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February 7, 2025

Dear Bobcat Families & Staff,

It is National School Counseling Week, and we proudly celebrate and honor all of our school counselors in Hempstead ISD! We appreciate their hard work, dedication, and commitment to supporting our students, staff, and the entire school community. Their impact is immeasurable, and I want each of them to know how valued they are. Please take a moment to thank your school counselor and let them know how much they are appreciated.

This month also marks the start of Black History Month, a time to celebrate the rich history and contributions of Black Americans to our nation. Personally, February always prompts me to reflect on my own family history and the impact my loved ones have made in my hometown of Hearne, TX. I am truly grateful for the legacy of excellence they have passed down, and I encourage everyone to take time to honor the stories, sacrifices, and achievements that have shaped our communities.

As we move through February, I want to recognize all of our students who are participating in our spring extracurricular activities, from softball, baseball, track & field, One Act Play, FFA, soccer, powerlifting, and more. We are excited about the annual Bobcat Alumni Baseball Game at Noon, on Saturday, February 8. Let’s continue to show up and support all of our Bobcats in action.

I hope you have had a chance to drive by Bobcat Stadium to see the exciting improvements taking place. The stone foundation has been laid, and we are currently awaiting the arrival of the turf, which should be here in the next week or two. Once the field is completed, work on the new track will begin, it has already been scraped and prepped. Additionally, our brand-new LED stadium lights are fully installed and ready to go. The entire stadium project is on track to be completed by the end of March.

Beyond the stadium, we are in the final stages of the design phase for the new Early Childhood Center, along with other safety and expansion projects across the district. We anticipate breaking ground at the end of May or early June. As I’ve shared before, major construction projects will soon be happening across our district and city. While this may cause some temporary disruptions, I know Bobcats are flexible and resilient, and together, we will ensure these projects are completed on time and with excellence.

As we continue through February, I want to remind all Bobcats to stay focused on our goals. Academic growth remains our priority, and our teachers are working tirelessly to ensure every student progresses in their learning. This week, I visited Ms. Mazurkiewicz’s classroom, where I had a conversation with one of her students about the Extended Constructed Response on the 8th-grade English STAAR exam. This is a challenging component for students across the state, so I asked her how she felt about it. She responded, "I love doing them." When I asked her why, she said, "It’s easy because Ms. Mazurkiewicz has shown me how to do them." 

There is nothing more powerful than hearing students express confidence in their learning because of the guidance and dedication of our teachers. Stories like this are happening across our district every day, and they serve as a testament to the incredible work happening in our classrooms.

Bobcats, let’s continue to make great choices, strive for excellence, and work hard in the classroom each day. I am proud of each of you, and together, let’s continue to #PowerUp to #HigherHeights!

With Bobcat Pride,

Herbert O’Neil
Superintendent of Schools
Hempstead ISD

Check out stories of about students learning and engaged in extracurricular activities across the district.

Rooms Support

Hempstead ISD is making it easier to stay in touch with teachers and get class information from one app. Using the Hempstead ISD app you can easily switch from district and school information to Rooms where you can see your student's classes and engage directly with teachers. Rooms can be accessed via the web and from our district app, which is available for free and can be used from both Apple and Android phones. Get Rooms Support