Enjoy your summer!

07/24 - FJH PTO Meeting; 6 pm at Capriccio's [More Information Below]

08/01 & 08/08 - Parker County Back to School Health Clinics [More Information Below] 

08/10 - Save the Date! Schedule Pick Up, All Grade Levels 10:00 - 5:00 [More Information Below]

8/10 - Athletics Parent Meeting; 5:30 [More Information Below] 

08/10 - Beginner Band Parent Meeting; 5:30 [More Information Below] 

08/10 - Returning Band Students Parent Meeting; 6:45 [More Information Below] 

08/12 - 1st Day of School!

08/13 - School Picture Day [More Information Below] 

08/19 - PTO Spirit Night at Reds Burger House [See Flyer Below] 

Save the Date: 09/11 - PTO Back to School Dance [See Flyer Below] 

🏈📚 Mark Your Calendars, Forte Junior High Families! 📚🏈

August 10th is going to be a huge day for our Hornets as we gear up for the 2026 school year! Here is everything you need to know to get ready:

🗓️ Schedule Pickup 

When: Monday, August 10, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

You will have an opportunity to:

• Review the class schedule

• Tour the building with a student leader to find your classes

• Visit with various organizations, and more! 

This will be a come-and-go event, so please come during the time that best fits your schedule. Also, during schedule pick up, we will have optional parent informational sessions in the cafeteria at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. if you would like to attend to learn a little more about FJH. 

Please make sure you have completed the required Skyward online student registration before attending, see the "Action Required! Returning Student Registration" section below for more information on that step. **Note: you will not be able to get your student’s schedule unless this step is completed. 

August 10th Schedule of Events:

10:00 - 5:00 - Schedule Pick-Up; come and go 

11:00 a.m. - Optional parent informational session

4:00 p.m. - Optional parent informational session

5:30 p.m. - Athletics parent meeting [7th & 8th Grade] in the FJH Cafeteria [6th Grade Pre-Athletics students do not need to attend this meeting]. 

5:30 p.m. - Beginner Band parent meeting in the FJH Band Hall 

6:45 p.m. - Returning Band Students parent meeting in the FJH Cafeteria 

What to Bring to Schedule Pick-Up: 

• If applicable [7th grade], please bring an updated copy of your student’s immunization records (see Immunization section below) **NOte: this is required for students to be able to start the school year. 

• Your student! They will greatly benefit from the opportunity to walk the building, see some of their teachers, and feel more prepared for the first day. 

Just a reminder that we are still wrapping up from construction but we are so proud of our newly updated building! Please enter using the new front entrance marked by the flagpole [which is being installed soon, we hope!]

The Free and Reduced Meal Application for 2026-2027 is now available online through SchoolCafe!

Filling out the free and reduced-price lunch application helps schools by securing vital federal funding, providing extra classroom resources, and saving money for families. Even if your child does not plan to eat school meals, submitting the form helps the entire school community. 

Families are encouraged to complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application online through SchoolCafe before school starts each year. (The Free and Reduced Meal Application is not available through Skyward as part of the registration process.)

Visit SchoolCafe to access the online application. Please include all students/household members on the same application. Only one application is required per household.

Contact the Azle ISD Student Nutrition Department at 817-444-5115 or email Laura Woody (laura.woody@azleisd.net) with any questions.

*Free and Reduced Meal applications must be completed annually after July 1. 

We hope to see our students come and "Dance Through the Decades" with us on Friday, September 11th from 5:30 - 7:30 at our PTO sponsored school-wide dance!

Buy your tickets now! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fjh-ptos-decades-dance--91126

Parents, we would love your help! Sign up to volunteer! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084BAFAD29ABFE3-64953966-fjhpto

Your student must have all of the required vaccinations that are required by the state. At junior high, this typically only applies to 7th grade students who get these immunizations during their 11-year old checkup. This will be the first verification station during schedule card pickup, and students without updated immunization records will not be able to get their schedule until this requirement has been met. Please review the immunization information, and ensure you have a recent copy of your shot record with you or on file before coming on August 10th. You can drop off shot records or email them ahead of time [recommended] to: taylor.dillard@azleisd.net 

If you are new to band, the following information is for you. If you are a returning band student or have already completed beginner band at a different school, please scroll down until you find the section labeled “returning band students”.

Instrument and Supplies

If you have not set up your instrument rental or purchased supplies yet, please do this as soon as possible. We will begin using instruments on Friday, August 14th and we want every child to be able to start on their own instrument. While this may seem like a far off date, consider the thousands of students beginning their band journey across the metroplex and how many instruments stores are having to provide.

The companies we recommend are Sweetwater (Santo Forte JH – Band Shop)  and Bell’s Music (https://www.bellsmusicshop.com/online-school-rentals.htm) for instruments and supplies. The instruments that are music store rentals are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. All other instruments - oboe, bassoon, french horn, euphonium, tuba, percussion - are school owned and are provided by the school.

ALL instruments have a list of supplies that once paid for are yours to keep. Our list of supplies can be found on the band website: https://www.fortebandsazle.org/instrument-supply-list. If you have an instrument at home that you’re thinking about using, please consult with a band director - not all instrument are made with a beginner in mind and we want to set your child up for success.

Beginner Band Parent Meeting

We will have a beginner band parent meeting at 5:30 PM on Monday, August 10th in the band hall where we will go over more specifics about what you need to know for your child’s first year.

Quick Tips for Success

1. No playing at home yet. We have a particular way of starting students and don’t want bad habits to develop.

2. Have your supplies and instrument rental for the first day of school.

3. Sign up for private lessons early to ensure a spot on their schedule. You can sign up on the website: https://www.fortebandsazle.org/private-lesson-sign-up-form. We have a few lesson vacancies open that we’re looking to fill, but will pass along anyone signed up once we have a teacher.

4. Email a director with any and all questions: zachary.woolhouse@azleisd.net.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. zachary.woolhouse@azleisd.net.

This section is for students returning to band OR new students who have already completed their first year of band at a different school.

New Students

If you are new to the Forte Band, please email Mr. Woolhouse so we can schedule a time to hear you play and place you in the correct band class: zachary.woolhouse@azleisd.net.

Supplies

Students will receive a new band binder from us at the start of the year and may keep their old one at home as a backup. They will receive this the first week of school and can transfer any music or handouts they need to from their old binder. Students will need the following for the first day:

• Instrument and instrument supplies (recommended reed players purchase a fresh box of reeds)

• Band binder (new one provided)

• Pencils

• Korg TM60 or TM70 Tuner w/ clip on Microphone (brass and woodwind players)

• Foundations for Superior Performance (brass and woodwind players - be sure to get the book for your child’s instrument)

• 5 minute drill book by Eric Rath (percussion)

These items can be purchased online on Amazon, Bell’s Music, or Sweetwater.

Band Fees

At registration in May, families selected a payment plan for this year’s band fees. If you were not able to attend registration, that is okay - you can decide what plan you will follow when you make your first payment ($25/month, $50/month, or pay in full). Fees can be paid through Revtrack. The first payment can be made on August 1st. https://www.fortebandsazle.org/fees-and-payment-info-1 

Returning Band Parent Meeting

We will have a beginner band parent meeting at 6:45 PM on Monday, August 10th in the cafeteria where we will go over more specifics about band for the upcoming school year.

Private Lessons

Sign up for lessons early to ensure a spot on our teacher’s schedule. There are a few lesson vacancies that we are working to fill and will pass along students who are signed up once they are filled. https://www.fortebandsazle.org/private-lesson-sign-up-form. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. zachary.woolhouse@azleisd.net

We still have a limited number of yearbooks left from the 2025-2026 school year! The price has been reduced to only $30, so get yours today by emailing samantha.walsh@azleisd.net 

Now, it’s easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the district, schools, and your children's classes. Using the Azle ISD app, you can easily switch from district and school information to Rooms - a communication and messaging tool integrated directly with our Azle ISD mobile app.

Follow us on Facebook (@SantoJForteJuniorHigh) to see reminders, fun announcements, and highlights from what is going on during the week at FJH!