Cele Weekly Update

Cele Families,

I hope your week provided opportunity for our students to relax and possibly reflect on all they have accomplished and learned during the first 9 week grading period. Shout Outs go to Cele Band and Choir, who closed out the week with performances on the big stages at the Pfield and Weiss Auditorium, respectively.

We return to learning tomorrow, and we will take time during Advisory to come together as a grade level prior to each lunch for our Town Hall meetings. We will celebrate our success and set the groundwork for success in the 2nd nine-weeks grading period. Our Cele Student Council has also organized a Spirit Week:

Monday - Camouflage Day

Tuesday - Color War: 6th Wear Red; 7th Black; 8th White (Pep Rally Day!)

Wednesday - Patriotic Day: Wear Red, White, and Blue

Thursday - Pink Out

Friday - Luau Day: show your island spirit

Let's make it a GREAT week, Colts!

Ben O'Connor

Cele Middle School Principal

Cele Middle School Website

Colt PTO FB Page

#CeleGrit

Parents - you may be interested in this resource to get your child a warm new coat this school year at no cost.

The Junior League of Austin’s Coats for Kids team is partnering with Central Texas schools to ensure that children in need have access to warm winter coats. The Coat Request Form will open on Oct. 1 and remain open until Oct. 16, 2026 (or until requests reach capacity).

Due to a limited number of coats available, this program is open to students and children ages 18 or younger who meet one of the following criteria:

• Receive free or reduced lunch

• Have a household income below the national poverty line

• Have been identified by a teacher or school administrator as needing assistance to obtain a coat

Fill out this Google Form (specifically for CMS students) if you would like to get a coat for your child: Coats for Kids Google Form CMS

Any additional questions please reach out to the CMS Social Worker Veronica Dumas at veronica.dumas@pfisd.net

Please click this link for more information on the Gifted and Talented referral window.

Our library is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair from Oct 23-30. Students can visit the fair between 8am-4pm. See this flyer for more details. Parents can set up an eWallet for easy shopping, but the fair accepts cash, cards, and even Apple Pay. Sales benefit the library. The book fair will be open on the evening of Thursday, Oct 29, from 6-8pm during Trunk or Treat Halloween fun. If you have questions, please contact the Cele Librarian at margaret.dominguez@pfisd.net.

Students are invited to get creative and build haunted houses using mostly cardboard. Read about requirements and details here. Houses are due on or before October 26. The houses will be displayed and voting for favorites will take place during the Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 29. Contact the librarian if you have any questions at margaret.dominguez@pfisd.net.

The library is hosting open Mahjong play on Sunday, November 8, from 2-4pm. Tickets for open play are $25. Would you like to learn how to play? For $40, you can sign up for beginner instruction. Find details and sign up links here. This event is open to adults who love to play Mahjong or would like to learn. Contact the librarian if you have questions at margaret.dominguez@pfisd.net.

Event Quick Facts

• When: Saturday, October 24th @ 9:30 AM

• Where: District LTC (1601 W Pecan St, Pflugerville, TX 78660)

• The Action: PfISD High School Esports teams competing in Rocket League, Fortnite, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 3.

• Costume Contest: Open to all attendees, spectators, and players with candy prizes!

• Admission: Free and open to the public—families, staff, and students are encouraged to come spectate!

Attendees can scan the QR code on the graphic to access the official event details and live brackets on tournament day.

We are encouraging all students in grades 6-8 to join one of our UIL Academic teams this year. These enriching activities hone student academic skills, and students will have the opportunity to compete against other middle schools this year. Review the available teams and their sponsors on this slideshow. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4dnpZgi

Dear Cele Families,

Below you will find the topics that will be covered during the counselor provided Advisory Lessons on Mondays for the first 9 weeks of school.

- Kindness

- Responsibility

- Time Management & Organization

- Promoting Healthy Relationships

- Fentanyl Awareness

If you do not wish for your student to participate, please email your grade level counselors:

6th Grade Counselor: tyler.johnson@pfisd.net

7th Grade Counselor: lisa.samuels@pfisd.net

8th Grade Counselor: lauren.koresko@pfisd.net

Family members can access Canvas, which is a platform our teachers use to organize assignments in many classes. Here are the parent steps for accessing Canvas as a parent. Please note that Skyward remains the official record of a student's grade in all courses regardless of information displayed in Canvas.

We are proud of the supportive culture that exists at Cele and the fact that we are a District of Distinction Award Recipient by The Texas Way. You can view a brief description of The Texas Way here. Together, educators, families, and students will ensure a positive environment regardless of what transpires during competitions. Thank you in advance for your respect and support of our Officials, Coaches, Families, Students, Fans, and Administrators. I look forward to success in its many forms this year.

Yearbook Order Link

Yearbooks are now $37 for a limited time only. Prices will increase as promotions end. Secure yours today!

8th Grade Student Families also can add Tributes. Spaces are limited, so please purchase as soon as possible if you would like to add this memento for your 8th grade child to the yearbook pages.

All Chromebooks will remain in the building this year. We have adjusted our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal routines to allow Chromebooks to be checked out and checked in each day at Cele in order to safeguard their continued availability and to minimize opportunities for loss or damage.

Generally, our students use their devices responsibly, but we have learned that most damage and loss occurs when the Chromebooks leave the building. For reference: Any damage or replacement cost for lost Chromebooks must be paid for online using this link.

Current Prices:

• Charger Replacement, $25
• Chromebook Replacement, $425
• Repairs, (varies and will be assessed by the Technology Department after a Tech Ticket is submitted)

Colts, if you have been to Cele recently, you may have noticed our new kiosks in the foyer for visitor sign in. Along with this change, PfISD now offers a faster way for visitors to sign in. Please use the following link to learn more about how to sign up for your Raptor Safe Passport

We have had some instances when our Accessible Parking spaces were unavailable to our families who need them. While these parking spaces may be convenient to use especially when parking is limited, they are a necessity for some families and guests and must not be used for any amount of time without a legitimate need and properly displayed credentials on the vehicle. Please note that PfISD PD is assisting with the enforcement of approved use. Thank you for everyone's cooperation and courtesy, Colts!

Our Colts successfully have adopted the expectation of having phones and all personal electronic communication devices powered down and in backpacks. We will continue full implementation of the district's student personal device guidelines. Students found to be accessing a personal electronic device in violation of the PfISD guidelines will have it confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian. Beginning with the second occurrence, consequences will include the required disciplinary action and parent partnership to prevent further occurrences.

Families,

We encourage you to complete an Application for Free or Reduced-Price lunch. If you qualified last year, you must apply again this year to remain eligible. Read more about the benefits of completing an F&R lunch application.

• English: Apply Now
• Español: Aplique Hoy
• Vietnamese: Tiến Trình Làm Đơn Bắt Đầu

Fill out the form completely. For more information regarding the online application system, please contact Food Services at 512-594-0430. More information available on the PfISD website.

Dress Code

Generally, our students do very well with abiding by PfISD dress code. When we do have to give reminders, it falls into two categories:

• Pajama Pants are not allowed. We tend to see these more when the whether is chilly.
• Mid-riff shirts are not allowed. We tend to see these more when the weather is warm.

Parents, we ask that you please make a note of your child's outfits. We do our best to offer options here at Cele to get students back into class as soon as possible, but in the event that we are unable or students are unwilling to make an acceptable change, we do have to call home to have clothes delivered. Now might be a great time to identify which outfits meet dress code and which do not. Here is a link to PfISD Dress Code for reference.

Phones & Smart Watches

There has been quite a bit of interest in the new legislation regarding personal communications devices in school. Essentially, phones and smart watches need to be powered down and in backpacks from the moment students arrive on campus and throughout the school day.

Parents, did you know you have access to the announcements our students see during Advisory each week? This is yet another way to stay connected with your child's learning during the school day. In addition to participating in tutorials, honing math and reading skills, having protected, self-selected reading time, and a weekly guidance lesson, our Colts are prompted to check their grades through Skyward. Visit https://cms.pfisd.net/about-us to explore and learn more.

Families, if you will be picking up a student from school after 3:20 pm, which is 15 minutes before school is dismissed, we kindly ask that you call ahead to the front office at 512-594-3000. This will assist us in having students called from class at this busy time of day. Thank you!

We are fortunate to have so many willing and generous members of our community who are willing to volunteer. Please reference the flyer for information on how to apply to be a volunteer, then use the QR code or this link to begin your application.

Phones and Smart Watches In order to keep our students focused on learning and in accordance with the law, we do require students to have phones, smart watches, and other personal communication devices both powered down and put in their backpacks from the moment they are on campus. If ever a student needs to call home, we will be able to do so. If you need to reach your child during the school day for an urgent matter, you may call the front office at 512-594-3000. Please note: parents are required to reclaim a student’s cell phone or personal electronic device if there is a violation of the expectation.

Food Delivery We no longer are accepting food delivery for students from outside services. This is to ensure a safer environment for our students, and meal options will be available to any student, every day, through the school cafeteria. Should you need or wish to apply for free or reduced price meals, the link is here.

Identification Badges All secondary campuses provide students with their required Identification Badges to promote a safer environment. Following are our Cele expectations and information related to our IDs:

• Student IDs must be worn using a lanyard or clip and visible at all times on campus (excluding pre-approved activities such as PE).
• We provide the first ID and lanyard at no cost to students and families.
• If IDs are lost, defaced, or misplaced, a replacement ID and Lanyard must be purchased.
• Should a student repeatedly fail to meet expectations with student IDs, additional disciplinary consequences are possible.

Identification Badge Procedures

On any given day, 97% of our students arrive to campus with their student IDs already displayed on a lanyard around their necks. Thank you for your support with making this happen! New students will have their pictures taken and receive a new ID at no cost during their first few days of school. If students forget or have misplaced their ID, their first stop is to the Think Tank near the Cafeteria so that we can determine a solution, which usually entails one of two options:

Option 1: Purchase a Replacement

• First, your child will be instructed to contact a parent to inform them of the lost/misplaced ID
• The student may purchase the following items (cash only at this time)

• ID Card Replacement $5.00
• ID Badge Plastic Holder Replacement $1.00
• Standard Red or Black Lanyard $1.00

Option 2: Borrow a Temporary ID

• First, your child will be instructed to contact a parent to inform them of the lost/misplaced ID
• Students will exchange a personal item for a numbered, Temporary ID, Badge Holder, and Lanyard
• Students will return the Temporary ID at the end of the day and retrieve their personal item
• If parents are able to bring the ID to school, it will be delivered to the student as soon as practical and exchanged for the temporary ID
• Students who repeatedly need to borrow a temporary ID may be assigned a consequence by an administrator