Dr. Dickey's Newsletter 9-8-2025

Posted Date: 9/07/25 (3:36 PM)

Gator Gazette

Dr. Dickey's Newsletter

September 8, 2025

What’s Happening Around the Swamp

Good morning, Gator Families,

Welcome to this week’s newsletter from Ella Banks Junior High. Each edition includes key dates, campus updates, and quick reminders to help your family stay in the know. Please take a moment to read the full newsletter so you don’t miss important information about academics, upcoming events, and campus procedures.

Inside this week’s issue:

What’s happening on campus and how you can participate
Important dates and deadlines for the week ahead

Thank you for your partnership and for the many ways you support our students and staff. We are grateful to serve your family and look forward to a great week of learning.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dickey💚🐊

Mark YOUR Calendars

EBJH Week-at-a-Glance

Week of September 8th

9/8/2025:

9/9/2025:

9/10/2025:

9/11/2025:

Banks JH Open House from 5:00-7:00
Lady Gators Volleyball vs. Reading JH @ Reading
9/11 Red, White and Blue Spirit Day

9/12/2025:

Fall Picture Day
College Spirt Day

Tomas High School Spirit Dress-Up Days

Our friends at Tomas High School are celebrating with themed spirit dress-up days this week! We encourage our EBJH students and families to join in the fun by showing support and school spirit. Check out the daily themes and plan your outfits—let’s show our Gator pride while cheering on Tomas HS!

Orchestra Fall Concert

🎶 You’re Invited! 🎶

Join us for an enchanting evening of music at the Green Track Orchestra Fall Concert!

Our talented student musicians have been working hard to prepare a beautiful program that celebrates the spirit of the season and the joy of making music together.

📅 Date: 10/9/2025, Thu.

🕕 Time: 7:00 pm

📍 Location: Tomas HS Auditorium

Come support our young artists and experience the magic of live orchestral music.

We can’t wait to share this special night with you!

✨ Let the music move you! ✨

LCISD Bond Town Hall Meetings

Download Parent Square-Stay Connected

Download the ParentSquare app to stay informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your student's campus and Lamar CISD.

As a registered parent, you can:

Receive messages from the school and district via phone, email, text, or app notification
Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6pm
Communicate in your preferred language
Comment on school postings to engage with your school community
Direct message teachers, staff, and other parents

EVERY Friday join us by wearing COLLEGE Gear

Student Spotlight: Vote for EBJH’s Own Emeri Arbuckle!

We are so proud of 7th grader Emeri Arbuckle, who has advanced to the quarterfinals in the national Youth Athlete of the Year contest, a partnership with Russell Wilson and Sports Illustrated that also benefits cancer research.

Emeri’s dedication to athletics is inspiring—she spent her summer waking up at 6 AM to work out daily, and she continues that commitment each morning before school. Beyond sports, she also shines in the classroom as an AB honor roll student. Emeri’s determination, teamwork, and spirit make her a true Lady Gator and an incredible representative of Banks Junior High!

💚🐊 Let’s rally behind Emeri and show our Gator pride by voting for her in this national contest. Community support plays a big role in helping her advance to the finals!

👉 Vote here: athleteoftheyear.org/2025/emeri-7b47

We’re Excited to Announce Virtual Registration!

Families can now complete registration from the comfort of home through our new Virtual Registration Portal. This is a quick and convenient way to ensure your student is ready for the year.

👉 Click here to complete your Virtual Registration

Thank you for helping us streamline the process and keep our Gators moving forward!

Upload Enrollment Paperwork

Sponsorship Links

Hatchling Sponsor: https://lcisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/9674/315/False/True

Swamp Guardian: https://lcisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/9675/315/False/True

Building Legacy in the Swamp: https://lcisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/9676/315/False/True

Rules Around the SWAMP

LCISD Policy and EBJH Rules

DRESS CODE

Reminder hats are not to be worn indoors unless for religious reasons. We have been seeing a lot of baseball caps. Please leave these for the outdoors.
ID Badges are a part of the dress code, and consequences for repeated printing and not wearing badges will be given.
NO SLIDES of any type are to be worn.
Shorts: at this time, we are asking for mid-thigh; many girls differ in height.

Need a Replacement Lanyard?

Students who need to purchase a replacement lanyard for their ID badge can do so online. Parents may also purchase on behalf of their student.

👉 Click here to purchase a replacement lanyard

Counselor's Corner

Check-in with Mr. Kracker, Mrs. Keller, and Mrs. Rauda

Banks JH Counselor's Newsletter

Office Aide Applications are NOW Open

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for Ella Banks Junior High 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in serving as Office Aides for the 2025–2026 school year. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in leadership, responsibility, and service to our campus.

Application Details:

Applications will be available for students to pick up in the Counseling Suite beginning Tuesday, September 2nd.
Completed applications are due back to the Counseling Suite by Tuesday, September 9th
.
Students must also secure two teacher recommendation forms, which teachers will return directly to the counselors by September 9th.
Once all materials are submitted, the counselors will review applications and select candidates to serve as Office Aides for the school year.

Important Note for 7th Grade Students:

Students approved as Office Aides in 7th grade will be scheduled into physical education in 8th grade

The application packet is attached to this email for your review. We encourage students who are interested in serving our school community to apply.

Thank you for supporting your student in this leadership opportunity!

Sincerely,

EBJH Counseling Crew

What's Happening Around the SWAMP?

Clubs and Organizations

Introducing the Banner Brigade

We’re excited to launch a brand-new tradition at EBJH—our Banner Brigade! This spirited student team will design and paint the run-through banners that our football players charge through each week before kickoff. These bold, creative banners will showcase our Gator pride and bring color, energy, and excitement to game days!

Who we’re looking for:

Students with experience using paint, markers, or poster design
Team players who are dependable and positive
Gators with BIG school spirit and a love for our campus!

What you’ll do:

Design and paint banners before school each week during football season
Work with other spirited Gators to hype up our team and fans
Help transform plain paper into moments of excitement for our school community

📌 Applications will be accepted Monday–Thursday, September 8–11.

📌 All applications are due by end of day on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Students will know by the end of next week if they have been selected so families can plan for the before-school commitment starting the week of our first game.

👉 For questions or to pick up an application, please see Mrs. Castro in Room E114.

Let’s bring the spirit, creativity, and pride that makes EBJH truly Gator Strong! 💚🐊

Join MSA!

Parents, is your child interested in joining a community that celebrates culture, faith, and friendship?

We’re starting a Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Banks! - a welcoming space for Muslim students and allies to connect, learn, and grow together.

Whether your child wants to help organize events, learn more about Islamic culture, or simply be part of a supportive group, we’d love to hear from from them!

📌 Interested?

Students, fill out this quick Interest Form to let us know! Your input will help us shape the club and plan our first meeting.

🧠 What to Expect: