Eye of the Storm
Parent News - Week of August 8, 2022 - School Ready Updates!
Message from Principal Roberson
Hello Mighty Cane Families and Friends,
We are looking forward to a great school year. There are so many new and exciting things that we will be doing this year. This includes celebrating your student's achievements in academics and athletics. Thank you for all that you do to support our efforts at educating your students in a safe environment; and thank you for being "Committed to Excellence!"
Sincerely,
Mr. Roberson, Principal
School Moto
This year we have adopted a new school moto to "BE the STORM." The STORM acronym stands for...
- S - Servant Leadership
- T - Teamwork
- O - Ownership
- R - Respect
- M - Motivate and Inspire
This is our pledge to our students.
Important Upcoming Events
August is an important month. School starts on August 10th. We are exciting to meet all of our new students and see all of our returning students! Our student enrollment has already exceeded that from last year. We've topped over 2400 students!
The James Reese Career and Technical Center will be hosting a parent meeting on Saturday, August 27th at 9:00 a.m. Some of the focused topics include the operation of parent organizations at our schools, 501-C-3 tax & insurance, volunteer requirements, and connecting with vendors. Please download the registration flyer for more information.
Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
- August 8th (Monday) - Deadline to verify student information (online) in Skyward. Family Access Guide is attached in English and Spanish.
- August 10th (Wednesday) - First Day of School - 7:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
- August 11 (Thursday) - Student Physicals for Extracurricular Preparation ($20 cash) - 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Hopson Field House, 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City, TX.
- August 24th (Wednesday) - Open House (all grade levels) - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- August 27th (Saturday) - District-wide Parent Organization Collaborative Fall Meeting & Vendor Fair. - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ James Reese Career and Technical Center
Back to School Vaccine Events
There is still time to ensure that your child has met all vaccine requirements. Please see attach the attached flyer to see where you can go now until August 10th.
School Supplies
The district has posted recommended school supplies for students in elementary and middle school. Here's the link:
https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/1055. However, on the high school level, it depends on the courses in which students are enrolled. Students will receive a syllabus from most of their teachers and those needs will be outlined accordingly.
It is important to note that we expect students to arrive to school each day prepared to participate with basic tools, such as a section binder with paper or spiral notebook, pencils, pens, and highlighters. If a student is participating in fine arts or athletics, those supplies will be more specialized.
Skyward Family Access
New and returning student information must be verified each school year through
Skyward Family Access.
Deadline to complete the verification is August 8. See attached helpful guides to connect to Skyward Family Access.
Athletics Department Updates
Sports Medicine Program
The HHS Sports Medicine program is selling yard signs for all Hurricane sports teams; and we've included band, cheer, and Hi-Lites. This store closes on August 28, 2022. If you don't see your organization, or have other questions contact Essence Ephran - essence.ephran@fortbendisd.com
HHS Signs:
https://hhssigns2022.itemorder.com/
Upcoming Seasonal Sports
Students are excited and have been getting ready to begin the volleyball and football seasons. Keep watch in our newsletters for the latest in schedules and accomplishments. Attached are the schedules for volleyball, football, and strength and conditioning (SAC). We look forward to seeing you at our games and matches. It's powerful for a child to look up into the stands and see family and close friends cheering them on. Thank you!
Modified Block Schedule
Please be aware that Hightower High School is one of three high schools who will have a modified block bell schedule. What is important to note is that each weekday morning, classes will begin at 7:30 a.m. Students will have 8-period days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday [45-minute classes]. Then they will have four block periods [90-minute classes] on Tuesday and Thursday. The 2022-2023 Bell Schedule is attached. A strict tardy policy will be enforced.
2022-2023 Instructional Calendar
School Meals
Fort Bend's Child Nutrition Department offers quality, nutritious meals and a la carte food items daily. An a la carte menu is available for download below. Parents are responsible for any charges incurred by their children in the cafeteria.
For more information about how to add money to your child's food account and to see updates for 2022-2023, please use the following link: https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/215.
2022-2023 Meal Prices:
Paid Meal Prices
- Breakfast - Students $2.00
- Breakfast - Adults $2.50
- Lunch - Elementary $2.75
- Lunch - Secondary $3.00
- Lunch - Adults $4.25
Reduced-Priced Meal
- Breakfast - $0.30
- Lunch - $0.40
Breakfast Hours Range:
- High School 6:45 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
- Middle School 8:15 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.
- Elementary 7:30 a.m. - 8:05 a.m.
Lunch Hours Range:
- High School 10:15 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
- Middle School 10:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Elementary 10:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m
If you need to complete an application for free or reduced meals, please visit this Child Nutrition Department link: https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd.
District Laptops
If your child still has a district issued laptop, please return the device to our campus on any school day between the hours of 8 AM and 2 PM. Your contact is Dr. Sharon Delesbore, one f our assistant principals.
We really need your help with returning the devices so you are not invoiced for the cost and your child is able to participate in scheduled activities. More importantly, we need the device to assist students who have experienced significant learning loss.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Attending District Sponsored Events
Student Behavior at Campus Events
Our fall sports and events are underway, and we are excited to support all student organizations and show our Hurricane Pride! Since spectators were extremely limited last year, we wanted to provide a few reminders of FBISD and HHS behavior and sportsmanship expectations at all athletic, extra-curricular, and fine art events. FBISD & HHS Student Code of Conduct guidelines are enforced at all athletic, fine arts, and club/organization events. This includes riding on district transportation and attending off campus events.
The following behaviors at any extracurricular event could result in a person’s removal from the event and/or other consequences for HHS students determined by administration. Egregious misbehavior could also result in the student or spectator being banned from future events:
- Any violation of standards set by the FBISD Student Code of Conduct
- Rushing the court/field
- Profanity
- Heckling of the players and/or officials
- Verbal and/or physical aggression
- Any other behavior administration deems inappropriate
- Use of silly string
- Use of noise makers
- Throwing objects including water, confetti, baby powder, or any other objects is prohibited at any UIL sanctioned event
Your support is greatly appreciate to help inform our students of these expectations.
2022-2023 Parent/Student Handbooks Have Arrived!
The 2022-23 handbooks outlining district information and the governance of student conduct have arrived. We are still waiting for the Spanish translation, which is being updated and will be available soon. Please reference the attached copies of the district's code of conduct and the student handbook as a guide of FBISD expectations.
STAAR EOC Results - Reminder
Spring STAAR End-of-Course exam results are in and available for parents to review. It is important to know how to access this information online, and to know where your child stands, as state assessments are graduation requirements. Complete summer results will be available at the beginning of August.
The Texas Education Agency has four performance levels:
- Masters Grade Level
- Meets Grade Level
- Approaches Grade Level
- Did Not Meet Grade Level - At this level, a student must retake the exam.
There are Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) that will give you an ideas of how well your child was able to demonstrate competency of the Texas Essentials of Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Full descriptors can be found in your child's state record. Spring 2022 results will be available through the online student portal effective June 24, 2022.
To access the student portal, you must use the unique access code assigned to your child by the state. The Texas Student Portal is located at: www.texasassessment.gov .
To find your child’s unique access code:
- Log into Family Access in the Skyward system.
- Click Online Forms tab on the left.
- You will see that an online form is now available to fill out. The form is named “Student Assessment Results.”
- Click on “Fill Out Online Form” for the Student Assessment Results.
- On the new screen, click on “1. Student Assessment Access Code” on the right-hand side of the page.
- You will see your child’s unique access code as well as a link to the Texas Student Portal. Click the link and use the access code, as well as your child’s date of birth, to access results.
Follow us on our website and social media for up to date information.
DRESS CODE WILL BE ENFORCED
Dress code in FBISD is designed to reduce any distractions from the learning environment; and to guide our students on how to present themselves in a respectful manner. We are asking our parents to observe your child before he or she leaves for school. Dress code will be strictly enforced in our district and at Hightower High School. Students who are out of dress code will be asked to make the necessary changes. They will be given a few warnings before it becomes a discipline issue. Thanks for your support!
