According to Legal policy EHBK, a District shall regularly observe the following recognition days, weeks, and months by appropriate programs, celebrations, and activities: 

Women's Independence Day

August 26: Women's Independence Day, to commemorate the ratification in 1920 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Women's Independence Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate programs in the public schools to inspire a greater appreciation of the importance of women's suffrage. Gov't Code 662.051

Hydrocephalus Awareness Month - September

Increase public awareness of hydrocephalus, a serious neurological condition characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain; and

• Encourage the development of partnerships between the federal government, health-care professionals, and patient advocacy groups to advance the public's understanding of the condition, improve the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, and support research for a cure.

• Hydrocephalus Awareness Month shall be regularly observed by appropriate activities in public schools to increase awareness of hydrocephalus.

Gov't Code 662.106

September 11 & Texas First Responders Day

September 11: To commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, in each year that date falls on a regular school day, each public elementary and secondary school shall provide for the observance of one minute of silence at the beginning of the first class period of that day. Immediately before the required period of observance, the class instructor shall make a statement of reference to the memory of individuals who died on September 11, 2001. The required period of observance may be held in conjunction with the minute of silence required by Education Code 25.082. [See EC] Education Code 25.0821

The 9/11 terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Commemorative events are held at all three sites on the anniversary of the attacks.  The 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the George W. Bush Presidential Library are committed to providing students and teachers the tools to understand what happened on 9/11 and how the attacks continue to impact our lives. To access student and teacher resources, visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the George W. Bush Presidential Library. 

September 11: Texas First Responders Day, in honor of the bravery, courage, and determination of Texas men and women who assist others in emergencies. Texas First Responders Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies in the public schools to honor Texas first responders. A district may determine the appropriate ceremonies by which Texas observes Texas First Responders Day. Gov't Code 662.050

Constitution Day & Freedom Week celebrations

Texas Education Code Sec. 29.907 requires all Texas public schools to celebrate Freedom Week during the week of September 17th. 

According to the Texas Education Code, the purpose of celebrating Freedom Week is "to educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which this country was founded". Celebrate Freedom Week also coincides with Constitution Week. Jarrell ISD social studies courses provide instruction during Freedom Week. 

The TEA Celebrate Freedom Week web page provides resources that include a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials for Celebrate Freedom Week and Constitution Day.   

Constitution Day: A district that receives federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution for the students served by the district. Pub. L. 108-447 (2004)

American Indian Heritage Day

The last Friday in September is in recognition of the historic, cultural, and social contributions American Indian communities and leaders have made to Texas. American Indian Heritage Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in public schools to honor American Indians in Texas and to celebrate the rich traditional and contemporary American Indian culture. Gov't Code 662.056

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States. Students learn about the contributions in science, arts, literature, and culture of Hispanics throughout American history. 

The TEA has created a web page focused on providing resources for Hispanic Heritage Month that include instructional materials, activities, and lessons that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to support instruction in Mexican American Studies. 

Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

Texas Government Code, §662.116 establishes the month of October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month to increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and potential overdoses. Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month may be regularly observed through appropriate community activities.  The Fentanyl Response Communications Toolkit includes resources to support school systems in spreading awareness on the growing dangers of fentanyl. 

Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week

TEC §29.9074 requires the governor to designate a week to be known as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week in public schools to educate students about the dangers posed by the drug fentanyl and the risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose. The week may include age-appropriate instruction, including instruction on the prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl, as determined by each school district.

Annual instruction for students in grades 6-12

Each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to annually provide to students in grades 6–12 research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness (TEC, §38.040). The required instruction in fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness must include the following:

• Suicide prevention 

• Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl 

• Awareness of local school and community resources and any processes involved in accessing those resources 

• Health education that includes information about substance use and abuse, including youth substance use and abuse 

The instruction may be provided by a public or private institution of higher education, library, community service organization, religious organization, local public health agency, or organization that employs mental health professionals or an employee or agent of these entities. A document that identifies the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) related to drug abuse prevention is available in the Fentanyl Response Communications Toolkit. 

A school district or open-enrollment charter school may satisfy a requirement to implement a program in substance abuse prevention and intervention by providing instruction related to youth substance use and abuse education under the new Fentanyl Prevention and Drug Poisoning Awareness Education requirement provided by TEC, §38.040 (TEC, §38.351(g-1)).

Generation Texas Week

Each district offering middle school, junior high school, or high school grade levels shall designate one week during the school year as Generation Texas Week. During the designated week, each middle school, junior high school, and high school shall provide students with comprehensive grade-appropriate information about the pursuit of higher education, including:

1. Higher education options;

2. Standard admission requirements for institutions of higher education include:

   • Overall high school grade point average;

   • Required curriculum;

   • College readiness standards and expectations as determined under Education Code 28.008; and

   • Scores necessary on generally recognized tests or assessment instruments used in admissions determinations, including the Scholastic Assessment Test and the American College Test;

3. Automatic admission of certain students to general academic teaching institutions under Education Code 51.803 [see EIC]; and

4. Financial aid availability and requirements, including the financial aid information provided by school counselors under Education Code 33.007(b) [see FFEA].

In addition, each middle school, junior high school, and high school shall provide to students with at least one public speaker to promote the importance of higher education.

Education Code 29.911

Sam Rayburn Day

January 6 is Sam Rayburn Day in memory of that great Texas and American statesman, Sam Rayburn. Sam Rayburn Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate programs in public schools and other places to commemorate the birthday of Sam Rayburn.

holocaust remembrance week

Texas Education Code Sec. 29.9072 requires all Texas public schools to participate in Holocaust Remembrance Week the week of January 27th.

According to the Texas Education Code, the purpose of Holocaust Remembrance Week is "to educate students about the Holocaust and inspire in students a sense of responsibility to recognize and uphold human value and to prevent future atrocities". Jarrell ISD social studies courses and English courses provide instruction during Holocaust Remembrance Week.

For more information please visit: Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

• Holocaust Instruction Requirements for Texas Schools 

• How to Teach About the Holocaust 

• Planning the Week on Your Campus 

• Elementary School Resources 

• Middle School Resources 

• High School Resources 

• Request a THGAAC Speaker for Your Classroom, Campus, or Community Event

Texas Military Heroes Day

February 2 was designated by Governor Abbott as Texas Military Heroes Day in order to educate students in public schools about the sacrifices made by brave Texans who have served in the armed forces of the United States.

• Texas Military Heroes Day must include appropriate instruction, as determined by each school district. Instruction may include the following:

  • Information about persons who have served in the armed forces of the United States and are from the community or the geographic area in which the district is located

  • Participation, in person or using technology, in age-appropriate learning projects at battlefields and gravesites associated with a person who has served in the armed forces

Black History Month

Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of Black Americans throughout more than 400 years of American history. The following websites provide resources related to Black History Month:

• Texas State History Museum - The African American Story 

• Prairie View A & M University - Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture 

• Texas State Historical Association Handbook of African American Texas  

• Texas State Library and Archives Commission - Texas Remembers Juneteenth 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park 

• National Museum of African American History and Culture 

• Black History Month Website, Hosted by The Library of Congress 

• National Archives - African American History 

• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park  

• National Black History Month: United States Census Bureau 

State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day

February 19: State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day (STAR Day), in honor of Texas joining the Union and the day that James Pinckney Henderson became the first governor of the state of Texas in 1846. STAR Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate and patriotic programs in the public schools to properly commemorate the annexation of this state and to inspire a greater appreciation for the history of this state. Gov't Code 662.047

Texas History Month

Texas History Month, in honor of those Texans who helped shape the history of the state of Texas and in recognition of events throughout Texas's history. Texas History Month shall be regularly observed by appropriate celebrations and activities in public schools to promote interest in and knowledge of Texas history. Gov't Code 662.102

Texas Girls in STEM Day

March 1 is designated as Texas Girls in STEM Day to celebrate and encourage the participation of girls in this state in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Texas Girls in STEM Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in public schools, public institutions of higher education, and other places to:

• encourage girls in this state to consider career fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and celebrate and honor the women of this state who have excelled in those fields.

In recognition of Texas Girls in STEM Day, each school district may include throughout the month of March appropriate instruction, activities, and programs to encourage and celebrate women in career fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The instruction may include programs that profile women in those fields and related fields, including finance, information technology, data analytics, cybersecurity, and health care cloud architecture.

Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day

The first Friday in April is designated Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day in public schools to promote awareness of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables and to encourage students to consume more fruits and vegetables during Texas Fruit and Vegetable Month. Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day shall include appropriate instruction, as determined by the district. Education Code 29.9073

Public School Paraprofessional Day

The second Wednesday in May: Public School Paraprofessional Day, in recognition of education paraprofessionals including teacher assistants, instructional aides, educational trainers, library attendants, bilingual assistants, special education associates, mentors, and tutors. Public School Paraprofessional Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and activities in the public schools to properly recognize the paraprofessionals who have made tremendous contributions to the educational process. Gov't Code 662.049

human sexuality

In accordance with the Texas Education Code § 28.004, local board policy, and the Jarrell ISD School Health Advisory Council, JISD provides students with human sexuality instruction at the Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School levels. 

law enforcement interactions

Texas Education Code Sec. §74.39 requires all Texas public schools to provide instruction in one or more courses to students in Grades 9-12 on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. 

Jarrell ISD student's will participate in law enforcement interaction instruction during their high school career.

social emotional learning - character education

TEC §29.906 explains how character traits will be integrated into the essential knowledge and skills for K-12 including the following traits:

• courage;

• trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty;

• integrity;

• respect and courtesy;

• responsibility, including accountability, diligent self-control;

• fairness, including justice and freedom from prejudice;

• caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity;

• good citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good and the community, and respect for authority and the law;

• school pride; and

• gratitude.

This education code also explains how the district will adopt a character education program that covers the above traits and a committee will be a part of the selection process. The SHAC committee reviewed different character education programs, and the following programs were adopted within each grade-level band:

• Early Act First Knight

• Second Step

  • The Second Step program supports direct instruction of character traits provided by a classroom teacher. This program offers weekly lessons, songs & games, daily activities, and take-home activities to reinforce students’ learning. English Language Arts and Reading adoption resources also integrate Social-Emotional Learning with character development into daily lessons.

• Restorative Practices

• Capturing Kids Hearts (Teacher Professional Development)

CPR

Texas Education Code §74.38 requires all Texas public schools to provide instruction to students in Grades 7-12 in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Jarrell ISD students will participate in CPR instruction during their high school career.