Stafford Elementary School

March Menus: https://www.italyisd.org/page/food-services Free and Reduced Lunch Application: https://www.myschoolapps.com/ www.myschoolbucks.com - On this website you can check purchases, add money, and set up alerts for low balance. You can also add money to this site by sending cash or checks payable to Italy ISD directly to the cafeteria. The website will ask for their Student ID this is their lunch number, ask your student or contact the front office. Thank you!

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Friday, 1st *No School for Students and Staff *Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day! Huge thanks to our wonderful maintenance staff Brad, Bobby, JD, Lynn and Michael. Thanks for being flexible with your schedule, your willingness to do so does not go unnoticed. Your work and dedication are genuinely appreciated! Saturday, 2nd *Spring Learning Camp for 3rd-6th grades, working on a variety of learning goals! At Stafford 8:30am-12:30pm March 2nd and 23rd; April 6th, 13th, and 20th *Dr. Seuss Birthday – Read Across America – Books have the magic to transport us to different worlds, spark imagination, and instill a lifelong love of learning. Read Across America Day, also affectionately known as Dr. Seuss Day, celebrates this magic, inspiring children and adults alike to pick up a book and delve into its wonders. Monday, 4th *3rd-6th Grade Benchmark Math Tuesday, 5th *4th Grade Field Trip Wednesday, 6th *5th Grade Benchmark Science Friday, 8th *No School for Students and Staff Sunday, 10th *Daylight Savings Time - Spring Forward an Hour Monday, 11th – Friday, 15th *Spring Break – No School for Students and Staff **Safety Updates - Parents/Carpool Participants, Stafford staff can open doors and help students in and out of their cars for arrival and dismissal, but staff members are not allowed to unbuckle or buckle students into their car seats and/or seat belts. This has to be a car driver/car passenger responsibility. Thank you for your understanding with this matter, as it is a safety and liability issue to protect staff and families. Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C9EYL1zqoGvhK2ud4jKtvEPol9K1v6f7/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65e0df80 Go Stafford!

Save the Dates

Spring Learning Blitz 2024 3rd-6th Grade Students Stafford Elementary 8:30am-12:30pm March 2nd and 23rd April 6th, 13th, and 20th

Message from Lifetouch Picture Company: Thanks for a great Spring Picture Day at Stafford Elementary School. It was a pleasure capturing your students' school pictures. To ensure every family has the opportunity to remember this year's school memory, please use discount code S2410OFF to save 10% off your order! www.mylifetouch.com this will expire on December 31, 2024 *Lifetouch does retakes for the Fall pictures because those are also the yearbook pictures. There will not be a retake date for Spring pictures. However Mr. Glover and his yearbook team will take pictures of students that started after Fall picture day, so everyone is included in the yearbook. 2023-2024 yearbooks are on sale at www.jostens.com this book includes the Elementary, JHS and HS all in one book!

**Reminder** Italy ISD Cheerleaders 2024-2025 JHS/HS cheer tryouts are coming up! There will be a mandatory parent meeting on Wednesday, February 28th. The tryout application has been placed into your google classroom. If you are interested in becoming a cheerleader, please fill out that form. Time: 6:30pm Location: High School Cafetorium Please contact Coach Lacy Brown if you have any questions at lbrown@italyisd.org GO GLADIATORS!

Stafford Band Reminder: The 5th & 6th grade band fundraiser money and orders are due today. If your student did not bring it today, please send it with them tomorrow. Thank you for your support!

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Thursday, 22nd *Report Cards Posted in Parent Portal *School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Thank you to our amazing bus drivers: JD, Brad, John, Lynn, Bobby, Shaun and to everyone who drives when they are unable or to extracurricular events. You are sometimes the first smiling adult a child sees each morning and the last before they get home. You always brave the weather to get the students safely where they need to be, while being a shining example as you do it! Friday, 23rd *All students and staff attend school because of the holiday on Monday. *5th Grade Field Trip Saturday, 24th *Spring Learning Camp for 3rd-6th grades, working on a variety of learning goals! At Stafford 8:30am-12:30pm February 24th; March 2nd and 23rd; April 6th, 13th, and 20th Monday, 26th *School Board Meeting at the High School 5:30pm *5th and 6th Grades Band Fundraiser is Due Today Tuesday, 27th 8:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m. meeting for 6th grade students - Preparation for 7th grade Wednesday, 28th *2024-2025 JHS/HS cheer tryout mandatory parent meeting in the high school cafeteria at 6:30pm Friday, 1st *No School for Students and Staff *Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day! Huge thanks to our wonderful maintenance staff Brad, Bobby, JD, Lynn and Michael. Thanks for being flexible with your schedule, your willingness to do so does not go unnoticed. Your work and dedication are genuinely appreciated! Saturday, 2nd *Spring Learning Camp for 3rd-6th grades, working on a variety of learning goals! At Stafford 8:30am-12:30pm March 2nd and 23rd; April 6th, 13th, and 20th *Dr. Seuss Birthday – Read Across America – Books have the magic to transport us to different worlds, spark imagination, and instill a lifelong love of learning. Read Across America Day, also affectionately known as Dr. Seuss Day, celebrates this magic, inspiring children and adults alike to pick up a book and delve into its wonders. Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nVvZ0oTxt9A7TZZpoCQo2bYZ9mBbhUuv/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65d77234 Go Stafford!

Italy ISD Cheerleaders 2024-2025 JHS/HS cheer tryouts are coming up! There will be a mandatory parent meeting on Wednesday, February 28th. The tryout application has been placed into your google classroom. If you are interested in becoming a cheerleader, please fill out that form. Time: 6:30pm Location: High School Cafetorium Please contact Coach Lacy Brown if you have any questions at lbrown@italyisd.org GO GLADIATORS!

Spring Learning Blitz 2024 Dr. Mya Asberry and her Build Team will be working with 3rd-6th grade students on a variety of learning goals! Stafford Elementary 8:30am-12:30pm February 24th March 2nd and 23rd April 6th, 13th, and 20th

The internet fiber at Stafford has blown down and they will be without internet tomorrow until further notice. That means phones, computers, etc…. will be out of order. Because we won’t be able to check visitors access, we are asking people that are not district employees to refrain from coming to Stafford for the safety of our students and staff. We will let you know when connectivity is restored. If you need to get a message to Stafford, please call the high school at 972-483-7411 and we will get the message to them. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Rachel L. Kistner Italy ISD Superintendent

REMINDER Last day is tomorrow, Saturday 17th 2024 Italy Youth Baseball and Softball Online registration is now open and will end on Saturday, February 17th: https://form.jotform.com/233644035280148?fbclid=IwAR1LdkA0HMVbepZRJm1lYBxrKdL3ckWXW5WwPhTepIjM7GjDzaUkKoIiL-I_aem_AXaDs7aULDjsTyC_00Wu9ipRQ58b3F8160l7nCPW_j6fD1sNOyCbbgR9ZO5FS84UEB4 The registration fee is $75 and will not be due until teams are filled. All players (4-15 years old) must live in Italy, go to Italy ISD or in a town that does not offer baseball. Follow us on Facebook at IYAA Sports. Thank you!

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Friday, 16th *Staff Development Day - No School for Students Monday, 19th *Holiday Presidents Day – No School for Students and Staff Tuesday, 20th *Beginning of 5th Six Weeks *100th day of school! This marks a point in the year where students are more than half-way through the school year. It is a time to reflect on all the learning that has taken place so far! On this day during their PE class, they will have a dance party and PTO will have concessions for sale. Thursday, 22nd *Report Cards Posted in Parent Portal *School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! – Thank you to our amazing bus drivers: JD Cate, Brad Chambers, John Escamilla, Lynn Lambert, Bobby McBride, Shaun Roberts and to everyone who drives when they are unable or to extracurricular events. You are sometimes the first smiling adult a child sees each morning and the last before they get home. You always brave the weather to get the students safely where they need to be, while being a shining example as you do it! Friday, 23rd *All students and staff attend school because of the holiday on Monday. *5th Grade Field Trip Saturday, 24th *Spring Learning Blitz 2024 for 3rd-6th grade students are working on a variety of learning goals! Stafford Elementary 8:30am-12:30pm February 24th; March 2nd and 23rd; April 6th, 13th, and 20th Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SVU75LTsyyv5nXFrRaK576HvGPsCnwwQ/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65ce4bbf Go Stafford!

Italy ISD Announcement: We have a helicopter landing at the baseball fields for a medical emergency in town. The medical emercency has nothing to do with Italy ISD Schools. Thank you.

Italy ISD Announcement There will be no school on Monday, February 19, 2024 in observance of Presidents’ Day. School will be in session Friday, February 23, 2024. Link to school calendar 2023-2024 Italy ISD 4-Day Instructional Week Calendar

On Tuesday, February 20th Stafford will be celebrating the 100th day of school! This marks a point in the year where students are more than half-way through the school year. It is a time to reflect on all the learning that has taken place so far! On this day during their PE class they will have a dance party and PTO will have concessions for sale.

Stafford Family Reminder: Please join us for the PTO Meeting tonight, Tuesday, February 13th at 5:10pm. Please enter through the cafeteria door that faces Harris Street. A few great reasons to attend: Connect with other parents. Hear about important news and upcoming events. Volunteer your time, at school or at home, to make a difference in our school community. You do not need to be a member to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like more information or to stay involved, please contact the PTO by emailing: staffordptopresident@gmail.com or follow on Facebook at Stafford Elementary PTO. Thank you for your support! President Kaitlin Leach Secretary Haley Mounce Treasure Cassandra Enriquez

Good morning, My School Bucks, the program used for student cafeteria accounts is working on some issues on their website. Thank you for your patience and understanding. www.myschoolbucks.com - On this website you can check cafeteria purchases, add money, and set up alerts for low balance. You can also add money to this site by sending cash or checks payable to Italy ISD directly to the cafeteria. The website will ask for their Student ID this is their lunch number, ask your student or contact the front office. Thank you!

Stafford Parents, With students going to PE every day, we need students to wear athletic shoes, or bring athletic shoes daily with them to school and leave in their backpack. Crocs or croc style shoes that slide on DO NOT count for athletic shoes. With Science Labs in 5th and 6th grade classes close toed shoes are also a must, and Crocs or croc style shoes are not safe. Please make sure your students are wearing athletic shoes each day. Thank you for your support.

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Friday, 9th No School for Students or Staff Saturday, 10th Saturday Learning Boot Camp for 3rd-6th Grades 8:30am-12:30pm at Stafford Monday, 12th National Act of Kindness Week - It's a celebration of all the ways we can become a positive influence in each other's lives! Tuesday, 13th PTO meeting at 5:10pm in Stafford Cafeteria Wednesday, 14th Stafford PTO Fundraiser Val-O-Grams Delivered Thursday, 15th End of 4th Six Weeks Friday, 16th Staff Development Day No School for Students Monday, 19th Holiday Presidents Day – No School for Students or Staff Go Stafford!