Driscoll News
Defenders - Defining Excellence Everyday
March 19, 2023
Notes from our Principal
Hello Driscoll community,
I hope your Spring Break was relaxing and restful and you were able to recharge. Tomorrow, March 20 is the first day of Spring and our Springtime will be a very busy one. There are 10 weeks left in this school year. It is important to make the most of them academically and make good choices all the way around. We will have STAAR testing beginning in a few weeks and encourage all to start this final grading period strong and stay strong until the end of the year.
Being on time is an important key to success, not only in between classes but also to start the day. The first bell rings at 8:25 AM. Students need to be inside their classrooms by the time that bell rings. Remind your children that getting to school on time and into each individual class is good practice for getting to work on time.
This week, there are both orchestra and band concerts as well as the district track meet to come out and support our Defenders. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming events. Please review the many details included below. If you have specific questions, please reach out so we can assist with those items. Please continue to stay safe.
Mrs. Lori Murach
Driscoll Middle School Principal
STAAR Testing Coming in Spring 2023
During spring 2023, NEISD students will have opportunities to take various State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) assessments mandated by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for their respective grade levels.
NEISD students in grades 6-8 will take the ST AAR exam for their respective grade levels in Reading Language Arts (RLA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Middle School students currently taking Algebra I will have the opportunity to take the Algebra I EOC to meet the high school requirement.
All STAAR assessments will be tested online and each subject area will be tested within a nine (9) day testing window. Students will experience new STAAR item type questions as part of TEA's STAAR 2.0 Redesign. NEISD is committed to providing all our students with the knowledge and skills to be successful on the state assessments. To accommodate the newly formatted online assessments, campus administration has selected
online testing dates to accommodate all test administrations on campuses.
Driscoll Campus STAAR calendar testing dates are:
April 18 - 6th - 8th grade Reading STAAR, make-up testing April 19 - 24
April 25 - 8th grade Science STAAR, make-up testing April 26 - May 1
May 2 - 8th grade Social Studies STAAR, make-up testing May 3 - 4
May 3 - 6th - 8th grade Math STAAR & Algebra I EOC, make-up testing May 4 - 9
STA AR Alternate 2:
ST AAR Alternate 2 is a standardized item-based assessment administered to special education students with significant cognitive disabilities. The ST AAR Alternate 2 assesses the same grades/subjects as 3-8 STAAR and EOC. STAAR Alternate 2 will continue to be a paper test and will be administered Monday, March 27, 2023, to Monday, April 17, 2023.
If you have any questions regarding the STAAR assessments for your student, please contact your student's counselor.
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A Message from the Driscoll PTA:
Our upcoming election meeting will now be held on April 3, 2023 at 6:00pm in the Driscoll cafeteria.
If you are interested in serving on the Driscoll PTA Board for the 2023- 2024 school year please fill out the following google form: Sign up to serve on Driscoll PTA Board for 2023-2024
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Driscoll Bands Preview Concert this Wednesday
The Driscoll Bands Preview Concert is this Wednesday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. All three of our bands will perform a “preview” of what we’ve been preparing for UIL and for the spring concert and contest at TLU. Beginners meet in the band hall at 6:30 p.m. in band shirt and jeans. Symphonic and Honors call time is 6:45 p.m. dressed in formal uniforms. Beginners have a mandatory full band rehearsal this TUESDAY after school until 5:15 to prepare for the concert. See you Wednesday!
Want a Driscoll Tumbler?
Driscoll Band is raising money for our spring trip and contest! To help us get there, we are selling many different coffee tumblers, including a Driscoll Logo and a Driscoll Band Logo tumbler, as well as coffee grounds and pods. If you would like to purchase items or donate to the trip, click on this link: https://www.instaraise.com/driscollmiddleschoolband/coffee
You also have the option to sponsor a specific student if you'd like. For more details about that, talk to the student you wish to buy from or email Mrs. Simmell at gsimme@neisd.net to set up.
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District Track and Field Meet this Thursday at Heroes Stadium
Best of Luck to all of our track and field athletes.
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Driscoll Soccer is Coming Soon!
Soccer Tryouts for both girls and boys - Thursday and Friday, March 30 and 31, at 3:40pm – 5:30pm
Parent Meeting – Monday, April 4, at 5:30pm on the football field bleachers.
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Madison Dance Team is looking for new members
“Attention all 8th graders interested in joining the Madison High School First Ladies dance team, please join us for a parent/student information meeting in the Madison auditorium on Wednesday, April 5 at 6:30pm. You will receive information of expectations, prices, summer dates, and uniform attire. Can’t wait to see you all there and GO MAVS
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Save the Dates!
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Reach out to our Family Liaison, Rachel Hicks for support
Our Family Liaison is here to support. She can be reached via email at rhicks1@neisd.net
See events offered by the Family Specialist, Rachel Hicks by clicking this smore link- https://www.smore.com/xb1p8
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March 24 - Blue Out Day for Trisomy-18 (Edward's Syndrome) Awareness
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Are you an 8th grader interested in being a cheerleader, pep squad member, or dance team member at Mac?
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Connected Classroom, Chromebook lending program is here!
Our District is excited to announce the Connected Classroom, a new Chromebook lending program that enables students in 3rd-12th grades to have a designated Chromebook for usage both at school and at home.
If you are interested in your student checking out a chromebook, please be sure that you have completed the Technology Lending Agreement as well as purchased the insurance. Then, you can send your student to check it out through our main office. Students will need to bring the device to school fully charged each day. Chromebooks will also need to be returned prior to state testing days.
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Driscoll Clubs Help Develop Positive, Productive Students
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Does anyone know a good tutor for my kid?
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Order your 2023 Yearbook Today!
Driscoll Athletic Schedules
Driscoll 2022-2023 Bell Schedule
Looking Ahead at upcoming events and Important Dates
Reading Map Testing in English classes during the week of March 20
March 20 - First Day of Spring and first day of 4th nine weeks, Beginning Band Practice 3:45pm
March 21 - Orchestra Concert 6:30pm in cafeteria, deadline for teachers to have T3 grades in Skyward by 5pm
March 22 - 24: 8th Science STAAR Interim Assessment (in Science classes)
March 22 - Band Concert 7:00pm in main gym
March 23 - District Track Meet for 7th & 8th grade at Heroes Stadium 4:30pm
March 24 - PTA Used Book Sale 10am - 5pm, Blue Out Day for Trisomy-18 awareness, report card day available in Skyward
March 25 - PTA Used Book Sale 10am - 5pm, Saturday School 8am - 12noon
March 26 - PTA Used Book Sale 11am - 3pm
March 28 - Early Release day - out at 1:30pm
March 30 - Soccer Tryouts 3:40 - 5:30pm
March 31 - Soccer Tryouts 3:40 - 5:30pm
April 3 - Driscoll PTA Meeting and Elections for 2023-2024 in cafeteria
April 4 - Driscoll Stars Ceremony for 6th graders 7:45am in library, NEISD Night Gallery at BAC 5:30 - 7:30pm, Soccer Parent Meeting 5:30pm on football field bleachers
April 5 - Driscoll Stars Ceremony for 7th graders 7:45am in library, NEISD Night Gallery at BAC 5:30 - 7:30pm
April 6 - Driscoll Stars Ceremony for 8th graders 7:45am in library, Soccer Game vs. Lopez
April 15 - 7th grade boys and girls golf district tournament
April 18 - 6th - 8th grade Reading STAAR, make-up testing April 19 - 24
April 20 - 8th grade boys and girls golf district tournament
April 25 - 8th grade Science STAAR, make-up testing April 26 - May 1
May 2 - 8th grade Social Studies STAAR, make-up testing May 3 - 4
May 3 - 6th - 8th grade Math STAAR & Algebra I EOC, make-up testing May 4 - 9
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