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Week of February 2, 2025 - February 8, 2025
Greetings from Principal
Greetings Prep Fam,
I hope you are doing well and had a great weekend. Please take a look at the newsletter below:
Section 1: Important Information and Need to Knows
Updated 2/2/2025
Quick Calendar
Updated 2/2/2025
Cedar Hill ISD Calendar
Lunch Menu (2024 - 2025)
Happy Bday Scholars
Updated 2/2/2025
February Staff Birthdays
Happy Black History Month
Black History Month Spotlight: Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a powerful leader and activist who played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. Born Malcolm Little in 1925, he faced many challenges in his early life, including the loss of his father and time spent in prison. While incarcerated, he educated himself and became a member of the Nation of Islam, where he emerged as a passionate advocate for Black empowerment, self-determination, and racial pride.
In 1964, Malcolm X broke away from the Nation of Islam and adopted a broader vision of justice and unity. After traveling to Mecca, he began to embrace the idea that people of all races could work together for equality. His speeches and activism continued to challenge injustice, inspiring many to fight for civil rights and economic independence.
Although his life was tragically cut short in 1965, Malcolm X’s legacy remains strong. His journey of transformation—from adversity to leadership—serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education, resilience, and standing up for justice. Today, his influence continues to inspire movements for racial equality and empowerment across the world.
Thank you for your contributions to Black History Sir Malcolm.
Important Prep News
Information Shared with Permission of Mr. Mason
It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of our beloved PTA Parent and Member Mrs. Linda Mason.
Linda was not only a dedicated member of our school community but also a true friend, mentor, and advocate for our students. She was also the PTA Events Coordinator for our school. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of children will never be forgotten.
On behalf of Collegiate Prep Elementary and Cedar Hill ISD, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Linda’s family (her son, Billy, and her Husband Mr. Mike Mason), friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her presence brought warmth and joy to so many, and her impact will continue to be felt for years to come.
Thank you Mrs. Linda Mason and the Mason family for all that you have done over years for Collegiate Prep scholars and community members. You will be missed.
Upcoming Kindergarten GT Testing
We are excited to begin the screening and testing process for our Kindergarten students who may qualify for the Gifted & Talented (GT) Program. This process helps us identify students with exceptional abilities and provide them with opportunities to engage in advanced learning experiences.
Cedar Hill ISD follows the Texas state guidelines for identifying students for the Gifted & Talented (GT) Program, ensuring that students with advanced academic abilities are provided with appropriate learning opportunities. The testing process varies by grade level and includes multiple measures to determine eligibility.
The window for scholars to be tested is below. We will let you know which window they will be tested.
Testing Window: February 24, 2025 - March 7, 2025
Kindergarten GT Identification Process (Spring Only)
- Universal Screener: All Kindergarten students take the NWEA MAPS Reading and Math assessment at Mid-Year (MOY).
- Eligibility for Additional Testing: Students who score at or above the 75th percentile on either the Reading or Math sections qualify for further evaluation.
- NAAT3 Assessment: Identified students will take the NAAT3, a nationally recognized assessment for gifted identification.
- Additional Evaluations: Family and teacher evaluations are also considered as part of the screening process.
Other Grade Level Testing: 1st–5th Grade GT Identification Process
- Parent Nominations: Families may nominate students for GT testing.
- Academic Screening: Students take the most recent NWEA MAPS Reading and Math assessments (higher of the two scores is used).
- NAAT3 Assessment: Students meeting initial criteria complete the NAAT3 for further evaluation.
- Additional Evaluations: Family and teacher input are considered to support a well-rounded identification process.
Next Steps:
- Parents will be notified if their child qualifies for additional testing.
- Final results will be shared once the process is complete.
- Identified students will have access to GT services starting later this school year.
If you have any questions, please contact Tangie Smith at tangie.smith@chisd.net. Thank you for your support as we recognize and nurture the potential of our young learners! 🌟✨
STAAR Interim Testing: Next Week
Scholars will have interim testing the week of February 10, 2025.
Black History Month - Dress Up Days
National School Counseling Week - February 3-7, 2025
National School Counseling Week 2025 (#NSCW25) is Feb. 3-7, 2025! Be sure to join us next week to celebrate each of our incredible counselors here at CHISD. #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek #SchoolCounseling #CHISD
Let's come together and show our wonderful counselor Mrs. Smith some love this week.
100th Day of School - February 5, 2025
Dear Prep Families, Staff, and Students,
The 100th Day of School is almost here, and we are excited to celebrate with a fun Dress-Up Day on February 5, 2025! We encourage everyone—students, teachers, and even parents—to join in the fun and get creative with their outfits.
Dress-Up Ideas:
👵 100 Years Old – Dress up like you’re 100! Think gray wigs, glasses, suspenders, canes, and cardigans.
💯 100-Themed Outfits – Wear a shirt decorated with 100 items (stickers, buttons, pom-poms, etc.).
🚀 100 Years in the Future – Dress up as a futuristic character, robot, or astronaut.
🦸 100th Day Superhero – Be a "100 Days Smarter" superhero with a cape and mask!
🎨 Creative 100 Designs – Wear clothes covered in 100 dots, stars, stripes, or fun patterns.
We can’t wait to see all the fun and creative outfits as we celebrate this milestone! If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school office.
Thank you for celebrating with us!
Honor Roll Parade - February 13, 2025
Join us as we celebrate our outstanding students for their hard work and academic achievement! Our Honor Roll Parade is a special event to recognize and cheer on students who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom. Families, teachers, and friends are invited to line up, clap, and cheer as our Honor Roll students parade through the halls in recognition of their dedication and success.
📅 Date: February 13, 2025
📍 Location: Collegiate Prep
⏰ Time: 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM
Parents of qualifying scholars will be notified soon.
Congratulations to our amazing Honor Roll students! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder. Keep shining, keep striving, and keep reaching for success! 🚀👏 #CedarHillProud #HonorRollStars
Black History Music Performance - Rescheduled
This event has been rescheduled to February 27, 2025
The Collegiate Prep Elementary 3rd Grade Presents
“Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters”
An African Folktale
The 3rd grade students of Collegiate Prep Elementary will be performing a play called “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters.” The program will be Monday, February 10, 2025 at 6:30pm in the auditorium. There are several things each parent needs to know in order for the program to be a success.
Attire for the Program
I want students to dress in African attire. This may include African print dresses, blouses, pants, or headdress. Boys may wear all black with an African print accessory like a sash or head piece as well. Any form of African dress or attire is encouraged.
Arrival Times and Location
Students will arrive at Collegiate Prep on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 5:45pm. They should report to their teacher’s room and be already dressed and prepared to perform.
Please email Mrs. Elaine Williams at elaine.williams@chisd.net or call at Collegiate Prep at 972-293-4502 ext.6336 if you have any questions.
Valentines Day Parties - February 13, 2025
Collegiate Prep Valentines Day Dance
- Parents of PK- 2nd Grade students are welcome to attend to help chaperone.
Details:
- The Collegiate Prep Elementary NEHS will host a Valentine's Day soon.
- Tickets are on sale, and may be purchased using cash or mypaymentsplus.
- Kinder through 2nd Grade will have a different time than the 3rd - 5th Grade scholars.
Scholar Behaviors:
- Any scholars that have a referral between now and the time of the dance, will not be permitted to attend.
Valentine’s Day Parties and Dance Dress Code:
Allowed Attire: (This will be a free dress day. However, please review the restricted items below:)
- Red, pink, white, or festive Valentine’s-themed clothing
- Dresses, skirts, or dress pants with a nice top
- Students can wear Jeans. (Jeans should not have holes in them.)
- Collared shirts, polos, or sweaters
- Comfortable shoes (students will be dancing and moving around)
Not Allowed:
- Clothing with inappropriate graphics or language
- Extremely short skirts, dresses, or shorts.
- Students are not allowed to wear tights.
- Jeans with holes in them.
- High heels or shoes that may be difficult to walk or dance in
- Costumes, masks, or anything that may be distracting or unsafe
If you have any questions about the dress code, please feel free to reach out to the school office. We appreciate your support in making this a fun and enjoyable event for all! Looking forward to a wonderful evening of dancing and celebration!
Please contact Krystal Rising for more information about the dance.
Want to Volunteer to Chaperone or Help with the Dance?
Parent Conferences Day - February 14, 2025
We invite you to join us for Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, February 14. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, discuss their progress, and collaborate on ways to support their success.
Conference Details:
📅 Date: Thursday February 13, 2025 (This is optional)
🕒 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (if you have one scheduled with your scholar's teacher.)
(This can be an optional opportunity. Teachers and parents can arrange a time to meet between these times.
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
🕒 Time: 8:00 AM - 3:35 PM (Some may stop at 12:00 PM)
(if you have one scheduled with your scholar's teacher between these times.)
Location: Collegiate Prep Elementary School
Conferences will be scheduled in [format: in-person, virtual, or both], and we encourage all parents to participate. Please look for a sign-up link or communication from your child’s teacher regarding scheduling. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school office.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. We look forward to seeing you on
February 14!
No School - February 17, 2025 - Presidents Day
- School will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025 in observance of President’s Day.
- This is a staff and student holiday.
No School for Scholars on February 18, 2025
This is a staff development day.
Choose Your Seat - Deadlines
Updated: 2/2/2025
Schoolmint - Family Access Platform
- Visit chisd.schoolmint.com to access the Schoolmint application portal.
- If you have previously applied for CHISD Choice programs through Schoolmint, log in to your account. If you have not previously applied for CHISD Choice programs through Schoolmint, create a parent account on the Login Dashboard.
- You may submit multiple applications for multiple family members under your account.
- You may submit an application for more than one Choice Program, but you will only be able to accept a seat at one school.
- You will receive emails from Schoolmint to notify you of the status of your application, but you can also opt for text messages as well. Please use an email that you frequently use and ensure that you check your spam mail for updates. Read those emails carefully as additional information may be required.
Additional Supplemental Resources
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a free online learning platform that offers educational resources for students, teachers, and learners of all ages. It provides instructional videos, practice exercises, and personalized learning dashboards in subjects such as math, science, economics, history, and more. Khan Academy aims to make high-quality education accessible to everyone, offering content aligned with various educational standards. It is widely used by students for self-paced learning and by educators to supplement classroom instruction.
Khan Academy offers a variety of resources to support learning, including:
- Interactive Lessons – Engaging video tutorials and step-by-step explanations across subjects like math, science, coding, and more.
- Practice Exercises – Adaptive quizzes and problem sets to reinforce learning and track progress.
- Personalized Learning – Customized study plans based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
- Teacher Tools – Resources for educators to assign lessons, track student progress, and provide targeted support.
- Test Prep – Preparation materials for exams such as SAT, LSAT, and AP courses.
- Parent Resources – Guides to help parents support their child’s learning journey at home.
- College and Career Readiness – Guidance on college admissions, careers, and financial literacy.
All resources are free and accessible online through their website and mobile app.
ADHD Therapy Groups
STEM Friday - February 28, 2025
Collegiate Prep - AVID Corner
Updated 1/18/2025
AVID Black History Month Project Due Next Month
Section 2: Collegiate Prep Campus Events and Activities
Updated 12/1/2024
Section 3: Campus Involvement Opportunities
Section 4: COLLEGIATE PREP - PTA
Updated 1/26/2025
Restock on Patches and CPE Swag!
Do you need to restock your Collegiate Prep swag? Have your scholars outgrown their current polo shirts? You can order spirit shirts and hoodies from our inventory on Cheddar Up, as well as uniform patches. The next delivery date for spirit items and patches will be
Wednesday, February 12th, for all orders placed by midnight on 2/10/25.
Join the PTA
Please click the link below to access the PTA website.
Section 5: Parent Resources Section
Updated 11/3/2024
Mypayments Plus
My Payments Plus is a safe and secure way for parents to access
- Important School Information
- View and load funds on your student's cafeteria accounts.
- View and pay all school related fees and optional activities.
- Manage all students' accounts in one place.
- Pay with any electronic form of payment (AMEX, Mastercard, Visa and sometimes ACH)
Access to STAAR Scores
The scores will be available on the Texas Education Agency Parent Portal at that time. You can use the parent portal to review your scholar's scores.
The steps to access the scores are:=
The access code would be on previous STAAR/EOC reports if you have one. You can find the access code by contacting your scholar's campus
Student Dress Code
Click here to view the dress code.
MAP/NWEA Resources
Section 6: Collegiate Celebrations and Highlights
Updated 11/10/2024
STEM Friday #2 Highlights
Section 7: Collegiate Prep - School Operations Section
Ongoing - No Updates
General Operations
Academic Calendar
School Hours and Schedule Information
No Updates
Extra Activities
Eat Lunch with Your Scholar
You may eat lunch with your scholar on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
Please ensure that you or anyone else that is coming is listed on your students guardian contact information.
Dress Code Clarifying Questions
Changes in Transportation for the Day?
Prep Elementary - Arrival Procedures - 2024 - 2025
General Information
Arrival Process:
Dismissal Process
2024 - 2025
Please view the maps below to get more information about the arrival and dismissal process.
Updates (Reminder) PreK and Kinder Exits - August 18, 2024
Arrival and Dismissal Videos
Pre-K and Kindergarten Arrival Video
Click the picture to see the video.
1st and 2nd Grade Arrival and Dismissal Video
Click the picture to see the video,
3rd - 5th Grade Arrival and Dismissal Video
Click the picture to see the video.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Bus Assignments
Each scholar, new or returning, must register for Transportation services through their student skyward account. Students will only be scheduled on one school bus to one primary residential address.
A non-eligible student may not ride on a school bus unless they have received a Temporary Scholar pass from the home campus principal or other designated administrator.
Arrive at Pick-Up 5 Minutes Early
Times posted on this site reflect the expected time the bus should arrive during good weather. Inclement weather or traffic congestion may cause the route to run later than the posted time. We ask that all students be at their bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid missing the bus.
Transportation Facility
Kim Lewis Offices
202 E. Beltline Rd.
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
469.272.2080
Email: transportation@chisd.net
Follow us on twitter @CHISDTransport
Regular School Hours
Monday - Friday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Dropping Off Kindergarten-2nd Grade Students
Parents or a documented designee must be at the bus stop to receive students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade. If no one is there to receive the student, the student will be returned to the campus.
It is the responsibility of the parent to see that students who are returned to school are picked up. Any student returned three times will have his or her riding privileges suspended for the remainder of the school year.
Designated Stop/Changes
Students will be picked up and dropped off at the student’s designated bus stop. Only one location for pick-up and drop-off will be allowed.
BUS STUDENT CONDUCT REMINDER
Consequences for Violation of Conduct:
The school bus is an extension of the classroom and campus, and discipline will be administered by campus administrators. All school board policies that apply to student conduct and other student-related activities apply to the school bus.
The driver may pull the bus over and stop to safely manage student behavior.
- If the student refuses to comply with a reasonable request, the driver will report the incident to the Assistant Director or Director upon returning to the Transportation Department.
- The Operations Supervisor shall investigate the incident and notify the driver of the action taken.
Note: In the case of serious misconduct that endangers the safety of other students or the driver, the student(s) may be removed from the bus by any school official or law enforcement official.
The district has updated our Academic Calendar for the upcoming school year. Spring Break has been changed. Spring Break will now be observed from March 10-14, 2025, moving up one week earlier from the previously scheduled dates of March 17-21, 2024.