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MUSTANG PARENT ALERT
T. L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy
December 2023 Monthly Parent Newsletter
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello Mustang Families!
As we prepare to close out this first semester of instruction, the faculty and staff of T. L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy would like to say thank you for the partnership
you are building with our campus and sincerely hope you will continue to support your child academically and socially at home as well. We are very excited about all the wonderful things that are happening at our school and continue to be amazed at how much our students are growing academically and socially. While we still have a long ways to go, we are beginning to see many of students becoming more accountable for their actions and taking great pride in their academic progress.
Happy Holidays to you and check out our newsletter. We have included our holiday calendar of events, MAP MOY testing schedules, student club spotlights, our community service project drive and tips for handling the holiday season. I also want to personally thank you for your participation in our Fall Family STEAM Night. It was a wonderful learning event for all and we plan to keep building on our STEM principles as the year continues.
Educationally yours,
Kimberly M. Richardson
WINTER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MARSALIS ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Our school opens at 7:30 a.m. Only bus riders and PK3 students need to enter at the Scottsboro (bus lane) door. All other students must enter at the front entrance.
- School begins at 8:00 a.m. and a student is tardy at 8:15 a.m. Recording of tardies will begin this week and can affect your child's overall attendance.
- Students begin picking up breakfast from the cafeteria with their teachers at 7:45 a.m. and eat in their classrooms. Breakfast concludes at 8:15 a.m. All students who arrive after this time will miss the breakfast period.
Dismissal Reminders
- Dismissal begins at 3:20 p.m. If you would like to pick your child up early, they will need to be picked up prior to 2:45 p.m. Please understand that your child will be missing valuable instruction and parent conferences will be held for students who have frequent early releases.
- If your child is a bus rider or is being picked up by a daycare facility, please be sure to notify your child's teacher.
PARENT PICKUP PROCEDURES
- All persons picking up students will need to have photo ID ready to show. Our scholars will only be released to the persons listed on their enrollment history. If you need to update this information, please contact the main office at 972-749-3500.
Mental Health Wellness During the Holiday Season
Greetings Parents:
The holiday season can be filled with joy and laughter. However, the holiday season can also be overwhelming and create a sense of loneliness. According to a study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people with a mental illness report that holidays tend to make their condition(s) worse. Below are some suggestions provided by the NAMI as to how to reduce stress and promote mental health wellness during the holiday season:
• Accept your needs
Put your own mental and physical well-being first. Recognize what your triggers are to help you prepare for stressful situations. Once you know this, you can take steps to avoid or cope with stress.
• Manage your time and don't try to do too much
Prioritizing your time and activities can help you use your time well. Making a day-to-day schedule helps ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks and deadlines. It’s okay to say no to plans that don’t fit into your schedule or make you feel good.
• Be realistic
Even pre-pandemic, the happy lives of the people shown in those holiday commercials are fictional. We all have struggles one time or another and it’s not realistic to expect otherwise. Sometimes, it’s simply not possible to find the perfect gift or have a peaceful time with family
• Practice Relaxation
Deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation are good ways to calm yourself. Taking a break to refocus can have benefits beyond the immediate moment.
• Exercise daily
Schedule time to walk outside, bike, or join a dance class. Whatever you do, make sure it’s fun. Daily exercise naturally produces stress-relieving hormones in your body and improves your overall physical health.
• Set aside time for yourself and prioritize self-care
Schedule time for activities that make you feel good. It might be reading a book, going to the movies, getting a massage, listening to music you love, or taking your dog for a walk. It’s okay to prioritize alone time you need to recharge.
• Eat well
With dinners, parties, and cookies trays at every turn, our eating habits are challenged during the holiday season. Try to maintain a healthy diet through it all. Eating unprocessed foods, like whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruit is the foundation for a healthy body and mind. Eating well can also help stabilize your mood.
REMINDER:
If you feel your child needs counseling, click on the link below my name. On the left side of the page, click Meet the Counselor and a drop down displays Parent Needs Assessment and Student Counseling Referral. I encourage everyone to complete the Needs Assessment for every child you have at Marsalis. Use the referral anytime you or your child has a concern that needs addressing.
Your school counselor,
Ms. Telisa Ingram
Parent Workshops for December:
- Staying Safe on Social Media / Date and Time TBA
Complete your volunteer application if you plan to assist our school in any way. Go to dallasisd.voly.org to create a volunteer account. Make sure you select Marsalis as your school.
COMMON CENT$ CAMPAIGN UPDATE
We want to THANK each of YOU that supported the November collection efforts of our Student Council. Because of your generosity, we have raised over $8,000! The Student Council will be donating these funds to the following non-profit agencies: UNCF, American Heart Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and Dallas CASA. We are working towards a THREE-PEAT as DISD's top donor school! Great job to everyone that contributed to our Common Cents Collection! Marvelous Mustangs are truly marvelous because of all the people we can help in our community!
Thank you Marsalis family!
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER(S)
- Check out our school website (www.dallasisd.org/marsalis) for our teachers' Google sites. These sites will provide you with specific information and resources for your child's specific grade level. Click on our "Academics" tab and select "Grade Level Classes" to locate the teachers' pages.
STUDENT CLUB SPOTLIGHT THIS MONTH
BUS SAFETY REMINDERS
Please share with your child(ren) the importance of bus safety. Students are to wear seatbelts, if applicable, obey the bus drivers' directives, keep their hands and belongings to themselves and most importantly, stay seated while on the bus. Parents, also remember to be at the appropriate bus pickup locations on time. Our bus drivers routes do not service Marsalis only and must stay on schedule.
WE PROVIDE AN ON-CAMPUS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy
Email: KR2404@dallasisd.org
Website: dallasisd.org/marsalis
Location: 5640 South Marsalis Avenue, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-749-3500
Twitter: @marsalis_l