Ranger Roundup

CFISD Parents:

The 2026-2027 Free and Reduced Lunch Application is now available on Schoolcafe.com. Applications need to be filled out each school year, and we encourage you to fill out this year’s application now. The application can be filled out electronically at schoolcafe.com (users must sign into an existing School Cafe account or create a new one).

Please call 281-897-4550 or email freeandreduced@cfisd.net if you have any questions or need assistance with the application process.6

We want to keep you informed about an important upcoming event for our school district. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, CFISD voters will consider five propositions. The election includes two main components:

• Proposition A (Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election / VATRE): Addresses daily school operations, classroom resources and competitive compensation to retain and recruit high-quality teachers and staff while addressing a state funding deficit.

• Propositions B, C, D & E (Bond Referendum): Covers long-term capital investments, including safety and security enhancements, critical facility infrastructure, school bus replacement, instructional technology updates, athletics facility maintenance and pool repairs.

This brief video provides a complete summary of all five propositions and their overall tax impact. You can also see the updates planned for Cook Middle School by visiting the Campus Project Sheets page on the election website.

Important Voting Dates

• Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 5

• Early Voting Period: Oct. 19-30

• Election Day: Nov. 3

More detailed information, including voting locations, tax calculators and more, are available on the Election 26 website.

Thank you for staying informed!

Estimados miembros de la comunidad de [School Name]:

Por medio de la presente queremos mantenerlos informados acerca de un evento próximo muy importante para nuestro distrito escolar. El martes 3 de noviembre, los votantes del CFISD tendrán en consideración cinco proposiciones. En estas elecciones hay dos componentes principales:

• Proposición A (Elección para la Aprobación de la Tasa Impositiva por los Votantes / VATRE): Aborda el funcionamiento diario de las escuelas, los recursos en los salones de clase y la compensación competitiva para retener y contratar maestros y personal de alta calidad, tratando a la vez un déficit de financiación estatal.

• Proposiciones B, C, D y E (Referéndum del Bono): Cubren inversiones de capital a largo plazo, incluyendo mejoras en seguridad y vigilancia, infraestructuras críticas de instalaciones, reemplazo de autobuses escolares, actualizaciones de tecnología educativa, mantenimiento de instalaciones deportivas y reparaciones de piscinas.

Este breve vídeo ofrece un resumen completo de las cinco proposiciones y su impacto fiscal general. También podrá ver las actualizaciones planificadas para Cook Middle School visitando la página de Hojas de Proyectos de las Escuelas en el sitio web de las elecciones.

Fechas importantes para la votación

• Fecha límite para inscribirse para votar: 5 de octubre

• Plazo para la votación temprana: 19 al 30 de octubre

• Día de las Elecciones: 3 de noviembre

Para ver información más detallada, incluyendo centros de votación, calculadoras de impuestos, visite el sitio web de las Elecciones 26.

¡Gracias por mantenerse informado!

Parents and Guardians,

The Academic Achievement Office at Cook Middle School provides insight to one of our student success initiatives through a report we call a Zero Report. Students will view this video through advisory this month and receive Zero Reports and goal setting reports throughout the year when appropriate. When or if a student receives a report for having zeros and/or is failing or in danger of failing a course a pdf is sent to your email provided through the Home Access Center. All students who are passing with at least a 70 in all classes, will be invited to Pass and Play recess during their lunch. Students who earn 80s or higher in all classes will be invited to recess and earn a snack. If you have questions related to the zeros, teacher names and course names are provided so that you can follow up with them directly. Please take a moment to update your contact information to remain connected. We look forward to partnering with you and celebrating all of our students who qualify at our Pass and Play Recess throughout the year!

Please let us know if you have any issues or have additional requests.

Sincerely,

Academic Achievement Office

Student Registration:

The color run will take place during 7th and 8th period on November 20,2026. Students must register for the Color Run during the windows listed below to participate. Students may purchase additional prizes. Please see the Color Run Prize List included with this letter. All registration purchases will be available on Schoolcash starting 10/02/2026.

• Regular Registration 10/02/2026-11/08/2026 starting at $30.00.
• Last Registration 11/09/2026-11/19/2026 Flat rate $30.00 (No Shirt).

Students will be coming home with paper permission slips on October 1st.

On Friday, November 20,2026 Cook Middle School will hold our 4th annual school-wide fundraiser- “CMS Color Run”. This event will consist of a color run/walk, music, concessions and more, all of which will raise funds to benefit Cook Middle School students. All proceeds from the color run will go directly back to our campus to support campus improvement projects, intervention strategies and student systems like P.B.I.S. ROCK Buck rewards and Pass & Play.

Donations:

We would greatly appreciate any donation you can make toward our goal. We have three donation tiers in 2026 and are as follows:

$100- Business name on the back of the 26-27 Color Run shirt

$250- Business name with small logo on the back of the Color Run shirt

$500- Business name with large logo on the back of the Color Run shirt and we will display your banner at Cook Middle School the week of the event.

For your convenience, donations may be paid online via School Cash, link will be shared via email if interested or you may write a check made payable to Cook Middle School. Should you donate, your business will also be recognized in the school newsletter and social media outlets. We will also provide a donation receipt letter with the tax-exempt ID number for your records. If this is a monetary donation from a business, please e-mail your company logo to Jessica.Stewart@cfisd.net by 11/6/26.

We believe that removing cell phone, earbud and personal device usage while students are inside Cook Middle School will:

1. Minimize Distractions

2. Promote Face-to-Face Interactions

3. Enhance Focus and Learning

4. Reduce Opportunities for Cyberbullying

If students need to make contact with a parent or guardian they may:

1. Use the campus phone in our security vestibule during passing periods, or their lunch period.

2. Use their phone during our dismissal process once they have exited the building.

3. Speak with a campus administrator, counselor or staff members about an alternative plan should an emergency arise.

Should a parent or guardian need to communicate an important message to a student, please call our main line to have a message sent to your student.

Please note that with the changes in state law last year, students will not be permitted to carry cell phones, bluetooth communication or listening devices, or smart watches on their person or in their pockets. All devices must be off and stored inside a clear backpack or a personal bag meeting the district size requirements. We appreciate your support in reinforcing the importance of following the Electronic Device Policy. Please have a conversation with your students about the reasonings behind this policy and the positive impact it can have on their academic progress and school experience.

At Cook Middle School, identification badges and clear backpacks are essential aspects of our commitment to a safe environment for students, staff and visitors to our campus. In addition, student ID badges allow students to access transportation, meals and library books with a quick scan of their badges. Please review the badge policy with your student and discuss the importance of wearing their ID badge each day.

We appreciate your support in ensuring that your student has their permanent ID badge and a clear backpack each day.

At Cook Middle School, we place great emphasis on teaching and reinforcing our campus PBIS values of being Respectful, Organized, Cooperative and Kind. An essential piece of students living these values at school is being on time to each of their classes and being in attendance for as many school days as possible.

Arriving to class on time, ensures that students do not miss essential instructions, announcements and the beginning of lessons. Our staff is working diligently to plan quality lessons that include a purposeful warm up within the first few minutes of class. Students arriving late to class, may miss those essential warm ups, reminders about upcoming assessments and other classroom announcements.

First period begins at 7:45 a.m. and students are expected to be in their assigned first period, ready to learn at 7:45. We ask your support and assistance in ensuring that students arrive on campus prior to 7:45 a.m. so that they may eat breakfast, make it to their classroom and be ready to learn when the bell rings.

Students are considered tardy if they arrive to class up to 10 minutes after the start of that class period. Students arriving to class more than 10 minutes after the start of the class period are marked as absent.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in encouraging your students to make the most of the academic year by being on time to each of their classes.

As a parent of a student at a campus receiving Title I funds, federal law allows you to ask for information about the certification, college major, and advanced degrees of your child’s teacher(s). You also have the right to request information about the qualifications of a teacher aide or paraprofessional providing direct services to your child. If you would like to receive this information, you may contact the Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D. Human Resources Department at 281-897-4099.

AVISO A LOS PADRES

Como padre o madre de un estudiante en una escuela recibiendo fondos del Título I, la ley federal le permite pedir información acerca de la certificación, especialidad, y grados avanzados del maestro de su niño. Usted también tiene el derecho de pedir información sobre las calificaciones de un ayudante de maestro o paraprofesional que proporciona servicios directos a su niño. Si desea recibir esta información, usted puede comunicarse con el Departamento de Recursos Humanos de Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D. llamando al

281-897-4099.

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