|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TSD Governing Board Meeting
8/15/2025, 9 AM – 10 AM
AWC Board Room
Texas School for the Deaf
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HS/CTE Galloping Rangers Newsletter
Welcome Back from Principal Hummel
Dear High School Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,
As summer winds down and we prepare for another exciting school year, I’m thrilled to welcome everyone back to campus for the 2025–2026 school year! I’m especially honored to share that I will now be serving in a broader role as Secondary Principal, supporting both our Middle School and High School programs under one unified vision.
This transition marks a major step forward as we continue to align our efforts across grades 6–12, expanding opportunities for students while maintaining the strong community and relationships that make TSD such a special place. You’ll begin to see the benefits of this shift in our programming, including the introduction of Academies that provide more targeted learning pathways for high school students and greater continuity from middle to high school.
This edition of our newsletter includes important updates to help everyone get off to a strong start:
📦 School Supply Lists – Find what your student needs to be ready on day one.
🗓️ Grading Periods – Stay informed with all quarterly progress reports and report card dates.
📩 Join Our District Advisory Committee – Parents, we’d love your voice at the table!
🤝 School–Parent–Student Compact – A shared commitment to student success.
🎒 New Student & Family Orientation – Helping new families feel welcome and prepared.
📣 Important Upcoming Events – From Homecoming to national competitions, there’s much to celebrate.
🔁 High School & CTE Merger into a Unified Secondary Program – Read more about what this means for your student and the exciting updates ahead.
This year is about building bridges—between grade levels, families and faculty, and students and opportunity. We want you to know we are committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and academically rich environment where every student can thrive.
Let’s make it a strong start and an even stronger year—together.
Warm regards,
Karlin Hummel
Secondary Principal
Texas School for the Deaf
|
|
|
|
|
|
School - Parent - Student Compact
Our Commitment to Partnership: School–Parent–Student Compact
At the heart of a successful school year is a strong and supportive partnership among students, families, and educators. Each year, we renew this commitment through our School–Parent–Student Compact, which clearly outlines the shared responsibilities we all hold to ensure every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.
The compact highlights key expectations in areas such as attendance, academic progress, homework, and communication, emphasizing how we work together to support student success both in and out of school.
We encourage all families to review the compact together and keep it as a reference throughout the year. When we’re aligned in our expectations and working as a team, our students benefit the most.
Read More...
|
|
|
📚 Bold & Future-Focused: Launching Our New High School Schedule & Academies
As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, we’re excited to introduce a new 8-period, year-long schedule designed to support the launch of our four new High School Academies: Trades, STEM, Humanities, and Digital Media. This updated structure reflects feedback from students, families, and staff, and will offer more focused learning through 45-minute daily classes Monday–Thursday, with longer rotating classes on Fridays. The new schedule supports academic growth, hands-on career exploration, expanded access to tutoring, and transition planning. We’re confident this shift will provide students with a more engaging, supportive, and future-ready high school experience.
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
⏰ New Bell Schedule for Grades 9–12
We’re excited to launch a new bell schedule for our High School students this year as part of the Secondary Program alignment. Our bell schedule will follow a consistent structure, featuring 45-minute instructional periods, designed to support focused learning, smooth transitions, and balanced pacing throughout the day. We will "double block or triple block" specific periods together to create more extended learning periods for classes that require lab or hands-on learning, which helps support our students' transition into their career fields within the academies they are in.
This updated schedule enables greater consistency across courses and fosters a structured, student-centered learning environment.
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
📵 Texas House Bill 1481: Temporary Phone-Free School Day
As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, we would like to inform families about a new Texas law—House Bill 1481—which restricts the use of personal communication devices by students during school hours. This law, effective August 4, 2025, applies to all public and charter schools and includes cell phones, smartwatches, and other devices capable of telecommunication.
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
TSD iPad Program – Action Required
All students in grades 9–12 at TSD participate in our iPad Program, supporting interactive, tech-based learning in every classroom. Each student receives an iPad, charger, and case—valued at approximately $450—for use during their enrollment. Families must review and sign the iPad Agreement Form and pay a $50 annual insurance fee (non-refundable) to cover accidental damage and theft. Students who had iPads last year must ensure missing items (e.g., charger or case lid) are replaced before school begins. iPads can be taken home once expectations have been reviewed and insurance is paid. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
✏️ 2025–2026 School Supply List
Be prepared for a strong start! All students are expected to bring their basic supplies on the first day of school, including notebooks, pencils, binders, and other necessary items. Students should also contribute shared items like copy paper, tissues, and cleaning wipes, which help support a clean and well-equipped learning environment. **CLARIFICATION: WHILE THE FLYER SAYS REQUIRED- THIS IS OPTIONAL**
If your child is enrolled in PE or course-specific classes, there are a few additional supplies or fees required. Details are listed on the complete supply list, available in both English and Spanish, attached below.
Let’s make sure every student is ready to learn from day one!
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
New Student and Family Orientation
We’re excited to welcome all new students and their families to our campus community! Our New Student & Family Orientation is designed to help new incoming students and their families who have never been to TSD become familiar and comfortable with school routines, meet specific staff, tour the campus, and learn about expectations before the first day of classes.
If you're new to the TSD community as a whole, this is a great opportunity to get connected and ask questions. We look forward to meeting you and starting the year strong—together!
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
🗣️ Join Our District Advisory Committee – Your Voice Matters!
We are currently seeking parent volunteers to serve on our District Advisory Committee (DAC)—a vital team that helps shape the future of education at TSD. As a DAC member, you'll have the opportunity to provide input on:
Educational programs and curriculum
Campus and district improvement plans
Performance data and accountability
Budget priorities and resource allocation
Student Code of Conduct and school policies
Professional development for staff
By joining, you’ll play a key role in ensuring our district remains responsive, inclusive, and strategically focused on student success. Whether you're passionate about instruction, school culture, or big-picture planning, your voice can help guide the work we do every day.
📩 Interested? Please reach out to [email protected]
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
🎉 Mark Your Calendars: Homecoming, Spikeout & National Deaf XC – All in One!
Get ready for a historic Homecoming weekend at Texas School for the Deaf on October 4th! This year, we’re not just celebrating football and school spirit—we’re also hosting two major national events:
🏐 High School Spikeout Volleyball Tournament
🏃 National Deaf Cross Country Championship
It’s a trifecta of TSD pride and national competition, and our campus will be buzzing as deaf schools from across the country come together for an unforgettable weekend of athletics, connection, and celebration.
Chances are, your child is already talking about it—so be sure to join the fun, support our students, and help us show what makes TSD such a vibrant, welcoming community!
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
Lone Star: Spring 2025
The Lone Star, Journal of the Texas School for the Deaf • In this issue: Hollywood Visits TSD During SXSW • TSD's Spring Festival • TSD Students Explore Peru • ACCESS Students Explore DC • TSD Class of 2025 • Nyle DiMarco's Full-Circle Return to TSD and so much more
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
📊 Secondary Grading Periods (Grades 9–12)
As part of our unified Secondary Program, students in grades 9–12 will follow a consistent grading calendar that includes two progress reports and one final report card each quarter. These checkpoints are designed to keep students, families, and teachers informed and aligned on academic progress throughout the year.
We encourage families to regularly check PowerSchool, review grading updates with their student, and reach out to teachers with any questions. Staying engaged with each grading period is a key part of supporting academic success!
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
|
