Parent Hawk Talk
September 28th - October 2nd
Direct From Dylla’s Desk
Hello, Hobby Families!
It is hard to believe that we are already seven weeks into the school year and quickly approaching October! As I walk through our hallways and visit classrooms, I continue to be incredibly proud of what I see happening each day at Hobby.
Our students are learning, thinking, talking, collaborating, and working through challenging tasks together. Our teachers are creating classrooms where students are expected to think deeply, participate in their learning, and continue working even when the learning becomes difficult. Just as importantly, our teachers are constantly checking for understanding and finding ways to support students when they need additional help.
This is what growth looks like.
We know that meaningful academic growth doesn't happen overnight. It is the result of what happens day after day in our classrooms—great instruction, high expectations, students willing to work through challenges, and teachers who believe every student can be successful.
Seven weeks into the year, I am excited about where we are and even more excited about where we are going. Thank you, families, for continuing to encourage your students, ask them about what they are learning, and support the work happening at school.
There is something special happening at Hobby, and it happens because our students, staff, and families are working together.
Have a wonderful weekend filled with Positive Purple Power!
As always, your proud principal,
Greg Dylla
Hobby National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Receives Distinction Award
Our Hobby National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) has been honored with a Distinction Award in recognition of our members logging over 2,200 volunteer hours and successfully executing numerous community service projects last year. Way to go Hawks!
From Hobby Magnet
6th Grade GT Pull-Out –Success!
Our first 6th Grade GT pull-out was a great success! Students had the opportunity to work with our GT teacher, engage in meaningful learning, and explore their creativity and critical-thinking skills. We loved seeing our Hawks so engaged and excited to learn!
HOSA Teddy Bear Clinic & Stop The Bleed
From Your Academic Dean
Happy Friday, Hobby Hawk Families! 💜💛
It has been a fantastic first 7 weeks of the school year! Our campus is buzzing with energy, and our teachers and staff are working hard every single day to challenge our students, support their growth, and build strong relationships across our school community. Thank you for partnering with us to make our campus an amazing place to learn and grow—it truly takes all of us working together!
🎯 MAP Growth Celebration!
Today during all lunches, we celebrated our students’ incredible progress on the Beginning of Year MAP Math and Reading assessments. We cheered together as a school family to celebrate all of their hard work and growth!
To top off the celebration, the Top 10 growth leaders in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade got a chance to attempt the famous "Impossible Shot"—trying to toss a tennis ball into a slim PVC pipe! The energy was incredible, and our students had a blast. It has been a truly FUN FRIDAY here at campus!
Spotlight on Learning: Critical Writing in the Classroom
Our teachers are bringing incredible learning opportunities into their classrooms every day. One key area we are focusing on campus-wide is Critical Writing.
Research shows that whoever is doing the writing and speaking is doing the learning. When students put their thoughts into their own words, it deepens their understanding and helps them master new concepts. You can support this at home by asking your Hawk open-ended questions like: "How did you solve that problem?" or "Can you explain what you wrote about in class today?"
End of the First 9-Weeks & Grade Reports
As we approach the end of the first grading period, our team is reflecting carefully on student progress. Grades are more than just numbers on a page—they are a tool to measure growth, celebrate effort, and inspire hope for future success.
Here are a few important details to keep in mind regarding report cards and grades:
Open Communication: If your student is currently struggling or at risk of failing a course, their teacher will be reaching out directly to partner with you. We are committed to providing every student with opportunities to grow through tutoring, re-teaching, FLEX support, and re-testing.
Grade Completion: All grades for the first 9 weeks will be finalized and submitted by Tuesday, October 8th at 4:00 PM.
We are so proud of our students' hard work so far this year and grateful for your continued support at home. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teachers if you have any questions about their progress.
Go Hobby Hawks! 🦅💜💛
From APO
Picture Day: October 2nd
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com
Parent Helpers Wanted:
Help us make the Picture Day smooth and effortless. Contact the office if you’d like to volunteer at Picture Day.
Student Data Safety and Security:
As the only SOC 3 compliant partner in school photography, Lifetouch delivers unmatched protection for student and staff information - backed by third‑party verification and trusted by schools nationwide. Learn More.
From Your Counselors
Our Hawks will join the NISD decision of Respect signing day next friday Oct 2, 2026
Counselors have started visiting individual classrooms to present our classroom guidance curriculum.
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6th grade students
Will practice using active listening, empathy, and respectful communication to problem-solve through conflict.
7th grade students
Will learn how to maintain respectful peer relationships, while preventing the damaging effects of gossip and rumors.
8th grade students
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Classroom visits are scheduled through Future Investigations, 8th grade MAPS, 8th Grade AVID & GT, 7th Grade Social Studies and 6th grade Social Studies.
We are so excited to partner with you to support your student's success throughout the year. Please reach out to us with any student needs/concerns- we are here to support our Hobby Hawks!
jose.texidor@nisd.net (210) 397-6325
nikki.staib@nisd.net (210) 397- 6286
From The Library
📚 What’s Happening in the Library?
There is a LOT happening in the library! Students are checking out books, practicing independent library skills, participating in collaborative lessons, and discovering new ways to find books they actually want to read. Here are a few updates for our Hobby families! 💜
🎪 Save the Date: Book Fair Begins October 16!
Our Book Fair begins October 16, and it is never too early for students to start getting excited—and saving up! 📚✨
🎯 Our goal this year is to raise more than $4,000!
Book Fair purchases help raise funds that directly support our library and our students. Whether your student purchases one book, a bookmark, or something else they've been saving for, every dollar helps us reach our goal and give back to the Hobby Library.
Start marking those calendars and saving those dollars!
📅 BOOK FAIR: OCTOBER 16
More information about Book Fair shopping, schedules, and other details will be coming soon!
💌 Parents: Those Library Emails Are Helpful Reminders!
If you receive an email about your student's overdue library book, don't panic! Your student is not in trouble. 💜
These reminders are one of the ways we help students learn responsibility for items they borrow. Students are also encouraged to check their own school email for overdue notices, giving them real-world practice using email and keeping track of their responsibilities.
If your student says they returned a book through one of our book drops, don't worry! Book drops are collected regularly, and it may take a little time before the book is checked back into the system.
You can help at home by encouraging your student to check their school email and keep track of their library books. These little habits help build independence!
📖 Families & Student Reading Choices
The Hobby Library serves ALL of our students, and our collection reflects the wide range of reading abilities, interests, experiences, and maturity levels found within a middle school community.
Because every family is different, parents and guardians are the ones who determine what reading materials are appropriate for their individual student.
We encourage students to explore the library, learn about themselves as readers, and develop their own reading interests. Our collection includes everything from graphic novels and manga to fantasy, romance, nonfiction, historical fiction, mysteries, biographies, and much more.
If you ever have questions or concerns about your student's reading selections, please reach out to me! I am happy to discuss the options and procedures available to help your student find books that work for your family's expectations while still allowing them to develop independence and confidence as a reader.
The goal is for every Hobby student to be able to walk into our library and think:
“There is something here for me.” 💜📚
📚 All Reading Counts!
Please continue encouraging your student to keep at least one library book in their backpack so they always have something available to read.
Graphic novels count.
Manga counts.
Audiobooks count.
Nonfiction counts.
Chapter books count.
Reading is reading! 📖
Students are encouraged to pull out their books when they finish their class assignments and have available time. Those few minutes throughout the school day add up and help students build reading stamina, confidence, vocabulary, comprehension, and—most importantly—a habit of reading for enjoyment.
Ask your student: “What are you reading right now?” You might be surprised by what they're excited about!
🤝 Learning in the Library: More Than Book Checkout!
The library isn't only a place to check out books! We've had some fantastic teacher collaborations recently that allowed students to use the library in completely different ways.
🏠 Dream Design Space Challenge with Ms. Touchette
Students worked in the library to research their dream design spaces using resources from our specialized database collection. Rather than simply deciding what looked good, students investigated information that helped them think academically about their designs and provide scientific and research-based reasoning for their design choices.
This is exactly what we want students to learn—how to take an idea, find reliable information, and use evidence to strengthen their thinking!
📚 Finding the Right Book with Ms. Bauernschmidt's Reading SCE Classes
Our Reading SCE students practiced becoming independent book selectors through a game of “Musical Books!” 🎶📚
Think musical chairs—but with books!
Students rotated through different books, stopped when the music stopped, gave their new book a quick “taste,” and considered whether it matched their reading ability and interests. They shared their reactions with classmates and learned how to use our library catalog to independently search for books that meet their needs.
Finding the right book is a skill! The goal is to help students become confident enough to enter the library, explore their options, and eventually say, “I know how to find something I want to read.”
📬 Your Student May Get a Special Delivery!
Students are learning how to place holds on books they really want to read. When those books become available, I have started delivering them directly to students during 1st period! 🎉 We’re calling it, Amazon Prime-Library style!
There is something special about seeing a student's face when the book they've been waiting for finally arrives.
Encourage your student to explore the library catalog, place holds on books that interest them, and ask me for help if they don't know what to read next.
Let's keep putting books into students' hands and building confident, independent readers at Hobby! 💜📚
Club Hobby
Hawk Families
Here are the Club offerings for the 26-27 school year. All club participation requires a signed permission slip from parents.
From Your PTA
Family Engagement Opportunities
Save the dates
- October 14, 2026: Fall into learning.
From Your Hobby Yearbook
Upcoming Events
Hobby Hangout: October 2nd
What is a Hobby Hangout?
Picture this: it’s Friday afternoon, your student is safe at school, laughing with friends, playing games, and just enjoying some good, old-fashioned fun. And you? You get an extra hour (or two) to run an errand, grab a coffee, or simply breathe.
Here’s how it works:
- When: Friday after school until 6:00 PM
- Cost: Just $5
- What’s included: Supervised fun, games, and a chance for your student to “hang out” with friends
- Extras: Snacks will be for sale—because hanging out is always better with treats!
And here’s the best part—every dollar goes right back to our kids:
- Stocking the SOaRR Store (where students spend their hard-earned SOaRR bucks)
- Funding Perfect Attendance celebrations
- Supporting our A–AB Honor Roll activities
So, for the price of a fancy coffee, your child gets an afternoon of fun (and snacks!), and you get a little extra time to yourself. That’s what we call a win-win, powered by Positive Purple Power!
We can’t wait to see your Hawks at the Hobby Hang Out!
🐾 Top Cat Dance Intensive – October 3
Calling all dancers in grades 6–12! Join the Clark High School Top Cat Dance Team for a fun and exciting Dance Intensive designed to help students learn new combinations, freshen up their technique, and experience what it’s like to dance with the Top Cat Dance Team!
📅 Saturday, October 3 Clinic: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM 💃 What to Expect Students will have the opportunity to: Learn new dance combinations Work on and improve their dance technique Learn from the Clark Top Cat Dance Team Showcase what they learned at the end of the clinic 💰 Registration $35 – Online registration before October 3 Payment options include cash, card, or money order. 🏈 Special Halftime Performance Students in grades 6–8 will have the opportunity to perform at halftime with the Clark Top Cat Dance Team during the Clark vs. Madison football game at Farris Stadium! This is a great opportunity for students to learn, have fun, and experience a day with a high school dance team. 📧 Questions? For additional information, please contact: Lauren Rost
Showoffs: 12:00 PM
📍 Clark High School
$40 – Registration the day of the clinic
Lauren.Rost@nisd.net
Save the Date: Fall Into Learning!
When: Wednesday, October 14th
What: Join us for our annual Fall Into Learning family event! Our teachers and departments are currently hard at work planning hands-on activities and engaging experiences for the whole family. Mark your calendars—more details and event times will be shared soon!
Important Athletic Information
If your child is interested in trying out for a sport this year, and is enrolled in 7th or 8th grade athletics, there is mandatory paperwork that must be completed before they can be eligible to participate.
An athlete cannot try out for a sport before completing ALL UIL paperwork found on the parent portal. (link below)
STUDENTS NEW TO ATHLETICS:
All incoming students that did not have a medical physical last year MUST complete a medical physical and give a copy to the head coach on campus. The physical form can be printed from the parent portal, or from the links provided at the bottom of this information sheet. The medical history form must be completed online. Print the completed medical history and the physical form and take both of those papers with you to the doctor when you get your physical. Make a copy of the medical physical and turn it into the head coach. You do not need to turn in medical history, but must complete it online.
*Rank One Parent Portal Information/Instruction Sheet
*Asthma Action Plan (Required for students diagnosed with asthma.)
*2026-2027-rank-one-forms.pdf (154.52 KB)
*2026-2027-physical-form.pdf (403.86 KB)
26-27 Athletic Schedules
Parent Resources
Dress Code: Dress for Success!
Dress Code: Dress for Success School staff recognizes that parents bear the primary responsibility for setting standards for their children’s dress and grooming. However, because of health and safety factors, the influence of dress and grooming on students’ attitude and behavior, and because of the need to prevent disruptive influences and preserve the academic environment of the school, student dress and grooming are appropriate concerns of teachers and administrators. The district’s dress code is implemented (Section D); therefore, students will be expected to follow the guidelines set forth by the district. Dress code standards are extended to extra-curricular activities held on the campus. In an effort to promote a safe and positive school environment which is conducive to learning, students should wear appropriate clothing that will not cause disruptions in learning or safety. Inappropriate, indecent, suggestive or distracting clothing will not be allowed. *Final determination of acceptable dress code and grooming rests with the Principal or his/her designees.
Please Note
Part of supporting our students’ academic and social growth involves maintaining a disruption-free learning space. With that in mind, we want to gently remind our community about our campus dress code expectations—specifically regarding student hairstyles.
Starting this term, we will be fully aligning our campus practices with our NISD dress code policy:
Expectation: Hair must be neat, clean, and kept in a way that does not cause a distraction to the teaching and learning environment.