November 7, 2024

Support a child in need - Angel Tree open now

More than 1,000 students remain on this year’s Virtual Angel Tree, and they need our community’s support! The Angel Tree program allows community members to select an anonymous Northwest ISD student to support this holiday season to ensure they have gifts.

Each year, Northwest ISD opens its Virtual Angel Tree to ensure every child has gifts during the holiday season. Community members can visit angeltree.nisdtx.org to select a student – or multiple students – to provide gifts. A value of $150 in gifts for each angel is suggested. Read here for information about how Angel Tree works.

For those who would like to provide their time as well, volunteers are needed to help receive and sort gifts. To volunteer, sign up on this webpage.

VATRE falls short, district to consider class size changes in 2025-26

Preliminary results indicate voters did not approve Northwest ISD’s Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, which would have increased the maintenance and operations tax rate by 3 cents to maintain class sizes and student programs. As a result, Northwest ISD will begin budgeting for the 2025-2026 school year with plans for class size adjustments matching neighboring school districts.

According to preliminary result projections, a majority of voters cast ballots against the VATRE. With a $15.8 million deficit, district and school leaders will begin analyzing potential adjustments to balance the annual budget beginning in 2025-2026. A successful VATRE would have generated $16 million in new funding. Northwest ISD will now analyze increased class sizes as well as additional operations for further potential changes. Each potential change will be balanced as carefully as possible to maintain the high quality of instructional programs and services that families expect of Northwest ISD. For more information, read this news post.

Northwest Navigators Special Olympics team seeking basketball athletes

The Northwest Navigators Special Olympics team is seeking any eligible students who have an interest in competing in the individual basketball skills competition. If you believe your student may be interested and may be eligible for Special Olympics competition, please complete this form. Practice dates and location can be found on the form.

A student does not have to be receiving special education services from NISD in order to be eligible for Special Olympics but must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate on the Northwest Navigators Special Olympics team:

• Ages 8-21 and enrolled in Northwest ISD
• Be identified as having an intellectual disability, cognitive delay, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction
• For the safety of athletes, coaches, and volunteers, students must be able to remain in their designated area in the gym refraining from elopement or aggression towards peers per Special Olympics code of conduct

If you have any additional questions, please contact the email addresses listed on the interest form.

High School Showcase set for November 12

Northwest ISD invites families interested in learning more about its high schools to the annual High School Showcase on Tuesday, November 12.

Each district high school – Byron Nelson, Eaton, Northwest and Steele Early College – will host its showcase in the evening, when students can learn about academic courses and extracurricular activities. Each showcase will begin at 5:30 p.m. Though the event is primarily aimed at 2025-2026 freshmen, any current Northwest ISD student or guardian is also welcome to attend.

In addition to general information about campus programs and opportunities, school faculty will provide students and families with information for course selection for the coming academic year. Current students involved in academies, extracurricular programs and other unique services will be on hand to share their experiences.

Registration underway for annual Reindeer Romp

Registration is ongoing for Northwest ISD’s 17th annual Reindeer Romp! The event begins with the 1-mile run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, December 14, followed 30 minutes later by the 5K race. Both races take place at Alliance Airport. Register now and select our school to help your P.E. program! All proceeds benefit school P.E. departments. Information and registration is available at www.nisdreindeerromp.com. 

You could WIN tickets to can't miss Texas sports events

Attention, Texas sports fans! The Northwest ISD Education Foundation is bringing you the biggest and BEST raffle of the year with the Ultimate Texas Sports Raffle package! You could win FOUR tickets and a PARKING PASS to each of these can't-miss events:

• Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
• Dallas Cowboys NFL game
• Dallas Stars NHL game
• Texas Rangers MLB game
• 2025 NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway
• 2025 PGA CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch
• 2025 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at AT&T Stadium
• Live Horse Racing at Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie

Tickets are one for $100 or six for $500. The total package is valued at $11,000! Purchase tickets at https://nefgolfraffle.paperform.co/

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown opens this weekend, celebrates 10 years of Eaton Theatre

In January 2016, the Eaton High School theatre program produced its inaugural musical production when Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang hit the stage for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised).

Now, as the program celebrates a decade of musical theatre, it feels only fitting to revisit this beloved story and share it with a fresh, new audience. Through the years, Eaton’s productions have been a testament to the creativity, dedication, and passion of its students, and now they hope this performance continues that tradition. 

The Eagles have four shows scheduled with opening night set for tomorrow, Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m.

Byron Nelson advances in UIL Volleyball Playoffs

The Byron Nelson High School volleyball team is the top ranked team in the nation, and the Bobcats have already advanced past the first round of the UIL Volleyball 6A State Playoffs. The Bobcats defeated Weatherford earlier this week in the Bi-District round in straight sets.

6A Volleyball Area Playoffs

Byron Nelson vs. Frenship

Friday, November 8 at 2:30 p.m.

at Graham High School

Eaton High School also advanced to the playoffs and fell to Mansfield Lake Ridge in the Bi-District round.

Northwest, Byron Nelson set for UIL Football Playoffs

Although one week remains in the regular season, both Northwest and Byron Nelson high schools already know their matchups for the first round of the UIL Football 6A State Playoffs. The Texans and Bobcats will both travel to Crowley ISD Stadium for Bi-District round games next weekend.

6A Football Bi-District Playoffs

Northwest vs. Crowley

Friday, November 15th - 7 p.m.

Crowley ISD Stadium

Byron Nelson vs. North Crowley

Saturday, November 16th - 1 p.m.

Crowley ISD Stadium

Tickets links and stadium information will be available early next week. Visit Northwest ISD on social media to find that information.

Northwest Navigators Special Olympians go bowling

Some of NISD's best and brightest athletes were out in full force last week as the Northwest Navigators took part in the area Special Olympics bowling competition!

More than 40 students traveled to Bowlero in Watauga and competed against fellow athletes from neighboring districts. Thank you to all of the coaches, volunteers and families that came together to help make memories that will last a lifetime!

Final beam goes into place at new Justin Elementary campus

The final structural beam was signed earlier this week by students, staff, construction teams and local officials at the topping out ceremony for Justin Elementary's new replacement campus!

Located in the Timberbrook community, the new home for the Jaguars is scheduled to open in August 2025.

Wellness Ambassadors expanding reach to NISD middle schools

Northwest ISD is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming environment where all students can thrive, and Wellness Ambassadors are student leaders dedicated to supporting this positive culture. 

All four NISD high schools have Wellness Ambassadors who advocate for student needs, guide peers to helpful staff resources and lead initiatives such as kindness campaigns, anti-bullying programs and empowerment activities. 

Wellness Ambassadors offer support and for Red Ribbon Week they brought their message to all seven NISD middle schools.

NISD takes you Inside the Classroom

For the 2024-2025 school year, Northwest ISD has introduced Inside the Classroom, a series that visits NISD campuses throughout the year and highlights the magical moments that happen between teachers and students each and every day across the entire 234 square miles of NISD.

The next two editions of Inside the Classroom featured Curtis Elementary School and Daniel Elementary School. Click below to learn how Ruthie Keyes is introducing a healthy dose of debate into her fifth-grade science lessons, or to see how Kaylee Turner is fostering a love for music with a game of Pass the Pumpkin.

Upcoming editions of Inside the Classroom will feature Curtis Elementary School and Daniel Elementary School, so stay tuned!

NEF Resource Store and Library in need of books

The Northwest ISD Education Foundation’s resource store and library provides support to NISD teachers and students through free resources and educational materials. NISD teachers can “shop” for school and classroom supplies, snack packs, books and more. All items are free to district educators! Already this year, more than 700 teachers shopped the store!

You can help by donating from the store’s online wishlist. Immediate needs include nonfiction elementary level books. You can also help by volunteering in the store! Volunteers help sticker and prep inventory, restock shelves and fulfill online requests from teachers. 

Mobile Food Pantry open November 16

Northwest ISD is partnering with Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Northwest ISD Education Foundation to offer a monthly mobile market to provide groceries and assistance to families in need.

Time: 9 to 11 a.m. - Saturday, November 16

Location: NISD Temporary Administration Building

2001 Texan Drive in Justin

Interested in volunteering at the monthly food markets? Sign up today!

NEF Legends Golf Tournament raises more than $280,000

It was another record-breaking year at the 2024 NEF Legends Golf Tournament presented by Huckabee! Thanks to our generous sponsors and golfers, we raised $280,362 to benefit students and teachers in Northwest ISD!

These dollars fund scholarships for graduating seniors, bring innovation to the classroom through teaching grants and meet immediate needs through the free resource store and library program! Thank you for making this possible!