homecoming week attire

We are so excited about homecoming week in DeSoto ISD!  We have a dress theme for each day, and we want you and your student to join us in celebrating a Different World!  Please see the dress-down information for Tuesday-Friday, and let's aim for 100%!  Students may wear Jeans on Wednesday and Friday!

Parade Information

For the parade, only students who are a part of the homecoming court can ride the float.  A parent must accompany all K-2 students who walk with KJTMA in the parade.

reflections from our lock down drill

Over the last few weeks, there have been a few changes within KJTMA personnel. I will always provide the official notice to parents of the class or grade level when there is a change in personnel. Currently, we are finding exceptional individuals to join our team for our current vacancies in Kinder, 4th, and 5th.  Please meet our new 3rd teacher below.

Campus attendance percentages 

We did not make our goal again this week, KJTMA Family! We averaged 96.25%!   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 TBD.  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!

Facebook- Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy PTA

Twitter- @KJTMA_PTA

Instagram- @Katherine Johnson PTA

DeSoto ISD Standardized Dress

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

Newsletter Feedback Answers

1) This school year is much better than last year! I am thankful for Ms. Chilton. She’s an excellent teacher. 

• Thank you so much!!!!!

2) The lines to pick up our children are ridiculous. Parents speed and jump in front of cars. Most of all, when your child has arrived to your car, sometimes you can’t leave because the cars in front of you hasn’t gotten their child yet. Is there a fix for this? I have also noticed that there are children who come out when Ms. Pugh and other line helpers leave. Can we request our children be out early? I get to the school to pick up my child between 2:30-2:50. I’m usually the first 10 cars there. I don’t want to have to wait any longer than I already am. 

• We are sorry you are having this experience.  We will see what we can do to work on the lines and behaviors your described. If you check your student out early, the student can receive a reverse tardy.

3) Dismissal is at 3:50. More times than not, our children are not released until 3:55-3:57. I just don’t understand why the kids are never released on time. Please, would you grant some clarity to this issue? Thank you. 

• Students remain in their classrooms until their names are called.  Once their names are called, they walk out to your car.  That process might take a little longer than usual.

4) To help dismissal please dismiss on time (3:50 ) and have cars move to a waiting area if their students don’t come out in a timely manner.

• Thank you for your feedback. We will review our procedures to determine if we can move cars to a waiting area that would be safe and efficieint for students to get to. 

Desoto public library

Upcoming Events for the week of October 9- October 13, 2023

Annual Trunk or Treat 

We will be having our annual Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 31st.  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.