Trailblazer Tribune
November 13 - November 17, 2023
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
It was a privilege to celebrate our fathers, Veteran's Day, see our 1st Veteran's Day projects, and to have our KJTMA band debut their talent!
donuts with dads-thank you!
Dads, thank you so much for joining us for Donuts with Dads! We loved having you on our campus this week! To all the AMAZING parent volunteers, thank you for making Donuts with Dads a special time and experience for our fathers and students! You all are AMAZING!!!!
(See pictures in the photos of the week)
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KJTMA Talent show
Our students will put their full talent on display this week during our talent shows. The K-5 talent show will take place November 14, 2023 at 6:30 pm. The 6-8th Grade talent show will take place at 6:30 on November 16, 2023 at 6:30 pm. If you are able, please come out and support our students and Ms. Washington! We want as many family and community members to come out as possible for both shows! Thank you in advance for your support!
november 16th Family feast
On November 16, 2023, our KJTMA families will join us for our annual Thanksgiving Family Feast. Each student can have up to two guests. Our classes will go to lunch as follows:
K-2nd: (Guest-Check-in from 9:45-10:00); Lunch from: 10:15-11:15
3rd-5th: (Guest Check-in 11:05-11:15); Lunch from: 11:25-12:25
6th-8th: (Guest Check-in 12:00-12:20): Lunch from:12:35-1:35
Campus early release-friday, npvember 17th
early Release information for parents
Attendance will be taken as normal throughout the day and all students who are not present according to the policy will result in an unexcused absence.
Pick-up for your child should be pre-arranged to accommodate the adjusted schedules as there are no campus after-school programs in progress onsite at this time.
While the district will ensure that all authorized daycare transportation services receive the early release schedule and district calendar, please ensure that you confirm the transportation adjustment for your child directly with the service provider.
Breakfast on the campus will align with the regular campus procedures, however, in an abbreviated format specific to each campus the child nutrition department will ensure all students receive lunch before being dismissed from the campus.
If your child currently rides the bus to and from school, please note that school buses will be in service and available at the regular arrival and adjusted dismissal time to ensure the safe transportation of your child to and from our campuses. Locate Your Bus
Parents of students who are actively participating in extracurricular activities such as athletics, fine arts, etc., should confirm the early release schedule with your child’s program coordinator and also have a clear contingency plan in place.
school store now open
Orders placed October 20th - Nov.15th will be delivered by 1st week of December.
We have a few of our 23-24 spirit shirts for sale in the office. Youth sizes only for $10 each.
PTA Pals Program Needs your support
We are starting a monitored PEER tutoring program at KJTMA. The program is called PTA Pals. Students and parents who volunteer to tutor with the PALs program will help students with concepts with which they struggle. Students in 4th-8th grade can volunteer for K-8 students. Sessions will be 60 minutes and will focus on the needs identied in the parent request form.
We will begin tutoring the week of November 13, 2023. Parents can sign up to get assistance for students in need of tutoring using the PALs Google Form. Tutoring is available individually or in groups of four.
1st Grade Citizenship Project
Our first grade teachers, Mrs. Pratt and Ms. Pugh, have been guiding our students in reviewing citizenship. This week, they did an in-depth project on first responders. As a part of the project, students dressed up as policemen, firemen, military heroes, journalists, nurses, and doctors. Students were tasked with writing a paragraph about their chosen first responders. Students had to describe how their first responder keeps us safe. Each student presented their project to their peers! Thank you to Mrs. Pratt and Ms. Pugh for providing our students with such an amazing experience!
Kjtma celebrates veterans
At KJTMA, we have the privilege of having several veterans lead our students. Staff Sergeant Richardson leads our JROTC, Coach Shabbazz serves in our P.E. classes, and Dr. Rasheed supports our students, our teachers, and leads many of our academic extracurricular initiatives. Our veterans are so important to us! We are thankful for their service and all they do each day to make our campus a better place to grow and learn.
Friday, we celebrated all veterans through our annual Veteran's Day program. Thank you to those who shared pictures of the veterans in your family. Honoring the many warriors that bravely ensure our liberties is a privilege.
KJTMA band debut
This week, our KJTMA band made their debut in our annual Veteran's Day program. Under the direction of Mr. Dominique Martin, the drumline demonstrated their skills by playing music from the famed Florida A&M University drumline. Our band, comprised of mostly beginner band students, showed their collective talent by playing a holiday medley as well! Our director and band are working extremely hard. We are proud of them!
Primarily parrots visits kjtma
This week, we had the distinct privilege of learning from our friends at Primarily Parrots. All K-5 students learned about owls, nocturnal animals, birds, and reptiles! It was a very enriching experience for our students. Thank you to the volunteers who braved the wild with us!
3rd/4th remind codes
Parents, as we navigate the teacher vacancies in 3rd and 4th grade, please join our parent Remind. I will add information to the remind on Sundays and answer any questions between 3:50 and 5:30 each day. The remind codes for each grade level are as follows:
3rd grade Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/g222h4d
4th grade Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/c4a6h3e
KJTMA vacancies-Updates
Do you know any December education graduates? If so, please connect me to them! This week, the Math team interviewed an individual that we will recommend for hire. There is still a long process for hiring. However, if she meets the standard, she can start in 4th grade in January. More details are forthcoming! Until hiring is finalized, we are still hiring for the following positions:
Kinder
3rd Grade Math/Science
3rd Grade English Language Arts/Social Studies
4th Grade Math
If you know someone who is tenacious, loves students, is honest, and undeterred by hard work, please have them apply online at desotoisd.org send their resume to michelle.neely@desotoisd.org.
Thanks for coming out to Meet Mrs. Charfauros!
5th-grade parents, thank you so much for coming out to meet Mrs. Charfauros on Wednesday evening! I hope you are as excited as we are about all she will bring to our campus! Remember, she is still trying to get everything set up. The best way to reach her is through email if she doesn't get back to you through Dojo!
Home Interventions
There are many ways to support your student's academic growth at home. Here are a few online sites that would be helpful for students:
XtraMath
An online math fact fluency program that helps students develop quick recall and automaticity of basic math facts. Students with a strong foundation have greater confidence and success learning more advanced math like fractions and algebra. It generates individual practice sessions automatically based on assessment of each student’s progress. xtramath.org
EBOOKS
through DeSoto ISD
Books! Books! And More Books! - We are still a book provider! We can still provide online resources for patrons. We have eBooks, audiobooks, and interactive books available through our online catalog, Destiny. Check out a book from anywhere you have internet access. Students will need their username and password to check out an online resource.
4th grade tries out games
Thank you so much for donating games to our students! Our 4th graders got a chance to test out the games this week! They had a blast! Right now, we only have enough games for approximately 80 students to play at a time. I am asking for the following games so that approximately 200 students can play simultaneously:
Dominoes
Uno
Connect 4
Checkers
Cards
Legos (the smaller ones)
Thank you so much!
RIT To LEXILES
Now more than ever in education, we have data points that can help us fine-tune our steps to assist our students. Knowing our students' Lexile levels and growth opportunities for Math can help us take appropriate actionss at home to help our students. Reading books 50 points above your student's Lexile for 20 minutes each night and asking STAAR-like questions can dramatically assist your student with their reading comprehension and fluency growth. To help you get started with this work, I am providing you with the following information:
Scholastic Website to help you find books at your student's Lexile.
RIT to LEXILE Comparison Chart (rit is in Gray, Lexile is in White)
Question Stems for the different types of literature your students are reading.
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Texas Roadhouse Peanut Fundraiser
We are selling Texas Roadhouse Peanuts for $5.00 a bag in the office. The bags come with a coupon for a free appetizer. Funds will help to support the counseling department activities.
KJTMA Yearbooks for sale
Pre-order your 2023-2024 Yearbooks
Act now to save on your yearbook!
IT'S ALL
IN THE YEARBOOK
The memories. The friendships. The achievements. This yearbook is like no other because your student is like no other. Order them this irreplaceable piece of their history today.
ORDER YEARBOOK ›
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MAKE IT ONE-OF-A-KIND
Personalization is easy to add. Just follow the simple instructions when ordering to add your student's name and up to four icons to the cover of their yearbook.
ORDER YEARBOOK ›
*Minimum purchase requirements and eligibility restrictions apply.
2020-2021 Yearbook
$5.00 cash if your child was here during the 2020-2021 and did not purchase a yearbook, we have some left that we are selling for $5.00 each
2022-2023
If your child was here during the 2022-2023 and did not purchase a yearbook, we have some left that we are selling for $30.00 each
FREE TABLETS & INTERNET FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS
Free tablets & internet for qualifying students
Posted on 08/04/2023
DeSoto ISD is proud to work with Public Wireless in our latest effort to provide internet access for all our students.
As a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) recipient, ALL students who attended the DeSoto ISD during the 2022-2023 school year are qualified. There is no risk to apply to receive a free 10.1-inch HD tablet with free internet service!
Along with these free tablets, each qualifying student will also be provided with a hard case cover and a screen protector. The included SIM cards provide 24/7 LTE Broadband Internet Service. WIFI access is NOT needed.
Parents, guardians and students will never receive a billing statement for the tablet or for the internet service. These tablets are completely free and belong to the students forever. There are no obligations or commitments. This offer is limited to only one tablet per household and tablets will be mailed to the address provided.
Services such as these align with the district's commitment to ensure all students, without exception, learn and grow at their highest level. These tablets will allow students to continue their education with the ability to complete assignments at home. Having access to the internet is a necessity, especially for our district scholars. DeSoto ISD continues to empower its students with the necessary tools to succeed in their academic and personal journeys.
To apply, visit:
Questions, comments or concerns can be made by calling 1.800.286.5380
DeSoto ISD is not responsible for: misuse of the tablet/internet, tablet repairs and internet accessibility/speeds. DeSoto ISD is not the agency providing the devices and/or internet access.
Morning arrival
This is a reminder that school opens at 7:30 a.m., and classes begin at 8:00 a.m.
All students who are not dropped off by bus or daycare should be dropped off on the north side of the building in the car drop-off pick-up area. No students unless they ride the bus or daycare should be dropped off in the front of the building. The gates will now remain open until 8:35. If you are running a little late in the morning please drive around the building and drop students off on the Northside. Students arriving after 8:10 will receive a tardy.
If you arrive after 8:35 you will drop off in the front, and students will come through the front door to check in and go through the bag-search protocols as do students entering through the cafeteria.
apps for parental control For Phones
Parents, did you know that more than 30% of the disciplinary issues that we deal with at school have a correlation to somethin that took place between students on their devices? If your elementary or middle school student has a phone, please consider adding a Parental Control app to it. There are many apps on the market that can provide the safety coverage and monitoring for our students. These apps allow you to see what your student is doing, as well as where they are at all times. The apps typically can not be disabled or uninstalled by students. Every family raises their students differently. Most students want to adhere to their parent's rules, but the pressure to fit in is pervasive and far-reaching. Most of us were not as accessible as children are today. Not only that, the students today have access to things we didn't have access to until we were adults.
kjtma scripps spelling bee
We believe our students have to take to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This year, we entered our school in the national competition. We have word lists at every grade level, and we will have a school-wide competition in DECEMBER.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been in existence since 1925, and participating in it is a great way to improve and promote literacy for our students!
Please encourage your students to learn their grade-level words so they will be ready for the competition. More direction will come from your student's teachers. If your student would like a paper copy of the spelling words for their grade level they can request one in the main office.
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at-home support activities
NWEA Map gives us the opportunity to do something about our student's academic deficits and gaps. By knowing our student's RIT scores, we can identify their lexile range. Lexiles ranges allow us to pick reading material for our students that is appropriately challenging. By reading something in their lexile range for 20 minutes every day, your child can increase their RIT, Lexiles, and comprehension. Reading also helps us learn to stay focused, and it helps us think critically. Now that you have your students' NWEA Map scores, please read with them each night, and ask them questions about the text. I have added a chart to help you convert your student's RIT score to their appropriate Lexile. You can use the LEXILE website to help you find reading material at your student's Lexile level. The at-home activities handout also has Math fluency information for you to use to help your student.
Food Delivery Reminder
Parents and Guardians of our KJTMA Scholars:
Please do not have food delivered to your students for lunch. Ouside food is welcomed when parents come for lunch.
Campus attendance percentages
We did not make our goal again this week, KJTMA Family! We averaged 97%! Let's continue to work on making sure that our students are in class! There is a direct correlation between student academic success and attendance. If we reach our attendance goal of 97%. Monday-Thursday, our students may have a full dress-down day again on Friday! Please do not allow students to dress down if you do not hear from the school. We will announce this Thursday evening via a campus phone call. Let's help our students reach the attendance goal for the week.
1st 6 weeks Campus Weekly Goal 97%
Week 1 8/14 - 8/18
Elementary K-5 98.79 Middle School 6-8 99.28
Campus Total 99.03
Week 2 8/21 - 8/26
Elementary K-5 97.86 Middle School 6-8 94.58
Campus Total 96.22
Week 3 8/28 - 9/1
Elementary K-5 96.91 Middle School 6-8 93.98
Campus Total 95.445
Week 4 9/4 - 9/8
Elementary K-5 97.28 Middle School 6-8 96.39
Campus Total 96.835 round up 97.00
Week 5 9/11 - 9/15
Elementary K-5 96.68 Middle School 6-8 97.11
Campus Total 96.895 round-up 97.00
(students were rewarded with a dress down day on 9/15)
Week 6 9/18 - 9/22
Elementary K-5 96.5 Middle School 6-8 97.47
Campus Total 96.98 round-up 97.00
(students were rewarded with a dress-down day on 9/22)
2nd 6 weeks Campus Weekly Goal 97%
Week 7 9/25 - 9/29
Elementary K-5 95.92 Middle School 6-8 95.31
Campus Total 95.615
Week 8 10/2 - 10/6
Elementary K-5 96.12 Middle School 6-8 96.39
Campus Total 96.25
Week 9 10/9 - 10/13
Elementary K-5 97 Middle School 6-8 98
Campus Total 97.5
Week 10 10/16 - 10/20
Elementary K-5 96 Middle School 6-8 97
Campus Total 97
Week 11 10/23 - 10/27
Elementary K-5 97.00 Middle School 6-8 95.04
Campus Total 96.02
Week 12 10/30 - 11/3
Elementary K-5 Middle School 6-8
PTA Updates
Our next PTA meeting is December 6, 2023 . All meetings start promptly at 6:00 PM and end at 6:30. We would love for you to join us for the meeting and join PTA. Thank you for all that contributed to the Legacy Day Fundraiser. Because of your generosity, our students will have learning opportunities in aviation, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing later this semester!
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 want to join the PTA Parent Event Committee, please scan the code to join the committee!
Join us for campus clean up days the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each Month.
Facebook- Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy PTA
Twitter- @KJTMA_PTA
Instagram- @Katherine Johnson PTA
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Safety and Operations
DeSoto ISD Standardized Dress
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KJTMA Standardized Dress Expectations & Consessions
Some of our students are wearing colors outside the colors prescribed in the district dresscode. The dress code colors are as follows: Solid color green, gold, black, white, or gray shirt with collar;
Thank you for helping us adhere to the standardized dress expectations this week! Students will be in Standardized Dress UNLESS we send a notice home to parents on Thursday. Every Friday, students may wear their House t-shirt or DeSoto spirit shirt with the uniform bottoms or dark colored jeans (black, gray, or dark blue without rips).
Dress down days will be announced through phone messages on Thursdays. If a small group of students earn an extended dress-down period, that information will be shared directly with the student and parents. An example of an extended dress down might look like students getting honored through the PBIS system would have several days to dress down in a row.
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 in the school office or through the online KJTMA Uniform Store. Students must wear shirts with patches Monday-Thursday. Spirit shirts are only worn on Fridays.
Patches Available in the office
Because the patches were 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 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.
desoto isd sports schedules
Desoto isd Bag Policy for athletic games
Mighty McCowan Athletics
If your student has a game, you may pick them up between 3:40-3:50 in the front office. You may park in the front parking lot (PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE BUS LANE), come into the main office, and check them out. We will work with you to ensure you and your scholar are allowed in the parking lot at dismissal! We are excited for our student-athletes and look forward to seeing them play as members of the Mighty McCowan teams! Please look at the game locations and times for this week's sporting events.
A parent must accompany students attending all games, and they must have their school I.D. on at all times. A parent must accompany students to attend the games.
opportunity for 8th grade girls
Message for 7th and 8th grade Parents and students from GEAR UP
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Volunteer at KJTMA
Opportunities available now in Voly
Morning and afternoon car line assistance, Lunchroom Volunteers, Fire Safety for Kinder-2nd grade, Trunk or Treat, Donuts for Dad, Picture Day, and Family Feast Day.
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 volunteers help lunchtime run smoothly and can be a rewarding experience.
Are you available for 30 minutes for one day to help oversee our students at lunchtime? If so, here's a quick video to show you how to sign up in Voly!
How to Sign Up to Volunteer in Voly - Watch Video
In this quick video, I will show you how to sign up to volunteer in Voly. I will guide you through the process of logging in and finding opportunities to volunteer. I will also demonstrate how to choose a date and time for volunteering and submit your sign-up. By the end of this video, you will know how to successfully sign up and await approval to volunteer in Voly.
If you are available and willing to volunteer for a 30-minute shift, it would greatly benefit both the staff and the students. Thank you for considering this opportunity. Even a small commitment like this can make a big difference in our children's daily lives.
Helpful tips for lunchroom duty:
1. A raised hand with crossed fingers is a request to go to the restroom.
2. Paper towels are on the center table for students to access if they have spills to clean up.
3. Gloves are available in case you need to help open food packages for the little ones.
4. They'll love your smiles! :)
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
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
Thank you to all the parents who have completed the survey, We are working to get all the free dress day coupons out to the students.
Attendance Matters
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PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Cold and Flu Season Precautionary Measures
Posted on 10/27/2022
Health officials are reporting concerns related to the spread of RSV, cold and flu, and coronavirus as the winter months approach. Help reduce the potential spread of these health concerns as we work closely with the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services to monitor trends related to such illnesses in the community.
RSV, cold and flu, and coronavirus can spread easily from person to person, and we need the assistance of staff and parents to help reduce this possible spread. It is important to take the following precautions to help ensure the health of our community:
Check for signs of illness every morning. (i.e., Fatigue, fever, sweating, cough, sore throat, headache.)
Do not come to school or work if sick. Symptoms usually include fever, cough or sore throat, and sometimes runny nose, body aches, headache, vomiting, or diarrhea. Those with symptoms should not return to school or work until they no longer have a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications or in the case of coronavirus, have tested negative.
Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or regular use of hand sanitizer is one of the most important steps you can take to stay healthy. Continue to teach children to cover their cough with their elbow or sleeve, and to wash their hands before and after touching their face.
Utilize appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette by coughing into the upper sleeve or using tissue and disposing of it properly.
Consider the use of masks. While DeSoto ISD no longer enforces a mask mandate, health officials encourage continued use of masks during the heightened cold and flu season.
Practice social distancing when possible in high-capacity indoor spaces and gatherings.
Consider a flu shot and/or COVID vaccine or booster to be proactive in protecting one’s health. Also consider the addition of recommended vitamins like C, D, Zinc, and Elderberry to assist in supporting immune health.
Re: Students: Please notify the school if your child is absent by 10 am on the day of the absence, and share your child’s symptoms with the school.
Re: Staff: Please notify your supervisor of the concern and potential absence as soon as possible and enter any necessary time off in the appropriate system. Please note, DeSoto ISD no longer provides COVID leave. Leave for COVID or other health-related concerns will be attributed to employees’ personal time off.
Dallas County Health officials recommend the following additional precautions:
Recognize whether you or any household member is at high risk for severe illness from RSV. cold and flu, or coronavirus. People at higher risk for complications include children under the age of five years, pregnant women, people of any age who have chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, or heart disease), and people aged 65 years and older. If any high-risk person or their household members become sick with flu-like symptoms, please contact your doctor as soon as possible to ask for advice about antiviral medications.
Get all healthy household members vaccinated.
It is important to note that DeSoto ISD has trained medical staff at each campus with protocols in place to handle communicable illnesses common to school districts like influenza (flu), pertussis (whooping cough), strep throat, head lice, and more.
Additionally, DeSoto ISD has a standard practice of maintaining a clean school environment. As is customary in school districts during flu season and as has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, we make it a point to frequently clean and sanitize our schools and classrooms regularly throughout the school day and each night during routine cleaning practices.
Student and staff safety is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the CDC and DSHS for additional information and guidance and will share information with you regarding any updates.
Counseling Department
Mission: DeSoto ISD's mission is to ensure students, without exception, learn and grow at their highest level.
Vision: DeSoto ISD is to inspire curiosity and consciousness, develop character, build courage and nurture compassion
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 week. We will revisit the words in classes during Eagle Academy and House challenges. Have fun helping your student expand their vocabulary and prepare for the PSAT and eventually, the SAT!
Here are the words by the weeks:
Week 1: Symbiosis
Week 2: Augment
Week 3: Lackadaisical
Week 4: Decree, DeDuce
Week 5: Cower and Cranny
Week 6: Abridge and Plethora
Week7: Copious and Miniscule
Week 8: Tenacious and Capacious
Week 9: Pacifist and Copious
Week 10: Opaque and Ostensible
Week 11: Parallel and Truculent
Week 12: Voracious and Officious
Week 13: Spurious and Onerous
Week 14: Gregarious and Pious
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Week #11
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Week #9
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Week #7
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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, Mrs. Erica Broussard will be 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!
In chapter one, one of the items of discussion will be the acer number. This is voluntary only. The Acer quiz is private and is not shared with anyone but you.
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.
It's not too late to sign up. Click on KJ Parent Book Club Sign-UP to sign up.
Mrs. Broussard will host this year's parent book club. Meeting dates are:
November 30th @ 6pm Chapters 3 and 4
December 14th @6pm Chapter 5
All meetings virtual meetings are on Zoom. The link is:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/3797888309?pwd=ynx3Cyo0vgZYudFP2gbmBJB3BAJyX3.1
Meeting ID: 379 788 8309
Passcode: kjbooks
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Broussard at
EricaWoodardBroussard@gmail.com
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Parent Survey
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.
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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! Please click HERE to leave feedback.
Newsletter Feedback Answers
Upcoming KJTMA Birthdays
Happy Birthday
November 12
JuNise Faulkner
Isabella Vergara
Vanessa Vergara
Tiwan West II
November 13
Joshua Piper
November 14
Dr. Neely
Kaiden Gray
Andre' Navarro
November 15
Paxton Williams
November 16
Christian Strahan
November 17
November 18
Nicholas Hart
Harlem Russell
Desoto public library
Pictures from the week of November 6-10, 2023
Upcoming Events for the week of November 13 - November 17, 2023
Aviation Month
National School Psychology Week & World Kindness Week
Monday, November 13, 2023, A-Day
6:30 pm School Board Progress Monitoring Data/Business Meeting
Tuesday, November 14, 2023, B-Day
Elementary Talent show 6:30 pm
Wednesday, November 15, 2023, A-Day
6:00 pm DeSoto ISD School Board Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, November 16, 2023, B-Day
Family Feast Day-Reservations were due on Friday, November 10th. Our classes will go to lunch at: K-2nd: 10:15-11:15 Guest-Check-in from 9:45-10:00, 3rd-5th;11:25-12:25 Guest Check-in 11:05-11:15, 6th-8th: 12:35-1:35 Guest Check-in 12:00 - 12:20
Middle school Talent show 6:30 pm
Friday, November 17, 2023, A-Day
Early Release Time to be announced
Save the DATES in November
Week of November 20-24, 2023, - Thanksgiving Break
Dine to Donate-Texas Roadhouse in Mansfield more information
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Dr. michelle Neely, Principal
Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy
Follow me on Twitter @MRNeely74
Email: michelle.neely@desotoisd.org
District Website: www.DeSotoisd.org