Jackson eNews
Hello Jackson Families!
Brrr . . . ! I hope everyone is staying warm during our first wintery weather blast! I'm sure the kids wished for more snow, but it was nice having the extra day off!
The results of Jackson's Science Fair were announced Wednesday on JagTube, and we are so proud of everyone who participated! Ava Lawal, 1st Place and Grand Prize Winner, and her project will go on to the Elementary Regional Science Fair to be held on February 8, 2024, at the Sockwell Center for Professional Development in Plano, TX. Congratulations and good luck Ava!!
Science Fair Results
1st Place and Grand Prize Winner - Ava Lawal, 2nd Grade - Mrs. Hillier
Participant Award - Julia Farrell, 1st Grade - Mrs. Shah
Participant Award - Sheenaz Mamun, 2nd Grade - Mrs. Hillier
Participant Award - Yajaira Carrasco, 2nd Grade - Mrs. Hillier
Participant Award - Mathias Calles, 3rd Grade - Ms. Orensten
Participant Award - Ahmad Saqafee, 4th Grade - Ms. Rodriguez
I also want to recognize two of our students whose artwork was on display at the Robinson Fine Arts Center during the MLK Celebration yesterday. Congratulations to these two talented artists! Check out pictures of their artwork below!
Bridget Brelo (5th grade) - 1st place at Jackson Elementary with her mixed media art piece titled "Colorful World" and
Maddie McAndrews (4th grade) - 2nd place at Jackson Elementary with her 3D sculpture titled "Freedom on Earth".
It looks like the cold temperatures will continue through the weekend. What a great time for a good book and hot cocoa!
Crystal Roach, Ed.D
Principal
Jackson Elementary School
Jackson Science Fair 1st Place and Grand Prize Winner
Jackson Artwork on Display at Robinson Fine Arts Center
Important Dates
JANUARY 2024
- Wednesday, January 24 - Career Day, 3rd - 5th grades
- Tuesday, January 30 - PTA Spirit Night at McDonald's, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., 216 S. Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075
FEBRUARY 2024
- Thursday, February 1 - Family C.A.R.E. Night!, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., Jackson Elementary (See flyer below)
- Thursday, February 1 - PTA General Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 2 - K-5 Spirit Assembly, 2:05 p.m., gym
- Wednesday, February 7 - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Outdoor Learning Center
- Friday, February 9 - Colgate Dental Van comes to Jackson! Permission slips will be sent home and must be returned to school by January 19.
- Wednesday, February 14 - Friendship Parties, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
- Monday, February 19 - Student/Staff Holiday
- Tuesday, February 20 - Student Holiday/Staff Professional Development Day
- Thursday, February 22 - Spring and Class Pictures
- Thursday, February 22 - Multicultural Night, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Click HERE for 2023-24 PISD Calendar
PTA Spirit Night at McDonald's!
Jackson Elementary Family C.A.R.E. Night!
Spring Individual Picture and Group Picture Day at Jackson
January Fitness Calendar
Our awesome P.E. coaches are sharing a monthly calendar with fitness challenges and other activities that promote the development of motor skills, physical fitness, and social skills. These activities can be done at home with family or friends. Have fun with fitness!
Classroom Lessons
Welcome to the Counselors’ Corner! We will use this section of the eNews to inform you all of topics we will be covering in our Counselor lessons and any other important or useful information! Students come with their class to the counselor bi-weekly to receive lessons. We absolutely love this time with them!
For our next lesson, the weeks of 01/22 & 01/29, we will continue to focus on College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) by highlighting how to be a successful student, goal-setting, and exploring post-secondary options. During these lessons, students will gain self-confidence in their ability to succeed and the belief in using their abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes. We will discuss how being a successful student now will better prepare them for their future and teach a variety of skills that students can utilize! Students will also focus on long and short-term academic, career, and social/emotional goals. Students will understand how lifelong learning is necessary for long-term success! Students will also learn the important of perseverance to achieve those long and short-term goals, which directly correlates with our new Jaguar of the Month Trait!
Jaguar of the Month Program
Jaguar of the Month is a student reward program (Grades K-5) that incorporates character traits from the program, CharacterStrong. A new character trait is introduced every month and students will engage in classroom discussions and activities to reinforce the trait. At the end of the month, each teacher will identify a student who consistently demonstrated the targeted trait. These students will be recognized on JagTube, receive a certificate, wristband, and a Jackson Jaguar pencil. Grade level group photos will be displayed on the bulletin board near the front office AND Jaguars of the Month will attend a popsicle party with Dr. Roach, our principal, and Mr. Riggle, our assistant principal!
Our Jaguar of the Month Trait is Perseverance! Our definition of Perseverance is pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles. Check out the CharacterStrong Family Letter (English) / CharacterStrong Family Letter (Spanish) for more information about PurposeFull People and some fun ways you can join us in teaching and reinforcing Responsibility! Monthly Family Newsletters will be sent home that outline the CharacterStrong skills students are learning in class and provide fun ideas to grow as a family at home.
We hope you find this Counselors’ Corner helpful! Please never hesitate to reach out for anything! We are always here to support you and your students!
Thank you!
Michelle Hardy (Grades PK, 1, 3, 5)
(469) 752-2115
Nicole Sollie (Grades K, 2, 4)
(469) 752-2116
World Wear Project
You can also support our PTA by bringing any household donations (clothes, shoes, etc.) to the donation bin in the back parking lot. You will be helping our PTA and the environment by recycling!
Volunteering
Whether giving of your time, your resources, or just providing a little encouragement to those in our Jackson Community, we LOVE our volunteers!
Jackson teachers and staff are looking for family volunteers to help during all Jackson lunch and recess periods. Beginning this school year, Plano ISD is requiring Cafeteria doors to remain locked during all lunch periods. This means a staff member has to supervise the cafeteria doors for students needing to step out for water or restroom breaks.
Your help will allow us to provide enough supervision to keep our students safe! Volunteer time slots are in 30 minute to 1 hour increments. Volunteers have the opportunity to monitor students for a 30 minute lunch and/or a 30 minute recess. While volunteering, you will not be able to eat with the children, but you will likely be helping with opening food/drink items & assisting in the lunch line.
All volunteers will need to create an account and complete an application, online orientation and background check through the Plano ISD volunteer management system, VOLY, to be eligible for district/school volunteer opportunities. Please visit plano.voly.org to create a volunteer account and begin this process. These items will need to be completed by volunteers each school year.
An email will be sent to the volunteer applicant communicating the status of their application and criminal history search within 3-5 business days of completing these steps. Volunteer approval status can also be viewed by the volunteer by logging into their account. Volunteers will need to complete the online orientation as well to be eligible to volunteer.
Once approved through VOLY, please sign-up at the link below.
2023 - 2024 Lunch Duty Volunteer signup:
We greatly appreciate your willingness to invest your time and efforts into supporting Jackson students, families and staff.
Thank you,
Brenda Arcibar
VP of Volunteers
Jackson Elementary PTA
Jackson PTA
Hello Jackson Families,
Support our students by joining the Jackson PTA! Your PTA membership helps to provide various programs such as: field trips, Bookfairs, school supplies, author visits and other educational programs for next year. We can't do this without your support! Please visit our website to become a member of the Jackson PTA.
The Jackson PTA website is also a great resource for you to find out about updated PISD, Jackson, and PTA events on the calendar, find ongoing and new volunteer opportunities, how you can help raise money for Jackson, and much more! Visit www.jacksonpta.com to explore our site!
Be sure you are also following us on social media for reminders of upcoming events! We are on Facebook "Jackson Elementary School PTA" and Instagram at "ptajacksonelem."
Thank you!
Your Jackson PTA Executive Board
Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood as a Paid School Crossing Guard!
We are looking for a School Crossing Guard for Jackson Elementary to help keep students safe on their way to and from school each day. This part-time position is fun, keeps you active while enjoying the outdoors and provides great pay - $35 per daily assignment! Work is performed from 7:05-7:40 am and 2:50-3:25 pm each school day — NO nights, weekends or holidays required! Apply online at Plano.gov/jobs. After completing the online application, please call School Crossing Guard Program Manager Bill Sommermeyer, 972-941-2283, for a telephone interview. Drug Screen and Criminal background check will be conducted pre-hire. Have questions? Email bsommermeyer@plano.
Helpful Links
District Updates for Plano ISD Families
Annual Registration for Existing and Newly Enrolled PISD Students
New Student Online Enrollment and Annual Registration
District Safety and Security Procedures
Transportation Services - Bus Route Finder
School Meal Application
Plano ISD participates in the federal meal program, which provides free and reduced-price meals to students who qualify. Families who may qualify for meal benefits should complete a meal application for the 2023-2024 school year, available through Parent Portal or via the website at www.pisd.edu/mealprogram.
Families who already have a SchoolCafé account can sign in to complete the meal application. Families who do not have an account can create a new one by selecting that option on the SchoolCafé page. View this SchoolCafé information video for instructions on how to complete the meal application.
Applications will be processed within 10 business days. Eligibility notification letters will be sent via email. If you have not received the letter in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folders.
Vines High School Drill Team - Lil' Sweethearts 2024 Kick It Clinic
Click on flyer above to sign up or copy link below.
https://vhssweetheartboosterclub.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/266758
Free Parent Support Groups
Free Parent Support Groups sponsored by Charlie Health, the largest provider of virtual intensive outpatient programming for teens and young adults.
All groups run on Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Click to join on Zoom:
Free Parent Support Groups sponsored by Charlie Health, the largest provider of virtual intensive outpatient programming for teens and young adults.
Scan QR code to join on Zoom.
Parent Education & Engagement Program (PEEP)
Parent Education and Engagement Program (PEEP)
Parent Education and Engagement Program (PEEP)
Presentations from Grade Level Parent Information Nights
Kinder Information Night 2023
Video - A Day in the Life of a Kindergartener at Jackson Elementary
1st Grade Parent Information Night Presentation - English
1st Grade Parent Information Night Presentation - Spanish
2nd Grade Parent Information Night Presentation - English
2nd Grade Parent Information Night Presentation - Spanish
3rd Grade Parent Information Night Presentation – English
3rd Grade Parent Information Night Presentation - Spanish
4th Grade Parent Information Night Presentation – English
4th Grade Parent Information Night Presentation – Spanish
Stay Connected!
Make Sure Your Communication Preferences Are Up To Date!
Visit www.pisd.edu/schoolmessenger to choose how you prefer to receive communications from Jackson and Plano ISD.
Jackson Elementary
Website: http://pisd.edu/jackson
Location: 1101 Jackson Drive, Plano, TX, United States
Phone: 469-752-2100
Twitter: @JacksonPlano