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. 

Parent Conference Sign up links

October 18, 2023, 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Parents, we are excited to discuss your student's academic growth and opportunities during parent-teacher conferences.  Below, please take a look at your student's teacher and sign up for a parent-teacher conference time.  Please inform the teacher in advance if you cannot make the prescribed time.

Kinder

Kinder - Ms. Smith

Kinder- Mrs. Mayberry 

1st

1st Grade - Ms. Pratt

1st Grade-Ms. Pugh

2nd

Ms. Chilton - 2nd grade

Mrs. Wright - 2nd grade

Mrs. Russell-Hawley-2nd Grade

3rd

3rd grade - Mrs. Cunningham

3rd grade - Ms. Brice

3rd grade-Ms. Burton

4th

4th grade - Ms. Shaw

5th

5th grade Mr. Jacobs

5th grade Mr. Whitley

Middle School

ELAR-Mrs. Jackson

Social Studies-Ms. Crawford

Griffith - Fall 2023 Parent Conferences 

Mrs. Hedge's Parent Conference Sign-up (if you would like to schedule a virtual meeting with Ms. Hedge please contact her at tonisha.hedge@desotoisd.org )

Spanish - Ms. Romero

Cameron's Sign-Up 6th/7th Math

Science- Mrs. Amokomowo 

Science - Foster

Social Studies 6/7-Gales

Enrichment

PE-Coach Richardson & Coach Shabazz

Art - Mr. Turner

Music-Ms. Jade Washington

Musical Theater- Ms. Dawson 

KJTMA IEP Case Manager-Ms. Dawson

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.

PTA Updates

Our next PTA meeting is November 1, 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

DeSoto ISD Standardized Dress

opportunity for 8th grade girls

Attendance Matters

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

Newsletter Feedback Answers

• What is protocol or what should we expect as far as communication to parents as staff changes happen? Is there a timeline we can expect from the school as teachers are out for longer than a week or are no longer employed(even if the school is actively looking for a replacement)? 

  • As things are finalized and adjustments are made to maintain stability, I will communicate everything as quickly and accurately as I am able to do so. If there appears to be a delay in communication, I may be working out all the details so that I can provide clarity. I always work to communicate things as quickly as I am able to.

• What is protocol when we have sent multiple emails to a teacher and staff with no response? I feel like I have gone at least 4 weeks without a response from multiple emails sent. I know expectations of parents in this respect, but what is expected from teachers and what do we do when teachers just don't respond? 

  • Unless a teacher is out sick or an email is sent late at night, over the weekend or on holiday, you should receive an email within 48 hours. If you do not get a response in a timely manner, you can carbon copy an administrator.

• I would like to offer praise and thanks for the list of scholarships available to all grade levels being provided in the newsletter. This is a GREAT idea! I remember as a high school student (year ago) spending hours online researching local scholarships opportunities to apply for. Lists like these will be very valuable to all students whether they are applying for college funding or for other enrichment opportunities. THANK YOU! 

  • Thank you so much!!!!!!

Desoto public library

Upcoming Events for the week of October 16- October 20, 2023

Annual Trunk or Treat 

We will be having our annual Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 31st 5:30-6:30.  We need your help!  Please donate bags of individually wrapped candy by October 25th.   When sending in the Candy please make sure we know which house your child is in and the houses will receive house points.