Youngblood Community News

Wildcat End-of-Year Newsletter Message

From the Desk of the Principal

Dear Wildcat Families,

What an incredible school year it has been! As we reach the final stretch of the year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the growth, resilience, and achievements of our amazing students. They have worked hard, overcome challenges, and made tremendous progress that we know will lead to strong results—not only academically, but in character and confidence as well.

This month, we look forward to celebrating our students and their accomplishments. Our 5th Grade Field Day, 6th Grade Picnic/Cookout, and 6th Grade Completion Ceremonies are just around the corner! These special events mark milestones in your child’s educational journey, and we are so excited to honor them. Please be sure to check the full newsletter for important dates and details.

To our parents and guardians—thank you. Your support has been the foundation of so many of this year’s successes. From academic nights to classroom celebrations, field trips, and testing season, your involvement has truly made a difference. We are grateful for the strong partnership between school and home.

As we head into summer, we wish each of you a season filled with rest, joy, and new memories. Please encourage your child to continue reading, exploring, and learning over the break. Just a few minutes of reading a day can make a big difference!

Thank you for helping us make this a great school year. We are proud of every Wildcat and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

With appreciation,

Cassandra Dyson

Principal

May

• May 1st- School Principal's Day

• May 2nd- School Lunch Hero Day

• May 5th-May 9th Teacher Appreciation Week

• May 5th- Cinco De Mayo

• May 5th-9th- Teacher Appreciation Week

• May 7th- School Nurse's Day

• May 7th- NEHS Induction Ceremony 5:30-6:30 PM

• May 8th- Progress Reports Go Home

• May 8th- Choir and Orchestra Concert 6:30-7:30 PM

• May 9th- 5th grade Field Day and School Communication's Day

• May 12th-May 16th Book Fair

• May 13th- Virtual Zoom Welcome to Youngblood (Incoming 5th graders) 5:30-6:30 PM

• May 15th- Band Concert 6:30 PM

• May 18th- Speech Pathologist's Day

• May 20th- Band and Orchestra Instrument Night 5:30-7:00 PM

• May 21st- 6th Grade Cougar Academy Completion Ceremony

• May 22nd- 6th Grade Panther Academy Completion Ceremony

• May 23rd- 6th Grade Wildcats' Picnic

• May 26th- Memorial Day Holiday- No School

• May 29th- Last Day of School for Students and Report Cards Go Home

5th grade will have their Field Day Event on Friday, May 9th from 9:30-11:45 AM. Students will sign up for specific events to represent their class. It will be a fun-filled morning of races and relay events!

Students are encouraged to:

• Bring their own water bottles (labeled with their name).
• Wear or bring sunscreen.
• Bring a hat and sunglasses for outside.
• Wear T-shirts (school appropriate).

Youngblood parents, you are cordially invited to attend your child's end of the year 6th Grade Celebration. Please read the information below regarding the ceremony.

• Due to limited space, only two parents/guardians per student.
• No small children.
• All visitors MUST have a valid ID when checking in.
• The ceremony days and times for your child's homeroom teacher is listed below.

Attire for the Ceremony

Students are asked to dress very nicely (Sunday Best) for the ceremony.

• Girls may wear dresses with no spaghetti straps that are knee length. They may also wear a nice shirt and pants.
• Boys may wear button down collared or polo shirts with dress slacks.
• No backpacks will be permitted May 26th-May 29th.

If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

We are excited to announce a 6th Grade Picnic to celebrate our students' accomplishments as we wrap up the school year! This special event will provide students with the opportunity to enjoy a meal outdoors in the fresh air while reflecting on their achievements.

We are excited to celebrate our 6th grade students for their hard work and successful school year with a special picnic!

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, May 23rd
• Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Dress Code:
Students are encouraged to wear free dress! Please remember:

• Jeans should not have holes or rips.
• Appropriate tops are required.
• No Crocs.

Note: Due to limited space, parents/guardians will not be permitted to attend this event.

Let’s make this a memorable celebration for our 6th graders!

Dear Parents,

Preliminary TELPAS results should be released by TEA on May 23rd. You can view your child's results in the Texas Assessment Portal. (STAAR scores are also available here.) You will be able to see test questions as well as your child's answers. New this year is the ability to hear the responses to Speaking domain questions. www.texasassessment.gov

To see a sample TELPAS Report Card and learn more about your child's progress from the previous year, visit the following link. https://www.texasassessment.gov/telpas-score.html The sample report card is available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Urdu, Arabic, Mandarin, and Cantonese, among others.

For reclassification criteria (exit from ESL or Bilingual programs), please see the following link: https://www.txel.org/media/f0elc5oj/reclassification-criteria-chart.pdf

Parents of 6th grade bilingual students - please return the Parental Approval for Continuation of Language Program Services letter from TEA as soon as possible. There is no Bilingual program in middle school, so a student's placement changes to ESL if they do not meet reclassification requirements. This letter informs you of that.

If you have any questions regarding your child's English proficiency, please contact Sonja Nitsch at 281-983-8020 or sonja.nitsch@aliefisd.net.

Final 19 Days of School : Exciting Learning Ahead!

As we enter the final 19 days of the school year, our dedicated teachers are continuing to provide enriching experiences, now that we have wrapped up STAAR testing.

Reading & Writing Focus 📚

In Reading, students are diving into engaging literacy projects and novel studies, revisiting and reinforcing the skills they’ve acquired throughout the year. These activities not only enhance comprehension but also foster a deeper appreciation for literature. We have also successfully completed End-of-the-Year iReady Reading Diagnostic testing providing valuable insights into their academic growth and areas for continued development.

Social Studies Units 🌎

• 5th Grade: Students are preparing for a Social Studies Interim Assessment covering key historical topics such as Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. Following the assessment, instruction will continue to ensure a comprehensive understanding of these significant events.

• 6th Grade: World Cultures curriculum will conclude with an exploration of East Asia and South and Southeast Asia, providing students with a global perspective on diverse cultures and histories.

Important Assessment Dates

• 5th Grade Social Studies Alief Interim Assessment - 05/12/25

Thank you for your continued support as we make the most of these final days of the academic year!

-Joana Sagastizado

RLA/SS Intermediate Specialist & Campus Testing Coordinator

Youngblood Intermediate School

(281) 983-8020

Greetings Wildcat Families!

Library

Book Fair will be May 12th to May 16th. This will be an opportunity for students to purchase books, posters, and a variety of other things from Scholastic Book Fairs. Please take a look at the Youngblood Scholastic Online Book Fair Page. You can also take advantage of the eWallet feature on the book fair page. This way you can set a budget for your student and not have to worry about cash!

The end of the year is fast approaching, be sure that all library books are accounted for. These will need to be returned to the school. If you have lost a library book, these will need to be paid for before the last day of school.

Students can read a variety of eBooks utilizing our apps in the Alief HUB. These apps are MackinVia, Destiny Discover, and Capstone. These are available at home and school throughout the school year.

• Remember to handle school devices with care. Lost devices are not covered by the tech fee and will need to be paid for by the student. Similarly, chargers are not included in the tech fee, so please keep track of them.

Technology

Devices, chargers, and cases will need to be returned this month. Please remember that the $20.00 Tech Fee only covers accidental damage. Students who have deliberately damaged devices will be assessed fees for the damages to devices. Chargers and cases are not covered by the Tech Fee.

Dear Youngblood Intermediate School Families,

As we strive to reach new heights in each student’s learning experience, we hope these newsletters will assist you in supporting your child’s journey through mathematics. As we are in the middle of the fourth 9-week grading period, we wanted to share some important updates and celebrate our students' achievements.

Mathematics Updates

5th Grade 5th Grade students are currently learning math fundamentals to prepare for their transition into 6th grade instruction.

6th Grade 6th Grade students are engaging in spiraled lessons to reinforce the skills needed for middle school.

6th Grade AAC 6th AAC students are applying mathematical process standards to develop their understanding of probability, including compound and simple probability.

At Home: To-Do’s for May I-Ready, located in Alief Hub, is a valuable tool to support math progression. Parents can assist by regularly checking their child's progress, discussing results, encouraging seriousness in lessons, providing a dedicated learning space, and communicating with teachers about any concerns. Aim for 30-45 minutes of Math Selected Pathway Lessons.

Celebrations We are thrilled to announce that both 5th and 6th Grade students are effectively using writing skills to articulate their understanding of mathematical concepts. This schoolwide strategy has helped clarify their thinking, identify misconceptions, and deepen their comprehension.

Important Dates

● EOY I-Ready Diagnostic for 5th and 6th: Thursday, May 8th, 2025

● Probability CBA for 6th AAC: Thursday, May 15th - Friday, May 16th, 2025

Appreciation We appreciate your partnership and support in fostering excellence in math at Youngblood

Intermediate School. Together, we can instill a positive perception of math and understand that making (and correcting) mistakes is an essential part of learning. Overall, We Got This.

Wildcat Science Newsletter – May Highlights

Dear Wildcat Families,

May is full of hands-on learning, critical thinking, and project-based exploration in science! Here’s a quick look at what our fifth and sixth graders are working on:

Fifth Grade Science Highlights

• Daily Review: Students are using Progress Learning for a 15-minute spiral review focused on Organisms and Environments (Unit 4). Our goal is for every student to reach the Green Dot Challenge (80% or higher).
  
  

• Project-Based Learning: All classes are exploring ecosystem health and human impact through PBL aligned to TEKS 5.12C, with strong connections to biodiversity and STEM skills.
  
  

• GT Spotlight: Our GT students are working on a cross-curricular Titanic project, combining science, history, and engineering.
  
  

Sixth Grade Science Highlights

• Review & Assessment Prep: Students are reviewing Units 1 and 2 on matter, energy, and forces in preparation for the Diagnostic Assessment on May 16. They will also take a campus-based assessment on ecosystems on May 13.
  
  

• PBL & STEM Challenges: After testing, students will take part in a solar system-themed PBL or an engineering challenge to clean the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, depending on class placement.
  
  

End-of-Year & Summer Opportunities

• We’re closing out the year with collaborative STEM projects to build teamwork and innovation skills.
  
  

• Students are invited to apply for the CODE STEM Summer Camp—applications should be returned to Ms. Jones as soon as possible.
  
  

– The Youngblood Science Team

Youngblood Summer School is available by invitation only. In the last few weeks, Summer School Letters have been sent home, and teachers are reaching out to inform parents about the Summer School Registration process. If you were unable to attend the registration nights, you can still register over the phone with your child's teacher.

Summer School information:

June 3-24, 2025

Monday-Thursday

8:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.