| Katy ISD Encouraging Families to Apply for National School Lunch Program | Katy ISD Encouraging Families to Apply for National School Lunch Program | 2021-09-15T14:27:33Z | <div class="ExternalClassC93452D1CC014F13A50567D7F2EBE659"><p>Thousands of Katy ISD families are still eligible for free and reduced price benefits including discounted exam and course fees and reduced internet service costs. Those families who have not submitted their annual National School Lunch Program application are missing out on these and other benefits! <br></p><p>“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently providing free meals to all public school students because of the ongoing pandemic, though approximately 11,000 students who have not already submitted their meal application, are still eligible for a number of school related benefits," said Donna Pittenger, Executive Director of Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Service. “These include reduced SAT/ACT exam registration fees, discounts on home internet service, as well as discounted Katy ISD fine arts and athletic fees," added Pittenger.</p><p>Meal benefits applications for the 2021-2022 school year are available on the <a href="https://www.schoolcafe.com/katyisd" target="_blank">Katy ISD School Cafe</a>. Families must submit a new meal benefits application each year, and only one application is required per household. The application should be completed by September 30 to take full advantage of all of the benefits.</p><p>For additional information about meal benefits, visit the <a href="https://katyisdfoodservices.com/" target="_blank">Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Service website</a>. <br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Continues Legacy Parent Academy Forums with Topics That Impact Students | Katy ISD Continues Legacy Parent Academy Forums with Topics That Impact Students | 2021-09-02T23:53:00Z | <div class="ExternalClassBAA4C287542D4790BE68DB2A8E937CDC"><p><br></p><p><img src="/parents/PublishingImages/Legacy%20Parent%20Academy%20on%20White.png" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:183px;" /><br><br></p><p>Since its inception in September 2018, the Katy Independent School District Legacy Parent Academy has equipped parents with the information and tools needed to provide additional support to their child(ren) related to topics that are currently impacting them. Informational sessions for the 2021-22 school year will include the following topics:<br></p><p> </p><table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.3333%;">Date</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.3333%;">Session</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:33.3333%;">Location/Time</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">September 22, 2021</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">The Ugly Truth About Vaping*</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Legacy Stadium<br> 6 – 7 p.m.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">October 20, 2021</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Being an Upstander Against Bullying</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Legacy Stadium & Cinco Ranch High School<br> 6 – 7 p.m.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">November 10, 2021</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Human Trafficking Awareness*</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Legacy Stadium<br> 6 – 7 p.m.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">January 19, 2022</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Finding Balance in Our Digital World</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Legacy Stadium & Cinco Ranch High School<br> 6 – 7 p.m.</td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default">February 16, 2022</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default">Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety</td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p>Legacy Stadium & Cinco Ranch High School</p><p>6 – 7 p.m.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align:center;"><em>*The Ugly Truth About Vaping and Human Trafficking Awareness will be live-streamed and recorded. All sessions will be posted in English and Spanish on the Legacy Parent A</em><em>cademy webpage following each event.</em></p><p>“Legacy Parent Academy sessions are designed to focus on issues pertaining to the health and safety and emotional well-being of all learners," said Edie White, Coordinator for School Leadership and Support. “Topics are selected based on the needs expressed by parents and in response to concerns the District sees on campuses and the community," added White. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Katy ISD looks forward to working with local media partners to promote and cover these sessions, which can be found on the district's <a href="http://www.katyisd.org/parents/Pages/Legacy-Parent-Academy.aspx">Legacy Parent Academy website</a>. The first session “The Ugly Truth About Vaping" is on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Legacy Stadium. </p><p> </p><p><br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Announces New Location for Free COVID-19 Testing Center | Katy ISD Announces New Location for Free COVID-19 Testing Center | 2021-08-30T19:24:51Z | <div class="ExternalClassB85D3DD2CB9344788909D329F8FD27DD"><div class="ExternalClass32A5630CF81B450EA6B5516A88D67E10" style="text-align:left;"><p><span>As part of Katy Independent School District's proactive approach to mitigating the spread of COVID-19, beginning Monday, August 30, the District will transition its FREE rapid COVID-19 Testing Center to the Gary A. Voss Project Center located within the Agricultural Sciences Facility. The testing center's address is:</span><br></p><p>Gary A. Vos Project Center</p><p>5801 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road</p><p>Katy, TX 77493</p><p>Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.</p><p>The FREE rapid COVID-19 test is for all enrolled Katy ISD students, as well as district employees and their dependents who are enrolled under the Katy ISD healthcare plan. The free test is in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) COVID-19 Testing Project. <br></p><p>“The process is quick and simple and both students and staff will receive their results within a matter of minutes," added Lance Nauman, Director of Katy ISD Risk Management.<br></p><p>Parental/Guardian permission, as well as a reservation, is required for all students who are below 18 years of age. Permission slips will be available at the testing site and reservations should be made through the following link: <a href="https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/73375d80fa1caefc06-week" target="_blank">https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/73375d80fa1caefc06-week</a><br></p><p>Additional questions related to this program can be submitted to <a href="mailto:COVID19Responses@katyisd.org">COVID19Responses@katyisd.org</a>. </p><p style="text-align:center;"># # #<br></p><p><br></p></div></div> |
| Katy ISD Tops Forbes 2021 List of Best Texas Employers | Katy ISD Tops Forbes 2021 List of Best Texas Employers | 2021-08-27T20:45:47Z | <div class="ExternalClassE2246C03C8B040FB801EF499DA701CFC"><p><span style="text-align:justify;">Katy Independent School District has once again earned a spot in the </span><em style="text-align:justify;">Forbes List of Best Employers</em><span style="text-align:justify;"> in the state of Texas, coming in at #8. Not surprisingly, Katy ISD was also the only school district in Texas to make the Top 10 list of employers along with renowned organizations such as NASA, Dell Technologies and Southwest Airlines, to name a few. </span><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">“From our teachers, administrators, operations and support staff, every member of the Katy ISD family strives daily to provide supportive and unparalleled learning experiences to the more than 87,000 students we serve," said Dr. Ken Gregorski, Superintendent of Schools. “They are the best staff I have ever had the privilege to work alongside. It is our employees that truly makes Katy ISD such a special place," added Gregorski.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-align:left;">Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to develop its third annual list of </span><em style="text-align:left;">America's Best Employers by State</em><span style="text-align:left;">. The list is divided into 51 rankings – one for each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia – and was compiled by surveying 80,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees. Surveys were conducted from October 2020 to June 2021 and were anonymous, allowing participants to freely share their opinions. </span></p><p>This is the third consecutive year that Katy ISD has made the list. To read the full Forbes article visit <a href="https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-by-state/#3503e3e1487a"><em>America's</em> <em>Best Employers by State for 2021</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Teacher School Supply "Wishes" Become a Reality | Katy ISD Teacher School Supply "Wishes" Become a Reality | 2021-08-31T14:42:59Z | <div class="ExternalClass9EB0A7599B0740CDA41BDF58BA2FD943"><p><span style="text-align:justify;">Katy Independent School District has once again partnered with Amazon to help teachers purchase some of those additional items they “wish" they could have to enhance their classroom experiences. The District is providing its teachers up to $200 each to spend through a district-funded account </span><span style="text-align:justify;">for consumable classroom supply purchases such as pens, color pencils, paper and small student incentives. </span><span style="text-align:justify;">This is in addition to the instructional supplies and materials already provided through Katy ISD campus budgets. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">“These funds are intended to assist teachers with purchasing those few extra items they would love to have in their classrooms that may further supplement a learning experience they have planned for their students," said Dr. Ken Gregorski, Superintendent of Schools. “Our educators have always gone above and beyond for our learners, especially during these past 18 months. We hope they will enjoy this opportunity to purchase some additional items for their classrooms," added Gregorski. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Katy Instructional Teacher Supply Budget (KITSB) is separate from campus budgets and does not affect Katy ISD's overall instructional material and supply budget. Beginning next week, teachers will be able to log into Amazon to select the items they wish to purchase. It is the expectation this initiative will help with personal out-of-pocket expenses incurred by some teachers. <br></p><p><br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Continues Curbside Grab and Go Meals for all Students Enrolled in Virtual Instruction | Katy ISD Continues Curbside Grab and Go Meals for all Students Enrolled in Virtual Instruction | 2021-08-24T00:06:39Z | <div class="ExternalClass355113DCE35247CF908AF8F184133C08"><p>K<span style="text-align:justify;">aty Independent School District will continue to offer curbside Grab and Go meal students to students who have opted for virtual instruction through the Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) Grades K-6 program. Beginning tomorrow August 24, the meal sites will </span><span style="text-align:justify;text-decoration-line:underline;">only</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> operate on Tuesdays and will provide breakfast and lunch meals for the entire week of instruction. Distribution sites include:</span></p><table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default"><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:50%;"><strong>School Name</strong></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="width:50%;"><strong>Hours of Operations</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p style="text-align:justify;">Morton Ranch High School</p><p style="text-align:justify;">21000 Franz Road</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Katy, TX 77449</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Tuesdays Only</p><p style="text-align:center;">4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.</p></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default"><p style="text-align:justify;">Cinco Ranch High School</p><p style="text-align:justify;">23440 Cinco Ranch Boulevard</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Katy, TX 77494</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align:justify;"> <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">“The grab and go breakfast and lunch meals are ready to heat and eat at home," said Donna Pittenger, Executive Director of Nutrition & Food Services. “There is no cost to children 18 and under who are enrolled in KVA. Students who eat meals at school are not eligible for meals at the Grab and Go locations," added Pittenger.</p><p>Identification for each child such as an ID, report card or birth certificate must be presented before receiving the meal.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"> <br></p><p><br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Board of Trustees Approves Virtual Learning for Grades K-6 | Katy ISD Board of Trustees Approves Virtual Learning for Grades K-6 | 2021-08-11T01:13:19Z | <div class="ExternalClassE7C12480870F403E89B53A4980B1EF0D"><p>During tonight’s Katy Independent School District Special Board Meeting Trustees approved a <strong>Katy Virtual Academy (KVA) online learning program</strong> for students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade. Parents can begin the online application process tomorrow, August 11 at 10 a.m. and must apply by midnight on Tuesday, August 17 to enroll in this virtual instructional model. Online instruction through KVA Grades K-6 will officially begin on Monday, August 30 and extend through Friday, October 15, 2021. <br></p><p>The KVA Grades K-6 program is being made available for parents of those students who may wish to immunize their child against COVID but do not currently have the option to do so due to minimum age requirements tied to the current iteration of the vaccine. <br></p><p>Additional information regarding this instructional model can be found on the Katy Virtual Academy K-6 webpage that will open tomorrow, August 11 at 10 a.m. <br></p><p><strong>Additional items approved during the Katy ISD August Special Board Meeting include:</strong></p><p>• <strong>COVID-19 Paid Leave for Employees</strong> – The Board approved 10 additional days of paid leave for employees who are documented COVID-19 positive and require mandatory quarantining. These days are in addition to employees’ existing leave bank.</p><p>• <strong>Employee and Student COVID-19 Testing Site</strong> – The Board approved expanding the employee testing site to include Katy ISD students.</p><p>• <strong>Intermittent School to Home Learning Mode</strong>l - The Board approved providing students who are required to isolate due to COVID-19, or any other medical condition, a learning option where they can access their assignments through the Katy ISD Learning Management System (Canvas) to stay current on classroom assignments. Intermittent School to Home is not a virtual program, such as KVA, and students cannot exceed a total of 20 cumulative days.<br></p><p><br><br></p><p><br></p></div> |
| Katy ISD Launches Pay N' Go Tix | Katy ISD Launches Pay N' Go Tix | 2021-08-06T20:58:43Z | <div class="ExternalClass6570BC5734E04EE4B577567B718FF5AC"><p style="text-align:center;"><span><img src="/PublishingImages/PayNGoTix%20fb.png" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:400px;height:215px;" /><br></span></p><p><span style="text-align:justify;">There's now an easy way to purchase Katy Independent School District tickets for select athletic events! It's called </span><em style="text-align:justify;">Pay N' Go Tix</em><span style="text-align:justify;">. This new purchasing option provides a convenient way to buy electronic tickets online and in advance of Katy ISD events. Spectators have two options when purchasing passes to their favorite events:</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span></p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Website</strong></span>: Visit <a href="http://www.katyisd.org/">www.katyisd.org</a>. Click the <em>A+ Pay N' Go</em> icon on the upper right-hand corner of the website. Select the <em>Pay N' Go Tix</em> logo. Choose your event category, the event and then click “Book Now".</li><li><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>QR Code:</strong></span> Scan a QR code found across district campuses and displayed on facility signage located near the event entrance.</li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;">At this time, only junior high and high school athletic events, with the exception of varsity football, will be available for purchase via <em>Pay N' Go Tix</em>. Fine Arts will be integrated into the system in spring 2022, while it is anticipated that varsity football tickets will be available in the system by the summer semester. Varsity football and fine arts will continue to utilize their existing ticketing sales platforms until they are transitioned to <em>Pay N' Go Tix.</em></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Athletic tickets will no longer be sold at events and must be purchased online with a credit card. Save time and secure your game day and event tickets through <em>Pay N' Go Tix</em>! </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Video for Publications: <a href="https://youtu.be/H6W-QsOttyc"><em>Pay N' Go Tix</em> Video</a><br></p><p><br></p></div> |