Straus
Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year!
July Newsletter
Straus Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 School Year!
Welcome to another exciting school year at Straus Middle School! We are thrilled to welcome our new Mavericks and reconnect with our returning students. We look forward to partnering with you to make this our best year yet. Our first day of school is Monday, August 10th, and we can't wait to see everyone back on campus!
With over 1,500 students calling Straus home, we remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and academically challenging environment where every student can thrive.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower every student to achieve academic excellence, develop strong character, and become lifelong learners through meaningful relationships, high expectations, and engaging instruction.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire confident, compassionate, and successful students who are prepared to positively impact their school, community, and future.
At Straus, we teach and celebrate Maverick PRIDE every day.
- P – Prepared
- R – Respectful
- I – Integrity
- D – Determined
- E – Engaged
These expectations guide how we learn, lead, and treat one another both inside and outside the classroom.
Parent Newsletter
This monthly newsletter is our primary source of communication throughout the school year. It contains important dates, campus procedures, reminders, and updates. We encourage you to read it carefully each month and save it for future reference. It can also be found on our campus webpage.
Prep Day – July 29 | 3:00–6:00 PM
This is a come-and-go event.
Families can:
- Walk student schedules found on HAC
- Meet campus representatives
- Ask questions
- Purchase PE Uniforms
Representatives from Special Education, 504, Transportation, and PTA will be available.
PE and Athletics Uniform Sales, Spirit Shirts (Cash Only)
- Full Set: $30
- Shirt: $15
- Shorts: $15
Meet & Greet
This is also a come-and-go event where students can walk their schedules and meet their teachers. Schedules can be found in HAC (directions below), they will not be printed.
6th Grade
- August 5th, 4:30–6:00 PM
7th & 8th Grade
- August 18th, 4:30–6:00 PM
With students having 7–8 teachers and each teacher serving approximately 180 students, email is the fastest and most effective way to communicate.
If you have questions regarding classroom instruction, assignments, or grades, please contact your child's teacher first, as they have firsthand knowledge of your student's progress. Teacher email addresses can be found through Home Access Center (HAC).
School Supplies
During the first week of school, students only need:
- Backpack
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
Teachers will communicate any additional or specialized classroom supplies during the first week of school.
Lockers
6th Grade
- Lockers will be assigned during the second week of school.
7th & 8th Grade
- Students may request a locker through their science teacher beginning the second week of school.
Traffic is always heaviest during the first couple of weeks of school. Thank you in advance for your patience as we teach students safe arrival and dismissal procedures.
Drop-off & Pick-up Tips
- Use the right lane whenever possible.
- Students exiting from the left lane must use the designated crosswalk.
- Please avoid using the parking lot for drop-off or pick-up due to student safety concerns.
- To avoid congestion, consider arriving closer to 4:10 PM for afternoon pick-up.
Bus Riders
Bus route information will be available in early August through NISD.
Students should write down their bus number before leaving campus.
Straus utilizes A and B bus routes. Students assigned to a B route will wait in the A100 hallway until their bus returns. Bus numbers are posted throughout the hallway and announced multiple times to assist students.
First Day of School – August 10
- Doors Open: 7:45 AM
- Students should arrive by 8:30 AM
- Tardy Bell: 8:40 AM
- Students report to their grade-level hallway until released to first period.
- First period classroom locations will be posted throughout the building.
- Teachers will distribute official schedules during first period.
For the safety of all students, parents and visitors will not be permitted to walk students into the building on the first day. Our staff will be available to assist every student as they enter.
Grades & Attendance
Student grades and attendance can be monitored through Home Access Center (HAC). We encourage families to check HAC at least once each week to stay informed about academic progress.
Volunteers Needed
We always welcome parent volunteers. We encourage every parent to volunteer for at least one lunch duty every school year.
If you're interested in helping at Straus, please contact our front office. All volunteers must complete the required annual background check through Northside ISD before volunteering on campus.
Our Commitment
This year, our campus will continue raising expectations for teaching and learning. Our focus is to increase academic rigor, strengthen classroom instruction, and provide every Maverick with the highest quality educational experience possible.
To support this work, administrators will spend a significant portion of each day in classrooms working alongside teachers and students. If you would like to meet with an administrator, we kindly ask that you call the front office to schedule an appointment. This helps ensure we remain focused on supporting student success while still making time to address your questions and concerns.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will make the 2026–2027 school year one filled with growth, achievement, and Maverick PRIDE.
We look forward to seeing everyone on August 10th!
Warm regards,
W. Autumn Peralta
Principal, Straus Middle School
HAC Access
HAC Guide
HAC-Spanish
Maverick families, please take time to read through this national research based initiative to help transform schools by increasing student engagement and reducing negative social distractions. Away For The Day encourages cell phone free spaces that allow students to thrive socially and academically. Our expectation is that students put away their cell phones, earbuds, and gaming devices at 8:35 every morning in their backpacks or lockers and may be used again at 3:55 at the end of the day. Telephones are available in all classrooms and all campus offices in the event that a students needs to contact a parent.
Boys' Athletics: 2026-2027
