November 10, 2023
Dear YES Prep families,
November is here and soon the winter break will be too! The student lottery application is still open! Make sure to share about our wonderful schools with your family, friends and neighbors!
We have a month full of schoolwork, events and also fun! This month’s Family Update covers the following topics: Student Lottery, Experience YES School Tours, AP Honor Roll, YES Fest, uniforms, Title I, quarterly family survey, attendance, Teacher Pathway Family Survey, assessments and SATs.
Reminder: 2024-2025 new student lottery application is open!
Apply TODAY for the 2024-2025 school year for all SIBLINGS to receive priority application status and the best chance to get a seat at YES Prep next school year! (Families DO NOT need to apply for CURRENT YES Prep students, they are automatically re-enrolled.)
To apply, visit yesprep.schoolmint.com
Our application system for the 2024-2025 application has moved to SchoolMint ENROLL and will require all families to create a new account to apply for any siblings. If you need help, please email lottery@yesprep.org.
If you know of a family looking for a quality education for their child, please share with them your experience with YES Prep and refer them or invite them to one of our upcoming School Tours!
Experience YES – School Tours are back!
All new and CURRENT families are invited to our Experience YES – School Tours! Tours kicked off today and will run through March. Have a child attending already but will be applying for their sibling to attend? Come find out what our YES Prep schools have in store for them!
2023 Experience YES – School Tours
- Thurs. Nov. 16: Elementary – 1-2 p.m.; Secondary – 2-3 p.m.
- Thurs., Nov. 30: Elementary – 8:45-9:45 a.m.; Secondary – 9-10 a.m.
- Fri., Jan. 12: Elementary – 1-2 p.m.; Secondary: 2-3 p.m.
- Thurs., March 12: Elementary – 8:45-9:45 a.m.; Secondary – 9-10 a.m.
Come explore our classrooms, meet our school team, learn about curriculum and extracurricular offerings and have your questions answered by the principal and our team of experts. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! Click here to RSVP.
Student assessments: Common Assessments and MAP
All secondary YES Prep students will be taking their Common Assessment exams from November 13-16. These exams help provide meaningful data to teachers and students about where students are successful and where they may need additional support. Families will receive information about students’ test scores by December 8. To learn more about Common Assessments and how you can support your child, click here.
The MAP assessment test is a computer-adaptive standardized test that measures a student’s skills in different subjects. It’s designed to measure your child’s progress and growth over time and your child’s teachers understand their academic strengths and weaknesses so they can tailor instructions to meet your child’s learning needs. All kinder through second grade students as well as elementary students receiving Special Education Services and interventions from third through fifth grade will be taking MAP assessment from December 4-19. The following secondary students will be testing December 4-15: grades 6-8 who are enrolled in math and reading intervention and/or enrolled after Sept. 15 and do not have a beginning of year score; grades 6–12 who receive Special Education services or receive Dyslexia services via 504. For more information about MAP testing, click here.
Eleven YES Prep secondary schools on AP Honor Roll
We are proud to announce that eleven YES Prep secondary schools have been recognized by the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll.
The AP School Honor Roll is an annual recognition program that acknowledges schools for their effective Advanced Placement (AP) programs, which not only benefit students but also promote inclusivity. Click here to see which of our campuses made the list.
Join us for YES Fest on Sat., Dec. 2
Join us as we celebrate YES Prep’s 25th Anniversary at YES Fest, on Sat., Dec. 2, 2023, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Rice University Reckling Park!
This event is FREE and open for ALL our current and prospective YES Prep families as well as all our current staff. Get ready for a full day of fun, food and performances and don’t miss out sliding down our SPARKS Snow Hill! We can’t wait to see you there! Learn more about this FREE event and register to attend by visiting yesprep.org/YESFest.
Title I Annual Meetings
Title I meetings are hosted at our schools to ensure families are aware of their rights and responsibilities in the education of their children.
We invite you to be part of the conversation at your school's Title I Annual Meeting. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Title I, how you can get involved and share your perspective with your school leadership. The dates and times of upcoming school Title I meetings can be found on the family engagement page of the district website.
Attention partnership school families: this information does not apply to YES Prep Northbrook Middle and YES Prep Northbrook High.
Teacher Pathway Family Survey – Nov. 13 - Dec. 1
At YES Prep, we believe that the student and family experience is critical to our mission and the work we do.
Each semester, we ask our pre-K through 2nd-grade students and families of students in our YSTEP, SHINE, BASE, GLOW and SOAR programs to provide their feedback on two of their child’s teachers through the Teacher Pathway Family Survey. The survey will open on Nov. 13 and close on Dec. 1. You will receive an email from Panorama Education with the survey link. For more details about the survey, click here. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
Quarterly Family Survey on Dec. 7
Tell us about your experience! The next Family Survey will be sent to your email and phone on Thurs., Dec. 7. The survey will be open until Sun., Dec. 10. It will take less than a minute to complete.
In this survey, you will be asked, "Are you happy with your YES Prep campus?” You will have the opportunity to share your feedback and praise for our campuses. If you do not receive the survey, please reach out to your school’s front office team.
Final SAT Scores available to seniors, next week!
For those seniors who took the SAT on Oct. 26, test scores will be published in most students’ College Board accounts by Nov. 17, at the latest. Seniors, please discuss your scores with your college counselor to see how your score may affect the decisions you are making about college.
For students who received 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 530 on the Math SAT, you also have earned an exemption from the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA). If you did not earn these scores, click here to learn more about the TSIA, a standard test Texas colleges administer to place students in the proper English and math courses.
SAT for juniors is Sat. Dec. 2
Juniors, your first official administration for the SAT will be the week we return from the upcoming holiday, on Sat., Dec. 2. Most students have already registered for the SAT in their Junior Seminar Class. Families, your child has been working through Kaplan Test Prep and doing weekly practice in Kahn Academy as part of Junior Seminar to prepare for the SAT. To learn more about how you can help your junior prepare for the SAT, especially during the fall break, click here.
Uniforms update for next school year
At YES Prep, we continue to see the benefits of students wearing YES Prep uniforms and apparel, including a sense of school pride, improved safety and more convenience for families. Many of you shared in the August family survey that you were satisfied with the return to uniforms at our schools. At our partnership schools, we asked families opinions in October about uniforms.
As you plan for the 2024-2025 school year, uniforms will be available for purchase at YES Prep. Please note that uniform costs will not be covered by YES Prep. More information regarding uniforms for next school year will be communicated in our Family Communications.
With the cold weather approaching, we ask that you check the dress code at your school to ensure your child is following the dress code including outerwear, sweatshirts, hoodies, and jackets.
Turkey and Meal Kit Giveaway
One of the newest YES Prep Public Schools elementary schools is hosting a Turkey and Meal Kit Giveaway for families in need. YES Prep North Rankin Elementary will welcome families on Tuesday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at Rockstar Energy Bike Park, 12257 Kuykendahl Rd. (77067). The giveaway will provide all the ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast, including a turkey, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn and green beans.
Grateful for Your Partnership: Promoting Attendance for Success
As we approach the Fall break (Friday, November 17 – Friday, November 24), we express our gratitude for your unwavering support in promoting a consistent school routine. Please ensure your child's health and send them to school unless genuinely sick. Every school day is crucial for their learning and social connections.
We are immensely grateful to:
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Our dedicated students and families strive to attend class every day.
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Our exceptional teachers for creating a welcoming and nurturing learning environment where students can flourish.
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Our steadfast administrators for fostering a healthy, safe and vibrant learning community.
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Our invaluable support staff for providing the extra care and attention our children require.
Please remember, if your family or your child needs support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s student support counselor for help. For more information on the importance of attendance and the support available, click here. We eagerly await your return from Fall break on Monday, November 27.
As always, thank you for reading this month’s Family Update. Our next Family Update will be on Friday, December 8.
Thank you.