The Jim Plain Insider

We aspire to be a safe and loving community that empowers students to be lifelong learners who positively contribute to the world.

WOW! Thank you all so, SO much for your support with our campus fundraiser. We don't have final totals yet, but we will be sure to share with you as soon as we can. We are so excited for the opportunities we can provide for our students and staff with your generous donations. Thanks also to those of you that volunteered during the Fun Run yesterday!

The Campus Climate survey window is now open. Please be on the lookout for an email from Dr. Gearing with the link to complete the survey. This feedback is incredibly valuable to not only our district, but also to help Plain celebrate what is going well, make improvements and adjustments, and set goals for the upcoming school year. Even if you are very happy - please take a few minutes to fill this survey out. Comments are also really helpful, and the more detail you provide the more we are able to understand and learn from it. We appreciate your time & support and for partnering with us!!

Have a great long weekend and we'll see students back here on Tuesday!

💗Mrs. Ulatoski

24-25 Academic Calendar

February is Black History Month!

February 17

• Professional Learning Day - No School for Students

February 19

• 4th Grade Black History Performance at 9:30 - 4th grade families who would like to attend can RSVP here.
• STAR Day - State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day

February 20

• Spring Picture Day (group pictures and individual)
• McTeacher's Night - PTA Spirit Night at McDonald's from 5-8pm

February 21

• Enrichment clubs
• 5th grade visits to LMS and DMS
• Future Friday - Wear your LMS, DMS, GHS, college, or career wear!

February 24

• TELPAS Testing Begins

March 3

• Celebrate Texas Public Schools Week
• Texas Educational Diagnosticians Week

March 12-13

• Third Grade Living Museum

March 14

• Enrichment Clubs

March 17-21

• No School - Spring Break

March 24

• Professional Learning Day - No School for Students

Calling all multilingual students! The Global Languages and Cultures Department is hosting the 4th Annual Leander ISD International Film Festival on March 8th, 2025 in the Leander High School PAC. We invite EC-12 students to submit videos by February 21st. For more information, please see Film Festival Info and Links 2025 This is an opportunity for students to showcase their multilingualism, academic strengths, and creativity. Participating in the International Film Festival empowers students to be creative & critical thinkers, skilled communicators & collaborators, compassionate community contributors, and adaptable & reflective individuals. The audience for the film festival will include students, staff, families and community members.

Order forms will be coming home soon, but in case you prefer to order online here are the links:

• Class Group Pictures: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001213890
• Spring Individuals: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001213894

The JPE Campus Events Committee would like to host an event where members of the Plain Community can come and showcase their cultures through sharing food, music art, traditions and more. Each group would have their own booth to share about their culture. This would take place at the school, in the evening in the month of May. Exact date is TBD. If you are interested in participating, please complete this survey!

Our counselor, Ms. Hodge, provides snacks to students who need them. If you are able to donate snacks, please consider purchasing something from her Snacks for Students Amazon Wishlist.

Please read Nurse Alli's newsletter below!

At JPE, students can earn Pride Paws for showing our campus-wide PAWS expectations, and then they can spend their Pride PAWS at the Pride Paw store. We are asking for donations to refill our store so students can start spending their Pride PAWS. Here's the list for our Amazon Wish List. Thank you in advance!!

Yearbooks are already on sale! Click on the link to order yours now! Yearbooks are $20. Payment plans are available too!

New this year - 5th grade parents can create a student ad to shout out their fifth grader. Click here to create your ad for the yearbook!

We love our JPE PTA! They work together to create incredible experiences for our students, staff, and families. Interested in joining or learning more? Find out more about out JPE PTA here and be on the lookout for the PTA table at school events!

Please consider attending Rally Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 24th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Rally Day is a popular advocacy event and thousands of PTA members across the state of Texas will be in attendance. Rally Day is open to all PTA members. (Reach out to our PTA Membership Chair, Erica Smith, or to me for more information about joining the PTA.) This will be an excellent opportunity to participate in a caucus, rally on the steps, enjoy a picnic lunch together, attend legislator meetings, and participate in literature drops. Rally Day is considered an excused absence for your students, but parents must notify us of the reason for the absence.

The primary focus of the Texas PTA is getting public school dollars back into our schools, resolving teacher and staff shortages, transforming school accountability, improving public school funding, and increasing school safety. Learn more by viewing the Rally Day 2025-Legislative Priorities One Page PDF attachment below.

If this sounds like something you are interested in, please fill out this Google form: Rally Day Interest/Attendance Form

Is your child returning to Jim Plain and possesses some of these Common Characteristics of Gifted Children (source: What is Giftedness?):

• Comprehends material above their age peers
• Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity
• Strong curiosity and unique interests
• Quirky sense of humor
• Creative problem solving and imagination
• Quick learning with minimal repetition
• Self-aware, socially aware, and globally aware

These MAY be indicators that the GT/QUEST program could be beneficial to your child. Screening for the GT/QUEST program is based on referral by any adult that knows the student. If you feel your child may have an educational need for gifted services, complete the Referral Forms provided on Emily Riordan’s QUEST Website in order for them to be screened for the GT/QUEST program for the 2025-2026 school year.

*Referrals for the 2025-2026 school year are now open! They will close on March 1, 2025. Parents who referred will be notified by April 1, 2025 if their child moves to testing. Results will be sent home before the last day of school. (The next opportunity to refer a student for the GT/QUEST Program will be next school year for screening and testing in the Spring of 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year.)