March 7, 2026

Happy New Year, Pike Families!

I want to start by giving a huge congratulations to our students in Band, Theatre, Choir, and Orchestra. It’s UIL season, and our programs have been outstanding! Sweepstakes awards and first-place trophies have been making their way back to Pike, and I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible work our students and directors have put in.

Our Book Brawl team also did an outstanding job at the district competition, and our Chess Club showed off some serious skills at the district EXPO last week!

It’s always a great day to be a Panther, but I’ve been especially proud of the dedication our students have shown as they pursue the “above and beyond” opportunities that make Pike such a special place.

It’s been a busy season here at Pike as we head toward Spring Break, and it’s safe to say that a little Spring Break fever is in the air! As always during this time of year, it’s a good opportunity for us to remind students about our expectations for how we treat one another at school. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in students coming through the office, most often related to disrespectful interactions or students not respecting one another’s personal boundaries.

Another area where we’ve seen an increase in concerns is with digital communication. Some students have been creating Google Docs or using email during class to communicate with peers, and in some cases those platforms have been used in ways that are hurtful or unkind. Our district uses a monitoring system called LightSpeed that helps us keep an eye on student activity while they are on their devices at school, and our technology department does a great job staying on top of trends and inappropriate usage. However, as many of us know, students can sometimes find creative ways around safeguards.

Because of that, we encourage families to occasionally check in on their child’s devices at home. Taking a look at messages, apps, and social media can help open conversations about responsible technology use. Our goal—both at home and at school—is to help students learn how to use technology in ways that are safe, respectful, and positive. With open communication and a little monitoring along the way, we can help guide them toward making good choices online.

That's all for now. Until next time....y'all keep on keepin' on, and always KEEP BELIEVING!!

Mr. D

3/9 - Pike Tennis v. Tidwell @ NHS at 4:30pm

3/11 - Math Benchmarks in the morning. Campus will be closed to visitors until testing is complete.

3/11 - Pike Track and Field @ Texan Stadium

3/12 - APEX Games

• Students who earn VIP status start at 2:45
• All others who earn entry will start at 3:15

3/13 - Early Release @ 12:55

3/16 - 3/24 - SPRING BREAK

Don’t forget Friday, March 13, is an early-release day! All schools will operate on early-release schedules as we leave for spring break.

As a reminder, Northwest ISD students will have Spring Break from March 16 to 24 before resuming classes on Wednesday, March 25. Please be aware that while staff will be at schools on March 23 and 24, responses may be delayed as professional development will take place to prepare for the return of students.

Our APEX Fundraiser is off to a great start! Thank you to all of our students and families who have already jumped in and participated. Not only is this our one major fundraiser of the year, but students are also working hard to earn their spot in the APEX Games on Thursday, 3/12 — which is always a highlight for our Panthers.

The excitement is definitely building, and I’ll continue to share updates through the early part of this upcoming week. Thank you for helping make this such a fun and successful event for our school!

Info Letter

APEX FAQs

Northwest ISD will open its annual lottery system on March 25 for admission into the district’s tuition-based pre-kindergarten program for the 2026-2027 school year. Families will have the opportunity to apply until April 8. In Texas, schools only receive funding to operate pre-K facilities if a student qualifies for the state-funded program or if the district accepts tuition for those who do not. For more information, read this news article.

One thing for certain is our PTA is amazing! We can't do it without the support of our wonderful parents. If you are interested in a position on the Pike 26-27 PTA Board, please see the below positions we will need filled.

Communications- social online posts and quarterly newsletters

Secretary- takes notes at meetings and writes up our meeting minutes

Programs- helps organize and execute events for students at Pike

Membership- helps input members into PTA system and organize student member perk

Spirit Wear- creates and helps sell Pike gear

Council Delegate- attends Council of PTA meetings and relays info to Pike PTA

If you are interested, please email Tabitha Hrynyk at tabithahrynyk@gmail.com.

Thank you to all of our parents who have been driving their students to the back of the school this week. It has helped create a much safer and more efficient drop-off and pick-up process.

Even with an increase in cars using the back pick-up in the afternoons, we have consistently finished by 4:30, with only a few final arrivals after that time. I’ve monitored the cameras, and families who were at the back of the line at 4:15 were typically out within 12 minutes or less. This is great considering the volume of cars we have!!

Thank you again for your patience and cooperation. I know waiting in a line isn’t always the most convenient option, but I will always place student safety over convenience. I truly appreciate your support in helping us keep all of our students safe.

Thank you for those that have already sent us feedback, both positive and constructive ways we can improve. Keep it coming, as our continued dialogue is how we work together to make the school year positive for all of our Pike Panthers!

What Do You Want Mr. D to Know? - Click HERE

https://www.facebook.com/GenePikeMiddleSchool/

https://www.facebook.com/genepikepta

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