Greetings Hawk Nation Parents and Students,

We hope that you had a restful and family-filled Thanksgiving Break! We are three weeks away from the end of the Fall semester, and want to ensure that our Hawk scholars finish strong. We will definitely need your assistance these next three weeks as students begin getting restless in anticipation for the Christmas/Winter Break. Please speak with your student and remind them of your expectations for their academics and behavior, helping them to stay focused as we close out.

As we inch closer to the break, we ask that you keep the following important updates in mind:

• Academies and P-TECH Applications due Thursday (11/30). 8th grade parents, please be sure to have your student submit their Academy or P-TECH application if they desire to be a part of one of these college-level programs in high school. Each are a great opportunity for our students, and we hope that you give serious consideration to your student enrolling for next year. More information is below.

• PR4 Grades Post this Tuesday (11/28)! Please review your student's Skyward account and make sure that all grades are passing (70 and above). We are encouraging students to strive for A's & B's as we know that our Hawks are more than capable of high academic success. Should you have a question or concern about your student's grade, please contact the classroom teacher.
  

• Don't Forget the Dress Code! As the season begins to change and it gets colder outside, please be sure that your Hawk scholar is following the dress code. Remember leggings must have a shirt or dress that fully covers the buttocks / reaches mid-thigh, and jeans that have holes, rips, or tears above mid-thigh must have shorts or leggings underneath them. Jackets and pullover that have hoods can be work to school, but the hood cannot be worn in the building. Please reference the dress code below for more guidance on Hawk scholarly attire.

• At the beginning of each grading period we conduct Code of Conduct talks. During these grade-level presentations, we discuss campus/district expectations and what it means to be Hawk PROUD. We completed our Term 2 review and have included a copy of the presentation here (click here). We encourage you to also speak with your student about following expectations while on campus.

Let's continue to work together, and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns. Remember, we are Hawk Nation... Hawk Proud!

Mr. Trevor Lemon

Principal, Christa McAuliffe MS

FBISD Academies:

Fort Bend ISD High School Academies exist to provide specialized learning communities with concentrated and robust course pathways comprised of career and academic classes. These specialized academies exist at the high school level to provide focused study and services, launching our students toward careers and college pathways in a number of highly skilled and competitive areas. All of these programs are offered through an application process, which includes a combination of academic performance data, test scores and interviews.

Click here for more information about the various academies and how to apply.

FBISD P-TECH (Early College High School):

The P-TECH at Hightower High School and Willowridge High School will enable students to begin their college and professional lives more quickly and with more support. Graduates of P-TECH have the opportunity to earn an Applied Associate of Science degree and leave high school with the skills and knowledge they need in order to continue onto a four-year Bachelor's of Applied Science degree, or step seamlessly into competitive, high demand jobs. P-TECH at Hightower High School will offer an Associate of Applied Science in Health Science and P-TECH at Willowridge High School will offer an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Programming.

Click here for more information about P-TECH and how to apply.

APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS CLOSE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH

The Renaissance 360 beginning of the year (BOY) Parent Score Reports are now available in Skyward. The below job aid explains how to access the report in Skyward.

The Ren 360 Screener is administered three times a year to identify areas where students need support. As with any assessment, many factors can affect a student's scores. It is important to understand that these assessment scores provide only one picture of how your child is doing in school. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have additional questions.

Fort Bend ISD needs your help in building Vision 2030 -

a vision that truly represents the highest hopes and desires for learners

We Want to Hear From You!

Through a public engagement process starting in October 2023, Fort Bend ISD will consult with community stakeholders to ensure Vision 2030 incorporates a variety of perspectives.

Stakeholder input received during this process will help define district goals that guide the development of a strategic roadmap and action plan that is aligned with the community’s vision.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Take the Community Survey

Prior to taking the survey, please review the student feedback videos.

Community Survey – Coming Soon!

Volunteer for Other Vision 2030 Engagement Opportunities
Fill out a FBISD Central Application to be considered for other opportunities.

As a part of the Whole Child Health Initiative, Fort Bend ISD is excited to present our third parent webinar of the 2023-24 school year: "Stress and Anxiety." The parent webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 17th at 6 p.m. During this session, FBISD's mental health counselors will educate students on practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety in their academic and personal lives. Whole Child Health, focuses on Whole Child Health, is aligned with FBISD's Profile of a Graduate, and is committed to supporting and developing the mental, behavioral, social, emotional, and physical health of all students in FBISD.

Links: Stress and Anxiety Webinar Link

On September 1, 2023, House Bill 114 (HB 114), went into effect to address the serious issue of vaping/e-cigarette use among students. Under this law, any student found in possession of any kind of vaping/e-cigarette device on a campus or at a school-related activity including bus transportation, will face disciplinary consequences including a placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP)*.

FBISD assures you that the district is committed to providing a supportive climate and safe learning environment that promotes students in accepting responsibility for their learning and behavior.

To be proactive, here are the ways your student might be impacted by the new law:

• If your student possesses an e-cigarette (even if it contains nothing) or any component, part or accessory for any vaping device while on school grounds or at a school-related event, they will be recommended for a mandatory placement in DAEP.

• When receiving disciplinary consequences for this offense, your student is not able to participate in any school activities. Furthermore, they may face removal from specific student clubs or organizations as stipulated by each organization's rules and regulations.

• Students with offenses that qualify for DAEP placement are not eligible for final exam exemptions for that school year.

Please speak with your student about the dangers of vaping and the new law. If your student is struggling with substance abuse, including vaping addiction or peer pressure to engage in these activities, FBISD counseling services are available to provide supports and resources to address such challenges.

As partners, FBISD and parents can work together to ensure student success. Thank you for your cooperation and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student's grade level administrator.

* Based on DAEP program capacity, students may be placed in a campus-based discipline program.

CMMS is blessed to be one of the few campuses in FBISD that is 1-to-1 in relation to student technology (every student has their own laptop). It is essential that we take full advantage of this opportunity, and provide learning that exposes our students to 21st Century concepts that involve technology usage. Teachers have begun assigning work for students to complete online via Schoology, and it is essential that they are able to complete it using their laptop, not their phone... but... we need your help!

• Please ensure that your student(s) brings their laptop to school everyday (even when they say they don't need to).

• Please ensure that they charge it each night, and bring the charger with them to campus, in case the computer dies in one of their classes.

• If there is anything wrong with your student's laptop, have them report it immediately to Mr. Woodard (6th Grade Assistant Principal) or Ms. Moten (Librarian).

We are very excited to introduce your district’s college and career readiness platform, SchooLinks! All of the SchooLinks features are designed with students in mind to help them become career, college, and life ready. As a guardian, you will have the opportunity to join your student in their career and college exploration process and have conversations with them about their future. You will have access to SchooLinks through your own account.

SchooLinks allows you to:

• View the results of your student’s career interest, strength, and mindset assessments to learn more about their interests and what careers might be right for them
• See what colleges and careers your student has favorited and set as goals
• Check your personalized dashboard for upcoming events as well as important reminders and to-dos for your student
• Complete your own research on colleges, careers, and more to help you have informed conversations with your student
• Compare college costs and explore expected financial aid, scholarships, and out of pocket expenses
• Review your student’s course plans

SchooLinks is a tool that gives you access to the bigger picture of your students’ future. It also allows you to connect with their school counselor by allowing you to message them directly through the platform.

Watch this video and read this document to learn more about how to create your account.

We look forward to getting started and helping you help your student!

One thing that helps build a strong connection between school and community is having our students see their parents, family members, and neighbors being hands-on at/in the building. This year, we would like to begin this partnership by starting Dads on Duty. Dads on Duty involves men within the CMMS community volunteering their time in the mornings and afternoons to ensure our students arrive and depart safely.

If you or a male within our community is interested in becoming a part of Dad on Duty, please follow the steps below:

1. Complete the FBISD Volunteer Application (Click Here)
2. Once HR completes your background check, they will send you an email stating you are clear to volunteer; forward this email to Mr. Blackshire at Terrence.Blackshire@fortbendisd.com

Once we have your clearance form, Mr. Blackshire will reach out to you to begin assisting us through Dad on Duty.

Christa McAuliffe Middle School's mission is to inspire and develop authentic learners through a commitment to excellence and a high level of academic achievement.

Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/cmms
Location: 16650 South Post Oak Road, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3360
Twitter: @CMMS_Hawks