Irons Jr. High Newsletter
We Are Hawks!
Nov. 5, 2021
Irons Family,
We had another great week at Irons Jr. High. I love seeing our students enjoying themselves in the wonderful weather outside at all lunches. Our teachers continue to do an excellent job planning engaging lessons that meet the required curriculum along with tiering the lesson to fill in learning gaps and extension activities for our students who have mastered the lesson. Things are moving quickly as we enter the last six weeks of this semester. Please check PAC often to monitor your student's academic progress.
Instruction Begins at 8:50 AM
Please remember that instruction begins at 8:50 AM. I know that traffic can be heavy on 45 and 242, so please help your child by leaving a few minutes earlier to plan for the increase in traffic. Your child needs to arrive on campus in plenty of time to get some breakfast, walk to their class, talk to their teacher, and then prepare to start a day of learning.
Students must be in their class prepared for instruction when the bell rings at 8:50 AM.
Car Rider Line
Parents, thank you for your help with improving our car rider dismissal procedures earlier in the school year. The double-stack at the entrance of the drive has been a tremendous help with moving cars quickly through the car rider line. We need your help once again to improve our procedures.
We have been asked to move as many cars off of Needham Road as possible. We can make this happen if we all continually close up the gaps between vehicles while you are in the drive.
When stopped on Needham Road, please do not block residence or business entrances.
- Form two lines at the entrance
- Merge into one line at the curve
- Please pull forward to the car in front of you
- Do not worry about blocking the service yard drive in the front of the school.
- Only pick up students in the pick-up zone.
- Do not park and have students walk to the parking lot for pick up.
Basketball Games
Basketball season is starting next week. If students wish to attend the game, they must meet the following criteria:
- Students must be passing all classes
- No more than four tardies this nine weeks
- No discipline referrals for this nine weeks
Students will be required to pick up a wristband in lunch on Thursday, the week of the game. The wristband will allow the students to purchase a ticket at the door for one dollar.
All students must be picked up from the game by 7:15.
Harvest Dance
Irons PTO is excited to announce our Harvest Dance Friday, November 12th, from 7-9. The dance is a casual event (NOT semi-formal/formal). All attire must meet the school dress code for students to attend. Students must have four or fewer tardies and have not been assigned to ISS, OSS, or DAEP.
Tickets will go on sale in all lunches on Monday, November 8th, admission 10 dollars, including pizza drink and chips, or 5 dollars for dance admission only.
Parents, We are in need of a few parent volunteers. If you can assist our PTO, you can view the available positions with the following link.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E45A4AE2CA46-harvest
If you can volunteer to help, CISD will require you to complete the following online form before volunteering.
https://apps.conroeisd.net/volunteer/
All students must be picked up at 9:00
Irons Spirit Wear
Irons Spirit Wear will be on sale in all lunches next week. Items will range from 15-30 dollars. Students can order one day, and you can pick up your order the next day at lunch. Cash Only
Yearbooks
Yearbooks are on sale for the best price of the year. Purchase early before the price increase in the spring. Help us reach our goal of selling 300 yearbooks by January!
Progress Reports in PAC 11/5
Irons Goal
Learning Recovery
- High Quality Instruction
- Safe and Collaborative Culture
- Tier Two and Three Intervention
- Communication
Don't forget Day Light Savings ends this weekend. Roll your clocks back one hour!!
Enjoy the Weekend!
Robert MacFarlane
Irons Jr. High Principal
We Are Hawks!
2022-2023 CISD CALENDAR SURVEY
Irons Dress Code
Parents, we have observed an uptick of students out of dress code the past few weeks. Please ensure that your child meets the Irons Dress Code before departing for school.
- Clothing must cover areas and undergarments from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to approximately the middle of the thigh. Tops must have at least 1 1/2" straps. Cleavage should not be visible. Rips or tears in clothing should be lower than the middle of the thigh.
- Tops exposing midriffs, back area or cleavage is prohibited.
- Boxer shorts, pajamas or blankets are not allowed.
- Skirts and dresses must mid-thigh length.
- Shoes must be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment (house shoes or slippers shall not be worn).
- See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.
- Headgear including hats, hoodies, bandanas, head scarves, skull caps, do-rags, beanies, hair bonnets, and caps are not allowed unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reasons approved by school administration.
- Clothing may not depict, imply, advertise, or advocate illegal, violent, or lewd conduct, weapons, or the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
- Clothing may not display or imply vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene language or images.
- Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
- Clothing and accessories that endanger student or staff safety may not be worn.
- If the parents are unable to bring a change of clothes for the student, we may:
- Ask the student to change into their PE shorts/shirt.
- Ask them if they have a change of clothes in their backpack/locker.
- Provide them with a clean loaner set of PE clothes.
Veterans Day
Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science
The Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science
(ACES) began its first full year of operation during the 2018-
2019 school year on the Oak Ridge High School Ninth Grade
Campus. As a result, students in the Graduating Class of 2026
have the opportunity to be a part of the fifth class of the Academy
for Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES). Along with the
other two CISD Academies (The Academy of Science and
Technology and the Academy for Science and Health Professions),
the Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science offers a core
curriculum of STEM courses, research and exploration
opportunities, and internship options. However, as with the two
other Academies, ACES has taken the opportunity to customize
offerings beyond core requirements, and, thus, has a unique
culture of its own. Moreover, because of the alternating block
schedule and unique offerings that exist at Oak Ridge High School,
especially in relation to the engineering design program, NASA
partnership and Health Science Program, ACES has the capacity to
accept a class of 120-140 students. In addition, since students
have the opportunity to enroll in 8 courses per year on the block
schedule, students should be able to meet Academy requirements
and pursue other extracurricular interests.
While a STEM Academy Program may not be a good fit for every
student, such programs do provide unique and rigorous learning
experiences in a close-knit school-within-a-school environment. In
my experience, students have the opportunity to develop strong
connections to each other without becoming totally socially isolated.
In essence, Academy students are isolated together for their
Academy courses but have the opportunity to interact with other
students in their humanities, language and elective courses. In
essence, the model we utilize is supportive but not constraining.
Academy program requirements are designed to insure a high level
of rigor based on the utilization of a college readiness model of
instruction. This approach gradually shapes course work to resemble
college level courses during students’ junior and senior years of
instruction. As a result, the transition to collegiate study should be
less difficult for students. As we become established, universities and
scholarship programs will readily recognize the preparedness of our
students.
ACES offers extensive opportunities for specialization in
mathematics, engineering, science and other related areas including
medicine, business, law, robotics, health science and computer
science. These course opportunities should foster interest in STEM
study and help encourage students to explore and apply their
interests and abilities in an enriched learning environment. In the
end, the primary purpose of all of our CISD Academies, including
ACES, is to maintain students in the STEM Pipeline to collegiate level
STEM study.
Aces academic requirements are simple. Each year, Academy
students must complete at least 3 academy courses. In each year, in
actuality, most of these courses are required for graduation. In my
experience, most Academy students take more than 3 academy
courses their junior and senior years. Also, because of the extensive
course offerings at Oak Ridge High School, we will be able to broaden
our elective offerings for Academy credit in order to meet the needs
of students on a more individualized basis. In addition, each year,
Academy students must enroll in a research and problems course for
local credit. This component can fulfilled through participation in
science fair, robotics, HOSA, computer science academic
competitions, UIL academic competition, or other activities related
to students interests. Also, over the four years of high school,
students must complete 14 exploration (field trip, speakers,
seminars, meetings, etc.) credits. Lastly, students must complete an
internship in an area of career interest and accumulate at least 100
hours of community service.
All of these requirements and the CISD Academy Model represent
research based approaches designed to foster interest in STEM
study and maintain students in the STEM Pipeline. In addition,
these efforts are similar to approaches utilized by most member
STEM schools of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM
Schools of which all CISD STEM Academies are members.
If you are seeking a challenging and rigorous academic
environment with a strong focus on STEM education in a small
school environment within a larger school setting, then the
Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science might be for you.
In addition, we have a strong commitment to producing well
rounded students who participate in a variety of extracurricular
activities while pursuing a strong academic program. I hope
students and parents alike will seriously consider making
application to the Academy for Careers in Engineering and
Science. I look forward to meeting you in the future. Please
contact our Academy office with any additional questions or
inquiries.
Dr. Mike Papadimitriou
ACES Headmaster
Important Dates
11/4 Progress Report (PAC)
11/9-11/10 ELA STAAR Interim Assessment
11/12 School Dance 7-9
11/15-19 Generation Texas Week Dress Up Days
11/22-26 Thanksgiving
12/2 Progress Report (PAC)
12/3 Be Kind Day
12/7 Band Performance
12/8 Choir Performance
12/13-17 Semester Exams
12/17 Early Release at 1:10
12/17-1/4 Winter Break
1/7 Report Card
1/17 MLK Holiday
1/27 Progress Report (PAC)
2/17 Progress Report(PAC)
2/18 School Holiday
2/21 Presidents' Day Holiday
3/11 Teacher Professional Learning/Student Holiday
3/14-18 Spring Break
3/25 Report Card
4/14 Progress Report(PAC)
4/15-18 School Holiday
5/5 Progress Report(PAC)
Semester Exams 5/20-26
5/26 Last Day of School Early Release at 1:10
6/1 Report Card
Irons Jr. High
Email: contactirons@conroeisd.net
Website: https://irons.conroeisd.net/
Location: 16780 Needham Road, Conroe, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-8500
Twitter: @Irons_Principal