Dear Fort Bend ISD parents, staff and community members,
My first week at Fort Bend ISD is now in the books! It has been an incredibly eventful and rewarding experience. I have had the pleasure of meeting many dedicated and passionate individuals who make up our district’s community. Here are some brief highlights of my week and what’s to come:
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Commonwealth named No. 1 elementary school in Texas, several FBISD schools make regional list
The nonprofit Children at Risk ranked Fort Bend ISD’s Commonwealth Elementary School the No. 1 school in Texas and the region for the 2022-2023 academic school year.
The organization’s No. 1 middle school is William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted, and the No. 1 high school is School for the Gifted and Talented - both in Dallas ISD.
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Elkins High School art students create portraits as keepsakes for underprivileged children in South America
Elkins High School art students created heartfelt portraits as special keepsakes for underprivileged children in Colombia. The FBISD students partnered with Memory Project, a non-profit that connects youth around the world through art to build cultural understanding and spread international kindness.
Memory Project provided Elkins’ students with a picture of each child, their name and a list of their favorite things and hobbies. The high schoolers then used those elements to draw personalized portraits for 30 children ranging from 3-5 years old.
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Two Fort Bend ISD schools receive Freedom Shrine displays from Exchange Club of Sugar Land
Fleming and Patterson elementary schools recently held dedication ceremonies to commemorate new Freedom Shrine displays, commissioned and donated by the Exchange Club of Sugar Land.
The Freedom Shrine is an educational display and collection of the most important and historic American documents, including the Declaration of Independence, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the Constitution of the United States and the Gettysburg Address. It originated from the Freedom Train that toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of documents of liberty.
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Instructional calendar for 2024-25 approved by Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees
The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved the 2024-25 instructional calendar at its Regular Business Meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024. In adding an additional five minutes to the school day, start and end times required small adjustments. Projected start times for 2024-25 are shown below.
- Elementary School will start at 8 a.m. and end at 3:20 p.m. (Teachers 7:50 - 3:50)
- Middle School will start at 8:50 a.m. and end at 4:10 p.m. (Teachers 8:20 – 4:20)
- High School will start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. (Teachers 7:10 - 3:10)
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Reminder: Concessions now cashless at all district athletic facilities |
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As of January 1, 2024, cash is no longer be accepted at food concession stands at Fort Bend ISD district athletic facilities. These facilities are: Mercer Stadium; Wheeler Field House; Hall Stadium; Hopson Field House; Don Cook Natatorium and the Aquatic Practice Facility.
Patrons can use mobile wallets or “tap to pay” capability, including Apple Pay or Google Wallet, and all major credit cards, except American Express.
We understand this may be an inconvenience for some of our guests and visitors, but the district has taken this decision in order to prioritize staff safety.
The district also considered patterns and changes that have already taken place at athletic events. FBISD began accepting credit card payments two years ago, and since then, the vast majority of concession purchases have been made without cash. The district’s Athletics Department also now sells tickets online.
The district has made this transition in advance of next year’s football season which is the peak time for concession sales. This way, the new cashless system can be fully tested and refined as needed.
Please note: payment methods for concessions sold at middle and high schools during athletic events on campus will remain unchanged. Only events held at the district athletic facilities listed above will be affected by the change to cashless purchases. Be sure to confirm with the individual campus or athletic department to see how to purchase items for campus-based athletic events.
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FBISD's Small Business Enterprise Program to host a "Meet the Buyer" event on January 31
Fort Bend ISD’s Small Business Enterprise Program will host a “Meet the Buyer – Purchasing Forum” on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at the James Reese Career and Technical Center (12300 University Blvd., Sugar Land 77479). The event is open to all vendors interested in working with the district.
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FBISD Extended Learning Department to host job fair on February 1
The Fort Bend ISD Extended Learning Department is hosting a job fair to hire Group Leaders Thursday, Feb. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Extended Learning Department, located at 550 Julie Rivers Drive, Suite 200, Sugar Land, 77478.
Group Leaders work as members of the Extended Learning team to provide a safe environment for school-age students before and after school, while engaging them in developmentally appropriate activities.
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Fort Bend ISD to hold February 10 networking event for nursing, library services and special education positions
Fort Bend ISD is inviting candidates to learn more about opportunities available in nursing, library services and special education by attending a networking event scheduled for February 10, 2024. “Fall in Love with FBISD” will be held at 9:00 a.m. at the James Reese Career and Technical Center (12300 University Blvd, Sugar Land, 77479).
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Whole Child Health Initiative presents "Study Habits and Test Anxiety" on February 21
Parents and caregivers will be equipped with research-based strategies and tools to help students better prepare for school, state and national assessments. Information will also be shared about test anxiety symptoms, district and campus-based support systems to address it, and best practices regarding how to lower and minimize anxiety.
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FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS: SchooLinks has replaced Naviance
SchooLinks is the district's new college readiness platform, designed to help students discover their interests and strength, explore colleges and careers, order transcripts, find and apply for scholarships, and request letters of recommendations.
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Income-eligible families may receive $30 off monthly internet bills, $100 off laptop purchases
The federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program is currently providing income-eligible families with $30 discounts on their monthly internet bills and a one-time $100 discount on the price of laptops and tablets.
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Families encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price school meals for 2023-24
Families can apply for free and reduced-price meals throughout the school year.
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FBISD Board of Trustees Upcoming Meetings |
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The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees will host an upcoming meeting on:
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February 5 - Agenda Review Workshop, 6 p.m.
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February 26 - Public Hearing: Texas Academic Performance Report, 5 p.m.
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February 26 - Regular Business Meeting, 6 p.m.
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Fort Bend Education Foundation Announcements |
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