Welcome Back, Stevenson Families!

August Updates and Back to School Information

Dear Stevenson Community,

Welcome back to our returning families and welcome to our new families! We are so excited to start this new school year with you. Our 2021-2022 focus will be on:


  1. Student safety
  2. Student academic growth and achievement
  3. Student mental and emotional wellness
  4. Expanding educational and enrichment opportunities for students


I know there are a lot of questions regarding the start of school this year. Please review this newsletter that contains a wealth of information regarding Back to School Events, supply lists, expectations, and more!


On behalf of the entire Stevenson faculty and staff, let's have a great year!


Respectfully,

Christyn McCloskey, Principal

Save the Date!

Saturday, August 14: City of Houston Super Saturday Vaccination Event at Stevenson!

The City of Houston is hosting a Super Saturday Vaccination Event right here at Stevenson! Come over to the school to receive your COVID vaccination. Students are also able to get any vaccinations needed for the upcoming school year. Hope to see you this Saturday!


  • Date: Saturday, August 14th, 2021
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
  • Location: Stevenson MS; 9595 Winkler Drive

Wednesday, August 18: New Student Orientation

Calling all New Dragons! Join us on Wednesday, August 18th here at Stevenson for important information, a tour of Stevenson, and Stevenson swag! Please register for your timeslot here.


As of now, the event is in-person. However, please be aware that things can change quickly and we may need to change the mode to virtual if necessary.

Thursday, August 19: Virtual Parent Meeting

Please join me for a virtual parent meeting on Thursday, August 19th at 9:00 AM. We will use the MS Teams platform. A link will be sent closer to the date of the meeting. We will review school logistics, opening plans, academic goals, and any changes for this school year. Hope to see you there!

Monday, August 23: First Day of School!

School begins on Monday, August 23 at 8:30 AM. Students may arrive on campus no earlier than 7:45 AM where they will be seated with their grade level administrator until the first bell at 8:25 AM.


On the first day of school, 1st period lists will be posted. Students will report to their 1st period where they will receive a paper schedule for the remainder of their classes. There will be plenty of staff stationed around the school to assist students in finding their 1st period class.


The school day ends at 4:00 PM. Please refer to the map below to review our student pick-up and drop-off procedure.

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September 8 & 9: Open House

Save the date for Stevenson's Open House! Come to meet your student's teachers and administrators, tour Stevenson, learn about their classroom expectations, and more!


As of now, the event is in person. However, please be aware that things can change quickly and we may need to switch the mode to virtual if necessary.


Event Details:


  • 6th Grade: Wednesday, September 8th @ 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • 7th & 8th Grade: Thursday, September 9th @ 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Things to Know

Meet the Stevenson Administrative Team!

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HB 4545

The 87th Legislature recently passed HB 4545 that requires accelerated instruction practices during the 2021-2022 school year for all students who did not pass the STAAR or EOCs in Spring 2021.


  • Students will participate in a minimum of 30 hours of intervention instruction per subject failed.
  • If a student did not take STAAR in Spring 2021, they will take a TEA Beginning of Year (BOY) assessment in September to determine if accelerated instruction is necessary.
  • Accelerated Learning Committees will be formed for each 6th grade student who failed a 5th grade STAAR assessment. Someone from the school will be reaching out to you next week if an Accelerated Learning Committee will be established for your student.
  • STAAR will no longer be a promotion standard and students in 5th and 8th grade will no longer have the opportunity to re-take STAAR Assessments.



Here at Stevenson, we are providing students with accelerated instruction during Dragon Time. Dragon Time is 60 minutes a day of content specific intervention with the core content teachers. If a student passed all STAAR assessments in Spring 2021, they will engage in enrichment learning activities, including curriculum based projects, research projects, technology integration projects, and more.


Stevenson will continue to provide opportunities for additional learning outside of the school day through after-school tutorials, Saturday tutorials, and Camp Spark sessions in November and March.


More information on HB 4545 can be found here.

Helpful Links

FAQ's

Will Stevenson continue to have 1-to-1 technology?

Yes. All Stevenson students will receive a Chromebook that they will use in the classroom and be permitted to take home to complete homework assignments or enrichment learning tasks.

Will Stevenson have a uniform policy this year?

Yes. HISD is returning to the enforcement of school uniforms for the 2021-2022 school year. You can find our uniform policy on page 20 - 21 in the Student & Parent Handbook.

How can my student check their schedule?

Students will be able to check their schedules in PowerSchool! You can go online or use your App to check their schedule. Schedules are not posted yet, but continue to check back for updates. If you haven't used PowerSchool before, you can find instructions on our school website or by clicking here.

What is the mask requirement in HISD?

The HISD Board of Directors is voting on the mask policy this Thursday evening. I will send an update to parents as soon as we have confirmation of the policy.

Will HISD have options for virtual learning?

At the individual campus level, no. All students will report for face-to-face learning. However, HISD partners with Texas Connections Academy Houston to offer free public virtual school for grades 3-12. This option would require a transfer out of Stevenson.

What COVID safety protocols are in place for the 2021-2022 school year?

Stevenson will be cleaned and disinfected nightly. Hand-sanitizing stations are strategically placed around the school for optimal use and sanitation. Each classroom will be wiped-down with disinfecting wipes between each class period to prevent the spread of germs. Students will also be as physically distanced as possible throughout the school day. As mentioned above, the HISD School Board will be voting on a mask mandate on Thursday, I will communicate this information to our school community as soon as it becomes available. For more information, refer to Superintendent House's Back to School Plan (linked above).
Keep in touch!

Keep in touch!

Keep in touch!

9595 Winkler Drive, Houston, TX, USA cmcclosk@houstonisd.org 713.943.5700 houstonisd.org/StevensonMS