Monday Matters
Thelma Jones Elementary Week of November 9-13
Greetings Shark Family!
Happy November! The fall is always a beautiful time of year. Everyone has settled into school routines and are gearing up for the holiday season. This holiday season will look different, no doubt, but we want to make it feel as familiar as possible.
We will be kicking off our food drive and our Toys for Tots drive this week. Please dig deep to help our families and community members in need.
This Friday, we will have our first Unity assembly and our 1st awards ceremony. We hope that you plan to log in and enjoy them. Your student's teacher will send you the links for these events.
Now that we are entering the flu season, I want to remind our families to revisit safety protocols and procedures with students. Likewise, please screen your student before sending them to school each day. You should be taking their temperature and monitoring them for symptoms. If your student is sick, please keep them home. Together, we have managed to keep our school healthy through this unprecedented time. Let's continue to work together to ensure we remain a healthy school.
Likewise, we have been experiencing an uptick in visitors to the campus. Please be reminded that any visitor to our campus MUST have an appointment. Unfortunately, we will turn you away if you do not have an appointment. Please send your student to school with all the necessary items to cut down on dropping off items. I need my staff and students to stay healthy. We can help by adhering to the procedures in place.
Please be sure to look at the newsletter in its entirety. We have some great information from PTA and fun pictures from our pumpkin painting fun. I have also included district information about our new schools of choice, opening next fall.
In partnership,
Mrs. Rhines
Important Dates
Nov. 9th- Colors for Caring
November 11th-Veteran's Day-Virtual Wall of Honor
November 19th-MISD tree lighting event 6 p.m.-PAC
November 19th- Parent University Virtual Event-more details to come
November 23rd-27th-Thanksgiving Week Break
Change in Attendance Protocol for In-Person Students
Please note that beginning Wednesday, Nov. 4, the beginning of the Third Six Weeks grading period, students who have selected in-person instruction will only be counted present when they are physically in class unless they have been quarantined due to COVID-19.
This means that in-person students will no longer be able to turn in assignments by 11:59 p.m. of that day to be counted present. They must be physically present in class to avoid an absence.
Quarantined students will be able to follow current practices to gain attendance for days they are quarantined.
Students enrolled in the MISD Virtual Learning Academy will continue to follow their current attendance practices.
Veterans Day-please help us honor our Veterans with our Virtual Wall of Honor
Power of Choice-Fine Arts and Stem Academy Parent Meetings
Parent meetings begin next week for each of our Fine Arts and STEM Academies. Here is the link to the overview flyer with dates and times for each meeting and the TEAMS meeting link is embedded: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p4MG-oEgHlfY1PjjOvm0YhHNVmoN-THNUSc7aUimYmo/edit?usp=sharing
Please visit the Power of Choice webpage for more information. All programs are application based.
- Norwood Elementary will have a Fine Arts Academy and a STEM Academy serving 3rd and 4th graders.
- Martinez Elementary will have a Fine Arts Academy and a STEM Academy serving 5th and 6th graders.
- Jerry Knight STEM Academy is an accelerated academics academy with a STEM focus and services 6th – 8th grade.
- McKinzey Middle School will have a STEM Academy serving 7th and 8th graders.
Toys for Tots...
Our official date is early this year!! We will have Toys for Tots on Wednesday, December 2nd from 5:30-10:00 pm at the Center!
Donation boxes have arrived on campuses. Please bring new, unwrapped toys.
Mansfield ISD Elementary Grading Policy
Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!
Counselor's Corner
Do you need to update your email address or phone numbers in Skyward? You can make those changes in Family Access.
Here's how:
- Log into Family Access
- Click on My Account (top right corner)
- When the Account Settings screen opens, there is place for your email address and up to three phone numbers.
- Please note – Each parent/guardian can enter one email address to receive communication via Skyward Message Center.
- Once changes are made, click Save.
If you, parent/guardian, is unable to log into Family Access, there are a couple options:
1 – Use the Forgot Your Password link from the Family Access login page
2 – Email misdregistration@misdmail.org
Free Meals for Kids - Oct. 1 - Dec. 17
It’s BACK! Free Meals for ALL Kids!
Starting October 1 through December 17, MISD Student Nutrition will offer a holiday special – children may receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day!
This promotion applies to in-person learners at all MISD campuses, Virtual Academy students, younger siblings, and non-MISD-students.
Second meals, additional entrees/sides, and snacks will be available to in-person learners to purchase for an additional cost.
In-person learners will access meals as usual at their designated meal periods.
Click the link for details! Free Meals for Kids Information Link
Technology Needs?
If your student is in need of a device, you may use the link below to request one. All remaining requests for devices will be delivered to campuses and parents will be notified. Please note that any device with internet connection can be used to access all apps and programs needed for virtual learning.
Bus Information
Bus Information
Mansfield ISD will provide bus transportation for all students meeting the eligibility requirements for transportation.
Find My Bus
http://edulog1.mansfieldisd.org/liveweb/webquery/
School Bus Rider’s Safety Handbook
https://www.mansfieldisd.org/departments/transportation/riders-handbook
For Bus Delays & Substitutions https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j_9bi_plWMqtBDp8AG8B31rb3KzTAOIhRWe8B0CwTnY/edit
Transportation Department
QUEST (After School Childcare)
QUEST is Mansfield ISD's before and after-school care program. Students attending the QUEST program are involved in a variety of activities, allowing for creative expression, socialization, and community awareness. Most importantly, students are safe, comfortable, and have fun through a variety of interactive activities. Morning, before school
care, is from 7:00 am – 7:30 am. After school care is from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm, during school days. For more information please call our Quest office at 817-299-7596 or email us at Quest@misdmail.org.
Safety Protocols
- Health screenings –Align with the district and have students and staff pre-screen prior to arrival. All QUEST team members will have district badges and key cards so we can utilize it as a tracing function.
- PPE supplies – Student Services has provided the proper PPE supplies to utilize and ordered additional items to safeguard students and staff.
- Cleaning & sanitizing – At the end of each day, the custodial staff will clean every room/area utilized by the QUEST program.
- Instructor: student ratio – 1:12. Every attempt has been made to place students in cohorts, however, this may vary based on enrollment.
- Hand washing – Hand washing will be built into the before and after school program schedules.
- Contactless check-in/out – Quest will be implementing a drive-thru check-in/out procedure. Parents will utilize a PIN to check their child(ren) in/out. A driver’s license will be an added layer of verification at pick up. To assist with a rapid checkout we are strongly encouraging parents to utilize Remind 101 or Class Dojo. A QUEST staff member will meet them at the designated location with the child(ren). Security radios will be used for communication purposes.
- Sick/ill child – Parents of the sick student will be contacted immediately for pick up and custodial services will be informed of area(s) needing to be cleaned/sanitized.
Questions:
Contact: Tina Cantu
Director of QUEST After School Program
Email: quest@misdmail.org
Phone: 817.299.7596