MATHEWS e-News
Friday, September 10, 2021
A reminder, if you want to look back at previous e-News you just click the title above, BACK TOGETHER...BETTER THAN EVER! It is a hyperlink to our archived e-News on our school webpage.
We hope everyone enjoyed the four day weekend last weekend. It was good to be back with our students on Wednesday! We welcome back many students on Monday who started their year with the Parent Led TVO option. We look forward to welcoming each of you into your classrooms with your teacher and classmates.
Masks are required at school unless you submitted a request to the district.
We need your help. Thank you for helping your child to remember to bring their masks to school each day. We have just a few at school in case someone forgets. It is always a good idea to have a couple on hand so while one is in the wash, you have another available at school. We appreciate your support as we work together.
Finally, this weekend is a time of reflection and respect. It is a time of remembering and of appreciating our country, those who serve in our military and as first responders. Remember those who were lost and those who survived.
Our flags at Plano ISD schools and facilities are flying at half-staff this evening through Monday morning in remembrance of of September 11; for those we lost in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania twenty years ago this Saturday and for those who served.
PTA
The first general meeting of the Mathews Elementary PTA for school year 2021-2022 was held September 8, 2021 at 8:15 am via ZOOM. THANK YOU for our parents who were able to attend.
We are so fortunate to have a PTA that welcomes everyone to be a part in whatever way works best for you. Please consider joining.
Thank you to our PTA Board who works so hard and makes such a difference in the lives of our students and our staff. We are blessed.
If you have not joined and wish to do so, you can do so by clicking the button below.
A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE PURCHASED SPIRIT WEAR TO SHOW YOUR MATHEWS PRIDE!
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE BEING A MAV ON MONDAY TO START OUR WEEK OFF JUST RIGHT.
OUR STAFF ENJOYS WEARING NOT ONLY OUR STAFF SHIRTS BUT THE PTA SPIRIT WEAR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND THE YEAR.
SO CHECK OUT THE SELECTION OF SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE AT: https://mathewspta.membershiptoolkit.com/
As we continue to help our students grow into happy and productive members of society, we also want them to appreciate and understand the importance of caring and kindness towards others.
Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position.
For whatever the reason families sometimes find themselves at a loss. In need of a kind and caring act.
No child should go hungry, and no parent should feel that burden of not being able to provide during difficult times for their child or an elderly parent. Food insecurities is very real and overwhelming. But we can be the difference.
Borrowing the words from Terri Childress, our PTA President:
For now, I wanted to make everyone aware of something that is near and dear to my heart.
The North Texas Food Bank Peanut Butter drive is now upon us and is something that Mathews has supported for years.
Across North Texas, there are 800,000 people facing hunger. Which is why Mathews, along with PISD and many corporations across North Texas, has partnered with the North Texas Food Bank to help provide access to nutritious meals through the Virtual Peanut Butter Drive for children, seniors and families.
Through our Virtual Peanut Butter Drive, it’s easy to virtually shop for much-needed items that provide critical nourishment and hope.
Will you join us to help today? Visit the Mathews PTA Virtual Peanut Butter Drive here: https://give.ntfb.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1176200&pg=personal&fr_id=1070 to make an impact for our neighbors.
The drive runs through the month of September. Though the peanut butter pricing on the virtual site is very competitive, you can also donate by purchasing and dropping off standard size plastic bottles of peanut butter in the box located in the school.
Thank you for partnering with us to create a hunger-free, healthy North Texas!
As always, thank you for all you do to support our faculty, staff, kiddos and community. We are.....Back together, Better than ever!!
Terri Childress
President, Mathews PTA
National Arts in Education Week
September 12-18 is National Arts in Education Week.
Where would we be without THE ARTS?
The beauty and emotion from music, dance, poetry, literature, sculpture, painting, cinematography, or photography?
I think now more than ever we need to embrace the beauty that ART brings into our lives and into our hearts.
We are fortunate that Stephanie Dagelewicz as our new PTA VP of Programs. Stephanie has also volunteered to lead Arts in Education.
Our PTA Reflections Contest each year provides an opportunity for students to express themselves artistically in a variety of medians. More information regarding Reflections will be shared next week in our e-News. I hope you will encourage your child to participate and enjoy the opportunity to be creative and make the world a little bit brighter!
Thank you Stephanie for taking the lead to help provide this opportunity to our children at Mathews.
I look forward to working with you. Tricia
Chick Fil A Spirit Night and Family Picnic!
Please join us for our second Spirit Night of the school year!
Stop by Chick-Fil-A on September 30th between 4:00-8:00 pm, pick up dinner, and head over to Prairie Meadow Park pavilion and playground right next door to school for our Mathews Family Picnic! Bring a blanket and kick back and relax abit!
This is a great opportunity to meet other families and let the kids play and have fun all while supporting our school. (Whether you buy Chick-Fil-A or pack your own meal, everyone is welcome!)
If it is a crazy busy night for your family, consider picking up Chick-Fil-A and make your evening a little simpler.
Don't forget to mention Mathews when you order! 15% of the sales go back to our school.
LET'S ALL CELEBRATE KINDNESS!
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM NURSE CHRISTINA
FOR OUR YOUNGER MAVS
VOLUNTEERING FOR 2021-22
Plano ISD seeks to create a safe place for students, free from crime, violence, drugs and abuse. As required by the Texas Education Code, Plano ISD conducts criminal history record checks through the Texas Department of Public Safety on all volunteers, including but not limited to general campus volunteers, camp counselors, field trip sponsors, mentors and tutors.
As we continue to plan for the upcoming year, we want you to be a part of it! Please click the volunteer image below to submit your background check for the 2021-22 school year.
JOIN GIRL SCOUTS!
Reporting If Your Child Has Covid-19
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Documenting Excused Absences:
Student attendance accounting will be based on state law TEC §25.092, as well as Plano ISD Policy FEC(Local) and (Legal).
Students are required to attend at least 90% of their classes to receive credit and be promoted.
Students with a quarantine order issued by a physician or local health authority will receive excused absences for that period of time. Voluntary quarantines may be excused with a written notice from a physician.
Students with a household member with test-confirmed COVID will receive excused absences upon providing documentation of the positive test case.
More information can be found on the PISD district website by clicking the red button above titled: 'PISD Back to School Plan'.
IT IS ABOUT SAFETY
Crosswalks
I'd like to take a moment to discuss morning arrival for our Walkers.
CROSSWALKS:
We are fortunate to have two crosswalks. The second was created this summer due to concerned parents and people in our neighborhood driving to work in regards to students crossing Marchman Way between parked cars. The one at Caravan Drive and Marchman has a crossing guard. The one at Marchman and Wheatland does not and does require parents to cross with their children. We are excited to see that the city is also adding a flashing light to draw attention to cars driving through that there is a crosswalk. The Wheatland crossing has been a huge success and we have our Mathews parents to thank for having it.
Our children watch and learn from us. It isn't about following 'the rule' it is about learning to respect traffic and not take unnecessary risks. Lessons we teach our children now that you hope they remember when they are older and you are not with them.
Dogs at Arrival and Dismissal
First, let me begin by saying I am one of the biggest dog lover you will ever meet. We have three of our own, a Golden Retriever, Augie; a Catahoula, Mac; and our Chihuahua, Tank. They are not just pets, they are members of our family. And honestly, if we were anywhere other than arrival and dismissal my first impulse would be to ask you if I could pet your dog.
However, dogs are not allowed on school property at arrival or dismissal.
We are a community with 400 + students at Mathews. We have a very large number of students who enter at the Marchman doors.
So many things could happen. We simply don't want to take a chance with our families or your pets.
So although I have seen some of the most precious dogs that belong to our Mathews families; there really can be no exceptions when we say no dogs on school property at arrival and dismissal.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Tricia
FREE AND EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT MATHEWS AND OUR PTA
OPT IN FOR TEXT MESSAGES FROM PISD
BUS TRANSPORTATION
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS
Students will be able to purchase a-la-carte items. Click to see what is offered for breakfast and lunch. (Specify Pre-K to see the Pre-K breakfast and lunch menu)
GOGUARDIAN FOR PARENTS
Welcome to GoGuardian Parent!
Good news! Plano ISD families now have access to GoGuardian Parent, a mobile app that gives parents/guardians the ability to manage and monitor student activity on school-issued Chromebooks during out-of-school hours. GoGuardian Parent is a companion to the classroom management and internet filtering tools that our district uses during the school day.
What is included in this app:
A Top 5 summary of student browsing (apps, extensions and websites visited)
A 30-day view of websites, videos, apps, and extensions
The ability to block websites on school-issued devices during out-of-school hours
The ability to pause internet access on school-issued devices during out-of-school hours, either on-demand or at a scheduled time
To access the app, please follow the instructions below:
Download the
- appiPhone: Visit App Store, search for GoGuardian Parent, and tap the download button.
- Android: Visit Google Play Store, search for GoGuardian Parent, and tap the download button.
After the app is successfully downloaded and installed, open it up and enter the email address registered with the Plano ISD Parent Portal.
Login/Check Email: Check your email on your phone for a link to log in to the app. Tap the "Verify your email", and it will take you straight to the app.
Note: If you don't have access to your email through the device you used to log in, tap on "Login with verification code", and copy and paste the verification code from the email into the app.
If you forget your registered email address, please reach out to our Help Desk: helpdesk@pisd.edu or 469-752-8767
UPCOMING DATES
Mark Your Calendar:
Friday, September 17:
PICTURE DAY!
Thursday, September 30:
SPIRIT NIGHT at Chick-Fil-A
4:00-8:00 p.m.
School Picnic from 5:00-7:00 pm
Monday and Tuesday October 11-12
Student Holidays
(Staff has PD on Tuesday)
Thursday, October 21
Spirit Night at Zalaat Pizza
October 18-29
Apex School Fundraiser
October 25-29
Red Ribbon Week
Friday, October 29
Field Day
Friday, November 5
Make-Up Photo Day
Saturday Night/November 6
Daylight Savings Time ends...(Fall back an hour.)
November 12:
Veterans Day Assembly
November 22-26
Thanksgiving Break
December 6-10
BOOK FAIR!
Tuesday, December 7:
Grandparent Luncheon
Thursday, December 9:
Book Fair Night
Tuesday, Dec. 7 - Sunday, Dec. 12:
Spirit Nights at Paint n' Party!
More information to come...
Thursday, December 16
Winter Parties
Friday, December 17
Early Release Day at noon.
December 20- January 4
Winter Break for Students
(Staff Returns on January 3)
January 10-14
College and Career Week
Monday, January 17
Martin Luther King, Jr Day
School Holiday
Thursday, January 20:
SPIRIT NIGHT at Chick-Fil-A
4:00-8:00 p.m.
February 7-11
Friendship Week
Friday, February 11
Classroom Friendship Parties
Monday, February 21 and Tuesday, February 22
Student Holiday Monday and Tuesday
(Staff has PD on Tuesday)
Thursday, March 3
Open House 6-7:00 pm.
4th grade Performance
March 7-11 (+ possibly March 14)
Spring Break
March 13
Daylight Savings Time Begins (Spring Forward an Hour)
Monday, March 14:
Holiday if we have not had an Inclement Weather Day
Friday, March 18:
Spring Pictures and Class Picture Day
Monday, March 21
Kindergarten Registration for 22-23 begins
March 28-April 1
Spring Book Fair
March 29
Spring Evening Picnic and PTA meeting
Monday, April 4
Pre-K Enrollment for 2022-23 begins
Thursday, April 7
Multicultural Night Celebration
Friday, April 15
School Holiday
Monday, April 18
Possible School Holiday (Second Inclement Weather Day)
Thursday, April 21:
SPIRIT NIGHT at Chick-Fil-A
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Monday, April 25
Student Holiday
(Staff PD day)
May 1-7
Staff Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 10
STAAR Testing: Gr 3, 4, and 5 Math
Wednesday, May 11
STAAR Testing: Gr. 3, 4, and 5 Reading
Thursday, May 12
STAAR Testing: Gr. 5 Science
Wednesday, May 25:
5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
6:00-7:30 at Schim
Thursday, May 26:
End of Year Parties
Friday, May 27: Early Dismissal at noon.
Last Day of School
HELPFUL LINKS
21-22 PISD ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Mathews Elementary School
Email: Patricia.Powell@PISD.edu
Website: https://www.pisd.edu/mathews
Location: 7500 Marchman Way, Plano, TX, United States
Phone: 469 752-2300
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