or send a written reason to the front attendance office with your student.

What is late arrival:

Students are considered absent to class 15 min after the tardy bell without a doctor's excuse.

Reporting to school after a doctor's appointment:

Once a student returns to campus after an appointment, the student needs to check in with the Attendance Office with the doctor's excuse.

When is the Tardy Bell:

8:50 am

Students are required to wear their ID badge everyday. Any child who has lost their badge and needs a replacement, will incur a $5 charge, which covers the badge, sleeve, and lanyard. To order a new badge, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeI_X8zYPFuJu2EEDrYScua_3QZSksdZPUg4ohhHE1p2n5jQQ/viewform

Interested to know if your child is eligible to ride the bus? Want to know how to register your child for the bus? Click the link above (Conroe ISD Transportation Information) to learn everything you need to know about CISD Transportation.

Transportation cannot change addresses for students. All student information is uploaded from campuses, and it is used to route our students. Parents, you will need to contact Shelita Hebert, Registrar, if needing to change your address. Once the campus makes the address change, it takes about 48 hours for Transportation to process the change.

Parents or guardians must submit an Alternate Stop Request Form each school year for service to an alternate stop. Students who are not eligible for transportation services may not be allowed to request or utilize an alternate stop. Parents can request an alternate stop when they request transportation for their child (register). They can do that at the following link: https://apps.conroeisd.net/AlternativeTransportation/

We do not offer transportation to students who live under a mile from the campus. Our one-mile measurement is made from the point at which the residence’s driveway meets the public road to the nearest point where any campus driveway meets the public roadway or where any pedestrian walkway (greenbelt) provides access onto campus property (through a gate or driveway). The distances are measured using the District’s dedicated school bus routing software and the Montgomery County Appraisal District (MCAD) maps to determine distances if necessary.