Stafford Elementary School

****ATTENTION PARENTS UPDATED INFORMATION***** Italy ISD will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16th due to extreme cold temperatures. As we have monitored temperatures in our buildings today, and now that the sun has gone down, we are more concerned about being able to maintain a comfortable and safe temperature for students and staff to conduct school as well as get to school in our district buses and other vehicles. Because our buildings are older structures, they are not as adapted to this type of frigid temperatures, as we witnessed last December at Stafford. Thank you for your patience, Stay safe out there! Rachel L. Kistner Italy ISD Superintendent

****ATTENTION GLADIATOR FANS**** District Games vs Itasca have been moved to WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17th. Varsity Girls begin @ 6 pm Varsity Boys begin @ 7:30 pm (NO JV GAMES) LET’S PACK THE DOME! LET’S GO GLADIATORS!

Italy ISD will have a 2-hour delay tomorrow. The JH-HS will start class at 9:35 am and Stafford Elementary will begin at 9:45 am. No breakfast will be served. Bus riders can expect their buses to arrive 2 hrs 15 minutes to 2 hrs 30 minutes later than usual. All after school activities are cancelled. Roads around the district are good and we have kept heat on in our buildings all weekend. We will continue to monitor the news on the energy grid and notify you as soon as possible if anything changes for tomorrow. Dress warm, staff may wear jeans and we will see everyone tomorrow!!!! Rachel L. Kistner Italy ISD Superintendent

UPDATED Entrance to Dance: *Please enter through the front doors of Stafford. Saturday, January 13th *The Class of 2025 is hosting a Daddy (or other special influences) Daughter Dance Fundraiser *3rd-6th Grades *Stafford Elementary *7:00pm-8:30pm *$5 per person (cash small bills please; pay at the door) *Concessions for Sale (cash) – Slice of Pizza $2; Chips, Candy, Drinks $1 each *Pictures $2 *Any questions please contact Holly Bradley at hbradley@italyisd.org

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Friday, 12th No School for Students and Staff Saturday, 13th The Class of 2025 is hosting a Daddy (or other special influences) Daughter Dance Fundraiser at Stafford Elementary from 7:00pm-8:30pm for 3rd-6th Grades. Please enter through the cafeteria door that faces Harris Street. $5 per person (cash small bills please; pay at the door) Concessions for Sale (cash) – Slice of Pizza $2; Chips, Candy, Drinks $1 each Pictures $2 Any questions please contact Holly Bradley at hbradley@italyisd.org Monday, 15th MLK Holiday – No School for Students or Staff Friday, 19th All Students and Staff attend school because Monday was a holiday. Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mP5xmd7Nyj6eau3XFZ2B8YY43qEavFqX/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65a060da Go Stafford!

Saturday, January 13th *The Class of 2025 is hosting a Daddy (or other special influences) Daughter Dance Fundraiser *3rd-6th Grades *Stafford Elementary *7:00pm-8:30pm *Please enter through the cafeteria door that faces Harris Street. *$5 per person (cash small bills please; pay at the door) *Concessions for Sale (cash) – Slice of Pizza $2; Chips, Candy, Drinks $1 each *Pictures $2 *Any questions please contact Holly Bradley at hbradley@italyisd.org

Stafford Families, With the new year 2024 and a new semester, each day this week, we are practicing safety drills to be prepared in case a need arises. We will be practicing Hold, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter drills. We need ALL Stafford staff and students to work together and cooperate with administration and our first responder supports to be successful with our safety drills. Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! Thank you for your dedication, sacrifice, and service to keep our communities safe. We honor all of you today and every day for putting your lives on the line to protect ours. A special thanks to SRO Huff and SRO Rumsey for keeping our students and staff safe every day!

Parents please remember there will be a meeting in the Old Cafeteria at 6 p.m. tonight. The meeting will include a live stream with the YES program to provide information about the sex education that will be offered to the students on 1/24/24. You can attend in person or join via the Google Meets link. https://meet.google.com/ces-qbmp-gzr

Reminder that there is a meeting tonight for Health Education Opt in "YES" at Italy High School old Cafeteria at 6:00 PM. For more information please contact Nurse Hopgood at Italy High School 972-483-7411

Italy ISD Announcement There will be no school on Monday, January 15, 2024 in observance of MLK Day. School will be in session Friday, January 19, 2024. Link to 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar https://5il.co/1szqc

Please see Flyer: Daddy-Daughter Dance 3rd-6th Grade at Stafford.

Stafford Weekly Announcements: **Stafford is excited to welcome two new staff members, who started on January 3rd. Mrs. Case is our new PreK teacher (a letter will go home in the students’ folder on Friday) and Mr. Garcia is our new Technology teacher. We are grateful to have them on the Stafford team! **January is School Board Appreciation Month! We are so grateful to our dedicated School Board Members for their commitment and service! A huge heartfelt thank you to President - Allen Richards, Vice President - Dennis Perkins, Jr., Secretary - Cortney Janek, Tessa South, Parker Reeves, Ashton Russ, and Nichole Galvan for volunteering your time and efforts for students and staff of Italy ISD! Thursday, 4th *Beginning of the 4th Six Weeks Friday, 5th *All Students and Staff attend school because Monday was a holiday *Report Cards Posted in Parent Portal Monday, 8th *2nd Semester Safety Week 8th-11th – Throughout the week, administration will lead campuses through different safety drills. The safety of our students and staff are top priority. Tuesday, 9th *Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! Thank you for your dedication, sacrifice, and service to keep our communities safe. We honor you today and every day for putting your lives on the line to protect ours. A huge thank you to SRO Huff and SRO Rumsey for keeping our students and staff safe! *PTO meeting at 5:10pm in the cafeteria Friday, 12th *No School for Students and Staff Monday, 15th *Martin Luther King Holiday – No School for Students or Staff Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15m5UtVSekH5HgtnpvvgR0TM-l7zLJFgP/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=6596d419 Please visit www.italyisd.org, select Schools, select Stafford Elementary for more helpful information. Thank you, parents, for your continued support! Go Stafford!

January 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 Elementary Reminder: Thursday, January 4th – All students and staff attend school. Friday, January 5th – All students and staff attend school because of the holiday on Monday. The school day, from start to finish, is vital for the proper educational development of learning for each child. Stafford begins each school day at 7:45 a.m., and students are expected to be in the school building by this time. If a student comes into the building after 7:45 a.m., they will be marked tardy. On the other side of utilizing the full school day of learning, is early pick-ups. Any time a child is picked up before the end of the school day, which is 4:15 p.m., the early pick up will be recorded. Stafford School Hours 7:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Stafford doors open at 7:20 a.m. A student is considered tardy if they are not inside the building by 7:45 a.m. Car rider students use the road behind the playground off Dilworth. If your student is tardy you must come into the front office and sign them in. Morning Tardies/Early Pick-Ups/Absences will be counted throughout the school year, and when a student reaches a certain amount, learning recovery will be required. **Excused/unexcused tardies, early pick-ups and absences will follow the Italy ISD Attendance policy guidelines. When your child is absent, please call 972-483-6342 on the day of absence. In addition, a medical or parent note is also required on the day the student returns to school. **For Out of District transfer students, tardies, early pick-ups and absences will be considered in the approval or denial of future out district transfer applications. Parent Portal: Log into your parent portal to see your student’s attendance, grades, and test scores. 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. Please visit www.italyisd.org, select Schools, select Stafford Elementary for more helpful information. Thank you, parents, for your continued support!

Italy ISD Spring Safety Week Italy ISD will host Spring Safety Week January 8-11, 2024. Throughout the week, administration will lead campuses through different safety drills. The safety of our students and staff is a top priority.

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Wednesday, December 20th through Tuesday, January 2nd *No School for Students and Staff Wednesday, January 3rd *Staff Development Day – No school for students Thursday, 4th and Friday 5th *Students and Staff attend school both days because of the holiday on Monday *Beginning of the 4th Six Weeks Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wkHPSnWEiCYax58Sjk6A_3kliv4e4h8C/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65820350 We hope this holiday break brings you lots of laughter, the warmth of love and the joy of gratitude this season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Go Stafford!

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Thursday, 14th *3rd, 4th, 5th Grades Stafford Choir performance starts at 5:30 p.m. at the High School Cafetorium. Please have 3rd-5th students at the high school band hall at 5:00 p.m. *Right after the Choir performance, 6th Grade Band concert will begin at the High School Cafetorium. Please have 6th grade students at the high school band hall at 5:30 p.m. *5th-6th Grades – Winter Wonderland Dance 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Stafford gym; Please pick up and drop off using the arrival/dismissal car line around the playground through gym door. Friday, 15th *No School for Students or Staff Saturday, 16th *The Italy Cadet Squadron invites you to their Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Italy Cemetery at 11am Monday, 18th *Gingerbread Day - Wear your favorite school appropriate Christmas attire! Tuesday, 19th *PJ Day – Wear your favorite school appropriate pajamas! *End of 3rd Six Weeks Wednesday, December 20th through Tuesday, January 2nd *No School for Students and Staff Wednesday, January 3rd *Staff Development Day – No School for Students Thursday, 4th and Friday, 5th *Students and Staff attend school both days because of holiday on Monday Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ghddtC1dnqqn31N-UglhbGu0hI7F1gLp/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=657b3198 Go Stafford!

Tuesday, December 12th – PTO Meeting at Stafford has been cancelled. Thursday, December 14th - 3rd-6th Grades – High School Cafetorium **3rd, 4th, 5th Grades Stafford Choir performance starts at 5:30 p.m. Please have 3rd-5th students at the high school band hall at 5:00 p.m. **Right after the Choir performance, 6th Grade Band concert will begin. Please have 6th grade students at the high school band hall at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 14th - 5th-6th Grades – Stafford Gym Winter Wonderland Dance 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please pick up and drop off using the arrival/dismissal car line around the playground. Go Stafford!

Christmas Dress Up Days at Stafford Elementary

Stafford Weekly Announcements: Friday, 8th *No School for Students or Staff Tuesday, 12th *PTO meeting at 5:10pm in the Stafford Cafeteria Thursday, 14th *3rd, 4th and 5th Grades Christmas Choir Concert and 6th Grade Band Christmas Concert at the High School Cafeteria 5:30pm - 6:30pm *5th and 6th Grades Winter Wonderland Dance 7pm-8:30pm in the Stafford gym. Admission is free. There will be a concession stand where students can bring money to buy snacks and refreshments. Pick up and drop off for the dance will follow the arrival/dismissal traffic pattern at the gym back door. Friday, 15th *No School for Students or Staff Saturday, 16th *The Italy Cadet Squadron invites you to our Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Italy Cemetery at 11am Video Link from Mr. Bray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UO8nX_Kt9aef6lzXGR1D757U_3UPWUiM/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=65720e07 Go Stafford!