Save the Date:
Thursday, August 13th ~ Fire Drill
Friday, August 14th ~ Instructional Friday
Thursday, August 20th ~ Kona Ice
Monday, September 7th ~ Campus Closed (Labor Day)
Friday, September 11th ~ Instructional Friday
Friday, September 11th ~ Kona Ice
Happenings:
FIRE DRILL: Notice to the Public - a routine fire drill is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th at 9:00 am. The purpose of drills in Texas schools is to prepare students, staff, and visitors for efficient response in the case of an emergency.
INSTRUCTIONAL FRIDAY ~ As a reminder, the first two weeks of school will be 5-day instructional weeks in order to meet required instructional minutes within our academic calendar. Therefore, Friday, August 14th will be an instructional Friday. Students and staff attendance is expected for a day of learning.
The remainder of the year will follow the 4-day week schedule. To reference the approved academic calendar please CLICK HERE
KONA ICE: Kona Ice will be here on Thursday, August 20th and Friday, September 11th! If you wish to purchase a season pass for your student, please CLICK HERE. This will cover their Kona Ice purchases through the school year. QR codes for one-time purchases will be sent out soon.
HOLIDAY/SCHOOL CLOSING: In observation of Labor Day, CSISD will be closed on Monday, September 7th. In order to maintain a 4-day instructional week, Friday, September 11th will be an instructional Friday.
Reminders:
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION:
90% Law: The state of Texas requires students to be present 90% of the school year in order to receive credit for their current grade level.
Attendance is taken every day at 9:30am. Your student must be on campus at this time to be counted present for the day.
When absent: Only 4 days total per semester can be excused by a PARENT NOTE (parent signed excuse). For all absences exceeding 4, a doctor’s note or other formal documentation is required. All excuse notes must be turned in to the Front Office within 3 school days of the student’s absence.
Excuse notes can be emailed to thardin@chinaspringisd.net or mdiorio@chinaspringisd.net
Additional attendance information can be found in our student handbook on the CSISD website.
26-27 BELL SCHEDULE:
The duration of our instructional school day is 7:55am-3:55pm. Campus opens at 7:00am to begin car rider drop off. Breakfast will be available for students from 7:00am-7:50am. The first instructional bell rings at 7:55am. The tardy bell rings at 8:00am. Every 3 tardies count as a student absence.
TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES:
MORNING CAR RIDERS: Car rider lines open at 7:00am. Please use the car rider loops in the back of the school for morning drop-off. Students are NOT allowed to be dropped off in the front of the school until after the car rider barriers are in place at 7:45am.
AFTERNOON CAR RIDERS: In the afternoon car rider line, a SCHOOL-ISSUED car rider sign is required. If the sign is not visible to the staff calling names you will be asked to go to the Front Office to check your student out with an ID.
BUS RIDERS: For safety, students are only allowed to ride their assigned bus. They are not allowed to ride home with another student.
CSISD District bus policy ~An authorized parent/guardian or designee (designee is defined as a person(s) 7th grade or older) must be at the bus stop to receive students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade. If no one is there to receive the student, the student will be returned to the campus.
EARLY DISMISSAL: If you wish to pick your student up early form school you must do so BEFORE 3:30PM. A photo ID will be required to check your student out – please note a change from last year, our computer system now requires your ID be SCANNED every time you pick up your child for early dismissal.
TRANSPORTATION CHANGE: If there is a change to your child’s normal mode of transportation in the afternoon, you must notify the Front Office by 2:30pm to ensure they get home as requested.
CAFETERIA INFORMATION:
BREAKFAST: Breakfast takes place from 7:00am-7:50am. In order for your student to receive breakfast service in the cafeteria, they must arrive at school prior to 7:45am.
LUNCH: 2nd Grade Lunch ~ 11:00am-11:40am ; 3rd Grade Lunch ~ 11:45am-12:15pm ; 4th Grade Lunch ~ 12:20pm-12:50pm.
If you wish to eat lunch with your student a photo ID is required to check-in at the front office. Only visitors on the student’s contact list will be permitted. You may not have other students join you at the visitor’s table unless you are also on their approved visitor list.
If you wish to drop off food for your student to be delivered to the “cafeteria pick-up table” by the Front Office please make sure it is labeled with their first and last name and teacher name. It is also helpful if the student is aware ahead of time that they will have lunch waiting for them to grab from the pick-up table.
DELIVERIES FROM THIRD PARTY VENDORS LIKE DOORDASH AND GRUBHUB ARE NOT PERMITTED.
*Please note: ONLY 4th Grade is permitted to use the microwaves during lunch. Students must be able to microwave their own food without assistance. Please make sure food is sent in microwavable containers (no glass).
NURSE’S NOTES:
Please keep your student’s medical information updated on Parent Portal and reach out to Nurse French with any changes and updates as needed, throughout the year. She can be reached at lfrench@chinaspringisd.net.
Children with severe medical diagnoses such as diabetes, asthma, seizures, allergy/anaphylaxis are required to have action plans signed by a physician. This serves as your doctor’s order for your child and is the plan in case an emergency occurs.
CSISD medication policy ~ Any prescription medication that will be taken for more than 10 days will require a parent and physician’s signature. Over the counter medication will require a medication form signed by the parent/guardian.
A new, updated medication form signed by the parent and a physician is required each school year. If you need a blank form please reach out to Nurse French.
FROM THE PE COACHES:
A friendly reminder that students are required to have tennis shoes EVERY day for PE. Students cannot participate in PE activities while wearing sandals, crocs, boots, or UGGS. This is for their safety, as well as the safety of their classmates. If they choose to wear one of the above listed types of footwear please be sure they pack a pair of tennis shoes to change into. Students who do not wear tennis shoes will be required to sit out.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION:
This year, China Spring ISD is encouraging all families to complete the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application. While many people think this form is only about free meals, it actually serves a much larger purpose.
The information provided helps the district better understand the students and families we serve. It helps us identify needs across our campuses and support programs, services and opportunities that help students succeed. Even if your family does not qualify for meal benefits, or chooses not to participate in the meal program, completing the application still provides valuable information that helps us serve all students.
If you have not already completed an application, you can pick up a paper copy from your student’s campus, complete the application through ParentPortal, or you can CLICK HERE. Only one application is needed per family.
MEDIA CENTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The China Spring Library Media Center Acknowledgement form 26-27 is due Monday, August 17th. This form should have been sent home or will be sent home during the first week of school. Students who don't turn in a form, or turn in a form checked "DOES NOT have permission" will not be able to check out a book from the library. If you have any questions, please reach out to either your students homeroom teacher or the CSE librarian, Ms. Stanley, at kstanley@chinaspringisd.net.
INTRODUCING MINGA!
We are excited to introduce Minga, a new program designed to support a positive, safe, and successful school environment for all students! Minga will help us recognize and celebrate positive student behaviors, while also providing a consistent way to document and guide behaviors when students need additional support. We will also use Minga’s digital hall pass system to help students move safely and responsibly throughout our campus. We look forward to the many ways Minga will help us encourage positive choices, build responsibility, and support student success!
CSISD PERSONAL DEVICE POLICY:
In compliance with the new state law and expanding on current personal device policy, China Spring ISD has updated the cell phone and smart device policy for the 25-26 school year. The new rules apply to all personal devices, including cell phones, smart watches, and any other communication devices not issued by the district. Students may still bring these devices to school, but they must be turned off and stored in backpacks or lockers for the entire school day. Students may only use devices after the dismissal bell.