I am thrilled to be welcoming your child(ren) back to school! We have eagerly anticipated the return of our students to our VMHS campus. Our continued commitment to fostering resilience, perseverance, grit, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively in diverse learning partnerships will undoubtedly help our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

In addition to the physical safety and academic prominence, a stronger emphasis will be placed on social emotional learning. Veterans Memorial High School is such a special place to learn and grow. We are proud of our campus and have high expectations for each and every student. Our students are kind, compassionate, inquisitive risk-takers.

Together with our dedicated staff, we strive to make connections with students to help them feel valued, accepted, and safe. Our VMHS motto of “Academic Excellence! The Right of Every Student!” will continue to guide our mission to provide a rigorous and joyful school environment. Our goal is to encourage active student engagement to foster a lifetime love for learning.

Partnering with families will be crucial this year. We appreciate your support as you work with students at home. We encourage families to stay connected and informed by following our district website, campus website/social media for important updates and information regarding our campus and events. Working towards a year filled with success!

Sincerely,

Fidel Garza Jr., M.A. Ed
Principal, VMHS

• Clear or mesh backpack.
• No checkouts after 3:30pm.
• No drop offs (includes lunches, homework, clothing, etc.).
• Buying or selling of food is strictly prohibited as per the MCISD Student Handbook
• Pick up procedures
• Anyone checking out a student must present a valid ID (driver's license/state ID) Parents/Guardians will remain outside the front office and present their IDs via the camera at the door and will wait for their child outside the front office.
• Any student returning to campus after being checked out, must provide an excuse for re-entry to campus (for documentary purposes).
• Students will be allowed to be checked out, by a person on their approved contact list, for appointments only.
• Forgotten athletic/club/classroom items must be brought to the student after school. Our coaches/sponsors/teachers have communicated this to our students.

• Do plan for heavy traffic in the mornings
• Do drop off in designated areas only
• Do drop off your child beginning at 7:30am
• Do pick up your child by 4:45pm
• Don't drop off near bus loading area as this is a safety hazard for your child
• Don't forget to make sure your child has everything they need for the day
• Don't enter staff or student parking lots for drop off/pick up

1. Front of School is the drop off/pick up location.

2. Patriot Drive can be used as a drop off, but only until 7:30am.

3. School Bus area is NOT a drop off point.

4. Do NOT enter the Student Parking lot to drop off. Only student drivers can enter this area.

5. Students who walk home will exit either the front of campus or the east side of campus near the student parking area. Student walkers will NOT be allowed to exit campus onthe west side near the bus area.

• Students arriving before school will wait in the courtyard until the first bell
• First bell rings at 8:05am
• Instruction begins at 8:15am
• Enrichment has been moved to 9:00am
• Breakfast is served during enrichment at 9:00am
• Announcments are aired at 9:00am
• Passing periods are 5 minutes each

Parents - Access the Focus parent portal using the button below.

• Your username and password is the SAME as your Tyler parent portal account.
• Click on the button that will take you to the portal (see picture below)
• We will no longer be using Tyler so please make sure that you bookmark this site for future use.
• If you have any pending forms, you must complete them before you can see your child's information.

Students - Access the Focus student portal using the button below.

• Your username and password is the SAME as your Tyler 360 account.
• Password is 22 + ID number (unless you changed it).
• You will enter your information on the sso page linked below, then you will click on "Focus Student" (see picture below)
• If you cannot access your account, we will print your schedule for you on Wednesday, Aug 16

The district has been revamping our lunch program. Students may pick up a plate prepared by our nutrition staff (free of charge) or bring their lunches from home (microwaves are available for use). Due to safety concerns, lunches/items will not be dropped off, nor will students be allowed to be picked up for lunch.

It is imperative that students be on time to class. Late students miss valuable instruction that is given at the beginning of the lesson. They are also a distraction to other students as their tardiness disrupts the learning environment.

• Attendance is taken every single period at VMHS. This includes tardies. Teachers are to mark a student tardy, present, or absent each day for each period.
• Students are afforded 2 warnings by the teacher before they are issued detention
• Detention is 45 min (afterschool or during lunch) and will be served each time a student is tardy beginning with the 3rd tardy

At VMHS our administrators and counselors are assigned to specific students by their last name. See below to locate your child's administrator and counselor.

The MCISD dress code is enforced at all campuses including VMHS. Students are expected to follow all dress code policies beginning on August 16, 2023.

As per the student handbook (p. 39), a student whose clothing violates the dress code shall be assigned to in-school suspension either for the remainder of the day or until a parent or designee brings an acceptable change of clothing to the school. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action.

Texas Compulsory Attendance The Texas Education Code contains a section on compulsory attendance law.

1. The law requires that children attend school every day it is in session. The law amends student compulsory age from 6 to 19 years of age. The school attendance law also applies to voluntary enrollment of your child in prekindergarten or kindergarten before age 6 and any student 19 years. (§ 25.085)
2. The law states that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school. If the parent fails to require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child has absences for the amount of time specified under Family Code 65.003(a); the parent commits an offense, punishable by fine. (§ 25.093)
3. If a student is absent without excuse for ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the school shall refer the student to a truant court for truant conduct. (Family Code 65.003(a))
4. Accumulation of excessive absences in any high school course will delay your child in obtaining a Texas Driver’s License or participating in a Driver’s Education course until your child completes a semester with 90% attendance. (HB 5)
5. A student may not be given credit for a subject unless they have attended 90% of the classes for that year. (§ 25.092)

For more information, please contact the Campus Attendance Administrator at (956) 323-3025.

It is the policy of the Mission CISD not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, national origin or age.

If you can't join us today, don't worry. All students will receive supplies during the first days of school. In general, high school students need paper, spirals, and folders for their classes. Pens and pencils are necessary while highlighters are encouraged. Other supplies such as glue and scissors are provided by teachers.