Jackson eNews
6/12/2024
Hello Jackson Families!
It's hard to believe with the unseasonably warm temperatures this weekend; but today, September 22, is the official first day of Fall! Some cooler temperatures are forecast for this next week--just in time for the State Fair of Texas opening on Friday. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a little sweater weather!
It was great to see so many of our students participate in the Education Go Get It Week theme days! My favorite day was the Dress as your Future Career Day. We loved hearing about our students' plans for the future and we feel confident that our Jaguars are destined for success!
We also had a great turnout for S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Night at Jackson on Thursday. Students and families were able to engage in S.T.E.M. activities with their teachers.To add to the fun and learning, our C.I.S. support staff member, Teresa Ventura, was able to work with Dallas Afterschool to get VR headsets for the evening. We hope everyone enjoyed participating in the Science and Math activities and came away with ideas for S.T.E.M. activities to do with the family at home. Learning can be fun!
Students at Jackson have completed the beginning of the year MAP testing sessions. These results provide teachers with valuable information about each student’s learning progress and next steps for their instruction. Parents and guardians can expect to receive a hard copy of their child’s results; this Family Report will come home with the student. Reports will be sent home no later than Friday, October 4.
Thank you,
Crystal Roach
Principal
Jackson Elementary
Classroom Lessons
Welcome to the Counselors’ Corner! We will use this section of the eNews to inform you all of topics we will be covering in our counselor lessons and any other important or useful information! Students come with their class to the counselor bi-weekly to receive lessons. We absolutely love this time with them!
For our second lesson, the weeks of 09/16 and 09/23, we will be focusing on The Brain and Feelings! During these lessons, we will focus on three main parts of the brain: the Prefrontal Cortex, the Hippocampus, and the Amygdala. The Prefrontal Cortex helps us make good choices, pay attention, and learn. The Hippocampus help us remember what we learn and stores our memories. The Amygdala help keeps us safe. It is where all of our emotions come from, but sometimes, if we have strong emotions, it keeps us from thinking clearly! Sometimes our brains can cause us trouble when we experience emotions with intensity and we temporarily lose control of our actions (we refer to this as “flipping your lid”). These reactions are perfectly normal and were designed to keep us safe from danger; however, when we experience such strong emotions, we are not always in danger. Many times, this results in acting without thinking, which can result in being more upset! Feel free to reinforce these ideas at home to help students understand the importance of our brain and feelings! Sometimes students need that gentle reminder to keep their amygdala calm so the rest of the brain can do its job!
Jaguar of the Month Program
Jaguar of the Month is a student reward program (Grades K-5) that incorporates character traits from the program, CharacterStrong. A new character trait is introduced every month and students will engage in classroom discussions and activities to reinforce the trait. At the end of the month, each teacher will identify a student who consistently demonstrated the targeted trait. These students will be recognized on JagTube, receive a certificate, wristband, and a Jackson Jaguar pencil. Grade level group photos will be displayed on the bulletin board near the front office AND Jaguars of the Month will attend a popsicle party with Dr. Roach, our principal!
Our very first Jaguar of the Month Trait is RESPECT! Our definition of Respect is seeing value in all people and things and treating them with care. Check out the CharacterStrong Family Letter (English) / CharacterStrong Family Letter (Spanish) for more information about PurposeFull People and some fun ways you can join us in teaching and reinforcing Cooperation! Monthly Family Newsletters will be sent home that outline the CharacterStrong skills students are learning in class and provide fun ideas to grow as a family at home.
We hope you find this Counselors’ Corner helpful! Please never hesitate to reach out for anything! We are always here to support you and your students!
Thank you!
Michelle Hardy (Grades PK, 1, 3, 5)
(469) 752-2115
Nicole Sollie (Grades K, 2, 4)
(469) 752-2116
SEPTEMBER 2024 - OCTOBER 2024
Thursday, September 26
- Artwork for Kindness Card entries must be delivered or digitally submitted to Jackson's Art Teacher, Ms. Shaffer.
Wednesday, October 2
- PTA Spirit Night at Raising Cane's! 1000 W. 15th St., Plano, TX 75075, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- 5th Grade Adventure Camp
- K-2 Awards Assembly (end of 1st 9 weeks), 8:05 a.m., gym
Friday, October 11
- K – 5th grade PACE referrals are due, 5:00 p.m.
- Fall Break for Students/Staff
- Fall Break for Students
- Teacher Work Days
- Fall Picture Retakes
Thursday, October 24
- 3-5 Awards Assembly, 8:05 a.m., gym
- Book Character Parade
- PTA Fall Picnic, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Longhorn Park. There will be food trucks and Trunk or Treat!
- PISD Student and Family Night, Allen Americans Hockey - Fun starts at 6:00 p.m., game starts at 7:00 p.m. $5 of each ticket price is donated back to Jackson!
The district calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years have been published. Please use these dates to plan family vacations when school is not in session. It is important that students do not miss school for vacations that can be planned during times of school closure. The Texas State Attendance law requires students to be in school for at least 90% of the school days in order to not face the possibility of being retained in that grade level and parents facing required court appearance and possible fines. If your child is absent from school, you must email the secretary to let her know why they are out (sick, doctor appointment, etc.). Thank you!
Click HERE for 2024-25 PISD Calendar
Click HERE for 2025-26 PISD Calendar
PACE provides services for students who require academically gifted enrichment services and have demonstrated the need for advanced, differentiated instruction. PACE at the elementary level is a weekly pull out program in which students are removed from the general education classroom to work under the guidance of a gifted specialist. The time spent in the PACE program will vary according to the grade level of the student. For more detailed information about the PACE program, please refer to the following link: https://www.pisd.edu/giftededucation
Students in K-5 are assessed in the first semester (fall) to determine placement in the second semester. District-wide CogAT tests administered to first, third and fifth grade students are part of the data used to determine the need for gifted services for these three grades. All other grades will be administered the district approved battery of PACE assessments in the fall.
Students may be referred for gifted services by teachers, parents, principals, counselors, or by the students themselves. Students are assessed at their home campus during the school day.
For referral forms and referral deadlines for PACE Assessment, please click on the links below:
General Elementary Referral Information 2024-2025 English
Información general de referencia de primaria 2024-2025 Español
Thank you,
Betty Fancher
Advanced Academics/Gifted Specialist
Jackson Elementary
email: betty.fancher@pisd.edu
We do drama different. We set the stage for success! Enjoy an exciting mix of theatre games, improvisation, scripted work and more in a safe and inclusive environment. Boost self-expression, social skills, and creativity with us!
Ages: K-5th
Location: Jackson Elementary
Day/Time: Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Enroll today: www.dramakids.com/tx3
Dear Jackson Parents,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! My name is Jacquie Wooten, and I am honored to be your PTA President for this upcoming school year. I have lived in Plano for 14 years and 11 years in this neighborhood. My youngest is a 3rd grader at Jackson this year and I also have a 13- and 11-year-old who are Jackson graduates and now attend Wilson Middle School.
I am a registered nurse and work full time as a nurse manager at a local hospital. I know what it's like being a working mom and juggling a job and family! I want to share with everyone the importance of PTA and the support it provides to our students and teachers. I would love to get more Jackson families involved in whatever capacity they are able. I hope to have the opportunity to meet each of you and work together to make a lasting and positive educational experience for our students!
Thank you!
Jacquie Wooten
Jackson PTA President
816-506-0510
Jackson students are encouraged to show their Jaguar spirit and wear Jackson colors (black and gold) or Jackson spirit wear on Fridays. A limited quantity of each size has been ordered, so get your spirit wear now!
Go to jacksonpta.com, click Spirit Store and pay by credit card.
Kroger Community Rewards
Make Sure Your Communication Preferences Are Up To Date!
Visit www.pisd.edu/schoolmessenger to choose how you prefer to receive communications from Jackson and Plano ISD.
Jackson Elementary
Website: http://pisd.edu/jackson
Location: 1101 Jackson Drive, Plano, TX, United States
Phone: 469-752-2100
Twitter: @JacksonPlano