The Connection

It was a day of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and heartwarming competition as eleven school districts gathered at Coyote Stadium on Thursday, September 28, 2023, to take part in the Annual Special Olympics Bocce Ball Tournament hosted by the Anna Coyotes. The event was spectacular, with the stadium pulsating with pride, smiles, laughter, and even some refreshing snow cones to beat the Texas heat.

The Special Olympics Bocce Ball Tournament was a celebration of unity, diversity, and the unwavering spirit of our athletes. It was a testament to the power of sports to bring people from different backgrounds and abilities together, fostering an environment of inclusivity and support. Eleven school districts from our region participated in this remarkable event, showcasing our students' incredible talent and dedication. The competition was fierce, with each team giving their all on the bocce ball court. But beyond the competition, a sense of togetherness truly made this tournament special.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff, as well as the invaluable contributions of our student and parent volunteers. These individuals poured their hearts and souls into organizing and executing the event flawlessly, ensuring every participant felt welcome and valued. To our incredible volunteers and staff, we thank you for your commitment to making this day a success. Your passion and selflessness are the driving forces behind events like these, and we are immensely grateful for your efforts.

The Anna Coyotes are incredibly proud to have hosted this event, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of inclusivity and unity through sports. We want to extend our congratulations to all the participants and express our gratitude to everyone who made this day unforgettable.

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to underrepresented students. The four national recognition programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

Students who take eligible administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams will be considered for awards.

Congratulations to the following Anna High School Students who received one of these awards and were recognized at the September Anna ISD School Board meeting.

Agnes Appiah-Kubi- National African American Recognition Award

Hayden Hughes- National Rural and Small Town Award

Jacob Realivasquez- National Hispanic Recognition Award

Jaimi Smith- National Rural and Small Town Award

Juliette Bates- National Rural and Small Town Award

Kenneth Bibb- National Rural and Small Town Award

Letizia Rodriguez- National Hispanic Recognition Award

Michael Mhando- National African American Recognition Award; National Rural and Small Town Award

Nathan Carpenter- National Hispanic Recognition Award

Yaire Martinez- National Hispanic Recognition Award

Anna High School Medical Assistant students are using the Makerspace to create name tags that will be used at their practicum/externship sites this year.

It doesn’t take much time on social media to get quick answers to burning questions about the newest restaurant, lost pets, or whether or not it’s always this hot in Texas. Unfortunately, it may be harder to find accurate answers about the things that matter most. That is especially true when it comes to getting information regarding your child and school. We recommend going straight to the source. Here are some tips to get you pointed in the right direction when you have concerns.

• Classes, Grades, and Attendance: While progress reports are posted every three weeks, and official report cards are posted at the end of each nine-week grading period, parents have 24-hour access to current grades and attendance on The Parent Portal. You can even adjust the settings to notify you if a grade drops below a designated level or an assignment is missing. If something looks odd, check with your child to see if they already have an explanation. Encourage them to speak with their teacher if there is a discrepancy, if they need a tutoring session, or to check on making up missed work.
• Get involved: Don't wait for an emerging issue to introduce yourself to your child's teacher. There are many ways to become a positive force in your child's campus. Consider dropping a friendly note or making an appointment with the teacher early in the year just to touch base. Follow your campus's Schoology and Facebook page and look for events to attend. Ask your campus office about how to join the PTA and what Volunteer opportunities are available. Getting involved is a great way to get to know staff and observe your child in their school environment.
• If a problem occurs, gather the details. Perhaps your child is struggling with a subject that used to come easily, or maybe he has voiced concerns about being teased. It makes sense to act when you observe an issue or your child tells you something's wrong. Trust your own judgment and move forward, but also make sure you have all the information available.
• Assume positive intent. It is common for kids to exhibit different behaviors in different environments. When something isn't adding up, it is absolutely a parent's right to find out what is happening. A parent is a child's first and best advocate. Sometimes this naturally brings out emotions of parental protectiveness, but it's important to keep in mind that ultimately staff also want what's best for your child and the other children in their care. Both parties may have pieces of a puzzle that can only be solved by working together.
• Begin with the teacher. In most cases, an informal chat with the classroom teacher should be the first step in addressing any issue. Teachers spend the most time with students and will typically have the most information about a situation. If you are unable to reach a resolution with the teacher, the next step is to contact your child's assistant principal, who can help clarify, mediate, or escalate your concern. School counselors are also helpful resources if you have questions about more general help your child may need.

Contact methods: Email is typically the best way to contact your child's teacher. Every teacher's email will follow the format of firstname.lastname@annaisd.org, but can also be found on the school's website under "Our Staff." They will do their best to respond within 24 hours. If you do not hear back, have a more urgent concern, or would like to schedule an in-person appointment, call your school campus secretary.

The Anna Independent School District will conduct fall semester lockdown drills starting in October. These drills and others are mandated by the state every school year. Please have an age-appropriate conversation with your students to let them know why we conduct these drills. The teachers will also talk with their students to prepare them for the drills and what to do during the drill.

They will let them know that when we have a drill or actual event, parents will not be able to come to the school to pick them up until the district has deemed it safe to do so and provided information to the parents on when and where to pick their students up should the need arise to arrange for an alternate reunification location. Please talk to your students about staying off social media and their cell phones during a drill or actual event, as it ties up emergency communications for first responders and could allow a threat to know where they are located. Thank you for your continued support and efforts to help keep our district safe.

House Bill (HB) 3144 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023) establishes the month of October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month to increase awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and potential overdoses.

Let's come together to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills laced with this deadly opioid. Accidental fentanyl poisoning has led to countless tragedies.

Get the facts: txopioidresponse.org/fentanyl

Together, we can save lives.

WHAT IS A COYOTE SALUTE?

It's our monthly employee recognition program. A Coyote Salute is awarded to individual staff members, and a Collaborative Coyote Salute is awarded to a group of staff members that have done something EXTRA special and beyond their regular job duties.

WHY:

We want to intentionally honor staff members who have gone the EXTRA mile for our students.

WHO:

Think of teachers using innovative teaching strategies or support staff members who go that extra mile to make our children feel safe and loved. This award is not limited to individual recipients. Collaboration encourages professional growth and student success. We would also like to honor teams of staff members who collectively worked on a positive project or had a fantastic outcome on something important to our students.

HOW:

Any Anna ISD employee, parent, or community member may nominate AISD staff members who have gone above and beyond their specific job duties by filling out this form. From your nominations, a recognition committee will select the recipients for a Coyote Salute and the groups for a Collaborative Coyote Salute.

WHEN:

You may nominate staff anytime you see someone or a group that goes above and beyond their regular job duties. Staff members who have been selected for a Coyote Salute or Collaborative Coyote Salute will be notified by the Administration and recognized at an upcoming board meeting.

Anna ISD will no longer be accepting checks as a payment method. This is an update to the acceptable payment methods for cafeteria accounts, field trips, club fees, etc. You may use cash or pay with a credit or debit card through the My School Bucks app.

• Register to be a volunteer at your child's school. Volunteer Application.
• Visit the Parent University to learn about Anna ISD. Parent University
• Join your school PTA or Booster club. AISD is grateful for the support of these parent leaders.
  

In the know: In addition to this eNewsletter, which typically comes twice a month, there are other ways to keep up with all the great things happening in Anna ISD:

• Ensure your information is current with your school, so you receive text message alerts, phone calls, and emails.
• Visit our website annaisd.org
• Follow AISD and your campus on social media. Facebook Twitter Instagram
• Download our mobile app

"I love AISD because it is a district with so many caring people. I've been shown so much love since joining the district almost 4 years ago, and I experience daily how cared for our staff and students are! " - Kimberly Price

Tell us why you 💜 AISD.

October 11 ............... Board Workshop

October 19 ............... Board Meeting