Jaguar Tales
September 8, 2023
Hello, Jaguar Family!
We hope everyone had a great three day weekend last weekend. It made for a short week, but definitely not short on fun and exciting things on campus. Please enjoy the recaps and information on upcoming events below.
Have a great weekend!
Larissa Ortiz
Cedar Valley Middle School Principal
Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org
512-428-2307
7th Graders Hard at Work on Texas History Projects
Lady Jags Volleyball!
Congratulations to our Lady Jags Volleyball teams who continue to dominate on the court. Last night they defeated Walsh. Nice work!
7th Grade A Team won in 2 sets: 25-17, 27-25
7th Grade B Team won in 3 sets: 21-25, 25-17, 25-22
8th Grade A Team won in 3 sets: 25-19, 16-25, 25-18
8th Grade B Team won in 2 sets: 25-13, 25-15
Jaguar Cross Country!
Special shout out to our Cross Country Jags on their first Cross Country meet this week. It was very hot, but they started and finished strong. They are troopers for sure!
Congrats to Leo B. who led the with a 1st place finish for the boys (5:09) and Talia J. who finished 3rd (6:19)! Way to go!
Panorama Survey
We thank you and your family for being our valued partners as we work together to educate the children in our district. Round Rock ISD values input from our community – and we need to hear from your child or children! Students are important partners as we work to improve our communication, academic program and overall experience for everyone.
In order to learn more about student experiences at school, we will be asking for your child’s feedback twice this year via an online survey they will be completing at school. The survey shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to complete. The Fall survey window will run from 9/18 - 10/2/23. The Spring survey window will run from 2/5 - 2/2/16/24.
We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as their feedback will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. If a student doesn’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether. The responses to these surveys will be completely confidential. We are partnering with a third-party vendor to support us in administering these surveys.
The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on challenging feelings, positive feelings, emotional regulation, school safety, supportive relationships at school, self efficacy, sense of belonging at school, and teacher-student relationships.
Below are links to the student survey content:
Fall 2023 6-12 Student Environment Survey
Fall 2023 6-12 Student Perception Survey
Please notify your school if you would like your child to opt out of taking the surveys by printing, completing, and returning the form below. Paper copies will also be available in Jag Lobby. Please turn in the paper form to the main office by 9/15/23. We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses.
English Opt Out Letter and Form
Spanish Opt Out Letter and Form
Note: There is no need to return this form if you would like your student to participate.
A Message From the Nurse
With increasing cases of infectious diseases at our school, I would like to remind you to keep your child(ren) home if the student has a fever over 100F, diarrhea, vomiting or Covid-19. If your child tests positive for Covid, please fill out the Student Covid-19 Self Reporting Form and wait to hear back from the campus nurse. The RRISD still requires that a student isolate for 5 days if he or she tests positive for Covid. In the case of non-Covid fever, your child may come back to school once fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications. Upon your child’s return to school, please remember to send an excuse note to the Attendance Specialist with the dates of his or her absences and the reason. In order for the absences to be excused, a parent note is required even if you reported on the Student Covid-19 Self reporting Form.
Get Connected - Cedar Valley Clubs
We encourage our students to get connected at Cedar Valley. For some students that's athletics, music programs, theater, and/or a club. Please free to browse the club listing and make plans to join one soon!
If you are interested in starting a club at Cedar Valley, we welcome new ideas. Please reach out to Andrew_Carroll@roundrockisd.org to get information on how to get a club approved and started.
Expectations for Students at RRISD Events
Be Safe:
- Stay SEATED in the bleachers unless going to the restroom or concession stand.
- Items prohibited on campus are prohibited at games.
- Unsafe behavior such as horseplay, fighting, and running could result in being removed from the event.
Be Responsible:
- Follow guidelines for food & drinks.
- Throw away all trash before leaving the stands/gym.
- Call for a ride at the end of halftime. If a student is picked up after 15 minutes of the game ending, it may result in loss of privilege to attend the next game/ event.
These expectations apply to all RRISD extracurricular events. We hold high expectations for students as a spectator at Cedar Valley, but even higher ones when you are visiting another gym or stadium in Round Rock ISD.
Please be aware that students may be asked to leave the event if these expectations are not met. This will also result in losing privileges to attend other events for the school year.
Spirit Night - Wednesday, September 13, 5-8pm
PTA Teacher Luncheon
We quite Pasta-bly have the best staff! Our Jaguar staff has been working hard to make back to school a huge success. We would like to invite our Jaguar families to help the PTA treat our hard working Jaguar staff to a pasta lunch on Wednesday, September 20th. PTA will be making the pasta. Could you help us out with providing bread, dessert, or drinks? Don’t want to shop - you can donate money for the main dish. Please sign up for a slot here. More information on the sign up.
Volunteers Needed!
One of the best ways to show your student that education is important to you is by volunteering at their school. There are lots of different ways to contribute your time, support and resources.
Please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form below to help us match your interests with the school's needs (such as Staff Appreciation, Dances, Pet Clinic, etc).
This does NOT commit you to anything other than possibly receiving emails when we need help in your areas of interest.
Tutoring Schedule
Students are encouraged to attend tutorials as needed and our staff is willing and ready to help them! Please see the tutorial schedule.
Food and Drinks
We want to remind parents that food and drinks are not permitted in the hallway. All food must remain packed away and drinks are only allowed in resealable bottles when in the hallway. If your child is trying to finish breakfast from home in the morning, we ask that all food and drinks be consumed in the cafeteria. If your child arrives with food and/or drinks from restaurants or nearby coffee shops, it will need to be finished or disposed of before entering the hallway.
SMART Tag Info For Bus Riders
Is your student a new bus rider?
Parents:Go to the SMART tag Parent Portal and register to take advantage of the SMART tag parent features.
Students: You must stop by the Jag Lobby to register for a tag with Mrs. Samuelson. Tags are NOT issued during online registration. First pass is free.
Lost your tag? Lost tags will cost $5 to reorder. Tags will not be preordered without payment, so bring $5 cash when you come to reorder.
Make sure to register!
Go to the SMART tag Parent Portal and register to take advantage of the SMART tag parent features. If you are using a smartphone, you will be prompted to save the web app to your home screen. This will place the Parent App tile on your mobile device for easy access.
SMART Tag will help…
- Improve safety and automation of tasks, better enabling drivers to focus on the safe transport of students.
- Ensure riders will load on the right bus and unload at the right stop.
- The SMART tag system wirelessly transmits information to our transportation department staff to including:
- The names of the students on board each bus.
- Notification of an approaching bus.
- The ability to view a student’s ridership activity.
CeVMS YEARBOOK 2023 - 2024
All the things you need to know about ordering the Cedar Valley yearbook and portraits this year are
noted below. You can always find the most up to date information here.
School Pictures
School picture day is right around the corner on Friday, September 22nd, with retakes/make-ups scheduled for Thursday, November 9th.
Individual school pictures will be taken by 1st Photo Texas throughout the school day. Advisory teachers will distribute the school photo order forms to students about two weeks prior to picture day. The easiest way to order is to pay online using the code provided on the order form. Students paying with cash or check, will hand their order form and payment to the 1st Photo Texas photographers on September 22nd.
Ordering a Yearbook
Yearbooks are currently available for purchase and have been selling fast! Click here to order your Jaguar Yearbook. If you order by August 25th, you get four free icons when you personalize your book, not to mention the book is only $45 - the cheapest it will be all year. After August 25th, the price goes up to $50 and will steadily increase throughout the year. There will be a few books available for purchase after we distribute the pre-ordered books in May, but they will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. The only way to guarantee a copy is to pre-order online! Seriously, don’t wait until it is too late!
8th Grade Student Recognition Ads
Don’t forget about those special pages in the back of the yearbook full of adorable pictures and sweet words from parents. Click HERE then scroll down to Recognition Ads to create and order your ad. This is a great way to congratulate and honor your child as you send them off to high school!
The deadline to purchase Recognition Ads is February 8th!
Kickin’it Back to Summer
Our CeVMS yearbook always includes a summer section to celebrate students’ summer adventures and memories. To create this spread, the staff needs your help. Thanks to everyone who has already shared some awesome summer photos! To be on this spread in the yearbook, please send your best summer photos (limit of 3 please) in JPEG format to Kathleen_Johnston@roundrockisd.org by September 29th. Please provide the first name, last name, and grade level of students in the pictures. A yearbook staff member will gather all the fun details during a short interview with their fellow Jags.
If you have any questions, please contact Cedar Valley’s Yearbook advisor, Kathleen Johnston at Kathleen_Johnston@roundrockisd.org.
Breakfast and Lunch
Our students have done a great job learning and following cafeteria expectations. The first day of school presented some challenges between lunch periods, but we have re-evaluated our systems and have made adjustments to reduce crowding in the halls.
Please review the information below as needed.
Add Funds:
You may add funds to your child's breakfast and lunch account online here.
Meal Pricing:
- Secondary Students – Lunch $3.25, Breakfast $1.50
- Reduced – Lunch $0.40, Breakfast $0.30
Free/Reduced Meals:
For faster processing, fill out your free and reduced meal application online. It is necessary to reapply each school year. Only one application per household is required and applications can be submitted at anytime during the school year.
Manage Restrictions for your child:
Cafes also offer snack (a la cart) items for purchase. Items offered differ by school level. If you would like to limit student purchasing on a la cart items please fill out our Student Account.
Cedar Valley Cell Phone Expectations
Cedar Valley is a phone-free learning environment. Phones can distract from learning, interfere with community building and connection with others, and can contribute to online conflict. Students are required to keep their phones, earbuds, headphones in their backpacks between 8:11-3:35.
Phones and headphones are allowed in the morning while they wait to be released to 1st period.
No audio should come from the phone (please use headphones).
Phones, headphones, earbuds must be put away by 8:11.
Phones are not allowed to be used in restrooms or locker rooms - this will result in immediate possession of the phone
Parents, please refrain from calling and texting your student during the school day. In the event of an emergency, please contact our main office at 512-428-2300 and we will get the message to your student.
Home Access Center Assistance
For assistance with the Home Access Center, InfoSnap snapcodes, TEA Portal access codes and address changes, please email our registrar:
vicky_escruceria@roundrockisd.org
Please include your student's full legal name, grade and date of birth in all correspondence.
For address changes you must provide the new proof of residence: Lease agreement, contract or settlement statement. The Lease agreement must name your student as an occupant on the lease.
The HAC App:
eSchoolPLUS Family, Home Access Center (HAC) Made by PowerSchool Group
Included in the official Round Rock ISD APP or download individually. Other district-approved Mobile Apps!
- Download free, iTunes App Store® or Google Play®
- Search eSchoolPLUS Family
- Then select eSchoolPLUS Family app for free download
Attendance Policies & Procedures For All Student Absences
- Students should bring their absence notes to the Attendance Office(in Jag Lobby) when they return to school from their absence(s).
- It is not necessary to call the school and report an absence.
- Students can communicate with their teachers and keep up with their assignments through Schoology.
- Absence notes are required to the Attendance Office no later than 2 days of return from absence.
- Absence notes should be from the parent/guardian and/or a medical provider if seen stating the student's name, specific date(s) missed, and reason for the absence.
- Late notes are still required to avoid possible truancy, but will remain coded as unexcused.
- Emails are not accepted as parent/guardian notes in middle or high school.
- However, we will take scanned medical notes.
- RRISD excuses student sickness and death in the immediate family.
- Please do not contact or send attendance notes for student absences to the teachers or school nurse.
- Filling out district covid reporting is recommended, but does not act as a campus absence note.
Please direct all attendance correspondence to the Attendance Office:
Dana Harrison
E-mail: dana_harrison@roundrockisd.org
Phone: 512-428-2305
Upcoming Events
9/11 - 7th Grade Football vs. Canyon Vista at Canyon Vista, 5:30
9/12 - 8th Grade Football vs. Canyon Vista at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 5:30pm
9/13 - Cross Country Meet at Walsh MS, 4:30pm
9/13 - Spirit Night at Dairy Queen, 5-8pm
9/13 - Costa Rica Information Meeting, 6:30pm (For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/3OzViY7)
9/14 - FCA Meeting, Lecture Hall, 7:45am
9/14 - Spanish Club Meeting, Room 3110, 3:45pm
9/18 - French Club Meeting, Room 3104, 3:40pm
9/18 - 7th Grade Football vs. Walsh at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 5:30pm
9/19 - Debate Club Meeting, Lecture Hall, 3:35pm
9/19 - 9th Grade Football vs. Walsh at Walsh Middle School, 5:30pm
9/21 - Girls Volleyball vs. Ridgeview (7th Home, 8th Away), 5:30pm
9/22 - Picture Day
9/23 - RRISD Volleyball Tournament at Cedar Valley
9/23 - Cross Country Meet at Old Settler's Park, 1-3pm
9/25 - Staff Development Day (No school for students)
9/26 - Pet Clinic at Cedar Valley, 5-7pm
9/26 - PTA General Meeting, Cedar Valley Cafeteria, 7pm
9/27 - Cross Country Meet at Stony Point HS, 4:30-7:30pm
9/28 - FCA Meeting, Lecture Hall, 7:45am
9/28 - Girls Volleyball vs. Hopewell (7th Away, 8th Home), 5:30pm
9/29 - StuCo Meeting, Lecture Hall, 7:40am
Did you know that you can add the Cedar Valley Master Calendar to your calendar? Simply click on this link to access it and add it to your calendar!
Join PTA Today!
Visit our Cedar Valley PTA Online Store to purchase your annual PTA membership, make donations, and purchase your Cedar Valley merchandise at our one stop shop!
Cedar Valley Middle School
Vision: Fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners
Website: https://cedarvalley.roundrockisd.org/
Location: 8139 Racine Trail, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-428-2300
Facebook: facebook.com/rrisd.cedarvalley
Twitter: @cevmsjags
We are here to help:
Front Office Staff
Administrative Associate - Principal's Office: Ms. Jannina Johnson, 512-428-2316
Administrative Assistant - Assistant Principals' Office: Ms. Allison Chappelle, 512-428-2303
Administrative Assistant - Counseling Office: Ms. Marilyn Beal, 512-428-2348
Attendance: Ms. Dana Harrison, 512-428-2305
Receptionist: Ms. Allison Samuelson, 512-428-2301
Registrar: Ms. Vicky Escruceria, 512-428-2315
Counselors
8th Grade Counselor: Ms. Gabrielle Kerr
7th Grade Counselor:Ms. Elizabeth Guidry
6th Grade Counselor: Ms. Heather Mills
Administration
Principal: Ms. Larissa Ortiz8th Grade Assistant Principal: Ms. Jennifer Bingham
7th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Andrew Carroll
6th Grade Assistant Principal: Ms. Gorman