News from the Nest

Happy Sunday Falcon Families,

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are excited to recognize the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. We are currently looking for Falcon families who would like to participate in our upcoming evening celebration by helping us showcase a Hispanic culture. Families might share traditions, food, music, art, clothing, history, or other aspects of a culture that are meaningful to them. We would love for our families to help make this a special opportunity for our students and community to learn from and celebrate one another! Please use the link below to let us know if you are able to help and what you are willing to do.

Next week, our students will take benchmark assessments as we prepare to close out the marking period. Benchmarks provide our teachers with valuable information about student learning—helping us celebrate where students are being successful while also identifying skills and standards where additional support may be needed. Please encourage your student to give their best effort and show what they know. The goal isn't perfection; it is to give us an accurate picture of learning so we can determine our next steps.

As we move into October, our Capturing Kids' Hearts character trait is Self-Direct: “Lead yourself to who you want to be.” This pairs beautifully with our Falcon GRIT characteristic of Integrity. We want our students to understand that integrity is about making choices that reflect who they want to become—even when no one is watching. Being self-directed means taking ownership of our choices, our effort, and our growth.As we finish this marking period, I encourage our Falcons to reflect: Are my choices leading me toward the person I want to be?

Thank you, Falcon families, for your continued partnership as we help our students grow academically and personally. Together, we can help our Falcons remain Grounded in GRIT and Ready to Soar!

With Falcon Pride,
Christina Harris
Principal, Audie Murphy Middle School

I would like to take a moment to thank our amazing volunteers, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, 2BN12CAV, Mr. Jason Jack, Mrs. Sarah Layman, and Mrs. Veronica Ramos, for stepping up and supporting our school.

Your time, dedication, and willingness to help have made our events run smoothly, and our students are seeing and appreciating the great things you are doing for our school community.

Thank you for all that you do and for continuing to support our students and Audie Murphy Middle School. Your support truly makes a difference!

Serving with Falcon Pride!

Darie McCleaves

Every school day matters! Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their learning, build strong relationships, and keep pace with their classes. Even a few missed days can add up and make it harder to catch up. We encourage our Falcon families to make attendance a priority by ensuring students arrive on time and ready to learn each day. When students are at school, they have more opportunities to grow, connect, and succeed. Show up. Stay engaged. Soar!

Monday, September 28th –

Lady Falcon Volleyball vs. Union Grove MS (games start at 5:30PM)

• 8th grade @ ECHS
• 7th grade @ UGMS

Tuesday, September 29th –

Dance Tryouts (4:30-6:30PM)

Falcon Football vs. Union Grove MS (games start at 5:30PM)

• 8th grade @ AMMS
• 7th grade @ UGMS

Wednesday, September 30th –

Fall Student Pictures

Cross Country Meet @ CPMS (starts at 5:30PM)

Bullying Prevention Month

Principal Appreciation Month

Thursday, October 1st –

Lady Falcon Volleyball A Team Mid-Season Tournament (games start at 5:30PM)

• 8th grade @ LHMS
• 7th grade @ MMS

Friday, October 2nd –

Custodian Appreciation Day!

Saturday, October 3rd –

Lady Falcon Volleyball A Team Tournament (games start at 9:00AM)

• 8th grade @ HHHS
• 7th grade @ EHS

Hello Falcon Families,

We have officially entered Week 7! With just two short weeks until Fall Break and the end of Reporting Period 1, this is a crucial time for our students to finish the first six weeks strong. As we approach this important academic milestone, clear communication and focused effort will help set our Falcons up for success.

Time is flying! Since Reporting Period 1 officially wraps up in two weeks, right as we head into Fall Break here are some tips for families:

• Check Grades Online: Please take a few minutes this week to log into the Home Access Center (HAC) with your student to review their current grades and missing assignments.

• Communicate Early: If you notice any academic stumbling blocks, please reach out directly to your student's teachers. Early intervention gives students plenty of time to turn in missing work or request tutoring before grades lock.

Study Habits for a Strong Finish

As assessments and projects pile up before the end of the reporting period, help your student build healthy study routines at home:

• Chunk Big Tasks: Break major assignments or upcoming tests into smaller, manageable 20-minute study blocks rather than cramming the night before.

• Eliminate Distractions: Designate a quiet study space away from phones, TVs, and gaming consoles during homework time.

• Prioritize Rest: Consistent sleep schedules directly impact focus, emotional regulation, and academic retention. Aim for 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night!

Celebrating Growth and Resilience

Our campus theme this year is Grounded in Grit, Ready to Soar. Finishing a reporting period strong isn't just about straight A's—it's about persevering when things get tough, asking for help when concepts are confusing, and bouncing back from setbacks. Let’s encourage our Falcons to keep pushing forward with grit and determination!

Upcoming Dates to Remember

• October 8: Hispanic Heritage Night

• October 9: End of Reporting Period 1

• October 12–16: Fall Break (No School)

• October 19: The beginning of Marking Period 2

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or if there is anything we can do to support your student's academic and emotional well-being.

Warmly,

School Counselors

Audie Murphy Middle School

Please help us by clicking the link and filling out the: Parent Needs Assessment. It will allow us to better serve our AMMS Families. Thank you!

We are excited to begin our after-school athletic events this week! Please remember that KISD’s clear bag policy will be in effect for all games, and tickets must be purchased online in advance. There will be no cash taken at the door/gate and there will not be devices for anyone to use to purchase at the gate. Please let grandparents, aunts, uncles and all other family members know this is the new process.

When attending, we ask that all families model the Texas Way by being positive and supportive of our student-athletes. Our role as fans is to encourage our team, not put down the other team or use inappropriate language or behavior. Texas passed a law last year that requires us to remove spectators immediately if a game official requires it--there will be no warnings. Please help us to make our events a positive experience for all!

Together, we can create a spirited and respectful environment that makes every game a great experience for students, families, and our community.

• All students should have received their ID cards. Please help to ensure that they have it and are wearing it appropriately every day. Having their IDs helps to improve the timing for riding the bus and for getting their lunch. If your student did not receive an ID, please have them stop by the AP office to let them know.
• All students have also been issued a YONDR pouch and should be placing their electronic devices inside the pouch during morning entry. Electronic devices should not be seen nor heard at any time during the school day.
• One of the most important habits we can help our students develop is being where they need to be, when they need to be there, and ready to learn. Please remind your student of the importance of arriving to class on time—every minute of instruction matters!
• Students are expected to be in dress code when they arrive on campus and remain in dress code throughout the school day.
• We can only accept food deliveries for students from a parent/guardian or contact listed on the student's account.

As always, we are here to help and support you and your student in every way possible. Please reach out to us with any concerns or use the online reporter method at the following link should you have a safety concern: https:/ /forms.killeenisd.org/Forms/BullyReporter

It is our pleasure to serve you and your student every day! Please understand if you come during

specific times of the day (ex: morning duty, lunch duty, passing periods, or after school duty), you may have to wait for a short time as supervision is a top priority, and our leadership team will be on duty in the halls/bus loop/etc. Every process and system we have in place focuses on providing the safest and most positive experience that we can for our students.

We greatly appreciate your support, and look forward to seeing you at many of our upcoming events!

The application for free and reduced-price school meals is still open for the 2026-2027 school year.

Apply today through SchoolCafé: https://www.schoolcafe.com/Killeenisd

Completing an application is quick and secure. We encourage all Killeen ISD families to apply, even if you're not sure you qualify.

Expect transportation delays the first few days of the school year. However, Killeen ISD provides

the Smart Tag app to help you receive information about your student's bus ride. The app allows you to see real-time information about the location of your student's bus.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. We are here to help!

Christina.Harris@killeenisd.org

Aimee.D.CastilloGriffin@killeenisd.org

Lusiana.Akech@killeenisd.org

Betty.Selvy@killeenisd.org

Keri.Luepke@killeenisd.org

Christine.NotestineDouglass@killeenisd.org

April.Reeves@killeenisd.org

Megan.Schneider@killeenisd.org