Lion Family Newsletter

Dear Lion Families:

The holiday season is here, and I want to thank you for being such an important part of our school community. December is always a busy and exciting time for our staff and students, and I’m excited to highlight a few key things to keep in mind.

The Importance of Daily Attendance

Regular attendance is key to your child's academic success. Every day of school counts, and even short absences can impact a student’s ability to stay on track with their learning. While we understand that illnesses and emergencies happen, we encourage families to prioritize attendance as much as possible. Your partnership in ensuring your child arrives at school on time and ready to learn is greatly appreciated.

Stay Connected Through the Home Access Center (HAC)
The Home Access Center (HAC) is a valuable tool for staying up-to-date on your child’s academic progress. Through HAC, you can view grades, attendance records, and assignments. Regularly checking HAC allows you to address any concerns early and celebrate your child's achievements. If you need assistance accessing HAC, please don't hesitate to contact our office—we’re here to help!

Personal Phones at School
To maintain a focused learning environment, we ask that students refrain from using their personal phones during school hours. Phones can be a significant distraction, and our goal is to ensure that all students are fully engaged in their education. If your child needs to contact you during the day, they may do so through the front office. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this policy at home.

Join Us for Christmas in Crandy Land!
We are thrilled to invite all families to our annual holiday event, Christmas in Crandy Land! Join us on Thursday, December 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM for an evening of festive fun, food, and community spirit. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families, enjoy student performances, and celebrate the season together. We hope to see you there!

As always, thank you for being such an integral part of our school community. Your involvement and support make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Warm regards,
Eric Ogle,

Lamar Middle School Principal

The 2024-2025 Yearbook is now on sale! You may purchase the yearbook For a discounted price of $30, including a complimentary name stamp until 10/11. Please see below for additional information.

2024-2025 Online Sales

• 11/01/24 - 05/15/25: $35 - 2025 Yearbook Only

If your child is in need of a weekly food bag to take home on Friday or assistance with school supplies, please contact his/her Lamar counselor:

• Tennille Deming-Perkins: 8th grade and 6th grade (A-L) tdeming-perkins@irvingisd.net
• Natassia Wilson: 7th grade and 6th grade (M-Z) nwilson@irvingisd.net

Lamar Parents and Guardians,

We want to inform you of an important change we will be implementing at our school beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. Starting next school year, all students will be required to use clear, see-through backpacks.

This decision was made to enhance the safety and security of our campus. Clear backpacks allow for quicker and more effective visual inspections, helping us maintain a safe environment for all students and staff. Similar policies have been adopted in schools nationwide with positive results, ensuring everyone can focus on learning in a secure setting.

We are sharing this information well in advance to allow families ample time to prepare and purchase clear backpacks before the new school year begins. Clear backpacks are widely available at many retailers, both in-store and online.

Your cooperation and support are greatly appreciated as we take this step to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you for your understanding and partnership.

Sincerely,

Eric Ogle, Principal

Parents should only utilize the drop-off and pick-up lanes to drop their students off and/or pick them up. Both parking lots are unavailable for student drop-off or pick-up as this is a safety concern for our staff and students. Additionally, please note that the drop-off and pick-up lanes are moving lanes and therefore parking in the drop off lane is prohibited. Thank you for keeping #OURKIDS safe.

Eric Ogle - Principal

eogle@irvingisd.net

Cynthia Erwin - Assistant Principal

cerwin@irvingisd.net

Felicia Higginbotham - Assistant Principal

sworcester@irvingisd.net

April Richmond - Student Success Coach

arichmond@irvingisd.net

Tennille Deming-Perkins - Counselor: 8th Grade, 6th Grade (A-L)

tdeming-perkins@irvingisd.net

Natassia Wilson - Counselor: 7th Grade, 6th Grade (M-Z)

nwilson@irvingisd.net

Misty Gonzales - Academic Specialist

MiGonzales@irvingisd.net

Samantha Howard - Nurse

showard@irvingisd.net

Text YES to 67587 to receive important messages from Lamar MS and Irving ISD.

Website: irvingisd.net/lamar
Location: 219 Crandall Road, Irving, TX, USA
Phone: 972-600-4400
Twitter: @Lamar_MS

Instagram: @lamar_middleschool