Roo News

August is an exciting time for Weatherford ISD teachers and staff as we look forward to welcoming our students and families to the start of a new school year!

School Calendar
The first day of school is Monday, August 22. To view the entire 2016-2017 school calendar, click here.

New School Start Times & End Times
Because of a change in state law, the Texas Education Code no longer defines 180 days of instruction as an acceptable school year. Instead, the requirement has been changed to at least 75,600 minutes of instruction, with one day defined as 420 minutes. Our change in the length of the school day is a reflection of this law and makes the number of instructional minutes the same for every student, every day.

All classes begin at the times listed below and students should be in their classrooms ready to begin the school day.

Elementary

First Bell 7:40 am Tardy Bell 7:50 am Dismissal 3:20 pm

Middle School

First Bell 7:55 am Tardy Bell 8:05 am Dismissal 3:35 pm

Ninth Grade Center

First Bell 8:05 am Tardy Bell 8:15 am Dismissal 3:45 pm

Weatherford High School

First Bell 8:00 am Tardy Bell 8:15 am Dismissal 3:45 pm

Bridge Academy

7:30 am - 2:30 pm

Dress Code
The 2016-2017 Dress Code has been updated and posted on the Parents link on the WISD website. As parents prepare for the beginning of school please note that all shirts must have sleeves; tank tops are not permitted.

Free and Reduced Lunch
Families may apply any time during the school year for free or reduced price student meals - either online or on a printed meal application form. To apply online click HERE. Paper copies are available from campuses and the WISD Child Nutrition department.

Meet the Teacher
Elementary Campuses - Thursday, August 18 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Middle School Campuses - Tuesday, August 16 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Ninth Grade Center & WHS - August 29 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Schedule Pickups
Hall Middle School
8th Grade: Tuesday, August 9 3:30-5:30 pm
7th Grade: Wednesday, August 10 5:00-7:00 pm
Tison Middle School - Friday, August 12 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
NGC and WHS - Tuesday, August 9 3:00 - 7:30

School Supply Lists

Get all the information you need to get ready for the new school year all in one location. School supply lists, Meet the Teacher events, enrollment information, and more are located under the For Parents link on the Weatherford ISD website then click on Back to School.

Dear Parents,

In Weatherford ISD, the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority.

As we move toward the start of a new school year all campuses* will now feature controlled entrances. These remodeled campus entries are a result of the successful passage of Proposition 3 in the 2015 bond election where our parents, staff, and community voiced their desire to increase safety at our schools.

What are Controlled Entrances?

Controlled entrances have become a standard for schools in Texas and across the nation and are considered a best practice of school safety as they help enforce the 5Ds of security, which include:

• Deterring someone from considering doing wrong.
• Detecting someone who is visiting or new to the property.
• Denying someone simple access to the property without properly validating their reasons for being there.
• Delaying someone for freely accessing the educational spaces.
• Defending against someone’s ability to freely enter the facility with the intent of doing wrong.

In addition, controlled entrances provide several improvements benefiting the day-to-day operation of our campuses, such as:

• Knowing who is in the building, why they are there, and if are they are who they say they are.
• Knowing when someone is at the door in order to be prepared to welcome them to the campus or alert the proper authorities.
• Controlling the movement of visitors, whether authorized or unauthorized, at the school’s entrance before allowing access into the interior of the building.
  
  

WISD Campus Changes

When you enter our campuses this year, you’ll notice the reception and office areas have been redesigned, and in some cases relocated, to incorporate a controlled entry for increased safety and security. These controlled entries will include electronic access control, security cameras, and a set of doors that allows reception to “buzz in” visitors and lock the doors electronically.

Supporting a Safe Campus Environment

Controlled entrances allow us to increase our level of security. As you know, our campuses are very busy places at the beginning of the school day. So much so, that it can be difficult, if not impossible, for us to know who is coming in and out of our campuses.

This year we’re inviting you to walk your children to their classroom during the first two weeks of school. After that, we’ll provide a place for you to walk your child to in the entrances of our buildings. Students will then walk to their classes. When the tardy bell rings, all individuals entering our buildings will come through the controlled entry for assistance from our office staff.

As we continue to be proactive in responding to the changing safety and security needs in today’s world, we appreciate your support of our campuses. If you have any further questions, please contact the School Operations office at 817-598-2800.

Dr. Jeffrey Hanks

Superintentent

Bring your Roo Pride and join us at Kangaroo Stadium at 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 18th to meet our high school students participating in fall sports, band, Blue Belles, and cheerleading. Meet the Kangaroos is a free event for our students, parents, families, and community.

The Weatherford ISD Education Foundation is collecting all sizes of backpacks at Jerry's Buick GMC on Saturday, August 13th. Save the date and bring us a backpack or two for Weatherford ISD students.

The Education Foundation provides school supplies for families in need at no cost.
Parents needing assistance with school supplies should contact their child's campus.

Email: clagrone@weatherfordisd.com
Website: https://wisdef.wordpress.com/
Location: Jerry's Buick GMC, Fort Worth Highway, Weatherford, TX, United States
Phone: 817-598-2956
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisdef
Twitter: @wisdef