The Weekly Update #3-3

Steele Nation!

We've had an incredible two weeks to start the school year. We are so proud of the Freshmen, they have really made a positive impression this summer and the start of school. I can't wait to see everything the Freshmen accomplish over the next four years. We have so much to celebrate in Steele Nation! See below for the incredible celebrations and accomplishments in Steele Nation!

The Senior shirts came in last week and they look fantastic. Yes, I was representing the Seniors last Friday wearing my Senior shirt. Below is information and the link to our Steele Spirit Wear Store. Don't wait, order your Steele Spirit wear today!

We are so fortunate at Steele ECHS to have such an amazing and incredible PTSA! They do so much to support our students, staff, and campus. Below is information about our Steele PTSA. I hope you will join and be a member of our Steele PTSA. Click HERE to join our Steele PTSA.

This week, parents will receive an important email with information about giving their child permission to participate in clubs, organizations, and programs on campus. This is part of the new state law SB 12. Please take a moment to complete the link. We really appreciate it.

This Friday is the last day for grades for the first progress report period. Progress Report Cards will go out the evening of Tuesday, September 2nd. We encourage students to make sure all assignments and grades are taken care of by this Friday. This week, we have tutorials during Power Hour on Tuesday and Thursday. This is a great opportunity for students to meet with their teachers to get help on assignments, retake assessments, support learning and grades, and so much more. We have adjusted our date for Picture Retake Day, it will be Friday, October 17th. Any student needing to retake their school picture or Seniors needing their Senior Portrait pictures, mark your calendar for Friday, October 17th.

Let's make this an incredible and awesome week in Steele Nation. Go Stallions!

We Are Steele!

Todd Rogers, Steele ECHS Principal

Congratulations to the following Steele students being awarded National Recognition by College Board for Academic Excellence. College Board’s National Recognition Program is designed to shine a light on high-achieving students nationwide across all backgrounds. By claiming a National Recognition Program award(s), eligible students have a tangible way to stand out to colleges and celebrate their academic achievements with their communities. The program also serves as a valuable tool for higher education members seeking to connect with remarkable students across the country.

Congratulations to our awesome Steele Stallions!

Kellen Acosta, Kassidy Foster, Conner Hallock, Adrian Jimenez, Kamdyn Johnson, Kenzie King, Jaden Lazo Mendoza, Leilani Lopez, Presley Low, Nathan Moose, Madison Morgan, Krystal Nnadi, Preston Nnadi, Jacob Reeves, John Sarlo, and Aryan Singh.

Last week we had our Senior Sunrise, as the Seniors came together to watch the Sunrise on their Senior year. This was hosted by our National Honor Society (NHS). They didn't let a little rain cloudy their Sunrise! It was a great time and so much fun! Go Seniors!

Our Steele StuCo started the first day of school with a Pep Rally/Steele Social for everyone to connect and build positive experiences. It was a great way to kick off the new school year.

This summer, the talented Junior, Victoria Saldivar, had her artwork displayed at the Texas Governor's mansion. Student artwork is displayed at the Texas Governor's Mansion, with the annual display being part of the Texas Art Education Association's Youth Art Month (YAM) program, which showcases high school student work. This special exhibit is often celebrated with a garden party reception at the mansion for the selected student artists. Click HERE for more information.

We are so excited! This campus rating is a result of our outstanding Steele students, teachers, staff, parents, PTSA, families, and community. Everyone coming together to create an environment of excellence. Thank You everyone in Steele Nation and NISD for all that you do to support our Stallions! Click HERE for the full report.

2024 TEA Accountability Ratings

98% and 7 out of 7 Distinction Designations

2025 TEA Accountability Ratings

98% and 3 Distinction Designations

U.S. News and World Report and the SchoolDigger websites have Steele ECHS ranked high in the state of Texas and nationally. We are so proud of our students, teachers, staff, parents, PTSA, families, community, and all of Steele Nation! Everyone coming together made this happen! We Are Steele!

• U.S. News & World Report named Steele the #45 high school in all of Texas (approximately 2,000 high schools).
• U.S. News & World Report named Steele the #345 high school in the Nation (over 24,000 high schools).
• Click HERE for the U.S. News & World Report.
• SchoolDigger has Steele ranked the #29th high school in Texas out of 1,974 schools.
• Click HERE for the SchoolDigger information.

This Wednesday, August 28th, we have our Steele Stampede in the Gym during Power Hour. This is an opportunity for our students to learn more about all the organizations, clubs, and programs we offer at Steele ECHS. We want our students to get involved and engaged on campus. Here are some of the programs we have at Steele for students to get engaged and involved.

Student Council (StuCo), National Honor Society (NHS), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Green Cord Program, Academic UIL Events, eSports, Art Club, Bible Club, Black Student Union Club, Book Club, Computer Science Club, Cooking Club, Crafting Club, Creative Writing Club, Freshmen Mentorship Program, Permanent Flux Band, Science Club, Speech & Debate Club, Spirit Squad Club, Steele Forge Theatre Company, Student Library Club, UIL One Act Play (OAP), UIL Theatrical Design & UIL Film, Yoga Club, Green Cord Club, Second Stitch Club, Pokefan Club, Chess Club, Men's Volleyball Club, Garden Club, Girls Volleyball Club, International Thespians Society, National Art Honor Society, NISD Wellness Ambassador program, StuCo DASH, and StuCo Pride & Patriotism.

What is Fun Day Friday Semester Tournament?

Every Friday, our grade levels compete against each other in a game. The game lasts two weeks. The first week, grade levels compete against each other. The two winners of the first week play against each other and the two grade levels that didn’t win play against each other the second week. Every third week we switch to another game. Each grade level can earn points two ways. (1) winning the game on Friday, and/or (2) Cheering Loud (Spirit points). The grade level in each block that shows the most spirit for the entire time, will earn Spirit points for their grade level. At the end of the tournament (in December), we add up all the points to determine the tournament champion. Then, in December, we will have a Pep Rally, and we will announce the Fun Day Friday grade level winner. The winning grade level will receive the coveted Trophy and a special surprise.

We had our first games this past Friday and our Seniors and Juniors won their games. Congratulations! Below is our Fall champion from 2024, the Class of 2025. We Are Steele!

During the school year, every Wednesday is "Where Are You Going Wednesday". All students and staff are encouraged to wear a college/university, military, and/or trade school shirt to school. This supports our campus culture of preparing and focused on post-secondary after high school. What school or military are you going to be representing? We Are Steele!

Don't wait, order your Steele Stallions Spirit Wear Today! Click HERE for our Steele Spirit Wear Store.

Calling All Steele Freshmen

We are looking for Freshmen leaders to get involved as a

Freshmen Class Representative

Tinyurl.com/freshmanelect

Seniors – You are doing a great job of applying to colleges!!! Please use the instructions below to request transcripts.

Transcript Request/Graduation Verification

Northwest Independent School District has partnered with ScribOrder to offer a convenient and secure way to request transcripts, enrollment histories and education verifications online.

Click Here - https://www.nisdtx.org/students-families/records-management/transcript-request

If you need your TCC college transcripts, you can request them online through TCC.

You can order an official TCC PDF e-transcript or paper transcript online. PDF e-transcripts or paper transcripts can be sent to any college or university, or to any individual or third party, via email or postal mail.

Click HERE - https://www.tccd.edu/services/district-admissions-records-office/transcripts/

Sheneka Davis, Counselor

Steele Early College High School

sdavis01@nisdtx.org

Class of 2026,

Each year, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards 150 college scholarships worth $20,000 to high school students across the United States through the Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

Students need to be graduating high school during the 2025-2026 school year, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and to complete an online application that requires no essays, no recommendations, and no transcript before September 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

See program details, the selection process, and last year's Coke Scholars.

We hope to see applications from your school this year!

Every voice matters at Steele, and joining the PTSA is one of the best ways to support the Steele Nation. Becoming a member empowers you to have a say in important decisions, makes you eligible to vote at meetings, and gives you access to exclusive resources and discounts through Texas PTA and National PTA; including savings on travel, shopping, and events. PTSA members help foster student achievement, teacher support, family engagement, and critical advocacy efforts that directly benefit all our students.

It’s quick and easy: Sign up or renew at JoinPTA.org. Students, parents, staff, and community members; everyone is welcome and encouraged to join!

Mark your calendars! Our next PTSA General Membership Meeting will be held right after school on September 9th @4pm. During this meeting, we’ll vote on approving the annual budget, propose an increase in membership dues, and cover other important items for our school year. According to PTA bylaws, you must be a current PTSA member to participate in all votes including those on membership dues and the annual budget. If you haven’t renewed or joined, be sure to visit JoinPTA.org before the meeting.

The agenda will be shared in advance, so stay tuned to your email and the PTSA Facebook page for updates. If you have questions or suggestions for agenda items, please reach jmsteeleptsa@gmail.com out we value your input and want every member’s voice to be heard!

Let’s keep our Steele Nation strong and engaged.

Thank you again for your support and what you do for Steele!

Sheri Kord

Steele ECHS PTSA President

Calling all Seniors!

Texas residents can apply to any Texas public college or university without paying an application fee — but only during this week! Save $$$ by applying to Texas colleges for FREE through ApplyTexas!

In 2025, the second full week of October, specifically October 13-19, will be Free College Application Week in Texas. During this period, Texas residents can apply to any Texas public college or university for undergraduate admission without paying an application fee, according to My Texas Future. Applications should be submitted through ApplyTexas.

Juniors and Sophomores - The PSAT at Steele ECHS is Thursday, October 16th. Don't wait, start now to get ready for the PSAT.

Click HERE for NISD Course Syllabi. Click HERE for NISD High School Course Syllabi.

In compliance with state law, Northwest ISD has implemented a new personal device policy for students. This new policy prohibits students from using personal communications devices at any point during the school day, including lunch and passing periods. Examples of prohibited devices include smartphones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds and more.

Click HERE to see information and details about the Northwest ISD communication about Cell Phones.

See the two attachments below for additional NISD information and details.

• Students can not access their cell phone from 8:15 am - 3:40 pm.
• Cell phones must stay turned off in the backpack.
• Parents can still email their child using the student's NISD email address.
• During Power Hour every day (11:15 am - 12:30 pm), students are at lunch, tutorials, clubs, and more. If you need to pick your child up during Power Hour, please make sure your child knows what time to be in the front office to meet you.

We've had a few parents and students asking about preferred name. There is a new Senate Bill 12 state law on pronouns and preferred names.

In the 89th Legislative Session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 12, which Governor Abbott signed into law. This law prohibits school employees from using a name or pronoun that does not align with a student's biological sex at birth. This means that school employees are not legally permitted to address students by preferred names or pronouns that do not align with a student's biological sex at birth, even if requested by a child's parents.