The Wolf Weekly

Wonderful Wolf Families,

Welcome to November!

Monday our wolves get to enjoy a little time away from school while our staff engages in a day of learning! We look forward to our wolves returning to campus on Tuesday.

The pack celebrated Red Ribbon Week in style all week! Howl to the incredible participation from all wolves! The week ended with an unforgettable assembly thanks to our superb PTA. See below for details!

Looking forward to a fabulous four day week with the pack!

Howl,

Jamie Halliburton

CTMS Principal

Howl to our wolves who attended the Special Olympics Area Bowling event on Wednesday! They earned two second place and one fourth place medal.

Our wolves ran so fast during Wednesday's Meet of Champions races that we didn't snap a single picture. The wolves earned first place for seventh grade girls and second place for seventh grade boys, eighth grade girls, and eighth grade boys. Way to go runners!!!!! The pack is proud of you!

Fun was had by the pack community on Thursday night at CTMS's fifth annual Trunk or Treat! As an added treat, band hosted their fall concert outside to kick-off the event! Thank you to all who joined the festivities, volunteered their time, donated candy, hosted games and trunks, and brought wolves to enjoy the event! Special howl to CTMS's PTA for making this event possible for the pack!

The pack wrapped up Red Ribbon Week with an amazing assembly made possible because of the generosity of CTMS PTA. The pack learned about bike and e-bike safety as well as healthy living for Red Ribbon Week. BMX Pros entertained us with tricks and treats!

Howl to CTMS A-Team Volleyball for terrific playing during their end of season tournaments. Congratulations to seventh grade A-Team for earning second place in the tournament!!!!! Congratulations to eighth grade A-Team for earning first place in the tournament!!!!!!!! The pack is proud of all our volleyball players!

We are aware that there are some families whose income or benefits have changed or will soon. We recognize that one area of need may be food and we want to make sure you know about helpful resources in our community:

• If you have not already completed for this school year, please complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application: https://www.nlappscloud.com/

• GCISD partners with local churches to provide non-parishable, easy to make food for students for the weekend. If you are interested in the program, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5nASwOx1Cehozx1kgaISRrqbynZtN2uIoN5VXxfV7JTWb-w/viewform?usp=dialog

• GRACE: Food Pantry

• 817-488-7009

• https://www.gracegrapevine.org/request-support

• Fellowship Church: Free Groceries November 23, 2025

• Call 972-471-6696

• Fellowshipchurch.com/HOPE-FOR-OUR-CITY

• St. Francis of Assisi Grapevine

• Food Pantry Hours: 9:15 am - 12:30 pm - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

• 861 Wildwood Lane, Grapevine, TX 76051

• Chicken Salad Chick in Hurst is offering free kid’s meals to children who are present and dining in. No purchase necessary, no questions asked.

• 520 Grapevine Hwy #500, Hurst, TX 76054

• The Taste Project in Fort Worth is a “pay what you can” restaurant. The menu has no prices and you pay whatever you are able to.

• 1200 S Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76104

• This is a locating tool for different food banks in Tarrant County: Tarrant Area Food Bank

If your student/family is in need of food and you are unsure of what steps to take, please reach out to CTMS so we can help you navigate.

As Red Ribbon Week concludes, we encourage parents to continue the important conversation about substance abuse. The Stay on Track Coalition has provided a helpful booklet with information and tips for talking with your children about the dangers of substance abuse. You can access the booklet here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUjsT6tcuePGca_4MkI-7yKydly3wye_/view

Character Strong

The Character Trait for November is Humility.

Family Dare

Volunteer Day

This weekend, research local organizations or nonprofits together and plan a way to support 1 this school year that stands out to you as a family.

It could be giving of your time, money, or energy - but finding some small way to contribute can be an amazing way to connect and do good!

Our next NJHS meeting will take place before and after school in the library on Monday, Nov. 10th.

NJHS Members! Ms. Billman will be collecting boxes for donations on Tuesday morning. Please meet Ms. Billman on the SAC stage from 7:45-8:00 if you have any boxes that can be used to hold donations for our G.R.A.C.E. Food Drive! Each box is worth 15 minutes of volunteer credit. Please be sure to bring your paper Hours Tracker to get it signed!

The G.R.A.C.E. Food Drive starts next week! Please donate whatever you can to help those in need in our community. We will be collecting donations all the way to Thanksgiving Break!

Ms. Billman forces the first round of NJHS volunteers at the Trunk or Treat to stare directly into the sun for these pictures! Despite the sun, Diana C.B., Logan R., Haelee O., Mason G., and Henry K. did an amazing job! Even though we might not have won best trunk (we suspect the judges were bribed!), NJHS definitely had the most fun!

Grandparents who join PTA in November will have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Winner will be announced Nov 30!

Thank you to everyone who has joined PTA! Click this link to join the CTMS PTA and thank you to everyone who has already joined our PTA!

Interested in Volunteering: Volunteers make Cross Timbers Middle School great! Please consider sharing your talents and enthusiasm by volunteering! Complete this form.

Follow us on Facebook at "Cross Timbers Middle School PTA" to see updates and important information!

Click here for the official district calendar for the 2025-2026 school year

• November 3 ~ No school for the wolves/staff professional learning
• November 4 ~ CTMS Tennis vs CMS @ GHS 5 pm/8th grade football finals @ MPS
• November 5 ~ CTMS Athletic Booster Club Spirit Night Sonic (see above)
• November 8 ~ All Region Band Auditions-Phase 2 @ CTMS 8 am - 2 pm
• November 10 ~ NJHS Mtgs 7:45 am & 3:45 pm / CTMS Tennis vs West @ GHS 5-7 pm / Parent Mtg Girls Basketball Lecture Hall 5:30-6:30 pm/Veterans Day Reception in Library 8:00-9:30
• November 13 ~ 8th Grade Band Parent Night 6-6:45 pm
• November 15 ~ Taste of Timberline 11:00 am
• November 17 ~ CTMS Boys Basketball vs HMS Scrimmage
• November 18 ~ CTMS Wrestling @ Carroll 5:30-7:30 pm
• November 19 ~ PTA Reflections Reception @ CTMS 7:45-8:15 am
• November 20 ~ CTMS Girls Basketball @ HMS Scrimmage
• November 21 ~ CTMS Spelling Bee 8:30-11:30 am
• Nov. 24th-28th ~ SCHOOL HOLIDAY/ SCHOOL CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK

Announcing Nutrition Services' Annual Thanksgiving Feast on November 6

Get ready for a mouthwatering celebration of gratitude and togetherness! It’s that time of the year again, and we are thrilled to announce our Annual Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday, November 6, where we’ll be serving up a delectable spread that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy!

On the menu:

🦃 Sliced Turkey – Succulent, tender, and perfectly roasted to golden perfection.

🥔 Mashed Potatoes & Gravy – Creamy, velvety mashed potatoes smothered in rich, flavorful gravy.

🌽 Cornbread Dressing – A savory masterpiece of herbs, spices, and cornbread baked to perfection.

🌱 Green Beans – Seasoned and buttery.

🍞 Fresh Baked Rolls – Soft, warm rolls fresh from the oven.

🍏 Warm Cinnamon Apples – Sweet, spiced comfort in every bite.

🥧 Sugar Cookie – A sweet ending to your festive feast.

✨ We hope you’ll join us for this special meal on Thursday, November 6, during lunch!

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

Red Rail Football Game

General Information:

1. GHS is the home team

1. Spectators with GHS tickets enter the main gate

2. CHHS is the visiting team

1. Spectators with CHHS tickets can enter the north or south gate

2. CHHS season ticket holders will need to purchase a ticket

3. Ticket Link

1. Tickets go on sale Monday morning

2. We have sold out in the past so we suggest buying tickets early

4. Parking

1. Overflow parking areas

2. No shuttles will be provided

5. Clear Bag Policy is in effect.

Yearbook staff is hard at work capturing memories, but we need your help to make sure everyone’s story is included! Parents, students, and teachers can upload photos directly to our yearbook using our Jostens Photo Share link (below).

We’re especially looking for photos of:
8th Grade Volleyball
8th Grade Football
Cross Country
Summer Break

Every photo helps us create a more complete yearbook — thank you for sharing your moments with us!

https://photos.jostens.com/JRZQGH

Yearbook ads are a great way to show your recognition and pride for your 8th grader. To create and purchase your ad, just go tohttps://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=2301060 and place your order by 11/14. Time and space is limited, so be sure to place your order today!

If you have not ordered your copy of this year’s book, go to https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09895994 and place your order to guarantee your copy on distribution day!

The Bobby Bragan Scholarship Program allows 8th graders to compose an essay and apply for a $2500 scholarship to apply to their future educational endeavors. We invite you to visit their website at BobbyBragan.org, where you’ll find a scholarship tab with frequently asked questions and helpful tips to guide students as they complete their applications. Applications are due December 12, 2025. We wish the students the best of luck in this scholarship competition!

GCISD is partnering with Recovery Resource Council to bring Drug and Alcohol prevention curriculum to middle school students. As approved by the GCISD Student Health Advisory Committee, sixth graders will receive six lessons using Positive Action curriculum during PE/Pre-Athletics in the Spring semester and seventh and eighth graders will each receive one Drug & Alcohol Prevention lesson in the Fall. All students will participate in this program unless a Parent Opt Out is received. If you need a paper copy of this, please contact your Student Advocate. To preview this program, please visit https://www.gcisd.net/page/parent-previews-24 .

If you have any questions/concerns, you can reach out to Allyiah Daniels at Allyiah.Daniels@gcisd.net or 817-251-5323.

CTMS Dates (these are subject to change)

• 6th Grade - 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/03, 2/10, 2/17

• 7th Grade - 10/22

• 8th Grade - 11/7

If you would like to recommend your student for testing for Gifted and Talented services or ASPIRE, the window for secondary referrals for GT or ASPIRE testing opens October 14 and closes November 3. You can complete your referral through your parent Skyward portal. If you have any questions, please first refer to the GCISD Advanced Academics website, then to Mrs. Smith at 817.251.3215

Collegiate Academy is the early college high school for GCISD. To learn more, please plan to attend one of their parent preview sessions on either October 9 or November 6. See the flier for more information.

Their application for students opens on September 30. Click HERE to apply.

As required by federal and state law, we will soon begin presenting a personal safety curriculum to middle school students. GCISD uses the Play It Safe! ® program to teach this curriculum. Play It Safe! ® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. It is presented by The Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Inc. which uses trained volunteers to present the program using videos and scripted discussions at an age-appropriate level.

Play It Safe! ® meets the State and Federal guidelines for curriculum addressing personal safety issues, child sexual abuse and pedophiles. The GCISD School Health Advisory Committee has reviewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD schools.

Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:

6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 12th, 2025

6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 11th, 2026

7th grade “Healthy Relationships”- October 8th, 2025

7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 18th, 2025

7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 25th, 2026

The purpose of this personal safety presentation is to provide the students with information and practical skills to reduce their risk of being in dangerous and/or abusive situations. They will learn how to recognize, react to, and report those situations. This one-hour program is presented in an age-appropriate, non-threatening manner through the use of stories, group discussions, and an age-appropriate movie.

We hosted a parent preview on September 18 via Zoom. Please find the preview for Play It Safe here: https://www.gcisd.net/page/parent-previews-24. Videos will remain available until 9/30/2025.

The Opt In form has been posted into your Skyward Family Access. If you would like for your student to participate, please complete the Opt In form two business days prior to the scheduled program date. If you choose for your child not to participate, your child will be provided an alternate location while this program is being presented. If the form is not completed, your child will not participate in the program.

Planning on cheering on the pack at any sporting events, get your ticket ahead of time. Scan below.

• CTMS PTA is excited to host our annual Thanks for Giving Auction (Nov. 14-22) again this year! The proceeds raised from this help ensure that the amazing student events continue as well as provide our campus and teachers with needed items!
• Parents & Community members - WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have a business, business connections, or want to donate items to make your own basket - please complete THIS form. We rely on our amazing community to provide donations each year and are so grateful for your support!

Click here to see the updated secondary grading policy from GCISD. All wolf pack teachers will be following this policy this school year to communicate the progress of each wolf.

Grades are a method of communicating the progress each wolf is making at CTMS. If you ever have questions or concerns over a grade, please reach out directly to the teacher.

Drop-off and pick-up occur in TWO locations: In the parking lot outside the academic halls at the B-hall door and outside the SAC. Thank you for waiting in carline and letting your wolf exit. It takes a few minutes to drop off and pick up over 800 wolves!

For the safety of all wolves, thank you in advance for driving slowly, keeping cell phones away, and staying alert and aware of others.

B-Hall Door

For drop-off and pick-up, the parking lot across from the football field is two lanes. Pull into the lane you will be exiting from, if you are turning right out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf in the inside lane (closest to the building) and if you are turning left out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf on the outside lane (closest to the football field). Also, please pull all the way up to let your wolf out of the vehicle. The doors to the school open at 7:45 a.m. and school dismisses at 3:35 p.m.

SAC Doors

This is a single lane drop-off and pick-up. The driveway is not for parking. If you need to assist your wolf, please park in a non-reserved space.

House Bill 1481 prohibits the use of personal communication devices during the school day. Middle school students may use telecommunications devices before and after school. They may not use telecommunications devices during school hours except for their school issued devices.

What does this mean for the wolves?

• Personal devices will be in bags, not on wolves, throughout the entire school day.
• Families needing to relay messages can leave messages with the front office staff and office aides will deliver messages to classrooms.
• Wolves needing to contact families can use the phone in the front office during passing periods and lunch or, when appropriate, in their classrooms.

If anything is not working:

• Submit a HelpDesk Ticket for the most efficient service we will be using the locker system outside of the administration building. More directions will be available in the helpdesk ticket
• Email technology@gcisd.net for assistance

Charger: In need of a new charger for a school issued Chromebook, click here for information on how to order a new one.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Volunteer Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our volunteer program of campus safety for students and faculty. This system is similar to what we have used in the past, AppGarden.

Please use the following link to apply to become a volunteer in GCISD.

GCISD Volunteer Page

El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Grapevine-Colleyville se complace en anunciar que comenzaremos a utilizar el Sistema de Gestión de Voluntarios Raptor en todas nuestras escuelas con el fin de reforzar nuestro programa de voluntarios para la seguridad de nuestras escuelas, para los estudiantes y el personal docente. Este sistema es similar al que hemos utilizado en el pasado, AppGarden.

Por favor, utilicen el siguiente enlace para solicitar ser voluntarios en GCISD.

Página de voluntarios de GCISD

To find out information on events that are not directly associated with Cross Timbers, click below to see the Peachjar flyers.

Peachjar Flyers

• School Hours: 8:05 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
• Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
• Wolves enter the building through the B hall doors or the SAC doors. 6th & 8th grade wolves wait in the SAC and 7th grade wolves wait in the lecture hall for the bell to walk to first period.
• Bell Schedule
• Campus Map (click present for easier viewing)
• Front Office: 817-251-5320
• Mascot: Wolf
• School Colors: Silver & Black
• Planners: All wolves use a planner at CTMS. This is to assist with organizing, prioritizing, and planning. You can purchase a CTMS planner for $5 on the first day of school or use one of your choosing. Wolves use their planners daily.
• Student IDs: The first IDs are free and replacement IDs are $5. Per the student code of conduct, IDs are to be worn daily by all CTMS students and staff. All wolves will receive an ID on the second day of school as they get their school picture taken.
• GCISD Student Code of Conduct & Handbook: Click here for the 2025-2026 GCISD Student Code of Conduct and Handbook.

Attendance

Lache Nealy

817-251-5326

lache.nealy@gcisd.net

Registrar

Jacqueline Knappenberger

817-251-5314

jacqueline.knappenberger@gcisd.net

Counselors

Patricia Salazar (last names A-K)

817-251-5315

patricia.salazar@gcisd.net

Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)

817-251-5312

rachel.smith@gcisd.net

Student Advocate

Allyiah Daniels

817-251-5323

Allyiah.Daniels@gcisd.net

Nurse

Adriana Maxwell

817-251-5337

adriana.maxwell@gcisd.net

Assistant Principals

Holly Ybarrola (last names A-K)

817-251-5313

holly.ybarrola@gcisd.net

Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)

817-251-5317

cinthia.morales@gcisd.net

Principal

Jamie Halliburton

817-251-5320

jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net

Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320