The Buccaneer Beacon
September 1, 2026
We are in the groove!
¡ATENCIÓN! Si habla español (o cualquier otro idioma que no sea inglés)
Puede traducir este boletín haciendo clic en el botón "Traducir" que se encuentra en la parte superior de la pantalla. Una vez que haga clic en ese botón, podrá seleccionar el idioma de su preferencia.
¡Esperamos que esta función le sea útil!
Important Upcoming Dates
- Sept 2 - Curriculum Night @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Sept 3 - Picture Day
- Sept 7 - Labor Day Holiday
- Sept 18 - 6th Grade Luau
- Sept 21 - Student Holiday
- Oct 22 - Picture Retakes
Curriculum Night
We would love for you to join us on one of our favorite evenings of the year, Curriculum Night! This year Curriculum Night will be held on Wednesday, September 2nd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
- Front doors open at 5:15 pm
- The evening will kick off with some incredible performances by our talented Buccaneers, followed by a welcome from me as I share a little about our vision for Hudson Bend Middle School and what makes this such a special place to learn and grow.
- Next, you'll have the opportunity to experience a "day in the life" of your student by following their class schedule. You'll spend 10 minutes in each class getting to know your kiddo's teachers, learning about their classrooms, and hearing what students can expect this year.
- Between classes, you'll have 5-minute passing periods just like the students....Don't be tardy!!!🤪
- See the schedule of the evening below.
Curriculum Night is a great opportunity to connect with our teachers, learn more about your student's educational experience, and strengthen the partnership between school and home. It definitely "takes a village!" We can't wait to welcome you to Hudson Bend and look forward to seeing you there!
Picture Day on Thursday, September 3rd
That time of year! Students will take their 2026 - 2027 pictures this coming Thursday, September 3rd
- Students will take their pictures through their Social Studies classes
- Theme Thursday will be moved to Friday this week due to picture day
- These are the photos that will go into this years yearbook, so smile big!😁😁
Un mensaje para nuestras familias de habla hispana
¡Nuestra increíble maestra de ESL, la Sra Fierro, ha preparado un maravilloso video de bienvenida para todas nuestras familias de habla hispana! ¡En Hudson Bend queremos asegurarnos de que se sientan incluídos y parte de nuestra comunidad escolar! ¡Nos encantaría colaborar con ustedes para garantizar que su estudiante tenga la mejor experiencia posible en Hudson Bend Middle School! También organizaremos una noche informativa para nuestras familias de habla hispana. La reunión abordará los siguientes temas:
- Cómo podemos apoyar a su estudiante en Hudson Bend
- Cómo funciona nuestro programa de ESL
- La importancia de la adquisición del idioma inglés
- Recursos disponibles para las familias
- La importancia y la estructura de las pruebas TELPAS
Reunión informativa para padres de habla hispana
Cuándo: Miércoles, 16 de septiembre de 2026
Hora: 5:30 p. m. – 6:30 p. m.
Dónde: Gimnasio de HBMS
¡Esperamos con ilusión celebrar este evento, el primero de su tipo, aquí en Hudson Bend!
Interested in Destination Imagination?
Students or Parents interested in DI? See the attached flyer that includes information about virtual and in-person parent meetings and links to sign the interest forms.
There is an in-person parent meeting at the EDC on Sept. 10th, 6:30 pm,
Athletics
Girls Athletics "Slay of the Week"👏💪
During the year the coaches nominate an athlete each week who displayed the characteristics of a role model athlete. Each week one athlete will be selected for the sport that is in season and off season to be the Slay of the Week! This week’s Slay of the Week (8/28) are...
7th Grade
Volleyball - Emily H
Cross Country - Khadija A
Off-Season - Camila V
8th Grade
Volleyball - Aubrey A
Cross Country - Morgan Y
Off-Season - Kimber C
Boys Athletics "Leader of the Week"💪👏
During the year the coaches nominate an athlete each week who displayed the characteristics of a role model athlete. Each week one athlete will be selected for the sport that is in season and off season to be the Leader of the Week! This week’s Leaders of the Week (8/28) are...
Cross Country:
- 7th Grade- Oliver Beatty
- 8th Grade- Derek Wells
Football:
- 7th Grade- Eli Vondrehle
- 8th Grade- Jimmy Guggenheim
7th Grade Leaders of the Week! (8/28)
8th Grade Leaders of the Week (8/28)
Team Schedules
Here are the schedules for boys and girls current athletic seasons!
Fine Arts
Club and Camp Opportunities
Lake Travis Cavalettes Junior Dance Clinic!
We hope your dancer will join us for the Lake Travis Cavalettes Junior Dance Clinic!
- 6th–8th Graders: Take your skills to the next level with exclusive training from Cavalette Officers to prep for future dance team tryouts.
- Food & Drinks: Pizza and water will be served.
- Pricing & Registration:
- Early Bird: $50 - Register on or before September 12th and be automatically entered into a raffle to win fun prizes!
- Regular: $60 - On or after September 13th.
- Space is limited, so secure your spot today. We hope to see you there!
Counselor's Corner
Help the Buc Lounge!
What is the Buc Lounge?
A place where any and all students are welcome to “shop” confidentially for free items they need.
What does the Buc Lounge include?
Food, personal care items, clothing, shoes, and school supplies.
Want to donate to the Buc Lounge to provide for our students who need it? Click the button below!🙂
Homework Help
Homework Help is a quiet work session facilitated by faculty members for students to get help with and complete class assignments. Please see the details below:
Homework Help AM
Days: Monday - Friday
Time: 7:20am - 8:20am
Location: Room 201 (across from the main gym)
*Before school Homework Help has a bilingual teacher available for support!*
Homework Help PM
Days: Monday - Thursday (not offered Friday afternoons)
Time: 4:15pm - 5:15pm
Location: Room 201 (across from the main gym)
Homework Help Expectations
- Personal smart devices are not allowed to be used during this time.
- School work only - no games or socializing
- Remain in Homework Help entirety of assigned time
- Leaving early requires teacher to speak with parent
GT Testing
Attention LTISD Parents and Guardians,
Gifted and Talented is the enrichment program provided for students who have been identified as intellectually gifted and talented. All students are eligible to be selected for the GT program at each campus. In order to be identified as gifted and talented, each student must undergo a screening and selection process. The GT Program is now accepting parent referrals for GT Screening via Google form. Click the button below to access the form.
- Transfer students, who were already identified as GT coming from their previous district, should submit the Google form as soon as possible, as the transfer student screening will be set within 30 days of the first day of school.
- Parents should send proof of their child's selection/participation in the previous GT program directly to the campus GT coordinator. (This applies to families that haven’t already been in touch with the GT coordinator.)
Parents can submit referrals for screening by October 15, 2026.
- Testing will occur during the 2nd 9 weeks of instruction.
- If the referral and permission forms are not submitted by the deadline, the next opportunity for the student to be screened will be the following academic year.
- Spring screening is reserved for students moving in new to the district after the fall testing window is closed and for kindergarten students.
- Once the request is submitted through the Google form, the campus GT coordinator will contact parents via email after October 15th to share pertinent information.
- You are also welcome to contact your campus GT coordinator at any time with questions.
The forms, program information and campus coordinator names can be found on the district Gifted and Talented page.
Student Dress Code
Parents,
Meet "Bucky!" Bucky is a visual to our dress code policy here at HBMS. This gives an easy reference for the expectations of student dress code. A few important notes:
- Pajama pants are not allowed unless communicated by the school as being part of a specific dress-up day or PJ day.
- While no "fingertip" rule is still in effect, please make sure that shorts and skirts are at an appropriate length and cover the rear fully when moving or bending.
- Midriffs aren't allowed, and belly buttons or lower backs should not be visible either stationary or during movement.
- As shown on Bucky, best practices for coverage of garments is basically a "box" from the shoulders down to below the bottom/private area.
Visitors and Deliveries
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.
- The badge verifies that you have checked in the office, presented proper identification and made clear the purpose for your visit. I
- n addition, you must have a pre-scheduled meeting with your child's teacher in order to have a parent-teacher conference.
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.).
Join our PTO! (Seriously, they're the BEST!)
About Our PTO
It definitely "takes a village," and our Hudson Bend Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is the absolute heart of our school!❤️🏴☠️ The PTO is a fantastic group of parents, family members, staff, and teachers who work together to bring magic, academic enrichment, and pure fun to all of our students and campus.
From funding awesome programs and hosting unforgettable events to volunteering and showering our school with love, our PTO provides the extra sparkle that helps our Buccaneers truly thrive. Whether you have hours to give or just want to stay connected, there is a place for you here. Come be a part of the crew that makes HBMS an amazing place to learn and grow!👏👏👏
Our First Kermes Market!!
- When: October 4th
- Time: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Where: Don Mario Mexican Restaurant
A Kermes is a community market and gathering centered around bringing people together - sharing food, handmade goods, and local businesses and talents. That's what we're hoping to create here. This isn't just another event on the calendar! It's a chance for HBMS families, neighbors, local makers, small businesses, and young entrepreneurs to come together, shop locally, meet one another, and enjoy an afternoon as a community. And with the holidays coming up, we'll also be getting a little head start on our shopping.
** WE'RE LOOKING FOR VENDORS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES**
You don't have to be a full-time business owner to have something worth selling.We're looking for:
If you make, bake, create, grow, design, or sell something, we'd love to hear from you.
- Local market vendors and small businesses
- Cottage bakers
- Tamale abuelas
- Sourdough mavens
- Artists and makers
- Handmade goods
- Food and specialty vendors
- Kid entrepreneurs with their own creations
And if your child has been making friendship bracelets, artwork, crafts, baked goods, jewelry, or some other creation and thinks they have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, this could be their first market!
- If you would like to participate, please reach to Paulina Nava, Head of Fundraising, at 737-529-4401 or paunavah@gmail.com
Let’s make this a vibrant community and kick off the fall season together.
PTO Spirit Store is Live!!
And the best part? It's open 24 hours a day.
- No waiting for a spirit wear sale.
- No trying to remember to order something before a deadline.
- If you need some HBMS gear, the store is there whenever you are.
We're also still tweaking designs and building out the selections, so consider this the beginning — not the finished product.
- Want something that's not available in your size? Wish a design came in a different color? Have an idea for something we should add? Tell us!
HBMS Social Events
Mark your calendars!
Alsies Austin @ the Luau!
Hi Parents!
At our 6th Grade Luau, Alsies Austin — one of our amazing school sponsors — will be selling their super cool popsicles! 🍧Popsicles are $5–$7, so please send your kids with the right amount of money if they’d like a treat. Every purchase supports a sponsor who supports our school. It’s a simple, fun way to show love back to the businesses that invest in our kids.
We NEED your Help!
Help Us Stock the Teacher Treasure Box!
Our students aren't the only Buccaneers who deserve to be celebrated! Every day, our teachers go above and beyond to support, encourage, and inspire our students. Whether they're staying late to help a child, creating engaging lessons, or simply being a positive influence, our staff pours their hearts into Hudson Bend Middle School.
To show our appreciation, I've always had a Teacher Treasure Box. It is a fun way to recognize teachers for their hard work, dedication, and the countless ways they make a difference every day. Throughout the year, teachers will have opportunities to earn a visit to the Treasure Box as a small "thank you" for all they do.
We're asking for donations of the little things that teachers absolutely love, such as:
- Gift cards are always a favorite, especially in $5 or $10 amounts to places like Starbucks, Target, H-E-B, Kroger, Amazon, Sonic, Chick-fil-A, Dutch Bros, or other local favorites!
- Gel pens
- Glitter pens
- Sharpies
- Flair pens
- Post-it Notes
- Highlighters
- Dry erase markers
- Fun school supplies
- Desk accessories
- Snacks and treats
- And anything else that would brighten a teacher's day!
Every donation, either big or small, helps us recognize the incredible educators who make Hudson Bend such a special place. Thank you for partnering with us to celebrate the people who invest so much in our students each and every day!
Help Us Build the Buccaneer Game Room!
At Hudson Bend Middle School, we believe students should be recognized and celebrated for making positive choices. This year, we're creating a Buccaneer Game Room as a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) reward space where students can earn time through positive behavior, academic effort, responsibility, and by representing our school, teachers, and families with pride.
The Game Room will provide students with a fun, supervised space to celebrate their success while reinforcing the behaviors that help make Hudson Bend a great place to learn. It's another way we're working to build relationships, strengthen our school culture, and make school a place students are excited to be.
We're asking for the support of our amazing Hudson Bend community! If you have gently used items you'd be willing to donate, we'd love to put them to great use. We're looking for items such as:
- Board games
- Pop-A-Shot basketball games
- Foosball tables
- Air hockey tables
- Ping pong tables
- Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, Nintendo Switch, or other gaming consoles
- Flat-Panel TVs
- Video games
- Card games
- Puzzles
- Bean bag chairs
- Other fun game room items
If you'd like to donate an item or have questions, please contact the Hudson Bend Middle School front office.
Thank you for helping us recognize students who consistently Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Together, we're building a school culture where doing the right thing is celebrated every day!
School Clinic Information
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we begin a new school year, the health and safety of our students remain our top
priority. To help us provide the best possible care, we ask that you notify the school
nurse of any medical conditions, allergies, or health concerns your child may have.
Please inform the school nurse if your child has:
● Food, medication, insect, or environmental allergies
● Asthma or breathing conditions
● Diabetes
● Seizure disorders
● Any chronic medical condition
● A need for emergency medication (such as an EpiPen, inhaler, or other
prescribed medication)
● Any other health concern that may affect your child's school day
If your child requires medication or emergency treatment while at school, please ensure
that all required medical forms are completed and returned to the school, along with any
necessary medications in their original, properly labeled containers.
Keeping your child's health information up to date allows us to respond quickly and
appropriately in the event of an emergency and helps us provide a safe learning
environment for all students.
If your child's medical condition or allergy changes during the school year, please notify
the school nurse as soon as possible.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping us keep our students healthy and safe. If
you have any questions or need additional forms, please contact the school nurse.
Sincerely,
Wendy Everett , RN, BSN
Hudson Bend Middle School
Phone: 512-533-6414
Email: everettw@ltisdschools.org
Transportation
Here are a couple of important links that you may want to check out as the new school year draws closer.
- Parents of new students are highly encouraged to create a SMART tag Parent Portal account
You can download the SMART Tag Parent App on Android or iPhone
Child Nutrition
As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we'd like to share important information about school meal pricing.
2026–2027 Meal Prices
- Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, student meal prices will increase by $0.10 across all campus levels. This adjustment helps offset rising food and operational costs while allowing us to continue providing high-quality, nutritious meals for our students.
- The updated meal prices are listed below:
Free & Reduced-Price Meal Benefits
- School meals are available at a free or reduced-price rate for students who qualify based on income eligibility guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Students approved for reduced-price meal benefits will continue to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost during the 2026–2027 school year.
- To receive meal benefits, students must select a complete (reimbursable) meal from an eligible serving line. Deluxe meals are not reimbursable meals and do not qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits. Students wishing to purchase a deluxe meal must have sufficient funds available in their meal account.
- Please visit the Food & Nutrition Services website for additional information about menus, meal prices, or meal benefits,
If you have questions, please contact Food & Nutrition Services at foodservice@ltisdschools.org or 512-533-6037.
Theme Thursday
Every Thursday is theme Thursday here at HBMS! Each Thursday we encourage both students and staff to have a little fun and dress up in a specific theme. Here is a calendar of the themes for each Thursday this school year.😊
The "Bend Basics"
We have updated our signage around the building reflecting our core values (The Bend Basics) of Safe, Respectful, and Responsible. These are also the expectations for various areas of the building for our Buccaneers to follow.
Campus Improvements!
We have been updating several areas on and around campus!! One thing you will learn about me is that I am all about team spirit and curb appeal. This is our "house" here at campus, and we want it to be a place that kiddos and families should be proud of! Some of the renovations underway are:
- Repainting all exterior "blue" items such as railings, gutters, etc. to a new "Mississippi Bronze" color. This completely modernizes the look of the building!
- Main gym floor redone with new logo and graphics
- Adding some team spirit to both gyms by painting the yellow, green, blue stripes around both gyms!! They will now be black, grey, and white to match our school colors! 👏👏👏
There are a few other renovations that I am working on and hope to have approved/finalized in the coming weeks. I'll share once they are finalized!👏👏👏
Yearbook Information
Library Information
Leadership Team
Instructional Leadership
Instructional Coach:
Grade Level Leads
6th - Evan Lear
7th - Nicole Dann
8th - Debra Rosen
Department Heads
ELA - Hailey Wylie
Math - Dan Grey
Social Studies - Craig Holden
Science - Ruben Soliz
SPED - Laura Becker
Fine Arts - Laura Truett
Athletics - Megan Kuehler
CTE - Eryn Brocx
Librarian - Caitlin Robson