Dear Santa Rita Families,

Please enjoy this Back 2 School A-Z message with SRMS specific information to get our school year started off on a positive note. LHISD also has a Back to School 2024-2025 website that has a wealth of information. Please let me know if you need anything. I can be reached at nhagerty@libertyhill.txed.net or 512-379-3381. GO STALLIONS!

Nicole Hagerty

Principal

2024-2025 LHISD Academic Calendar

The Santa Rita Middle School Admin/Counselor Team is here to support our students and look forward to a wonderful school year!

Administration 

Nicole Hagerty, Principal - nhagerty@libertyhill.txed.net

Michael Wuensch, Assistant Principal (6th Grade, 7th Grade L - Z) - mwuensch@libertyhill.txed.net

Tara Hornecker, Assistant Principal (8th Grade, 7th Grade A - K) - thornecker@libertyhill.txed.net

Counselors

Michelle Wright (6th Grade, 7th Grade L - Z) - mlwright@libertyhill.txed.net 

Lindsay Regehr (8th Grade, 7th Grade A - K) - lregehr@libertyhill.txed.net 

Students: If you ever need to talk to Mrs. Regehr or Ms. Wright, please complete the counselor request form located in the Counseling Services Google classroom, or on the SRMS Counseling Services webpage. 

Thank you to all the Athletes and Parents who attended the Athletic Parent Meeting last week! A special shout-out to our Athletes who welcomed, greeted, and directed everyone to the Meeting! We look forward to a great year of Santa Rita Stallion Athletics!

Girls Athletics

Join SportsYou for more information and updates. Code: W3T6-VY8A

All Athletes need to bring proper workout attire and shoes to wear starting the first day of school until we can issue Athletic clothes. The store closes August 18th.

SRMS VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS

7th Grade: Tryouts will begin on Thursday, August 15th (second day of school) at 7am. Doors will open at 6:45am. Athletes need to be ready to warm up on the court at 7am sharp! Bring your running shoes and your court shoes.

8th Grade: Tryouts will begin on Wednesday, August 14th (first day of school) at the start of the 8th grade Athletic period at 3pm. Tryouts will end at 5pm. Parents, please pick up your Athletes on time at the end of tryouts. Bring your running shoes and your court shoes.

We are so excited and ready for a great season! If you have any questions, please reach out to a Coach and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Athletes, please come prepared and ready to work hard!

SRMS Cross Country Boys and Girls

Athletes, here's your chance to shine in a one-mile time trial on grassy and rocky terrain. Join us before or after school on August 15th and 16th for the Cross Country Tryouts. We will gather under the pavilion by the SRMS Football Field. We are looking for great attitudes, effort, and sportsmanship during tryouts, as well!

We know many of you are also trying out for Volleyball or playing Football, and we encourage everyone interested in cross country to come and give it a shot. We will work with you! We can't wait to see you there!

In order to report an absence, we have included in the LHISD Attendance website a link to report an absence OR if you prefer, you may continue emailing us at Santa Rita Middle Attendance (srms_attendance@libertyhill.txed.net). We also accept parent’s absence notes and/or doctor’s notes/excuses. 

We are going to correct your student's absence if the report states a reason included in the LHISD Attendance policy (see LHISD Student/Parent Handbook pages 25 - 33) and if the report was submitted the date of absence OR WITHIN 2 DAYS of the student’s return to school. Please remember to include the following in all attendance emails/notes:

1. Student’s full legal name 

2. Student’s ID # 

3. Date of the absence(s) 

4. Specific reason for the absence(s) 

5. Parent’s/Guardian’s full name/Signature 

6. Parent’s/guardian’s cell phone number

A student who is absent for more than 3 consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the absence. 

2024-2025 SRMS Bell Schedule

• There is a separate bell schedule for 6th grade and 7th/8th grades.
• Doors open at 7:45 am.
• 1st period begins at 8:10 am, 8th period ends at 3:45 pm.

Please take a moment to review the SRMS Cell Phone Expectations with your child prior to the first day of school. We are looking forward to seeing our students, free from distractions, to allow them to fully interact with their peers, teachers, and their learning.

Parents - If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call 512-379-3380 and we will gladly get the message to your student. Also, please know that in any emergency situation, the school will always communicate with parents.

• LHISD Child Nutrition Home Page
• SRMS Breakfast and Lunch Menus
• Add money to your child's meal account
• Apply online for free and reduced meals within Skyward Family Access

Students will be receiving Chromebooks beginning Monday, August 19th. Please review Chromebook care expectations with your student.

Please take a moment to review the LHISD Dress Code prior to the first day of school.

Band: Here is the First Three Days of School information for ALL SRMS Stallion Band Classes. The 24-25 SRMS Band supplies list can be found here on our SRMS Stallion Band website. 

Choir: Here is the Choir Beginning-Of-Year Checklist! All information can be found on the Choir Website. 

Dance: Dance Beginning-Of-Year Checklist

Congratulations to our Pacesetters Dance Team for a fabulous performance at the Tierra Rosa Elementary School ribbon-cutting ceremony! 

Parents, join the Adult Community Book Club!

Morning Arrival 

Bus Riders - Students arriving by bus will be dropped off at the back of the school and will enter to the Cafeteria at the time of their bus arrival. If students arrive before 7:45 am, they will remain in the Cafeteria. At 7:45 am, they may remain in the Cafeteria for Breakfast, or they may proceed to the main hallways. Students will remain seated in the main hallways until 8:05 am, when they will be dismissed to 1st period.

Car Riders/Walkers/Bikers - The main entrance doors will open at 7:45 am for those arriving by car, bike, or walking. Students will proceed to the Cafeteria for Breakfast, or they may proceed to the main hallways. Students will remain seated in the main hallways until 8:05 am, when they will be dismissed to 1st period. 

Afternoon Dismissal

Bus Riders - Students who go home by bus will go to the Cafeteria at the end of the school day. They will wait in the Cafeteria until their bus arrives to load.

Car Riders/Walkers/Bikers - Students who go home by car, bike, or walking will exit the building at the front and will proceed directly to find/wait for their car/start walking or biking home.

We hope this isn't the case, and we will certainly miss you, but if you will not be returning to LHISD or SRMS for the 2024-2025 school year, please reach out to our Registrar at kmccrary@libertyhill.txed.net. Withdrawal requests need to be in writing so please include your child’s full name, student ID, and to what school/district they will be enrolling for the 24-25 school year so that we can document this for our records.

If your student was enrolled in the 2023-2024 school year and will be returning for 2024-2025, you will need to complete the Returning Student Verification process. Instructions and links to submit can be found here.

**Special Note for 6th Grade Parents**

• All students entering 6th grade in the 2024-25 school year are required to complete this process and provide a current (within the last 45 days) utility bill as proof of residency. We are unable to release a schedule or allow your student to start school until this is received.

• Incoming 7th graders must have submitted proof of receiving their Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine, or an original Affidavit in order to receive their schedules. If you have not turned in your child's immunization record, please do so ASAP. You can drop them off at the school or you can email them to our Nurse at bsherman@libertyhill.txed.net. We are unable to release a schedule or allow your student to start school until this is received.

Students will be allowed to have a snack during the school day. Designated snack time is during W.I.N. time and 7th period. Parents, we ask for your help in ensuring students bring a healthy, not messy, not noisy snack each day that they can consume quickly and without distraction. Students are expected to throw away their trash and clean up any mess that is made. Our hope is that by allowing a snack time during the day, students will be able to fuel their body and mind to maintain focus throughout the day.

Please find the 2024-2025 School Supply List here. Students will drop-off SOME of their supplies at Walk Your Schedule Night. All other supplies will stay with you or at home. Please only bring these supplies to Walk Your Schedule Night.

Please note there is a different traffic pattern for morning drop-off than for afternoon pick-up. Please always be careful and cautious when in our parking lot. Also, please follow the directions of the staff on duty. Thank you.

Liberty Hill ISD will utilize the SMART TAG system in the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs transportation, please sign up for Transportation Services at the following link: 

• LHISD Transportation Department Home Page

FAQ’s:

• Where do I find my route? Routes are in the SmartTag parent portal. Once registered to ride the bus it will take 3-4 days for the route to show up in parent portal.
• Where is my bus stop? Locations will be in the parent portal on Aug. 8th. 
• When should we arrive at the bus stop (drop off, arrival)? At least five minutes prior to bus stop arrival time. 
• How will my child go to school on the first day? If you were provided a bus SmartTag last year, your child will use the same SmartTag this year. Complete the 24/25 Transportation Registration form.
• I am a new bus rider, when will I get my SmartTag? Students will be provided a SmartTag by the campus or the bus driver. 
• I don’t have a student ID yet, how do I sign up for a SmartTag? Use 000000 if you don’t have a student ID number yet. Please make sure your address in registration matches SkyWard.
• What if the weather is bad? Bad weather does not stop buses from continuing their routes. 
• What if there is a delay? The district will send out notification through the SmartTag parent portal. 
• What if I lose my SmartTag? There is a $5.00 replacement fee for a new SmartTag. 

If you have any questions, you can contact the LHISD Transportation Department at (512) 379-3250 or transportationoffice@libertyhill.txed.net.

What: SRMS Walk Your Schedule Night

When: Monday, August 12 @ 4 - 6:30 pm

Who: All the Stallions

Why: This is an opportunity for students to walk their schedule, find all of their classrooms, meet their teachers, and feel comfortable for the 1st day of school!

A few more details:

• Originally the time was split for 7th/8th grade to attend earlier and 6th grade to attend later. Based on some feedback from families, we are opening the entire 4 - 6:30 pm to all grades. Hopefully this will allow families to come when it is most convenient for you.
• Please remember this is a come and go event. Hopefully our families will stagger arrival times to prevent congestion in the parking lot and hallways.
• Please be aware that the parking lot will be full. If you have the ability to carpool or walk, please consider this option.