THURSDAY EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER

Website: lifeschool.net
Location: 777 South Interstate 35 East Service Road, Red Oak, TX, USA
Phone: 469-552-9200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeRedOak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsromustangs/

Parents & Families,

Have you started using ParentSquare? I’m excited to share that our campus is piloting ParentSquare, a new communication tool designed to streamline how we connect with our families. An email went out to parents Monday with information to sign up.

As the outside temperatures continue to fluctuate, please label your child’s jackets and coats to help ensure they don’t get lost. We want to make sure all students have the winter gear they need!

Have a wonderful three day weekend!

Last Chance to Order A Yearbook!

We will not have any additional yearbooks to sell in May, so order yours today!

While our campus yearbook ordering deadline was Friday 1-31, Jostens is allowing yearbook non-buyers one final opportunity to purchase directly.

You will need to purchase online by Friday 2-21 to receive a 2025 yearbook.

You can purchase in minutes by clicking here.

Nominate an Outstanding Teacher or Staff Member

We love celebrating our amazing teachers and staff. The District is accepting nominations for teachers and staff to receive a LifeLeader Award at our annual end of year awards ceremony. Help us celebrate our amazing teachers and staff by submitting a nomination by March 31st: LifeLeader Nominations

Dyslexia and Related Disorders

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) requires, through their rule at 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.28(f), that each school district and open-enrollment charter school provide certain information about dyslexia and related disorders to parents of students enrolled in the district or school. Please click here for more information. (Spanish)

Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR)

The campus and district Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) are available on the TEA public website https://tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/index.html , and does not include A–F ratings or Distinction Designations at this time. The TAPR pull together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Performance is shown disaggregated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The reports also provide extensive information on school and district staff, programs, and student demographics.

District and Campus Federal Report Cards

District and Campus Federal Report Cards are now available on our website. Please click one of the links below to view the parent notification letter which gives an explanation of the information provided in the report card.

Parent Letter (English)
Parent Letter (Spanish)

February 19-February 26-Yo-yos For Sale, During Morning Arrival, Cash Only

February 21-No School for Students or Staff

February 24-27-Lost & Found Items on Tables

February 25-Math Benchmark (Grades 4 & 6) No Campus Visitors

February 25-100th Day of School

February 26-Math Benchmark (Grades 3 & 5) No Campus Visitors
February 27-Science Benchmark (Grade 5) | Makeup Testing for Math Benchmark (Grades 3, 4, & 6) No Campus Visitors

February 27-Birthday Thursday/$3 Free dress Day

February 28-No School for Students or Staff

In light of a recent incident that occurred at our campus, we want to take this opportunity to encourage families to start an open and supportive conversation with their children about safety and the importance of speaking up when something feels wrong. Whether it’s witnessing threats, mistreatment, or dangerous behavior, it is vital that children know when and how to share their concerns with trusted adults. To assist in this process, we will be developing age-appropriate training and discussion materials for our students, helping them better understand how to identify and respond to unsafe situations. Together, we can create a safer environment for our children by fostering a culture of awareness, responsibility, and open communication.

1. Keep the Conversation Open and Non-Judgmental:

• Let your child know that they can talk to you or a trusted staff member about anything without fear of punishment or judgment. Emphasize that their feelings and thoughts are valid, and that it's important to share concerns.

• Ensure that your child understands it’s okay to feel unsure or scared, but they can still reach out for help.

2. Use Simple and Age-Appropriate Language:

• Tailor the conversation based on their age and understanding. Younger children might need simpler examples, like explaining that if they see something dangerous, they should immediately tell an adult.

• For older children or teenagers, discussions can be a bit more complex, focusing on how to recognize warning signs and how to appropriately report threats to trusted adults or authorities.

3. Discuss the Importance of Safety:

• Reinforce that speaking up is important for everyone’s safety. Explain that sharing information could prevent harm or danger to themselves or others.

• Emphasize that by telling an adult or a trusted authority figure, they’re taking an active role in keeping themselves and their peers safe.

4. Teach Specific Scenarios:

• Provide examples or role-playing exercises to show what to look for (e.g., weapons, bullying, certain social media posts, or strange behaviors) and how to react.

• Discuss who they can talk to in different situations (teachers, school counselors, or a parent) and how they should report things they see or hear that feel unsafe.

5. Explain Reporting Methods:

• Let your child know that there are different ways to report concerns, like talking directly to an adult or writing a note to an adult.

• Encourage them to feel empowered to speak up, but also acknowledge that it’s okay to need support to figure out the best way to do so.

6. Reassure and Address Fears:

• Children might be afraid of retaliation or being seen as a "tattle tell." Reassure them that speaking out helps to protect everyone, and that telling an adult about a problem helps to find a solution.

• Discuss the potential consequences of staying silent, such as how threats or unsafe situations can escalate.

7. Discuss Trustworthy Adults:

• Teach your child how to identify trusted adults (parents, teachers, school staff, or a relative). Reassure them that no matter the issue, trusted adults are there to help.

• Remind them that it's not just about talking to you, but also about reaching out to other safe adults in their school or community if needed.

8. Revisit the Topic Regularly:

• Keep the conversation going. Checking in with your child every so often about how they feel regarding safety, threats, or mistreatment can help reinforce the message.

• Encourage them to share what’s going on in their world, whether it's related to school, friends, or social media.

9. Empower the Child with Confidence:

• Empower your child to believe in their own ability to make safe decisions and to help others who might be in trouble.

• Let them know that they have the power to make a positive difference in their school or community by being aware and willing to speak up.

10. Model Behavior:

• Show your child through your own actions how important it is to report concerns or unsafe situations. This could mean modeling how to speak to others respectfully or telling them about a time you reported something to help someone.

By creating an open line of communication and making sure your child feels supported, they’ll be better prepared to handle tough situations and understand that speaking out when they notice something concerning is not only the right thing to do, but an essential part of building a safer environment for all.

Our Lost and Found is quickly filling up! Next week, from Monday to Thursday, we will have lost items displayed on tables just inside the main entrance. Please remind your child to check for any missing belongings. Any items left unclaimed by Thursday afternoon will be donated. Thank you for helping us keep things organized!

We want to inform you that The Oaks Church will begin construction on a new park area next week. As a result, Life School will implement minor adjustments to arrival and dismissal procedures.

Please read below for further details, and thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.

Construction Area

As indicated by the orange and black lines, construction at The Oaks Church will begin next week. During this time, families will not have access to park on The Oaks Church property and walk.

As a reminder, all students must be dropped off and picked up through our designated arrival and dismissal lines.

Front Arrival & Dismissal

As construction begins at The Oaks Church next week, we will be adjusting the exiting lanes at the front arrival and dismissal location. The construction area will block off three parking lanes and one exit lane.

Our arrival and dismissal staff will be on-site to help direct traffic and ensure a smooth process. Please follow their guidance to navigate to the correct exiting lanes.

Back Exiting Lanes-Light Blue Lines

As you may have noticed, a new exit lane has opened on the south side of the property. Families are welcome to use this lane for exiting only; however, please note that Life School staff and families are not permitted to use it as an entrance.

To ensure a smooth traffic flow, we kindly ask that families take turns merging onto Oaks Blvd with other exiting traffic from Life School.

We do not anticipate any major inconveniences with these adjustments, but we kindly ask all drivers to remain alert, be patient, and show kindness during arrival and dismissal.

Your cooperation helps ensure a smooth and safe process for everyone. Thank you for your support!

Starting on 2/17, Life School Red Oak will start using a new communication platform called ParentSquare. The move will make it easier for parents to stay informed by reducing the number of apps needed to communicate.

On Monday, you will receive an invitation to join us in ParentSquare. You may also begin to receive communication from your student’s teacher through the new platform.

We will have a campus wide contest! The class with the most families signed up before February 26 will earn a popcorn party!

Before you start, we recommend watching the Parent Training Video.

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will still be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

For the full policy, please refer to the Student & Parent Handbook.

Arrival & Tardies

• Students should arrive between 7:15 a.m. and 7:40 a.m.
• Tardies begin at 7:45 a.m.
• Students arriving after this time will be marked with an unexcused tardy unless appropriate documentation is provided.
• Frequent tardiness can interfere with learning and impact attendance records, which may lead to disciplinary measures. Please ensure students arrive on time each day.

Absence Cutoff

• Students not on campus at 10:00 a.m. will be recorded as absent.

• Dismissal begins at 4:00 p.m.
• Students checked out before that time will be marked with an unexcused early release unless appropriate documentation is provided.
• Frequent early checkouts can interfere with learning and impact attendance records, which may lead to disciplinary measures. Please limit early departures when possible.

Documentation for Absences, Tardies & Early Releases

• A parent note alone does not excuse an absence, tardy, or early release.
• A note from a provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, therapist) specifying the excused dates is required. Any dates not specified in the note will be considered unexcused.

• Providing falsified documentation for attendance purposes is a serious violation and will not be tolerated. Any attempt to submit a forged doctor’s note will result in the absence remaining unexcused and may lead to further disciplinary action. Additionally, such matters may be escalated to the appropriate authorities for review.
• For non-illness-related absences, refer to the handbook for specific documentation requirements.

Nurse-Directed Absences

• If a student is sent home by the nurse with instructions not to return until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours without medication, parents must still report the absences for it to be excused.

Reporting Absences

• Report absences and submit documentation using the “Report an Absence” button in the Thursday Exchange newsletter or on the Life School Red Oak website under the Parent section.
• Absences can also be reported via email at attendance.lsro@lifeschools.net.
• Documentation may also be submitted to the front office.
• Please use only one designated method to submit absence information.

Tracking Attendance

• Parents can monitor attendance records through the Parent Portal, which can help to maintain compliance with the attendance policy.
• Please allow up to three school days for records to be updated, as workload demands may occasionally cause delays.

Be on the lookout for a colorful Parent Information Envelope coming home Monday!

You will find important information about a safe and easy way your family can help our school get the essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed. It will also let you know how your child can win fun prizes just for helping!

As we prepare for our upcoming Spring Benchmark assessments, we want to share key dates and guidelines to ensure a successful testing experience for everyone.

Campus Closures to Visitors:

Due to Spring Benchmark testing for 3rd-6th grades, our campus will be CLOSED to parents and visitors on the testing days that are listed below. Parents will not be allowed to eat lunch with students, do parent observations, or volunteer on major testing days. On designated Makeup Testing days the campus will be open to parents or visitors. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to create a focused and conducive testing environment for our students.

Test Preparation:

To ensure your child performs at their best, please assist us by ensuring they get enough sleep and have a nutritious breakfast. Please have your students leave their cell phone and smart watches at home on testing days. We encourage students to bring snacks and a bottle of water on testing days. Some good examples are peanut butter/cheese crackers, goldfish crackers, pretzels, nuts, granola bars, trail mix, & a few peppermints.

Upcoming Benchmark Dates:

• February 25: Math Benchmark (Grades 4 & 6) No Campus Visitors

• February 26: Math Benchmark (Grades 3 & 5) No Campus Visitors

• February 27: Science Benchmark (Grade 5) | Makeup Testing for Math Benchmark (Grades 3, 4, & 6) No Campus Visitors

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this testing period. Your partnership is invaluable in fostering a positive learning environment for our students.

We would like to recognize LSRO staff for all the amazing things that they do each day for our students. If you have someone that you would like to brag about, please fill out this form and we will share the Shout Outs through the weekly Thursday Exchange.

Want to submit a staff shout out? Click here: Staff Shout-Outs!!!! (Google Form)

Every day we have Life Habits time that is focused on building social, emotional and behavioral skills. Each week we will post Life Habits conversation starters in our newsletter that are aligned with the Life Habits lessons from the week. We will also have signs in the pick up line for you to access the questions of the week. We hope you enjoy hearing about what your child is learning at school.

During morning announcements, we will focus on one LifeLeader Attribute each week and learn what we need to do to develop each attribute so that we can become effective leaders in our school and in our community. We encourage students and families to memorize these statements together and talk about how the attribute is exhibited at home, school and work. We will share the I Will statement in the weekly newsletter and on our campus Facebook page. We look forward to hearing how students are exhibiting the attributes at school and home. Click here to view all 15 LifeLeader attributes.

All households need to complete the Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application each school year, even if your child does not purchase school meals. The application is available throughout the school year and available to complete again should your family have a change in income or additional family members in the household.

Click here to view the breakfast and lunch menus.

Breakfast is served each day from 7:15-7:45.

Loralei Hoggard-February 2nd

To view staff favorites, click here.

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• 24-25 Life School Calendar
• LifeLeader
• Student/Parent Handbook
• Uniform Vendor Information
• Before & After School Care-Powerhouse
• Partners for Life Parent Organization

• Welcome Back Newsletter
• LSRO Important Information Newsletter
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