Jaguar Tales

Hello, Jaguar Family!

Our students and staff have successfully completed their first full week of school. It is encouraging to see that our students are adapting to the school routine and are enthusiastic about participating in class and school activities.

We look forward to seeing more members of our Jag Family at Wednesday's Open House and at Thursday's inaugural volleyball games of the season.

Have a great weekend! Go Jags!

Larissa Ortiz

Cedar Valley Middle School Principal

Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org

512-428-2307

We are excited to share that our school will be using a Mathematics and Reading program called i-Ready. This will be our second year using the Reading iReady program and our first year to use the Math iReady program. Our students have demonstrated significant growth in their reading abilities through the use of iReady. We are excited to expand this resource to our math classes this year!

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.

i-Ready Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual strengths and areas for growth. These lessons are interactive and provide strategic supports to keep your child engaged as they learn.

When is the Diagnostic?

• The diagnostic can take a students up to 2-3 days to complete. We have planned for ample time to allow students to take their time and try their best.
• Math will be taken in class on 8/26, 8/27, and 8/28 (if needed)
• Reading will be taking in class on 9/4, 9/5, and 9/6 (if needed)

What can I do to help?

To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to:

• Try their best on each question and try not to rush.

• Try not to worry about questions they do not know—remind them that it is expected they will get only about half of the questions correct.

• Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.

• Remind them to charge their chromebook.

• Remind them to bring headphones/ earbuds.

To support your child’s learning with online lessons, you can:

• Discuss your child’s progress on their i-Ready lessons.

• Celebrate your child’s learning and growth.

• If your child’s teacher encourages them to use i-Ready lessons at home, reference these Fridge Tips to provide support.

Thank you for your continued support and for being a partner in your child’s learning! We look forward to sharing i-Ready information with you throughout the year. If you have any questions about i-Ready, please reach out to your child's math or ELA teacher. You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.

We want our students to be successful in school and in life. That starts with arriving on time to class. Many important instructions and announcements are made at the beginning of class and it's important that students are there to capture everything. It is also a disruption when students enter class late. Let's all work together and plan to arrive on time.

Now that students have been able to get accustomed to their class schedule and navigate the building, their grace period is coming to an end and they will be expected to get to class on time. Teachers will begin marking tardies starting on Monday, August 26.

Each passing period is 4 minutes long. Music is played for the first 3 minutes. Once the music stops, that is an audio cue to students that they have 1 minutes left to get to class. We ask that students move with purpose through the halls without running, pushing, and/or shoving.

CeVMS Tardy Response Policy:

• 6 Tardies- Lunch Detention

• 9 Tardies- 2 Days Lunch Detention

• 12 Tardies- After School Detention or 3 Days Lunch Detention

• Additional tardies may result in additional consequences and will require an attendance meeting with parents and the grade level administrator.

Cedar Valley's Open House (AKA Back to School Night) will be on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 from 5:30-7pm.

Parents, please be sure to look up your child's schedule in HAC, as you will be following your child's schedule that night.

What to expect:

As you follow your child's schedule, you will get to visit each class for a short presentation from each teacher. You will get to see your child's learning space, meet each teacher, and introduce yourself, however there will not be time for parent-teacher conferences. We ask that you email your child's teacher if you need to have a longer conversation with them.

5:20 - 5:30 - Doors open, make your way to 1st period and/or visit the PTA information table in the main foyer.

5:30 - 5:37 - 1st period

5:41 - 5:48 - 2nd period

5:52 - 5:59 - 3rd period

6:03 - 6:10 - 4th period

6:14 - 6:21 - 5th period

6:25 - 6:32 - 6th period

6:36 - 6:43 - 7th period

6:47 - 6:54 - 8th period

• Please visit your child’s advisory class during their designated period (not lunch).

• Parking is limited. Please consider carpooling, ridesharing, walking, or biking if possible.

• To access your child’s schedule, please log in to the Home Access Center (HAC).

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, Aug. 28!

Please follow these directions for accessing the Home Access Center (HAC)

• Do you have more than one student attending a Round Rock ISD campus?

• If YES please email cedarvalley_registrar@roundrockisd.org with your students’ names and student ID numbers. The registrar will link your students to one parent/guardian email address. Please make the Subject Line: HAC Link Students. Include the email address you will be using to access HAC.

• If NO, please register for a HAC account.

Once registered, you will be able to access your child’s schedule and grades.

If you need additional help please contact cedarvalley_registrar@roundrockisd.org prior to Wednesday afternoon.

Starting Monday, August 26th, RRISD transportation department will require all bus riders to scan their SMART Tags every time they ride the bus, both in the mornings and afternoon. To check student eligibility, please use the "Find your Route" tab on the transportation main page found here. Round Rock ISD provides free bus service for students who live more than two miles from their assigned school and for students who live within two miles but along a route defined as “hazardous” to walkers or bike riders. Student bus assignments can be found through the SMART tag Parent Portal.

Signing up for SMART tag alerts in the parent portal does not determine eligibility and does not order a tag for your student. This service only activates alerts for the parents.

Students requiring a new SMART tag need to stop by the Jag Lobby during their advisory period to order a tag. The first tag is free. Replacements for lost tags cost $5. If your student has a tag from previous years, the tag does carryover and will work for them. They do not need a new tag at the middle school and high school levels.

Bus Behavior Expectations can be found here.

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.

The first FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meeting of the new school year will take place on Thursday, August 29 at 7:45 a.m. before school in the lecture hall. Students from all grades (athletes and non-athletes) are welcome and can show up at the meeting whenever they arrive on campus.

Next two meetings: September 12 & 26. With questions, contact Mr. Kaltenbacher (robert_kaltenbacher@roundrockisd.org).

The Cedar Valley Athletics store is now open!

If you are interested in purchasing Cedar Valley swag, here is the link to the online athletic store: https://gogandy.com/CEV-ATH.

The store closes on Sunday 8/25 at 11:59 PM. No orders can be placed once the store closes.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Thanks for supporting Cedar Valley Athletics!

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 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