News from the Nest

Happy Sunday Falcon Families,

This past Friday, our Falcons participated in a meaningful Freedom Walk commemoration as we came together to honor the heroes whose courage, service, and sacrifice continue to inspire us. I am proud of the respect our students demonstrated during this special event and grateful to everyone who helped make it memorable.

We hope you will join us for Open House on Monday from 4:30–6:30 PM! This is a wonderful opportunity to visit the campus, meet your student’s teachers, and get a glimpse of the learning taking place in their classrooms. Because Open House is a public event, teachers will not be able to discuss individual student progress in detail; however, families are welcome to request a conference for another date if they would like to have a more personalized conversation. We will begin the evening with a brief Title I Meeting at 4:30 PM in the library, and we would greatly appreciate your attendance. Throughout the evening, several of our community partners will also be available in the cafeteria to share information about the resources and services they provide to our families. We encourage you to stop by and learn more about what they have to offer. We value our partnership with our Falcon families and look forward to seeing you Monday evening!

It is hard to believe that we are already about halfway through the first marking period! This is a great time for students and families to check grades, review assignments, and make sure students are staying focused on their learning. We encourage students to ask questions, seek help when needed, and continue putting forth their best effort each day.

We are also very proud of our Falcons and the way they have responded to our campus expectations. They are doing a great job learning our routines, making positive choices, and demonstrating the Growth, Relationships, Integrity, and Teamwork that define our GRIT values. Let's keep that momentum going!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to seeing many of you Monday evening!

Every school day matters! Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their learning, build strong relationships, and keep pace with their classes. Even a few missed days can add up and make it harder to catch up. We encourage our Falcon families to make attendance a priority by ensuring students arrive on time and ready to learn each day. When students are at school, they have more opportunities to grow, connect, and succeed. Show up. Stay engaged. Soar!

Monday, September 14th –

Open House (4:30-6:30PM)

Tuesday, September 15th –

Falcon Football vs. Patterson MS (games start at 5:30PM)

• 8th grade @ AMMS
• 7th grade @ CPMS

Wednesday,September 9th –

Lady Falcon Volleyball vs. Patterson MS (games start at 5:30PM)

• 8th grade @ ECHS
• 7th grade @ CPMS

Thursday,September 10th –

Cross Country Meet @ HHHS (starts at 5:30PM)

Friday,September 11th –

It's going to be a Fantastic Friday!

Welcome to Week 5 of the school year! Believe it or not, we are already halfway through the first marking period, and fall break is quickly approaching. As the pace picks up and academic demands grow, our classrooms continue to buzz with high student engagement, collaborative learning, and strong Falcon spirit.

With the midpoint of the first marking period right around the corner, middle school schedules, homework routines, and social calendars can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming for growing adolescents. To help bridge the gap between school and home, we encourage families to take 10–15 minutes this week for a gentle wellness check-in.

Try using these conversation starters during dinner or a car ride:

• “What is one thing that went really well for you these past few weeks, and what is one thing that felt heavy?”

• “How are you feeling about your sleep and daily energy levels lately?”

• “What is one boundary or self-care habit we can set this week to help you feel more rested as we count down to fall break?”

Prioritizing a little downtime, regular hydration, and screen-free wind-down time before bed goes a long way in keeping our Falcons grounded and ready to soar. Please reach out to your counselor if your student needs extra support navigating this stretch of the semester.

Looking Ahead

• October 9: End of Marking Period 1

• October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week-"Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free." More information will be put out about this soon.

Thank you for partnering with us to make this year exceptional. Have a wonderful week ahead, Falcons!

We are excited to begin our after-school athletic events this week! Please remember that KISD’s clear bag policy will be in effect for all games, and tickets must be purchased online in advance. There will be no cash taken at the door/gate and there will not be devices for anyone to use to purchase at the gate. Please let grandparents, aunts, uncles and all other family members know this is the new process.

When attending, we ask that all families model the Texas Way by being positive and supportive of our student-athletes. Our role as fans is to encourage our team, not put down the other team or use inappropriate language or behavior. Texas passed a law last year that requires us to remove spectators immediately if a game official requires it--there will be no warnings. Please help us to make our events a positive experience for all!

Together, we can create a spirited and respectful environment that makes every game a great experience for students, families, and our community.

• All students should have received their ID cards. Please help to ensure that they have it and are wearing it appropriately every day. Having their IDs helps to improve the timing for riding the bus and for getting their lunch. If your student did not receive an ID, please have them stop by the AP office to let them know.
• All students have also been issued a YONDR pouch and should be placing their electronic devices inside the pouch during morning entry. Electronic devices should not be seen nor heard at any time during the school day.
• One of the most important habits we can help our students develop is being where they need to be, when they need to be there, and ready to learn. Please remind your student of the importance of arriving to class on time—every minute of instruction matters!
• Students are expected to be in dress code when they arrive on campus and remain in dress code throughout the school day.
• We can only accept food deliveries for students from a parent/guardian or contact listed on the student's account.

As always, we are here to help and support you and your student in every way possible. Please reach out to us with any concerns or use the online reporter method at the following link should you have a safety concern: https:/ /forms.killeenisd.org/Forms/BullyReporter

It is our pleasure to serve you and your student every day! Please understand if you come during

specific times of the day (ex: morning duty, lunch duty, passing periods, or after school duty), you may have to wait for a short time as supervision is a top priority, and our leadership team will be on duty in the halls/bus loop/etc. Every process and system we have in place focuses on providing the safest and most positive experience that we can for our students.

We greatly appreciate your support, and look forward to seeing you at many of our upcoming events!

The application for free and reduced-price school meals is still open for the 2026-2027 school year.

Apply today through SchoolCafé: https://www.schoolcafe.com/Killeenisd

Completing an application is quick and secure. We encourage all Killeen ISD families to apply, even if you're not sure you qualify.

Expect transportation delays the first few days of the school year. However, Killeen ISD provides

the Smart Tag app to help you receive information about your student's bus ride. The app allows you to see real-time information about the location of your student's bus.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. We are here to help!

Christina.Harris@killeenisd.org

Aimee.D.CastilloGriffin@killeenisd.org

Lusiana.Akech@killeenisd.org

Betty.Selvy@killeenisd.org

Keri.Luepke@killeenisd.org

Christine.NotestineDouglass@killeenisd.org

April.Reeves@killeenisd.org

Megan.Schneider@killeenisd.org