JNE'S Friday Newsletter
Friday, February 16th
JNE's Weekly Campus Update
Dear JNE Parents and Guardians,
We had a wonderful week at Neill! Thank you, parents, for joining us this week for parent teacher conferences. Our spring party day was a big success and we would like to thank our parent volunteers and PTO for their support. We also want to give Coach Lauryn Drennan and Coach Mark Sartain a 'shout-out' for hosting a successful 'Jump Rope for Heart' event.
This week students in grades 3 and 5 will be participating in the Math STAAR Interim Assessments. Fourth grade will have their Math STAAR Interim the week of February 26th. The Texas Education Agency has launched the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Interim Assessment are a tool to help educators tailor instructional practice to address students’ needs. While students will not need to study or prepare for these test, they do involve state test secure materials and student schedule changes, therefore we will not be able to host lunch visitors for our testing grade on their Interim testing days.
We are looking for parent volunteers to present during our Career Day here at Neill. Career Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 2024. We do need your help! If you are interested in being a speaker please click on the survey link below and complete the form. https://forms.office.com/r/n6ze7zqBjD
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 19th- Staff/Student Holiday
Wednesday, February 21st- 5th Grade Math STAAR Interim
Thursday, February 22nd- Harvest of the Month
Thursday, February 22nd- 3rd Grade Math STAAR Interim
Friday, February 23rd- 3rd Grade Field Trip
Monday, February 26th- "Multicultural" Theme Dress Day (Students are encouraged to wear
colors, clothing, and fun items representing their culture!)
Tuesday, February 27th- Spring Picture Day
Tuesday, February 27th- 4th Grade Math STAAR Interim
Wednesday, February 28th- 5th Grade Science STAAR Interim
Friday, March 1- Student Holiday
Please review our February student calendar, for additional upcoming student activities, posted below.
Items in our Newsletter Include:
- DreamBox: Growing Students in their Math Skills
- Campus Flyers
- February GT Newsletter
- JNE PTO Weekly Update
- Lunch Visitors
- Campus Reminders
- Attendance Information
- 2023-2024 Health and Safety Protocols
- Link to FBISD 2023-2024 Webpage
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
The JNE Admin Team
DreamBox: Growing Students in their Math Skills
FBISD has purchased a Dreambox math account for all students. Students who actively engage in 5 Dreambox lessons or more per week show more than one year's academic growth. Dreambox is an adaptable learning tool that targets your child's unique and individualized learning needs, determined by their correct and incorrect answers on assessments within the web application.
Parents and Guardians, we are asking that you allow your student to engage in Dreambox lessons (approximately 20 mins. in length) weekly to support your student's targeted math growth.
For additional information on the platform, please see the flyer linked below:
Campus Flyers
Spring 2024 Fundraiser Cheatsheet
Our fundraiser cheat sheet offers detailed insights into our upcoming fundraising events, and where your contributions will support James C. Neill Elementary School, our PTO, or our community. Please take a moment to review our flyer to determine if you are interested in supporting one of the upcoming events.
Student Activity Calendar
Film Fest Competition and Awards Night
The submission window for the annual FBISD Film Fest is now open! The Fort Bend ISD Film Festival competition is an annual enrichment opportunity which celebrates and showcases the creative talents of our students, fostering a passion of storytelling through a variety of digital media. Elementary and Secondary students may compete by submitting their original work no later than March 1, 2024. The top submissions in each category will be recognized at the Film Fest Awards Night on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Rodger’s Auditorium. A full list of categories and rules can be located on the FBISD Film Fest Website.
JNE PTO Weekly Updates
PTO Website
*NEW* PTO website!!! - same name, new design!... Please visit neillpto.org to see the changes. While here you can create an account to have full access to the calendar, staff favorites lists, an opt-in directory, volunteer opportunities and more. Plus there's an app - android users search for PTBoard Mobile & iOS users search for ptboardapp for quick & easy access to the website. Questions or suggestions for the website can be emailed to board@neillpto.org (**flyer attached)
JNE Spirit Wear-- NOW IN HERD COLORS!
The Neill PTO On-Demand Spirit Wear store is open with all HERD colors are represented! Ships direct to your home (shop in bulk or join efforts with a friend to earn free shipping over $75) https://spirithero.com/collections/neill-1
JNE PTO Diversity & Inclusion Survey for Families
JNE PTO aims to aid the inclusive and diverse environment at James C Neill Elementary School. We're conducting a survey on diversity and inclusion to gather insights from the community. Your input is crucial for shaping initiatives that respect unique backgrounds. The survey, covering community engagement, cultural awareness, communication, student experiences, and staff perspectives is voluntary and confidential. Your responses will strengthen our commitment to diversity.
Yearbooks: On Sale Now!
Yearbook Early Bird Ad
Yearbook sales have begun. Shop here to get yours now! https://web.treering.com/create-account/1016939357174068
Attention 5th Grade Parents, Guardians, and Loved Ones!
Campus Reminders
Arrival Reminders
Our arrival line is longest between 7:45-8:10am. We invite families to take advantage of a shorter line by delivering their student to school between 7:30 and 7:45am.
Lunch Visitor Sign Up
Lunch Visitors
Neill Elementary School will be inviting parent to join their children for lunch. Only one guest per student will be allowed into the cafeteria. We strongly encourage parents to sign up only one time per week if space allows.
Due to space constraints with large grade level enrollment, as well as to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff and visitors, we will ask that lunch guest sign up to join us ahead of time. Each week in our Friday Newsletter, we will post the link to a sign up genius for the upcoming week.
Link to JNE's Lunch Visitor Sign Up Genius
On Wednesday, February 21st, Fifth Grade students will be participating in our Math STAAR Interim Assessment and will not be able to have lunch guests on campus, due to their schedule changes.
On Thursday, February 22nd, Third Grade students will be participating in our Math STAAR Interim Assessment and will not be able to have lunch guests on campus, due to their schedule changes. On Friday, February 23rd, Third Grade students will be on their field trip and will not be on campus during their lunchtime.
Please remember to bring a photo id with you to campus as this is required to be signed in to campus as a visitor.
We thank you for supporting us as our current practice is set in the interest of safety and fairness to everyone who would like to enjoy lunch with their child.
JNE Reminders for First Time Lunch Guests
- Lunchtime guests will be signed in to visit in the cafeteria only.
- Please be on time for lunch so that you and your student are able to enjoy the full lunch time together. Thank you for exiting the building through the front doors at the end of lunch.
- Guests can only join a student for lunch if they are an approved emergency contact in Skyward Family Access.
- Guest must have a photo ID to be allowed onto campus.
- Visitors may only bring food for their child.
- Families who need an allergy-free seat during lunch may leave a note in the comment section of the sign-up genius.
- Please exit the cafeteria at our 5-minute remaining mark to help us prepare for our next lunch and to allow students time to rejoin their class and prepare to return to their classroom.
- We will not be able to host lunch visitors during state testing or special events on campus.
Clinic Reminders
Clothing reminders:
- We kindly ask that all families place a change of clothes for ALL students, as well as extra shoes for little ones– soiled, torn, accidents, spills etc. happen to everyone.
- Please consider to donating gently used black girls stretch pants in various sizes especially larger;
- Please consider to donating some gently used ELASTIC waist boy gym shorts and sweat pants (now that it is winter) in larger sizes
Health Reminders:
- If your child is ill – keep them home.
- Parents please medicate or treat for allergy symptoms at home.
Contact Reminders:
- Please make sure the clinic has the most up-to-date contact information for parents, guardians and emergency contacts.
- Please add the clinic phone number to your contact list so urgent phone calls do not come up as SPAM – 281-327-3768.
Birthday Treats
Students will be allowed to celebrate their birthday at the end of the day, by bringing individually packaged store-bought food products, provided by the parent or grandparent. Treats may be distributed to classmates on or near (i.e. bring treats on Monday when the birthdate was on a weekend) the student’s birthdate.
Prior to sending any treats, we ask that you contact your child’s teacher to discuss the date you will send treats. The nutritional label must be attached to your store-bought item. A parent or guardian must bring them into the building and fill out the proper form which is submitted to FBISD’s Child Nutrition office.
Parents or grandparents of a student at Neill may provide one birthday treat per child to share with the student’s homeroom class only. This may be in the form of ONE individually wrapped edible or ONE small tangible item (such as a pencil) with the value of the individual item not to exceed $5.00.
We require single serving items, which must be pre-packaged and individually wrapped, such as mini- cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or Krispy treats.
We respectfully request no cakes, drinks, balloons, flowers, donuts, stuffed animals, or goody bags. To preserve instructional time, additional party favors ARE NOT permitted. Birthday treat time is not a “party” but a simple, quick recognition of the child’s special day.
Please keep in mind that we have several students with food allergies. For this reason, products containing peanuts or manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts are prohibited. No nuts please, due to allergies.
For students with a birthday on February 14th, who want to bring a treat for their birthday, we ask that you consider bringing the cupcake or item on Tuesday, February 13th or Thursday, February 15th.
Attendance Information
Neill Elementary Parking Lot is a Hands- Free Zone as per Texas Transportation Code 545.425
FBISD Health and Safety Protocols
FBISD Health and Safety Protocols & How to Report Testing Positive for COVID-19
The health & safety of students, teachers, and staff is the District’s foremost priority. Students and staff should stay home when sick and if they do test positive for COVID-19 self-report using the FBISD Wellness Screener. Individuals can return to school/work once they meet the following requirements: five days have passed since the start of symptoms (if no symptoms, five days after testing positive), improvement of symptoms, and the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Link: FBISD Health & Safety Protocols Webpage; FBISD Wellness Screener
FBISD Whole Child Health
Whole Child Health Parent Webinar – Study Habits & Test Anxiety
As a part of the Whole Child Health Initiative, Fort Bend ISD is excited to present our parent webinar: “Study Habits & Test Anxiety”. The webinar will equip parents and caregivers with research-based strategies and tools to help students be better prepared for school, state, and national assessments. Information about test anxiety symptoms, current district and campus-based support systems to address it, and best practices regarding how to lower and/or minimize it will also be shared. The parent webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 21st at 6 p.m. Whole Child Health focuses on Whole Child Health, is aligned with FBISD's Profile of a Graduate, and is committed to supporting and developing the mental, behavioral, social, emotional, and physical health of all students in FBISD.
Links: Parent Webinar - Study Habits & Test Anxiety; FBISD Whole Child Health Webpage
Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Student Lesson
There is a growing threat to the health and safety of our youth that we want to bring to your attention. Fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death for people ages 18 to 45 in the U.S. Fentanyl is a man-made, Schedule II narcotic that has reached a growing number of communities of all sizes across Texas and has impacted so many lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), within the last two years, teen overdose deaths related to Fentanyl have tripled. On xx/xx/xxxx our students will participate in Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness lesson. The State of Texas (HB3908) requires school districts to annually provide to students in grades 6–12 research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness. The required instruction in fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness must include the following:
- Suicide prevention
- Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl
- Awareness of local school and community resources and any processes involved in accessing those resources
- Health education that includes information about substance use and abuse, including youth substance use and abuse
If you would like to view the lesson and learn more, please visit the FBISD Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Webpage. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s grade-level administrator.
Updates from Fort Bend Education Foundation
January's Flyer
James C. Neill Elementary School
Email: margaret.murphy@fortbendisd.com
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/jne
Location: 3830 Harvest Corner Drive, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: 281-327-3760
Twitter: @JNE_Longhorns