August 21, 2007

Dear Parents

After an exceptionally long summer, it is finally time for our students to return to school. We are so excited to have the kids back with us because it is definitely too quiet around here without them!

• Our "no sale" fundraiser is in progress right now. Basically, through our wonderful PTO, we are asking for donations to our school. Last year we were able to completely replace our 8th grade computer lab with your donations. This year we are targeting our 7th grade lab, where the computers desperately need updating. For every $5 you donate, your child receives a ticket for drawings to win terrific prizes that our PTO fundraising committee has collected for us. Our front office staff will be collecting the money for the PTO once school begins. The drawing will be held on September 14th, so make your donations now!
  
  
• Please note that we had to change our Open House to Tuesday, September 4th, due to a conflict with the athletic schedule.  There will be a PTO meeting in the cafeteria from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Open House will begin at 6:30 p.m.
  
  
• For those of you who were unable to attend schedule pick-up, we will have a make-up time this Friday, August 24th, from 9-11 only.
  
  
• On Monday, August 27th, prior to the first bell, 7th graders will report to the cafeteria and 8th graders will report to the snack bar.
  
  
• Please visit our new and improved website. Ms. McAfoos has spent the summer revamping our website and she has done an amazing job!  You should be able to find the answers to many of your questions on the site.
  
  
• Due to the number of cheating incidents and misuse of cell phones that occurred last school year, the district adopted a new cell phone policy for the 07-08 year.  If your child has their cell phone on during the hours of 8:20 (first bell) ­ 3:45 (last bell), the cell phone will be taken up.  In order to have the cell phone returned, the parent will have to come to school and pay a $15 fee.  Should the phone be taken up a second time, the fee still applies and your child will have three days of in school suspension (ISS).  Future offenses result in the same fee and five days of ISS.  Please note this policy includes text messaging during the school day.
  
  
• In your back to school packet, there was a purple set of papers that addressed Project CLEAR.  Project CLEAR is a new opportunity for FISD students to say no to drug and alcohol use.  If your child would like to join CLEAR, just return the signed paperwork to the counseling center.  Our CLEAR sponsors are Mrs. Marshall, 7th grade Science and a former CLEAR student herself when she was a student in Clear Creek ISD; Coach Fritts, 7th grade math; and, Coach Dalton, 7th grade history, who was a CLEAR sponsor at Westbrook Intermediate.  If you have any questions about the program, you can contact one of our sponsors or go to this website: http://www.fisdk12.net/happening/announce.html to find additional information.
  
  
• I would like to thank all the parent volunteers who came and stuffed packets for us and worked schedule pick-up.  We truly appreciate you and we could not get ready for our new school year without you!

As always, we are here for you!

Robin