Trailblazer Tribune

August 13-August 18, 2023

Mrs. Mayberry, one of our Kindergarten teachers, welcomed our KJTMA families during our annual Meet the Teacher event, Friday August 11, 2023

Best First Day of School Ever

Dropping off K-3 Students

We are excited about the first day of school, and we are ready to receive your students! Our goal is to make sure that our students are happy, safe, and secure every day! Below, please see the measures we will take on the first day of school to help our students safely transition from your care to our care:

Doors open at 7:30.
Please park in the front parking lot if you need to enter the building. DO NOT DRIVE or PARK IN THE BUS LANE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.
Parents of K-3 students may walk their students to their classroom with a KJTMA volunteer or staff member.
The teacher will meet you at the door, and transition the student into the classroom. A few tears are to be expected, but we will take good care of our little one.
We ask that you do not enter the class so that we can help your baby transition to the new environment
Please walk with the volunteer/staff member back to the front of the building.

KJTMA Arrival and Dismissal

The first day and week of school is one of the most exciting times in our school year! We've meticulously prepared for your arrival and we can not wait to see our students! We work hard to make sure our arrival and dismissal is safe and efficient, but we need your help! Below please review the process for dropping and picking students up at KJTMA:

Car-Rider Drop-Off/Pick-Up Location

Doors open at 7:30 AM (student supervision is not available before then, please do not leave students unattended before 7:30)
Drop-Off route takes drivers around to the Northside of the building
- - Kinder-3rd Grade Families & Siblings use the two lanes closest to the building
  - 4th-8th grade families use the far lanes.
Students should exit vehicles at the front of the line so that a faculty member can assist them with safely walking through traffic, and into the building.
In the event that you have to come to a sudden stop, please do not exceed 5 miles an hour in the drop-off/pick-up line

How's Your Student Getting Home this Year?

Please help us ensure that your student transitions back to you safely. Please complete the questionnaire by 12:00 Monday, August 14, so that we can make sure your student gets home safely!

Preparing for Bus Transportation

Every KJTMA student who rides the bus will receive a colored Tyvek band as they exit the bus on the first day. The band will correlate to their bus number. The band is waterproof and can last a couple of days. We are asking that you help us make sure your student gets off and on the right bus daily. Please help us out by making sure your student knows their bus route number. The route numbers are provided below in the link below.

Transportation Wrist Bands-Parents

Tips for Bus Riders

Stand as far back from the curb as possible when you are waiting for a bus
Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop and watch for the driver to signal that it’s safe to board. Hold on to the handrail and find a seat quickly
Listen to the bus driver and sit still to avoid distracting the driver
After exiting the bus, cross only in front of the bus, never behind it. Make eye contact with the driver and wait for the driver’s signal that it is okay to cross. Look left-right-left and safely cross when there is no traffic or vehicles that have stopped

www.txdot.gov/driver/safety/school-bus-safety.html

Scanned from a Xerox Multifunction Printer (3).pdf

DeSoto ISD Standardized Dress

dresscode.pdf

KJTMA Standardized Dress Expectations & Consessions

All KJTMA students are expected to adhere to the district guidelines for standardized dress. KJTMA students are also expected to have a KJ patch added to the left side of their shirt. Patches can be purchased individually through the online KJTMA Uniform Store. Students must wear shirts with patches Monday-Thursday. Students may wear spirt or House shirts on Friday.

Patches on Back Order

Because the patches are on back order, we understand that all students may not have patches on every shirt just yet. However, we will keep you informed as to when we will strictly enforce the dress expectations. Our addition of the patches to the KJTMA uniform is for safety purposes. Because of the patches, not only will our students be identifiable as they travel throughout the district, anyone who is not a part of our campus will be identifiable in our school. Without exception, the standardized dress policy will be fully enforced as it helps us ensure the safety of all students.

Middle School Badges

Badges are a part of the standardized dress expectations. All middle school students must wear their badges at all times. Students who are in athletics at McCowan must wear their badges while at the other campus. Middle school students also need their badges to enter all DeSoto ISD games. Replacement badges are $5.00. Students who do not have their badges will be charged $1.00 for temporary badges.

The standardized dress policy will be fully enforced as it helps us ensure the safety of all students in the building.

Mighty McCowan Athletics

Athletics will start for the KJTMA students who are enrolled in athletics August 21, 2023. Students who are enrolled in athletics at McCowan are to report to or stay at KJTMA for the athletic periods this week.

KJTMA Summer Inquiry Projects

Can you believe that the first day of school is tomorrow?! Teachers are excited to learn what your students learned while working on their summer project! Students will not need their summer project the first day. However, their teacher(s) will provide students with a schedule to bring and present their project.

We understand that several students experienced technical difficulties, and have adjusted our schedules accordingly to meet the needs of those students.

It is our expectation that all KJTMA students complete and present their project. There are no exceptions to this expectation.

Please click on the links on the second slide to access the instructions about the summer inquiry projects. If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our teachers.

Summer 2023 Parent PLC

k-2 KJ Summer Inquiry Project 2023-FAMILIES

KJ Summer Inquiry Project 2023-KJTMAFAMILIES

Katherine Johnson Legacy Day

The week of August 21-25, 2022 will be an enriching experience for the KJTMA school community. In celebration of Mrs. Katherine Johnson's Birthday, we are going to engage in STEM activities over the course of the week. Students will also present their summer projects to their peers throughout the week.

Mrs. Katherine Johnson's birthday is August 26th. As a culminating experience, NASA Rocket Scientist, Dr. Wendy Okolo, will visit the campus and speak to students on August 25, 2023. Please consider purchasing a copy of her book for your student as she explains how she successfully entered that was not easily accessible. Students will talk with Captain Barrington Irving, author of Touch the Sky, virtually on August 28, 2023.

Additionally, students will go on fieldtrips to extend what they learned during their summer projects. Our PTA is raising funding to undergird the cost of Legacy day, and we need your help! Please consider donating to our PTA fundraiser! Whether you donate $1.00 or $100.00 dollars, we are incredibly grateful! ALL proceeds will help our scholars have an awesome experience for Legacy day!

Interested in Learning to Play Chess?

We are exploring the interest of offering an after-school chess program. The program will meet one time a week for two-hours. The cost of the program is $180.00 a semester per students. Please complete the form if your child is interested.

School Supply Lists

2023-24 combined school supply list.pdf

Please click the link below for the KJTMA Middle School Supply list:

KJTMA MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST

DeSoto ISD School Hours

School Hours Final.pdf

Volunteer at KJTMA

DeSoto Volunteer System (information taken from DeSoto ISD Volunteer page)

"Volunteers are very important partners in supporting the educational programs and activities in DeSoto ISD. Volunteers give their time, dedication and encouragement to our students and school staff in various ways. Whether you are a parent, business/community partner or individual volunteer you are important to us for giving your services and time. All volunteers that engage in campus and student activities MUST complete the application process and receive a background clearance by applying through the NEW Voly Volunteer System. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

The following steps must be completed:

1. Click on the link https://desotoisd.voly.org

2. There is a Create a Volunteer Account form on the front page.

3. Volunteers will create a Voly account by entering the required information on the home page.

Once logged in, the volunteer will be taken straight to the volunteer application.

5. The volunteer will need to complete the fields on the volunteer application, including the Consent for Background Check.

6. Once the volunteer hits Submit/Save, they will be taken straight to the Orientation Slides. The volunteer will need to review each slide and click the check box at the end to acknowledge they have read it all.

7. Volunteers can always go back to their application to see their status (for the background check). An approved or denied email will be sent when the background check has been completed. *Applications may take up to 72 hours for approval

If there are questions or concerns, contact the school volunteer liaison where you will volunteer or email volunteer@desotoisd.org (Allow 48 hours for feedback on your request). Requests made on a Friday, will receive feedback on Tuesday before 5:00 pm. Feedback will not be provided during district holidays.

Parent Portal Access

PARENT PORTAL PAGE

All parents/guardians will need to create a new account. Once the approval process has been completed, you will be able to view information for your student(s). To begin the registration process, Click "New Users, please register." As you register, please note that all data is case-sensitive. Do not use your student's ID number as your User Name.

District Employees: Do Not Register Online for the Parent Self-Serve Application. Contact your child's campus to have Parent Self-Serve access activated.

To register and be authenticated, you must enter the following information for one of your children:

Parent/Guardian First Name
Parent/Guardian Last Name
Student Birth date
Student First Name
Student Last Name
Student Local ID
ZIP Code of "resides with" Parent/Guardian's Address

New User Sign-In

Existing User Sign In

Please note: You MUST use Google Chrome. If you do not currently have Google Chrome installed on your computer, please CLICK HERE to download it.

If you have any questions, e-mail sheila.hardmon@desotoisd.org

Please send the following information:

Full name of the requesting parent/guardian
Full name of each child that is currently attending DeSoto ISD
Campus and grade level of each child
Birth date of each child
Student ID (5-6-digit code) of each child (if known)

The Parent Portal is an exciting opportunity for parents to become more involved in their child’s education through the convenience of the Internet. You have access to:

Grades
Schedule
Homework assignments
Attendance
Teacher Contact information
Student Personal Information: address, phone, e-mail

How frequently is my child's data updated?

Immediately! Access to your child's grades, attendance, and lesson plans in real-time. That means as soon as a teacher or administrator enters information into the system, it is available for you to access.

DeSoto Child Nutrition Application

Please complete the child nutrition application for your student. The link is below:

DESOTO ISD CHILD NUTRITION LINK

DeSoto ISD Academic Calendar

Please see the 2023-2024 DeSoto ISD Academic Calendar below. Our first day of school is Monday, August 14, 2023. We have a great academic year planned for our students and school community.

2023 - 2024 DeSoto ISD District Calendar with Testing Dates

Parent and Student Oath of Agreement for 2022-2023

Please make sure that you have read the parent and student oaths of agreement; you will be asked to sign your oath when you visit the campus over the next month. All parents must have an Oath of Agreement on file by September 8, 2023. Students will bring parent oaths of agreement during the first week of school. Every parent that submits their child's oath and their oath this week, will earn their house 10 house points.

The oath of agreement outlines the parameters of KJTMA's magnet program. Most importantly expectations are listed to ensure a successful school year. I will uphold the expectations outlined in the oaths to the highest degree. At the beginning of August, Mrs. Hanspard and I will host grade level meetings to discuss the KJTMA academic and disciplinary visions for the 2023-2024 school year. During the meeting, we will review the student code of conduct and sign the oath of agreements. I am asking that you review the oath of agreement with your students before the end of the first week of school.

All members of the KJTMA school community will be held to the standards outlined in the oath of agreement. This includes administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Any individual who violates the oath will be asked to correct behavior. Individuals who are unable to take corrective action will be subject to more serious actions.

KJTMA Parent Oath of Agreement

2023-2024

Parent-Katherine Johnson Oath of Agreement-2022-2023

KJTMA Student Oath of Agreement

2023-2024

Student-KJMTA Oath of Agreement.docx

Counseling Department

Mission: DeSoto ISD Counseling & SEL Department will foster student achievement that creates a meaningful academic culture that will equip all students with the social-emotional, personal, post-secondary, and career skills to become productive citizens while working closely with all stakeholders in a comprehensive guidance program.

Vision: Collaborate with students, staff, and community stakeholders to provide an environment that is conducive to academic growth, as well as the social and emotional support of the whole learner.

SAT Vocabulary Word

Help us prep your student for the SAT! Each week, we will provide an SAT word for you and your students to discuss. Use the word in a sentence with your student, and encourage your student to use the word in a sentence over the course of the week. We will revisit the words in classes, during Eagle Academy, and during House challenges. Have fun helping your student expand their vocabulary and prepare for the PSAT and eventually, the SAT!

Parents, your feedback is important and will help me to know how to better serve you and your scholars. Please click on this Link to take a short survey.

KJTMA Parent Book Study

Welcome back ! I hope you had a restful and fun summer. This year, I invite all caregivers to join me in my first ever book club. The book that we're going to start with this year is "How Children Succeed" by Paul Tough. After reading this book, it gave me a different insight of both parenting and education.

This year, our PTA parents are leading the book study! We would love for you to join. We have books available at the school for free. Please stop by the front office if you need a book!

Review of "How Children Succeed"

Paul Tough is a New York Times reporter with an infinitely punnable name and a contrarian take on the best way to teach kids that, for educators, might be a bit … tough to swallow. (Didn’t even need the dad joke bod for that one!) Tough’s polemic on contemporary education, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, And The Hidden Power Of Character, has been described as “essential reading for anyone who cares about childhood in America.” The book explores how schools of all kinds operate on a flawed theory of intelligence and proposes a new way of thinking about how our kids learn.

Parent book study meeting dates will be coming soon. Please read chapter one and be prepared to take the "Acer" test.

Scanned from a Xerox Multifunction Printer (2).pdf

1st Parent Events Committee Meeting scheduled on August 29th, 2023 at 6:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8247966887?pwd=ODhHUGNFaTlUWCtIL2FXVStUTUc5UT09

Meeting ID: 824 796 6887

Passcode: Counselor

Middle School Student Schedules

We Want Your Feedback

We appreciate your perspective and feedback! Please click on the image below to complete the feedback form. Let us know if there is any thing we can address for you!

Newsletter Feedback Answers

Questions for the week of August 8th-12th:

Parents should be allowed to walk their child(ren) to class on the first day. Last school year was VERY disappointing for my students and I; each year prior, it has been something we looked forward to. I spoke with other parents on the 1st day who shared the same sentiment.

K-3 parents are welcome to walk their students to class. We asked that you adhere to the guidelines outlined above to assist us with maintaining a safe and orderly environment.

Upcoming KJTMA Birthdays

Happy Birthday

August 16

Bella Love

August 17

Naeem Muhammad

Paislee Fuller

Ashley Zapata

August 18

Mrs. Latrisha Cameron

Mrs. Yolanda Hanspard

August 19

Dylen Marconi

Jordan Potter

August 20

Nora Levingston

Taylor DeSouze

Mya McClelland

PTA Updates

PTA is the only advocacy organization that supports ALL students. The mission of the PTA is 'to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.' To articulate the mission and vision of PTA, we have outlined programming and advocacy efforts in which you can get involved. Please support the mission by joining the work. Please scan the QR Code below to join the KJTMA PTA. Membership is $10. If you are interested in getting involved with the PTA Parent Event's Committee, please scan the code to join the committee!