September Parent Newsletter

Open communication is one of the most important elements of a thriving school environment. We foster a sense of unity and shared purpose by keeping an open line of dialogue between our staff, students, and families. Our commitment to transparent communication helps us address challenges, celebrate successes, and continually strengthen our district.

This month, I had the pleasure of sitting down with potential PTO parent leaders, parents, and grandparents in our community, the Superintendent Roundtable, a group of teachers representing every level, and one of my favorites…lunch with a group of students. So far, we have met with TMS and THS students, and I can’t emphasize enough how valuable the experience was. The student lunch groups are called "Superintendent Lunch Bunch." This gathering allows students to sit down, relax over pizza, and have open conversations about the topics that matter most to them. Hearing directly from them about what’s working, what challenges they face, and their ideas for improving our schools is truly eye-opening. These conversations are essential in shaping a learning environment that supports every student’s growth and well-being. The students, as are the adults, were a pleasure to connect with and learn from! Thank you to the students who took the time to share their thoughts—I’m looking forward to more meaningful conversations as we continue working together to make our schools the best they can be!

Great things are happening this month for TECS and TES! Kona Ice Truck will be coming out on Nov. 7th! (it had to be rescheduled to the 7th due to the power outages). TES will be hosting a Science Night for students and parents alike! Please join us for a night filled with fun and exciting science learning activities. Nov. 7th from 5:30-7pm at TES.

TES PTO is hosting a Sock Hop at TMS Commons/Gym for 1st - 5th Graders from 6-9pm on Nov. 15th. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by clicking on the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmJM1n9du1EXNYiSCLnPm-HOng2Xg6vVeLlfxVYCYppBBdPA/viewform

November's parent/student lunch schedule is here! Please check which days are available for parents to attend lunch.

Get Ready! Get Set! Volunteer!

We invite you to join our school community by volunteering! Your involvement not only enriches our students’ experiences but also strengthens the bonds between our school and the community. Whether helping in the classroom, organizing events, helping with student incentives, mentoring students, or sharing your insights and skills, every little bit makes a big difference. Together, we can create a vibrant learning environment that benefits our children and fosters lasting connections. Thank you for considering the following opportunities to make a positive impact!

• Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) - Next Meeting November 19th at 5:30 pm
• Campus Improvement Committee - Next Meeting Coming in January
• DAD Squad - Orientation Meeting - Tuesday, November 12 @ 6:00 pm
• Second Cup of Coffee - Next Meeting December 2 @ 9:00 am

Ready for a COMPETITION!!!!

The Class (6th, 7th, 8th) with the MOST PARENT INVOLVEMENT in these meetings will receive an exclusive pre-Christmas experience during finals week!!!! The winning grade level will watch a Christmas Movie in pajamas with hot chocolate and snacks!!!

Celebrating Gratitude and Achievements

"The Places You Will Go!" Wall
We’re excited to honor students committing to their future goals! Students who commit to a college, trade school, or enlist in the military will be celebrated with a photo on our wall, showcasing their chosen path.
Wall of Fame
Help us showcase the amazing accomplishments of our students both in and out of school! If your student has earned an award or recognition, send us a picture for our Wall of Fame. Let’s celebrate their achievements together!

College & Career Resources

Encourage students to check out our Counseling Center website for resources on college and career planning. It’s a great starting point for students to explore options and learn more about their paths forward. As always, I’m here to support them in every step.

College Applications & Letters of Recommendation

If you have a seniors that is working (or will be working) on college and/or scholarship applications, and will need Letters of Recommendation (LOR)--Please complete their Senior Brag Sheet! The senior brag sheet is used to provide helpful information that teachers and staff may not know and will aid them in writing these letters of recommendation. Either scan the QR code or click the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuY279AOm8neqlSEO6-orbebPexZ7C0U7hbaAtztZgEzRtyA/viewform

Basketball Season is here! Schedules for girls and boys can be found below or you can access them on the district website at: https://www.tarkingtonisd.net/departments/athletics

In response to the challenges of serving a growing number of English learners (EB students), our district will implement a comprehensive professional development plan designed to enhance instructional strategies across content areas. One major challenge we faced is ensuring all teachers feel equipped to support English learners in their classrooms, especially in facilitating student participation and comprehension. To address this, we are introducing the QSSSA strategy (Question, Signal, Stem, Share, Assess), which provides a structured framework for engaging EB students in speaking and listening activities. The professional development for QSSSA empowered teachers with tools to: Ask higher-order thinking questions to stimulate deeper understanding. Use signals to gauge student readiness and encourage participation. Provide sentence stems to guide students' responses in a structured way. Encourage sharing of responses to promote active participation. Quickly assess responses to provide immediate, targeted feedback. This professional development has been piloted by Mrs. Amber Keith at TMS with great success.

The TISD Child Nutrition Department takes pride in providing students with nutritious meals each day. Research shows that students who participate in the school meal programs consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables during meal times and have better overall diet quality, than nonparticipants. With that being said, we understand that there are families within our community who are struggling to pay for their student's meals. Students from households where the total income falls below $40,560 annually for a family of four—qualify for free lunch. (A family of four earning under $57,720 is eligible for a reduced-price meal.) However, when families who do qualify for free and reduced lunch meals finally sign up for the federal program, any lunch debt they accrued beforehand doesn’t disappear. This is why it is so important for the meal applications that are made available be filled out and returned as early as possible. These applications are made available to families as early as late July each year. Tarkington ISD is aware that there are several school districts in our area that are participating in the community eligibility program (CEP) that allows students to eat meals free of charge. There are many factors that play in to becoming eligible to participate in the CEP program, one of which is that in order for the District (TISD) to be eligible to participate we must have a minimum of 40 percent of identified students certified for free school meals without an application based on the students’ enrollment in a designated assistance program, and at this time TISD does not meet this criteria. The Child Nutrition Department makes applications available on the TISD website, at each school front office, at each cafeteria, by requests, and they are sent home with students who often have a negative balance.

Charge letters are sent home and emailed to parents each week to make them aware of their student's negative balance. Parents who opt in to the schoolcafe app are also able to set low balance alerts and monitor their students' accounts.

Just a Reminder that Child Nutrition has a Christmas Kids Fundraiser to raise money to purchase Christmas for TISD children in need. Items available to order: Hot Roll Dough, Cookie Dough, and Homemade Dressing. Orders for Thanksgiving must be turned in by November 11 with a pickup dates November 18-21. Orders for Christmas are due by December 9 with a pickup date of December 16-18.

To access or view the meal menus please visit the website: https://www.tarkingtonisd.net/families/menus. Looking for meal pricing, nutritional information, reduced meal applications? Then go to: https://www.tarkingtonisd.net/departments/child-nutrition

October was a busy month for the Communications Department! We celebrated our Principals this month with videos, notes, and special treats, presented the Employees of the Month with special awards delivered to teachers, hosted TMS and THS Lunch Bunch meetings, organized a Red Ribbon Week dress up contest, held two bond information sessions, and attended job fairs at SHSU and SFA. Thank you to everyone who helped make these events a success!

A Special Note: November is a great time to focus on gratitude! Studies show that practicing gratitude can boost happiness and improve relationships. Consider sharing words of appreciation with teachers, staff, and students to spread positivity throughout our schools. Let’s work together to make our district a place of support and encouragement!

Would you like to stay connected to things happening in TISD?

• Like and Follow the Tarkington ISD Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington Athletics Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington Athletic Booster Club Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington Southern Belles Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington FFA Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington FFA Booster Club Facebook Page
• Like and Follow the Tarkington Elementary PTO Facebook Page

OPT IN for Information

Do you know of someone who does not have children in TISD and would like to be on the district email list for important information and newsletters? If so, please share this link: https://forms.gle/g3b7uHagB4pL3faCA

Communications Director
syoung@tarkingtonisd.net

The HR department is midway through planning for the Teacher Incentive Allotment, having completed three Zoom meetings with our TEA application consultant. We're excited about this opportunity for our teachers. Mrs. Bradberry attended a Shepherd ISD workshop on innovative staffing for student success, with education partners Teachworthy and Indiana Wesleyan University, where we toured elementary campuses and held a productive roundtable on strategies to address Texas's teacher shortage.

Directional Signs Installed!
We are excited to announce the installation of new directional signs across the district, which will help guide staff, students, and visitors more efficiently. A special shout-out goes to the Ag Department for their amazing work in crafting the frames for the signs!

Work Order Progress
Since August 1st, we have received a total of 456 work orders. Of those, an impressive 402 have been completed! This figure doesn’t even include the numerous daily operations and tasks that are handled without formal work orders. With only five maintenance crew members managing the entire district, this level of productivity is nothing short of remarkable.

Please join us in thanking our dedicated crew for their incredible effort and commitment to keeping our district running smoothly! We are truly proud of what they’ve accomplished.

Have you wondered who to contact when your child is absent or who to email a doctor's note to or who can send a transcript to a potential college or who to contact with a change of address? Then, wonder no more!

Absences or Doctor's notes can be sent to the Campus Registrar/Attendance clerks. Transcripts can be requested from the High School Registrar/PEIMS Coordinator. Their emails are listed below.

Every year, schools across the nation dedicate a week to promote drug prevention and awareness: Red Ribbon Week! Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year.

TISD is super excited to have Michelle St.Julian, D.A.R.E. Officer and Investigator for Liberty County District Attorney’s Office, as our guest speaker for our Red Ribbon Week Campaign. All presentations are grade level specific. The Kinder-2 grades cover identification of unsafe situations, calling 911, the difference between food and non-foods,and how to recognize and be careful with medications. The upper grade levels address making good choices, as well as, the consequences of Vaping and Fentanyl.

Students enjoy dress-up days, receiving drug prevention goodies, and participating in interactive lessons and contests. Red Ribbon Week is designed to be positive and fun, two things necessary to maintain good mental health!

Techie Tools to Check Out!

Common Sense Media: Provides parents with reviews and advice on media, apps, and online activities for kids. It's a valuable resource for staying informed about the best age-appropriate digital content.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Storybird: Inspires creativity by letting students create and publish visual stories and artwork. It's an excellent tool for young writers and artists to express themselves.

https://storybird.com/

Duolingo: A language-learning app that makes learning new languages fun and engaging. Ideal for students wanting to learn Spanish, French, or other languages outside of class.

https://www.duolingo.com/

Evernote: A note-taking and organization tool that helps students keep track of assignments, create to-do lists, and manage study notes. It’s great for keeping organized and boosting productivity.

https://evernote.com/

On October 10th, the Transportation Department conducted a successful Bus Evacuation Drill at Tarkington Early Childhood and Tarkington Elementary. During this drill, our team worked with students to teach them how to safely evacuate a school bus in the event of an emergency. The safety of our students is always our top priority, and drills like these help ensure that they are well-prepared in case of unexpected situations.

In addition to practicing evacuation procedures, students learned valuable bus safety tips that will help keep them safe throughout the school year.

We'd like to extend a special thank you to the following transportation staff members who assisted in the drill:
- Mr. Tilton

- Mr. Smith
- Mr. Bonvillain
- Ms. Young
- Ms. Laird
- Ms. Jackson

Their dedication and professionalism helped make this drill a success!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about bus safety, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Transportation Department at transportation@tarkingtonisd.net. We are committed to ensuring a safe and secure experience for all students.