Dear Bobcat Families & Staff,
Happy New Year, Bobcats!
It is my hope that each of you is having a great start to the new year. A new year is a time for renewed intention and reflection on how we can continue to get better. I believe we should always strive to improve ourselves in some way.
Last week, I spoke in my video to the community about the work we will be doing at Hempstead Elementary to bring full transformation to that campus. Last year was a pivotal year for Hempstead ISD, with each campus and the district achieving record results related to student outcomes. Our elementary campus is very close, and we will get there by working together and taking bold action. Our students deserve the very best as we continue to ensure our vision is realized, that our students graduate as confident learners and leaders who excel in all endeavors. #TransformationNow
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and keeping families informed, we want to address a recent change you may notice on campus. Your students may share that they are seeing the Ten Commandments posted in their classrooms. These posters were donated to the district, and state law requires that they be displayed in each classroom. This posting is intended to ensure compliance with state law.
As we move into the spring semester, there are many activities taking place across our campuses, from fine arts to athletics and clubs. We want our students to get involved! Parents, please encourage your students to participate. Students who are involved in school activities have a higher likelihood of success than those who are not.
We are also very excited about the bond work taking place across the district. If you’ve passed by 9th and Shepard, you have likely seen the progress at the new Hempstead Early Childhood Center. Crews are hard at work each day, and this marks our first new campus in nearly 30 years, an exciting milestone for our district. Additional work will soon take place at HMS, HHS, and HES. You will see fencing installed, and principals, leaders, and teachers will work with students on possible new routes for moving between campuses, the Bobcat Den, and other areas. This work will occur while school is in session, and we will collaborate closely with our construction team to ensure instruction is not disrupted during this much-needed construction, renovation, and expansion.
I also hope you have had the opportunity to see the final cosmetic updates at Bobcat Stadium. We are nearly complete with this project, which will position Bobcat Stadium as a premier 3A stadium in the state. It was great to see so many teams choose Bobcat Stadium for playoff games, and we are excited to host our first track meet there in a long time. I remember when Hempstead ISD regularly hosted outstanding track meets, and we are proud to bring that tradition back to Bobcat Country.
I want to remind students and parents of the importance of attendance. If you are not sick, it is important to be present. Being in class ensures continuous learning. Additionally, please remember to remind your students to wash their hands regularly and cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing to help keep illness, including the flu, from spreading.
The STAAR test is an important assessment we take during the spring semester. This assessment measures how well students have learned the standards that were taught throughout the year. Our teachers work tirelessly to ensure students receive the best instruction possible. I encourage all students to actively participate and be fully present in class so they are prepared to do their very best on STAAR. While STAAR is not the only measure of what we do, it is important that we perform well. Let’s do this!
Finally, Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We are grateful for the tremendous impact Dr. King had on the United States of America. I hope we can all use this day to reflect on his leadership and his efforts to help unite our country. All District schools and buildings will be closed on Monday, January 19. School will resume on Tuesday, January 20.
I appreciate each of you. Let’s stay focused and continue working together to take Hempstead ISD to #HigherHeights.
