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, December is already here! We have some fun events planned over the next couple weeks to celebrate the holiday season. Be sure to see information below about optional dress up days & winter class parties.

For the class parties, we have limited space in the classrooms for the activities that are planned. We would love for guardians to attend if you are able, but unfortunately will not have room for additional family members or younger siblings to attend. Please complete the RSVP form linked here if you plan to attend your child's winter party.

Have a great week!

💗Mrs. Ulatoski

24-25 Academic Calendar

December 9

• Wear festive holiday hats & socks

December 10

• Snow Day - wear white

December 11

• Plaid Day
• Tom's Coffee Truck at JPE (see info below)
• Spelling Bee (3rd-5th grade parents can attend - RSVP here!)

December 12

• Elf Day

December 13

• Polar Express & PJ Day
• PTA Polar Express Winter Wonderland from 6 - 8

December 16

• Reindeer Day

December 17

• Candy Cane Day - wear red & white

December 18

• Grinch Day - wear green

December 19

• Holidays Around the World - wear something to represents a winter holiday you celebrate!
• Class Winter Parties:
• ECE - 8:30-9:30
• Kinder - 9:00-10:15
• 1st - 12:30-1:30
• 2nd - 10:15- 11:15
• 3rd - 11:30 - 12:30
• 4th - 9:30-10:30
• 5th - 1:15 - 2:30

December 20

• National Ugly Sweater Day
• Early Release at 11:30

December 21 - January 6

• Winter Break

January 6

• Professional Learning Day - No School for Students

January 7

• Students return from break

Come start your morning with a warm cup of coffee or tea on December 11th and support our PTA! You can also donate for our teachers to get a cup of coffee that day. See the flyer and link below to donate!

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!

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.)

Hillcountrychristmas.org - click on 2024 Online Registration tab

The Hill Country Christmas Bureau in partnership with the Leander Blue Santa and our community, help provide Christmas to families living within our school district that need a little help this year.

Please visit our website and complete the registration information. Fill in all the information requested, incomplete or missing information slows down the processing of your registration. List all members of the household, including spouse, children over 12 and Grandparents if applicable. Provide proof of residence (within the Leander ISD boundaries). Use the link to upload your document to your registration. The document you provide must match the name (either yours or your spouse) and the address as listed on your registration.

Your proof of residence can include:

• A current utility bill

• Medical statement

• Letter from your child's school

Submit your registration to receive your Unique ID number. This is your confirmation that your registration has been received. We will process your registration and send you an email within 10 days with the pickup location, date, time and your assigned Unique ID number to present for gift pickup. If you do not receive a Unique ID number, do not resubmit, please contact us via our email at Hillcountrychristmasbureau@gmail.com.

Please do not apply for Christmas assistance from more than one organization, as all of our resources are limited due to the economy. If it is found that you have applied with another organization, we will remove you from our distribution list.

Gift distribution will take place on December 22nd.

La Hill Country Christmas Bureau, en asociación con Leander Blue Santa y nuestra comunidad, ayudar a proporcionar Navidad a las familias que viven dentro de nuestro distrito escolar y que necesitan un poco de ayuda este año. Visite nuestro sitio web y complete la información de registro. Rellenar toda la información solicitada, información incompleta o faltante ralentiza la tramitación de su registro. Enumere a todos los miembros del hogar, incluido el cónyuge, los hijos mayores de 12 años y los abuelos, si corresponde. Proporcionar comprobante de residencia (dentro de los límites del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Leander). Utilice el enlace para cargar su documento en su registro. El documento que proporcione debe coincidir con el nombre (ya sea el suyo o el de su cónyuge) y la dirección que figuran en su registro.

Su comprobante de residencia puede incluir:

• Una factura de servicios públicos actual

• Estado de cuenta médico

• Carta de la escuela de su hijo

Envíe su registro para recibir su número de identificación único. Esta es su confirmación de que su registro ha sido recibido. Procesaremos su registro y le enviaremos un correo electrónico dentro de los 10 días con el lugar de recogida, la fecha, la hora y su número de identificación único asignado para presentar para la recogida del regalo. Si no recibe un número de identificación único, no vuelva a enviarlo, comuníquese con nosotros a través de nuestro correo electrónico a Hillcountrychristmasbureau@gmail.com. Por favor, no solicite asistencia navideña de más de una organización, ya que todos nuestros recursos son limitados debido a la economía. Si se descubre que ha solicitado a otras organizaciones, lo eliminaremos de nuestra lista de distribución.

La distribución de regalos se llevará a cabo el 22 de diciembre.