Roadrunner Revue

Roadrunner Families,

We are entering Week 5, and progress reports were sent home last week. This is a great time to sit down with your student, review each class together, celebrate what is going well, and make a plan for anything that needs attention. Our mission is to equip our students with the necessary skills to thrive, and part of that work is helping students learn to monitor their progress, meet deadlines, ask for help, and take advantage of the support available to them.

If your student has a low grade, missing work, or an opportunity for a makeup or redo, please do not wait. After-school tutorials are available, and we highly recommend registering for this week's sessions now through Minga. Each tutorial has a limited number of seats and registration is first come, first served. This progress report was not a UIL eligibility check, but the next one will be, so now is the time to act. The tutorial information and registration directions are included below in this newsletter.

We are also beginning LIFT—Learning Intervention Focus Time for students who have missing assignments that are still within the five-day late-work window. This intervention is held during lunch to allow supported time to complete late work, as learning is required. Families should be aware that the secondary grading policy has changed this year. If students have previously been accustomed to waiting until the end of the nine weeks to submit late assignments, that is no longer an option. Late work loses 10 points for each day it is late, for up to five days. After the fifth day, the assignment is no longer accepted. We will remain consistent with assignment due dates while continuing to provide students opportunities for support, intervention, makeups, and redos when applicable.

A quick attendance note as well: tardies entered through Minga have not displaying correctly in HAC. The district is actively working on the nightly sync, so you may notice some previously listed unexcused absences change to tardies. Remember that in middle and high school, attendance is counted by class period—not simply by the school day. Too many absences in an individual class can jeopardize a student's ability to earn credit for that class, so every period matters.

Finally, Open House is tomorrow from 4:30–6:30 p.m.! This is a come-and-go event, and we would love to see our Roadrunner families and grandparents. At 5:00 p.m. in the cafeteria, we will hold our Title I Parent Meeting and PTO Interest Meeting. If you plan to visit all of your student's teachers, I recommend arriving no later than 6:00 p.m. so you have enough time before Open House ends at 6:30.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we create a nurturing environment where students are challenged through meaningful work and quality instruction and learn the habits that will prepare them for success in life. Check the progress report, make the plan, register for support, and let's keep moving forward together.

— Mrs. Jimenez

Monday September 14

• US History BOY Testing
• 8th grade students will report to their testing rooms from last week
• Regular Schedule, 8th graders will join their normal schedule when the administration is complete
• Open House 4:30-6:30pm- Come & Go
• Title 1 Parent Night @ 5pm in the Cafeteria
• PTO Interest Meeting @ 5pm in the Cafeteria
• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm (Cancelled due to Open House)
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am , 8th Gr @3:45pm
• JDA Football Practice 6am
• Varsity Saxophone Practice 4-5pm (Cancelled due to Open House)
• Yearbook Meeting 3:50-4:30 pm (Cancelled due to Open House)
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm (Cancelled due to Open House)

• Grades 6-8 Science MAP Testing
• BOY Testing Schedule (same as last week, Day 2 classes)
• National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Football Game vs Nolan MS 5:20pm : 7th Gr @Nolan 8th Gr @ JDA
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am and 8th Gr @ 3:45pm
• Varsity French Horn Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15pm

• Makeups for BOY Testing
• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Volleyball Game vs Nolan MS 5:30pm: 7th Gr @Nolan MS, 8th Gr @JDA
• Varsity Trumpet Practice 4-5pm
• Cheer Practice 3:45-5pm
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm

• Makeups for BOY Testing
• JDA Cross Country Meet - The Knight's Charge @ HHHS 5:30 pm
• JDA Football Practice 6am
• Varsity Flute/Clarinet Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am and 8th Gr @ 3:45pm
• JDA Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15 pm
• Pep Squad Practice 4-5pm

• Makeups for BOY Testing
• JDA Football Practice @6am
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am and 8th Gr @ 3:45pm
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm

• Saturday Detention/Attendance Recovery 8-12pm
• Spirit Spectacular 7pm Leo Buckley Stadium
• 8th Grade Football Practice 8-10am
• JDA Volleyball Practice - 7th Gr @ 8-10am and 8th Gr @ 10-12pm

Monday September 21

• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Volleyball Game vs Union Grove MS 5:30pm: 7th Gr @Union Grove MS, 8th Gr @JDA
• JDA Football Practice 6am
• Varsity Saxophone Practice 4-5pm
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm
• Cheer Practice 4-5pm

• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Football Game vs Union Grove MS 5:30pm : 7th Gr @Union Grove 8th Gr @ JDA
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am and 8th Gr @ 3:45pm
• Varsity French Horn Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15pm
• EF Tours Parent Meeting 5-6pm
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm

• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am and 8th Gr @ 3:45pm
• Varsity Trumpet Practice 4-5pm
• Theatre Lip Sync Practice 4-5pm

• JDA Volleyball B-Team Tournament Mid Season Tournament - TBA
• Theatre Lip Sync Performance @ Killeen HS 6pm
• JDA Football Practice 6am
• Varsity Flute/Clarinet Practice 4-5pm
• JDA Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15 pm
• Pep Squad Practice 3:45 - 5:00pm

• JDA Football Practice @6am
• JDA Volleyball Practice: 7th Gr @6:25am , 8th Gr @3:45pm
• Cross Country Practice 4-5pm

• Saturday Detention/Attendance Recovery 8-12pm
• JDA Volleyball B-Team Mid Season Tournament - TBA
• 8th Gr Football Practice 8-10am

Open tutoring is another way we are working to fulfill our mission to equip our students with the necessary skills to thrive by providing purposeful academic support when students need a little extra time or help.

Open tutoring is designed for students who have a specific academic reason to attend, such as:

• Homework or assignment completion
• Redos, corrections, or mastery opportunities
• Help understanding a skill or concept
• Other specific academic support

Students should come prepared with a clear plan for what they need to accomplish. Tutoring is intended to be a productive work session—not simply a place to remain after school.

What Families Need to Know

• Tutoring is held 4:00–4:30 p.m.
• Students may attend one teacher's tutoring session per day.
• Every student staying after school must have a Minga tutoring pass identifying where they are going.
• Students will check in through Minga when they arrive, which also creates our tutoring attendance record.
• Students should remain in their assigned tutoring location and may not move between tutoring rooms.
• At 4:30 p.m., students will be escorted to the front of the school for parent/guardian pickup or to the Boys & Girls Club if they are enrolled and attending there.
• Students who are disruptive or misuse the tutoring opportunity may be required to be picked up by a parent/guardian.

Our goal is not simply to give students more time at school—it is to make that time meaningful. Through quality instruction, purposeful support, and partnership with families, we can help every Roadrunner continue moving toward success.

Did you know that students can sign themselves up for after-school tutorials in Minga? Students already have access to Minga using their school account.

How Students Sign Up

1. Open Minga

• Go to app.minga.io on any computer, Chromebook, tablet, or phone, OR
• Open the Minga app.

2. Sign in

Use the student's school-issued account to sign in. If prompted, select Sign in with Microsoft.

3. Find FlexTime

From the Minga menu:

My Tools → FlexTime

4. Choose the Tutorial Session

Find the tutorial date you need and click Register.

**All of next week is already loaded and ready for registering. This includes Boys and Girls Club

5. Pick Your Teacher or Subject

Browse the available tutorial sessions. Students can search for a specific teacher or activity and see available seats.

6. Click Register

That's it! The tutorial will now appear as the student's registered FlexTime activity.

⭐ Remember: Space may be limited, so students should register ahead of time. Students may attend one tutorial session per day and should come with a clear plan for what they need help with.

📱 Parents: Put Minga on Your Phone Too!

We encourage parents and guardians to download the Minga app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in using their student's school account.

Having Minga on your phone makes it easy to help your student:

• Check available tutorial sessions
• Register for tutoring together
• Confirm which teacher/session they selected
• Keep Minga easily accessible from home

No phone? No problem! Students can also access Minga from any web browser at app.minga.io.

💡 Family Tip: Take a few minutes each week to ask, “Do you need to sign up for tutorials this week?”

All students are expected to:

• Be in dress code
• Wear their ID
• Represent JDA well (positive behavior, good sportsmanship, etc)
• Sit in the student section (if you are a JDA student)
• Abide by the Student Code of Conduct
• Leave by 15 minutes after the end of the event
• Keep your area tidy

Help us stock the JDA Care Closet with everyday essentials for our students! We are currently accepting donations of individually packaged snacks, bottled water, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, and basic school supplies.

Donations can be dropped off at the JDA Middle School Main Office.

**If you are able to donate, sponsor, or support a family—now or in the future—please reach out and let us know. Likewise, if your family is experiencing a need, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are grateful for a community that takes care of one another, and tax-deductible donation receipts can be provided for qualifying assistance.**

Quick reminders about school nutrition:

• ALL students will get FREE breakfast and supper this year.
• If students are eligible for Free/reduced Lunch, lunch will also be free. Lunch is either free or full-price. Students eligible for reduced lunch are also free.
• Free/Reduced applications must be renewed EACH year. Please fill it out ASAP to ensure your student maintains/receives their benefits.
• If students are not eligible for free/reduced lunch, lunch is $3.00.
• A la carte items are available for purchase.
• You can add money to your student's account by:
• Credit Card: Only available via School Cafe Account
• Cash:
• You can send money with your student once school starts

Even though Grandparents Day is officially on the 13th of Sept, who says we can't celebrate on the 14th? During Open House we wanted to shout out our JDA grandparents. Some of Grandparents are our students guardians/parental figures and others are active in our JDA students life in a different way. To value you, we thought it would be fun if you submitted a song to be played during our Open House. If you would also like to submit a picture that will be included in our slideshow you may do that as well. Click on the photo below to do so 😄

If you are interested to participate in PTO we will have the interest meeting at Open House at 5pm in the library! If you signed up during roadrunner readiness I have already emailed to let you know. This meeting will be a 20 minute presentation. If time allows I will also do a mass volunteer orientation.

If you signed up for parent leadership during Runner Camp (Readiness Day) we have not forgotten about you! Previously known as Parents as Partners, JDA now has Coffee Chats! JDA is teaming up with Maude Moore Wood Elementary, one of our feeder schools, to collaborate with parents who possibly have kids at both schools. Email/Call Parent Liaison for more information!

There is a need for at least 5 volunteers for a possible field trip for 6th grade history at the end of the month. If you are interested, please reach out to jennyfer.arriaza@killeenisd.org.

Are you (or your student) passionate about creating a welcoming, supportive campus for all students? Join the JDA Youth Sponsorship Program (YSP), a student-led initiative bridging military and civilian communities through mentorship, service, and belonging. The only requirement to join is to have a kind heart and an open mind!

Youth Sponsorship Program Application

Capturing Kids Hearts:

We continue to focus on empathy and challenging students to make sure that everyone they interact with feels seen, heard, and valued. We are partnering with you to grow and develop empathy in your student at home. As a family, use these activities to reflect on and better understand the needs of others:

Conversation Starters:

❓What can you do to show people you care about them?

❓How does listening to others help them know you care?

❓What can you do or say to show that you are listening to others?

❓Describe what it means to “make someone’s day.”

Student Residency Questionnaires (SRQ):

SRQs continue to be sent home with students who do not have a current SRQ on file for this school year. If you have not yet completed an SRQ for your student(s), please check with your student to see if they have one to bring home.

If we already have an SRQ on file for your student for this school year, another questionnaire will not be sent home. SRQs will be distributed through 2nd period throughout next week. Please be on the lookout for one coming home with your student if needed! Completed SRQs can be turned in to Ms. Selena in the Counseling Offices. Students who return their completed SRQ will receive Minga Points for showing responsibility!

Thank you so much for your continued support and partnership as we work together to support our students and families!

CLICK HERE for a video on how to translate Smore

We value your feedback and want to hear from you. If you have a concern, you are always welcome to contact or visit the front office; however, an administrator or counselor may not be immediately available.

To help us honor your time and connect you with the right person, please call or email to request a meeting whenever possible. When calling, please share enough information with our secretaries so they can quickly direct your concern.

If the concern involves a teacher, please begin by contacting the teacher directly. If additional support is needed, we are happy to help.