The CMS Scoop

Hello CMS Families!

STAAR is finally done and we are down to our last three weeks. There is still a lot to do. Students will be taking their end of year screeners this week, begin our end of year fun-n-games and we will end the week by celebrating Mr. Chapa Day and our 20th Anniversary and Rededication. It is going to be a great celebration so we hope you can join us to honor Mr. Armando Chapa.

📚 Learning Continues at CMS

Although STAAR testing is important, school is not over. We still have three weeks remaining, and learning will continue daily. Academic coaching, the late bus, clubs, and many end-of-year opportunities will still be taking place. Our last day of late bus, academic coaching and clubs is Thursday, May 14th.

Please see the May calendar below as we have different bell schedules and events happening during the month of May. We will have our award's assembly on May 14th, 15th, and 18th. If your child is receiving an award, your child will be notified.

🪪 Student Expectations

Please remind your child to:

• Wear their ID daily
• Keep phones and communication devices in their backpacks
• Follow The Cougar Way

We continue to hold high expectations for all students. Please note that students without an ID are not permitted to ride the bus home. Replacement IDs may be purchased for $5 as students enter the building.

📞 Communication and Support

There is lots of information below regarding attendance incentives, our yearbook, and end of year carnival. Please let us know how we can support your family throughout the year. If you have a concern, we kindly ask that you contact your child’s teacher first, as most issues can be resolved quickly through direct communication. If concerns remain, or if you do not receive a response within 72 hours, you are welcome to email me directly or contact my secretary, Cynthia Rangel, to schedule a meeting.

It is truly my privilege and honor to serve as your child’s principal. Thank you for your continued trust, support, and partnership. Please see below for more important information.

Lisa I. Walls, Principal

Chapa Middle School

#believe #whateverittakes #porvida #20years

We are Chapa Middle School! We are Cougar Pride!

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who make CMS such a special place. There are many meaningful ways to show your appreciation—write a heartfelt note, card, or letter, send a kind email, or surprise them with a small gift from one of their favorite things listed below.

No gesture is too small—your thoughtfulness goes a long way. Thank you for taking the time to honor and appreciate our amazing staff!

During the last week of April and the month of May, we will also have our EOY Fun and Games such as Faculty v. Students Volleyball, Cougarball, Cougar Trivia, and Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game.

Students and their teachers have been working very hard all year, and this is a good way to show our appreciation for a job well done! In order to be eligible to participate in these events, students must NOT be on the “NO FUN LIST”.

The “NO FUN LIST” includes:

• Any student who has overdue library books - All books are due by Friday, May, 7, 2026

• Any outstanding extracurricular activity fees/payments due to Band, Choir, Mariachi, Orchestra, Dance and Athletics will be on the No FUN List until the fees are paid in full.

• Any student who has received a disciplinary referral from May 4th through May 21st

• Any student who has NOT cleared ID fees, cafeteria account, library or chromebook fines

This DOES include disciplinary referrals written for having out Personal Devices, TARDIES to Class, and Dress Code violations.

Those students who do not receive a disciplinary referral, and are clear with all books and fines during the period of time mentioned above, are rewarded for their effort by earning eligibility to attend these events during the month of May.

Students Must Have IDs to Ride the Bus

Beginning in January, all students will be required to have their IDs to ride a Hays CISD school bus. As you know, the district uses Smart Tag ™ which allows us to immediately know whether is student is on a bus, where they embarked, and where they disembarked. This information is essential during any type of bus crisis, or if a student is missing. Our transportation department won’t leave students unattended at bus stops on the way to school if they have lost their ID cards. However, students will have to get replacement cards while at school to ride buses home.

This year we continue our digital hall pass system. Our new system will allows students to access all four bathroom areas during passing periods and during class instructional time. The bathrooms are designated by color, blue, green, red and yellow. Students will use the bathrooms that are closest to their class. Some teachers may still not allow students to use the bathroom during class. We will continue allowing students with medical reasons to go to the nurse and/or bathroom with unlimited use.

Students are expected to use the bathroom in their area, or they will receive consequences. The system ensures that only a few students are allowed in the bathroom during instructional class time to limit overcrowding. Students will use a digital pass to go to the bathroom, office, library, nurse, counselor, and administrator.

Each student will get one bathroom pass and one other pass a day. The system will also track how long students are taking in the bathroom. With this new system, we will have fewer students in the bathroom, and those students will not take so long since each bathroom is near their classrooms.

Hays CISD will have trained crossing guards at the location indicated in yellow. The area will be staffed during these hours:

• 6:45 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Please have your student cross only during these times to ensure their safety. Our goal is to staff this area to coincide with the school zone signage. These times coincide with the bell schedules of Chapa Middle School and Science Hall Elementary to provide adequate coverage. We need all students to cross with our crossing guard.

Academic coaching will begin on Monday, September 8th. Most teachers are available Monday - Thursday or by appointment. Below is a list of teachers and the days they stay late. Students can stay and receive extra help, get a snack and catch the bus at 5:00 p.m. as long as they are bus eligible. We encourage all students to stay to keep up with their work and ensure they are mastering content.

Family Recipe for Success

Chapa Middle School aspires to engage with our community by giving back to organizations all year, instead of just at certain times of the year. Our Family Nights will continue to be free, but we will ask for a cash or non-perishable donation to support the Armando Chapa Memorial Scholarship. We thank you in advance for supporting our community and for showing our students a variety of ways our school can give back.

Late Bus - Our late bus will only be able to run Monday - Wednesday because of the shortage of bus drivers.

Schoology Login Information - Not every teacher is using Schoology. However if you want information on how to login as a parent, see the information HERE

Below is some important information to review for the upcoming school year.

1. Meal Delivery

2. Cell Phones and Personal Communication Devices

Hays CISD Campuses Closed to Meal Delivery Services - As part of enhanced safety at campuses, all Hays CISD campuses do not accept deliveries from meal delivery services or restaurants for student lunches. Parents may still bring outside food for their children if they plan to deliver the meals directly to their children during the child’s designated lunch period. All guests are required to follow existing safety protocols and check in with an ID at the front office. We will make sure that you know when your child’s lunch is so that if you do come to campus, you come during lunchtime.

Cell Phones & Personal Communication Devices Prohibited

During the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 1481, which requires all public school districts in Texas to prohibit students from using personal communication devices while on school property during the school day. The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

Hays CISD Policy:

HB 1481 requires the school district to adopt a formal policy prohibiting the use of personal communication devices on school property during the school day. These devices include (using the text of the law):

• Telephones

• Cell Phones (such as a smartphones or flip phones)

• Earbuds and Earphones

• Tablets/Personal Laptops & Computers

• Smartwatches

• Gaming, Radio, Texting, and Paging Devices

• Smart Glasses

• Any other device capable of telecommunication or digital communication.

Electronic devices provided to a student by a school district or campus are permitted.

The district's formal policy is in the process of development and adoption. In the meantime, the rules on this webpage apply.

School Rules:

Starting the first day of class for the 2025-2026 school year, Hays CISD students are not allowed to use personally owned communication devices during the school day while on school property. At Chapa Middle School, our school day begins when they walk through the doors in the morning. Students are allowed to bring devices to school, but they must store them in their backpacks, purses, or lockers (if one is assigned).

The law provides for exceptions in very limited circumstances for students who have: a documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician, an accommodation in a 504 plan or a special education IEP. Families should coordinate with their school nurse or the special services department regarding the limited allowable exceptions.

Disciplinary Actions:

The law requires school districts to create disciplinary consequences for students who violate the prohibition of using personal communication devices at school. The following actions are in place in Hays CISD until the district adopts and publishes its formal policy:

• 1st Offense: Parent Notification; Device is held until the end of day

• 2nd Offense: Parent Conference; Detention

• 3rd Offense: Parent Notification; 1 day of ISS

• 4th Offense: Parent Notification; 3 days of ISS

Link to Dress Code

Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat and that will not be a health or safety hazard to themselves or others. The District prohibits any clothing or grooming that in the principal’s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with normal school operations.

1. Basic Principle:

a. Certain body parts must be covered for all students.

b. Clothes must be worn in a way such that the genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric.

c. All items listed in the "must wear" and "may wear" categories below must meet this basic principle.

2. Students Must Wear, while following the basic principle of Section 1 above:

a. A shirt and

b. Pants/jeans or the equivalent (for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress, or shorts); and

c. Shoes

3. Students May Wear, as long as these items do not violate Section 1 above:

a. Religious headwear.

b. Hats facing straight forward or straight back that must allow the face and ears to be visible to staff and not interfere with the line of sight;

c. Hoodie sweatshirts (wearing the hood over the head is not allowed),

d. Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants, and "skinny jeans";

e. Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed;

f. Tank tops, including spaghetti straps and halter tops;

g. Athletic attire; and

h. Hairstyles of any length and style.

4. Students Cannot Wear:

a. Violent language or images.

b. Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or any other substance prohibited under policy FNCF(LEGAL);

c. Clothing that promotes gang affiliation.

d. Hate speech, profanity, or pornography.

e. Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups.

f. Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments

g. Swimsuits (except as required in class, field trips, or athletic practice)

h. Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon; or

i. Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observance).

Student ID’s

The district's dress code includes proper display of the student’s campus identification card (ID). All students are expected to wear the campus-issued SmartTag ID while on campus. More information on SmartTag here https://www.hayscisd.net/smarttag.

Enforcement

Dress code enforcement shall be the responsibility of the administrators on campus. Students in violation of Section 1 and/or 4 shall be provided three options to be dressed more to code during the school day:

1. Students shall be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.

2. Students shall be provided with temporary school clothing to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.

3. If necessary, the student's parent may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.

The following actions will be taken and documented in My Homework App:

• 1st & 2nd Offense: Students will be provided the three options above. Parents will be notified and it will be documented in My Homework App.

• 3rd & 4th Offense: Students will be provided the three options above, will receive lunch detention, parents will be notified, and documented in My Homework App.

• 5th & 6th Offense: Students will be provided the three options above, students will receive after-school detention, parents will be notified, and documented in My Homework App.

• 7th Offense: Students will be provided the three options above, will receive evening ISS, and there will be a Parent/Student/Admin conference with a dress code contract in place.

At Hays CISD, we are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. We recognize and value the essential role parents and guardians play in guiding their children's education.

We are excited to introduce new parental control features in our online library catalog. These tools will enable you to browse your child’s school library collection, view current checkouts, and restrict access to any materials you believe are not a good fit for your child. Click [here] to access your login credentials and begin exploring this new tool. Click [here] for more instructions on the library portal.

These features will enhance our partnership in supporting your child’s education. By tailoring library access, we aim to create a learning environment that aligns with your family’s preferences. We encourage you to utilize these tools to foster meaningful discussions with your child about their library selections.

Please take a look at our teacher wish lists and purchase something to help them out.

We appreciate you!

Email: lisa.walls@hayscisd.net
Website: www.hayscisd.net/
Location: 3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 268-8500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChapaMS/