SH STEM Academy Parent Newsletter

Dear Sam Houston STEM Families,

The holiday season is upon us, and it’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of the calendar year! December is a time of reflection, celebration, and community. As we enter this festive season, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, our students, families, and staff, for making Sam Houston STEM Academy a vibrant and supportive learning community.

This month, we are focusing on empathy, understanding and connecting to other’s feelings, kindness, and giving back. Our students are participating in various activities to spread holiday cheer and support those in need. As more information becomes available, I hope you’ll join us in these efforts to make a difference together, strengthening our sense of community and shared responsibility.

As the temperature drops, please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor recess, including warm coats, gloves, and hats. Please check our lost and found for any of these types of items you may have been searching for over the Thanksgiving Break. In the event of a weather-related drop-off line reduction, notifications will be sent via Thrillshare to email, text, and our school website.

December is also a time to celebrate our students’ hard work. Teachers are preparing special activities to review key concepts and build excitement for the new year. We encourage you to ask your child about their favorite projects or lessons this month, and take pride in their achievements.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. We at Sam Houston STEM Academy wish you a joyful and safe holiday season!

Warm regards,

Jordyn Livingston

Principal, Sam Houston STEM Academy

livingstonjb@marshallisd.com

December 2024- December to Remember

12/02- Deck the Halls! 4-7pm come and go

12/05- Sam Houston STEM Academy Christmas Program K-2 @ MHS Auditorium 6:30pm

12/06- East Texas Professional Credit Union- Dollar Dog (students only), Kindergarten Downtown Marshall Field Trip

12/07- Shop with a Cop, SH Student Council Christmas Parade

12/09- SH Book Fair Begins

12/10- Big Kahuna Party Bus

12/12- 2nd Grade Marshall Ballet Theatre Field Trip (students only)

12/16- MISD December Board Meeting

12/18- Ugly Sweater Dress up Day (students & staff ), MJHS Choir performs for 5th Grade

12/19- Grinch Dress up Day (students & staff )

12/20- Pajama Day (students & staff ), Polar Express, Class Christmas Party (students only), Early Release 12:05 pm

January 2025

School Board Appreciation Month

01/06- Student Holiday (Staff ONLY PD Day)

01/07- Students return to campus

01/09- Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

01/13- SH Honor Choir Practice Resumes

01/20- MLK Day- No School for students and staff

01/31- 100th Day of School

February 2025

Black History Month

02/03-02/12- Benchmark & Common Assessment Testing (Closed Campus for Testing- No visitors on campus, No early checkouts, No deliveries)

02/13- Early Release- Parent/Teacher Conferences, Class Valentines Day Parties (Students only)

02/14- Student Holiday (Staff ONLY PD Day)

02/17- Presidents Day- No School- Staff & Student Holiday

02/21- Elementary Academic UIL

Thank you for your support and your student(s) efforts during our Big Kahuna fundraiser. With your help, we were able to raise $23,183.90. This money will be used for the following:

Upcoming:

- Field Trips ($2,000 allotted per grade level; $12,000 total)

- Student Gift for Christmas ($5,628)

- Art project for all students (Fall $500)

Past:

- Teacher Treats (October $375.70)

(November and December Teacher Treats have been paid for and sponsored by individual donors)

- Open House Family Airplane Contest and Door Prizes ($120)

Other Budgeted Items covered by this fundraiser:

- Staff Christmas Party ($2,500)

- STEM Night ($500)

- National School Breakfast Week ($1,000)

- STAAR Pep Rally ($1,000)

Special thanks to:

- Joe Pine Coffee Co. for door prize donations during the Fall Open House

Important Dates:

Tuesday, December 10

Big Kahuna Party Bus

159 students qualified to ride the Big Kahuna Party Bus to Cici’s Pizza.

**More details will be sent in December.

Please be mindful in following the MISD K-8 dress code this year. I have attached a copy above for your review. If there are "free-dress" days or dress celebration days, you will notified in advance in writing, otherwise, the schedule for dress code is as stated. We will begin enforcing this dress code immediately.

Thursday is college shirt day for MISD students and staff. Students may wear a college shirt with uniform bottoms. Friday is Maverick Spirit day, students may wear jeans or shorts within the school dress code guidelines with a Maverick, SH spirit shirt, or Red Uniform shirt.

7:00 Building opens for student drop-offs

7:31 Tardy BELL Oops! Your student is late! Better late than never, but your student must be signed into the office by an ADULT

2:30 No early checkouts or transportation changes accepted after this time

3:21 End of School Day

Attendance matters, this includes tardies and early checkouts. 3 early checkouts will equate to one absence. Over the span of time, if a student misses 2 days of school a month, they will have missed up to 20 days in a year, and over 90 hours of instructional time. This is a vital part of their instruction and education. Attendance policies can be reviewed in the MISD Student Handbook. However, we do understand life happens and students get sick. Absences are excused by turning in physician notes and our campus will accept three parent written notes. These can be turned in by your child to the office or emailed to our office.

TELEPHONE/CELL PHONE POLICY:

Students may use the office phone in case of an emergency with a note from their teacher.

Students may bring cell phones to school. They are to be turned silent and in backpacks. Cell

phones are not allowed to be used on school grounds while child is in the school unless given

specific permission by the principal. Students who have their cell phones out during school

time will have them confiscated according to the confiscated items guidelines.

CELL PHONE/ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY:

 Cell phones and electronic devices may not be used for any reason at school

 This means; not as a camera, calculator, etc.

 Once a student exits the bus or their car and enters campus they must put them away

and turn them on silent

 Once a student has boarded the bus or entered their car they may use them

 If there is an emergency and the students only way to contact someone is via their cell

phone they must come to the office to use the phone with administrative approval

 1st offense:

 warning issued to student and parent contacted and cell phone is picked up by parent

 warning will be recorded in Skyward as a cell phone violation

 2nd Offense:

 parent/admin meeting, confiscation of telecommunication device

 cell phone is released to parent only and a $15 to get the phone

 warning will be recorded in Skyward as a cell phone violation

 3rd offense:

 parent/admin meeting, confiscation of telecommunication device

 cell phone is released to parent only and a $30 fine to get the phone and assigned

Yondr pouch that will be mandatory to use for the rest of the academic school year

 the offense will be recorded in Skyward as a cell phone violation

 4th Offense

 parent/admin meeting, confiscation of telecommunication device

 cell phone is released to parent only and a $30 fine and phone will be released to

parent at the end of the semester. If new phone is brought on campus a Yondr pouch

will be checked out to the child.

 the offense will be recorded in Skyward as a cell phone violation