Back to School Student Information

PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

• Student schedules will be available in "Home Access Center" (HAC) on August 6.

• 7th & 8th GRADERS: Attend 7th/8th Grade Schedule Pickup on Wednesday, August 6th! Enter through the cafeteria/gym entrance (door #8). This is a "self paced" event from 4:30-6:00 PM.

• 6th GRADERS:  Attend Pony Camp on Thursday, August 7th! Pony Camp Details: Door #8 will open at 4:15 PM; Pony Camp event is from 4:30-6:00 PM. You'll be able to get your schedule, tour the building (self-paced), drop off bulk supplies, purchase spirit wear, ask questions, etc. We will also offer an orientation meeting at 5:30 PM for parents while students are participating in an ice-cream social. You may want to bring money for PTA spirit wear and membership dues. 

• Ensure you have the proper school supplies. If you did not pre-order, you can purchase the items individually at a location of your choice. If you did the EPI pre order, those are being shipped to your home address. 25-26 SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST 

• All 6th grade students and "new to NISD" 7th/8th graders will be issued an NISD Chromebook within the first week of school. Please ensure you've filled out the NISD Technology forms through your online registration with Medlin; it's always a great idea to purchase the "maintenance plan." 

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

• The first day of school is Wednesday, August 13th! 

• Arrival window is 8:25-8:43 AM each day; 1st period begins at 8:50 AM. Our doors do not open until 8:25 AM so please do not drop your student before 8:25 (exception would be early athletic/fine arts practices set by those coaches/directors).

• We have 3 entry points for students: Car riders can be dropped off at Car Loop #1, #2 or #3 and utilize door #1 or door #8 for entry. Car loops can be accessed from Parkview Dr. Bike riders will utilize the bike racks located next to the gyms and will enter door #8. Please lock up your bike. Bus riders will enter door #19. The bus loop is located at the back of the building accessible from Marshall Creek Rd and is ONLY open for buses; no cars will be permitted.

• You can view a detailed arrival/dismissal map by clicking the following link: Medlin Arrival/Dismissal Map IMPORTANT: If utilizing Car Loop #2, a RIGHT TURN ONLY will be enforced when exiting the loop to maintain a safe flow of traffic on Parkview. 

WHEN STUDENTS ARRIVE TO SCHOOL

• Students will report to their "holding area." 6th grade - C Hall/A Hall, 7th grade - Cafeteria, 8th grade - Back Gym (we will have staff and signs that will direct you to these locations).

• Make sure you wear your ID around your neck each and every day, ALL DAY. Lose your ID Badge? A replacement badge will be required for purchase of $4 each in the counseling center. IDs can be charged to your student acct but must be paid within the same school year.

• You will receive a new, colored schedule on the first day of school. You can also find your schedule of classes in HAC (Home Access Center in the student/parent portal); please note that we do have to make changes to students' schedules occasionally to balance class sizes, etc.

• You will receive your new ID Badge at orientation/schedule pickup. If you are unable to make it to the orientation, you will get your ID Badge in your holding area on day 1.

• Confused about where your next class is? No worries! Staff will be available to assist you in finding your classes. We will also have big signs posted in the hallways to help!

MIDDLE SCHOOL SURVIVAL TIPS

• Moving from class to class can be challenging at first, (especially for 6th graders) but you will get used to it and we are here to help. We suggest talking through your schedule with your parents and determining how to organize your class materials and the route you will take. NISD no longer utilizes academic lockers. Students will be assigned a PE/Athletics locker during the first 2 weeks of school if they are enrolled in a PE/Athletic course.

• Find your method for staying organized. Every student will be taught how to utilize the digital planner feature in Canvas which is NISD's learning platform. This will be accessible on every student's Chromebook and parents are able to see assignment/test dates and other important information from teachers via the teacher's Canvas page.

• Talk to your parents each day about what you learned at school. This will keep your parents in the loop so they can better support you at home.

• Be friendly and meet new people in each of your classes. Be respectful of all students, even if they don't think, look, or act like you.

• If you have an issue with a friend or peer and you aren't sure of your next steps to come to a solution, please see your grade level counselor or your assistant principal. These staff members are trained in helping students work out their differences and resolve issues among friend/peer groups.

• Speak up for yourself! If you don't understand something or if you are unsure about where to go or what to do, just ask! Your teachers care about you and want to see you be very successful this year.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND STUDENT ILLNESS

NISD's top priority is to keep our students and staff safe.  We ask that you monitor your child daily and NOT send them to school if they are sick. Students must be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. 

Medlin trains students and staff on other safety protocols throughout the year throughout the use of several drills such as Evacuation drills (fire, etc), Shelter drills (weather) and Lockdown drills. NISD utilizes Standard Response Protocols. To learn more, click here.

ATTENDANCE

Medlin's attendance clerk is Michaela Sims. Please email her in regards to your student's attendance and provide written medical notes for excused absences. michaela.jacobs-sims@nisdtx.org 

It's important that you are present to soak in all the great learning opportunities each day. Please note that attendance is taken every class period. If you are out of school, please make sure you submit proper documentation to Mrs. Sims. It's best to submit medical notes and other documentation via email or the QR code provided on the webpage for absences. 

Attendance Policy:

Secondary attendance, unlike elementary attendance, is taken every class period and is based on instructional minutes per course. In addition to compulsory attendance law, districts are required to enforce the 90 percent rule, which states that students in grades K-12 must attend class for 90 percent of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade. The 90 percent rule applies to all absences, including excused absences. 

A few attendance codes you may see in Home Access Center for your student: EXA - means Excused Absence; MA - means Medical Absence; A - means Absent. Please understand that the 90% rule includes Excused, Non Excused and Medical Absences. This means that even if the student has a doctor's note, if they exceed the 90% rule, they may owe attendance hours. If your child owes attendance hours, the grade level assistant principal will work through that plan of action with the student & parent. Excessive absences may result in a referral to truancy court. Please ensure you are communicating with your grade level AP and the attendance clerk when you need to be absent. 

NURSE'S NOOK

For students with Epi Pens and Inhalers, we strongly encourage you to keep that on your person. Please go to this link and fill out the form to do so.

Medication Administration Form = click here to access the form needed to allow your student to have medicine on campus in the nurse's office.

For parents dropping off medicine: You must count out the medicine ahead of time and leave it at the front office. We have a signed form for you to fill out in person.

For immunization requirements, please click here.

PE AND ATHLETICS

All 6th graders participate in a PE class and need a PE uniform. If you missed out on ordering your PE uniform, the online portal will open again at some point in August and be available the first couple of weeks of school. Our coaches understand this and will be flexible with students who do not have their uniform at the start of school. A limited amount of PE Uniforms will be available at Pony Camp for purchase. First come, first served basis. 

Online Portal for ordering PE uniform: https://medlinmustangs2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/ 

Please note that Athletics is only available for our 7th/8th grade students; 6th graders will learn about what our Athletics program has to offer through their 6th grade PE course. If you have specific PE questions, you may contact our PE Coordinator, Coach Sisneros - esisneros@nisdtx.org 

7th/8th graders have the option of participating in PE or Athletics. An athletic/PE uniform is required and all students will "dress out" for PE/Athletics. Boys' Athletic Coordinator - Coach Espinosa; Girls' Athletic Coordinator - Coach Sisneros

WHAT IS PRIDE TIME?

Pride Time is the class period that is labeled as "10th period" on your schedule. Although it's labeled 10th period, it will take place between 2nd and 3rd period. Some students may be placed in small groups for math/reading enrichment opportunities during Pride Time. This period will allow for some exciting, new learning opportunities as our campus wants to truly embrace the "whole child." Examples of a few of those learning opportunities could include: goal setting, team building, student choice reading, delta math lessons and a strong emphasis on leadership/character development. 

LUNCH TIME

• For the first week of school, we will be walking students through our lunch procedures to ensure everyone understands lunch room expectations.

• We have 4 microwaves that you can use if you bring food that needs to be heated. Parents, please have a chat with your students about what can/cannot go inside of a microwave.

• If you plan on purchasing a lunch or just a few snack items, you will want to set up your lunch account. Students will scan their ID badge for lunch. To set up your student's lunch account please click the following link: SCHOOL BUCKS LUNCH ACCT 

• Our cafeteria provides a variety of options each day and we have 3 different lunch lines.

• The lunch period is 30 minutes.

• We do not allow 3rd party deliveries to the campus (i.e. UberEats, GrubHub, etc). Those will be turned away and not allowed into our building.

• For those families who are eligible to apply for our Free & Reduced Lunch Program please CLICK HERE.

HOLDING AREAS, HALLWAY AND CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

• From 8:25-8:45 AM as students arrive at school we have them go to their grade level "holding area" where they can work on homework or visit with friends before 1st period begins. They also have the opportunity to purchase a breakfast tray in the cafeteria if they did not eat at home. 6th grade holding area is in the two hallways labeled as "C and A Hallways" - 7th grade holding area is in the cafeteria - 8th grade holding area is in the back of the main gym

• CELL PHONES/AIR PODS/HEADPHONES: These items must stay in your backpack. If you wish to use your cell phone to contact your parent, you must ask permission from your teacher. We have land line phones available in each classroom for students who do not have their own phone. These items are not to be out during instruction time or during the passing periods in hallways. We do strongly suggest that students purchase a pair of headphones (preferably a pair that plug in to the chromebook) as they may listen to instructional videos and/or receive extra supports through the computer with the headphones available. 

• Our number 1 priority is to keep students/staff safe at Medlin. Please see the expectations below and do your part to keep our learning environments and passing periods calm and safe at Medlin.

• For every student to thrive at Medlin each day, everyone has to do their part. At Medlin, we will empower students to be their best self as leaders in the classroom to cultivate a safe, student-centered learning environment.  

• Medlin's Personal Device Policy is pictured below. 

FRONT OFFICE PROCEDURES

• Student Check Out: If you are needing to pick up your child, we ask that you call our front office when you're about 5 minutes away from Medlin (817.215.0500) and let us know what student you are picking up for early dismissal. We will go ahead and start the process of locating your student and getting them to the front office to minimize wait time. When you arrive at Medlin, you must ring the bell for entry. Have your Driver's License or valid ID ready as you must show ID before entering the building. Thank you for your patience as we ensure all visitors are checked in through this process. Even on your 158th time to visit our campus, we will request that you show valid identification. Thank you!

• If your student forgot an item needed for their school day, please know that we are limiting drop-off of items to be between 9:00-10:00 AM. The reason behind this is to limit the amount of distractions to our learning environment. Thank you for understanding!

• If you are needing to visit with a teacher, counselor or administrator: You will need to schedule an appointment with the staff member you are needing to meet with as we will not be able to accommodate parents who simply "drop by" the front office and need a meeting. The best way to touch base with your AP or counselor is via email, however, if it's an urgent request, please call our front office at 817.215.0500.

• Students/parents are not allowed to utilize UberEats, GrubHub and other 3rd party delivery services to bring food to Medlin for the student. These 3rd party deliveries will be turned away and not allowed into our building. If your student forgets their lunch, we have plenty of options available for them in the cafeteria.

TECH TIPS

• For tips on navigating through all the technology NISD has the offer, please click here.

• NISD's primary technology platform is Canvas. Each teacher will have a Canvas page where you can find a calendar for upcoming tests, ways to contact the teacher, assignments, etc.

• In addition, NISD will utilize the program "Parent Square" to streamline all communication. Please ensure your contact information is correct in your child's profile via Home Access Center as that will be the email our campus will utilize to make contact with families.

• Every secondary student receives a district chromebook. We strongly encourage you to sign up for the technology maintenance plan. 

• If at any point in time you're having trouble with your chromebook, please visit this website: https://studenthelpdesk.nisdtx.org/

• Parent Tip: Make sure you label your student's chromebook charger with a label sticker or piece of tape (first and last name). If your student accidentally leaves it behind in a classroom, the teacher can easily return it to the student if the charger is labeled. The actual chromebook will have a barcode on it and will be checked out specifically to your student. We will train your student on password/internet safety, however, we encourage you to do the same at home. Students should never share their password or student ID number with others. 

• It's an expectation that students bring a CHARGED chromebook daily and only use the NISD chromebook for academic purposes. 

FINE ARTS

• BAND: Your contact for band questions/concerns is Mr. Gordon - ethan.gordon@nisdtx.org 

• ART: There is an art supply list available for students taking art class. Your contact for art supplies will be your art teacher. 

• CHOIR: Your point of contact for choir questions is Mrs. Fry or Mrs. Sepulvador- emily.fry@nisdtx.org; ashley.sepulvador@nisdtx.org 

• ORCHESTRA: Your point of contact for orchestra questions is Dr. Flippin - sam.flippin@nisdtx.org 

• THEATRE: Your point of contact for theatre questions is Mrs. Hall - erika.hall@nisdtx.org 

COUNSELING CORNER

• Contact your grade level counselor with questions/concerns about your student's schedule.

• 6th Grade -megan.kaiser@nisdtx.org/ 7th Grade - sara.moltenbrey@nisdtx.org/ 8th Grade - snobles@nisdtx.org 

• Schedule changes are not permitted after course requests/approvals are sent out in the spring semester. Returning NISD students had the opportunity to change a course and that deadline was in May.

• If you feel like your student is not in the appropriate class level (i.e. Honors vs. On Level) please contact your grade level counselor and assistant principal. A parent conference will be set to discuss concerns and next steps to guide your student to success. 

NISD GRADING GUIDELINES

• Click here to view the Student Code of Conduct and/or NISD Grading Guidelines. 

• We recommend that your stay involved and check your student's grades on a regular basis. Parents can access their student's grades and attendance reports through the Home Access Center (HAC). For instructions, click here. 

ID BADGES, FINES & FEES, ONLINE PAYMENTS

• ID Badges are worn around your neck at all times with the exception of PE class where they are housed in your PE locker. If you lose your ID Badge, you must buy a replacement ID in the counseling office for $4.00. Bus Riders will also receive a "smart tag" that is required for entry onto NISD buses; Smart Tag replacements are $4 as well and located in the counseling office. 

• Every student will be provided 1 ID Badge (and Smart Tag if registered for NISD transportation/bus route) for free at the start of the year. 

• To attend Medlin extracurricular activities and school sponsored social gatherings, you must have all fines/fees paid. 

• Fines/Fees for library books, ID badges, etc can all be paid online. 

• Most items can be paid for online through your NISD Student/Parent portal.

• To learn more about online payments, click here. 

MEDLIN'S "LEARNING COMMONS"

Mrs. Siders is our librarian at Medlin. We have a variety of literature available for all students in our library. Medlin's library is referred to as the "Learning Commons" because it's the heart of our campus in that all learning in impacted by literacy. Mrs. Siders partners with all teacher and students to create a wonderful learning experience for all.

MISSING ITEMS

• We strongly encourage you to label all of your student's belongings. Our Lost & Found cart is located in the cafeteria. At the end of each grading period, we donate the items to our local food banks/shelters that haven't been claimed.

• Electronic devices such as cell phones, airpods, ipads, etc should remain in the student's backpack. These items are brought "at your own risk" and NISD/Medlin MS is not responsible for your student's personal items. If a more valuable item has been misplaced/lost, we will lock it up in our front office cabinet; a student may come to the front office to request a lost cell phone, etc.

• What do I do if I need to report an item missing?

1. First, make sure you've checked all of the classes you've been to that day, checked the Lost & Found cart and also checked in the front office to see if your item has been found. Also, make sure you empty out your backpack and check it thoroughly -- 9 out of 10 times we typically find the missing item in the student's backpack.

2. If you still can't find the item, you may go to the counseling office to fill out an "incident report." The receptionist will give the report to your grade level Assistant Principal. Your grade level AP may partner with the SRO (School Resource Officer) if need be.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Our middle school years can be challenging. There's a lot of "new and different" which can sometimes cause turmoil in friendships. Navigating through social issues is a major part of the learning and growing that we do in our middle school years. Please know that you're not alone during this time in your life. We have a wonderful staff eager to help you "through the middle."

If you are struggling to get along with another peer at school, please consider talking directly to that person about the issue. It's unkind and not productive to simply talk "around" that person, or behind their back, instead of talking directly to them. Many conflicts can be worked out through a simple, open/honest conversation. However, if the problem continues to escalate, it's time for you to reach out to an adult. Reaching out to an adult is more appropriate that telling all of your other friends to be unkind or ignore the one friend you are having problems with. We will always encourage students to reach out to their parent, but please know that we have counselors who are trained in conflict resolution. Our counselors have many strategies they use to help students learn how to work through their conflicts with peers in a positive, productive way.

We have many ways you can report an ongoing issue/conflict with a peer:

1. Go to the counseling center and set up an appointment with your grade level counselor and/or grade level assistant principal.

2. Go to the counseling center and fill out an "incident report" -- this will be given to your assistant principal and, if need be, can include our school resource officer.

3. Remotely or after school hours, you may send an email to your grade level counselor or assistant principal.

4. And finally, we have the NISD Anonymous Tip Line --> https://www.p3campus.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=229

SILVER STAR PROGRAM (COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS)

To learn more about our Silver Star Program or Volunteer Service Hours, go to this website.

If you have questions, feel free to contact our counseling receptionist or your grade level counselor in the counseling center.