Jackson eNews
January 4, 2021
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! I am especially excited for the renewed optimism that the new year brings. We look forward to welcoming our students back tomorrow, Tuesday, January 5, and visiting with the students who changed instructional environments for the 3rd Nine Weeks in their new classrooms--Virtual or Face2Face. January will be a busy month with the Spelling, College and Career Week, and the Science and Engineering Fair. We are ready to get this year started!
Looking back on 2020, our staff and students have a lot to be proud of for their flexibility and perseverance. Teachers quickly adapted to new instructional methods and our students have flourished. While all of our teachers have risen to the challenges of this school year, we are pleased to announce that Amanda Blumenberg was voted Jackson's Teacher of the Year! Miss Blumenberg teaches a class of Fourth Grade virtual students and was nominated by her peers based on her skill, dedication, and ability to inspire her students. Congratulations, Miss Blumenberg, on the well-deserved honor!
On December 16, the 2020 Grant Patrol (made up of members from the PISD Education Foundation, sponsors and partners Park Place Lexus, CoServ, HEB Tournament of Champions, Huawei and T-Mobile) braved the cold weather and delivered 50 grants to teachers across the District. We were thrilled that two Jackson teachers were awarded grants: Amy Kincaid, Jackson's Librarian, and Nancy Shaw, ESL Teacher. These grants were awarded for innovative programs that will enhance instruction in the classroom. Congratulations Ms. Kincaid and Mrs. Shaw!
Thanks,
Kamili Carthledge, Assistant Principal
Jackson Elementary
Important Dates
January:
- Tuesday, January 5, 2021: Beginning of Third Grading Period/Students Return; Change of instructional environment goes into effect for the 3rd 9 weeks
- January 11 - 15: College, Career, and Military Readiness Week
- Tuesday, January 12: Jackson Spelling Bee
- Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no school)
- Wednesday, January 27: Jackson Science and Engineering Fair
Career Day at Jackson Elementary
Hello Jackson Parents,
I wanted to reach out and ask if you would be interested in helping with Career Day at Jackson Elementary this year. We loved hearing from our parents and families last school year. Due to COVID-19, we won’t be able to have anything in person, but we are planning on having it virtually. If you are interested in helping, please send me your video presentation by Friday, January 8th. Please see the attached letter for more details.
Career Day Letter - English and Spanish
Thank you in advance for sharing your career with our wonderful school! Please email me at andrea.hall@pisd.edu if you have any questions or to share your video.
Andrea Hall, MS
Jackson Elementary
469-752-2115
Jackson Science and Engineering Fair
Dear Parents,
The Jackson Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Wednesday, January 27. Due to the nature of COVID-19, all student projects will be submitted electronically using the PISD Elementary Science and Engineering Fair Virtual Project Slide Template. All projects must be submitted on/or before Friday, January 22, by 3:00 p.m.
Though participation in this annual event is voluntary, we want to encourage interested students in grades kindergarten through 5th grade to take advantage of this opportunity to exhibit their knowledge. The Student Handbook is attached for your reference. Elementary Science fairs are limited to the campus this year as the Regional Science Fair has been cancelled.
If your child would like to participate in the Jackson Science and Engineering Fair, please use the link(s) below to register for the fair.
Link to form in English:
Link to form in Spanish:
Once the information is received, your child will receive a code to join the Jackson Science Fair Google Classroom. All information for the fair and the virtual templates will be available in the classroom. All projects are due in the Google Classroom by the end of the day on Friday, January 22.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Goldsticker at rachel.goldsticker@pisd.edu.
Notes from Nurse Wheeler
Health Screening Reminder for Families
Parents are reminded to please take a moment each day to monitor your children’s health and do not send them to school if they are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19. No one should enter a Plano ISD school or facility if any of the following apply:
- Sick with symptoms that could be COVID-19. Symptoms to watch for: fever (100°F or higher), cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, congestion/running nose, nausea/diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.
- Has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. These individuals must follow all isolation and quarantine guidelines from the local health authority or their physician.
- Has a household member who is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or who is awaiting their own test results.
If any of the above conditions apply, the COVID-19 Student Reporting Form should be completed. Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our students healthy and safe.
Changes to Close Contact Definition and Quarantine Period - January 1
In collaboration with the Collin County Health Services Department and Dr. Gamber, our Public Health Authority, the definition of a close contact will be revised on January 1, 2021. Additionally, the quarantine period will be revised to align with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) updates. This information will be updated in the Back to School manual, as well as the Administrative Protocols manual on the website by January 4.
Revised Close Contact Definition: Being within 6 feet of an infectious person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour period; additional factors, such as consistent and proper masking, may affect this determination.
Proper masking - both the infectious individual and potential close contact are wearing a multi-layer face mask that covers the nose and mouth and fits around the nose and chin.
Revised Quarantine Period (for those considered close contacts): 10 days
If you have any questions, please contact me at jill.wheeler@pisd.edu. Thank you for all your efforts to keep our Jackson community healthy and safe.
Jill Wheeler, Nurse
Jackson Elementary
SCHOOL STARTS EARLIER THIS YEAR!
Parents make the difference! - Parenting Newsletter from The Parent Institute
Hello Parents,
We are excited to let you know that we have purchased a school subscription to a parenting newsletter from The Parent Institute. This newsletter, Parents make the difference! is published monthly in English and Spanish and contains great articles to help parents support their child’s learning and to help build parent involvement and student achievement. We will provide links to each month's issue below.
Parents make the difference! - December 2020
Los padres ¡hacen la diferencia! - Diciembre 2020
Parents make the difference! - November 2020
Los padres ¡hacen la diferencia! - November 2020
Join Jackson PTA!
We know this school year has been financially and emotionally difficult for many of our families, but that's why it's even more important to support our students by joining the Jackson PTA. At this time last year, there were 208 PTA members. Currently, there are only 86 members with 560 students. The funds raised this year will go a long way to providing field trips 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, order available school supply packs, or to purchase Jackson spirit wear.
We need your pictures for the 2020-21 yearbook. Please send Sarah Salcedo any pictures you think could be included in the yearbook. (sarahsalcedo@gmail.com).
Thank you for your support!
Jacquie Wooten
2020-21 Jackson PTA President
World Wear Project
Jackson Spirit Wear Now Available!
Jackson Families,
We now have spirit wear on the Jackson PTA website! There are adult and child size masks with our Jackson Jaguar logo. You can purchase one for your child and donate one to the school so every Jaguar can have one! Order online at https://www.jacksonpta.com/shop. Let’s show our school spirit Jaguars!!
Thank you!
Jacquie Wooten
2020-21 Jackson PTA President
Plano ISD 2021-2022 Academic Calendar
Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Extended
Free Meals For All Plano ISD Students Extended
The United States Department of Agriculture has extended nationwide flexibilities which allow all Plano ISD students to receive free breakfast and lunch through the end of the school year.
Federal Meal Application
Households are still encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals. There are many other resources and benefits to students and the district when students qualify for the federal meal program.
To complete a federal meal application, please visit SchoolCafe.com/PISD. Allow 10 business days for application processing.
Paper applications are available in the Jackson office.
Free Weekly Meal Bundles for School@Home Students
Weekly meal bundles for School@Home learners will be available on December 15, 2020 and resume every Tuesday after winter break starting January 5, 2021 at the following locations:
- Clark HS
- McMillen HS
- Shepton HS
- Vines HS
- Williams HS
Service begins/ends promptly 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Remember to bring needed documents (school-issued ID, report card, parent portal attendance summary form, or birth certificate) if student is not present. For more information, visit: www.pisd.edu/grabandgo
Paquetes de comidas semanales gratuitas para los estudiantes de School@Home (Escuela en Casa) están disponibles para ser recogidos al borde de la acera cada martes en Clark HS, McMillen HS, Shepton HS, Vines HS, y Williams HS. El servicio comienza/termina puntualmente de 9:30 a.m. a 10:30 a.m. y de 4:45 p.m. a 6:00 p.m. Si el estudiante no está presente, recuerde traer los documentos necesarios (identificación emitida por la escuela, reporte de calificaciones, formulario de resumen de asistencia del portal de padres o certificado de nacimiento). Más información: www.pisd.edu/grabandgo.
PISD Mobile Computer Lab - December/January Schedules
2021 Virtual SAGE Summer Expo
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Jackson Elementary
Website: http://k12.pisd.edu/jackson-elementary-school
Location: 1101 Jackson Drive, Plano, TX, United States
Phone: 469-752-2100
Twitter: @JacksonPlano