El Paso High - #TigerStrong

Dear Tiger Community,

Welcome back! We hope our students, families, and staff enjoyed a restful and joyful Winter Break. As we begin the spring semester, we return energized and ready to continue working together to ensure every student receives an excellent education.

Strong partnerships between home and school make a meaningful difference in student success. By working together, communicating openly, supporting one another, and staying engaged, we can help our students thrive both academically and personally.

At the end of this newsletter, you will find a list of direct phone numbers for each office and administrator. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or need support. We are here to help and look forward to continuing our partnership with you this semester.

#TigerStrong

Warm regards,

Dr. Rocha

Principal

Follow me on Instagram ephsdr_rocha

El Paso ISD is in the exploratory phase of reviewing master schedule options. No decisions have been made, and this work is focused on gathering information and considering multiple approaches. There will be several opportunities for input as the process moves forward. Examining different options is part of our ongoing commitment to doing what is best for our students.

I invite parents, guardians, and community members to join us for upcoming informational meetings where we will discuss important topics, including:

• TSIA2: Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSI)

• Student IDs

• Attendance

• Title I

• Parent Questions

Meeting Dates & Locations:

• Wednesday, January 14 — Coffee with the Principal
  ⏰ 9:00 a.m. | Room 209

• Wednesday, January 21
  ⏰ 5:00 p.m. | EPHS Auditorium

I encourage all families to attend, ask questions, and partner with us in supporting student success.

El Paso High will continue to offer Saturday School this spring semester as an opportunity for students to sharpen skills, get extra support, and stay on track for success. We encourage students to attend as needed, and parents are invited to support their student’s participation.

Saturday School Dates:

• January 24

• January 31

• February 21

• February 28

• March 7

• March 28

Intersession:

• March 9–10

Attendance at Saturday School is a great way for students to improve learning, receive extra instruction, and prepare for upcoming assessments.

Hard copies of report cards for the second 9-weeks reporting period will be distributed to students on Friday, January 9. Please ask your student to share their report card with you.

Report cards are also available electronically through the Parent Portal. Instructions for accessing the Parent Portal are provided below for your convenience.

A new Texas law now prohibits students from using personal devices like cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets during the entire school day, including class time, class transitions, and lunch. All devices must remain powered off and stored away. This change is designed to reduce distractions and improve student focus and safety. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this at home.

Parents and guardians may receive a Notice of Absence (NOA) letter if their student has accumulated three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period. This letter is a state-required notification meant to keep families informed and to give us the opportunity to address attendance concerns early before they affect a student’s academic progress.

If you notice a discrepancy between an unexcused and an excused absence, for example, if you previously emailed the school or submitted an absence form, please contact Assistant Principal Elizabeth Ochoa at ezubiate@episd.org so we can review and make corrections if needed.

Students who continue to accumulate unexcused absences will be placed on a 45-Day Attendance Plan. This plan is designed to provide additional support, structure, and accountability to help improve attendance and ensure classroom success.

As we enter the 2nd 9-Weeks of the school year, we want to remind parents and guardians not to underestimate the importance of daily attendance. Every day in class matters. Consistent attendance plays a major role in a student’s academic success, even if they are currently passing their classes.

Please make it a habit to check the Parent Portal daily to ensure your student’s attendance is recorded accurately. If you notice an error or have questions, reach out to the attendance office for clarification.

If your student needs to attend an appointment, please try to schedule it after lunch whenever possible. We understand that sometimes this isn’t feasible. In those cases, please make sure to provide a doctor’s note or a written excuse so the absence can be properly documented.

Wednesday February 4th: Parent/Teacher Conference

Saturday February 7th: Spring Fiesta Dance

Main Number (915) 236-2500

Attendance Office:

Rebecca Moreno- Senior Attendance Clerk

(915) 236-2502

rmoreno3@episd.org

Eugenia Sanchez- Attendance Clerk

(915) 236-2501

esanche5@episd.org

Registration/Transcripts:

Bonnie Medrano- Registrar

(915) 236-2513

pmedrano@episd.org

Family & Community Liaison:

Angie Reed

(915) 236-2525

amreed@episd.org

Assistant Principals:

Monica Ortega-Assistant Principal Guidance & Instruction

(915) 236-2580

mlortega@episd.org

Elizabeth Ochoa- Assistant Principal (Attendance Administrator-Anything regarding Attendance)

(915) 236-2528

ezubiate@episd.org

Daniel Vasquez- Assistant Principal (Supports students with last names D-O) Starts January 12th

(915) 236-2510

dvasque1@episd.org

Claudia Simpson- Assistant Principal (Supports students with last names A-C & P-Z)

(915) 236- 2510

casimpso@episd.org

Principal:

Sandra Rocha

(915) 236-2505

srocha@episd.org