The Wolf Weekly
August 17, 2025
CTMS Family Newsletter
Wonderful Wolf Families,
What a great start to the 2025-2026 school year! Having the halls full of our wolves made the building come alive. During the first three days of school, our pack learned what it means to be a wolf and defined the Wolf Way. Wolves are kind, respectful, and responsible. Click here to see the presentation shared with all wolves during the first day of school assemblies.
Howl to our supportive and kind PTA for the delicious breakfast on Friday! Such a delicious way to end the first week of school!
We are looking forward to seeing you this Tuesday, August 19, at CTMS Mini-School Night (middle school version of curriculum night)! This is an incredible opportunity to meet your wolf's teacher, see your wolf's friends, and visit with other wolf families. The evening will start at 5:30 p.m. with the first CTMS General PTA Meeting of the school year. See below for more information.
Looking forward to our first full week of the 2025-2026 school year and seeing each of you on Tuesday night!
Howl,
Jamie Halliburton
CTMS Principal
Beginning August 15, 2025, you will be able to view the State Accountability A-F rating for our school along with all Texas public schools and districts by visiting TXschools.gov.
As shared by the Texas Education Agency, the purpose of the Texas A–F accountability system reflects three system objectives: grade-level rigor for students, fairness for districts and campuses, and transparency for parents and the public to ensure our state continues to work towards becoming a national leader in preparing students for success after graduation.
For additional information about the State Accountability System and accessing ratings, please refer to the attached flyer and FAQ pages.
You can also visit the 2025 Accountability Rating System page on the TEA website.
One opportunity to see what happens in the classroom is to become a Canvas Parent Observer. Canvas is the learning management system used in GCISD for the pack staff to communicate with the wolves. Each teacher uses Canvas differently in their classroom, which they will share with you on Tuesday night during mini-school night.
See the PDF attachment for instructions on how to become an observer on your wolf's Canvas accounts.
We are still making adjustments to schedules to ensure each wolf's schedule meet's his or her academic needs. Thank you for showing kindness and respect through this process! If you need to adjust your wolf's schedule, please see the next paragraph.
Welcome back to the Pack, Wolves and Wolf families! We're excited to get your wolf set up for success. If your wolf has an error or would like to change an elective or level up or down in a class, please fill out the Schedule Change Request Form. The guidelines and deadlines for changing levels are located in our middle school course selection guide on pages 11- 13. Our counselors will do their best to accommodate every request, and will reach out with any questions. Thank you for your support and patience!
Join other dads, grandfathers, uncles, etc...each and every Friday to welcome wolves to school. No need to sign up. Just show up on either side of drop-off (SAC or B-Hall), be ready to open lots of car door, and meet other supporters of the pack!
See you on Friday!
Congratulations Iryna Guirguis, you have won our $50 Amazon gift card giveaway!
Exciting news! We will be doing another $50 Amazon gift card giveaway for joining PTA by the end of day Friday, 8/22. 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.
August 19th: Mini School Night & First PTA General Meeting - Join us for CTMS Mini School Night and the first PTA meeting of the 2025-2026 school year. See you at 5:30 p.m.
Follow us on Facebook at "Cross Timbers Middle School PTA" to see updates and important information!
August 18 ~ Volleyball/Cross Country Parent Meeting 6-7 pm
August 19 ~ Cane's Spirit Night (see above) & PTA General Meeting 5:30 p.m. & Mini-School Night 6:00 p.m. (see above)
August 20 ~ iReady Beginning of Year Reading Diagnostic
August 21 ~ iReady Beginning of Year Math Diagnostic
August 22 ~ PTA 6th Grade Back to School Social 3:35 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (see above)
September 1 ~ Pack Holiday No School
Our district will continue using i-Ready this year, building on the foundation we established last year. As we enter our second year of implementation, our focus is on refining our approach and maximizing the effective use of the teacher toolbox lessons for personalized instruction in reading and mathematics for our K-8 students. Our aim remains to give teachers more time for classroom instruction and to bring even greater coherence to instruction, intervention, and acceleration.
The i-Ready diagnostic assessment for reading and mathematics will be completed by your wolf this week on Wednesday and Thursday. This diagnostic continues to serve as our primary resource for universal screening at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year.
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your wolf's strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your wolf where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction, especially through the rich resources available in the teacher toolbox lessons.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your wolf a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning through targeted instruction. With a year of i-Ready data already collected, our wolves will begin their fall diagnostic assessments at the level in which they completed their previous year diagnostic. This aims to save some time in the diagnostic process finding the exact instructional level of each wolf. Those who haven’t previously tested in GCISD will begin at their assigned grade level.
i-Ready Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual strengths and areas for growth. These lessons are interactive and provide strategic support to keep your wolf engaged as they learn. In addition to My Path lessons, our teachers are utilizing the comprehensive teacher toolbox lessons to personalize instruction even further, addressing specific wolf needs identified by the diagnostic.
We encourage you to watch this video to better understand i-Ready: https://videos.curriculumassociates.com/watch/LRc9k59Ptg9pq9SBBmM6iz. We will continue to share information with you regarding student progress results and how you can also be a valued partner in your wolf's learning.
Thank you for your continued support of our campus. We look forward to a successful 2025-2026 school year!
GCISD Parent Tech Academy
Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child's technology use at school and at home? Look no further than the GCISD Parent Tech Academy! Our next session is at 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 26, on Webex. Here is the Webex link. At the Parent Tech Academy, we will go over how to access parent weekly emails containing your children’s internet history, how to become a Canvas observer, and other parental access tips. Join us for the Parent Tech Academy and learn how to be better informed on your child's technology use.
Academia de Tecnología para Padres de GCISD
¿Es usted un padre que busca mantenerse informado sobre el uso de la tecnología de su hijo en la escuela y en casa? ¡No busque más! Venga a la Academia de Tecnología para Padres de GCISD! Nuestra próxima sesión es a las 6 p.m. del martes 26 de augusto, en la plataforma Webex. Aquí está el enlace Webex. En la Academia de Tecnología para Padres, revisaremos cómo acceder a los correos electrónicos semanales que contienen el historial de uso de internet de sus hijos, cómo convertirse en observador de Canvas y otros consejos útiles para padres. Únase a nosotros en la Academia de Tecnología para Padres y aprenda cómo estar mejor informado sobre el uso de la tecnología de su hijo.
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.
Apply Now for Free/Reduced-Price Meals
Starting on July 8, 2025, applications were made available to fill out for the 2025-2026 school year. Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals available online at www.schoollunchapp.com. A paper copy may be downloaded from the website or requested at any campus or Nutrition Services office.
The application will determine a child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and may assist in the determination of eligibility for other state or federal benefits. Only one application needs to be completed per household. Schools will notify the household of the child’s eligibility. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers school nutrition programs in Texas and offers an eligibility calculator at www.SquareMeals.org/ProgramEligibility.
Decisions regarding payment for school meals are made at the national-government level, not by the school nutrition team or TDA. The dedicated staff in Nutrition Services is looking forward to serving healthy, balanced meals to students in the new school year. If you have any questions, please call 817-251-5617 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net
Texas legislation has approved a 2025-26 biennium budget, which includes covering the cost of school breakfasts starting August 1, 2025 and lunches starting September 1, 2025 for students whose campuses participate in the federal meal programs and are eligible for reduced price meals. Students that are approved for reduced-price meals may eat breakfast starting August 1, 2025 and lunch starting September 1, 2025 at no cost this school year. (Does not apply at Grapevine High, Colleyville Heritage High and Bridges, reduced priced is $0.30 breakfast, $0.40 lunch )
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
A partir del 8 de julio de 2025, se pusieron a disposición las solicitudes para el año escolar 2025-2026.Se alenta a las familias a completar la Solicitud de comidas escolares gratuitas y a precio reducido disponible en línea en www.schoollunchapp.com. Se puede descargar una copia en papel del sitio web o solicitarla en cualquier campus o en la oficina de Servicios de Nutrición.
La solicitud determinará la elegibilidad del niño para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido y puede ayudar a determinar la elegibilidad para otros beneficios estatales o federales. Solo es necesario completar una solicitud por hogar. Las escuelas notificarán al hogar sobre la elegibilidad del niño. El Departamento de Agricultura de Texas (TDA) administra los programas de nutrición escolar en Texas y ofrece una calculadora de elegibilidad en
www.SquareMeals.org/ProgramEligibility.
Las decisiones relativas al pago de las comidas escolares se toman a nivel del gobierno nacional, no por el equipo de nutrición escolar ni por el TDA. El dedicado personal de Servicios de Nutrición espera poder servir comidas saludables y equilibradas a los estudiantes en el nuevo año escolar. Si tiene alguna pregunta, llame al 817-251-5617 o envíe un correo electrónico a child.nutrition@gcisd.net.
La legislación de Texas ha aprobado un presupuesto bienal para 2025-26, que incluye la cobertura del costo de los desayunos escolares a partir del 1 de agosto de 2025 y de los almuerzos a partir del 1 de septiembre de 2025 para los estudiantes cuyos campus participan en los programas federales de comidas y son elegibles para comidas a precio reducido. Los estudiantes a los que se les aprueben las comidas a precio reducido podrán desayunar a partir del 1 de agosto de 2025 y almorzar a partir del 1 de septiembre de 2025 sin coste alguno durante este año escolar. (No se aplica en Grapevine High, Colleyville Heritage High y Bridges, el precio reducido es de 0,30 $ el desayuno y 0,40 $ el almuerzo).
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
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.
Each year, GCISD technology staff see an influx of devices that need repair during the first several weeks of school. This can lead to students missing valuable time in class in which their device is needed. To ensure students start off next year in the best possible way, please complete the following simple steps.
Who: All wolves
What: Complete the following steps to ensure your device is working properly
Locate your device charger and ensure it is working properly
Power on your device
Ensure your screen and keyboard are working properly (Make sure all the keys are working properly)
If anything is not working:
- 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.
Important Information from Nutrition Services
Welcome back! Nutrition Services is excited about the upcoming school year. School Menus, the district charge policy, menu item pricing and more can be found on the department website here.
More information including menu item nutritional information and allergens may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store.
In accordance with program guidelines, the Free and Reduced application will be available online as part of skyward registration. The free and reduced application should be filled out electronically at https://www.nlappscloud.com/. For those parents that still would like to complete a paper application, they may download an application on the website or stop by the Nutrition Services office at 5800 Colleyville Blvd.
Procedure for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges
Parents/Guardians shall monitor their student’s school meal account to ensure that they always have a positive balance. In the event that a student does not have a positive balance, the student may charge up to 5 meals to their account. Only reimbursable meals may be charged. A la carte items may not be charged. Communication about a negative meal balance will be sent to parents/guardians via email/text. Students who have exceeded the 5 charged meal limit, will be offered an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5618 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net.
Meal Prices
Pk-8 Breakfast - $1.85
High School Breakfast - $2.05
Reduced Breakfast* - $0.00
Adult/Guest Breakfast - $3.25
Elem. Lunch - $3.10
Middle Lunch - $3.30
High School Lunch - $4.00
Reduced Lunch* - $0.40, after Sept. 1, No cost
Adult/Guest Lunch - $4.75
*(Reduced priced at GHS, CHHS, Bridges is $0.30 breakfast, $0.40 lunch)
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Información importante de los Servicios de Nutrición
¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Los Servicios de Nutrición están muy entusiasmados con el próximo curso escolar. Los menús escolares, la póliza de cobros del distrito, los precios de los platos del menú y mucho más se pueden consultar en la página web del departamento aquí.
Se puede ver más información, incluida la información nutricional de los elementos del menú y los alérgenos, a través del sitio web de servicios de nutrición o descargando la aplicación Meal Viewer a través de la tienda Apple o Android.
De acuerdo con las guías del programa, la solicitud para obtener comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido estará disponible en línea como parte del registro en Skyward. La solicitud para obtener comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido debe completarse electrónicamente en https://www.nlappscloud.com/. Los padres que aún deseen completar una solicitud en papel pueden descargar una solicitud en el sitio web o pasar por la oficina de Servicios de Nutrición en 5800 Colleyville Blvd.
Procedimiento para estudiantes con cargos por comidas impagadas
Los padres/tutores deberán supervisar la cuenta de comidas escolares de sus hijos para asegurarse de que siempre tengan un saldo positivo. En caso de que un estudiante no tenga un saldo positivo, podrá cargar hasta 5 comidas a su cuenta. Solo se podrán cargar comidas reembolsables. No se podrán cargar artículos a la carta. Se enviará una notificación sobre el saldo negativo de comidas a los padres/tutores por correo electrónico/mensaje de texto. A los alumnos que hayan superado el límite de 5 comidas cargadas se les ofrecerá una comida alternativa que se cargará a la cuenta del alumno.
Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre el programa de Servicios de Nutrición, llame a la extensión 5618 o envíe un correo electrónico a child.nutrition@gcisd.net.
Precios de las comidas
Desayuno Pk-8: $1.85
Desayuno de secundaria: $2.05
Desayuno reducido*: $0.00
Desayuno para adultos/invitados: $3.25
Almuerzo de primaria: $3.10
Almuerzo de secundaria: $3.30
Almuerzo de secundaria: $4.00
Almuerzo a precio reducido*: $0.40; a partir del 1 de septiembre, sin coste alguno.
Almuerzo para adultos/invitados: $4.75
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.
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