I would like to welcome everyone to Dr. Nixon Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year! Whether you are a returning Coyote, or new to our school, we are excited to see you August 5!

We have been busy planning this summer both the academic and social emotional supports that are going to be needed for both students and our staff. We are also working daily to ensure that all parents, families and community members have opportunities throughout the year to connect with us to ensure this is truly your community school.

As we kick off the new school year, we want to encourage positive communication and collaboration between school, home, and community. My door is always open, and I welcome your questions, concerns, and feedback regarding school activities. In addition, our Assistant Principal, Ms. Villasenor is also available to provide support. Our hope is to establish a school-home partnership that is designed to meet the educational and social/emotional needs of all students.

We have many people on campus to help meet the needs of our students, such as our Parent Family Liaison, Ms. Gabi Rademacher our Military Family Liaison, Ms. Danielle Caballero and our counseling team Ms. Lucia Lopez, Ms. Kimberly Merriweather and Mr. Omar Lopez . They are all here to help you and know how to connect our families to other great resources throughout EPISD and El Paso.

Better together...

Dr. Cindy C. Contreras

Principal, Nixon ES

All students are required to be registered.

The link to register is:

https://www.episd.org/page/register

Students will need to have their Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, Shot Record, Proof of Address, Parent ID, Previous School Records (if applicable); additional documents required for Pre K Eligibility (2 recent pay stubs or military verification).

If you need assistance with registration please feel free to contact the front office at (915)236-5900.

• Parents will be allowed to walk their children to their classroom from 7:30 am-8:15 am.
• Homeroom teachers are on duty at 8:00 am. and will be ready to greet students and parents.
• Parents should begin exiting the building at 8:15 am and an announcement will be made.
• The district has provided school supplies. Students only need to bring a backpack and headphones.
• Our friendly staff will be available for questions. Our leadership team will direct you to your child's new class.

• Campus doors open at 7:30 am
• Students can enter the building through the front door or back gate.
• PK students wait for their teachers in the cafeteria monitored by the paraprofessionals.
• Kinder-5th grade students wait for their teachers on the blacktop cared for by monitors.
• For safety purposes parents are not allowed on the campus during this time.
• A bell will ring at 8:00 am and the school day will begin.
• Breakfast is served in the classroom from 8:00 am -8:15 am.
  
• Morning announcements begin at 8:05 am.
• To ensure safety parents/visitors with schedules appointments on campus must report to the office when visiting the school and receive a visitor's pass in order to enter the school.
• The tardy bell rings at 8:15 am. Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:15 am. If a student is arriving at 8:15 am or later a parent/guardian will need to walk them inside to sign them in.

Parents can bring lunch from outside the campus for their students. This will be left in the front office. Students will be notified that a lunch has been brought to them in the front office and it will be their responsibility to come to the front office and pick up their lunch on their way to lunch.

Visitor parking is designated to the Loma Franklin parking lot. The Loma Roja parking lot is limited to campus personnel, bus and day care. Please adhere to all parking signs and do not park in reserved parking spaces. Do not exceed the speed limit. Cell phone use is dangerous and prohibited while driving. You are highly encouraged to carpool or walk to school.

• Pre-K, students are picked up in the front of the school.
• Bus and day care students are picked up in the front of the school.
• Kinder-5th grade students who walk home are dismissed out of the gate on Loma Franklin.
• Kinder-2nd grade students who are being picked up in a car or by a parent/responsible party can be picked up at the gates of Loma Franklin.
• 3rd-5th grade students can be picked up by vehicle in the Marcus Uribe pick up parking lot.
• If you have several students you would like picked up in one location it is the responsibility of the parent to notify all of the teachers of the students and location to be picked up.
• When a student is not picked up by 3:40 pm they will be escorted to the front office and parents/guardians will be contacted.

Our school day begins at 8:00 am. Students need to be in class by the 8:15 am bell.

Tardies: Students who are not in class by 8:15 am will be marked tardy. All students who are tardy will need to be signed in by an adult.

Absences: Call-ins are no longer accepted. Parents will need to email all Doctor's notes and reasons for absences to nixon_notes@episd.org. The QR code sends you directly to the email.

Leaving School Early: Anytime a child is going to be taken out of school early for any reason, the parent/guardian must complete the Attendance Agreement Form. Please note, depending on the reason indicated, documentation may need to be submitted upon the student's return to school.

5: First day of school

8: Coffee with the principal

12: Student Council Information Meeting

19: Student Council Applications Due

21: Early Release

23: Family Movie Night

26-30 Attendance Initiative Week

26: StuCo Information for Elections

27: Fall Pictures

29: Thirving Thursday

August 8th at 8:30 am in the parent center the principal and assistant principal will be meeting with parents in the parent center to review information for the 24/25 school year.

We hope to see you there!

Family Movie night is August 23rd. This is an opportunity for community members to come together and watch a movie. The tickets to the movie are free (there is a limited number to ensure campus safety). The movie is watched in the cafeteria. Families an bring blankets, pillows and chairs to watch the movies together.

PTO sells refreshments.

To promote wellness and well being the PE department hosts an opportunity for families to come out and walk with their children during the first 15-20 minutes of PE. Parents must have a valid ID to enter and enter through the back gate. After our walking time is over parents sign out and exit through the back gate.

Welcome to the VIPS program. Look forward to making new friends and being a vital part of a student's life. Our volunteer family plays a huge part in making our District successful. Volunteers provide additional support to staff, faculty and students.

Volunteering gives parents and community members the opportunity to contribute to the children's education and participate in providing a well-rounded education for all students. Volunteers enhance the instructional program.

How do I get Started?

• Please fill out the VIPs online application HERE.

• The VIPs chair will notify you upon approval and will have an orientation with you individually or as part of a group.

• The school will notify you when you can begin to volunteer.

• On your first day of volunteering, you will be required to show your drivers license or Texas ID to the VIPs chair.

• Please read the information in VIPs handbook and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask your principal, VIPS chair or email the VIPS office.

Contact Us

EPISD Family & Community Engagement
Reneé de Santos
VIPS Coordinator
vips@episd.org