October 24, 2024

Reminder: No school for students November 4-5

As a reminder, Northwest ISD students will not attend school on November 4 and 5. The latter date also marks the fall election day, and we encourage all registered voters to cast ballots. We look forward to the return of students on Wednesday, November 6!

Visit the following links for the complete 2024-2025 calendar and school hours.

College & Career Fair taking place tonight

Get a head start planning for your child's future by visiting NISD's College and Career Fair tonight! Join us at Byron Nelson High School from 6:30 to 8 p.m. where around 150 colleges, military representatives and business/career partners will be in attendance.

New This Year! Students can save time by registering ahead to receive a personal QR code — no more filling out info forms at every table! Just scan your QR code with the college reps, and you’re good to go. View this page for more information.

VATRE designed to retain and recruit high-quality educators, maintain student programs

Continued teacher and staff raises

Each year, the Northwest ISD budgeting process prioritizes retaining and recruiting high-quality educators and staff. For the 2024-2025 school year, several neighboring districts were unable to provide staff raises, leading Northwest ISD to recruit dozens of award-winning teachers.

If approved by voters, VATRE funding would be used to provide competitive compensation for high-quality staff. In recent staff discussions at every Northwest ISD campus, educators cited competitive compensation as a key factor in their decision where to teach.

Maintain student programs

Northwest ISD’s VATRE is designed to maintain both academic and extracurricular program offerings for students. If approved by voters, new revenue generated would be used to sustain these programs. 

School districts across Texas have cut student programs to reduce deficit budgets, eliminating opportunities for learning. In 2018, Northwest ISD eliminated several student programs as a result of lost state funding, such as AVID, which the district has slowly tried to reimplement. With additional funding generated from a VATRE, Northwest ISD would continue to provide current program offerings. Learn more at www.nisdtx.org/vatre. 

Early voting underway now

Early voting is happening now through November 1! Don’t miss your opportunity to cast your ballot. Learn more about the Northwest ISD VATRE and find polling location information at www.nisdtx.org/vatre. Also on the ballot are local, state and national elections.

Names selected for new schools and facility; next class of honorees selected for district Legacy Wall

At their October 21 meeting, Northwest ISD trustees unanimously approved naming the district’s 24th elementary school, eighth middle school and a district facility, recognizing three individuals with strong ties to the district who positively impacted children in the area.

Both new schools will open in August 2026, with Dr. Leigh Anne Romer Elementary School opening in the Madero community, while Floyd Barksdale Middle School will open near Pecan Square in Northlake. Additionally, the former Pike Middle School competition gym will reopen this November as the Dennis McCreary Multipurpose Facility. For more information about the new facilities, read this news article.

Trustees also unanimously approved the Class of 2024 on the district’s Legacy Wall, honoring individuals who have left a positive mark on district students and serving to inspire teachers and staff to do the same.

This year’s inductees include Dr. David Hicks, Nathan Gage Ingram, Don Laird, Shay McDonald and Bear Nelson. To learn more about each nominee, read this news article. An induction ceremony will be held to honor these individuals this school year.

Volunteers needed for NISD's Angel Tree

It's almost time for Angel Tree! If you would like to volunteer to help with Angel Tree, one of NISD's largest annual traditions, please sign up now. There are several dates and times available, and we could not do it without our amazing volunteers!

Each year, Northwest ISD opens its Virtual Angel Tree to help ensure every child has gifts during the holiday season. Adoptions of this year's "angels" will open in the coming days.

Through Angel Tree, community members and organizations can select a child to support by providing gifts. All children, who are listed anonymously on the virtual tree, have a need for assistance this school year. Community members, district partners, businesses, organizations and faith-based entities are welcome to participate.

High School Showcase set for November 12

Northwest ISD invites families interested in learning more about its high schools to the district’s 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 last from 5:30 to 7 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.

Roanoke fourth grader becomes Texas Ranger for a day, creating lifelong memories

James Persson, a Roanoke Elementary School fourth grader, is a true inspiration at just nine years old.

He has faced incredible medical challenges and recently had his ultimate wish granted: to be a Texas Ranger for a day!

Through Make-A-Wish America, he enjoyed a VIP experience, complete with a personalized jersey and a special meeting with players. His journey is a powerful reminder of hope and resilience. Click here to read more about James' experience.

Samiaha Stroud going statewide with her passion to discuss teen mental health

“I feel like mental wellness is something that needs to be talked about more. That’s why I’m so driven and passionate. I feel like if we address mental health, we can address a lot more issues, too.” 

Samiaha Stroud, a senior at Eaton High School, has a passion for bringing teen mental health to the forefront. She is driven to normalize the discussion about mental wellness, and is now taking that discussion to a statewide platform.

Samiaha is one of just nine Texas teens that make up the Texas School Safety Center's inaugural group of Texas School Safety Teen Ambassadors. Click here to read more about Samiaha and her role in fostering a safer school environment.

NISD set to host Pike Middle School official dedication ceremony

The Gene Pike Middle School Panthers are thriving in their new building!

NISD will hold an official dedication ceremony next Monday, October 28 at 6 p.m., but before then you can click here to read all about the the building's namesake and the features of their new building.

Also included in the story are details about next week's ceremony, which is open to the public.

Final beam goes into place at new Prairie View 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 Prairie View Elementary's new replacement campus!

Located in Rhome directly behind the existing school, the new home for the Hawks is scheduled to open in August 2025. 

Alumni Spotlight: Ryann Jones

Ryann Jones graduated from Northwest High School in 2020, where she gained confidence in front of the camera and later was one of the first Black women meteorologists in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Today, she is a meteorologist with the NBC 5 Weather Experts team in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a region her family has called home since her fifth grade year. Ms. Jones attended Hatfield Elementary, Pike Middle School and Northwest High School.

Read more about Ms. Jones, then submit your own nomination for our next Alumni Spotlight!

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 Clara Love Elementary and Northwest High School. Click below to learn how Mario Talavera's first graders are embracing Hispanic heritage, or to see how Marshall Streit's agriculture fabrication students are preparing for the real world.

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!

You could WIN tickets to can't miss

Texas sports events

Attention, Texas sports fans! We're 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 1 for $100 or 6 for $500. The total package is valued at $11,000! Purchase tickets at https://nefgolfraffle.paperform.co/