East Cardinal Middle School -

Melissa ISD will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 22 - Jan. 2, 2025. As a reminder, students will not have school on Monday, Jan. 5, due to a scheduled staff development day. We are excited to see all of our Cardinals back to school on Tuesday, Jan. 6. We hope you have a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable Winter Break! ❄️

⚾️🥎 The Melissa Cardinal Baseball and Softball teams are excited to host the inaugural 2026 Cardinal Classic on January 24 at the Melissa Z-Plex. The Cardinal Classic Event will feature the Redbird Rookie Experience Training Camp for students in grades K-5 and the Cardinal Classic Wiffle Ball Tournament for students in grades 6-12, along with Melissa ISD staff. ⚾️🥎 Rookies today. Cardinals tomorrow.

🔗 Learn more and get registered today! www.melissaisd.org/article/2606351

Students at Melissa Schools have early release on Friday, Dec. 19, ahead of the Winter Break. The early release times are as follows:

• MREC ECSE @ 10:30 a.m.

• Cardinal Child Care @ 1:00 p.m.

• Elementary @ 11:45 a.m.

• Sixth Grade Center @ 12:35 p.m.

• East Cardinal Middle School @ 12:35 p.m.

• Melissa High School @ 12:10 p.m.

On early release days, students who ride the bus are dropped off from school approximately 3.5 hours ahead of their usual dropoff time. As a reminder, Pre-K and Kindergarten students who ride the bus are required to be picked up from their bus stop by their registered parent/guardian.

The Melissa High School and East Cardinal Middle School Robotics teams are competing this week at the UIL State Robotics Competition, The 2025 BEST Division Championship, taking place December 10–13 at the Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas. This marks the 10th consecutive year the MHS team has advanced to state, earned multiple top-six finishes, and been named state runner-up three times. This year’s team is aiming higher than ever! Good luck to the Melissa ISD Robotics teams! 🦾🌟

Secondary campuses will be on Early Release Schedule for students this Friday, Dec. 12, due to student extracurricular absences and transportation needs related to the playoff football game. Secondary campuses will follow the early release schedule with MHS ending at 12:10 p.m. and ECMS and SGC ending at 12:35 p.m. Secondary student transportation will be provided on an early release schedule. All other Melissa ISD campuses will continue the school day as normal. Please see your email for more information.

Melissa ISD is proud to announce that IB MYP Coordinator Eydie Simpson has been selected to represent the Middle Years Programme on the Texas Association of IB Schools (TIBS) Board. This honor highlights her leadership in IB education and her commitment to supporting strong, student-centered learning in Melissa. In this new role, she will collaborate with IB leaders across Texas and help guide statewide conversations that impact IB programmes. Her involvement will also bring valuable insights and best practices back to our district, strengthening alignment, teacher learning, and student experiences. This is an exciting milestone for both Simpson and the MYP program. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition!

Reminder: This season, we are especially thankful for you, our amazing students, families, and staff who make Melissa ISD such a special place. Melissa ISD will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from Nov. 24-28, 2025. We can't wait to see students back on Monday, Dec. 1. We hope you have a safe and restful holiday! 🍁

Cardinal Nation, tomorrow is the big day! We can’t wait to see our community come together and show off their Cardinal spirit at the Community Parade and Pep Rally! Check the map for parking and the parade route around Coach Kenny Deel Stadium, then join us for a spectacular evening of family fun, tradition, and pride. For more information, visit www.melissaisd.org/homecoming.

Join us for food, fun, and spirit at Meet the Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium! Gates open at 6 p.m. with the festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. The event features an introduction to our Cardinal athletic teams, cheerleaders, fine arts groups, and various student organizations, followed by student competitions, meet-and-greets, photo ops, and autograph signings.

We’re thrilled to announce that both propositions in the Melissa ISD bond have officially passed! This is a significant step for the future of our students, staff, and schools. Thank you to our amazing Melissa community for your trust, support, and belief in the power of education. Together, we will continue building with Integrity for our Cardinals!

Tomorrow is Election Day! Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Melissa Public Safety Building (2402 McKinney Street, Melissa, TX 75454) and other locations. For all voting locations and details, visit www.melissaisdbond.com/voting

Reminder: There will be no school on Friday, April 18, 2025, as Melissa ISD will be closed. Enjoy the long weekend—we’ll see our Cardinals back on Monday, April 21! 🌸 🌼

Melissa Middle School artists had an outstanding showing at the Junior VASE Scholastic Art Event on Saturday, April 12 in Plano! Thirteen students presented original artwork, earning 16 gold medals and receiving the highest possible rating of 4 across the board. A special shoutout to Aubrey Wilson, who earned a prestigious Platinum Award for her piece—one of the top honors of the event. Congratulations to these talented students and to the dedicated MMS art teachers who supported them every step of the way! 🎨🥇 🔗 To read more about this incredible achievement, please visit www.melissaisd.org/article/2153471.

Early voting begins next week! Want to know what’s included in the May 2025 Melissa ISD bond? Visit www.melissaisdbond.com for early voting dates, tax info, FAQs, and more.

💡 School Funding 101: What’s the difference between M&O and I&S? Check out the graphic below to learn how school funding works in Texas public schools. MISD has determined that the proposed bond will not result in a tax rate increase. The district will maintain the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate at its current level of $0.50 per $100 of property valuation. Learn more at www.melissaisdbond.com

Melissa ISD is growing fast! Check out a few quick facts about the projected growth in our district. See how MISD is planning for the future at www.MelissaISDBond.com 📈🏫 #MelissaSchools

📈 The May 2025 Melissa ISD Bond addresses student growth, facility improvements, and technology and security updates. Check out what’s included and learn more at www.melissaisdbond.com #MelissaSchools #MelissaBond2025

Reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday, February 17, 2025, as it is a Teacher Work Day. While the academic calendar designates February 17 as a Bad Weather Make-Up Day, Melissa ISD students will not need to make up the missed days from January due to inclement weather. We look forward to welcoming our Cardinals back to school on Tuesday, February 18!

Reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday, February 17, 2025, as it is a Teacher Work Day. While the academic calendar designates February 17 as a Bad Weather Make-Up Day, Melissa ISD students will not need to make up the missed days from January due to inclement weather. If there are any changes to the academic calendar, the district will promptly communicate the change via email, text, and through our website and social media platforms. We look forward to welcoming our Cardinals back to school on Tuesday, February 18!