Cougar Community Newsletter

At the Dec. 15 meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Board began the meeting with a performance from Miguel Grado.

During Cougars Roar, students and staff were celebrated. Each received a certificate and a Proud

Cougar yard sign. (Photos are below)

• Igo Elementary - Grace Gomez (student) and Lauren Pierce (staff)

• Jarrell Elementary - Ariel Watkins (student) and Jackie Puska (staff)

• Jarrell Middle School - Jordy Gonzalez (student), Korin Hardt (staff) and Jasmine Vasquez (staff)

• Jarrell High School - Ben Siemens (student) and Tara Granberry (staff)

• District recognition: Jasmine Benavidez (student), and Jarrell ISD receptionists Pamela Martinez, Stephanie Garica, Tristyn Lopez, Lissett Vargas and Kimberly Norwood

The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda:

• Minutes from previous meetings

• Budget Amendment

• Financial Reports

• Check Register

• Principal's Report

• Enrollment Report

The following items were addressed by Dr. Hicks during Communications:

• Update on student outcomes

• Athletic Department Update presented by Coach Marty Murr

• First Reading of TASB Policy Update 118 presented by Pennee Hall

• Planning for student population growth in existing elementary schools presented by James Larremore

• 2021 Bond update presented by ESC Region 13 and Sledge Engineering

• 2022-23 Course Selection Guide presented by Dr. Heather Bortz

The Board approved:

• The resignation of Place 4 Trustee Kenneth Leverett effective Nov. 16, 2021 and discussion of the process to fill the vacancy

• Revisions to the 2021-22 Academic Calendar

• Security system upgrade at Jarrell Middle School presented by James Larremore

• The naming of Elementary #3 presented by Laura Buckley

• Board Policy EHB (Local) and EHBBA (Local) presented by Pennee Hall

• 2021 Bond bids for Elementary #3 presented by ESC Region 13, Sledge Engineering, and Huckabee

• 2021 Bond Middle School expansion schematic design presented by ESC Region 13, Sledge Engineering and Huckabee

The next regular Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Admin Annex.

t the Wednesday, December 15 meeting of the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees, the Board unanimously approved Double Creek Elementary School as the name of the district's third elementary school.

The name Double Creek is a local geographical area where CR 305 crosses over a creek at two locations. The new school will be located in that general area of the community. Several local landmarks bear the name Double Creek including a subdivision and a road.

The naming process aligned with Board Policy CW(Local). Over a three week period, Jarrell ISD invited the community to submit names. Then a committee of employees and community citizens was convened to review the submitted names, narrowed the list down to three and brought their recommendations to the Board. Other considerations included Dover Elementary and Liberty Elementary.

The campus will be located at 855 CR 307 in Jarrell, and when completed, it will hold about 900 students. Construction will begin in early 2022 and the campus is scheduled to open to students in August of 2023. Funding for Double Creek Elementary was made possible by the 2021 voter-approved bond package.

After weighing feedback from teachers and staff indicating the need for more time to plan, the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees approved adding three additional student holidays/teacher work days to the 2021-22 Academic Calendar.

The dates approved are Tuesday, January 18; Friday, February 18; and Friday, March 11. Students will not attend school on these dates and staff will use this time to collaborate and plan.

These dates all fall near a previously scheduled student holiday to assist families and staff with planning for childcare.

View the updated calendar.

Important Reminders

Photos, videos, and comments made online usually can't be taken back once they're posted. Even when a teen thinks something has been deleted, it can be impossible to completely erase it from the Internet.

Posting an inappropriate photo can damage a reputation and cause problems years later — such as when a potential employer or college admissions officer does a background check. And sending a mean-spirited text, even as a joke, can be very hurtful to someone else and even taken as a threat.

Spending too much time on social media can be a downer too. Seeing how many "friends" others have and the pictures of them having fun can make kids feel bad about themselves or like they don't measure up to their peers.

What Can Parents Do?

It's important to be aware of what your kids do online. The key is to stay involved in a way that makes your kids understand that you respect their privacy but want to make sure they're safe.

Tell your kids that it's important to:

Be nice. Mean behavior is not OK. Make it clear that you expect your kids to treat others with respect, and to never post hurtful or embarrassing messages. And ask them to always tell you about any harassing or bullying messages that others post.

• Think twice before hitting "enter." Remind teens that what they post can be used against them. For example, letting the world know that you're off on vacation or posting your home address gives would-be robbers a chance to strike. Teens also should avoid posting specific locations of parties or events, as well as phone numbers.
• Follow the "WWGS?" (What Would Grandma Say?) rule. Teach kids not to share anything on social media that they wouldn't want their teachers, college admissions officers, future bosses — and yes, grandma — to see.
• Use privacy settings. Privacy settings are important. Go through them together to make sure your kids understand each one. Also, explain that passwords are there to protect them against things like identity theft. They should never share them with anyone, even a boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friend.

Consider making a "social media agreement" with your kids — a real contract they can sign. In it, they promise not to use technology to hurt anyone else through bullying or gossip.

In turn, parents agree to respect teens' privacy while making an effort to be part of the social media world. This means you can "friend" and observe them, but don't post embarrassing comments or rants about messy rooms.

Parents also can help keep kids grounded in the real world by putting limits on media use. Keep computers in public areas in the house, avoid laptops and smartphones in bedrooms, and set some rules on the use of technology (such as no devices at the dinner table).

Jarrell ISD is strengthened by the support and feedback we receive from our parents and community members. If you have comments, questions, or concerns, we welcome and encourage you to contact your child’s campus directly as your first step.

When you contact your child’s campus first, staff members are better able to provide a swift and accurate response. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and information to best support your child.

Jarrell ISD is proud to have teams of experts, including teachers, counselors, specialists, administrators, and nurses, who are happy to listen, work with you, and seek solutions for your child.

Jarrell ISD Contact Information

Jarrell Elementary 512-746-2170

Igo Elementary 512-746-4805

Jarrell Middle School 512-746-4180

Jarrell High School 512-746-2188

Rumors can run rampant on social media. That’s why we stress the best method for parents and community members to get accurate and helpful information from Jarrell ISD is to speak directly to the staff members who can get you the information you need.

We want to hear from you! Let’s continue working together to provide the best learning experiences for all students. We are here to help, so please reach out!

The Jarrell Education Foundation 2021-22 grant application window is now open. Grant proposals must be received by the Jarrell Education Foundation by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2022. Hard copies must be submitted to Central Office. Grant proposals will not be accepted through email.

Read more.

Dec. 20-31 - Student/Staff Holiday

Jan. 3 - Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday

Jan. 4 - Professional Development Day/Student Holiday

Jan. 17 - Student/Staff Holiday

Jan. 18 - Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day

Jan. 19 - Jarrell ISD Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Jarrell ISD is located in northern Williamson County. The mascot is The Cougars. It has four campuses: Jarrell High School, Jarrell Middle School, Igo Elementary School and Jarrell Elementary. The district is home to more than 2,800 students. Enrollment is projected to double in the next 10 years.

Email: communications@jarrellisd.org
Website: www.jarrellisd.org
Location: 108 East Avenue F, Jarrell, TX, USA
Phone: 512-746-2124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JarrellIndependentSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @Jarrell_ISD

Got celebrations to share? Send them to communications@jarrellisd.org. Thank you!

We are proud to showcase excellent students and staff. To see more, follow us on Twitter @hicksJISD ; @Jarrell_ISD; @JES_cougars; @IEScougars; @jarrell_ms; and @JarrellHS.