Grizzly Gazette

Welcome to August!! 13 days until the first day of school!

This newsletter contains a lot of great information about "Back-to-School." It's the same newsletter as July, but I have added more things regarding the schedule pick up, House Sorting, and athletics tryouts.

We cannot wait to welcome all of our new 7th graders to York. We also look forward to seeing our "seniors/8th graders" again! We've missed you. The campus is not the same without the kids.

See you soon!

Lindsay Ardoin

• Friday, August 9- 7th Grade Back to School Bash from 3:00-4:30 PM
• Friday, August 9- 8th Grade Back to School Bash from 4:30-6:00 PM
• Wednesday, August 14- First Day of School; ORANGE DAY
• Thursday, August 15- Second Day of School; BLUE DAY
• Friday, August 16- Third Day of School; ORANGE DAY
• Friday, August 23: 7th Grade Social, sponsored by Student Council 4:00-6:00 PM
• Wednesday, August 28: Parent Open House 6:00 PM
• Monday, September 2: Labor Day Holiday; No School

Get ready for our "Back-to-School-Bash!" Join us on Friday, August 9 for our big back-to-school event. Students will be able to meet Principal Ardoin, purchase Spirit Wear from PTO, get information on school clubs, take self-guided tours of the campus, meet staff, and pick up their schedules. Due to the high volume of students and parents, we ask that 7th graders come between 3:00-4:30 PM. 8th Graders are invited to attend from 4:30-6:00 PM. This is a "come and go" event.

Expect high volumes of traffic and parking issues. We are permitting you to park on Waterbend Cove or the Cox Intermediate parking lot if needed.

We can't wait to see our Grizzlies!

We are so excited to be rolling out the "House System" at York Junior High next year!!! For those of you who have been apart of the Grand Oaks community, you are aware that Clark Intermediate "sorts" students into houses in 5th grade, allowing them a chance to to belong in different groups, show their pride with healthy competition, and overall learn the benefits of being a GOOD person. Here's how it will work:

All students who were previously in a house at Clark Intermediate will continue in their house at York JH. Lists of your child's house have been given to the York JH staff. At the Back to School Bash, Clark students will be able to purchase new house merchandise and see other students get sorted.

For those students coming from Cox Intermediate or are new to the area, they will be sorted at the Back to School Bash. After picking up your schedule in the gym, head to the cafeteria where the House Sorting Party will take place. We will have a DJ, balloons, and one big party! "Unsorted" students will be able to get sorted right there, get a free shirt, courtesy of Mourtisen Orthodontics, and join the ranks of all their friends in various houses. MUCH MORE information to come! Get excited!!

• On Wednesday, August 14, doors will open for students at 8:00 AM. Students who arrive this early will be allowed to wait in the cafeteria until around 8:20.
• Please know that at the junior high level, parents do not walk their child in on the first day. Take the pictures at home and allow them to come in on their own.
• At around 8:20 AM, all students will be released to a HOMEROOM class. This is only something we do on rare occasions. In secondary schools, all junior high and high school students attend a homeroom on the first day of school. The homeroom is listed on their schedule.
• If they are unsure we will have posters and signage all around the cafeteria to help them find their homeroom number.

While in homeroom, the York administration and student success staff must complete a required "audit" or "balancing" of enrollment. We will be checking to see who arrives, who is withdrawn, etc. Once our audit is complete, students will be released to their 1st period ORANGE day class. It's an unusual day, but it is a requirement that we must complete, by law, to ensure all enrolled students are properly accounted for.

During Homeroom, students will:

• Go over important procedures
• Receive an updated schedule (in case changes were made over the weekend)
• Receive lunch assignments.

• 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.

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.

There will be an important meeting for Boys Cross Country athletes on August 16 from 5:30-6:30 PM. You will meet with the coaches in the cafeteria. This is for any boys who want to be apart of the team. Questions? Email Wendi Harris at mailto:wsharris@conroeisd.net

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

Below is the list for the 24-25 school supply list. You'll find that supply lists are different at the junior high level, rather than elementary/intermediate. We ask that each family provide their child with supplies that they will keep and use throughout the year. Please buy what your child will be able to use and keep in their backpack. Many teachers will provide a supplemental list of supplies during the first week. The list below is a recommended list for junior high. Because times are tough for many of our families right now, the classroom supplies are optional. However, anything you are able to purchase will make a huge impact in the daily learning for your child. See the list below.

Some families have asked "what do we need?" Thanks to a tremendous outpouring from last year, we don't need much to get us started this year. However, we have added a few items to your Amazon Wish List to help us decorate campus, get our classrooms ready, and have some treats for teachers. Check out our wish list here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2IFZ2FR1EYVY4?ref_=wl_share

Starting in 7-12 grade, ALL students in CISD will be required to wear an ID badge. All students will be provided a new badge at the Back to School Bash. If you are new to CISD, you will be provided a new badge, sleeve, and lanyard. Any child who has lost their badge and needs a replacement, will incur a $2 charge, which covers the badge, sleeve, and lanyard.

On the first day of school, students in grades 5th-12th will have their Classlink SSO password reset to the default password. Once students have successfully logged in, they will be required to choose a new password. The password must be at least eight characters. If students forget their password, their teacher will be able to help them reset the password.

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.