Dear JAV Families,

We’ve officially reached Week 5 of the 3rd 9-week grading period! Time is flying by, and we have a lot of exciting events coming up this month.

National School Counseling Week (Feb. 3rd – Feb. 7th)

This week, we celebrate National School Counseling Week, a time to recognize the incredible work our school counselor, Mrs. Irby, does to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. Whether she's helping students navigate friendships, set academic goals, or build confidence, our counselor plays a vital role in our school community. We encourage parents and students to show their appreciation to let her know how much she is valued!

Valentine’s Day Class Parties – Thursday, Feb. 13th

Our classrooms will be filled with fun and friendship as we celebrate Valentine’s Day with class parties on Thursday, February 13th. Be on the lookout for communication from your child’s teacher regarding classroom needs, and any guidelines for treats or valentines. Thank you for helping make this a special day for our students! Our party schedule is as follows:

• Pre-K/Kinder/ECSE: 9:15-9:45
• First Grade: 8:45-9:15
• Second/ABLE: 9:45-10:15
• Third Grade: 10:15-10:45
• Fourth Grade: 11:15-11:45
• Fifth: 10:45-11:15

No School for Students – Friday, Feb. 14th or Monday Feb. 17th

Students will not have school on Friday, February 14th, as it is a district professional development day for teachers and staff. We will also be off on Monday, February 17th in observance of Presidents Day.

Black History Night – Thursday, Feb. 20th

Join us on Thursday, February 20th, for our annual Black History Night! This special evening will celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of African Americans through student performances and educational displays. We invite all families to come out and support our students as they showcase their learning in an engaging and meaningful way. Stay tuned for more details!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Let’s have a fantastic week, and as always, I will see you all in the morning!

Important upcoming dates:

• 2/3-2/7: School Counseling Week
• 2/13: Valentines Class Parties
• 2/14 and 2/17: No school for Students
• 2/20: Black History Night 5:30-7pm
• 2/27: 4th Grade Performance

Warm regards,

Napoleon Leiva

Principal,

Vitovsky Elementary

Our theme for this year is "Growing Together". As we did last year, that design is available in English, Spanish, and French. Click on the link below to get your campus spirit gear! The Spirit store will be open until Sunday February 9th.

We have three different ways that kids are released to go home at the end of the day: Bus Riders, Walkers, and Car Pick-up.

• Bus Riders: Students are allowed to ride the bus home if parents have filled out the Bus Rider Compact and have been notified by transportation that they are approved to ride the bus.
• Walkers: Students who live in the immediate vicinity of the campus and therefore do not qualify to ride the bus are able to be escorted to the corner of Henderson and 9th St. by a group of teachers.
• Car Pick-up: Students who's parents or other family member are able to pick them up by car, are escorted by their teacher to the gymnasium to wait to have their "car tag" number called so they can be walked to their car.

A few reminders about our dismissal options:

• Students are only able to get on the bus if they have their ID. Parents please help us in making sure that students have their badges ready with them before they leave in the morning to go wait for the bus.
• Students cannot walk with our "walkers" group if their address allows for them to ride the bus. If students are able to ride the bus, they must either fill out the forms to ride the bus or parents must wait in the car line to pick up their student from the car rider line.
• Our cut-off time for parents coming in the building to pick up their child early is 2:30pm. This allows us enough time to ensure that all students get to where they are supposed to be for dismissal time. After 2:30, parents will need to wait in the car pick-up line to pick up their child.

We appreciate your support in helping us ensure a smooth daily arrival and dismissal for our students. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Below you find a map showing our morning drop off traffic patterns. ECSE and Pre-K students should be dropped off on the side of the cafeteria where buses drop off starting at 7:15am. If you have a child in either of those classes, please do not drop your child off in the front line. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

This month we are challenging your student to be kind to others, even when it’s hard. We are partnering with you to help your child grow in kindness. Most children learn new behaviors by copying those around them; we have a powerful opportunity and responsibility to teach kindness by example. This month, model kindness and empower your children to show compassion to those around them with these activities.

Our local Navarro College is offering freed adult education classes on learning English, preparing for the GED, acquiring Citizenship, and more! Stay tuned for more information coming soon on how to access these wonderful courses.

2024-25 Learning Calendar

The MISD Board of Trustees approved the 2024-25 Learning Calendar at its Feb. 26 meeting. The adopted calendar includes:

• Seven Pink (Professional Learning) Days
• First day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024
• Last day is Thursday, May 22, 2025

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

Submitting your applications for the NSLP can do more than just provide access to free and reduced-price meals, including:

• Academic Tests: May provide reduced fees for AP, SAT and/or ACT tests
• Athletics: May result in free or discounted fees to participate in activities
• College Applications: May qualify you for discounted rates associated with college applications
• Internet Access: May qualify you for discounted rates on internet services

Find eligibility information and apply now here.

Does your student need MISD school bus transportation? All students must have a current Bus Rider Contract on file for each year. All contracts received by the July 12 deadline will secure route information and transportation for the first week of school. Contracts received after July 12 are being processed on a first come, first served basis and transportation is not guaranteed for the first week of school.

If you have not submitted a contract for your student, please fill one out and return to the Transportation Department by emailing to bus_contracts@midlothianisd.org or by delivering to 601 E. Avenue E, Midlothian. Please remember that your student cannot ride the bus until their contract is processed.

It is the perfect time of the year to review our MISD Inclement Weather Notification Procedures

Midlothian ISD closely monitors weather forecasts throughout the school year. Student and staff safety is at the forefront of our considerations. In the event of inclement weather, the district strives to decide whether to close or delay the opening of schools in a timely manner. Closure or delay announcements are released through the following outlets:

• MISD text message alert system (Sign Up)

• MISD Email notification to parents and staff

• Announcement on www.midlothianisd.org

• Posts on the district's social media pages

For the most accurate and timely information, we suggest parents and staff check their email, district social media channels or the district's official website at www.midlothianisd.org. The district will also inform television and radio stations. They share weather closure information at their discretion.

If you have not already done so, we encourage you to sign up for our PTO. The Parent Teacher Organization gives parents and teachers the opportunity to work together to supplement and enrich the educational experience. A strong, well-functioning PTO can be a teacher's most important ally when it comes to achieving curricular and fundraising goals.

Our teachers and staff work hard to ensure that our students receive a high quality education. We do not want that hard work to go unnoticed! If you would like to shout-out a teacher or staff member for something amazing they have done, simply click on the link below so we can include the shout-out in our Weekly Staff Newsletter!

All Texas school districts are required by law to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. House Bill 3, Section 19 added Section 37.222 to the Texas Education Code, which requires the Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety, to provide information and resources to school districts for the purpose of disseminating the information to parents. The Texas DPS launched a Keep ‘Em Safe Texas website that provides safety resources, materials, and tips for practicing safe gun storage to prevent accidents and keep children safe. Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.

Reminder. If a student is going to wear shorts, they must extend to the end of the fingertips.* Spandex and biker shorts are prohibited unless the length exceeds the end of the fingertips and the length of the shirt worn. To view our complete district dress policy, click on the link below.

*fingertip measurement is when shoulders are relaxed, arms at the side, and fingers extended.

There are two great ways to report bullying and safety and security issues. One way is to contact campus administration directly and let them know the issue so they can fully investigate the matter. If you need to remain anonymous, then you can use the See IT Hear IT Stop IT tool available to staff, students, and families. This is also a great tool to use if it is after hours and you cannot contact an administrator directly. MISD encourages you to speak to an administrator whenever possible when there is a threat to student or staff safety or security.

Here is the link to use the updated website.

https://www.midlothianisd.org/student-life/see-it-hear-it-stop-it

Email: info@misd.gs
Website: vitovsky.misd.gs
Location: 333 Church Street, Midlothian, TX, USA
Phone: 4698566400