Cougar Community Newsletter

At the September 15 meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Board began the meeting by celebrating outstanding students and staff members from each campus. Honorees received a certificate and a “Proud Jarrell Cougar” yard sign. Photos are below.

Igo Elementary - Nash Smith (student) and Isabel McLemore (staff)
Jarrell Elementary - Laedan Yanez (student) and Lisa Walker (staff)
Jarrell Middle School - Leslie Galindo-Mendoza (student) and Bradley Louder (staff)
Jarrell High School - Cody Dotson and Maria Bruce (students) and Mike Maldonado (staff)

For the District recognition, Dr. Hicks celebrated Nancy Scheler; Jacqueline Danek; Betty Peralta; Maritza Aviles; Erika Fuentes; and Tammy Fitzner for their commitment to serving families during registration and the first weeks of school.

The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda:

• Minutes of the August 18 and September 1 meetings

• Budget Amendment

• Financial Reports

• Check Register

• Principal's Report

• Enrollment Report

• Required waivers

During Communications, Dr. Hicks shared:

• Upcoming events: Baseball/Softball Turf Groundbreaking on September 18 at 9:30 a.m.; Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally on October 13 starting at 7 p.m.

Additional items addressed during Communications:

• Remote learning options presented by Dr. Heather Bortz

• Athletic Department Update presented by Coach Marty Murr

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

The Board took action and approved

• 2021 Bond Baseball and Softball Change order to add replacement fencing and softball backstop presented by ESC Region 13 and Sledge Engineering

• 2021 Bond Athletic Projects Schematic Design presented by ESC Region 13 and Sledge Engineering

The next regular meeting of the Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Above: September 15 - October 15 has been designated by presidential proclamation as the month to celebrate the rich heritage of Hispanic Americans and the contributions they have made to American culture. Please join Jarrell ISD as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month!

More and more families are choosing to make Jarrell ISD their home. In our ongoing efforts to build meaningful partnerships, Jarrell ISD is inviting local realtors interested in learning more about the district to a meeting on Tuesday, October 5 at 2 p.m. at 508 N. 5th Street in Jarrell. If you are a realtor and are interested in attending this meeting RSVP here.

This morning Dr. Toni Hicks had a great meeting with local faith-based organizations and shared ideas on ways the district might partner together in the future. If you would like to join the next meeting, email jennifer.bailey@jarrellisd.org.

Remote Conferencing Available for COVID-positive Students and Students in Quarantine

Jarrell ISD is supporting all students who need to stay at home for COVID-positive test results or because of close contact to a positive case of COVID-19. JISD is offering remote conferencing to support students during this time. If your student meets the eligibility criteria, they may qualify for remote conferencing.

Eligible students include the following as listed by TEA (Texas Education Agency):

These two requirements must be met:

• The student is unable to attend school because of a temporary medical condition.

• The total amount of remote conferencing instruction does not exceed more than 20 instructional days over the entirety of the school year.

In addition, one of the following requirements also must be met:

• The student’s temporary medical condition is documented by a physician licensed to practice in the United States. The documentation must include a statement from the physician that the student is to remain confined to their home or to a hospital.

• The student has a positive test result for a communicable condition listed in 25 TAC §97.7.

• The student has been identified as having been in close contact with COVID-19.

Remote conferencing instructional support is a short-term opportunity allowing your child to stay within the 90% attendance requirement and not fall behind on assignments while absent. Please note, this is not remote instruction. Instead, this setting will provide up to four hours of synchronous (live) per day of teacher support from an online facilitator to assist students with assignment completion. There is also one required daily attendance meeting that is mandatory for students to be counted present for the day. To the extent possible, a dedicated certified teacher will be designated to provide the remote conferencing support throughout the duration of the student's time in this temporary setting, but it will not be the students’ teacher of record.

Please note, if you are electing this option because of COVID-positive or close

contact, you will need to provide documentation to your campus.

Any parent who wishes to have their child participate in remote conferencing will need to complete a registration form found on the Remote Conferencing website.

An email will be sent out to the students’ JISD email address when they are accepted into Remote Conferencing with instructions on how to access it. Additionally, more

information will be shared with parents/guardians.

For more information, visit the Remote Conferencing website.

Beginning Monday, September 20, Jarrell ISD families will begin receiving notifications through emails and phone calls regarding their child’s absences. These notifications will support regular and punctual school attendance.

Good attendance will help your children do well in high school, college, and work. Whether absences are excused or unexcused, they all represent lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn. If your children miss 18 days, just one day every two weeks, this will negatively impact their ability to graduate on time.

Did you know attendance matters as early as pre-K and kindergarten? Children who miss too many days in the early years may have trouble with reading by the end of third grade. Too many absent students can affect the entire class, slowing down instruction as your child’s teacher tries to help each student keep up with the work.

For students, going to school is important for social and emotional wellness. Attendance means they don’t miss out and can spend more time learning with their friends.

Remember, attendance matters!

Please join the Project Graduation meeting on Sept. 29 at the Sonterra MUD building. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Taber at the high school.

PARADE

Jarrell High School is hosting a homecoming parade Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. The parade will start at Jarrell Middle School and end at Jarrell High School. Wear your blue and cheer on the Cougars!

Interested in entering the parade? Sign up here. Donations are being accepted for entry fees.

Questions? Email: jenny.arnold85@yahoo.com or Jess_bolyard@yahoo.com.

COMMUNITY HOMECOMING PEP RALLY

Jarrell High School is hosting a homecoming pep rally at 7:30 p.m at Cougar Stadium following the parade. It will be a wonderful event. We hope to see you there!

Show your support for the Jarrell High School Band and our country by displaying an American Flag in your yard or business every patriotic holiday! Proceeds help support the Jarrell High School Band. For just $50 per year, students from the JHS Band will place a 3’ x 5’ American Flag in your front yard to celebrate seven patriotic holidays. https://flagfundraisersoftexas.com/JHS.html

The Jarrell FFA is hosting a Pet Clinic Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 5-7 p.m. Masks are recommended.

Rabies: Dogs and Cats - $5

Dog Vaccines: DHLP/Parvo/Corona - $15

Bordetella (Kennel Cough) - $10

Cat Vaccines: PRCC/Feluk - $15

Complete Yearly Vaccine - $20

Also Available: rattlesnake and flu vaccines for $25 each Flea and Heartworm prevention will be available as well. For more information, email: shandy.bizzell@jarrellisd.org

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Jarrell FFA chapter.

Children need healthy and nutritious meals to learn and grow. Jarrell ISD is proud to offer healthy meals every school day. Students must reapply each school year to receive free-and reduced-price meal benefits. Households eligible for free and reduced-price benefits may be eligible for additional benefits from the state.

Jarrell ISD uses online free and reduced applications exclusively to determine eligibility for the 2021-2022 school year.

Complete the application:

https://www.jarrellisd.org/.../free_reduced_meal_application

For more information regarding the online application system, please contact Food Services at 512-746-2124 x 4410.

Information gathered on the application affects the following:

• Waivers for college entrance exams, such as SAT and ACT

• Waivers for Advanced Placement fees

• Waivers for college applications

• Accountability

• Title I and College, Career, Military Readiness funding

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) is designed to help a college/university determine if students are ready for college-level coursework. The law requires all entering college students to be assessed for college readiness in reading, writing, and math unless the student qualifies for an exemption or demonstrates college readiness through successful completion of college-level coursework in the related content area.

Jarrell High School students are encouraged to sign-up and take the TSIA on campus. Click here to sign up.

Jarrell ISD is currently hiring substitutes and bus drivers! These are important positions with great perks that allow us to operate smoothly. Apply today!

All medication must be brought to school by a parent and kept in the nurse's office in a locked cabinet.

• If a parent is unable to bring the medication, please contact the campus for further assistance.
• All controlled medications will be inventoried in with the nurse and parent.
• Both prescription and non-prescription medications must be brought to the school in their original, properly labeled container. Prescription medication must contain a current pharmacy label.
• A medication authorization form must be signed for all medications that are to be administered to the student.
• School personnel will not give any medicine, including over-the-counter medications and products, to students except as authorized by district policy, district standing orders, or with a signed medication authorization form.

This procedure is necessary to protect the health and safety of your child. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter for those reasons.

Jarrell ISD is serving FREE breakfast and lunch to all students during the 2021-22 school year. This service is made possible through a USDA waiver.

What does this mean for you?

Families still need to complete the Free-and Reduced Meal Application online.

If you need assistance or have questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Service office at 512-746-2124 x4410.

Jarrell ISD is pleased to introduce a new communications tool called Anonymous Alerts®.

What is the Anonymous Alerts app?
The Anonymous Alerts anti-bullying and safety app reporting system helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressure are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome.

The system allows for 1-way or 2-way anonymous encrypted communications between submitters (students, parents or community members) and district administration and/or school staff. Users of the system have the option to remain anonymous or reveal their identity when submitting a report.

How does it work?
To use this revolutionary new app, students, parents or other school personnel can simply visit the Jarrell ISD website and click on the “Anonymous Alerts” button or text link to submit a report expressing their concern. Anonymous Alerts® mobile applications can be downloaded directly from the Apple, Google Play or the Chrome stores.

Jarrell ISD supplies students an activation code, making the app remarkably easy to use and students select which school the message should go to. In addition, informational posters explaining how to use the app will be displayed throughout schools and offices in the district.

To send reports from the Web/Internet go to: https://report.anonymousalerts.com/jarrellisd

SEND AN ALERT THROUGH YOUR PHONE

• Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, or the Chrome store
• Start the App, enter activation code: jarrellisd
• Send important reports to school officials
• Add a screenshot, photo or video about the incident

In an emergency, always call 9-1-1!

The Preliminary SAT will be offered to ALL 10th & 11th graders and the SAT will be offered to ALL SENIORS on October 13. This will be FREE for students taking the test on that day. All Students will automatically be signed up to take the exam, and there is no need to register.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. We can all help prevent suicide. Reach out to your campus school counselor for support or resources. Be the 1 to ASK – worried about a friend, it’s ok to ask how they are doing. LISTEN – whenever your friend chooses to talk, listen closely. Reassure them they are not alone and they are loved. HELP – talk to trusted adults about your concerns. We can all help prevent suicide. Reach out to your school counselor for more support or any needed resources.

Sept. 28 - Igo ES Open House and Jarrell ES Open House

Sept. 29 - Project Grad Meeting, Sonterra MUD, 6 p.m.

Oct. 6 - Jarrell ISD Board of Trustee Meeting, Admin Annex, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 & 12 - Student Holiday/ Staff Professional Development

Oct. 13 - PSAT Administered to all 10th and 11th Grade and SAT administered to all 12th grade

Oct. 13 - Homecoming Parade 7 p.m. and Community Pep Rally 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 15 - Homecoming Football Game

Nov. 22-26 - Student & Staff Holidays

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.