The "Hawk Hub" - NJH

Happy November, Nelson Junior High Families!

As we welcome the month of November, we are reminded of how much we have to celebrate and be grateful for at Nelson Junior High! Our hallways and classrooms continue to be filled with continuous learning, high achievement, and memorable experiences as our students grow academically and socially. We are deeply grateful for the strong partnership we share with our families and the support you show our school community every day.

November brings a few important calendar dates to keep in mind as we navigate through the month:

Important November Dates:

• Monday, November 2 – Student Holiday / Staff Professional Learning Day: There will be no school for students while our staff engages in professional development to continually enhance instructional excellence.

• November 23–27 – Thanksgiving Break: School and campus offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope our families enjoy a restful week filled with quality time, relaxation, and cherished memories.
  
  

Every School Day Matters!

As we move deeper into the fall semester, we want to reiterate the critical importance of consistent daily attendance. Our teachers are working intentionally to sharpen core skills, deepen understanding, and keep every student on track toward their academic goals. Every instructional day offers vital opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration, and growth. When students are present and punctual, they stay fully connected to classroom instruction and position themselves for long-term success.

We truly appreciate your continued support in prioritizing attendance, especially as the holiday season approaches. Everyday counts, every lesson matters, and every student deserves the opportunity to succeed!

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making Nelson Junior High such a wonderful community. We are deeply thankful for our exceptional students, dedicated staff, and supportive families!

Families, please take a few moments to review bus expectations with your child. Riding Katy ISD transportation is a privilege, and following established procedures helps ensure that every student has a safe and respectful ride to and from school.

Students are expected to:

• Swipe their student ID badge each time they enter the bus.

• Remain seated while the bus is in motion.

• Keep hands, feet, and personal belongings to themselves.

• Use school-appropriate language and behavior at all times.

• Refrain from using technology while on the bus.

• Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus.

Please remind your child that the bus is an extension of the school day, and our expectations for safe, respectful, and responsible behavior remain the same. Students who are unable to consistently follow transportation expectations may receive consequences, including possible removal of bus-riding privileges.

Thank you for partnering with us by reinforcing these important expectations at home. Every student deserves a safe ride!

In an effort to help students get to class on time and to emphasize the importance of wearing ID's, we have begun conducting Tardy and ID sweeps in high-traffic areas of the building. During a tardy sweep, staff will close hallway doors at the bell, and any student not in class and without a valid pass will be marked tardy.

Students caught in a tardy sweep without a valid pass will receive a lunch detention. Students who continue to be caught in tardy sweeps will receive increased consequences.

Our goal is to encourage prompt arrival to class, and to discourage roaming the halls, so that learning time is maximized for all students. Thank you for your support in helping us reinforce this important expectation!

Katy ISD’s Partners in Education invites you to support families who could use a little extra help

during the winter break through our Food for Families campaign. Campuses identify students in

need, and with support from the community, Partners in Education will provide grocery gift

cards and a heartfelt note. Each gift is delivered by a campus staff member, reminding students

that their Katy ISD family cares.

Has a staff member gone above and beyond for your child? Send them a Hawk Hooray!

If you want to send a quick shout out to any of our staff members, send them a quick "Hawk Hooray"! These will be displayed on the bulletin board outside of the staff workroom and then given directly to the staff member to hang in their classrooms or workspace. You can remain anonymous, or share your name.

The Department of Special Education is pleased to offer a series of District Autism Parent Trainings for parents and caregivers of students receiving special education services. These trainings are designed to provide families with information, strategies, and resources to support their child's success at home, in school, and within the community. All trainings will be conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams The Department of Special Education is pleased to offer a series of District Autism Parent Trainings for parents and caregivers of students receiving special education services. These trainings are designed to provide families with information, strategies, and resources to support their child's success at home, in school, and within the community. All trainings will be conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams (LINK).

For additional questions and information, contact Sophia Garza at SophiaEGarza@katyisd.org or at 281396-5484.

Dear Katy ISD Parents/Guardians and Staff,

In response to federal regulations and economic impacts, breakfast and lunch prices will increase beginning this school year. While these adjustments are necessary to help us continue providing high-quality, nutritious meals for our students, we understand that any increase can affect a family's budget. That's why we've worked hard to keep meal prices as affordable as possible. In fact, this is the District’s first meal price increase in more than 10 years.

Beginning with the 2026 – 2027 school year:

• Breakfast at all campuses will increase from $1.25 to $1.50.
• Elementary lunch will increase from $2.25 to $2.75.
• Junior high and high school lunch will increase from $2.75 to $3.25.

Charge Policy - District charge policy allows students without meal money to receive the meal choice which will be charged to the student's cafeteria account with the expectation the parent will pay for all meals charged.

See car rider flow below.

Parents of Bus Riders: If your student is a bus rider, look for the white route number on the side of the bus when tracking their bus this school year! And make sure to download the Smart tag™ app from your mobile Google Play Store or Apple App Store to find your bus route information. The Smart Tag app allows parents to set their preferred notifications, including when their child’s bus is expected to arrive. You can also see when and where your student boards and exits the bus.

Unless enrolled within the past 3 days, all students should have an ID. Any student who does not have their ID on and around their neck will be issued a temporary ID. Students will be given a temporary ID for up to 5 days (with the below consequences) to allow the student time to find their ID before a new one is printed.

Students must always have an ID on and around their neck. Please ensure that student lanyards correspond with the grade level colors that were issued to them. This helps us ensure that students are on the right floor and area of the building.

• 8th grade - GOLD lanyards
• 7th grade - COLUMBIA BLUE lanyards
• 6th grade - NAVY lanyards

If issued a temporary ID for the day:

• Students may receive disciplinary consequences for multiple infractions, as wearing an ID is a part of the Katy ISD dress code.
• Any student with a temporary ID will be called last to the lunch line and loaded on to the bus last, due to the added time it takes to manually enter ID #'s.

PLEASE REMIND STUDENTS TO HAVE THEIR ID's DAILY

We are excited to continue our Advisory program this school year and our plan to provide extra support student growth on Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays.

Through RTI Scheduler (a program accessed through a tile in My Katy Cloud), students will be assigned to an advisory class during FLY Times, or sometimes be allowed to choose their sessions. This is the same program that students sign up for a.m./p.m. tutorials in. This system gives teachers the ability to schedule time with students more intentionally, providing opportunities for:

Intervention - for students needing additional support

Academic obligations - to complete missing assignments, make-up work, or tutoring

Enrichment - for students who are ready to extend their thinking

Study Hall/Campus activities - for students to study and complete assignments, or for various campus activities

Our F.L.Y. Time program allows us to ensure that our Hawks get exactly what they need to focus their learning and be successful based on their individual needs. Students can log into their accounts each Friday during 7th period to see where they will report the following week. Our staff will guide students through this process.

Thank you for your continuous partnership in making Nelson JH a place where ALL students are supported.

Please plan your vacations and personal travel around the important dates listed. Please remember that finals are scheduled for the last week before Christmas Break and the final week of school in May. Final exams may not be given early (before the exam windows open) for any reason due to test security/fidelity. We appreciate your planning ahead and helping ensure that students and staff are present and prepared during these important instructional periods.

Nelson JH is pleased to continue our partnership with our Sister School, Tays JH. A "Katy ISD sister school" refers to a partnership between two Katy Independent School District (KISD) campuses that share similar goals and values, fostering a supportive relationship to help achieve those common objectives. We are excited to continue to create the strong bonds between our two KISD campuses - working together for mutual benefit and support. For example, we may share volunteers for an event hosted at one of our campuses, or we may surprise our sister with a staff appreciation gesture. Thank you Tays, for your teamwork!

This year, we will continue to emphasize safety and security in our school. It is the expectation that as a community we set an example and enforce all safety policies. Beginning next week and during the year we will practice safety drills and enforce and strengthen our safety practices. Below you will find some information about school safety. By working together, we can help ensure a safe journey for our students each day. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our school.

Safety Plans and Training: Our safety plans are updated, and all staff and students will receive instruction and training during the first week of school and throughout the year.

Staff and Student IDs: Staff and students must wear their ID badges at all times during school hours, while on school property. If a student loses their ID, a replacement must be purchased promptly from the school library.

Visitor and Volunteer Management: All visitors are expected to check-in at the front office and must be cleared before entering the building during instructional hours.

Cameras and Doors: Our campus and Katy ISD buses have a robust system of cameras that are monitored and used daily to assist us in creating a safe environment. Exterior doors throughout our building are all monitored through an access control system and have alarms. All exterior doors are to remain closed and locked during school business hours. Interior classroom doors are expected to be locked at all times.

Fliplocks: Classroom doors that do not have push bars are equipped with specialized FlipLoks, enhancing campus security during lockdown situations.

Safety Personnel: Our NJH Safety and Security Team continuously plans, reviews, and oversees safety. Our junior high school is staffed with a full time, armed Katy ISD police officer and a Level II Security Guard.

Transportation Safety: School zone times are in effect for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of school, and 30 minutes following dismissals. Please continue to remind your child not to engage with strangers or accept rides from unknown individuals. Traveling in groups in encouraged. Our campus does not have any walkers, bikers, or scooters due to unsafe roads and construction surrounding our campus. Please be sure to always plan ahead for student rides.

Anonymous Reporting Platform (SpeakUP): Everyone in the community is encouraged to report if they see something, say something. SpeakUP is the anonymous reporting platform that students, parents, and patrons can use to report safety concerns, bullying, threats of violence, drug use, as well as any other concerns related to student physical or mental health. SpeakUP is available for download in the Apple Store or Google Play. It is also available on all District websites, computers and District devices. SpeakUP provides an opportunity for the Katy ISD community to anonymously provide valuable information to campus/district administration and law enforcement that will help keep our students safe.

A parent/guardian of a school-aged child has the responsibility to require that his/her child attend school regularly. When sickness or another reason necessitates an absence, a note signed by the parent/guardian or email explaining the reason for the absence is required prior to or when the student returns to school.

If a student fails to submit a note from from the parent or the school does not receive notification explaining the reason for the absence, the absence will automatically be considered unexcused.

We appreciate the parents/guardians and want everyone to know that we are here to work with you and your child.

Nelson Junior High Attendance Clerk

Alexa Acuna

Email: alexanacuna2@katyisd.org

• Texas law prohibits the student use of Personal Communication devices, including cell phones, Smart watches, Meta glasses and wireless headphones. All devices will need to be turned off and put away in student backpacks (not in pockets). Backpacks will be placed in designated areas of classrooms when students arrive to class.

Dear Katy ISD Parents/Guardians and Staff,

As we prepare for the 2026 – 2027 school year, student safety remains Katy ISD's highest priority.

Katy ISD Police, along with local law enforcement, have seen an increase in accidents and injuries involving electric motorcycles, dirt bikes, minibikes, pocket bikes, ATVs, go-karts and other high-powered motorized vehicles operated by children and teens. Many of these vehicles are not designed or legally authorized for student transportation to and from school.

It's important to understand that these vehicles are different from traditional bicycles, standing electric scooters and electric bicycles (e-bikes). Under Texas law, e-bikes have fully operable pedals and meet specific speed requirements, while high-powered electric motorcycles and similar vehicles are subject to different laws and may require registration, insurance and a driver's license.

To help keep students and staff safe, Katy ISD permits traditional bicycles, standing electric scooters, and Texas law-compliant e-bikes on campuses, provided they are operated safely and responsibly.

Electric motorcycles, dirt bikes, minibikes, pocket bikes, ATVs, go-karts and other similar high-powered motorized vehicles are not permitted on school property. High school students who drive a car or street-legal motorcycle to school must have a valid driver's license, current registration and proof of insurance.

Before school begins, we encourage families to review safe riding practices with their children. Working together, we can help students make safe choices and ensure a safe start to the new school year.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools and community safe.

David Rider
Chief of Police
Katy Independent School District

The Pay N’ Go webstore has been updated and simplified to help families quickly access payments for:

• Varsity Athletics
• Junior High Athletics
• Meals
• Events
• Fine Arts Ticketing
• Student Fees, and more.

The Pay N’ Go system allows parents, students and other patrons to make secure online payments with no transaction fees.

The next time you need to make a payment or purchase tickets, visit the updated Pay N’ Go webstore to see the new navigation and quickly find the service you're looking for.

Nelson JH operates on a 7 period bell schedule which includes targeted Advisory - "Fly Time", three days a week. Fly time will be used for students to take care of Academic Obligations (such as tutorials, make-up work, etc.), Intervention on topics they are struggling with, Extension activities on topics that they excel at, and Enrichment for student choice activities. Students will log into their RTI schedule tile in MyKaty Cloud on Fridays to see where to report to for FLY time on Tues-Thurs.

6th graders may have either A or B lunch.

7th graders may have either B, C, or D lunch.

8th graders may have either C or D lunch

Kara Morgan - Principal

Bethaney Aguilar Assistant Principal - Student Support/8th Grade, last names M-Z

Brandy Royal Assistant Principal - 8th Grade, last names A-L

Trae Pollock Assistant Principal - 7th Grade, last names M-Z

Hanna Darensbourg Assistant Principal - 8th Grade, last names A-L

Tim Wolff Assistant Principal - 6th grade, last names M-Z

Dorian Nero Assistant Principal - last names A-L

Julia Martin - Student Support Counselor

Leah Parker Counselor - 6th Grade

Lucy Dorlus Counselor - 7th Grade

Kristen Woods Counselor - 8th Grade