The Wolf Weekly
September 14, 2025
CTMS Family Newsletter
Wonderful Wolf Families,
On Monday morning, we welcomed Luna to the pack. The addition of Luna to the pack brings so much pride to CTMS. Seeing her howling form in front of our campus , howling at the sky, filling me with pride for all that she symbolizes. Luna represents culture, community, the Wolf Way. Like the pack, she is strong and powerful. Luna was years in the making, at first a wish, a dream, a want, then a goal our community worked together for, now a reality representing our school. Thank you to our CTMS PTA for bringing Luna to the pack! See below for some pictures from Luna's unveiling ceremony.
Have a wickedly wonderful week wolf pack!
Howl,
Jamie Halliburton
CTMS Principal
National Junior Honor Society In The Community!
NJHS member Aarav S. volunteers at the Lion's Club in their Recycle for Sight program!
United for a Cause
For the second year in a row, the GCISD middle schools are uniting for a cause with pink out shirts. If you would like to purchase a shirt, click the following link: https://m-mapparel.chipply.com/crosstimbersmsvolleyball25/store.aspx
Wolf Time Defined: Wolf time is 40 minutes of what you need time for the pack. This time is carved out during 7th period for all members of the pack to provide protected time to meet the academic needs of each wolf at CTMS.
What happens during Wolf Time?
RTI (response to intervention): For wolves who qualify for tier II or tier III based on historical data and individual needs
HB 1416: To meet the accelerated instruction requirements set forth by the Texas Legislature for wolves who did not earn approaches or above on STAAR
15 to 30 hours per subject area depending on the score earned
i-Ready My Path: Lessons for wolves using the i-Ready assessment to meet wolves at their current academic levels and help them reach at least a year’s worth of growth as well as strive towards stretch goals
45 minutes a week per subject
1-2 lessons passed per week per subject
Summit K12: Lesson for wolves learning English
ASPIRE Created WT Curriculum: Lessons created specifically for ASPIRE wolves to meet needs identified by both ASPIRE staff and students
Fine arts time: For wolves in Wolf Time Choir and small band groups
AVID: Skyward, planner, and binder checks, goal setting
Make-up work: For wolves who missed work, it can be completed as time permits
Silent Sustained Reading: Wolves will build their stamina in silent reading.
Study hall: When all other requirements and work is finished, some wolves will have study hall time.
PLC (professional learning community): Core content PLCs meet during Wolf Time
Wolf Time Grades: Wolves receive grades during Wolf Time based on the score they receive on their lessons.
iReady Wolf Time: 1 math grade (highest grade from the week) and 1 reading grade (highest grade from the week). Wolves are receiving a 100 for lessons passed and a 70 for lessons not passed yet.
Summit K12 Wolf Time: Highest two grades from the speaking, writing, reading, and listening lessons
What is iReady: Wolves work on MyPath lessons, the personalized instruction component of i-Ready delivering lessons at the identified level based on the beginning of the year diagnostic. i-Ready provides targeted lessons for TEKS-aligned skills at the specific level of need for individual students to ensure growth. Our goal is for every student to demonstrate at least one years’ growth in each subject area each school year. i-Ready supports this effort in a way that is consistent, research-based, and aligned to Texas standards (TEKS).
Reminder: Upcoming Guidance Presentations
Sept 15- Signs of Suicide for 7th and 8th grades
Sept. 17- Signs of Suicide for 6th graders
Sept. 30- High School Planning Presentation for 8th graders
If you do NOT want your child to participate in the Signs of Suicide lesson, please complete the Opt-Out Form available here: [English] [Spanish].
Students who have opted out will have an alternate location to go to during the presentation. To ensure proper arrangements, all forms must be submitted at least 24 hours before the presentation.
Important: If the SB 12 Form is not submitted, your child will NOT be able to participate. If you have not, please complete the SB 12 School-Based Counseling and Supportive Services Form in your Skyward Family Access to indicate whether your child will/ will not participate in the guidance counseling programing.
Play It Safe! ® Program
Preferred Participation Consent for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention- Opt In Program
As required by federal and state law, we will soon begin presenting a personal safety curriculum to middle school students. GCISD uses the Play It Safe! ® program to teach this curriculum. Play It Safe! ® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. It is presented by The Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Inc. which uses trained volunteers to present the program using videos and scripted discussions at an age-appropriate level.
Play It Safe! ® meets the State and Federal guidelines for curriculum addressing personal safety issues, child sexual abuse and pedophiles. The GCISD School Health Advisory Committee has reviewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD schools.
Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:
6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 12th, 2025
6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 11th, 2026
7th grade “Healthy Relationships”- October 8th, 2025
7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 18th, 2025
7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 25th, 2026
The purpose of this personal safety presentation is to provide the students with information and practical skills to reduce their risk of being in dangerous and/or abusive situations. They will learn how to recognize, react to, and report those situations. This one-hour program is presented in an age-appropriate, non-threatening manner through the use of stories, group discussions, and an age-appropriate movie.
We are hosting a parent preview on September 18 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. This presentation will be recorded and posted on the GCISD website for parents to watch at their convenience.
Videos and scripts will be available for parents to preview from 9/12/2023 to 9/30/2032.
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7535617 Password: GC25
The Skyward Family Access Form will be sent out following the Parent Preview, to indicate your preference for your child’s participation in any of the above programs.
Thank you to everyone who has joined PTA! Click this link to join the CTMS PTA and thank you to everyone who has already joined our PTA!
Interested in Volunteering: Volunteers make Cross Timbers Middle School great! Please consider sharing your talents and enthusiasm by volunteering! Complete this form.
Follow us on Facebook at "Cross Timbers Middle School PTA" to see updates and important information!
Sept 13th ~ 7/8th Volleyball Tournament - EMS-ISD
Sept 15th ~ NJHS Member Mtg 7:30 am or 3:40 p.m/7th Football vs CMS 5 pm/SOS Presentation-7th&8th Grade
Sept 16th ~ CTMS 8th Football @ CMS 5-8 pm
Sept 17th ~ SOS Presentation-6th Grade
Sept 18th ~ CTMS 7th and 8th Volleyball vs North 5-8 pm
Sept 22 ~ Student holiday/staff professional learning
Sept 25 ~ GCISD College Fair (see below)
Sept 26 ~ Pep Rally
GCISD Emergent Bilingual Parent Engagement Event
In partnership with TEA, the Bilingual Services Department invites you to join us on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a watch party focused on parent engagement for emergent bilingual families. The event will highlight services, supports, and resources available to parents and families.
The watch party will take place at the JPS Building, located at 3050 Timberline Dr., Grapevine, TX 76051, Room 002. The event will be conducted via Zoom and offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
We look forward to seeing you there! This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and access resources to support your family.
Evento de Participación de Padres Bilingües Emergentes de GCISD
En colaboración con la TEA, el Departamento de Servicios Bilingües de GCISD les invita a acompañarnos el miércoles, 24 de septiembre de 2025, de 12:30 p.m. a 2:00 p.m., a una sesión informativa enfocada en la participación de los padres de estudiantes bilingües emergentes. Este evento destacará los servicios, apoyos y recursos disponibles para los padres y las familias.
La sesión se llevará a cabo en el edificio JPS, ubicado detrás de la escuela primaria Timberline, en 3050 Timberline Dr., Grapevine, TX 76051, salón 002. El evento se transmitirá a través de Zoom y estará disponible en inglés, español, vietnamita y árabe.
Será una excelente oportunidad para informarse, conectarse y acceder a recursos que apoyen a su familia.
¡Esperamos contar con su presencia!
Secondary Grading Policy
Click here to see the updated secondary grading policy from GCISD. All wolf pack teachers will be following this policy this school year to communicate the progress of each wolf.
Grades are a method of communicating the progress each wolf is making at CTMS. If you ever have questions or concerns over a grade, please reach out directly to the teacher.
Personal Technology at School
House Bill 1481 prohibits the use of personal communication devices during the school day. Middle school students may use telecommunications devices before and after school. They may not use telecommunications devices during school hours except for their school issued devices.
What does this mean for the wolves?
- Personal devices will be in bags, not on wolves, throughout the entire school day.
- Families needing to relay messages can leave messages with the front office staff and office aides will deliver messages to classrooms.
- Wolves needing to contact families can use the phone in the front office during passing periods and lunch or, when appropriate, in their classrooms.
Technology Needs
- Submit a HelpDesk Ticket for the most efficient service we will be using the locker system outside of the administration building. More directions will be available in the helpdesk ticket
- Email technology@gcisd.net for assistance
Charger: In need of a new charger for a school issued Chromebook, click here for information on how to order a new one.
Volunteer Background Check
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Volunteer Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our volunteer program of campus safety for students and faculty. This system is similar to what we have used in the past, AppGarden.
Please use the following link to apply to become a volunteer in GCISD.
El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Grapevine-Colleyville se complace en anunciar que comenzaremos a utilizar el Sistema de Gestión de Voluntarios Raptor en todas nuestras escuelas con el fin de reforzar nuestro programa de voluntarios para la seguridad de nuestras escuelas, para los estudiantes y el personal docente. Este sistema es similar al que hemos utilizado en el pasado, AppGarden.
Por favor, utilicen el siguiente enlace para solicitar ser voluntarios en GCISD.
To find out information on events that are not directly associated with Cross Timbers, click below to see the Peachjar flyers.
- School Hours: 8:05 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
- Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
- Wolves enter the building through the B hall doors or the SAC doors. 6th & 8th grade wolves wait in the SAC and 7th grade wolves wait in the lecture hall for the bell to walk to first period.
- Bell Schedule
- Campus Map (click present for easier viewing)
- Front Office: 817-251-5320
- Mascot: Wolf
- School Colors: Silver & Black
- Planners: All wolves use a planner at CTMS. This is to assist with organizing, prioritizing, and planning. You can purchase a CTMS planner for $5 on the first day of school or use one of your choosing. Wolves use their planners daily.
- Student IDs: The first IDs are free and replacement IDs are $5. Per the student code of conduct, IDs are to be worn daily by all CTMS students and staff. All wolves will receive an ID on the second day of school as they get their school picture taken.
- GCISD Student Code of Conduct & Handbook: Click here for the 2025-2026 GCISD Student Code of Conduct and Handbook.
Who to Contact
Attendance
Lache Nealy
817-251-5326
Registrar
Jacqueline Knappenberger
817-251-5314
jacqueline.knappenberger@gcisd.net
Counselors
Patricia Salazar (last names A-K)
817-251-5315
Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)
817-251-5312
Student Advocate
Allyiah Daniels
817-251-5323
Nurse
Adriana Maxwell
817-251-5337
Assistant Principals
Holly Ybarrola (last names A-K)
817-251-5313
Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)
817-251-5317
Principal
Jamie Halliburton
817-251-5320
Cross Timbers Middle School
Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320