Good Morning, Manara STEM Families,
Ramadan Mubarak to those celebrating Ramadan! For those students who wish to practice fasting during this time, there will be designated locations in the cafeteria for students to sit during lunch time. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns, as we are here to serve.
Please read within the newsletter about the revival of the Manara 5K event on April 20! We are excited that this event will be taking place again this year, so read how you and your family can be a part of this great event!
Don't forget to "Spring Forward" this weekend! I hope you all enjoy the extra bit of daylight each day!
#MAWAY
Principal Vinten
The mission of Manara Academy is to provide students with a creative, adaptive and ethical environment to become knowledgeable inquirers and future leaders in a diverse and evolving global society where we master languages, honor cultural heritages, and respect diversity.
For those celebrating Ramadan, Ramadan Mubark!
On April 20 Manara will be hosting a 5K run/walk in Irving. Put it on your calendar today! More information will be coming out as to how you can participate or volunteer on this day, so be on the lookout for signing up to participate either as a volunteer, runner, walker, or just to cheer everyone on! It is sure to be a fun event!
Paper is thrilled to announce the 2024 Paper March Madness Challenge, dedicated to supporting teachers and students throughout the test-prep season! Students will have two chances to win amazing prizes like Apple AirPods and more by scoring Paper Three-Pointers.
To score a Paper Three-Pointer, students will need to complete a Paper activity on three separate days before each draw. The first round of prizes will be drawn on March 15th and the second on April 1st.
Students can dive into the Paper Missions section of their student dashboard, choosing from Math, ELA, Vocabulary, or Test Prep, and begin on their journey today.
Raffle prizes will include Apple Airpods, NBA/WNBA jerseys and Stanley Cup Tumblers!
Flyers will go home on Monday as well, but students in grades 3-8 can log onto the Paper App this weekend (through Clever) and start this weekend! Utilizing these resourses will be great practice and support for the STAAR testing the end of April!
March 25, the Monday after Spring Break, will be our bad weather make-up day. School WILL be in session that day! We are looking forward to seeing all scholars on Monday, March 25!!
The image below, even though it states middle school, can be applied for all grade levels. Attendance for the entire school day matters in ALL grade levels! Being late each morning or a few mornings each week, and/or being picked up early, even one day of the week, adds up! We want to create good habits in our children so those habits can follow them throughout their school career. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to Mrs. Vinten or Mrs. Wilson! Click on the video link below for more information!
Excused absences in the State of Texas include:
Observing a religious holiday
Attending a required court appearance
Appearing at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in the child's citizenship application
Taking part in a naturalization oath ceremony
Serving as an election clerk
A child in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) participating in a documented activity that is court ordered
Being temporarily absent for a health care appointment for the student/child (not the parent appointment)
Absent due to serious or life-threatening illness or absent due to illness or treatment (doctor/clinic documentation required)
Visiting with parent/legal guardian who is active duty military and parent has returned from continuous deployment of at least four months
Conducting activities related to enlistment (student must be 17 years of age or older.
Visiting an institution of higher education during a student's junior or senior year
A student in grades 6-12 sounding "Taps" at a military honors funeral held in Texas for a deceased veteran.
All of the above Excused absences require documentation. Absences are not excused without documentation even if they are on the allowable list.
All EXCUSED ABSENCES Require DOCUMENTATION. Please contact your school with the required documentation.
State law requires children who are six years old as of September 1 to attend school through their 19th birthday or until they graduate with a high school diploma (whichever occurs first). Compulsory attendance also applies to students who are younger than six who have previously been enrolled in first grade and to students below the age of six who are voluntarily enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.
90% Rule:
Texas Education Code section 25.092 requires that a student in grades kindergarten through grade 12 be in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days a class is offered in order to receive credit for the class or a final grade. Most absences that are excused are still counted when determining whether a student is in compliance with the 90 percent rule.
Truancy:
Truancy is DIFFERENT than the 90% Rule. Truancy counts unexcused absences. Did you know that 3 or MORE unexcused absences Full Day or PARTIAL day in a four week period is considered Truant and 10 or MORE unexcused absences Full Day or PARTIAL day in 6 months is considered Truant. Parents can be held accountable and responsible in Texas Truancy Court with fines of up to $500.00 for contributing to their child's absences. Please be aware of truancy and cooperate with the school in getting in your documentation from the excused list.
Absences & Illnesses
(Mark your calendars!)
Mar 12-14 TELPAS make-up testing
Mar 18-22 Spring Break - No School!
Mar 25 - School will be IN SESSION! Bad weather make-up day from the January cancellation day
Mar 28 Birthday Thursday for March Birthdays
Apr 4 UTA Planetarium Field Study for grades 3rd - 5th (field study permission slips will be sent home this week)
Apr 8 Bad weather make-up day (no school!)
Apr 9-10 No School - Eid holiday
Apr 11 Field Study PK4 - 3rd grade to the Ft. Worth Zoo (field study permission slips will be sent home this week)
Apr 20 Manara 5K event in Irving
May 10 Six Flags Over Texas Field Study for grades 4th - 8th (field trip permission slips will be sent home at a later date)