Jaguar Tales
September 15, 2023
Hello, Jaguar Family!
We hope everyone is enjoying the cooler temps and the much needed rain. It sure does make for a more enjoyable for our students and staff. This week kicked off the first Jaguar Football games of the season and seeing our athletes on the field, cheerleaders on the sidelines, and families in the stands made for a great way to bring our community together. With the "cooler temps" and the start of football season, we are starting to see the signs that Fall might really be coming to us!
Have a great weekend!
Larissa Ortiz
Cedar Valley Middle School Principal
Larissa_ortiz@roundrockisd.org
512-428-2307
Secure and Lockdown Drills Conducted
The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities, and conducting regular drills is an essential part of our preparedness efforts. During the drills, students and staff practiced the procedures that would be followed in the event of a real emergency.
This week our students and staff practiced a Secure Drill and a Lockdown Drill.
Secure Drill - This type of drill is used to practice what to do when a safety situation exists outside of the school and students need to remain inside. Teaching and learning continue inside the building.
Lockdown Drill - This drill is used to practice when a safety situation or hazard exists inside of the school building and students must enter lockdown mode. This includes finding a safe location, keeping doors locked, lights off, remaining quiet and still, and awaiting further instructions.
Please take a moment to discuss the importance of these drills with your child and assure them that this is a precautionary measure designed to keep everyone safe. If you or your child has any concerns or questions, please encourage them to speak with any one of their teachers or a member of the school staff.
If you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew_Carroll@roundrockisd.org.
Panorama Survey
**Last call for opt out forms. Please submit to Jag Lobby no later than Monday, Sept. 18.**
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.
Spanish Students (and Teachers) in Action
Our students activate their Spanish brains before they enter the classroom!
Jaguar Football
Congratulations to our Jaguar Football teams who took on Canyon Vista this week. We are proud of their efforts on the field!
7th Grade A Team: Jaguars 22, Mustangs 6
7th Grade B Team: Jaguars 22, Mustangs 8
8th Grade A Team: Mustangs 28, Jaguars 6
8th Grade B Team: Jaguars 18, Mustangs 12
Jaguar Cross Country!
Our Cross Country teams competed at the Walsh Invitational this week and had another successful week as a team. A record was also broken! Way to go!
Top Performer's:
Leo B. - 1st Place
Talia J. - 4th Place
Boys Overall - 2nd Place
Girls Overall - 3rd Place
Also, Leo broke a school cross country record with a time of 10:57! Nice work!
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 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 during students’ science class. Advisory teachers distributed the school photo order forms to students on Friday, September 15th. 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. There are only a handful of books left to purchase with the $10 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!
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.
Book Fair - Oct. 23-27
For more information, please visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/cedar_valley.
Happy reading!
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.
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.
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.
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
9/18 - 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