Cele Weekly Update

Cele Families,

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at the Hauntcert and Trunk or Treat this past Thursday. A HUGE thank you to our PTO for organizing the event, to our community Trunk hosts, and to the teacher and student volunteers for making the event possible. Check out the pics here.

Congratulations to all 18 Cele Middle School Band students who advanced and auditioned for the Region 26 Middle School Honor Bands and Orchestra! We are incredibly proud of every student who prepared, performed, and represented Cele with dedication and pride.

Several students earned top placements and advanced to higher ensembles. Grant Griffin (oboe) finished 1st overall and advanced to the Wind Ensemble/Orchestra. Cason Fletcher (percussion) finished 3rd and also advanced to the Wind Ensemble/Orchestra. On tuba, Elliott Barrett (3rd) and Ezekiel Saenz (4th) both advanced to the Wind Ensemble, while Bukunmi Ariyo (trombone) finished 6th and advanced to the Wind Ensemble. Ellen Romero (horn, 7th) and Jeremiah Nichols (baritone saxophone, 4th) advanced to the Symphonic Band, along with Hadley Pierson (trombone) and Robby Gallegos (percussion).

We also celebrate our students who advanced to Concert Band, including Arnav Gowda (alto saxophone), Ram Vijayananth (clarinet), Ryan Megerle (trombone), and Connor Ding (percussion).

Every Cele student who advanced to audition is an accomplishment worth recognizing, including Landon Doyle (bassoon), Sem Ariyo (trumpet), Eleanor Bodon (flute), Taylor Tirrell (clarinet), and Leo Nicholson (percussion). These results reflect the hard work of our students, the support of their families, and the strength of the Cele Band program. We are proud of all of you!

Also, a shout out to our newest club, the Cele Unified Champions Team. Our first Unified event will happen Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. for the Special Olympics Bowling Send Off. all students are invited to participate during Arrival to cheer our Athletes on and launch them into competition for the day.

Finally, a shout out to all our Cele Pride students and newly inducted Ring of Honor members. It was a great week to be a Colt.

Let's make it another GREAT week, Colts!

Ben O'Connor

Cele Middle School Principal

Cele Middle School Website

Colt PTO FB Page

#CeleGrit

All Colt parents and guardians are automatic members of the Cele Middle PTO. Our next meeting is this Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the Cele Library. Hope to see you there!

Cele will conduct our traditional Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Veterans and their immediate family members are invited to join us for the program. We ask that Veterans or their Cele family member please complete this RSVP form so that we can ensure adequate seating at the event. We look forward to seeing you and honoring your service to our country!

Join us for our Community Launch of Basketball season this Thursday! Details below.

The library is hosting open Mahjong play on Sunday, November 8, from 2-4pm. Tickets for open play are $25. Would you like to learn how to play? For $40, you can sign up for beginner instruction. Find details and sign up links here. This event is open to adults who love to play Mahjong or would like to learn. Contact the librarian if you have questions at margaret.dominguez@pfisd.net.

Family members can access Canvas, which is a platform our teachers use to organize assignments in many classes. Here are the parent steps for accessing Canvas as a parent. Please note that Skyward remains the official record of a student's grade in all courses regardless of information displayed in Canvas.

Dear families,

Your student has the opportunity to participate in PFISD's sexual health curriculum, beginning at the end of this semester. This instruction occurs during PE classes for 6th grade, and science classes for 7th & 8th grade. You can learn more about this program by visiting the PFISD Website. You must provide or withhold consent for your student to receive this instruction by completing two forms in Skyward. If you do not provide a response, your student will not participate in these lessons. Students who do not participate in Big Decisions lessons will receive alternative assignments with no academic or behavioral penalty.

Dear families,

You asked, we answered! We’re going back to Washington, D.C. and New York City in the Summer of 2028, and we’d love for your student to join us!

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Explore America, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to learn more about this opportunity: https://rsvp.efexploreamerica.com/w8besth

As we saw this past summer, when students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow.

In this info session, we’ll talk about:

• How this experience will benefit your student
• What we’ll see and do on our trip
• Everything that’s included in this tour
• How your child can earn academic credit
• How we’re keeping this safe and affordable
• How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!)

Those at the meeting will have first access to enroll with a limited time discount. I hope to see you there and look forward to sharing how this trip can be a powerful and unforgettable chapter in your child’s life!

Thanks,
Jennifer Ellis

Please note this is a non-school sponsored trip.

We are proud of the supportive culture that exists at Cele and the fact that we are a District of Distinction Award Recipient by The Texas Way. You can view a brief description of The Texas Way here. Together, educators, families, and students will ensure a positive environment regardless of what transpires during competitions. Thank you in advance for your respect and support of our Officials, Coaches, Families, Students, Fans, and Administrators. I look forward to success in its many forms this year.

Yearbook Order Link

Yearbooks are now $37 for a limited time only. Prices will increase as promotions end. Secure yours today!

8th Grade Student Families also can add Tributes. Spaces are limited, so please purchase as soon as possible if you would like to add this memento for your 8th grade child to the yearbook pages.

All Chromebooks will remain in the building this year. We have adjusted our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal routines to allow Chromebooks to be checked out and checked in each day at Cele in order to safeguard their continued availability and to minimize opportunities for loss or damage.

Generally, our students use their devices responsibly, but we have learned that most damage and loss occurs when the Chromebooks leave the building. For reference: Any damage or replacement cost for lost Chromebooks must be paid for online using this link.

Current Prices:

• Charger Replacement, $25
• Chromebook Replacement, $425
• Repairs, (varies and will be assessed by the Technology Department after a Tech Ticket is submitted)

Colts, if you have been to Cele recently, you may have noticed our new kiosks in the foyer for visitor sign in. Along with this change, PfISD now offers a faster way for visitors to sign in. Please use the following link to learn more about how to sign up for your Raptor Safe Passport

We have had some instances when our Accessible Parking spaces were unavailable to our families who need them. While these parking spaces may be convenient to use especially when parking is limited, they are a necessity for some families and guests and must not be used for any amount of time without a legitimate need and properly displayed credentials on the vehicle. Please note that PfISD PD is assisting with the enforcement of approved use. Thank you for everyone's cooperation and courtesy, Colts!

Our Colts successfully have adopted the expectation of having phones and all personal electronic communication devices powered down and in backpacks. We will continue full implementation of the district's student personal device guidelines. Students found to be accessing a personal electronic device in violation of the PfISD guidelines will have it confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian. Beginning with the second occurrence, consequences will include the required disciplinary action and parent partnership to prevent further occurrences.

Families,

We encourage you to complete an Application for Free or Reduced-Price lunch. If you qualified last year, you must apply again this year to remain eligible. Read more about the benefits of completing an F&R lunch application.

• English: Apply Now
• Español: Aplique Hoy
• Vietnamese: Tiến Trình Làm Đơn Bắt Đầu

Fill out the form completely. For more information regarding the online application system, please contact Food Services at 512-594-0430. More information available on the PfISD website.

Dress Code

Generally, our students do very well with abiding by PfISD dress code. When we do have to give reminders, it falls into two categories:

• Pajama Pants are not allowed. We tend to see these more when the whether is chilly.
• Mid-riff shirts are not allowed. We tend to see these more when the weather is warm.

Parents, we ask that you please make a note of your child's outfits. We do our best to offer options here at Cele to get students back into class as soon as possible, but in the event that we are unable or students are unwilling to make an acceptable change, we do have to call home to have clothes delivered. Now might be a great time to identify which outfits meet dress code and which do not. Here is a link to PfISD Dress Code for reference.

Phones & Smart Watches

There has been quite a bit of interest in the new legislation regarding personal communications devices in school. Essentially, phones and smart watches need to be powered down and in backpacks from the moment students arrive on campus and throughout the school day.

Parents, did you know you have access to the announcements our students see during Advisory each week? This is yet another way to stay connected with your child's learning during the school day. In addition to participating in tutorials, honing math and reading skills, having protected, self-selected reading time, and a weekly guidance lesson, our Colts are prompted to check their grades through Skyward. Visit https://cms.pfisd.net/about-us to explore and learn more.

Families, if you will be picking up a student from school after 3:20 pm, which is 15 minutes before school is dismissed, we kindly ask that you call ahead to the front office at 512-594-3000. This will assist us in having students called from class at this busy time of day. Thank you!

We are fortunate to have so many willing and generous members of our community who are willing to volunteer. Please reference the flyer for information on how to apply to be a volunteer, then use the QR code or this link to begin your application.

Phones and Smart Watches In order to keep our students focused on learning and in accordance with the law, we do require students to have phones, smart watches, and other personal communication devices both powered down and put in their backpacks from the moment they are on campus. If ever a student needs to call home, we will be able to do so. If you need to reach your child during the school day for an urgent matter, you may call the front office at 512-594-3000. Please note: parents are required to reclaim a student’s cell phone or personal electronic device if there is a violation of the expectation.

Food Delivery We no longer are accepting food delivery for students from outside services. This is to ensure a safer environment for our students, and meal options will be available to any student, every day, through the school cafeteria. Should you need or wish to apply for free or reduced price meals, the link is here.

Identification Badges All secondary campuses provide students with their required Identification Badges to promote a safer environment. Following are our Cele expectations and information related to our IDs:

• Student IDs must be worn using a lanyard or clip and visible at all times on campus (excluding pre-approved activities such as PE).
• We provide the first ID and lanyard at no cost to students and families.
• If IDs are lost, defaced, or misplaced, a replacement ID and Lanyard must be purchased.
• Should a student repeatedly fail to meet expectations with student IDs, additional disciplinary consequences are possible.

Identification Badge Procedures

On any given day, 97% of our students arrive to campus with their student IDs already displayed on a lanyard around their necks. Thank you for your support with making this happen! New students will have their pictures taken and receive a new ID at no cost during their first few days of school. If students forget or have misplaced their ID, their first stop is to the Think Tank near the Cafeteria so that we can determine a solution, which usually entails one of two options:

Option 1: Purchase a Replacement

• First, your child will be instructed to contact a parent to inform them of the lost/misplaced ID
• The student may purchase the following items (cash only at this time)

• ID Card Replacement $5.00
• ID Badge Plastic Holder Replacement $1.00
• Standard Red or Black Lanyard $1.00

Option 2: Borrow a Temporary ID

• First, your child will be instructed to contact a parent to inform them of the lost/misplaced ID
• Students will exchange a personal item for a numbered, Temporary ID, Badge Holder, and Lanyard
• Students will return the Temporary ID at the end of the day and retrieve their personal item
• If parents are able to bring the ID to school, it will be delivered to the student as soon as practical and exchanged for the temporary ID
• Students who repeatedly need to borrow a temporary ID may be assigned a consequence by an administrator