District News

• A Message from our Superintendent
• Meet Our New Elementary Principal
• You Have a Few More Days to Complete the HRS Survey!
• Lunch Applications for 2026-2027 Will be Accepted Starting July 2nd - ALL Families Please Apply!
• Important July Dates for Elementary

Leadership Message

• Helpful Hints from our New CAO
• A Message From the Board

Holidays & Closures

• Have a Wonderful Summer!

Campus-Wide Events & Fundraising

• Support Those Who Support Our School
• Spirit Store

District News

A Message from our Superintendent

As we close the 2025–2026 school year, I find myself reflecting with immense gratitude on the incredible journey we have shared together as the NYOS community.

This year has been filled with milestones, achievements, growth, and moments that remind us why NYOS is such a special place. We have so much to celebrate together.

Most importantly, we proudly celebrate the accomplishments of our students and graduates this spring. From our youngest Pre-K students celebrating their very first graduation milestones, to our 5th-grade students completing their elementary years and preparing for middle school, to our seniors walking across the stage as members of the Class of 2026, each student represents the heart, resilience, and promise of NYOS. We are incredibly proud of your hard work, perseverance, and the bright futures ahead of you.

To our families, thank you for your partnership and support. To our students, thank you for inspiring us daily with your creativity, kindness, and determination. To our teachers and staff, thank you for the dedication and care you bring to our community each and every day. And to our Board of Directors and community partners, thank you for your leadership and steadfast commitment to the mission of NYOS.

As many of you know, this school year also marks my final year serving as Superintendent of NYOS. After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire and will not be returning for the 2026–2027 school year.

While it is bittersweet to step away, I do so with a full heart and tremendous confidence in the future of NYOS. Serving this school and community has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I will forever cherish the relationships, memories, and shared accomplishments we have experienced together.

NYOS is more than a school — it is a community grounded in connection, support, and a shared commitment to helping every student succeed. I have no doubt that the future of NYOS will continue to be bright because of the incredible people who make this community so special.

I wish each of you a joyful, restful, and safe summer. While my time as Superintendent comes to an end, I will always carry NYOS in my heart and look forward to seeing this community continue to thrive.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr. Mechiel Rozas

Meet Our New Elementary Principal

Please join us in welcoming Donida Garcia as the new Elementary Principal at NYOS Charter School.

Ms. Garcia is honored and excited to return to NYOS, a school that has been a meaningful part of her professional journey for many years. She has previously served the NYOS community as a teacher, mentor, curriculum leader, and member of the school board — experiences that have strengthened her commitment to student success and the collaborative work of the school community.

Her background includes educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and building strong, student-centered learning environments. She is passionate about supporting academic excellence and fostering a positive school culture where students feel challenged, supported, and inspired to grow.

She is excited for the year ahead and grateful to continue serving the NYOS community in this new role. She will officially join us on June 2, 2026. 

You Have a Few More Days to Complete the HRS Survey!

Thank you for an incredible school year with only a month left! As we look back on our progress with High Reliability Schools (HRS), we want to hear from you. Your honest feedback helps us celebrate our successes and identify areas where we can continue to improve. More information is available on our website here.

Please take some time to complete our Parent/Guardian Survey. Your responses will help shape our goals and plans for the next school year.

We appreciate your continued support and wish you a safe and restful summer!

Lunch Applications for 2026-2027 Will be Accepted Starting July 2nd - ALL Families Please Apply!

Important JULY Dates for Elementary

Add these dates to your personal calendar or your phone to make sure you don't miss anything!

Leadership Message

Helpful Hints From Our New CAO

Dear NYOS Families,

My name is Misti Morgan, and I am NYOS's Chief Academic Officer — the person responsible for ensuring our students experience joyful and rigorous learning every day, and that our teachers and leaders feel supported and equipped to deliver academic excellence. I bring to this work years of experience as a Texas classroom teacher, high school principal, and network-level academic leader in the Texas charter space.

I was fortunate enough to start in my role this week and have already had the pleasure of meeting many of our wonderful students — I can't wait to meet each of you as I continue to settle in.

As summer break begins tomorrow, we want to send every student off with the same spirit that defines our school every day: curiosity, community, and a love of learning that doesn’t stop at the door. Here are some ways to make the most of the time: 

Keep Reading!

Students don’t need an assigned list to be a reader. Head to the library, browse a bookstore, or dig into something your child has been curious about all year. The goal is simply this: read something, every day, for pleasure. It can be a graphic novel, a biography, a field guide to local birds — anything that keeps eyes on pages and imagination engaged.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (Grades 1–6) — Students read a set number of books of their choosing, record their favorite part of each in a Reading Journal, then bring the completed journal to any Barnes & Noble location to claim a free book. Journals are redeemable in July and August. More information can be found at: https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our-stores-communities/summer-reading-program/. 

Austin Public Library’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge — “Unearth a Story™” runs June 6 through August 8. Students who read 20+ minutes per day (or log a total of 600 minutes) and complete 3 activity badges earn a free book. It’s free, it’s fun, and it rewards the habit of reading. Sign up and track progress at library.austintexas.gov/beanstack, or pick up a printed challenge log at any Austin Public Library branch.

Other local library and reading programs:

• Wells Branch Community Library (15001 Wells Port Drive, Austin) — summer programming, events, and prizes through August 10: wblibrary.org/summer-reading
• BookPeople’s 5 Book Dive — read any five books of your choosing, log them on a bookmark, and bring it in for a $5 BookPeople gift certificate. No required titles, no assignments — just reading for the love of it.
• Cedar Park, Round Rock & Pflugerville Public Libraries — all running summer reading challenges with prizes and events. Check your nearest branch.

Keep Problem Solving!

Math muscles weaken over the summer just like any other. The good news: math enrichment doesn’t have to mean worksheets or extended screen time. Try cooking a recipe and scaling it up or down, calculating the best deal at the grocery store, measuring for a garden project, or working through a puzzle together.

For a more structured practice option:

• Figure This! Math Challenges for Families — real-life word problems designed for families to work through together, no technology needed: figurethis.nctm.org

Beyond Academics: Cultivating the Whole Student

NYOS is built on the belief that we educate the whole student — nurturing thinking, personal character, and civic engagement, not just test scores. Summer is a rare gift of unstructured time. Use some of it for:

• Journaling — write about the summer, invent a story, draw, and caption what you see
• A family nature challenge — identify 10 local plants, birds, or insects using a field guide from the library
• Community service — volunteer at a food pantry, help a neighbor, or participate in a neighborhood cleanup
• A creative project — build something, cook something new, learn a few chords on an instrument, try origami
• Family conversations about current events — read the newspaper together and talk about what you notice in the world

See You in July!

We are so proud of what every NYOS student accomplished this year, and we cannot wait to welcome you back. Keep reading, keep questioning, and enjoy every moment of this summer.

With appreciation,

Misti M. Morgan

Chief Academic Officer, NYOS Charter School

A Message From the Board

Dear NYOS Community,

As the NYOS Board of Directors begins the search for the next Executive Director/Superintendent, we are seeking input from our community to help inform the leadership profile and priorities for the role.

NYOS is fortunate to build on a strong foundation, and the Board is committed to a transparent leadership transition process. Your feedback will help us better understand the qualities, experiences, and leadership characteristics that matter most to our stakeholders as we move through the search process and determine the best fit for NYOS’s future.

We invite you to complete the short survey linked below. The survey should take approximately 5–8 minutes to complete.

[Survey Link]

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and continued support of NYOS.

Sincerely,

NYOS Board of Directors

Holidays & Closures

Have a Wonderful Summer!

As we wrap up another incredible school year, we want to thank all of our NYOS families for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership. This year was filled with memorable events, student achievements, academic growth, performances, competitions, celebrations, and countless moments that showcased the strength of our community.

A special thank you goes to our volunteers, staff, teachers, donors, and supporters who generously gave their time and energy throughout the year. Your involvement helps make NYOS such a special place for our students.

We are proud of everything our students accomplished this year and grateful to have shared these experiences with all of you. We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer break, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another amazing school year ahead!

Enjoy your summer!

Blanca Martinez

Community Outreach Specialist

Campus-Wide Events & Fundraising

Support Those Who Support our School

We are incredibly grateful for the amazing community that surrounds and uplifts our school—and today, we’d like to spotlight three of our outstanding sponsors who went above and beyond in supporting our students this 25-26 school year.

These local professionals are not only leaders in their fields, but also generous partners who invest in our school community. Their contributions help make events like JagFest, student programs, and campus initiatives possible.

We encourage our families to keep these valued sponsors in mind when you are in need of their services:

• Parmer Dental
• Akinc Law Office
• Luv Braces

All are conveniently located right here in Austin and have shown a true commitment to our students and school.

When you choose to support the businesses that support us, you help strengthen the partnerships that make our community so special. Thank you for continuing to lift up those who give so much to our school!

Together, we make a difference.

The NYOS Year-End Sale has been extended and now the savings are even BIGGER! Use code BADGER26 at checkout for up to 30% off already slashed prices! This offer won't last long! Order Now!

For a complete list of all of our departments and contact names please go to our website by clicking this link.

Disclaimer: In order to protect the privacy of our students or any bystanders, we purposely use small picture sizes for some of our group pictures.