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MUSTANG PARENT ALERT
T. L. MARSALIS ELEMENTARY STEAM ACADEMY
March 2024 Monthly Parent Newsletter
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello Mustang Families!
This week ends our third grading period and we are gearing up for our final instructional quarter of the school year, with all the excitement it brings. Our official STAAR (3-5) and MAP (K-2) Assessment countdowns have begun and all important dates are listed in this newsletter. Parents, it is very important that all students are here every day so that our teachers can provide critical and important instruction during the next several weeks. In addition, if your child has been identified to receive additional instruction in our Afterschool Scholars Academy, please make sure that they are in attendance on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
Our districtwide parent survey window is officially open and I have included the surveys and QR codes in this newsletter. Please consider completing this year's survey as this information provides our district with good feedback as we continue to ensure student academic and social success. We thank you in advance for your support and are looking forward to another great month at Marsalis! Please let us know if you have any questions.
TESTING DATES:
- February 29 -District MOCK STAAR Science (Grade 5)
- March 5 - District MOCK STAAR Reading (Grades 3-5)
- March 6 - District MOCK STAAR Math (Grades 3-5)
- Upcoming in April - Quarter 4 Instructional Reviews for PK-2nd Grade
SCHOOL EVENTS:
- March 8 - Quarter 3 Grading Period Ends
- March 18 - Quarter 4 Grading Period Begins
- March 28 - REPORT CARDS ISSUED
- March 28 - Common Cents Check Presentation Ceremony @ Communities Foundation of Texas @ 9:30 a.m. Student Council Officers will attend the awards ceremony with Ms. Ingram and the non-profit organizations we raised funds in November for will be there to receive their checks.
CLUB COMPETITION DATES:
Elementary UIL South Competitions - March 23, 2024 @ Skyline HS
** Check with club sponsors for specific times and instructions**
FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULED:
- March 28, 2024 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Dallas Zoo
SCHOOL HOLIDAY/NO SCHOOL:
- March 11 - 15 SPRING BREAK / ALL SCHOOLS CLOSED
- Student Holiday/No School - March 29, 2024
- District Inclement Weather Makeup Day / No School - April 1, 2024
Meet our counselor, Ms. Telisa Ingram. Visit her counseling website at
https://sites.google.com/dallasisd.org/thecounselorscorner
Our monthly parent workshop will continue this month with sessions on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. We'd love to see you if you are able to attend.
Congratulations to our 2024 Destination Imagination Team who have qualified for the Lone Star Finals in Arlington, Texas next month! A win at state and our dream team will be on their way to Kansas City for Worlds! Good luck to Ms. Ingram (sponsor) and our creative team.
Congratulations To Our Student Participants!!
EARLY ENROLLMENT FOR ALL PK4 TO KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION
Thank you for choosing Marsalis for PreKindergarten! Even though it may feel early to do so, it is time to think about where your student will enroll for Kindergarten. If your student’s home address does not fall within our school’s attendance boundaries, he/she will not be automatically enrolled at our school next year. By default, all Dallas ISD Kindergarten students are enrolled at their neighborhood (“zoned”) school.
If you would like your student to continue at Marsalis for Kindergarten in the 2024-2025 school year, you must submit a Choose Dallas ISD application. The online application can be completed using a smartphone, computer, or tablet so visit www.dallasisd.org/choosedallasisd to start the application process.
If you plan to enroll your student at his/her neighborhood (“zoned”) school for Kindergarten, no action is necessary from you at this time. He/she will be automatically be enrolled there and you will receive information later in the spring about registration for the 2024-2025 school year.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office staff if you have any questions about the PreK to Kindergarten transition or the Choose Dallas ISD application process. We are here to help!
MARSALIS ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Our school opens at 7:30 a.m. Only bus riders and PK3 students need to enter at the Scottsboro (bus lane) door. All other students must enter at the front entrance.
- School begins at 8:00 a.m. and a student is tardy at 8:15 a.m. Recording of tardies will begin this week and can affect your child's overall attendance.
- Students begin picking up breakfast from the cafeteria with their teachers at 7:45 a.m. and eat in their classrooms. Breakfast concludes at 8:15 a.m. All students who arrive after this time will miss the breakfast period.
Dismissal Reminders
- Dismissal begins at 3:20 p.m. If you would like to pick your child up early, they will need to be picked up prior to 3:00 p.m. Please understand that your child will be missing valuable instruction and parent conferences will be held for students who have frequent early releases.
- If your child is a bus rider or is being picked up by a daycare facility, please be sure to notify your child's teacher.
PARENT PICKUP PROCEDURES
- All persons picking up students will need to have photo ID ready to show. Our scholars will only be released to the persons listed on their enrollment history. If you need to update this information, please contact Mrs. Garcia, CRC, at 972-749-3512.
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER(S)
- Our Marsalis grade level Google sites are officially live now. Check out our school website (www.dallasisd.org/marsalis) for access. These sites will provide you with specific information and resources for your child's specific grade level. Click on our "Academics" tab and select "Grade Level Classes" to locate the teachers' pages.
BUS SAFETY REMINDERS
Please share with your child(ren) the importance of bus safety. Students are to wear seatbelts, if applicable, obey the bus drivers' directives, keep their hands and belongings to themselves and most importantly, stay seated while on the bus. Parents, also remember to be at the appropriate bus pickup locations on time. Our bus drivers routes do not service Marsalis only and must stay on schedule.
WE PROVIDE AN ON-CAMPUS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy
Email: KR2404@dallasisd.org
Website: dallasisd.org/marsalis
Location: 5640 South Marsalis Avenue, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-749-3500
Twitter: @marsalis_l