Eagle Express

Spring Edition IV

Memorial Early College High School

Website: https://mechs.comalisd.org/
Location: 1419 I-35BL, New Braunfels, TX, USA
Phone: (830) 221-2900
Twitter: @memorial_hs

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"The Home of Academic Excellence"

August 27th, 2023

Memorial ECHS Norms

Work for the Team

Have a growth mindset

Engage in learning

Practice Professionalism

Mon = A Day

Tue = B Day

Wed = A Day

Thur = B Day

Fri =. A Day

Good Afternoon,

Wow, the first week of school was very smooth! Thank you to all of our staff for being prepared and welcoming our students with open arms. And kudos to our entire student body for simply being kind to each other and for your positive attitudes. Together, we have maintained a culture of high academic and behavioral expectations at the “Home of Academic Excellence”! It’s going to be a great year.

Last week’s newsletter presented the idea of embracing change, as it is inevitable for growth. Several parents have reached out to me regarding their personal challenges of “seeing our children mature…become young adults so quickly…I’m not ready to let them go!”. As a caring staff, we know and we have the same sentiments since we spend so much time with our “School Family”, inclusive of your children. This time of the school year is a special and unique experience for us educators because we also see the phenomenal growth and maturity bestowed upon each student over the summer (and the course of four years). It truly “fills our cup”! Do you recall pictures of their first day and last day of elementary school? Astronomical growth! Or pictures of their first day and last day of middle school? Growth! How about their first day at Memorial Early College High School and soon to be “last” day of high school? Nothing but growth! Who wouldn’t want every student to grow into a caring young adult that has gained various skill sets, immensely developed cognitive skills (ability to think and reason), increased physical/emotional/spiritual maturity, grown awareness of the world around them and beyond themselves, begin to master the art of predicting future events, and honed planning skills? We get to live this growth with your children, by their sides, step-by-step, daily, weekly, monthly, and year-to-year. This truly is the reason we are Educators, to make a lifelong difference with each student so they are (per Comal ISD Mission statement) ready for Military, Career, and/or College upon graduation from Memorial ECHS and Northeast Lakeview College.

Thank you for being kind and for trusting us with the most important work in the world - safely growing our children.

Please continue to reach out to all of our staff as needed: Staff Directory

College Board National Recognition

Please join me in congratulating our following students at Memorial ECHS who have been awarded the National Recognition from the College Board!!!

• Zen Ayala: NHRA

• Eliana Castro: NHRA

• Daleya Mena: NHRA

• Sandro Paez: NHRA

• Charlotte Perez: NHRA

• Linda Stevens: NHRA

• Trinity Tisdell: NAARA, NHRA

Award Key:

National African American Recognition Award (NAARA)

National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA)

National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA)

NHRA National Indigenous Award (NIA)

Our students earned this academic honor because of their GPA of 3.5 or higher AND outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and/or AP® Exams! They can now list this honor on applications to stand out amongst colleges. This is quite the accomplishment and thank you to our students for working as hard as they do, our Teachers and Staff for your diligence and care, and to our parents/guardians for your endearing support - “It takes a village to raise a child”! Well done, Eagles!

Northeast Lakeview College classes start

All Northeast Lakeview College courses will begin on Monday (or Tuesday). Students are required to log in to their accounts on the first day of class or they are subject to being dropped by Northeast Lakeview College from that required class for both graduations (MECHS & NLC). This will cause a lot of “heartache” and time to rectify, so please remind your students.

We have nine of our 23 Teachers who have been hired by the Alamo Colleges District as Adjunct Instructors to teach dual credit class “in person”- Ms. Black, Mrs. Fenrich, Mrs. Fisher, Ms. Martinez, Mr. Neal, Mr. Perez, Mrs. Sallese, Mr. Trott, and Mrs. Weaver. Each Teacher is required to have 18 or more graduate hours completed, or a master degree, or doctorate degree to be qualified for this position.

We have a few Dual Credit classes that will be taught by Northeast Lakeview College staff. These dual credit courses are being taught online by a Northeast Lakeview College instructor and monitored by a Memorial ECHS certified teacher. Our monitoring Teachers will support, guide, review, verify, and communicate with parents/guardians. Click this link for more information:

DC Monitored Classes information

Class Meetings this week

Once again, I will meet with each class as a group to introduce myself, introduce staff, and review general policies and procedures. During their Advisory Period, I will meet with Seniors on Monday, Juniors on Tuesday, Sophomores on Wednesday and Freshmen on Friday in the gym. I encourage you to ask them their thoughts and their considerations after each Class meeting.

Please click here for an example of a Class Meetings overview .

School of Choice Commitment Form & Academic Policy Agreement

The “School of Choice Commitment and Academic Policy Agreement” forms have been sent home last week with each student. Memorial ECHS and Hill Country College Preparatory HS are defined as “Schools of Choice” and they are optional for students. These campuses are founded on the principle of strong, advanced academics. We expect our students to take advantage of and succeed in all advanced academic opportunities available to them for an enriched experience and timely graduation.

Here is a glimpse of this important part of our framework as an Early College High School:

Student Responsibilities & Expectations:

Maintain a passing grade average of 70 or above in all classes at the end of every grading period.
Maintain outstanding citizenship, punctual attendance, and an excellent work ethic in all classes and extracurricular activities.
Adhere to and follow the Comal ISD Student Code of Conduct. Specifically, refrain from any type of behavior that is prohibited in the Student Code of Conduct found in the Student Handbook and would result in a discipline referral.
4. Graduate in four (4) years with your cohort.

Please click here for a link to the Commitment Form/Agreement document

Please review the entire document, sign, date, and return to Mrs. Douglas at the front desk by September 1st, 2023.

School Safety - Student Identification Cards

As an added layer of school safety, Student ID’s are required to be worn at all times. They were distributed last week. Students will not be allowed in the school building in the mornings until their IDs are properly worn and visible on a lanyard or a clip. If they forget their ID, they will be directed to the Front Desk where a temporary ID will be issued. We will follow the District Policy regarding Student ID cards:

Click here for the 2023-2024 Student Handbook

STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS (Secondary Only)

Students are required to visibly display their Comal ISD-issued identification (ID) card on the front of their person while on campus during school hours and while riding the bus. A student must have their ID card worn and displayed at all times. At the start of each school year, students will receive one (1) ID card, lanyard, and ID holder at no expense to the student/parent. The cost for replacement/duplicate ID cards is $5.00. Daily temporary IDs may be sold for $1.00. Schools may also sell lanyards for a fee of $3.00. 80 Consequences for Failure Wear and Display Student Identification (ID) Card- Consequences are per Semester.

● Violations 1-10: Warning and Temporary ID issued

● Subsequent Violations: Campus-based detention to include After School Detention, Saturday School or Lunch Detention (Reminder: students who do not attend assigned detention may be assigned to In School Suspension)

*To be eligible for exam exemptions, students must not exceed ten daily temporary IDs for the school year to earn exam exemptions*

Exterior Door Policy

All exterior doors must remain closed at all times and locked secondary to school safety. School Administration will conduct a weekly audit to ensure all exterior doors are closed and that they are working properly. If an exterior door is closed, it is programmed to remain locked. All Comal ISD schools are on a “lockdown” of all exterior doors at all times.

Parking Permits

All registered students who have a valid Driver License and Proof of Insurance may purchase a Parking Permit by submitting a completed Parking Permit application with the $30 fee and parent/guardian signature. You can access the form on our school website under the “Students & Families” drop down menu. The deadline to have a permit will be 09/01/23. You may purchase a permit in the front office during breakfast (cash or check).

Video Intercom System

A Video Intercom System has been added to each campus entrance. The video intercom system is located on an exterior wall near the entrance and marked with a yellow sign. In order to enter the building, every visitor will step up to this intercom, push the button and tell the front office staff your name and the reason for the visit. The front office staff will be able to see the visitor through the video camera and grant entrance into the front door. Once inside, visitors will be required to show a picture ID and to sign-in. This will be the new procedure every time you visit a Comal ISD campus, whether it is to drop off an item or to pick up a student for a doctor’s appointment.

PLEASE NOTE - per safety procedures, Mrs. Douglas will not allow access (open the front door) until you have follow this procedure.

Dress Code

Please review the updated Dress Code before we start the school year. The most expeditious “working resolution” is for students to bring a change of clothes in case they may not be in Dress Code compliance (ex: inappropriate t-shirt topic, midriff showing, etc.). All of this in an effort to minimize any possible loss of instructional time.

Please click here for the Comal ISD Dress Code

Electronic Device and Technology Resources code (cell phones)

Please click here for the Electronic Devices and Technology Resources code

Please note the following process and procedure for cell phones:

An authorized district employee may confiscate a personal electronic device, including a mobile telephone, used in violation of applicable campus rules. [See policy FNCE].

Any disciplinary action in addition to confiscation will be in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and in accordance with the student handbook. The student or the student's parents may retrieve the device at the conclusion of the school day and after paying the fee [See policy FNCE].

A confiscated device shall be released as outlined below:

1st offense - Warning + parent notification
2nd offense - $5.00 administrative fee + parent notification
3rd offense - $10.00 administrative fee + parent notification
4th+ offense - $15.00 administrative fee + parent notification

Texas House Bill 114 - “Say No To Vaping”

Texas House Bill 114 mandates that any student found in possession of a vaping device on district property or at a district event will be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) regardless of the content of the device. HB 114 is titled, "Relating to the possession, use, or delivery of marihuana or e-cigarettes on or near public school property or at certain school events."

I highly encourage all parents/guardians to have an open and honest discussion with all students about this, as a student earning a placement at the Comal Discipline Center (CDC) has an implication for “being off cohort” per the School of Choice Commitment letter:

“Any student action that results in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) may result in the student being removed from and returned to his/her home campus upon the completion of DAEP.”

*Please reach out to our Academic Dean/Assistant Principal (Mrs. Fehner) or I if you have any questions*

PTSA

*PTSA needs volunteers for vacant positions*

Please consider becoming an active part of our school community, it is very rewarding!

Email them at mechspta@gmail.com

Please fill out our interest form and we'll reach out to you! https://forms.gle/7thtu2zCyPc4euEJA

Important Dates

August

08/28 Northeast Lakeview College classes begin

08/29 PTSA President & Principal Meeting (9:00 AM / @ Support Services)

September

09/04 Labor Day (Student & Staff Holiday)