The Buccaneer Bulletin

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Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! I am thrilled to welcome new and returning Buccaneers to another outstanding year of learning together. This newsletter has a lot of important information in it, so please read through it carefully to ensure your child is set up for success next week!

We will be going over many things at the beginning of the year with your student, but the most important is that they feel valued, supported, and encouraged during their time with us at HBMS. Relationships matter most and in order to be successful, every child must know how much we care about their success.

We look forward to seeing you all soon. Stay tuned for more weekly updates and enjoy these last few days of summer.

Go Bucs!

Laura Keogh, Principal

8/8: Student schedules go live in Skyward

8/11: Buc Games from 8:30-11 am

8/11: Round Up from 1-4 pm

8/13: 1st Day of School

Kick off the new school year in style! Grab your HBMS spirit shirt and help us build excitement, unity, and pride across our school and community! The online store closes Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 11:59PM. Shirts will be delivered to students through Grow Time when they arrive. Go Bucs!

Monday, August 11th from 8:30-11 am

• Click here to register your 6th grade student for Buc Games.
• This is a special event for our incoming 6th grade students only!
• This is a social event for students to meet new friends and get a sneak peek at the campus before school starts.
• Students will tour the campus, play team building games, and much more!
• Front doors will open at 8:30 am for drop off. Pick up is at 11 am from the front porch.
• This is a student-only event. Parents are welcome to drop off and pick up only for this event. Parents and students are both welcome to attend Round Up later in the afternoon.

Monday, August 11th from 1-4 pm

• All students and families are welcome to attend this event.
• Students and families may tour the building, walk their classes, and so much more!
• Regarding student schedules, please know that our counselors are still hard at work finalizing schedules and leveling classes. Official schedules will be posted in Skyward and available on Friday, August 8th.
  
• Meet your HBMS PTO and add your name to the volunteer list.
• Purchase school spirit wear! (more info above as well)
  
• Visit with representatives from Food and Nutrition Services, Transportation, etc.
• This is an important day for kids and parents to familiarize themselves with the building and prepare for the first day of school.
• This is not a meet-the-teacher event. Teachers will be working hard in their classrooms to prepare for school to start the following week.

Suggested Times:

6th Grade: 1-2 pm

7th Grade: 2-3 pm

8th Grade: 3-4 pm

• Lockers will not be automatically assigned to any student this year. This is due to the extremely small number of students who use them.
• All lockers will be assigned by request only (6th-8th).
• Students will have from Monday, August 18th-Friday, August 29th to request lockers during Grow Time.
• The Form will be shared through their Grow Time teacher.
• For any questions, please email Clark Fredrickson at fredricksonc@ltisdschools.org

• Click the button below to purchase: school code is HUD016
• You can also use the link below to see the school supply lists for each grade without purchasing through EPI if you choose.
• School supplies can be dropped off during Round Up or on the 1st day of school.

• Office Hours: 8:20 am-4:20 pm
• 8:20 am - Students may enter building
• 8:50 am - Classes begin
• 4:10 pm - Students are dismissed
• View the 2025-2026 LTISD Instructional Calendar here

The Returning Student Verification Form is required to be completed by the primary parent/guardian as listed in Skyward for all students who will be returning for the 2025-2026 school year. If your child will not be returning to Lake Travis ISD for the 2025-2026 school year, please contact Christy Thompson, HBMS registrar, and complete the submit the appropriate withdrawal form. Please note, your account in Skyward Family Access will be limited if this form is not completed by August 1, 2025.

To complete the Returning Student Verification process, log into Skyward Family Access and click on the “Returning Student Verification 2025-2026” tile (refer to image below).

Please note, you will be required to verify and update information on your student, family and residency. Current proof of residency documentation (fully executed lease agreement, signed closing documents, most recent property tax statement, mortgage statement, or property deed in parent/guardian’s name), AND a current utility bill (water, electricity, or gas with parent/guardian’s name) are a required portion of the online form.

While returning students are automatically enrolled for the coming school year, student information must be verified and/or updated annually. Once you have submitted the online form, the tile will no longer be available in Skyward Family Access under the student’s profile. One form must be completed for each student. You can view the online forms that have been submitted by navigating to 1. Main Menu > 2. Online Forms > 3. My Online Forms History.

Athletic Clothing

Boys/girls in athletics will pick up their athletic clothing at the mandatory Athletic Parent Meeting on August 11th that they ordered online before the end of school. If you are unable to attend the parent meeting you can pick up your clothing at Buccaneer Round Up or on the first day of school. If you missed the deadline, please check the athletics newsletter for more information.

PE/Pre-Athletics Clothing

PE/Pre-Athletics clothing will not be handed out at Round Up. The PE/Pre-Athletics uniform store will re-open on August 1st and will close on Sunday, August 18th at midnight. This will be the LAST opportunity to order clothing! Parents will receive email communication from Coach Kuehler and all information can be found on the athletics website. If you need financial assistance please fill out this form by August 18th - Financial Assistance Form.

Athletics Parent Meeting

Thursday, August 11th at 6 pm in the Big Gym. This meeting is mandatory! We will be covering general athletics information and all fall sport information.

Incoming 6th Graders

These students will receive their Chromebook on Monday, August 18th. This will be facilitated by teachers during class time. Students are not required to have a device before this day.

New Students 7th and 8th

These students will receive their Chromebooks and chargers during the first 3 days of school. These students should go to the HBMS Tech Depot from 8:30-9:30am or during Grow Time.

Returning 7th & 8th Graders

These students will need to bring their fully charged LTISD Chromebook and charger that was already assigned to them to school starting on the first day of school.

View the LTISD Chromebook Handbook here. We highly recommend purchasing the LTShield Chromebook protection plan.

If you have any further questions regarding technology support, feel free to reach out directly to any of the following:

Technology Helpdesk: helpdesk@ltisdschools.org or call 512-533-6565

Returning Students WITH Prior Service

All students who received transportation services this past spring (January 2025 to May 2025) do not need to re-register for the 2025-2026 school year. Your child's ridership will be assigned according to the established routes from last year. However, if you have recently moved, you will need to update your contact information in Skyward Family Access using the "Address Change" tile. This form must be reviewed and verified by the campus registrar before any changes are accepted.

Returning Students WITHOUT Prior Service

Returning students who did not utilize transportation this past spring will need to register for services for the 2025-2026 school year. The form is available in Skyward Family Access and includes a simple checkbox asking if transportation services are needed for the student.

Newly Enrolled Students

Students new to the district who have completed enrollment in Skyward Family Access for the 2025-2026 school year and have elected for transportation services as a part of that process do not need to re-register. Please note, the form can be completed and resubmitted multiple times, so it is normal for parents to still see the Bus Registration tile in Skyward Family Access.

Route Assignments, Updates, and Activation Timelines

Ridership will be assigned according to the routes established in the spring of 2025. For all students who utilized transportation services this past spring and for new registrations entered by July 31, 2025, route assignments will be posted by August 6, 2025 in SMART tag and at Infofinder. Please allow three to five business days to obtain route assignments for any new registrations requested after July 31.

If your child is absent on the first day of school, please contact your campus registrar to establish enrollment and a start date. Transportation routing will be reactivated once your child is present at school during official attendance time. Please allow three business days for this to occur.

• School bus rules are available on our district website on the Transportation page.
• All students will be issued a complimentary Smart Tag badge to start the school year. Replacement badges are available at your campus office for a fee. Smart Tag badges from the last school year will work for this school year.
• Middle school campuses do not use Smart Tag for dismissal purposes. Students are responsible for getting to their location on their own with adult supervision in each area.

We will provide an exceptional educational experience for your child, but he/she must be here on time and stay all day for us to do so. The entire school day is needed to deliver the full instructional program. Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever. It helps to:

• reduce stress
• make it easier to connect with friends and teachers
• support learning

Arrive before 8:50 am and stay until 4:10 pm every day. If your student is arriving late or leaving early, they may only do so through the Main Office.

ENTERING FUTURE ABSENCES

Parents can enter future absences into Skyward Family Access. This short video will provide you with instructions on how to enter an absence for your child. Once you log into Skyward Family Access, select the “Attendance” tile to enter an absence.

DOCUMENTATION OF ABSENCES

Documentation such as doctors notes for absences can also be uploaded through Skyward. To do this, please log into Skyward Family Access and select the tile labeled “Attendance Documents Upload”. This form will allow you to upload supporting documentation for absences.

Any absences or early release requests submitted for the same day will be accepted prior to 2:00 pm through Skyward. Students will not be released after 3:40 pm until dismissal at 4:10 pm. All supporting documentation must be received within 3 days after the student returns to school.

Please email hbmsattendance@ltisdschools.org with any questions or information regarding your student's absences.

Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs

• Must be dropped off and picked up by a parent/guardian in the health office.
• Must be in the original container, unexpired.
• Parent or guardian must complete and sign the “Request for Medication Administration” form, found HERE (Spanish version)
• Physician signature required for: all prescriptions given more than 10 school days and all nonprescription medications
• Must remain in the health office, not with the student (except for asthma medication and epi-pens with written permission signed by the physician…Spanish version).

Immunization Information

• Texas Law requires all students to be current with their immunizations or have an up-to-date exemption form on file with the school nurse prior to the first day of school. These records must be in the nurse’s office by August 7th to ensure your student will receive their schedule of classes. Any student whose immunization records are incomplete or who does not have an exemption on file with the school nurse will not be allowed to attend classes.
• Entry into 7th grade requires proof that your student has received the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines.
• All new students enrolling must complete registration with all required documents and immunizations. This must be submitted before the first day of school. The nurse will contact you for any missing immunizations.

Special Health Conditions

• If your child has a severe allergy, asthma, other chronic medical condition, or requires medication at school please notify the nurse , so she can create a plan before school begins. (Parent Forms),
• Immunization records and emergency care plans may be faxed to 512-533-6414, or scanned and attached to email at hbms_nurse@ltisdschools.org

CAR RIDER DROP OFF

• All HBMS students (grades 6-8) are to be dropped off at the Main Entrance in the front of the school illustrated by the Green route on the map ONE LANE ONLY (near curb).
• Parents, as you curb at the front entrance, please pull as far forward as possible in order to allow as many vehicles into the front loop at one time.
• Please, DO NOT drop your student off in the faculty and visitor parking lot. HBMS does not have staff available in the morning to monitor the crosswalk for safety.
• Please have students be ready to exit the car prior to stopping.
• Pull as far forward as you can to allow for multiple simultaneous car drop-offs.
• All car riders should be dropped off from the car rider lane only.
• The car loops are one way at all times, both morning and afternoon.

Thank you for your cooperation in this process and keeping students safe in the morning.

There are 4 dismissal options:

• Car Riders
• Bus Riders
• Walkers/Bike Riders

Car Riders

• All car riders must be picked up at the main front entrance.
• Cars will be directed into BOTH LANES of the loading zone for afternoon dismissal.
• Pull as far forward as you can to allow for multiple simultaneous pick-ups.
• The car zones are designated as “Inner” and “Outer”, and will fill in simultaneously, but be released one at a time by supervising staff members.
• Students are to watch for their car and move down the sidewalk anticipating where they will stop, loading cars only when all cars stop.
• The first group of cars is usually released at about 4:14pm.
• Parking to pick up students is strongly discouraged, as it causes added foot traffic in the crosswalk and slows the pickup line.
  

Bus Riders

• ONLY buses pick up at the back of the school building.
• Please do not enter the bus lane at the back of the school.
• Bus riders will exit the back doors of the main hallway.
• Buses will transport ONLY eligible riders with SMART tags ready upon entry.

Walkers/Bike Riders

• Exit out of the back doors immediately. Do not go to the front porch.
• Please be aware of cars and buses, as there is no crossing guard.

What’s NEW in Food & Nutrition Services (FANS) for SY 2025-2026

• For the 2025-2026 school year, middle school breakfast and lunch meals will increase to $2.05 and $3.50 respectively. For more information, please visit our Menus & Meal Prices webpage.

• We’ve updated our online menu platform! You can now find school menus, nutrition facts, and allergen information on My School Menus.

• To help reduce food waste and promote sustainability, students will now self-serve bulk fruits and vegetables in the café.

Free and Reduced Price Meals

• Households can access Free & Reduced Meal Program applications online starting August 1, 2025. Information about the program and applications are located on our website at Free and Reduced Meal Program.

• Households must complete a new Free & Reduced Meal Program application each school year to ensure continuation of benefits.

• Annually, a small sample of applications will be randomly selected for income verification. Notice of verification selection and instructions will be sent to randomly selected households in late Fall.

• For SY 2025-2026, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive breakfast and lunch meals at zero cost.

• To receive meal benefits, students must select a complete (or full) meal from an eligible serving line.

• Please refer to our Menus & Meal Prices tab on our website for more information about which meals are eligible for free and reduced price meal benefits.

• Please refer to the Complete/Full Meal Information tab on our website for more information on how to select a complete (or full) meal.

Lunch Accounts

• To add funds to your student’s meal account, MySchoolBucks will be available starting August 1, 2025. The MySchoolBucks service charge is $3.50 for all credit card transactions and $2.75 for all electronic checking account transactions. There is a $240.00 maximum deposit per transaction. Please visit MySchoolBucks for more information.

• Free prepayments are accepted via cash or check in all FANS cafes. Checks should be made out to LTISD FANS. For proper account credit, cash or check prepayments must be in a labelled envelope with the student ID# and full name.

• Deposits to accounts made in person will be available for use immediately. Deposits made via MySchoolBucks, including deposits that are established via the MySchoolBucks auto-replenish service, could take up to 24hours to process.

• You may sign up for MySchoolBucks or download the free app to make payments, view transaction history, and utilize other features.

• Students will not be allowed to purchase snacks or a la carte items (anything besides a CLASSIC meal) without a positive balance on their meal account.

• Chick-Fil-A sandwiches will be sold once a week. Students must have a positive balance in their meal accounts to purchase Chick-Fil-A.

• If you would like to limit purchases on your student’s meal account, Lunch Account Restriction Forms are available on the Food & Nutrition Service webpage.

• Lunch account restrictions roll over from year to year. If your child already has restrictions in place, there’s no need to submit a new request unless you want to make a change. To modify or remove restrictions, please contact your campus cafeteria manager.

Meal Accommodations and Special Dietary Needs

• Information regarding Special Diets and Meal Accommodations can be found on the Food & Nutrition Service Meal Accommodations page.

• Vegetarian menus and special menu items are available by request from the FANS Dietitian Marissa Bell, MPH, RD at bellm@ltisdschools.org.

Here are a few things we are proud to offer this year in the FANS Café!

• Unlimited fruits and vegetables with every complete meal (more info linked here)

• Fresh for Less initiative! We use strategic pricing and menu placement to promote full meals, healthy snacks, fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-rich options.

• Clean Label initiatives! We prioritize products free from artificial dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, and MSG.

• A continued commitment to fresh, locally-sourced, and plant-forward menus.

• Participation in the Good Food Purchasing Program! We make strategic food purchases that support local economies, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, a valued workforce, and community health!

For more information, visit the Food & Nutrition Services website, call 512-533-6037, or email foodservice@ltisdschools.org.

About House Bill 1481
Beginning this school year, House Bill 1481 requires all Texas school districts to prohibit student use of personal communication devices during the instructional day. The law defines personal communication devices to include:

• Cell phones (smartphones and flip phones)
• Smartwatches and smart accessories (such as Apple Watches, Fitbits, smart rings, and glasses)
• Personal laptops and tablets
• Gaming systems with messaging capabilities
• Pagers and radios
• Any device capable of digital communication

Exceptions will be made for documented medical needs and special education accommodations. Please note, district-issued devices will continue to be provided for instructional activities.

The new law is designed to reduce classroom distractions, boost academic focus, promote in-person interactions, decrease cyberbullying and online conflicts, and support student well-being—goals we began addressing with our own efforts last year.

Built on Experience, Guided by Community Voice
Lake Travis ISD is not starting from scratch. In August 2024, after careful consideration and input from our district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)—which included students, staff, parents, and community members—we implemented a similar personal device protocol in grades K–8. That decision was also guided by strong feedback from our Spring 2024 Stakeholder Survey. The response to our smart device ban was overwhelmingly positive. Students adapted well, reported fewer distractions, and parents were highly supportive of the shift.

What This Means for Students
Students in PK-12 grades will need to either leave their personal communication devices at home or keep them powered off and securely stored during the school day. This applies to all parts of the instructional day, including:

• Classroom instruction
• Hallway transitions
• Recess and lunch
• Locker rooms, field houses, and gyms
• Restroom breaks

Implementation and Consequences
To comply with HB 1481 and maintain consistent expectations across campuses, LTISD will apply the following consequences when a student uses a personal communication device during the school day:

• First Offense: Device is confiscated; the student may pick it up in the office at the end of the day.
• Second Offense: Device is confiscated; a parent or guardian must pick it up in the office after the end of the day.
• Third Offense and Any Subsequent Offense: Device is confiscated; a parent or guardian must pick it up in the office after the end of the day. Additional school consequences may be assigned under the Student Code of Conduct.

Staying In Touch During the School Day
We recognize that smart devices are often used by parents and students for important communication. In the event that you need to contact your student, parents can always reach the school office, and we will ensure that messages are relayed to your child.

We Appreciate Your Support
Much like our successful implementation in grades K-8 last year, we believe the new law and its ban on smart device usage by all students will have a positive impact on our school community. We appreciate your continued partnership as we work together to put student well-being and academic growth at the center of every decision. If you have any questions or concerns about this new law, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s campus principal. Together, we will make this a fantastic year for all students!

District Dress Code Prohibits the Following:

• Exposed undergarments, chest, midriff, or buttocks
• Crop tops, strapless tops, halter tops, backless tops, and shirts with spaghetti straps
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses that expose any undergarments or private areas of the body
• Clothing advertising tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, violence, or material that is offensive
• Spandex or form-fitting attire that does not cover buttocks
• Pajamas or other bedtime attire (unless for a "dress up day" approved by principal)
• Hats inside the building (unless for a "dress up day" approved by principal)

Items That Do Not Belong at School:

• Weapons, including pocket knives
• Tobacco, tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes
• Drugs, alcohol, or drug paraphernalia
• Skateboards, rollerblades, or shoes with wheels

Wearing school-issued Smart Tag ID card on a lanyard is an expected part of the dress code. Students must wear their ID card over the front of their clothing (not on their backpack) and must have this to purchase lunch, check out library books and get assistance at the Tech Depot. This is critical to the safety and security of our building. All staff and students must wear their IDs during the school day. We appreciate your assistance reminding your students of this important requirement. Should they lose their badge or need a replacement, these can be purchased at the front desk anytime during the school day or before school.

For a more detailed list, see the LTISD Secondary Student/Parent Handbook.

It is our priority to keep students and staff safe and focused on high quality education. Therefore, we respectfully require that all visitors sign-in at the office upon entering through the front doors and wear a visitor’s badge while in the building. With our new visitor system (formerly Raptor), ALL VISITORS must show their ID for each visit to the school. The badge verifies that you have checked in the office, presented proper identification and made clear the purpose for your visit. In addition, you must have a pre-scheduled meeting with your child's teacher in order to have a parent-teacher conference.

For the first two weeks of school, we will not have visitors for lunch. This allows students time to adjust to school procedures as well as build relationships with classmates.

Deliveries of forgotten items to students should be limited, so that important instructional time is not interrupted. Parents needing to drop off a lunch or other school items to their child will be able to do so by dropping the labeled item(s) in the Main Office. Items will be delivered to the students as soon as possible. We do not allow lunch deliveries from outside vendors (Grub Hub, Uber Eats, Door Dash etc.).

Students in all three grade levels have been assigned required summer reading texts. Note that Honors and On-Level students have a different number of required texts.

• 6th Grade Summer Reading List
• 7th Grade Summer Reading List
• 8th Grade Summer Reading List

While our campus leadership team works collaboratively with all students and teachers, the following information should help you reach the appropriate administrator or counselor for your child's grade level should a question or concern arise. We are committed to serving our students and appreciate the opportunity to work together with families to support our learners.

Principal

Laura Keogh

6th Grade

Assistant Principal: Clark Fredrickson

Counselor: Dana Page

7th Grade

Assistant Principal: Brian Gill

Counselor: Angela Carey

8th Grade

Assistant Principal: Tatiana Chavez

Counselor: JoAnna Janecek

Stay up-to-date with campus events and activities by reading the weekly Buccaneer Bulletin. If you missed one, head over to the HBMS website under the principal page to view current and past newsletters. Feel free to share these newsletters with friends and family.

Please note that The Buccaneer Bulletin is sent to the email addresses you have listed in Skyward Family Access. If you are not receiving weekly newsletters, please verify that your information is correct in Skyward or reach out to our registrar, Christy Thompson, at thompsonc@ltisdschools.org for further assistance.

Website: ltisdschools.org/HBMS
Location: 15600 Lariat Trail, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-533-6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools