The "Hawk Hub" - NJH

Next week, we will begin our student expectation meetings by grade levels. During these meetings, our Assistant Principals will review student behavior expectations, dress code, ID, and tardy procedures. All students are expected to follow the Katy ISD Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct at all times. The presentation will be shared in next week's Hawk Hub.

Stay connected with the "Hawk Hub" (this newsletter). It will be sent out each week as our primary information source to our parents/guardians. Please be on the lookout for this newsletter as it will be emailed, posted on social media, and attached to our website. FLY FIERCE!

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.

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.

Dear Katy ISD Parents/Guardians and Staff,

As the 2026 – 2027 school year approaches, we'd like to remind you of an upcoming change to school meal prices.

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.

Unless enrolled within the past 3 days, all students were issued an ID, lanyard, and cover this week. Beginning Monday, August 17, any student who does not have their ID on and around their neck will be issued a temporary ID.

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.
• 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

ALL Nelson JH parents must complete the annual student update. Emails with a unique code were sent to parent emails during the week of July 24.

For New Students:

Before beginning the online registration process for new students, it is recommended that parents have the following documents ready to upload:

• Proof of Residence: A utility bill (light, water or gas), purchasing paperwork or lease agreement. If a lease agreement or purchasing paperwork is provided at the time of registration, a utility bill must be provided within 30 days of occupancy.
• Official Birth Certificate or Passport of Student
• Government-issued Identification Card of Person Registering Student
• Proof of Immunization
• Report Card or Transcript at Recently Attended School

Registration is very simple and can be completed by clicking the Online Registration icon found on Katy ISD’s home page.

If you have questions, please contact Faustina Gonzalez, NJH Registrar- faustinagonzalez@katyisd.org

If you need technology assistance, please contact the Parent Tech Center https://www.katyisd.org/Page/7645

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