Leslie Bell Elementary Newsletter

November is a month full of thankfulness! As we enter November, our staff would like to thank all families and students for attending Parent Teacher Conferences for 1st quarter. Thank you for visiting with teachers, visiting our building, and supporting our PTO sponsored book fair.

Reminders:

Our school day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Learning also begins at 8:00 a.m. Please do your best to have your child to school on time each morning as many essential learning standards are covered early in the morning.

Attendance is critical in supporting student success in all academic areas. Per out district Parent/Student Handbook, Students will be required to maintain a 90% attendance rate, with the exception of verified absences. When an elementary student arrives late, the student must report to the office with an adult. Do not drop your child off at the door. Parents must sign their children in at the office when tardy.

When buzzing at the front door to enter the building, please be aware that there may be a small wait time to allow appropriate staff to answer the door. Office staff only will assist families when entering LBS to check-in, sign students out, etc. This is to ensure the safety of all staff and students.

Weather: As the weather changes and continues to get colder make sure to send a coat, gloves and hat to school each did with your child. According to the Student/Parent Handbook, “With weather permitting, students are given outside recess each day, please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately. +20 F and above may have full outside recess.”

PTO will be hosting a "Making S'more Memories" event on the LBS playground on Tuesday, November 5th at 6:00 pm. PTO will provide a S'more Bar, craft and playtime!

PTO meeting is Wednesday, November 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the Leslie Bell Library. PTO will be discussing the holiday store. All parents are welcome to attend.

Leslie Bell kicks off the first Music and Art Showcase with 3rd grade in November!

3rd Grade students will present their Showcase on Thursday, November 7th at 6:30pm, in the LBS gym. Doors will open at 6:00. Please bring your child 15 minutes (6:15) before the scheduled program time. Students will meet in their classrooms with the classroom teacher.

There will be a Silent Auction sponsored by PTO of classroom art projects created by students alongside Mrs. Alexander. The Silent Auction artwork will be available to bid upon beginning at 6:00. Bids will close 15 minutes after the program is over. There will be multiple pieces of artwork available for bidding!

It is very important that your students are in attendance. We have worked hard preparing our music and art projects, and it helps them to learn and understand performance/audience manners and expectations. Please encourage your child(ren) to “dress up” for the program. Thank you so much for your continuing support. We are very excited to share our Arts with you!!!

*Upcoming performance to add to your calendar-- 2nd grade Showcase on December 11th!

Sincerely,

Ms. Rogers and Mrs. Alexander

In October, students focused on the Character Word: Empathy. For the month of November, our building focus will be on the Character Word: Thankful.

Last week, our students and staff had our second PBS assembly to celebrate students with perfect attendance, classroom awards for positive behavior in Art, Music, PE, Counseling, and Library, and celebrated students for picking up their lunch items in the cafeteria.

In addition to our assembly, students and staff met with their LBS Family for a lesson revolving around being thankful. We challenged our students to share with their families and friends at home what they are thankful for each and every day!

Students will continue to practice and model being respectful, responsible, safe and kind each day at LBS. Students continue to collect tickets weekly to show their pride in following expectations. Our second quarter celebration will be held toward the end of December. To earn the celebration students need to earn at least eight tickets, show expectations on the school bus, and have a minimum number of office visits.

Below is a picture of our School-Wide Positive Behavior Support matrix that staff and students strive for each day. Students are able to earn tickets for exhibiting these expected behaviors each day.

Thank you to all the high school organizations that have joined LBS for our High Five Friday event! We would love to have additional organizations join! If you are apart of an organization or a group that would love to welcome students on a Friday, please contact Sabra Eads. seads@lexington.k12.mo.us

Leslie Bell Elementary Sets the Tone for a Positive and Productive School Year

As we embrace the 2024-2025 school year, Leslie Bell Elementary is excited to celebrate both the continued implementation of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program and the efforts of our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). With renewed goals and initiatives, we are setting the foundation for success in both academics and community engagement.

PBIS Focus: Building Character and Positive Connections

During the 2023-2024 year, Leslie Bell students and staff were recognized as a Tier 2 Missouri School-wide Positive Behavior Support School by the Regional Professional Development Committee and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This year, the PBIS program continues to be a cornerstone of our school’s efforts to promote positive behavior and a strong sense of community. Each month, we will focus on a "Character Word," encouraging students to embody our school pillars; respectful, responsible, safe, and kind. These character traits will be highlighted during our PBIS assemblies, where students and staff come together to celebrate positive behavior. During the month of September, our Character Trait focus was Respectful. Throughout the month of October, our students and staff will highlight the Character Trait empathy.

Additionally, PBIS Families, a unique feature of our school’s program, allows students from different grade levels to form "families" led by staff members. These families meet regularly to build relationships, support each other, and reinforce the values promoted through PBIS. This initiative fosters a sense of belonging and collaboration across the school, reinforcing positive peer interactions.

To wrap up the first quarter, we will hold our First Quarter PBIS Celebrations, recognizing students who have consistently demonstrated positive behavior and exemplified our school’s core values.

PTO Fund Run: Supporting Our School Community

Our dedicated PTO has hit the ground running this year, quite literally, with the annual Fund Run! This event not only promotes physical activity but also raises funds for much-needed resources, including new physical education equipment for our students. Through their hard work and commitment, the PTO continues to play a vital role in enhancing the learning environment for all.

Regular PTO meetings offer parents and guardians an opportunity to engage with the school, stay informed on upcoming initiatives, and participate in fundraising efforts. The funds raised this year will help to enrich our students' physical education experiences with updated equipment and resources.

Building Goals for Academic Growth and Positive Relationships

In addition to these exciting initiatives, Leslie Bell Elementary has set ambitious building goals to guide our academic and social growth throughout the school year. Our primary focus areas include:

• Aligning Standards and Skills: Teachers across grade levels are collaborating through vertical teams to align standards and essential skills in reading, writing, and math. By the end of the school year, we aim for 90% of our teachers to report an improved understanding and implementation of these standards, ultimately leading to more cohesive learning experiences for our students.

• Improving Reading Scores: We are committed to ensuring that by the end of the school year, 85% of all students will show improvement in their Reading NWEA assessments. This will be achieved through targeted small group instruction, tailored to meet individual student needs and foster growth in reading comprehension and fluency.

• Enhancing Peer Interactions: Positive peer relationships are crucial to a healthy school climate. By the end of the year, we aim to increase the frequency of positive peer-to-peer interactions by 10%, as measured by the School Climate Survey. This goal emphasizes improving student-to-student relationships and fostering a supportive, friendly environment for all.

Welcoming New Staff Members

We are thrilled to welcome several new faces to the Leslie Bell family this year! Joining our team are:

• Kylie Aversman- 2nd grade teacher

• Shelby Rogers- K-6 music teacher

• Heidi Kloeppel- Special Education Teacher

• Allison Aversman- Special Education Paraprofessional

• Jillian Jones- Special Education Paraprofessional

• Haleigh Chappell- Title I Paraprofessional

• Kaylee McMillan- Title I Paraprofessional

• McKayla Randolph- Behavior Intervention Paraprofessional

These talented educators bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to our school, and we look forward to their contributions in helping our students grow academically and socially.

Looking Ahead

As we move through the 2024-2025 school year, we are excited about the progress ahead. Whether it's through our PBIS initiatives, the efforts of the PTO, or the achievement of our building goals, Leslie Bell Elementary is committed to providing a positive and productive learning environment for every student.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to celebrate our students’ successes and work together as a school community to achieve our goals!