26-27 THE NEST PARENT NEWSLETTER

Welcome to The Nest, Falcon Families! 💙

Dear Falcon Families,

It is hard to believe we are already heading into Week 3 of the school year! As we continue settling into our routines, I am so proud of the energy we are seeing across Kirby STEM Academy. Our students are learning expectations, building relationships with their teachers, and beginning to find their rhythm as Falcons.

We are also officially entering an exciting part of the year—Falcon athletics are underway! 🏐🏈 Our Lady Falcons have already taken the court for their first volleyball game, and this week they will be back in action for game number two. We are also excited to kick off Falcon football with our first game of the season this week! There is something special about seeing our students represent Kirby outside the classroom, and we hope our families will come out, fill the stands, and show them plenty of Falcon Pride. 💙🦅

As we move into Week 3, this is also the time when routines really begin to matter. Please continue helping us by making sure students arrive on time each morning, attend school every day, come prepared to learn, and understand the importance of meeting campus expectations. Those daily habits make an incredible difference over the course of a school year.

I also encourage you to stay connected with us through The Nest each week. We have so much happening at Kirby—from academics and STEM learning to athletics, fine arts, clubs, family events, and campus celebrations—and we want our families to be part of it all.

Thank you for trusting us with your Falcons and for continuing to partner with our teachers and staff. Three weeks in, we are building momentum—and we are just getting started!

Here’s to another fantastic week of learning, growing, competing, and SOARING together! 🦅💙

Innovate. Collaborate. Elevate.

Every Falcon Soars!

With Falcon Pride,
Mrs. Amber Gonzales
Principal
Kirby STEM Academy

Our Essential Academics students jumped right back into learning with engaging STEM activities that challenged their creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills! Students developed hypotheses and conducted experiments to test their theories, practicing the scientific process in a hands-on way.

Working together, they designed and built magnetic roller coasters, exploring concepts of force, motion, and engineering. They also participated in a fun team challenge using only apples and toothpicks to see who could construct the tallest and most stable structure. Through problem-solving, teamwork, and a little friendly competition, students discovered that learning can be both educational and exciting.

We are proud of their enthusiasm, perseverance, and innovation as they continue to grow as young scientists and engineers! 📚🔬🍎🎢

Our Assistant Principals play an important role in supporting our students, families, teachers, and the day-to-day success of Kirby STEM Academy. Each AP works closely with an assigned grade level, allowing our families to have a familiar administrator to turn to throughout the year.

Our counselors, social worker, and registrar are an important part of the support system at Kirby STEM Academy. They work alongside our students, families, teachers, and administrators to help every Falcon have a successful school year. 🦅

Middle school brings exciting opportunities—and sometimes a few challenges along the way. Please reach out when your student needs support. Our Student Support Team is here to partner with your family and help every Falcon feel connected, supported, and ready to succeed! 💙🦅

Are you passionate about school safety and interested in helping shape a secure learning environment for all students? Judson ISD is seeking parents of currently enrolled students to serve on the 2026-2027 Safety and Security Committee.

This is a great opportunity to collaborate with district leaders, share your perspective, and contribute to ongoing efforts that support the safety and well-being of our school communities.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact:

Frank Garcia
Safety and Security Director
Judson Independent School District
📞 210-310-0508

We encourage interested parents to consider this important opportunity to make a difference in JISD. Your voice and involvement can help strengthen the safety of our schools for all students. 🦅

Download the Judson ISD App today!

Staying informed about your child’s school and coursework plays an important role in their success both in the classroom and at home. At Judson ISD, we’re working to make communication between families, campuses, and the district easier and more accessible.

One of the best ways to stay connected is through the Judson ISD app. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, now is the perfect time. And if you already have the app, you’re all set!

The Judson ISD app gives families one convenient place to access important information, including:

• Live feed updates
• District and school news
• Upcoming events
• Breakfast and lunch menus
• Push notifications for important and urgent announcements

The app also includes Rooms, our two-way parent-teacher communication tool. Through Rooms, families can:

• Send and receive messages with teachers and staff
• View classroom announcements, coursework reminders, and materials
• Use automatic translation features to communicate in their preferred language

With the Judson ISD app, you can stay connected with your child’s teachers and access the information you need, all in one place.

If you haven’t already, download the free Judson ISD app today and stay connected throughout the school year.

iPhone App Store

Android Google Play

Falcon Families, our students are doing a great job overall with following the Judson ISD dress code, and we appreciate your support in helping students arrive at school ready to learn! 💙

One area where we are seeing some concerns is shorts length. Please take a moment to check your Falcon’s clothing before they leave home each morning. Judson ISD’s dress code information begins on page 70 of the Student Handbook.

📘 Review the Judson ISD Student Handbook & Dress Code

Thank you for continuing to partner with us. A quick check at home helps students get to class on time and keeps the focus where it belongs—on learning! 🦅📚

Falcon Families, strong attendance and arriving on time are essential to student success! 💙🦅 When students are here and ready to learn from the very beginning of the day, they are able to settle in, connect with their teachers, and get the most out of every instructional minute.

Thank you for partnering with us to build great attendance habits from the start of the year. Let’s make every day—and every minute—count! 🦅✨

📧 Need to submit an absence note? Parents may email absence notes directly to our Attendance Secretary, Ms. Margaret Gomez, at magomez@judsonisd.org

Falcon Families, we appreciate your support as we continue reinforcing our cell phone expectations. Consistency between home and school makes a huge difference! Please talk with your student about following these expectations each day and coming to school ready to learn, connect, and be present.

Thank you for partnering with us as we create the best possible learning environment for every Falcon! 💙🦅

Open House • Title I • Parent Engagement

Falcon Families, mark your calendars! 💙 We are excited to welcome you to Kirby STEM Academy for our Falcon Flight Plan Night on Tuesday, September 1, from 5:00–6:40 PM.

This is your opportunity to experience a little bit of your Falcon’s school day! Families will begin with our Title I & Parent Engagement Presentation and then follow their student’s schedule, visiting each class throughout the evening.

📅 Tuesday, September 1, 2026
⏰ 5:00–6:40 PM
📍 Kirby STEM Academy

During the evening, you will have an opportunity to:

🦅 Meet your student’s teachers
📚 Learn about classroom expectations
🔬 Explore course information
🤝 Build connections with our staff
📅 Schedule a conference if additional time is needed

We strongly encourage all of our Falcon families to attend! Your partnership is an important part of your student’s success, and we cannot wait to welcome you to campus.

💙 Plan Your Path. Meet the Team. Soar to Success!

Every Falcon Soars! 🦅

🦅 2026 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

Serve • Set • Spike • SOAR! 💙🏐
Come out and support our Lady Falcons this season!

Football season is underway! Please review the upcoming Falcon Football practice and game schedule and make sure student-athletes arrive on time and ready to work. 🦅💙

📅 August 24 & 25

🏈 Practice: 6:00–7:30 AM

📅 Wednesday, August 26 — GAME DAY! 🏈🔥
🦅 Falcons vs. Woodlake

📅 Thursday, August 27
🏈 Practice: 3:45–5:00 PM

📅 Friday, August 28
🏈 Practice: 6:00–7:30 AM

Thank you, Falcon families, for helping our student-athletes arrive on time and prepared each day.

Let's have a great season—GO FALCONS! 🦅🏈💙

The safety and security of our students and staff is always a top priority at Kirby STEM Academy. Throughout the year, our students and staff will practice the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) so everyone knows what to do and how to respond during a variety of situations.

Falcon Families, we encourage you to review the attached information so you are familiar with the terminology your student will hear at school, including Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter, as well as what parents should do during an emergency or safety event.

💙 Preparation, practice, and clear communication help keep everyone safe. Thank you for being an important partner in our campus safety efforts! 🦅🛡️

The safety of our students is always our top priority. In the event of an emergency or situation requiring a controlled student release, our school will use the Standard Reunification Method (SRM) to safely reunite students with their families. Situations such as severe weather, power outages, hazardous conditions, or other emergencies may require students to be released through this process.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to review the attached SRM Parent Handout and become familiar with the reunification process before an emergency occurs. During reunification, families will be asked to bring a valid photo ID, follow school instructions, and be patient as staff work to ensure every student is released safely and accurately. Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or an approved emergency contact listed in school records.

Taking a few minutes to review this information now can help make a challenging situation smoother and safer for everyone. Please ensure your student's emergency contact information is current throughout the school year.

Kirby STEM Academy families, Judson ISD is partnering with the San Antonio Food Bank to provide community food distributions throughout the 2026–2027 school year. 💚

These distributions are open to students, families, staff, and community members, with food available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

📍 Distribution opportunities will be available at Woodlake Elementary, Metzger Middle School, and Judson High School throughout the year.

Please review the flyer for dates, times, locations, and contact information. We encourage our families to take advantage of this wonderful community resource whenever needed.

❤️ Together, we are supporting families and strengthening our community!

We know how busy family schedules can be, so we’ve put together a 2026–2027 School Holiday Quick Look to help you plan ahead! 🦅💙

Please save this calendar for easy reference throughout the year. It highlights student holidays, extended breaks, and early-release days so your family can stay ahead of important dates.

📌 Keep it handy, mark your calendars, and remember that dates can sneak up quickly!

Planning ahead helps everyone have a successful school year! 📅✨