Hello, Jaguar Family!

We are just days away from the first day of school and our teachers and staff are working hard to ensure a smooth start for our Jags. We are looking forward to welcoming both returning and new Jags to campus on Tuesday! We know the first day of school can bring on some nervous feelings for some of our students (and parents), especially if they are new to the school. Please rest assured that we will have plenty of staff on hand to help students navigate the first week of school as they adjust to the new school year. We will also extend grace to our students in regard to tardies as they navigate a new building/ new schedule.

It was so nice to see so many parents and students attend our most recent events - Jag Camp for our 6th graders and schedule pick up for our 7th and 8th graders. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making these days a success for our students. The excitement is building and I am looking forward to the start of a GREAT school year!

This edition of Jaguar Tales contains a lot logistical information that helps our campus run smoothly. Next week's edition will contain information about our newest staff members - we can't wait for you to meet them!

Have a great weekend! Go Jags!

Larissa Ortiz

Cedar Valley Middle School Principal

Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org

512-428-2307

With over 1,300 students and 120 staff members, the amount of traffic at arrival and dismissal times is heavy. Please help us keep everyone safe by being patient and adhering to these reminders:

Morning Drop Off

• Only on the Racine Trail side of the building (by the cafeteria).
• Please remember: Right Turn = Right Lane and Left Turn = Left Lane
• Students may be dropped off curb-side or in the lane that runs through the parking lot.
• If dropped off in the lane that goes through the parking lot, students should go down to the crosswalk near the gym entrance to be assisted across the driveway.
• The Cornerwood Dr. side of the building is reserved for buses and for students requiring special assistance.
• Please view the video diagram above for the morning drop off traffic flow.

Afternoon Pick Up

• Only on the Racine Trail side of the building, in the lane that runs through the parking lot. Curb-side is for buses only.
• The Cornerwood Dr. side of the building is reserved for students requiring special assistance.

Additional Safety Tips:

• Please avoid dropping off or picking up in the areas designated as "no parking" along the street. This limits visibility of other drivers.
• If you are dropping off or picking up in the neighborhood, please ensure your child uses the crosswalks to get to the school. Students should NEVER walk in front of moving cars without the assistance of our wonderful crossing guards.

Checking Students Out for Appointments, Etc.

• If you need to check our student out of school for any reason before the regular dismissal time, please do so by 3:00 p.m. This helps with dismissal routine and traffic flow.

*The first day of school is Tuesday, August 13, 2024*

Arrival:

• Students will enter the building independently. If your child requires assistance, our staff is happy to help in any way.
• Our doors open to students at 7:45am. Upon arrival on the first day of school, students will enter through their grade level entrance and proceed to their designated waiting area. There will be signs and staff available to guide students.
• 6th grade - enter through the Nurse's hallway door (door #3) and proceed to 6th grade hallway waiting area.
• 7th grade - enter through the Lecture Hall side door (door #2) and proceed up the stairs to the 7th grade hallway waiting area upstairs
• 8th grade - enter through the cafeteria doors and find a seat in the designated waiting area.

Breakfast:

• Any student needing to eat breakfast will enter through the cafeteria regardless of grade level, get breakfast, and eat it at the breakfast tables. No electronics are to be used at the breakfast tables. Students are expected to eat and proceed to their designated waiting areas.
• No food leaves the cafeteria (lunch boxes are the exception).

Heading to 1st period:

• 8:10 am - Students are reminded to put away phones and headphones/ earbuds and students with instruments are released to put away instruments
• 8:11 am - All students are released to1st period
• The arrival plan above is for the first day of school and beyond.

1st period:

For students who were not able to pick up their schedule last week and were not able to locate it in HAC, no need to worry. There will be lists posted in the hallways so that students can check their first period class. There will also be adults in the hallways with the printed lists to help students.

Once in 1st period, all students will get a new printed copy of their schedule. Students should follow the newly printed schedule, as sometimes there can be changes.

What to bring:

Teachers will be telling students what supplies they will need for each class. For the first day of school, students can bring a writing utensil and a something to write on (notebook or folder with paper). They may also receive some handouts on the first day, so a folder is recommended.

We know our Jags are eagerly anticipating the first day of school. Here are some pointers to ease some nervous feelings and wonderings.

Lunch - The first week of school is a bit of an adjustment period in many ways. Adjusting to new lunch procedures often takes practicing and getting to use to before we get things running smoothly. With that said, we highly encourage students to pack their lunch for the first week of school if they are able to. This will help ensure that all students have sufficient time to eat.

Band and Orchestra - Students do not need to bring instruments on the first day. The band and orchestra directors will go over instrument expectations the first day and will tell students when to bring instruments.

P.E. and Dance - Students do not need to bring PE and Dance clothes on the first day. They will not be dressing out. The instructors will provide guidance on changing out on the first day.

We will have plenty of staff on hand to help students navigate the halls and their schedule the first few days of school. Our staff is understanding that learning a new schedule and a new building takes time.

Backpacks with wheels are prohibited on campus, unless there is a documented medical need. With crowded hallways, this type of backpack can present a trip hazard. Medical documentation can be provided to the campus nurse if your student needs to use this type of backpack. The nurse will share necessary information to teachers and staff.

As our students get into the routines and learn the procedures of the cafeteria, we recommend that students pack a lunch for the first week of school (if possible). Doing this helps to minimize the number of students in line and maximizes eating time. This is not required, but it is recommended.

Our cafeteria has a few microwaves for student use.

Add Funds:

You may add funds to your child's breakfast and lunch account online here.

Meal Pricing:

• Secondary Students – Lunch $3.25, Breakfast $1.50
• Reduced – Lunch $0.40, Breakfast $0.00

Free/Reduced Meals:

For faster processing, fill out your free and reduced meal application online. It is necessary to reapply each school year. Only one application per household is required and applications can be submitted at anytime during the school year.

Manage Restrictions for your child:

Cafes also offer snack (a la cart) items for purchase. Items offered differ by school level. If you would like to limit student purchasing on a la cart items please fill out our Student Account.

• Account Restrictions Request Form

Breakfast Menu and Lunch Menus

In order to help things run smoothly, we ask that you please be aware of the following…

Lunch Cart: If you are dropping off a lunchbox for your student you may leave it on our lunch cart in the Jag Lobby. The cut off is 10:45 am, at which point the cart is taken to the cafeteria for students to collect their lunch during their lunch period. After this time students have to be called from class, causing a disruption to the teacher, classroom, and student's instructional time.

Deliveries: From 11:00am-2:00pm we are unable to deliver to classrooms. Any items dropped off during these hours cannot be delivered until 7th period.

Outside food: Fast food/restaurant food is discouraged as it creates a conflict with our supplier contracts.

Student pick up cut off time: Please take note that the latest we can call for students is 3:00 pm. After this time, we are preparing for after school dismissal.

Parents can view their child's bus assignment through the SMART Tag Parent App. More information on the SMART tag system can be found at https://transportation.roundrockisd.org/smart-tag/.

To find bus information, enter your address and click 'search.' It is not necessary to enter a zip code or campus.

Due to the increased number of SMART tag requests at the beginning of the school year, please expect longer processing times for the first couple weeks. Beginning Monday, August 26th students will be required to have a SMART tag OR a Round Rock ISD Transportation One-Day SMART tag Permit in order to ride the bus home. As a reminder, students may only ride their assigned bus to and from their assigned stop.

Bus Behavior Expectations can be found here.

In the event that you would like to request a schedule change, please visit the main office after school to pick up a schedule change form during the first week of school.

• Due to large class sizes, granting your request is not guaranteed, but it will be considered.
• Requests to change to a different lunch will not be granted.
• The opportunity to make a schedule change request is available only during the first week of school.

Starting this school year, both prescription AND over-the-counter medications require a doctor and parent/guardian signatures for the nurse to administer. Please have your child’s healthcare provider fill out the Request to Administer Medication form. Adults need to bring the medications to school with proper paperwork.

You can still bring your child’s over-the-counter medication with only a parent/guardian signature. However, the medication will be given by unlicensed personnel. Unlicensed personnel are Cedar Valley staff members delegated by the principal and trained by the nurse.

A school nurse is no longer able to give your child over-the-counter medications by the Round Rock ISD standing order such as antibiotic ointment, insect bite “itchy cream”, calamine lotion or saline eye drops at school. Please have your child’s healthcare provider fill out the Request to Administer Medication form and bring the medications to school, if you wish that your child take those over-the-counter meds at school. Adults need to bring the medications to school with proper paperwork.

Please see the flyer for the RRISD Health Services policy changes.

Nurse Mina is available from 7:45am to 3:45pm to receive your child’s medications on Monday, August 12. Once school starts, she is available only after 2:30pm or by appointment. Thank you for your understanding.

If you have questions or need guidance navigating the new guidelines, please contact the Cedar Valley campus Nurse: Mina_Shimomura@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.

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)

Cedar Valley is a phone-free learning environment. Phones can distract from learning, interfere with community building and connection with others, and can contribute to online conflict. Students are required to keep their phones, earbuds, headphones in their backpacks between 8:10-3:35.

• Phones and headphones are allowed in the morning while they wait to be released to 1st period.

• No audio should come from the phone (please use headphones).

• Phones, headphones, earbuds must be put away by 8:10.

• Phones are not allowed to be used in restrooms or locker rooms - this will result in immediate possession of the phone and possible disciplinary action.

• Students will receive a warning on the first offense. A second offense will result in confiscation with student pick up at the Jag Lobby at the end of the day. A third offense will require parent pick up at the end of the day from the Jag Lobby and a $15 fine.

• All of the above applies to earbuds, headphones, tablets, etc.

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.

Expectations for Electronics at Breakfast for 6th and 7th Graders:

Our 6th and 7th grade students are welcome to eat breakfast in the cafeteria before reporting to their designated hallway. However, please be aware that 6th and 7th grade students are not allowed to use electronics in the cafeteria before school. This is to ensure that students eat breakfast quickly and then report to their designated hallways. Once in their designated hallways, students may use electronics with the sound off until they are released to first period.

• Students should bring their absence notes to the Attendance Office(in Jag Lobby) when they return to school from their absence(s).
• It is not necessary to call the school and report an absence.
• Students can communicate with their teachers and keep up with their assignments through Schoology.
• Absence notes are required to the Attendance Office no later than 2 days of return from absence.
• Absence notes should be from the parent/guardian and/or a medical provider if seen stating the student's name, specific date(s) missed, and reason for the absence.
• Late notes are still required to avoid possible truancy, but will remain coded as unexcused.
• Emails are not accepted as parent/guardian notes in middle or high school.
• However, we will take scanned medical notes.
• RRISD excuses student sickness and death in the immediate family.
• Please do not contact or send attendance notes for student absences to the teachers or school nurse.
• Filling out district covid reporting is recommended, but does not act as a campus absence note.

Please direct all attendance correspondence to the Attendance Office:
Dana Harrison

E-mail: dana_harrison@roundrockisd.org

Phone: 512-428-2305

Our parents and students use HAC to:

• check grades, attendance, and schedules
• set grade notifications
• view and print report cards
• plus more information related to campus life

Every parent in the district is encouraged to create an account and download the application and create their account. Round Rock ISD allows parents/guardians to register for a username and password online. For more information about creating an account and the app, please visit https://roundrockisd.org/hac/.

If unable to register online for a username and password, the parent/guardian must go to the campus where their student attends school and meet with the Home Access Center Coordinator to complete the process. Proper identification such as a Driver’s License must be presented and the “Home Access Center Use Agreement must be signed before the secured username and password are released. The “Agreement” form will be provided by the campus.

Home Access Center Version 3.1 requires Internet Explorer Version 9, 10 or 11, Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. Internet Explorer Version 8 is no longer supported. If you are having difficulty with the website once you are logged into Home Access Center, you may need to clear your cache.

**HAC is disabled at the moment. It will be activated again on Aug. 8, 2024.**

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

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