2024-2025 Parent Packet
WELCOME TO THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
We’re thrilled to have you in our community! We look forward to a year full of exciting learning opportunities and personal growth together.
We know the start of a new school year can be hectic, and we’re here to help make this transition as smooth as possible for you. To help you, we’ve put together a comprehensive Parent Packet. This packet includes essential information, such as important dates, policies, and resources, to help you and your student(s) prepare for the upcoming year.
Please take a moment to thoroughly review the packet, which includes informative videos and helpful links. We believe that an informed parent is an empowered parent, and we aim to ensure you feel confident as we embark on this academic journey together..
If you have any questions or concerns after reviewing the packet, please don’t hesitate to contact your campus front office. Our staff is here to assist you and ensure your experience at Priority Charter Schools is a positive one.
Thank you for entrusting us with your student’s education. We’re looking forward to the year ahead and are dedicated to providing a high-quality education in a nurturing and supportive environment.
SUPERINTENDENT LETTER
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT
Copperas Cove
- Coming Soon!
Killeen
- Tuesday, August 13th, 4pm-6pm
Temple
- Tuesday, August 13th.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
2024-2025 School Calendars
Parent and Student Compacts
Please review and discuss with your student the Parent and Student Compact of your campus.
- 2023-2024 Cove School Compact; Spanish
- 2023-2024 Killeen School Compact
- 2023-2024 Temple School Compact
Instructional Roles and Responsibilities for All Learning Environments
Preparation for Learning
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Student
- Be prepared for learning each day and have work and assignments completed and ready.
- Complete coursework by the deadline set by teachers.
- Take all materials and devices home each day to be prepared for possible school closure.
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Parent
- Encourage your child to have their things in their backpack/device and ready for school the night before.
- Create a designated place in your home for your student to use for homework and studying
- Plan appointments and trips so students don’t miss learning time
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Teacher
- Meet regularly with the collaborative team and/or attend all training to plan instruction.
- Utilize the district curriculum documents and follow the scope and sequence provided by the academic services department.
- Internalize lessons to provide the best execution of the instruction
- Include instructional support for all learners
Learning and Teaching Expectations
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Student
- Attend classes and give your best efforts in your school assignments.
- Participate in learning activities as instructed by teachers.
- Be organized in your work and in getting projects completed.
- Ask questions and communicate with your teacher.
- Be aware of what you should be learning each day.
- Become familiar with online platforms and complete all required work in them
- Turn in assignments on time.
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Parent
- Access the Parent Portal (grades 3-12) to view student grades.
- Check in with student(s) to monitor the completion of homework and assignments.
- Discuss your child’s favorite part of their day and what they learned in school.
- Support and encourage your learners
- Provide your child with assistance on their day-to-day activities except for designated independent work.
- Maintain communication with your child’s teacher by phone, email, and/or online meetings to create a learning partnership and update personal information every grading period or sooner if there is a sudden change.
- Monitor and ask for evidence that your child is on track with assignments and coursework.
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Teacher
- Teach students how and when to access learning materials through online platforms
- Manage online and offline resources to provide consistency and routines for students.
- Provide clear learning goals for students.
- Check student assignments on time and give feedback in verbal or written form frequently to provide the next steps or necessary academic intervention/extension.
- Post grades on time according to district grading guidelines.
- Ensure open lines of communication between teachers, students, and parents as we work together to ensure each student is academically and socially-emotionally future-ready.
- Provide engaging instruction that incorporates hands-on and mind-on learning
- Deliver instruction that is on-grade level, scaffolding where necessary
Support and Intervention
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Student
- Attend intervention/tutorial sessions as established by your teacher or school.
- Let your teacher know when you are struggling
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Parent
- Allow your child to attend intervention/tutorial sessions as needed.
- Assist in supporting your child’s needs by establishing and managing the daily schedule communicated by the teacher.
- Help your child own their learning. Provide support and encouragement and expect your children to do their part.
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Teacher
- Provide intervention or tutorial sessions as needed.
- Follow student IEPs / 504 accommodations in all learning environments.
- Use data to pinpoint students’ specific needs for enrichment and intervention.
- Monitor student progress with fidelity according to recommendations.
- Provide and communicate office hours or conference periods for student/parent support.
- Attend and participate in professional learning.
Career and Technology Education (CTE)
Priority Charter School students have the opportunity to integrate academic and technical education, following the concept of Programs of Study through our Career and Technical Education career pathways. CTE provides 5 clusters of study that will prepare students by connecting school to what they aspire to do tomorrow. Courses provide students with the knowledge, training, and confidence based on career goals under the guidance of parents, guardians and educators. In connection to the classroom, students may be provided hands-on learning, field-based experiences, internships, college credits through area community colleges and test to earn industry standard certifications. Click here to access TEA's webpage on CTE programs of study.
Student Attendance
Every Day Counts! School Success Begins with Attendance.
Students are required to attend classes daily to meet the Minimum Attendance Requirements, which stipulate that they must be present at least 90% of the days the class is offered. Failing to meet this attendance threshold may lead to loss of credit for the course and could prevent advancement to the next grade. Additionally, students may face truancy charges if they are absent during the designated attendance-taking period. Consistent attendance is crucial for academic success and maintaining eligibility in school programs. Click here to review the attendance policy.
Parent Engagement and Volunteers
Each school year, all volunteers are required to complete a new background check with a “clear” result and obtain approval before participating in any school activities or events. You can expect to receive an email with the outcome of your application within 7-10 business days. Thank you for your commitment to supporting our school community! Click here for more information or to apply.
Parent Portal Access and Security Code
Parents are encouraged to use the parent portal regularly to check their student's grades and attendance. Login information will be provided by the campus registrar during the student enrollment process. Staying updated through the portal is a great way to support your child's academic progress! Click here to access the Parent Portal.
Main Communication Tools
- School Messenger
- Sign up for a School Messenger account to manage and view school and district messages. https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/account/signup. This will allow you to receive important updates and review past communications easily. Stay informed and engaged with your school community!
- Website Calendars
- Facebook/Instagram
- District Facebook page: @prioritycharterschools
- District Instragram page: @prioritycharter
- Campus e-Newsletters
- Campus newsletters are sent to the parent's email address(es) provided and posted on campus webpages monthly by the campus starting in September. It's essential for parents to ensure they have an email address on file with the campus registrar to receive these updates regularly.
Student Services
- Food Service 2024-2025
- All PK-12 students will receive a free, healthy breakfast & lunch.
- Low income levels do not need to be met or verified but each family needs to fill out an online socioeconomic form as soon as possible. Your income information and confidential information are not shared with anyone. (REQUIRED FORM).
- For any questions or concerns, please contact our Child Nutrition Department at (254) 499 - 4204. Access the breakfast and lunch menus and learn more about PCS's child nutrition program by clicking here.
Athletics
- Athletics (6-12th Grade)
- Athletic programs will be available for the 23-24 school year. All athletic forms must be filled out to practice and participate in sports.
- Athletic fees and due dates will vary depending upon sport selected.
- REQUIRED athletic documents can be accessed by clicking here.
Safety and Health
- Immunizations
- School vaccination rules are in effect for the school year regardless of whether the education is received via virtual learning or on campus, or a notarized exemption certificate on file before the start of school. Information regarding school vaccination rules for the school year is located in the DSHS Immunization Unit.
- Dress Code
Uniform Dress Requirements and Ordering Information for All Students
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- School Uniform Tops (school-issued polo shirts): Monday-Thursday
- Friday Tops: Priority Charter School Spirit or college t-shirt is required.
- Spirit Shirts - Shirts may be purchased at price set by each campus.
- Bottoms (Pants, Skirts, Shorts): Monday-Thursday - All students are required to wear standard approved chino/khaki style bottoms, colors include (Khaki/Tan, Navy Blue or Black); worn at the natural waistline; sagging is not permitted. (zipperless pants & no belt loops are recommended for Pre-K & 2nd.)
- Friday Bottoms: Jeans may be worn (Campuses may charge small fee to wear jeans for fundraising purposes). Jeans may not include writing; cuts; frays; or excessive fading.
- Please visit our Parent and Student Handbook and Code of Conduct to view more details regarding dress code requirements.
- Uniform polo shirts must be purchased from Ibiley Uniforms and More. Please select the link below that associates with your child's campus to order the polo shirt:
- Campuses may use My School Bucks online purchases link for Friday spirit shirts and other optional apparel (i.e. School-approved hoodies). The MSB link is also located on our website under the “Our Parents” tab.
- District Handbooks
- Please visit the school’s website for more information concerning the Parent and Student Handbook and Code of Conduct and other Handbooks and Policies.
- Special Programs
- Priority Charter Schools offers a variety of services to meet the various needs of students. Every child is unique, and discovering how each student learns best is one of the goals of the Special Programs department. Priority Charter Schools utilizes a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to ensure the needs of every student are identified and supported.
- To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
- Services at Priority Charter Schools can be found by clicking here.
- Child Find
- Child Find is a legal requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that mandates schools to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education and related services. This process is essential for ensuring that children with disabilities receive the support and services they need to succeed in school.Priority Charter Schools collaborates with various educational and medical entities across the State of Texas to fulfill this mandate. These partnerships help in the early identification and intervention of children with disabilities, ensuring they receive the appropriate evaluations and services as soon as possible.
- Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
- If you have concerns about a student’s health, cognition, development, progress, achievement, or speech, it is important to discuss these issues with classroom teachers or campus principals. Each campus has a Student Support Team (SST) dedicated to addressing such concerns. The SST committee, which includes parents or guardians, is responsible for:
- Gathering data and input
- Brainstorming solutions
- Testing ideas
- Making strategic plans
- To address your concerns and develop a plan to support the student, please contact your campus administrator to schedule an SST meeting
- If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the Special Programs department. They can provide further assistance and guidance. If it is determined that a full individual evaluation is appropriate, this evaluation will help in making determinations regarding services through special education. Referrals for special education evaluations, including speech therapy, can come from various sources, including parents, guardians, administrators, teachers or students. Click here to learn more about MTSS.
- If you have concerns about a student’s health, cognition, development, progress, achievement, or speech, it is important to discuss these issues with classroom teachers or campus principals. Each campus has a Student Support Team (SST) dedicated to addressing such concerns. The SST committee, which includes parents or guardians, is responsible for:
- Special Education Programs
- Priority Charter Schools supports the learning of students identified with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a federal law that ensures eligible children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) and access to special education and related services. This commitment helps ensure that students with disabilities receive the necessary support and resources to succeed in their educational journey. Services at Priority Charter Schools can be found by clicking here.
Questions: email [email protected]
PRIORITY CHARTER SCHOOLS
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Board Members: Norman Mitchell, Darrell Haden, Donna Haden, Devera Shipp, Jeff Buuck