Jaguar Tales
December 2, 2023
Hello, Jaguar Family!
We hope everyone is enjoying the mild temperatures this weekend. Our students and staff have been working hard to finish the semester strong. For students enrolled in high school credit courses, teachers will be communicating semester exam information soon. Please be on the lookout for information from each teacher.
Remember to make today count! Go Jags!
Larissa Ortiz
Cedar Valley Middle School Principal
Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org
512-428-2307
Hands-On Learning in 8th Grade Science
Mrs. Caldwell's Students Work on a Service Project for The Brookdale Community
Loop Teamwork in Algebra 1
Theatre 2 Showcase
Arrival and Dismissal Safety
1. Please use the designated drop off lanes for arrival and pick up.
2. If you choose to drop off and/or pick up along the street, we ask that everyone use the crosswalk. Do not cross in the middle of the street.
3. If you drop off and/or pick up on Cornerwood near the staff and visitor parking lot, students should use the crosswalk within the parking lot. We have seen students dart out in the middle of the parking lot, in front of moving cars. This is very dangerous.
Everyone plays a role in ensuring student safety. Please help us out!
When to Keep Your Child Home From School
We are seeing increased cases of stomach symptoms this week. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and RRISD recommend that students be kept home from school if any of the following conditions exist:
Signs of severe illness, including fever, irritability, difficulty breathing, crying that doesn’t stop with the usual comforting, or extreme sleepiness.
Diarrhea or stools that contain blood or mucus.
Vomiting two or more times in 24 hours, unless a physician feels the cause of vomiting is not an infectious disease, writes a note the student is in no danger of becoming dehydrated.
Mouth sores and drooling until a physician or the health authority does not feel the condition is infectious.
Fever, rash, or a change in behavior, until a physician has determined that the problem is not caused by an infectious disease.
Fever: Students with a temperature of 100ËšF or above will be sent home. To prevent the spread of a contagious disease, ill students must be symptom-free and fever-free without the use of temperature reducing medications for 24 hours before returning to school.
Lost and Found
The lost and found is overflowing with unclaimed items. All students should check the lost in found in the cafeteria by Monday, Dec. 11. All unclaimed items will be donated.
Transition Information for 8th Graders
Early College HS Family Information Night - Dec. 12, 6:30pm
Students and their families interested in becoming incoming Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to in-person information sessions to learn more about student life and how to apply at ECHS or for the P-TECH program. Information about the IB® programme offered at McNeil, Westwood and Stony Point high schools will also be presented.
Rising Round Rock ISD freshmen can graduate with their high school diploma, certifications, and a free two-year Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) degree, or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.
Tuesday, December 12, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Chisholm Trail MS
> Add FREE College Info Night reminder to your calendar
McNeil HS Events
Event: McNeil Academy Elective Fair
Date: January 25, 2024
Time: 6p-8p
Location: McNeil HS (Cafeteria)
McNeil HS Advanced Academic Night
Thursday, January 11, 2024 · 6:00 – 8:00pm
Time zone: America/Chicago
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pgr-remb-toy
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 662-608-3304‬ PIN: ‪164 822 048‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/pgr-remb-toy?pin=9276969574155
For more Information, please contact Sonya_Baker@roundrockisd.org.
Winter Wonderland Dance - Dec. 8, 4pm
WHAT TO EXPECT
Wednesday - Friday LUNCH
Buy Discounted Wristbands at Lunch - Bring $5 CASH
Friday
Lunch: Get Your Wristband
3:35pm Take ALL belongings directly to the SMALL GYM
Buy food and game tickets, while you wait for the dance to start.
4:00pm DANCE TIME!!!
NO ENTRY after 4:15pm
NO RE-ENTRY if you leave
Take your money and phone with you.
Leave everything else in the Small Gym! (It will be locked until 5:45 pm.)
All food must be eaten in the hallway seating area.
Try all of the activities and games.
Have fun and be respectful of others and the school!
5:45-6:00 pm Parent/Guardian Pickup (Parking lot by cafeteria)
Expected Price List
Wristbands (to enter dance): $5 at LUNCH, $7 at DOOR
$1 Game Tickets
$1 Drinks, Candy, Chips, Cookies
$2 Pizza, Hot Chocolate
NOTE: Cash Only
Greece Summer 2025 Trip Information
More spots have opened up for our trip to Greece in Summer 2025!!
Give the gift of travel and exploration to your child! For this week until December 10, you get a $200 DISCOUNT for enrolling!
Mrs. Fooshee is hosting a NON-SCHOOL Sponsored excursion to Greece in July 2025. Students gain so much from world travel: compassion, networking, perspective, growth and independence, better academic performance and so much more! All 6th, 7th, & 8th graders are welcome (siblings and those going into 9th grade next year)! It's going to be quite the experience!
GREECE 2025 - $200 OFF UNTIL DEC. 10! Click to enroll!
2024 Spelling Bee
Registration is open for the 2024 Cedar Valley Middle School Spelling Bee! Students can register at https://forms.gle/AEKv1YJbdxR331od7 .
Registration for this year's bee closes on Thursday, December 14, 2023. Registered participants will complete the preliminary bee online. Instructions for the online preliminary bee will be emailed to students after registration. The online preliminary bee must be completed by Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Students who qualify to move forward in the competition will be notified via email on Friday, January 5, 2024.
The remaining rounds of the 2024 Cedar Valley Middle School Spelling Bee will be held in person beginning at 3:45 pm on Thursday, January 11, 2024 in the lecture hall.
Questions? Please email Robin_Brown@roundrockisd.org.
A Message From The Nurse for 6th Graders
Hello, 6th-grade Parents,
The state of Texas requires two vaccines: 1) TDaP and 2) MCV before entering the 7th grade. Your child is probably getting TDaP and MCV at his or her annual check-up at age 10-12. As your child receives the vaccines, please get the updated immunization record from the pediatrician's office and bring it to school. All the 7th graders are expected to be up to date before the first day of 2023-2024 school year.
Prohibited Items
Last Week! - TAG Referral Window - Nov. 6-Dec. 8
The referral window for students to be considered for gifted services is from November 6, 2023 through December 8, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. You will find the registration link on the Round Rock ISD TAG website. On the morning of November 6th at 8:00 a.m. the links will be live and you can submit registration requests. After completing the online form, you will receive email confirmation of your referral for gifted services. Please keep a copy of the confirmation email for your records.
TAG Referral Information:
TAG Referral Information – English
TAG Referral Information – Spanish
If you have inquiries after reviewing the material, please join the RRISD TAG Department for a virtual Question and Answer session.
Date: November 13, 2023
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
>> Join the Google Meet
Please feel free to reach out to our TAG counselor Heather_mills@roundrockisd.org if additional assistance is needed.
New Yard Signs Are Here!
Our new yard signs have arrived! They can be purchased on our campus e-store. Simply make the purchase online under the student's name and have your student bring their proof of purchase and their ID to the main office to pick it up.
Cost: $10 (includes tax) + $1.50 processing fee
Includes the sign and the yard stake
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 pictures and retakes are done. There will be no other opportunities to have pictures taken at school by 1st Photo Texas. We have been informed that pictures from the retake day should be ready soon. If you have questions about your photos, click HERE for some of the most commonly asked questions and answers from 1st Photo Texas. If you need further assistance, contact the company directly at (512) 610-9990.
Ordering a Yearbook
Yearbooks are currently available for purchase and have been selling fast! Click here to order your Jaguar Yearbook. There are only a handful of books left to purchase with the $5 discount promo code. The price will steadily increase throughout the year. 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! There is limited space in the book for these ads, so please don’t wait until there is no more real estate for your precious babies!
The deadline to purchase Recognition Ads is February 8th!
Blasts from the Past
If you missed your chance to purchase a 2022 or 2023 yearbook, you are in luck. The yearbook staff is selling some extra books that were ordered over the summer that were never claimed. The 2022 book is $10 and the 2023 book is $25 (half off)! Supplies are limited, so click HERE if you would like to reserve one of these amazing books.
If you have any questions, please contact Cedar Valley’s Yearbook advisor, Kathleen Johnston at Kathleen_Johnston@roundrockisd.org.
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.
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.
Jag Lobby Reminders
In order to help things run smoothly, we ask that you please remember the following...
Lunch Cart: If you are dropping off a lunchbox for your student you may leave it on our lunch cart in the Jag Lobby. The cut off is 10:45 am, at which point the cart is taken to the cafeteria for students to collect their lunch during their lunch period. After this time students have to be called from class, causing a disruption to the teacher, classroom, and student's instructional time.
Deliveries: From 11:00am-2:00pm we are unable to deliver to classrooms. Any items dropped off during these hours cannot be delivered until 7th period.
Outside food: Fast food/restaurant food is discouraged as it creates a conflict with our supplier contracts.
Student pick up cut off time: Please take note that the latest we can call for students is 3:15 pm. After this time, we are preparing for after school dismissal.
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
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. Sherrin Gorman