JNE'S Friday Newsletter

Dear Longhorn Families,

We loved welcoming our Longhorns back from Spring Break this week and jumping right back into learning together! It was especially fun to end the week with a wonderful performance by our talented 1st grade students—what a great way to celebrate our return!

We are excited about this strong start to the final nine weeks and look forward to finishing the school year with focus, energy, and excellence.

Upcoming Events

Monday, March 30th- Spring Picture Day

Thursday, April 2nd- Wear Blue for 'Light it Up Blue: Autism Awareness Day'

Thursday, April 2nd- Morris Brothers Assembly

Friday, April 3rd- Staff/Student Holiday

Week of April 6th- STAAR Testing Windows Begin

Tuesday, April 7th- Grade 5 Reading STAAR

Tuesday, April 7th- 1st Grade Service Sentinel Field Trip- Group 1

Wednesday, April 8th- Grade 4 Reading STAAR

Thursday, April 9th- Grade 3 Reading STAAR

Friday, April 10th- Festive Friday

Friday, April 10th- Reading STAAR Make Up Days

As a reminder, the campus will be closed to all visitors and volunteers during STAAR testing.

To ensure a secure and quiet testing environment, the use of radios and intercoms will be significantly limited. As a result, we are not able to accommodate lunch drop-offs during the school day. Please plan for your child to bring a lunch or purchase one from the cafeteria.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to provide the best possible testing environment for our students.

Items in our Newsletter Include:

• Campus Flyers
  
• Lunch Visitors Announcement
  
• Campus Reminders
• Attendance Information
  
• FBISD Whole Child Health
• Fort Bend Education Foundation Announcements
• Staff Contact Information

Sincerely,

The JNE Admin Team

Dear Longhorn Community,

To support the safety of our students and families during morning arrival, please note an important update to our procedures.

Beginning Monday, April 6, Harvest Green Drive will no longer be available for car drop-off for students to cross with the crossing guard. This decision was made following a traffic review led by the local Constable’s Office, which determined that the current pattern poses significant safety risks for both drivers and pedestrians. In addition, congestion in this area slows down the front car rider lanes and has created challenges for nearby residents when cars block driveways or park in residential areas. We ask that all families remain considerate of private property and attentive to traffic and pedestrians.

The Constable’s Office has already begun a soft launch of this transition, and you may have noticed adjustments to traffic flow in recent days. We anticipate a full launch, along with a consistent presence from local constables and/or FBISD Police, beginning April 6 to support a safe and smooth implementation.

For families who routinely use the front car rider line, we hope you have already seen the increased efficiency and improved safety this process provides during morning arrival.

Parents will continue to use the front driveway for morning drop-off, and we anticipate that traffic flow will continue to improve as we fully transition to this system.

A few reminders regarding arrival procedures:

• Students who walk or bike to school may continue to cross with the crossing guard.
• Students entering campus may walk in through the gym side entrance or through the front entrance.
• The staff parking lot remains closed to car rider drop-off to allow safe access for staff, daycare vehicles, and buses.

Please know that student safety is at the forefront of this decision. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we continue working to ensure a smooth and safe start to each school day.

Light it Up Blue- Autism Awareness Parent Flyer- NEW!

FBISD presents: Supporting Your Child in Understanding their Disability & Becoming a Strong Self-Advocate Flyer- NEW!

March Menu

April & May Lunch Menu- NEW!

March Outclass Calendar

Yearbook Photo Submission Request

FBISD's Download the Stopfinder App today- letter

FBISD Medication Policy

We are excited to invite you to our annual Multicultural Night on Thursday, April 16th! This is always a special evening on our campus as we come together to celebrate the many cultures that make up our Neill community.

The evening will include:

• Family-created cultural booths
• Cultural performances
• Student club performances
• Student Fashion Show

We are currently seeking families who would like to host a cultural booth to share their traditions, food, artifacts, or experiences with our community. If your family is interested, please sign up using the link below:

👉 25-26 JNE Multicultural Booth Form – Fill out form

All families interested in hosting a booth must sign up by Friday, April 2nd.

We look forward to hosting another great event this year and celebrating the diversity that makes our Longhorn community so special!

Field day Volunteer Sign-Ups will be available on Monday, March 30th at 9 PM.

Don’t miss out on the notification for the signup sheet being live!

Pre-register at https://neillpto.ptboard.com/sgnvw.

Dear JNE Families.

FBISD has introduced an easier and more convenient way for parents to submit student absence notes! Soon, the district will begin to limit the number of absence emails sent directly to campus attendance inboxes.

Parents and guardians can now submit absence requests directly through Skyward Family Access under their student’s profile.

To submit and upload an absence in Skyward:

1. Log in to your student’s Skyward Family Access account.
2. Select your student’s profile.
3. Click on the Attendance tab.
4. Choose Absence Requests.
5. Click the green “+ Add Absence Request” button and follow the prompts.
6. Upload your doctor’s note or parent note (if applicable).

Once your absence is submitted, the campus attendance team will review and confirm your request.

We hope this new feature makes it easier for families to ensure student attendance records are up-to-date and accurate. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

Warm regards,

JNE Attendance Team

🏀 Stronger Together: March Learning Madness 🏀

Practice. Focus. Grow.

This March, students have the opportunity to strengthen their skills and earn rewards through our March Learning Madness Challenge!

💰 Earn $100 HERD Bucks

🟢 Grades K–1

Students can earn $100 HERD Bucks by completing:

• 45 DreamBox lessons

🔵 Grades 2–5

Students can earn $100 HERD Bucks by completing:

• 50 DreamBox lessons
• 100 IXL skill questions
• 2 Progress Learning Science lessons

All components must be completed to earn the reward.

📍 Where Can Students Work?

✔ At school
✔ At home

🔑 Students log in through Clever.
If you need assistance, please contact your child’s teacher.

💛 Stronger Together — when we practice consistently, we grow stronger as learners.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning this month!

We are excited to offer Service Sentinels, part of the Fort Bend ISD Premier Opportunities, right here at James C. Neill Elementary! This is more than a service project—it’s a chance for our students to become true agents of change in our community.

Service Sentinels encourages students to propose community service projects that meet real needs in our community. It’s an opportunity for them to learn collaboration, compassion, and humility while putting their ideas into action.

Examples include:

• Tours or partnerships with local agencies (police department, conservation sites)

• Environmental or community clean-up projects

• Service-focused initiatives tied to student interest and local needs

Why It Matters

Service Sentinels isn’t just about “doing good”—it’s about growing as citizens, learning to see needs around us and taking initiative to make a difference. It gives students authentic roles and voice, and helps them develop leadership skills in a real-world context.

It also aligns with the district’s vision to infuse deeper experiential learning into our curriculum. It’s also a great way to fuse service with learning and deepen our culture of care at Neill.

We can’t wait to see our Longhorns shine as Service Sentinels!

Fort Bend ISD is offering innovative language programs that promote bilingualism, biliteracy, and global awareness. Families may explore options such as the Two-Way Dual Language Spanish–English Program and the Mandarin Immersion Program, which provide students the opportunity to learn in two languages while mastering grade-level content. We encourage families to learn more about these exciting pathways.

1. Multilingual program/ Two way dual Language Program:

https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/190368

2. Multilingual program/ Mandarin Immersion Program:

https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/190370

3. Language Program applications:

https://languageprogramchoice.fortbendisd.com

Two - Way Dual Language Spanish - English and Mandarin Immersion Program Application window has been extended until: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 11:59.

This month, we’re celebrating the Longhorn teachers who are marking another trip around the sun in March! We’re so grateful for the passion, care, and dedication they bring to our students each day. Join us in wishing them a happy birthday when you see them around campus!

This month, we’re celebrating the Longhorn teachers who are marking another trip around the sun in April! We’re so grateful for the passion, care, and dedication they bring to our students each day. Join us in wishing them a happy birthday when you see them around campus!

Neill Elementary School will be inviting parents or guardians to join their children for lunch. Only one guest per student will be allowed into the cafeteria. We strongly encourage parents to sign up only one time per week if space allows.

Due to space constraints with large grade level enrollment, as well as to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff and visitors, we will ask that lunch guest sign up to join us ahead of time. Each week in our Friday Newsletter, we will post the link to a sign up genius for the upcoming week.

Lunch Visitor Link

JNE will host lunch visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Monday, the campus will have schedule changes due to our Spring Picture Day and will not host lunch visitors. On Thursday, the campus will have schedule changes due to our campus assemblies and will not host lunch visitors. On Friday, we have a staff/student holiday.

As a reminder, the campus will be closed to all visitors and volunteers during STAAR testing. STAAR Testing begins the week of April 6th and will conclude on Friday, April 24th

To ensure a secure and quiet testing environment, the use of radios and intercoms will be significantly limited. As a result, we are not able to accommodate lunch drop-offs during the school day. Please plan for your child to bring a lunch or purchase one from the cafeteria.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to provide the best possible testing environment for our students.

Please remember to bring a photo id with you to campus as this is required to be signed in to campus as a visitor.

We thank you for supporting us as our current practice is set in the interest of safety and fairness to everyone who would like to enjoy lunch with their child.

Lunch Times for the 2025-2026 School Year:

Kindergarten- 10:00am-10:30am

First Grade- 10:45am-11:15am

Second Grade- 11:20am-11:50am

Third Grade- 12:00pm-12:30pm

Fourth Grade- 1:15pm-1:45pm

Fifth Grade- 12:35pm-1:05pm

Dietary Restrictions through the Child Nutrition Department

The Child Nutrition Department can offer dietary accommodations for students at no extra cost for students or families when it is medically necessary. The request forms must be signed by a physician or recognized medical authority and submitted to the Child Nutrition Department by:

Fax: 281-634-1862 attn: Dietitian

OR by email: DLCNDSpecialDiet@fortbendisd.com

A new Request for Dietary Accommodations form does not need to be submitted each school year unless there are any changes.

Link to Request Form

• Lunchtime guests will be signed in to visit in the cafeteria only.
• Please be on time for lunch so that you and your student are able to enjoy the full lunch time together. Thank you for exiting the building through the front doors at the end of lunch.
• Guests can only join a student for lunch if they are an approved emergency contact in Skyward Family Access.
• Guest must have a photo ID to be allowed onto campus.
• Visitors may only bring food for their child.
• Families who need an allergy-free seat during lunch may leave a note in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
• Please exit the cafeteria at our 5-minute remaining mark to help us prepare for our next lunch and to allow students time to rejoin their class and prepare to return to their classroom.
• We will not be able to host lunch visitors during state testing or special events on campus.

Fort Bend ISD is happy to serve a community with families from all around the world. We are proud to be culturally diverse and celebrate our unique traits as a community of compassionate citizens.

We recognize that fasting practices occur throughout the calendar year. As a school community we are sensitive to and accommodate students and staff observers who express they are fasting.

If your family would like the campus to be aware of your student's wish to fast, please send an email to your child's classroom teacher so that we can be aware of any needs that may occur during an observance. Our partnership with our school community is important to us and we thank our families for their communication with the campus regarding special occasions and observances that may impact the instructional day.

Neill Elementary School recognizes the value and importance of school attendance and encourages regular attendance to help our students be successful through the school year. Please email the attendance office within five days of the student’s recorded absence explaining the reason for the absence or the absence will be marked as unexcused. You may send an email to attendancejne@fortbendisd.gov.

Fort Bend ISD is looking for mentors for the 2025—26 school year!

If you are a member of our community or part of the FBISD staff and are interested in making a meaningful impact in a student’s life, we invite you to fill out the UPLIFT Mentor Interest Form.

What to expect:

• Meet with your mentee once a week for 30-45 minutes
• Read books and provide support at elementary level
• Provide support at secondary level

Questions? collaborativecommunities@fortbendisd.gov

Clothing reminders:

• We kindly ask that all families place a change of clothes for ALL students, as well as extra shoes for little ones– soiled, torn, accidents, spills etc. happen to everyone.
• Please consider to donating gently used black girls stretch pants in various sizes especially larger;
• Please consider to donating some gently used ELASTIC waist boy gym shorts and sweat pants (now that it is winter) in larger sizes

Health Reminders:

• If your child is ill – keep them home.
• Parents please medicate or treat for allergy symptoms at home.

Contact Reminders:

• Please make sure the clinic has the most up-to-date contact information for parents, guardians and emergency contacts.
• Please add the clinic phone number to your contact list so urgent phone calls do not come up as SPAM – 281-327-3768.

Students will be allowed to celebrate their birthday at the end of the day, by bringing individually packaged store-bought food products, provided by the parent or grandparent. Treats may be distributed to classmates on or near (i.e. bring treats on Monday when the birthdate was on a weekend) the student’s birthdate.

Prior to sending any treats, we ask that you contact your child’s teacher to discuss the date you will send treats. The nutritional label must be attached to your store-bought item. A parent or guardian must bring them into the building and fill out the proper form which is submitted to FBISD’s Child Nutrition office.

Parents or grandparents of a student at Neill may provide one birthday treat per child to share with the student’s homeroom class only. This may be in the form of ONE individually wrapped edible or ONE small tangible item (such as a pencil) with the value of the individual item not to exceed $5.00.

We require single serving items, which must be pre-packaged and individually wrapped, such as mini- cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or Krispy treats.

We respectfully request no cakes, drinks, balloons, flowers, donuts, stuffed animals, or goody bags. To preserve instructional time, additional party favors ARE NOT permitted. Birthday treat time is not a “party” but a simple, quick recognition of the child’s special day.

Please keep in mind that we have several students with food allergies. For this reason, products containing peanuts or manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts are prohibited. No nuts please, due to allergies.

Principal: Margaret Murphy

Margaret.Murphy@fortbendisd.gov

Assistant Principal: Felicia Holmes (Grades K, 1st, 4th)

Felicia.Holmes@fortbendisd.gov

Assistant Principal: Natacha Isaac-Bonaventure (Grades 2, 3, 5)

Natacha.Isaac@fortbendisd.gov

Executive Assistant: Vickie Zellers

Victoria.Zellers@fortbendisd.gov

Registrar: Jamie Fish

Jamie.Fish@fortbendisd.gov

Front Office Receptionist: Michelle Munoz

Michelle.Munoz@fortbendisd.gov

Counselor: Janelle Moses (Grades 1, 3, 5)

Janelle.Moses@fortbendisd.gov

Counselor: Jordan Massey (Grades K, 2, 4)

Jordan.Massey@fortbendisd.gov

Campus Compliance Coordinator (Special Education, 504, STAAR): Bobbi Threatt

Roberta.Threatt@fortbendisd.gov

Nurse: Vesna Scarborough

Vesna.Scarborough@fortbendisd.gov

Email: margaret.murphy@fortbendisd.gov
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/jne
Location: 3830 Harvest Corner Drive, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: 281-327-3760
Twitter: @JNE_Longhorns