The Community Champion Chronicle 🏆

Dear Lang Families,

We’ve officially wrapped up Week 3 at Lang Middle School, and our champions are off to a strong start! Each day, our teachers and students are working with focus and urgency to build momentum in the classroom. A big part of our success this year comes from our commitment to tracking student growth. When students can see their progress, set goals, and celebrate achievements, they take ownership of their learning—one of the most powerful tools for long-term success.

As we enter Week 4, here are some key areas of focus:

— Lab Block: Students receive 30+ minutes of targeted support in Math and Reading on B-Days.
— Data Binders: Every student has a “Pathway to GOLD” binder where they track STAAR goals, reflect on progress, and set action steps.
— Standards in Action: Learning standards are visible in classrooms so students always know the “why” behind their work.
— Student Voice: Students are encouraged to engage in structured discussions, practice academic vocabulary, and explain their thinking with peers.

We are so proud of the hard work and grit our students are showing each day. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to push for growth and greatness in every classroom.

Enjoy your well-deserved Labor Day weekend with family and friends. We’ll see our champions back on Tuesday, ready to take on Week 4 with energy and determination!

With pride,
Jessica Weems
Principal, Lang Middle School

#WeAre26 — United in Growth. Driven by Grit. Destined for Greatness. 💜💛

Big News, Lang Community!

The Texas Education Agency released the 2025 campus ratings on Friday, August 15, and Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School is officially a C campus! This is a huge step forward from where we started — and it’s a direct result of the growth, grit, and greatness our students, staff, and families bring every single day.

We’ve moved up, and now our eyes are on the next prize — earning that B rating. Just like champions on the field, we will keep training, strategizing, and playing to win. Every practice, every lesson, every day counts toward our goal.

#WeAre26 – United in Growth. Driven by Grit. Destined for Greatness.

Hello Lang Families,

We have officially wrapped up Week 3 at Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School, and our Champions are already showing what Growth, Grit, and Greatness look like every single day. Thank you for your partnership and support as we build strong systems for success both inside and outside the classroom.

☕ Coffee with the Principal
Please join me on Monday, September 22 at 9:30 AM for our first Coffee with the Principal. This will be an opportunity to connect, share updates, and hear your feedback. If you need support with resources, school supplies, or uniforms, we’ll be here to help.

🌟 Parent Support Specialist
As your Parent Support Specialist, I am here to serve as a bridge between our families and the school—ensuring open communication, meaningful support, and strong collaboration. I am available to help with resources, supplies, uniforms, or to answer any questions you may have. Email me at birobles@dallasisd.org.

My goal is to make sure every family feels welcomed, informed, and empowered to play an active role in our championship journey. At Lang, we know that every champion has a team—and our families are at the heart of that team. Together, we will celebrate growth, face challenges with grit, and strive for greatness in every aspect of our students’ lives. As we head into Week 4, let’s continue building on our momentum. Thank you for entrusting us with your children and for walking alongside us on the Pathway to GOLD.

Parent Support Specialist

The Family and Community Engagement Office assists parents who currently have a pre-existing PowerSchool/Parent Portal account and parents who would like to create a PowerSchool/Parent Portal account.

We are currently working on getting every student's ID badge picture taken, once they have all been taken and distributed, the policy is as follows:

ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR ID BADGES. IT IS PART OF THEIR DAILY DRESS CODE.

The ID badge policy is for the safety and security of EVERYONE on campus.

• Students will receive their first ID badge for free.
• A lost ID badge must be replaced. Replacement badges are $5.00.
• Student ID badges must be worn on lanyards around the neck.
• Replacement lanyards are $2.00.
• Student ID badges must be visible, with pictures facing forward.
• Students are not allowed to tamper or alter ID badges or photos.

Students who forget their ID badges are required to get a temporary ID sticker for $1.00 before school.

Students who are missing required immunizations have now received their second notice.

All students in Dallas ISD must have up-to-date immunization records on file before attending school, as required by the Texas Department of State Health Services and TEA. These vaccines help protect students and prevent disease outbreaks.

👉 If your child has already received their vaccines, please provide the updated records to the nurse.

👉 If your child still needs vaccines, please schedule them as soon as possible. Nurse Carrizales will begin calling parents/guardians for pickup.

For questions about requirements or exemptions, contact Nurse Carrizales at (972) 925-2423 or vcarrizales@dallasisd.org

Under Senate Bill 12, Dallas ISD (and all Texas schools) must have SIGNED parent/guardian Permission Form before providing any health-related services to students—even for simple care like band-aids or temperature checks.

Without a signed consent form, schools may only give life-saving care. To allow Nurse Carrizales & Nurse Carbajal to provide other services (such as first aid, screenings, or administering medication), parents must check “Yes” and sign the Parental Consent for School Health-Related Services form.

👉 Please complete and return this form as soon as possible. It will remain on file for the entire school year.

For questions, contact Nurse Carrizales at (972) 925-2423 or vcarrizales@dallasisd.org

As flu and COVID cases are on the rise, we ask for your help in keeping our campus healthy.

👉 If your child has flu-like symptoms, please keep them home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication (100.2°F or higher).
👉 A doctor’s note is required if your child misses 5 OR MORE consecutive school days.
👉 For absences between 1 - 4 days, please send a handwritten Parent Excuse Note, as soon as the student returns to campus.

📵House Bill 1481 now requires Texas schools to limit or secure personal electronic devices during the instructional day. In alignment with Dallas ISD, Lang Middle School will implement the use of Yondr pouches to secure student cell phones during the school day.

Students will place their phones in a Yondr pouch, keep the pouch with them throughout the day, and return it at dismissal to be unlocked at a designated station. This new policy is designed to reduce distractions, protect instructional time, and promote a more engaged and connected learning environment.

🚫 Reminders on Prohibited Items:

Students may not bring:

• Phones, Smartwatches (Apple Watch, Fitbit, etc.), Wireless earbuds or headphones that do not fit inside their school-issued pouch

• Gaming devices, tablets, or laptops

What happens if my child needs to make a call?

Student's have been told to ask their teacher for permission to make a phone call.

📞 Students can contact parents/guardians using:

• Campus Phones (Main Office, Counselor’s Office, or Clinic)
• Email or Remind on their Chromebook

✅ Parent Tip: Check your student’s backpack before they leave home to ensure they aren’t carrying any prohibited devices.

Our goal is to protect instructional time and support student focus. Thank you for your partnership in making this successful.

Under Senate Bill 12, Dallas ISD (and all Texas schools) must have SIGNED parent/guardian Permission Form before providing any health-related services to students, this includes speaking to the counselors about topics like Bullying and harassment prevention.

This is the SAME consent form used for the nurse, teachers, athletic trainers, administrators, and other staff who supervise children. Without a signed consent form, schools may only give life-saving care.

To allow Ms. Lincecum & Ms. Sims to speak with the students, parents must check “Yes” and sign the Parental Consent for School Health-Related Services form.

👉 Please complete and return this form as soon as possible. It will remain on file for the entire school year.

National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized annually in September to raise awareness about suicide prevention and treatment as well as warning signs and how to get help when it is needed most.

Dallas ISD holds the safety and well-being of students and team members alike at the highest priority, and encourages everyone to learn the warning signs and get the support they—or those around them—need.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), warning signs of suicide include:

• Increased substance use and abuse
• Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness or being trapped
• Significant mood swings
• Talk of wanting to die or being a burden
• Withdrawal from friends and relatives
• Feelings of intense guilt or shame
• Making a plan or researching ways to die
• Eating or sleeping more or less
• Acting impulsively or recklessly

Anyone who is experiencing a crisis can get immediate support by contacting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in English or Spanish at 988. Additionally, people can access the NAMI HelpLine from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting “HelpLine” to 62640, or emailing helpline@nami.org.

To visit Dallas ISD’s Mental Health Services page with hotlines and text lines for support, click here.

It’s OK to not be OK.

Reach out for help, and encourage those around you to do the same. Together, we can break the stigma around mental illness and help prevent crises.

Email: jweems@dallasisd.org

Website: https://lang.dallasisd.org/

Location: 1678 Chenault St. Dallas TX 75228

Phone: (972) 925-2400

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lang_hw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haroldwlangms/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hwlangms