JNE'S Friday Newsletter
September 19, 2025
JNE's Weekly Campus Update
Principal's Message
Dear Longhorn Families,
This week at Neill was filled with friendship, leadership, and Longhorn PRIDE! We are so grateful to our amazing counselors for leading a meaningful Start with Hello week, reminding us all of the importance of kindness and inclusion. We also want to extend a huge thank you to our community for your tremendous support of our APEX fundraiser—your encouragement makes such a difference for our school.
We’re excited to keep the momentum going as our students continue learning powerful leadership lessons next week and gear up for the fun and energy of our APEX Fun Run. We can’t wait to see our Longhorns shine!
Reminder: Thursday, September 25th is an early release day, and Friday, September 26th is a student holiday.
We want to let our families know that Picture Day has been postponed. Due to changes with our vendor, we are no longer able to work with Interstate Studio. We will share a new date as soon as we have secured one with an FBISD-approved photography studio. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. If you have any question please reach out to Inter-State Studio directly at http://inter-state.com/callme.
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 22nd- Virtual Parent Lunch and Learn: GT Referral, Identification and Services (12-12:30pm)
Wednesday, September 24th- Apex Fun Run
Thursday, September 25th- FBISD's 'Go Gold Day' for Pediatric Cancer
Thursday, September 25th- Early Release at 12:10pm
Thursday, September 25th- Parent/Teacher Conference Day
Friday, September 26th- Student Holiday/ Staff Professional Development Day
Wednesday, October 1st- National Walk to School Day
Friday, October 3rd- Pink Out Day
Items in our Newsletter Include:
- Campus Flyers
- Lunch Visitors Announcement
- Campus Reminders
- Attendance Information
- FBISD Whole Child Health
- Fort Bend Education Foundation Announcements
- Staff Contact Information
Sincerely,
The JNE Admin Team
Campus Flyers
Volunteer Opportunity – HERD Store Helpers Needed!
Our Longhorn students have been earning HERD Bucks for demonstrating Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence—and they’re so excited to spend them at the HERD Store!
We’re looking for volunteers to help stock shelves, organize items, and assist students as they shop. If you’d like to be a part of this positive experience, please sign up here:
Thank you for helping make the HERD Store a place of fun, growth, and recognition for our Longhorns!
APEX Fun Run Volunteer
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 24th
📍 Location: Front Parking Lot
We’re gearing up for an amazing day at the APEX Fun Run, and we need volunteers to help make it a success!
💦 What Volunteers Will Do:
Pass out water to students
Monitor runners during their jog
Supervise the cool-down area as students rest
✨ Key Notes for Volunteers:
Please sign up for only 1 shift so everyone has a chance to help
Arrive 10 minutes before your time slot to check in
A completed background check for this school year is required to participate (link below)
Your time and energy help make this event unforgettable for our students—thank you in advance for your support!
Fort Bend ISD Background Checks
We appreciate you taking the time to volunteer!
September GT Parent Newsletter
Student Activity Calendar
Celebrating Our September Staff Birthdays! 🎂
This month, we’re celebrating the Longhorn teachers who are marking another trip around the sun in September! We’re so grateful for the passion, care, and dedication they bring to our students each day. Join us in wishing them a happy birthday when you see them around campus!
2025-26 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application and Income Survey
Please complete complete the 2025-26 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application and Income Survey online at www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd. Your help ensures that every student has access to the resources they need to thrive.
Why It Matters
One application can make a big difference - not just for individual students, but also for your entire school community. By applying, families secure meal benefits for their student(s), support school funding, and may even qualify for additional benefits like reduced fees for testing or activities. Even if you are unsure whether you qualify, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be eligible and not realize it.
What’s New This Year
- Free Meals for Qualifying Students: For the 2025-26 school year, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals will receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost every school day.
- CEP Campuses: Students attending Fort Bend ISD’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) campuses will automatically receive free breakfast and lunch each day-no application required. However, we ask all CEP families to complete the Income Survey at www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd to help maintain vital funding and support.
JNE PTO Flyers
Lunch Visitor Sign Up
Lunch Visitors
Neill Elementary School will be inviting parents or guardians to join their children for lunch. Only one guest per student will be allowed into the cafeteria. We strongly encourage parents to sign up only one time per week if space allows.
Due to space constraints with large grade level enrollment, as well as to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff and visitors, we will ask that lunch guest sign up to join us ahead of time. Each week in our Friday Newsletter, we will post the link to a sign up genius for the upcoming week.
Link to JNE's Lunch Visitor Sign Up Genius
JNE will host lunch visitors on Monday and Tuesday. We will not host lunch visitors on Wednesday due to our APEX Fun Run and on Thursday due to our Early Release Day. Friday, there is no school for students.
Please remember to bring a photo id with you to campus as this is required to be signed in to campus as a visitor.
We thank you for supporting us as our current practice is set in the interest of safety and fairness to everyone who would like to enjoy lunch with their child.
Lunch Times for the 2025-2026 School Year:
Kindergarten- 10:00am-10:30am
First Grade- 10:45am-11:15am
Second Grade- 11:20am-11:50am
Third Grade- 12:00pm-12:30pm
Fourth Grade- 1:15pm-1:45pm
Fifth Grade- 12:35pm-1:05pm
Dietary Restrictions through the Child Nutrition Department
The Child Nutrition Department can offer dietary accommodations for students at no extra cost for students or families when it is medically necessary. The request forms must be signed by a physician or recognized medical authority and submitted to the Child Nutrition Department by:
Fax: 281-634-1862 attn: Dietitian
OR by email: DLCNDSpecialDiet@fortbendisd.com
A new Request for Dietary Accommodations form does not need to be submitted each school year unless there are any changes.
JNE Reminders for First Time Lunch Guests
- Lunchtime guests will be signed in to visit in the cafeteria only.
- Please be on time for lunch so that you and your student are able to enjoy the full lunch time together. Thank you for exiting the building through the front doors at the end of lunch.
- Guests can only join a student for lunch if they are an approved emergency contact in Skyward Family Access.
- Guest must have a photo ID to be allowed onto campus.
- Visitors may only bring food for their child.
- Families who need an allergy-free seat during lunch may leave a note in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
- Please exit the cafeteria at our 5-minute remaining mark to help us prepare for our next lunch and to allow students time to rejoin their class and prepare to return to their classroom.
- We will not be able to host lunch visitors during state testing or special events on campus.
District Diversity Calendar & Days of Fasting
Fort Bend ISD is happy to serve a community with families from all around the world. We are proud to be culturally diverse and celebrate our unique traits as a community of compassionate citizens.
We recognize that fasting practices occur throughout the calendar year. As a school community we are sensitive to and accommodate students and staff observers who express they are fasting.
If your family would like the campus to be aware of your student's wish to fast, please send an email to your child's classroom teacher so that we can be aware of any needs that may occur during an observance. Our partnership with our school community is important to us and we thank our families for their communication with the campus regarding special occasions and observances that may impact the instructional day.
Campus Reminders
Attendance Information
Neill Elementary School recognizes the value and importance of school attendance and encourages regular attendance to help our students be successful through the school year. Please email the attendance office within five days of the student’s recorded absence explaining the reason for the absence or the absence will be marked as unexcused. You may send an email to attendancejne@fortbendisd.gov.
Become an UPLIFT Mentor for the 2025—26 School Year
Fort Bend ISD is looking for mentors for the 2025—26 school year!
If you are a member of our community or part of the FBISD staff and are interested in making a meaningful impact in a student’s life, we invite you to fill out the UPLIFT Mentor Interest Form.
What to expect:
- Meet with your mentee once a week for 30-45 minutes
- Read books and provide support at elementary level
- Provide support at secondary level
Questions? collaborativecommunities@fortbendisd.gov
Clinic Reminders
Clinic Reminders
Clothing reminders:
- We kindly ask that all families place a change of clothes for ALL students, as well as extra shoes for little ones– soiled, torn, accidents, spills etc. happen to everyone.
- Please consider to donating gently used black girls stretch pants in various sizes especially larger;
- Please consider to donating some gently used ELASTIC waist boy gym shorts and sweat pants (now that it is winter) in larger sizes
Health Reminders:
- If your child is ill – keep them home.
- Parents please medicate or treat for allergy symptoms at home.
Contact Reminders:
- Please make sure the clinic has the most up-to-date contact information for parents, guardians and emergency contacts.
- Please add the clinic phone number to your contact list so urgent phone calls do not come up as SPAM – 281-327-3768.
Birthday Treats
Birthday Treats
Students will be allowed to celebrate their birthday at the end of the day, by bringing individually packaged store-bought food products, provided by the parent or grandparent. Treats may be distributed to classmates on or near (i.e. bring treats on Monday when the birthdate was on a weekend) the student’s birthdate.
Prior to sending any treats, we ask that you contact your child’s teacher to discuss the date you will send treats. The nutritional label must be attached to your store-bought item. A parent or guardian must bring them into the building and fill out the proper form which is submitted to FBISD’s Child Nutrition office.
Parents or grandparents of a student at Neill may provide one birthday treat per child to share with the student’s homeroom class only. This may be in the form of ONE individually wrapped edible or ONE small tangible item (such as a pencil) with the value of the individual item not to exceed $5.00.
We require single serving items, which must be pre-packaged and individually wrapped, such as mini- cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or Krispy treats.
We respectfully request no cakes, drinks, balloons, flowers, donuts, stuffed animals, or goody bags. To preserve instructional time, additional party favors ARE NOT permitted. Birthday treat time is not a “party” but a simple, quick recognition of the child’s special day.
Please keep in mind that we have several students with food allergies. For this reason, products containing peanuts or manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts are prohibited. No nuts please, due to allergies.
Neill Elementary Parking Lot is a Hands- Free Zone as per Texas Transportation Code 545.425
FBISD Whole Child Health
Fort Bend Education Foundation Announcements
Staff Contact Information
Principal: Margaret Murphy
Margaret.Murphy@fortbendisd.gov
Assistant Principal: Felicia Holmes (Grades K, 1st, 4th)
Felicia.Holmes@fortbendisd.gov
Assistant Principal: Natacha Isaac-Bonaventure (Grades 2, 3, 5)
Executive Assistant: Vickie Zellers
Victoria.Zellers@fortbendisd.gov
Registrar: Jamie Fish
Front Office Receptionist: Michelle Munoz
Michelle.Munoz@fortbendisd.gov
Counselor: Janelle Moses (Grades K, 3, 4)
Counselor: Jordan Massey (Grades 1, 2, 5)
Campus Compliance Coordinator (Special Education, 504, STAAR): Bobbi Threatt
Roberta.Threatt@fortbendisd.gov
Nurse: Vesna Scarborough
James C. Neill Elementary School
Email: margaret.murphy@fortbendisd.gov
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/jne
Location: 3830 Harvest Corner Drive, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: 281-327-3760
Twitter: @JNE_Longhorns
