Grizzly Gazette

York Families,

We are off to an incredible start at York! As we move into September, our focus remains on strong instruction, student growth, and creating a culture where every Grizzly can thrive.

Thank you for partnering with us by encouraging strong attendance, staying connected to your child’s learning, and celebrating their progress. Together, we will continue to Bond, Build, and ELEVATE while preserving the past and embracing the future.

Thank you for your continued support and for being an important part of the York Family!

Go Grizzlies! 💙🧡

Dr. Kelli McWashington

• 9//3/26 & 9/4/26: Picture Day
• 9/7/26: Labor Day Holiday: No School
• 9/10/26: PTO Monthly Meeting @ 9:30 am - York LGI
• 9/10/26: Guest Speaker - Nathan Harmon - SIGNUP LINK
• 9/10/26: Theater Parent Information Night - York Cafeteria - 6PM - 7PM

• 9/11/26: 7th Grade Luau Dance right after school (4:15-6:00)
• 9/16/26: TEXAS STANDARD DAY: YOUR FUTURE, YOUR LEGACY
• 9/16/26: Watch D.O.G.S. meeting @ 5PM - 6PM
• 9/28/26: Choir Fundraiser Starts

SAVE THE DATE:

10/9/26: No School Students

10/11/26: No School Students & Staff

10/22/26: PSAT8/9

As we continue to evaluate our campus systems, we want to share several adjustments implemented this school year based on survey feedback provided to our Campus Foundation Committee. Your feedback, along with input from our staff, plays an important role in helping us strengthen the York experience for our more than 2,100 scholars. We will be sending a survey to our staff as well as our parents as we embark on our first progress marking period.

1. Centralized Morning Student Area
We established a centralized location where students can gather and collaborate in the mornings until they are released to class. This adjustment also provides our teachers with greater flexibility to offer morning tutorials, prepare for the instructional day, and support morning supervision on a rotating basis one day each week. Most importantly, it creates additional opportunities for students to receive academic assistance directly from their teachers. I have provided the tutoring schedule for our academic teams link below. The team will also discuss with students in detail on they are free to attend tutorials that are scheduled.

2. Improved Hallway Traffic Flow
Based on feedback regarding congestion in key areas of the building, we adjusted hallway traffic patterns. Some high-traffic areas utilize one-way hallways to reduce congestion, while other areas allow two-way traffic to help students reach their destinations more efficiently.

3. Continued Focus on Safe & Efficient Transitions
These hallway adjustments were specifically identified through staff survey feedback to the Campus Foundation Committee. We will continue to monitor our transition procedures and make adjustments when needed. With more than 2,100 scholars moving throughout our building, our goal is to create the safest and most efficient opportunity for every student to transition between classes.

We appreciate our York families and staff for providing meaningful feedback and partnering with us as we continue to ELEVATE the York experience for every scholar.

Child Nutrition offers meal service for breakfast and lunch to the children of Conroe ISD from EC-12th grade on a daily basis during the school year. Per CISD Board of Trustees Policy CO (Local), students are allowed to charge 15 days of meals, one breakfast and one lunch, or $78.00. After the 15 days of meal charges have been reached, the student is no longer allowed to charge.

Alternative Meals

Students in EC-6th grade will receive an alternative meal. The breakfast alternative meal is cereal and milk. The lunch alternative meal is a turkey sub with mustard and milk. Students in 7th-12th grade will not receive an alternative meal after the charge limit has been reached.

⭐ Parent Information Meeting ⭐

Parents and guardians of Theatre Arts students are invited to attend our Parent Information Meeting to learn about the Theatre Arts program, upcoming productions, performance opportunities, fees, fundraising, volunteer opportunities, and important dates for the 2026-2027 school year.

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 York Junior High Cafeteria

We look forward to partnering with you for an exciting year of theatre! 🎭

Thank you!

Character Lessons by Grade Level

• PreK–Grade 8: Deliver 2 pre-prepared character lessons centered around Respect and Responsibility

• Grades 9–12: Deliver character lessons through an established campus system (for example, College Park’s Cavalier Compass, which provides digital, pre-recorded lessons for advisory periods).

Dress-Up Theme

• Districtwide Theme: Walking Into the Future

• Districtwide Slogan: "Your Future, Your Legacy"

• Implementation: Campuses use this theme to create a dress-up day and possible activities for staff and students related to Respect and Responsibility and/or the theme, Walking Into the Future.

The Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) at Oak Ridge High School will be hosting two informational sessions for families with current 8th graders interested in applying to ACES for the Class of 2031. Both sessions will be held at the Oak Ridge High School 9th Grade Campus Cafeteria on September 28th and September 30th.

The sessions are identical, so it is only necessary to attend one of the dates.

6:30 p.m. – Informational Presentation

We encourage you to explore our website prior to attending to review the program, but we hope you will join us in person if possible. Both students and parents should attend.

Students zoned to the Oak Ridge, Grand Oaks, College Park, or The Woodlands feeder zones are eligible to apply to ACES.

ACES students will be visiting students during lunches prior to these informational meetings.

Upcoming PSAT 8/9 for 8th Graders

Our 8th graders will take the digital PSAT 8/9 on the morning of October 22.

This test is a low-stakes, valuable baseline tool. It measures current reading, writing, and math skills to help support your child's academic growth.

Key Details:

• Zero Grade Impact: It does not affect grades, GPAs, or college admissions.
• Format: Fully digital on school-issued devices via the Bluebook app.
• Test Length: 2 hours and 14 minutes.
• Preparation: No studying required! A good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast are the best prep.

For questions, contact Angela Jacobson at ajacobson@conroeisd.net

York Junior High will implement a campus-wide morning tutorial plan designed to provide students with consistent and accessible academic support. Students will have opportunities to receive targeted assistance from their classroom teacher or any teacher within their grade-level/content team, creating a collaborative approach to intervention and enrichment.

Morning tutorials will focus on reteaching essential TEKS, addressing identified learning gaps, providing additional practice, supporting assignment completion, and extending learning for students who have demonstrated mastery. Grade-level teams will use student performance data to identify students needing additional support and coordinate tutorial opportunities across the team.

This shared approach ensures that student support is a collective responsibility, increases students’ access to academic assistance, and provides multiple opportunities for students to receive the targeted instruction necessary for continued academic growth.

https://apps.conroeisd.net/AlternativeTransportation/

Nutrition

https://www.conroeisd.net/page/child-nutrition-home

Free & Reduce Lunch

https://www.conroeisd.net/page/free-and-reduced-information

Dear 7th Grade Parents and Guardians,

It is time to celebrate! We are hosting a 7th Grade Luau Dance on from 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM, and we want to make this the best, most memorable event ever for our students.

Student tickets will be available for $15. An amazing dance requires a great team, so we are looking for parent volunteers to help us with setting up tropical decorations, serving refreshments, and monitoring the dance floor.

Please scan the QR code below to choose a volunteer role or donate supplies. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

📣 ATTENTION PARENTS! 📣

If you are sending dismissal change/release authorization information for your student, please make sure to email:

contactyork@conroeisd.net

🕒 No later than 3:30 PM!

This helps us ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for all students. It also ensures the front office does not miss a dismissal change to notify your student. Thank you for your cooperation! 💙

Connect with us! We post frequently on our York Junior High PTO Facebook page. Make sure to give us a follow to stay in the loop: https://www.facebook.com/YorkPTO. We also have a website: www.yorkpto.com (http://www.yorkpto.com/). Both are great sources of information!

York JH PTO is currently looking for local businesses to partner with! We offer Community Sponsorships that offer great visibility to our community, while supporting the PTO. We have several different levels for our business partners. Please email fundraising@yorkpto.com to partner with us today!

Special thank you to Brightside Braces for providing York with 2,175 lanyards for our students.

Raising Cane’s Spirit Night is coming up on Monday, September 28 from 4-10 PM. Please use the code RCFUND96 at checkout to support York PTO!

Yorkapalooza 2026! This is an event for York JH students only on October 23rd. Wristbands are available now for purchase. Most activities are included in the wristband purchase, but we will have concessions available for cash purchase. Tickets to dunk designated teachers in the dunk tanks are available for an additional cost! Purchase wristbands here: https://yorkapalooza2026.cheddarup.com

We post frequently on our York Junior High PTO Facebook page. Make sure to give us a follow to stay in the loop: https://www.facebook.com/YorkPTO. We also have a website: www.yorkpto.com. Both are great sources of information!

Our next PTO Meeting is on September 10. Join us at 9:30am in the LGI at York and see how you can help us make this another amazing year for all students, teachers and staff at York Junior High!

York JH PTO Spirit Wear and Family Sponsorships are available now! Support the PTO by purchasing your Grizzly spirit wear directly from us and becoming a PTO Family Sponsor! Family Sponsorships are an easy, hassle free way to donate to the PTO, with a few included perks! Final spirit wear order will be placed on September 12. Orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom late September. All spirit wear and family sponsorship levels can be found here: https://2026yorkspiritwear.cheddarup.com

Attendance contacts:

Email: yorkattendance@conroeisd.net

Phone:832-592-8616

Attendance clerk: dhurd@conroeisd.net

Arriving Late:

YJH classes begin at 8:50 a.m. Students who arrive late, but by 9:00 a.m., are considered tardy. Students who arrive at 9:01 a.m., or later, are considered absent from their first class of the day.

Remember, students who arrive at campus after 8:50 a.m. need to check in through the Attendance Office in the front lobby.

Class Attendance:

YJH class attendance is taken every class period daily. If a student leaves early for any reason, they will be marked absent for those missed classes for the day. In the parent/student portal under attendance, each missed class will constitute an absence for that class period on the students' attendance record.

Parents will receive an automated email/notification of the absence for the classes a student misses when he/she is checked out early.

Absence Notifications:

If notification of an absence is not made within 48 hours, the absence will be considered unexcused. Please only use one form of notification:

1. Use the attendance email: yorkattendance@conroeisd.net

2. Report an absence by visiting the Parent Portal at http://parents.conroeisd.net and select “Student Absence Reporting”

3. Contact the attendance office at 832-592-8616 and please leave name of student, student ID # and reason for absence

• Students riding the bus will be dropped off in the back of the school.
• Students riding their bike may LOCK their bike in front of campus, at the bike racks.
• Car Riders- please have patience and be nice to your neighbors. Use the "zipper" approach- one enters the front drive from the west side of Waterbend Cove, then the east side, and so forth and so on.
• Car Riders- we will allow "double stacking" of cars in both lanes to help more traffic flow on Waterbend Cove.
• Car Riders- follow the signage on the sidewalk and in the street. Pull all the way forward before dropping your child off from the passenger side.
• Car Riders- There will be several staff members outside to help you the "York Way." Most importantly, PULL ALL THE WAY UP, PAST THE FRONT DOOR, UNTIL ASKED TO STOP. The more cars we have pull all the way up, the more we are able to get kids out efficiently.
• Car Riders- Please pay attention to the county signs on the street that prohibit parking and pickup/drop off on Waterbend Cove. Police officers will be out there to provide citations to those who do not follow this rule.

• York JH dismisses at 4:05 PM.
• As soon as buses begin to arrive, bus riders are called from their last period class to load.
• Car riders, walkers, and bikers, will be released out the front doors closer to 4:00-4:05.
• Car Riders- follow the same procedure as arrival. Drive SLOWLY and look for your child. Pull all the way forward and allow your child to enter from the passenger side.
• Do not CUT or PASS others in order to move to the front of the line.
• Do NOT pickup your child on Waterbend Cove. All students are to be picked up near the front doors, next to the flag pole.
• At 4:15 PM, any remaining bus riders will be released to wait in the cafeteria.

CHARGING UPDATES

During the school year, we are limiting the amount of charges that a child can make on their account. After a child charges 15 days of meals, they will no longer be able to charge, and will NOT RECEIVE A LUNCH. Please make sure you are up to date on payments.

Breakfast Meal Prices

· Student Breakfast $2.00

· Student Reduced Breakfast $0

· Non-student Breakfast/2nd Student Breakfast $3.10

Lunch Meal Prices

· Student Lunch $3.20

· Student Reduced Lunch $0.00

· Non-student Lunch/2nd Student Lunch $4.70 (Teachers, Parents, Siblings)

My School Bucks

Beginning August 1, 2026, payments may be made online at https://www.myschoolbucks.com

Free and Reduced Meals

Parents can apply online for Free and Reduced meals NOW!! https://www.myschoolapps.com

Transportation cannot change addresses for students. All student information is uploaded from campuses, and it is used to route our students. Parents, you will need to contact Shelita Hebert, Registrar, if needing to change your address. Once the campus makes the address change, it takes about 48 hours for Transportation to process the change.

Parents or guardians must submit an Alternate Stop Request Form each school year for service to an alternate stop. Students who are not eligible for transportation services may not be allowed to request or utilize an alternate stop. Parents can request an alternate stop when they request transportation for their child (register). They can do that at the following link: https://apps.conroeisd.net/AlternativeTransportation/

We do not offer transportation to students who live under a mile from the campus. Our one-mile measurement is made from the point at which the residence’s driveway meets the public road to the nearest point where any campus driveway meets the public roadway or where any pedestrian walkway (greenbelt) provides access onto campus property (through a gate or driveway). The distances are measured using the District’s dedicated school bus routing software and the Montgomery County Appraisal District (MCAD) maps to determine distances if necessary.