New Parents Start Here

Your campus team includes the teachers, administrators, coaches, co-teachers, and support staff.

Your child's teachers can be identified by looking at the student schedule. Once you know who the teachers are you may locate their email address on our school website under the "Our Team" pages.

Any Tanglewood staff member may address your child at any time. We ask that your child respond with respect. It is important for our students and staff to maintain positive and open communication to help resolve any issues that may arise in a timely fashion.

We are here to help support not just your child, but you as well. Please reach out by email if you wish to schedule a meeting with your child's teachers or administrator. We cannot accommodate walk-in appointments. Teachers and administrators are rarely able to answer calls but can return your call or email within one business day.

Communication within our school is of vital importance to the entire school community. Tanglewood hopes to improve communication within our school community by establishing a system for communication between parents, students, teachers, and administration. We will be utilizing Parent Square for all schools for family communication. Weekly newsletters are also sent through Parent Square from the principal to students and parents.

When the concern involves the classroom:

1. The student should speak directly to the teacher, at an appropriate time, to discuss concerns. Appropriate times might include passing periods, or an appointment made before or after school, but should not interrupt classroom teaching and learning time. Concerns might also be offered in writing/email, and the teacher can arrange a conference with the student.
2. Students also have the option of speaking with their counselor or Assistant Principal to gain perspective on the issue from another teacher’s point-of-view, and to seek help with problems that can easily be handled at the school level.
3. If concerns continue, the student should speak with his/her parent to discuss the issue, gaining parental perspective of the problem and determining if the issue warrants further contact with the student’s teacher.
4. Based on the discussion between parent and student, parents may elect to contact the teacher directly via Parent Square, phone, e-mail, or by parent conference to discuss the concerns of the student and parent.
5. If a resolution of the issue is not possible, the parent’s and the student’s next step would be the student’s Assistant Principal. Please call or make an appointment to see your child’s Assistant Principal. Students may elect to see their Assistant Principal by themselves, or to bring their parents for a conference. These conferences may or may not include the teacher, as warranted by the issue.
6. If the Assistant Principal is not able to mediate a resolution to the issue, the parent may make an appointment to see the Principal of the school.

When the concern involves school policy:

1. The parent should call the student’s grade level assistant principal to verify or clarify the policy.
2. The parent may share, either verbally or in writing, concerns regarding the policy with the school’s administrator .
3. If further action is desired, the parent may request that a discussion of the issue be placed on the agenda of the SDMC. Parents are welcome to attend all SDMC meetings, and to present their views to the committee.

CONFERENCES: Arrangements can be made for parent conferences with academic teams and Assistant Principals. These meetings must be prearranged. We will not accept walk-in conferences. A telephone message to (713)-625-1411 can be left at the front desk or you may e-mail the teacher or grade level leader/chairperson. Messages will be returned no later than the following day, or the day after if the message was left after the teacher’s conference period. These meetings will be held via TEAMs to respect our parents' travel time and teachers' planning.

In Texas, secondary students must attend class for at least 90% of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade for a course. This is known as the "90% rule" and is outlined in Texas Education Code (TEC) Section 25.092. Even with excused absences, students must meet this 90% attendance requirement. 

Key points about the 90% rule:
Applies to all grades: This rule applies to students in all grade levels, from kindergarten through 12th grade. 
Excused and unexcused absences count: Both excused and unexcused absences contribute to the total number of absences a student has. 

Students who do not meet this requirement may be required to attend Attendance Credit Recovery sessions after school to make up for the time they missed.  Failure to meet the requirement may prevent the student from being eligible for promotion to the next grade.

TRUANCY: Also known as skipping school, truancy is a crime. It is a Class C misdemeanor for a minor child to be in a public place without the company of a parent or permission of the school during school hours [Houston City Code 28-172(a)]. Violation of this ordinance may result in criminal charges against the parent. A student absent from school without parental or school permission is truant. For more information, please refer to the Houston ISD Student Code of Conduct.

Reporting Absences:
Parents/guardians must call the front desk at 713-625-1411 before 9:30 AM to report student absences.
Information required: student name, grade, and reason for absence.
Failure to notify the school may result in an unexcused absence.
Returning from Absence:
Upon returning, a written excuse must be sent via email or paper copy to the front desk. 
The excuse should state the reason for the absence.
Excused Absences:
Absences are excused for:
Student's personal illness.
Illness or death of an immediate family member.
Participation in legitimate school activities with Principal's permission.
Emergency or extenuating circumstances recognized by the Principal or designee.
Religious holidays: Parent should notify the attendance clerk and student’s grade level leader/chairperson in writing prior to the observance.

TARDY POLICY
This policy has been developed to emphasize the importance of each student being in class for the entire period, as well as arriving on time to school every day. During the first two weeks of school, teachers will work with students to help them get focused, organized, and to class on time (or early) every day. The Tardy policy will be implemented consistently throughout the school year.
The first class begins at 8:30 AM. Beginning the school day promptly is important and demonstrates commitment to success. Tardiness to school will only be excused for doctor appointments, a late school bus, a court date, and reasons stated in the ABSENCES section above. Oversleeping, car/traffic problems, etc. are all unexcused. Every time a student arrives late to school for unexcused reasons, he/she is required to get a tardy pass from the front desk.
 Successive Tardies to School will be handled in accordance with the Houston ISD Code of Student Conduct.

**Tardies During the school day**
Students are given a limited number of minutes between classes each day on campus. Students are counted tardy if they are not in their rooms and seated by the time the tardy bell rings. Being late for a class is recognized as tardy; but after 30 minutes into any class, it will be recognized as an absence.
 

For student safety, do NOT drop off or pick up your student along the streets around the school. Please use our carpool lane.

ARRIVAL

• At 7:50, All students enter through the front doors of the building.  An administrator checks ID badges and dress code compliance.
• Earbuds, headphones, or cell phones must be off and stored in your backpack (not in your pockets) during school hours and while inside the buildings.
• Students without an ID badge go to the temporary ID badge line.
• 6th Graders report to the Competition Gym to receive breakfast, 7th and 8th Graders report to the Cafeteria to receive breakfast.
• Bus riders walk along the track, and go to their designated areas.
• Metro bus riders are dropped off at one of several stops near the school. If a student must cross the street after exiting a Metro bus they must use the crosswalks at the corner for safety.
• Students not in dress code will call parents from the front office requesting parents to bring appropriate clothes. In some instances students may receive a temporary uniform.

Students may NOT be dropped off or picked up at the shopping center across the street. The shopping center has also stated that students should not be dropped off at the local shops to purchase food/beverages. A parent or guardian must remain with the student if they wish to make any purchases. Please also remember that outside food and beverages cannot be brought into the school building.

Students may be dropped off at Grady Park but are expected to arrive on campus for classes on time. Please be respectful of the neighborhood and businesses nearby as they also use this park and we want to show that as IB students we are good neighbors. We are not responsible for any incidents that may happen at the park, as it is not part of our campus and we cannot supervise that area.

CAMPUS SUPERVISION: Assigned faculty supervise the arrival of students in the morning and the dispersal of students at dismissal. Faculty members have the authority to correct any student at any time on the Tanglewood campus. Students are not supervised prior to 7:50 AM or after 4:10 PM. Parents need to make arrangements for their children to arrive on campus after 7:50 AM and to be picked up by 4:10 PM.

CROSSWALKS: Crosswalks are to be used at all times. It is against the law to cross in the middle of Sage Road or San Felipe Street. Tickets will be issued for not following the law.
 

DISMISSAL

Students are dismissed for the day at 4:00PM.

• HISD Bus Riders will exit the back of the building and go directly to the back lot where campus staff will help ensure they get on their bus.
• Car Riders, METRO riders, and Walkers will exit the main doors at the front of the school.
• Parents should pull through the carpool line in front of the school to pick up their students. Please have patience, as the line along San Felipe will back up quite a ways, but the line does move quickly once students are released. 
• Students are expected to wait along the school building in an orderly fashion for their ride. They should know what their vehicle looks like and be watching for their ride as we do not call out names.
• Students who ride METRO need to wait at their stop in an orderly fashion and not disturb others who are also waiting at their stop.

EARLY PICK-UP

• If you are picking up your child early from school on any day, please send a note to school with your child that morning.
• Please state in your note the reason your child will be leaving, and what time he/she will be picked up.
• Please have your child or yourself, deliver the note to the front desk before the first period that morning.
• Your child will be called out of class when you arrive to sign them out with your ID. Please be prepared — this procedure could take up to 15 minutes upon your arrival.
• We cannot permit a student to leave 45 minutes prior to the dismissal bell (3:15pm) on any day.

Our counselor, Mrs. Leahy, works with the local Sunrise Center to help families who may be in need for things like school clothing, school supplies, and food. 

If you find yourself in a situation where you could use assistance, please complete the Student Assistance Form (SAF) to begin the process.

Students may also submit this form. Here are some examples of reasons a student may wish to submit a SAF.

 

Our Nurse is Jennifer Sanderson, BSN RN
(office) 713-625-1411 ext. 108
(fax) 713-625-1415
(email)    Jennifer.Sanderson@HoustonlSD.org

Please visit our Nurse's Corner to learn about additional health information, along with what can/cannot be administered at school and which immunizations are required.

 

ASSESSMENT PHILOSOPHY: The primary purpose of assessment is to support and encourage student learning. Each student assessment will reflect his/her progress towards, and mastery of district curriculum objectives and the development of IB Approaches To Learning (ATL) skills. Assessment criteria (graded assignments) in the IB MYP are designed, developed and applied by teachers working with students in their schools. 

RETEACHING/ INTERVENTION / REASSESSMENT: Students who receive a failing grade on any assignment that counts toward the final IB achievement level will have an opportunity to receive re-teaching, and will be reassessed for mastery. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate this process. Students will have three (3) school days to be reassessed for mastery. Per secondary guidelines,“under no circumstance will a student be allowed to retake a final examination to improve his grade.” Students will not be allowed to be reassessed on midterms and finals.

LATE WORK AND MAKE UP WORK POLICY
Students are expected to complete all assignments that assess their mastery of district learning objectives.
Late work must be submitted within three (3) school days after the due date. Work received after the due date will be marked as "Inc" or "Msg" in HISD Connect.
The maximum score for late work is IB-3 (75), but it will not be accepted after 4:00 PM on the third calendar day.
If work is not completed on time, a student may be assigned to attend detention to complete the assignment.
Students who are absent are responsible for making up missed work promptly upon their return to school.
The number of days allotted for make-up work equals the number of days absent.
For extended absences of three (3) days or more, students should request assignments from their teachers or Assistant Principal with at least 48 hours’ notice.
For absences of one instructional cycle (2 consecutive days), students are encouraged to contact classmates or teachers for information about missed instruction and assignments.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY FOR IB: Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary consequences. Students at Tanglewood are guided to develop characteristics of IB learners, such as being Principled (a learner that acts with integrity and honesty). Additionally, being Principled means that students take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them. 
Students found guilty of academic dishonesty will be required to redo the assignment, which will be subject to the school’s grading policy (see page 20).

SPECIAL CODES IN Power School (HISD Connect):
Inc (Incomplete): This indicates that the student was absent and did not turn in an assignment. The student will be expected to complete the assignment within the accepted timeframe for an absence.
Msg (Missing): This indicates that the student was present and did not turn in an assignment. The student will be given three (3) school days to complete the assignment for a maximum score of IB-3 (75).
Exc (Excused): This indicates that the teacher has excused an assignment, and that the grade will not be factored into the student’s final IB achievement level.

CONDUCT: Academic grades will not reflect students’ conduct. Teachers will use District pre-set comment codes on the progress report /report card to give feedback about conduct. Students may receive conduct cuts due to behaviors such as incorrect headings, consistently late assignments, inappropriate behavior, etc.
E (Excellent): Indicates that the student is always prepared for class, respectful to teacher and peers, and completes homework and turns it in on time.
S (Satisfactory): Indicates that the student consistently is prepared for class, is respectful to teacher and peers, completes homework and turns it in on time.
P (Poor Quality): Indicates that the student sometimes is prepared for class, is respectful to teacher and peers, completes homework and turns it in on time.
U (Unsatisfactory): Indicates that the student rarely is prepared for class, is respectful to teacher and peers, or completes homework and turns it in on time.

POSTING OF GRADES: Assignments will be assessed and posted on HISD Connect in a timely manner so that students are receiving feedback and parents are able to access accurate information. Teachers will make every effort to assess and post the assignment grade within seven (7) school days from when the assignment was received, barring unforeseen circumstances.
REPORT CARDS / PROGRESS REPORTS: All student grades are documented in HISD Connect by teachers. 
Alerts are placed in the electronic grade book for missing assignments. Parents and students are responsible for reviewing grades at least weekly. Grades are found on HISD Connect for parents & students shortly after the close of each grading period. At the mid-grading period point, a progress report with input from all teachers will be available in HISD Connect. See the monthly calendars for the dates of posting.

IB Rubric Score/Grading Scale

Letter Grade	IB Grade (HISD Grade)	Description
A	IB 8 (100) IB 7 (95) IB 6 (90)	A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them almost faultlessly in a wide variety of situations. Consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation is shown where appropriate. The student consistently demonstrates originality and insight, and always produces work of high quality.
B	IB 5 (85) IB 4 (80)	A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. The student generally shows evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where appropriate, and occasionally demonstrates originality and insight.
C	IB 3 (75)	A good general understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them effectively in normal situations. There is occasional evidence of the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
D	IB 2 (70)	Limited achievement against most of the objectives, or clear difficulties in some areas. The student demonstrates a limited understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and is only able to apply them fully in normal situations with support.
F	IB 1 (65 or below)	Minimal achievement in terms of the objectives. Based on teacher review of assessment. No demonstration of required knowledge and skills.

 

Tanglewood Middle School is a whole-school IB campus. That means that all of our students participate in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP consists of eight subject groups. The four core subjects are:

• Language and Literature (English Language Arts)
• Mathematics (Algebra I is offered in 8th grade for qualified students)
• Sciences
• Individuals and Societies (6th grade is World History, 7th grade is Texas History, and 8th grade is US History)

Tanglewood continues to follow the IB programme with our elective offerings. All students are required to take one course (each year) from the following elective categories:

Fine Arts - Our arts program offers traditional art classes, Band (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), and Theatre Arts.

Physical & Health Education (PE) is available to all students at Tanglewood to help them stay active, learn about healthy choices, and develop skills in a variety of sprots and activities throughout the year.

Language Acquisition at Tanglewood is found in the form of Spanish classes. All 6th grade students will take basic/introductory level Spanish classes. Once they hit 7th grade they are placed into Spanish 1A in the fall semester, and Spanish 1B in the spring semester. Successful completion of both semesters will earn them 1 high school credit towards their foreign language requirement. In 8th grade, students will take Spanish 2A and Spanish 2B for high school credit. 

Students who are native Spanish speakers can take a placement test that will place them in a more advanced setting. Spanish for Native Speakers classes are also for high school credits in both 7th and 8th grade.

Technology (known as Design in the IB programme) is the final requirement for Tanglewood students.  Our 6th graders may choose to be enrolled in Technology Applications and receive a basic introduction to hardware and software. Our 7th grade students have the option of enrolling in Principles of Information Technology. This takes things a bit further than Technology Applications and will earn our students one high school credit upon successful completion of the course. The 8th grade students may choose to enroll in Principles of Applied Engineering. This course covers a wide variety of engineering topics to help students determine if this may be a career path they are interested in pursuing. This course is also for high school credit. 

Students who do not wish to enroll in the technology courses listed above have the option may instead choose to enroll in Multi Cultural Societies. This course is much more technology project based and students can take it all three years if they choose.

Honor Roll — Students with all “A’s” and up to two “B’s” will be recognized at the end of each six-week grading cycle.

IB Recognitions - students are selected by their teachers throughout the year to be recognized as exemplifying one of the IB Learner Profile traits. 

Gallant Gator — Awarded to students who emulate Tanglewood and citizenship. Awarded yearly.

Excellence Award - Awarded to students who have earned an A in each of the first five grading cycles for a given subject. These students do not necessarily always earn Honor Roll. Awarded yearly.
 

School districts shall not schedule nor permit students to participate in any school-related activities on or off campus that would require, permit, or allow a student to be absent from class in any course more than 10 times during the 180-day instructional year, or five times during one semester. To participate in any extracurricular activity, a student must be passing all subjects as indicated by six-week performance reports.

Participation in UIL athletic activities is subject to the “No Pass, No Play” restriction. These programs are open to all 7th and 8th grade students who wish to participate: football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, track, and cheerleading.

Please visit our Athletics & Extracurriculars page for more information.

 

School districts shall not schedule nor permit students to participate in any school-related activities on or off campus that would require, permit, or allow a student to be absent from class in any course more than 10 times during the 180-day instructional year, or five times during one semester. To participate in any extracurricular activity, a student must be passing all subjects as indicated by six-week performance reports.

Students from all three grades may audition for our Theatre Arts productions. There is typically one show in the fall and another in the spring. Participation is subject to the "No Pass, No Play" restriction.

Students who elect to help create our annual Art Car may also be from any grade.

Our band program will hold several concerts throughout the school year. All students who participate in the band program may be eligible for performances.
 

Tanglewood supports a community of learners where students and adults participate in an enriching school environment during the day and after school. Clubs and afterschool programs are practical ways to apply the academic, physical, social, and leadership skills so important to the middle school years. 
 

Free Dress Days - sometimes these are given as rewards, sometimes these are school fund raisers with an option to participate or not.

The same rules of the dress code apply, with these exceptions:

• May wear any colors.
• May have any ornamentation which is not disruptive or offensive.
• A polo or oxford shirt is not required, but a shirt with sleeves must be worn.
• Additional criteria may be announced for special days.

Homecoming / Sprit Week - students may opt to purchase wristbands to participate on themed dress days. Students who have not purchased a wristband must remain in Tanglewood Dress Code. Themed days follow the same guidelines as free dress days according to the theme of the day. Previous themed days have included: Multiples Monday (dress like each other), College Team Day (wear a jersey or shirt from your favorite college team), Sprit Day (wear blue and green to show your school colors and pride), Throw Back days (various decades have been selected over the years), and more!

MAP Celebrations - these typically take place at the end of each semester based on student results from their MAP testing. Rewards have ranged from earning free snacks, outdoor activities at lunch (like soccer and frisbee), to teacher hosted events like movies, arts and crafts, karaoke, etc. 

Gator Crawl - this is our school fund raiser event held in early May that features our Fine Arts department. Fun activities, a food truck, the chance to purchase student artwork to support our school makes for a great family night.

End of the Year Promotion Ceremony - this is for our 8th graders who will be leaving us to move on to High School. Our 8th grade students are strongly encouraged to follow the ceremony dress code below:

• Everyone should be dressed nicely and respectfully.
• Students should be well-groomed.
• No shorts or flip-flop type sandals are allowed for any students.
• Boys should wear dress pants and a dress shirt. Jackets and ties are optional.
• Girls may wear a dress, a skirt and blouse, or a nice pants outfit. Skirts should be long enough to touch the kneecap, and the top of any slit should be no higher than the knee. No midriffs or backs should be exposed. No strapless or low-cut dresses or blouses will be allowed.
   

HALLWAYS: Students are not permitted in the hallway during class time without a hall pass. Hall passes will be used only for the following reasons: emergency restroom use; library; front desk or administrative office. There are to be no “stops” or “diversions” along the way. Note: All students must be on individual passes — no group passes are permitted.

BICYCLES / SKATEBOARDS: Bicycling and skateboarding to and from school is permitted, but students are not allowed to ride on school grounds. We have limited facilities for proper storage and security. All bicycles and skateboards must be locked in the rack located between the bus zone and the café each day. Tanglewood Middle School is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged bicycles or skateboards.

LOST AND FOUND: Lost articles of clothing, valuables (jewelry, etc., and glasses are held in the lost and found. All personal articles need to be permanently marked with the owner’s name. Students may look for lost items before or after school, during passing periods, and at lunchtime. Students may not leave the classroom to look for lost items. Articles not claimed after one week may be donated to a charitable organization or cycled through the school uniform storage room.

PERSONAL PROPERTY: Portable audio equipment (hand-held games, iPods, cameras, large sums of money, and other such personal property, etc.) should not be brought to school. Many problems can arise, and the school cannot assume responsibility for them. If such personal property is brought to school and is being used during school hours (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM) it will be taken and held in the administrative office for the parent to pick up. Tanglewood Middle School is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

SALES / FUNDRAISING: The sale of any item for non-Tanglewood fundraisers must be approved in advance and in writing by the Principal. Selling and fundraising activities initiated by individual students are prohibited.

All students are required to wear their ID badge during the school day. The ID badge allows students to go to the front of the line during lunch, check out library books, etc. The student will be provided one ID badge and lanyard at no cost at the beginning of the school year, or upon enrollment at Tanglewood MS.

If a student loses/damages the badge he/she will have to purchase a replacement for $5.00. 

We request that parents and students take care of personal business before they part company for the school day. The school telephones in the offices are for official school business only, not for the personal use of students. Emergency messages ONLY will be delivered to students during the instructional day. Students are not allowed to use the telephone during instructional time.

• Students are allowed to bring cell phones and electronic devices (AirPods, smartwatches, etc.) to school.
• Cell phone and device use is expressly prohibited during instructional time.
• Cell phones and devices must be powered off and placed in the student's backpack during the school day.
• Cell phones and devices may only be used by students before and after school, and outside the building/campus perimeter.
• Absolutely no cell phones are allowed on or out in the locker rooms.
• Inappropriate use of cell phones and devices will result in confiscation.
• The parent/guardian must make an appointment during the school day with their child’s Dean to retrieve the cell phone.
• Per the Houston ISD Code of Student Conduct, there is a $15.00 fee to retrieve the phone after confiscation.
• Tanglewood Middle School is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones.
   

Tanglewood needs the support of all students, staff, and our community members to help keep our school safe.

If you see something posted online about someone planning to cause harm on our campus, alert the authorities right away. 

If a student sees another student with something that is harmful to themselves or others, they should tell a trusted staff member right away. This includes things like vapes, weapons, inappropriate email messages, and medications or suspicious food items brought from home and carried by the student.

For more information on the national See Something, Say Something campaign, please click here.

All students will be given the forms below (in a packet) to read and sign with their parent/guardian. These forms are kept on file at the campus, and will also be available on the "Technology Information" page of our website in addition to this page.

**Use separate folders or binders** – Keep one for each subject to avoid mixing papers. Only bring the ones you need for classes that day.

**Color-code subjects** – Use different colors for notebooks, folders, and labels.

**Clean out your backpack weekly** – Remove unnecessary items and organize what’s left.

**Keep your desk or study area tidy** – Designate spots for supplies, books, and papers both at school and at home.

**Have a designated study space** – Quiet, clean, and free of distractions.

**Create a homework checklist** – Cross off each task as you finish it.
 

 

**Use a planner or agenda** – Write down homework, tests, and important dates daily. You could also use a calendar (paper or digital) to mark down long-term assignments, breaks, and activities.

**Set reminders or alarms** – Use a phone or tablet to set alerts for due dates and events.

**Create a daily routine** – Have a consistent schedule for homework, studying, meals, and free time.

**Break big tasks into smaller steps** – Tackle projects piece by piece instead of all at once.

**Check your school portal regularly** – Keep up with grades, missing work, and teacher updates.

**Do a weekly review** – Look ahead at upcoming deadlines and reflect on what’s been completed.

**Start assignments early** – Avoid last-minute stress by working ahead when possible.

 🧘 Stay Calm & Think First

**Take a deep breath before responding** – Stay calm to keep the situation from escalating.
**Walk away if you need a break** – It's okay to pause and come back to the conversation later.
**Think before you speak** – Avoid saying something hurtful in the heat of the moment.

 🗣️ Use Respectful Communication

**Use "I" statements** – Say how you feel without blaming (e.g., "I felt hurt when you...").
**Listen without interrupting** – Let the other person speak and try to understand their side.
**Speak respectfully** – Avoid name-calling, sarcasm, swearing, or yelling.
**Stay focused on the issue** – Don’t bring up unrelated problems or past arguments.

🧩Problem Solve Together

**Find something you agree on** – Look for common ground to start building a solution.
**Brainstorm fair solutions** – Work together to come up with ideas that work for both sides.
**Compromise when possible** – Be willing to give a little to reach a fair agreement.
**Apologize if needed** – A sincere "I'm sorry" can go a long way.

🙋 Get Help If You Need It

**Talk to a trusted adult** – If things can’t be resolved, a teacher, counselor, or parent can help.
**Avoid gossiping or spreading rumors** – That usually makes conflicts worse. This includes social media.
**Don’t involve others to “take sides”** – Keep the conflict between those directly involved.

🤝 Make Peace & Move Forward

**Agree to disagree** – Sometimes, it’s okay to have different opinions.
**Shake hands, or say something kind after resolving the issue** – Show that you're ready to move on.
**Learn from the experience** – Think about how to handle future conflicts even better.
 

 

💪 **If You’re Being Bullied**

**Stay calm and confident** – Bullies often look for a reaction. Stand tall, use a calm voice, and walk away if possible.
**Don’t fight back** – Responding with violence or insults usually makes things worse.
**Tell a trusted adult right away** – A teacher, counselor, coach, or parent can help stop the behavior.
**Keep a record** – Write down what happened, when, where, and who was involved. This helps if you need to report it.
**Avoid being alone in risky areas** – Stick with friends or groups, especially in hallways, bathrooms, or during free time.
**Practice what to say** – Use short, firm responses like “Leave me alone” or “That’s not okay.”

🧠 **Protect Your Mental Health**

**Don’t believe what bullies say** – Their words don’t define your worth.
**Talk to someone you trust** – Sharing how you feel can relieve stress and help you feel supported.
**Do things that make you feel confident** – Hobbies, sports, and creative activities can boost your self-esteem.
**Avoid isolating yourself** – Stay connected with positive friends and adults who care about you.

🧍‍♂️🧍‍♀️ **If You Witness Bullying**

**Don’t join in or laugh** – Your reaction can make the situation worse.
**Speak up if it’s safe** – Say something like “That’s not cool” or “Let’s stop.”
**Support the person being bullied** – Include them in activities, walk with them, or just be a kind friend.
**Tell an adult** – Reporting is not “tattling”—it’s standing up for what’s right.

 🛑 **If You’ve Been a Bully in the Past**

**Take responsibility for your actions** – It’s never too late to make things right.
**Apologize sincerely** – A real apology can go a long way in repairing relationships.
**Learn better ways to handle emotions** – Talk to a counselor or trusted adult if you act out because of anger or stress.

 🤝 **Create a Kind Environment**

**Be a positive role model** – Show others what kindness and respect look like.
**Join or support anti-bullying efforts at school** – Like peer mentoring or kindness clubs.
**Stand up for yourself and others** – Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and included.
 

 

Welcome to your volunteer experience with HISD schools and programs! We appreciate your interest in supporting our students and thank you for your investment of time and care. As a new or continuing volunteer, you will have the support of a campus VIPS Coordinator and other staff as you carry out your volunteer assignment.

Volunteers support the district’s main goal: to positively impact student achievement. By serving as a mentor, tutor, chaperone, and role model you are supporting HISD students, parents, and the future generations of the Houston community. Your work has special significance for our school communities and can be life-changing for our students.

 Thank you for all you are doing to support Houston ISD and our students!

Please refer to our PTO page for more information.

Your donation helps HISD school and students with resources to maximize academic achievement. Community Partnerships works with donors to match the needs and priorities of the District with the donor's wishes to support students and families.

Back to School Donations
If you represent a business, organization, agency or are just an individual who likes to rally the troops for a worthwhile cause, please consider sponsoring a school supply drive to support HISD students or make a donation. You can indicate whether you prefer your donation to go to a specific school or to the district in general. Click the link to donate funds

Financial Contribution
Community Partnerships works with donors to match the needs and priorities of the District with the donors wishes to support to students and families. To donate complete the Intake Form and we will be in contact within 48 hours.

In - Kind Contribution
An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift made to a nonprofit organization, including goods, services, time, and expertise. To donate complete the intake form and we will contact you within 48 hours.

Support Tanglewood when you shop with our community partners!

All of our PTO accounts were created prior to our name change to Tanglewood Middle School. Please use the account information as it appears below. Thank you.

 

 
 

Amazon Smile

Please designate “Grady PTO” as your charity.

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, their foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. 

 

 

 

Randalls Good Neighbor Program

Grady PTO Account: 1785

When you link your Randalls Remarkable Card to our school account, they will donate 1% of your total grocery purchases to our school. To enroll in the donation program, please click here to download the Good Neighbor registration form. Fill it out, and return it to your local Randalls courtesy booth.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Kroger Community Rewards Program

Grady PTO Account: 59302

 Kroger is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Kroger Community Rewards makes fund-raising easy. All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card! To enroll, click here and complete the online registration form. You must renew your donation connection every year after August 1.

 

 

 

 

Box Tops for Education

Helping Tanglewood raise money is as simple as doing your grocery shopping! With Box Tops for Education™, it doesn’t take a lot of work to make a huge impact on the lives of students at our school. For more information, please check out the Box Tops for Education FAQ by clicking here.

 

 BUY — Find Box Tops on hundreds of products. (Click here for a list of participating products.)
 

 CLIP — Clip Box Tops from each package.
 

  SEND — Send the Box Tops to school in a baggie.
 

  EARN — Box Tops are each worth 10¢ for our school.