Support the Anna ISD Education Foundation by donating to the AEF on September 21 for North Texas Giving Day. The AEF is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the academic achievement of all AISD students. AEF programs include:
- Grants to school campuses and teachers for classroom programming
- Teacher and student scholarships
- District-wide grants to support and expand the school district's goals and curriculum, etc.
Every Day Counts
As parents, it is sometimes difficult to determine the need for a day off from school. Sometimes, it's the difference between a fever or a general "I don't feel good." Other times, it may be, "I don't want to go to school. Please! Can I stay home today?" The second tends to pull on our heartstrings, but depending on the circumstances, giving in may set our kids up for more significant problems.
Every day or class period that a student is absent, they miss out on learning. Over time, absences can add to significant learning gaps, stress about making up work, lower grades, or even a credit loss due to poor attendance. Studies show that students who are absent less than 10% of the school year achieve greater academic success, setting them up for more opportunities in the future.
For this reason, the State of Texas requires that students attend school 90% of the time. Out of an entire school year, this still allows a reasonable amount of days to be out for valid reasons (sickness, family event, etc.).
What We Can Do
- Know where we are: Check the Parent Portal weekly.
- Schedule appointments in a way that minimizes time out of school.
- Talk through any underlying issues that may be causing an avoidance mindset.
- Model a positive attitude towards education and showing up.
- Continue to remind our students that EVERY DAY of learning counts!
Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms.
In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services (SHS) reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides, and 59% of all suicides in Texas were by firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide.
It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm where children are likely to be and can access it. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:
• Failed to secure the firearm; or
• Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access
The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $ 4,000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two).
Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.
Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com. Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.
