Cougar Connection

A link between home and school

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13th

THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL

August 2, 2024

Volume 2, Issue 1

Welcome!

Welcome to another exciting school year at Emma C. Smith Elementary, home of the Cougars! I hope you all had a wonderful summer filled with fun, relaxation, and memorable moments with family and friends. As we embark on this new academic journey together, I am anxious to see our school community come alive with the energy and enthusiasm of our students and staff.

This year promises to be filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and success. Our dedicated team of educators and staff have been working tirelessly to prepare engaging lessons, activities, and programs that will inspire and challenge our students. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

To our returning students, welcome back! We can't wait to hear about your summer adventures and see how much you've grown. To our new students and families, we extend a warm welcome and are excited to have you join our Smith family. We are confident that you will find our school to be a place of friendship, discovery, and joy.

Parents and guardians, your partnership is invaluable to us. Together, we can create a supportive and enriching educational experience for our children. We encourage you to stay involved, communicate with us, and participate in the various school activities and events planned for this year.

As we start this new school year, let's embrace each day with curiosity, kindness, and a positive attitude. Let's celebrate our achievements, learn from our challenges, and support one another along the way.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead filled with learning, laughter, and lasting memories!

BE AWARE!

As we prepare for another exciting school year, I want to ensure that all our communication channels are open and accessible to you. Clear and timely communication is crucial in keeping you informed about important updates and events.

I would like to inform you about a key aspect of our email communication system. When you choose to opt out of emails from any one district employee, it automatically opts you out of ALL communications across our entire district. This includes vital updates and information from the district office, your child/ren’s school, and their teachers. This means you may miss important information regarding school events, announcements, and classroom updates.

We value the partnership we have with our families and believe that staying connected is essential to your child's success. To ensure that you receive all necessary information, we encourage you to carefully consider any decisions to opt out of email and/or text communications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office. We're here to support you and provide the best possible experience for your child.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a wonderful school year together.

Going Forward

As parents and staff members we often forget the messiness of the first few weeks of school because everything was running so smoothly in June. Because of this, the information being shared with you in August seems abundant, but it is an attempt to ensure that you and your child are prepared and well-informed.

Going forward, newsletters will be published no more than twice a month. However, important time-sensitive information will be shared via text and/or email.

Class Lists

Class assignments will be released via Finalsite (formerly Blackboard) on Friday, August 9th at 12:00 p.m. If you do not receive the letter by 1:00 p.m. that afternoon, it indicates that we do not have your current or correct email address in our system. Please contact Meg Kilday at mkilday@LVJUSD.org to update your information.

School Supplies

Many of our families look forward to back to school shopping. Please keep in mind that teachers will be providing your child/ren with the materials needed in the classroom. Backpacks for all students should be large enough to hold a Chromebook, binder, and folders. This does not mean that your child will be toting all three to and from school each day! Just keep in mind the size of the backpack when making your purchase.

First Week Schedule

Please mark your calendars!

Monday, August 12th

Teacher Work Day, campus is closed

Tuesday, August 13th - Thursday, August 15th

1:30 Dismissal for all TK-5th Graders

Friday, August 16th

1:30 Dismissal for TK-K Students

2:50 Dismissal for 1st-5th Graders

Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. every day.

All TK-5th grade students are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

Cougar Community Event

Our fabulous PTA is sponsoring their first big event on Friday, August 9th from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to walk the campus with your child/ren, participate in a scavenger hunt, complete your registration, join PTA, determine drop-off and pick-up locations, and enjoy Dippin' Dots with your family and friends.

Classrooms will not be open at this time, as many teachers are still working round the clock to prepare their spaces. However, you will be able to walk the hallways to find your assigned room.

If you are unable to attend the event on Friday, August 9th and/or you would like your child to become familiar with our campus before the start of school, the gates will be unlocked on Sunday, August 11th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.