Roadrunner Revue

JDA Families,

As we begin Week 12, I am reminded that strong schools are built through strong partnerships. Whether we are refining dismissal procedures, expanding resources for families, celebrating student success, or simply helping our students make better choices each day, our goal remains the same: to create a safe, supportive environment where every Roadrunner can thrive.

This week, we are continuing to make intentional adjustments based on what we see, hear, and learn. You will find several important updates in this week’s Roadrunner Revue, including our revised walker and bus dismissal procedures, upcoming events, family resources, and new opportunities to stay connected with JDA.

One thing we continue to emphasize with our students is that their choices matter. Character, communication, citizenship, and critical thinking are not just words on our walls—they are skills we are working together to build every day.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us, reinforce expectations at home, share your feedback, and trust us with your children. We are always learning, adjusting, and working to get better—and your voice is an important part of that process.

We are in this together, and we are grateful to have you as part of our JDA Family.

❤️💙 Mrs. Jimenez

• After School Tutoring 4-5
• 8th Grade Football Practice 4-6pm
• 7th Grade Football Practice 6:15 am
• Cheer Practice 3:45-5pm
• Varsity Saxophone Practice 4-5pm
• NJHS Meeting 3:45-4:45pm, Room 202

• 7th Grade Football Championship Game vs Patterson MS @ Leo Buckley Stadium 5:30pm
• 6th grade Field Trip to CTC
• After School Tutoring 4-5pm
• Dance Practice 3:45-5:15pm
• Varsity French Horn Practice 4-5pm

Wednesday November 4

• * No After School Tutoring or Activities due to Staff Training
• Academic Awards for Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance (Invites coming)

• After School Tutoring 4-5pm
• Pep Squad Practice 4-5:30pm
• Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15pm
• Varsity Flute/Clarinet Practice 4-5pm
• Region Choir Rehearsal 4-5pm
• Girls Basketball Tryouts 3:45-5:30pm

• Girls Basketball Tryouts 3:45-5:30pm
• No after school tutorials

• Saturday Detention or Attendance Recovery @ JDA 8-12pm
• Texas Coaches Day

• After School Tutoring 4-5
• Boys 7th Grade Basketball Tryouts 6:15am
• Boys 8th Grade Basketball Tryouts 5:30pm
• Varsity Saxophone Practice 4-5pm

• After School Tutoring 4-5pm
• Boys 7th Grade Basketball Tryouts 6:15am
• Boys 8th Grade Basketball Tryouts 5:30pm

• Dance Practice 3:45-5:15pm
• Varsity French Horn Practice 4-5pm

• No School - Veterans Day

• After School Tutoring 4-5pm
• Dance Practice 3:45 - 5:15pm
• Varsity Flute/Clarinet Practice 4-5pm
• 7th Grade Basketball Practice 6:15am
• 8th Grade Basketball Practice 5:30-7pm
• Girls Basketball Practice 3:45-5:30pm
• Region Choir Rehearsal 4-5pm

• 7th Grade Basketball Practice 6:15am
• 8th Grade Basketball Practice 5:30-7pm
• Girls Basketball Practice 3:45-5:30pm

• Saturday Detention or Attendance Recovery @ JDA 8-12pm
• Girls Basketball Practice 9-11am
• 8th Grade Boys Basketball Practice 8-12pm

Beginning Monday, November 2, we will adjust our walker and bus dismissal procedures to help reduce congestion and improve student safety.

Instead of all walkers and bus riders exiting through Door 3:

• 6th Grade: Students will exit through Door 4 in the 6th grade pod.

• 7th Grade: Students will travel through the hallway near Counseling and exit through Door 1 at the front of the building.

• 8th Grade: Students will travel through the hallway in front of the AP Office, come down the stairs, and continue exiting through Door 3.

We will review these changes with students before dismissal.

We also ask everyone to reinforce appropriate hallway spacing with students. We are seeing students walk extremely close together, which creates unnecessary crowding and makes it much harder to safely redirect students if something unexpected occurs.

Think of our hallway expectations as pre-driving lessons:

Stay to the right. Do not pass. Maintain a safe following distance. Leave enough space to stop or maneuver safely if needed.

Just like driving, everyone moves more safely when we stay in our lane, give each other space, and pay attention to the people around us.

Thank you for helping us make dismissal safer and smoother for everyone.

Your seat in Arendelle is waiting! 💙 Come experience the magic of Disney’s *Frozen: The Musical* with Chaparral High School Bobcat Drama! ☃️👑

❄️ November 5 & 6 | 7 PM
❄️ November 7 | 8 PM

🎟️ Grab your tickets before the magic melts away! https://chaparralhighschoolbobcatdrama.ludus.com/
✨The poster is student-designed.✨

Greetings, JDA Community!

My name is Cheri Diaz, and I am thrilled to join the team this year as your Parent Liaison at JDA Middle School. Originally from Southern California, I earned my master’s degree in early childhood education from the American College of Education.

I have spent most of my career working with children and youth. In 2007, with the support of local organizations and grant funding, I created a 5-star nationally accredited early learning center for infants through kindergarten. I subsequently opened two additional campuses, expanding our capacity to serve 250 children.

I moved to Central Texas full-time in 2024 to help care for an elderly relative and have grown to love this community. One of my favorite aspects of running early childhood centers was fostering deep connections between the school, parents, and the community.

Outside of work, I enjoy supporting local animal rescues, trying new recipes, and planning summer trips to Disneyland or Yosemite! I look forward to partnering with our parents and community to support the growth and achievement of all our students.

Cheri Diaz

(254) 336-3300

Cheri.Diaz@killeenisd.org

Killeen ISD is hosting Optimization 2.0 Community Town Halls, and we encourage our families, employees and community members to make plans to attend and submit their questions in advance!

As the district considers potential school closures, consolidations and attendance boundary changes, we want to hear from you. No final decisions have been made, and community feedback is an important part of the process.

📅 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
📍 Nov. 9 | Shoemaker High School | 6 p.m.
📍 Nov. 12 | Killeen High School | 6 p.m.
📍 Nov. 19 | Ellison High School | 6 p.m.

❓Have questions about KISD's proposed Optimization 2.0 scenarios? Submit them using this brief form before our upcoming town halls so we can better understand what families, staff, and community members want to know. No registration is required, and you can submit multiple questions. 👉 Submit your questions here: https://mgtamer.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0GwchfCeQRXo55c

🔗 Learn more about Optimization 2.0 and the proposed scenarios: www.killeenisd.org/optimization

Save the date. Submit your questions. Make plans to attend. We want to hear from you!

October's Character Trait is Self-Direct! This month, we’re challenging students to envision future goals and take intentional steps toward who they want to be. We are partnering with you to grow and develop your child’s ability to self-direct. We can model self-direction by celebrating the positive in each day, seeking the good in others, and emphasizing our responsibility to make positive choices.

Engage: Find the Good! Self-direct your thoughts and share Good Things as a family each day. After school, around the dinner table, or before bed, ask each family member to share something good from the day. We often see what we seek! Let’s focus on finding the good.

Conversation Starter: What is one way you can be more responsible at home or school?

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

If you are interested, please come see one of the counselors for more information.

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.