Hawk Pride News

Dear Parents,

As we begin our Thanksgiving break today, I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday. May this season be filled with gratitude, togetherness, and wonderful memories.

We look forward to welcoming our students back after the break, ready to continue learning and growing together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please remember that our school will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from Monday, November 24, through Friday, November 28, 2025. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1, 2025.

Warmly,

Araceli Altamirano

Assistant Principal L-Z

Monday - No events

Tuesday - No events

Wednesday - No events

Thursday - No events

Friday - No events

Congratulations Harby Junior High Dancers!

Harby Junior High dancers gave an AMAZING performance at the district-wide show held at Alvin High School, joining 550 dancers from grades 6–12.

The number of people who approached Mrs. Smith after the show with compliments was overwhelming! Harby is also proud to have the largest middle school dance department on the east side of the district, with 140 dancers.

First Pathways is a great free resource for parents looking for simple, engaging ways to support their child’s development through play!

First Pathways provides fun, interactive activities designed to help children build strong brain connections from birth to age 8. The activities use common household items, so they’re easy to do at home, in the car, or anywhere you have a few minutes to play together.

How It Works:

• Choose your child’s age group
• Spin the activity wheel to get a new game idea
• Watch short videos that show other families playing the same activities
• Learn how each activity strengthens important brain pathways

Provides quick, easy ideas for playful learning, including options for children with diverse learning needs, such as those who were born prematurely or have neurological differences.

Check it out at www.firstpathwaysgame.com and have fun exploring new ways to play and learn together! 🎉

Navigating special education can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s new to your family. This quick guide explains the basics, your child’s rights, and important protections in the process. Remember, the school must get your permission before evaluating your child, and choosing special education services is always your decision. Click here to learn more.

Alvin ISD is exploring the possibility of offering new language courses, including American Sign Language (ASL), at the high school level. Your input will help us understand the interests and needs of our families. This survey takes less than 2 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your help!

Click the link or use the QR Code to share your feedback → Future World Language Options – Community Interest Survey

Communities In Schools (CIS) at GW Harby Junior High provides supportive services not only to students, but also to their families. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

CIS offers services that meet real needs and create real opportunities, including:

• Supportive Guidance
• Academic Support
• Enrichment Activities
• Health & Human Services
• Parent and Family Engagement
• College & Career Readiness

We also host lunch groups that focus on topics such as social skills, encouragement, self-esteem, and peer interaction in a safe and supportive space.

If you would like to enroll your student in CIS, please visit the link provided and complete the parental consent form.

If your student is already enrolled, follow this link, please log in to your Skyward Parent Portal, go to the Forms section, and complete the Counseling Opt-In Form by selecting "Yes." This form is now required under House Bill 12 in order for us to continue providing services. If you have any trouble accessing or completing the form, let us know, and we’ll send a hard copy home with your student.

Thank you to those who have already completed the form! Once we receive all forms, we’ll be able to restart our lunch groups and other CIS activities.

CIS Fundraiser Is Underway!

Our annual Communities In Schools fundraiser has officially begun and runs through December 10, 2025. This fundraiser helps us raise campus-wide funds to support CIS programming and events that benefit all students at Harby JH.

This year’s exciting prizes include:

• 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR (winner may keep the truck, receive a check for its value, or use it toward another vehicle — CIS covers tax, title, and license!)
• 2025 VCart F4 F-Series 4-Seater Cart
• Louis Vuitton Pochette Felicie Purse
• $1,500 Visa Gift Card
• $1,000 Amazon Gift Card

To donate and participate, please click the link.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and campus community!

Johnnie La Quay

Site Coordinator

jlaquay@alvinisd.net or jblaquay@cistxjv.org.

Parents, check out the workshops Alvin ISD is offering to support you and your students’ success!

Available in English & Spanish – don’t miss out!

We are excited to share that Harby Jr High has grown on the TEA Accountability scale from a C in 2024 to a B in 2025! Additionally, we received a Distinction for being in the Top 25% of school for Comparative Academic Growth! We are proud of our students, we are proud of our teachers, and we are appreciative of all the supportive parents & guardians! We are looking forward to continuing this success through effective first instruction, formative assessments, and proactive plans to address deficits. Let's Go, Hawks!

Lock in your student's yearbook now by pre-ordering. Yearbooks are $40 and there are options for personalization and signing packages. Click the link to select your choice.