Thomas Elementary
February 9, 2023
Important Dates
Mark your calendar with these upcoming dates:
- 2/1-2/13- Friendship Grams for sale .25/each
- 2/6-2/10- National School Counselors' Week
- 2/13-2/17- Friendship/Kindness Week
- 2/14- Valentine's Day- Class Parties
- 2/16- Multicultural Night- 5:30-7:00 pm (2nd grade performance in the gym at 6:30 pm)
- 2/20- Student/Teacher Holiday- No School
- 2/22- TELPAS Testing begins (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System)
- 2/27-3/3- Spring Book Fair
- 3/3- End of 9-week grading period
- 3/6-3/10- Spring Break- No School
- 3/17- Coffee with the Principal- 8:00 am
Click HERE for the 2022-23 PISD District Calendar
News and Updates
ACTION NEEDED: All Parents/Guardians of Students in Grades K-12
THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF THIS FORM HAS PASSED. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND COMPLETE THE FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
In compliance with Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 1525, all school districts in Texas are required to provide parents an “opt in” consent for their child to receive instruction in the required Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) for the following topics, rather than the previous “opt out” process:
anti-victimization education (child abuse and human trafficking prevention);
violence prevention (family violence prevention and healthy relationships); and
reproductive health (grades 4, 5, 7 and health and biology classes for older students).
Topics vary by grade level and are designed to be developmentally and age-appropriate, in accordance with the state standards.
If you would like for your child to receive instruction and not be removed from the classroom when the above topics are taught, you will need to complete an “opt in” form by January 31, 2023, for your child. Parents will need your child’s student ID number to complete the form (available in the Parent Portal or by contacting your child’s school). Students who do not receive explicit parental consent (opt in) for this instruction will be removed from the classroom learning environment while the instruction for the above listed topics is provided. The content is available for students to learn on their own. More details are included in the form. The form takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. A non-response will default to your child not receiving instruction in the classroom environment as the statute clearly requires parents to opt in.
Urgent Action Needed: Please read and respond to the form(s) indicating whether you do or do not grant consent for your child(ren) to receive instruction on the topics outlined above in the classroom environment.
After entering your child’s student ID number and the first three letters of the last name, you will receive the form to read and complete electronically.
Deadline: January 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
ACCIÓN NECESARIA de todos los padres/tutores de estudiantes en los grados K-12
En cumplimiento con el proyecto de ley 9 del Senado y el proyecto de ley 1525 de la Cámara de Representantes se requiere que todos los distritos escolares de Texas proporcionen a los padres un consentimiento de “inclusión” para que su estudiante reciba instrucción académica en los Conocimientos y Habilidades Esenciales de Texas (TEKS) requeridos para los siguientes temas, en lugar del proceso anterior de “exclusión”:
Educación contra la victimización (Prevención del abuso infantil y la trata de personas);
Prevención de la violencia (prevención de la violencia familiar y relaciones saludables); y
Salud reproductiva (grados 4, 5, 7 y en las clases de Salud y Biología para alumnos mayores)
Los temas varían según el grado escolar y están diseñados para ser apropiados para el desarrollo y la edad, de acuerdo con las normas estatales.
Si desea que su hijo/a reciba dicha instrucción y no sea retirado del aula cuando se impartan los temas mencionados, deberá completar un formulario de “inclusión” antes del 31 de enero del 2023, para su hijo/a. Los padres necesitarán el número de identificación de estudiante (ID) para completar dicho formulario (disponible en el Portal de Padres o poniéndose en contacto con la escuela de su hijo/a). Los estudiantes que no reciban el consentimiento explícito de parte de sus padres o tutores (de inclusión) para esta instrucción serán retirados de la clase donde se lleve a cabo dicha instrucción. El contenido está disponible para que los estudiantes lo aprendan por su cuenta. En el formulario se incluyen más detalles. Este formulario toma aproximadamente 3 minutos para llenarse. Si no responde, su hijo/a no recibirá instrucción en el aula, ya que el reglamento requiere claramente que los padres opten por ello.
Se necesita acción urgente: Por favor lea y responda al (los) formulario(s) indicando si-otorga o no-otorga su consentimiento para que sus hijos/as reciban la instrucción sobre los temas descritos anteriormente dentro del aula.
La traducción está disponible a través de Google Translate.
Después de introducir el número de identificación de su estudiante (ID) y las tres primeras letras de su apellido, recibirá el formulario para leerlo y llenarlo electrónicamente.
Fecha límite: martes 31 de enero del 2023, a las 11:59 p.m.
Gracias por su pronta atención a este importante asunto.
Valentines Day Parties are Coming on February 14th
Love is in the air! We are excited for our students to celebrate their friendships during Valentine's Day parties on February 14th.
Avoid lines and waiting and sign up in advance using the Sign Up Genius Link provided below. When you sign up in advance, we will have a name tag pre-printed and ready to go for you when you arrive.
If you do not sign up in advance, please be sure to bring a photo ID as we will need to scan that when you arrive.
Your child's teacher will be sending out information about class parties and what each grade level will be doing on the 14th. Watch your email and SeeSaw newsletters for more information.
Multicultural Night
Coffee With the Principal
Yearbooks
Lunch Visitors
A limited number of guests continue to be able to come and have lunch with their children. Parents of students in pre-k through 5th grade are able to sign up for a specific date and time to join their child for lunch using this Sign-Up Genius link, available on the Thomas website as well.
Please make a note of the following information regarding visiting your child for lunch:
- Only one adult will be allowed to join his/her student for lunch.
- Only 6 reservations are allowed each day per grade level.
- No siblings or extra guests will be allowed at this time.
- We ask that you only sign up for one special day at this time.
You will be permitted to sign in, go to the cafeteria to meet your child, and then walk back to the front of the building where we will have a special area set up for parents to eat with their children outside of the front office. Afterward, parents will sign out and leave from there, and students will go back to class. It is a joy to have guests be able to join our students for lunch.
Arrival and Dismissal
A friendly reminder that school starts at 7:40 am and dismisses at 2:45 pm. Students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to work at 7:40. Students may arrive as early as 7:00 and breakfast is available in the cafeteria. If you use our carpool line, please respect the traffic signs near the entrances and exits to our parking lot. There is no right turn allowed out of our parking lot onto Montana Trail during arrival and dismissal. There is no left turn allowed from Montana Trail onto SantaFe during these times as well. Thank you for partnering with us and helping to keep our children safe. It is our pleasure to serve you.
Welcome to Ms. Hall!
More about Anti-Victimization and Reproductive Health Lessons
Thank you for your interest in our counseling lesson on Anti-Victimization and Reproductive Health lessons. We know that this title can sound heavy, but we want to assure you that all lessons are conducted in an age appropriate, kid friendly manner.
Below is a more detailed guide of what is covered at each grade level during these lessons, as well as a few links to share virtually.
Kindergarten and 1st grade:
8 “Never-Never rules” (watch the YouTube video here)
Safe and unsafe touches
Another person should never touch your private parts (parts of the body that bathing suits cover) unless it is a doctor or someone keeping you healthy and clean.
3 R's - Recognize, Refuse, Report (Watch the YouTube video here)
Never keep a secret from a trusted adult
2nd and 3rd Grade
Safe and unsafe touches
Another person should never touch your private parts (parts of the body that bathing suits cover) unless it is a doctor or someone keeping you healthy and clean.
3 R's - Recognize, Refuse, Report (Watch the YouTube video here)
Secrets vs surprises
4th and 5th Grade
Safe and unsafe touches
Another person should never touch your private parts (parts of the body that bathing suits cover) unless it is a doctor or someone keeping you healthy and clean.
3 R's - Recognize, Refuse, Report (Watch the YouTube video here)
How to respond to an unsafe or uncomfortable situation
Reproductive Health Lessons
4th grade girls- puberty and hygiene video
4th grade boys- hygiene only
5th grade boys- puberty and hygiene video
5th grade girls- puberty and hygiene video
Boys and girls will be separated into different classrooms for the lessons. Girls will be taught by the nurse and female teachers. Boys will be taught by male teachers or PE coaches.
We hope this information helps you feel more comfortable with these lessons. If you wish to view the full lesson for your child's grade level, please let us know and we can set up an appointment.
You will need your child’s student ID number to complete the form (available in the Parent Portal or by contacting your child’s school). Students who do not receive explicit parental consent (opt in) for this instruction will be removed from the classroom learning environment while the instruction for the above listed topics is provided. The content is available for students to learn on their own. More details are included in the form. The form takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. A non-response will default to your child not receiving instruction in the classroom environment as the statute clearly requires parents to opt in.
Urgent Action Needed: Please read and respond to the form(s) indicating whether you do or do not grant consent for your child(ren) to receive instruction on the topics outlined above in the classroom environment.
After entering your child’s student ID number and the first three letters of the last name, you will receive the form to read and complete electronically.
If you choose for your child to OPT OUT of these lessons, they will attend class with another grade level teacher during their guidance time for that day.
We hope this will allow you to continue these conversations about safety at home.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach back out.
Dear Parents,
The mission of Communities In Schools (CIS) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
HOW WE HELP:
Tutoring
Homework Help
Academic Games
Enrichment Activities
Lunch Groups: Self Esteem Building, Friendships, Leadership, etc.
& Much more!
HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD INVOLVED:
Everyone is welcome to join!
If you would like your child to participate in the CIS program, please complete the electronic parent consent form at https://cisdallas.org/parent-consent-form/ .
If you do not wish for your child to be a part of the program, but are still interested in helping the Site Coordinator understand the needs of our students, please take a few minutes to complete the following survey. Thank you for all that you do!
Parent/Guardian Concerns Survey ENGLISH: https://forms.gle/KxXZUfNNQsS9tdrp6
Parent/Guardian Concerns Survey ESPAÑOL: https://forms.gle/Pq6Pzrj5nw2ivSML9
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Melissa Torres
CIS Site Coordinator
Thomas Elementary - Rm. #A110
Parent Education and Engagement Program (PEEP)
Parent Education & Engagement Program (PEEP)
The Plano ISD Parent Education & Engagement Program (PEEP) offers classes, services, and resources to all parents and families of Plano ISD. Parents can access district-wide scheduled workshops and registration on the PEEP website and receive updates on the PEEP Facebook Page. Several classes are offered in hybrid settings. Parents can join in person at the Bird Welcome and Enrollment Center (1300 19th Street, Plano) or attend virtually through Zoom. For more information about PEEP services such as 1-on-1 parent partnering, GED/ESL classes, etc., please view this information in English and Spanish or contact Sharon Bradley.
Thomas Elementary School
Website: https://www.pisd.edu/thomas
Location: 1800 Montana Trail, Plano, TX 75023
Phone: 469-752-3500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057088254876
Twitter: @Thomastexans