Character Trait of the Month: Generosity

This month's essay was written and presented by Angelyn Sota Maya, a third-grader at Igo Elementary. She spoke about the generosity of her friends and how special they are to everyone at school.

Our Cougar Champions of the Month are selected by their Principals for their outstanding work.

Igo Elementary School: Avery Gray (Student), Amy McHenry (Staff)

Double Creek Elementary School: Abigail Sherrod (Student), Risha Coleman (Staff)

Jarrell Elementary School: Daniel Aviles Mora (Student), Misty Krupp and Jennifer Beach (Staff)

Jarrell Middle School: Crystal Rayon (Student - Not Present), Taylor Mullins (Staff)

Jarrell High School: Dylan Lester (Student), Tara Granberry (Staff)

Andrew and Mo Palousek were recognized for their outstanding support of students in the district. Mr. and Mrs. Palousek are present at every athletic event to cheer on our Cougars, whether they play at home or away. We appreciate you for your support.

*All presentations are attached below*

Communication and Informational Items:

- Student Outcomes presented by Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks

- Budget Update presented by CFO Robert Navarro

- Student Voice presented by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Laura Buckley

- 2023 Bond Update presented by Sledge Engineering

Action Items:

In addition to the monthly consent agenda, the board approved:

- Retention stipends for Jarrell ISD Employees

- The 2023 - 24 audit report

- Stipend revisions to the 2024 - 25 compensation plan

- Possible action on the Policy Update EIC (L) Academic Achievement: Class Ranking will be held next month

The Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees reorganized its leadership at the November 20, 2024, meeting. With unanimous approval for each position, we are thrilled to share our new Jarrell ISD Board Officers: President Jenny Arnold, Vice President Tamara Dozier, and Secretary Dave Lovelace.

Jenny Arnold has served on the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees since 2017.

Tamara Dozier has served on the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees since 2019.

Dave Lovelace has served on the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees since 2022. He was sworn into office for another term at last night's board meeting.

Congratulations to the new leadership team of the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees. We're grateful to your leadership and all our board members for their time and effort in making Jarrell ISD a destination district.

For more information about Jarrell ISD's Board of Trustees, visit www.jarrellisd.org

On November 14, the district held a groundbreaking at the site of Berry Creek Elementary School. The campus is the district's fourth elementary school and is part of the 2023 Bond package. It will open in August 2026. Several future students joined school board members and Superintendent Dr. Hicks for the groundbreaking ceremony. Visit our website, www.jarrellisd.org/bond2023, for more information.

Construction on Jarrell Ranch Middle School is making incredible progress. The new middle school is on the east side of 487 and will open in August 2025. An Attendance Zone Committee is working to establish new boundaries for the school.

Jarrell Independent School District officials announced that the district received an "A" rating for "Superior Achievement" under Texas' School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The "Superior Achievement" rating is the state's highest, demonstrating the quality of Jarrell ISD's financial management and reporting system.

School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts, was developed by the Texas Education Agency. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in managing school districts' financial resources.

"We're pleased with our FIRST rating. Our team works hard to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer money. Between inflation and the student basic allotment, which has stayed the same since 2019. This rating validates my team's dedication and commitment to our taxpayers, students, and staff. We're able to achieve results while still being cost-effective and efficient," said Chief Financial Officer Robert Navarro.

The Texas Education Agency assigned one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being "A" for "Superior Achievement," followed by "B" for "Above-Standard Achievement," "C" for "Standard Achievement" and "F" for "Substandard Achievement."

Additionally, S&P Global awarded the district an AAA/A+ credit rating.

Thursday, November 21, 2024, is National Parental Involvement Day. The day encourages parents to participate in school activities and consider being a part of our district. There are many ways you can contribute.

Volunteering and engaging in your child's school helps build community, supports learning at home, and makes a difference. As a fast-growing school district, you can volunteer in many ways that fit your schedule and provide valuable support.

Volunteer opportunities include:

-Parent Teacher Organization (P.T.O.)

-Booster Clubs

-After school activities

-Chaperone field trips

-Mentoring (share your special skills)

-Reading support

-Classroom assistance

-Campus support

-Substitute teaching

-Apply for full or part-time positions on your child's campus

-Serve on one of our committees

-Join the Jarrell Education Foundation

-Create a Watch D.O.G.S. group

By participating, you'll gain insight into your child's school experience and show them the value of giving back. For more information, please email studentsupportservices@jarrellisd.org and fill out a volunteer application. Together, we can make a positive difference in our children's education.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to our school community.

The referral window for the Gifted and Talented program closes on November 29th. Click on the link more information or to refer a student for the Gifted & Talented screening and assessment process.

Referral Form

Jarrell ISD has partnered with ParentSquare to facilitate teacher-to-parent communication. This secure platform keeps parents informed of school news and classroom updates. Click on the link to learn more about ParentSquare and to download the app.

ParentSquare Training Portal

Jarrell ISD now has a mobile app. The app is a centralized platform for students, parents, teachers, and the community to stay connected and informed with real-time announcements and important notifications. The app is available to download in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Search "Jarrell ISD" to download the app and join the digital hub of your child's campus and district information.

There are two more dates for the Healthy Kids Running Series

https://runsignup.com/hkrsjarrell

Race Dates: 11/24, 12/1

Rain Date: 12/8

Race Time: 3PM

Race Location: Jarrell Elementary School - 1615 County Rd 313, Jarrell, TX 76537

For more details view our town page: https://healthykidsrunningseries.org/race.../jarrell-tx/

Each one of our campuses has a PTO. Joining the PTO is an excellent way to participate in what's happening on your child's campus. The PTO supports teachers, hosts campus events, and many more activities that make a difference.

Use the link the learn more about the PTO.

Below is a link to a series of videos by the Smart Tag team. Each video highlights the different features/functions of Smart Tag.

Jarrell ISD is located in northern Williamson County. The mascot is The Cougars. It has five campuses: Jarrell High School, Jarrell Middle School, Igo Elementary School, Double Creek Elementary School, and Jarrell Elementary School. The district is home to more than 4,000 students. Enrollment is projected to more than double in the next 10 years.

Email: communications@jarrellisd.org
Website: www.jarrellisd.org
Location: 504 N. 5th Street, Jarrell, TX 76537
Phone: 512-746-2124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JarrellIndependentSchoolDistrict
Instagram: @Jarrell_ISD

Twitter: @Jarrell_ISD