Hello Dickinson Families!

As we step into December, we are excited to embrace the joy and learning this season brings! Our students continue to amaze us with their hard work and growth. This month, we’ll be celebrating accomplishments, fostering kindness, and enjoying special events that highlight the spirit of our school community.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. Together, we’re making this school year unforgettable! Please be sure to check out dress up days for December below so you can plan ahead.

A huge thank you to all of our families who donated pies for our staff for Thanksgiving. They all felt loved and appreciated!

If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warm Regards,

Channon Almendarez

#dolphinproud

Please click on the link below (microsoft forms) to pre-register for our winter party. The badges will be sent home with the students on Tuesday, December 17th. You must have the link completed by Dec. 13th at 4:00.

Join the fun this December with optional dress-up days for our dolphins! Each assigned day has a festive theme to bring extra joy and creativity to the season. Participation is optional, and we can't wait to see everyone's holiday spirit!

This week is Innovative Day for 3rd - 5th grades. Don’t forget student library books are due the day before Innovative Day. Please help your Dolphin get his/her library book (and library book bag) returned on time.

Schedule:

• 3rd Grade – Monday, December 2nd – books due on Monday, December 2nd (due to Thanksgiving Break)

• 4th Grade – Wednesday, December 4th – books due on Tuesday, December 3rd

• 5th Grade – Thursday, December 5th – books due on Wednesday, December 4th

Our Dolphins excelled in reading and logging their Beanstack minutes during the District Reading Challenge- The Great Escape. In total, our Dolphins logged over 104,000 minutes, securing 1st place in the district challenge! Fantastic job! Also, congratulations to Jude T who was one of the district’s 1st grade drawing winners.

As a district, elementary students in Lamar CISD collectively read and recorded over 2.6 million minutes throughout this challenge.

If you want more information on how to help your Dolphin log their reading minutes in Beanstack, please see the parent handout at the Repeated Information section of this newsletter or reach out to our librarian, Mrs. Bromonsky.

This year to ensure your child's safety all change of transportation notes must be sent to the front office or you can call by 2:00 to make a change. Teachers need to focus on instruction during the day so please do not send them any emails for a change. Please call the front office at 832-223-1400. There is a form below you can print and have for your file in case you want to send in a note. A handwritten note will be accepted as well. Thank you for your understanding!

Annual Volunteer Background Checks Via Raptor

Want to volunteer? Plan to attend field trips? Assist with Holiday Parties?

Dickinson Elementary has an amazing reputation for partnering with our parents and community to serve our students in a multitude of ways. It's important to review and update the volunteer application regularly to ensure it meets current safety standards and legal requirements. This process helps to create a safe and supportive environment for both volunteers and the children they interact with.

If you completed this task last year, you received a message via e-mail like this sample:

Hello,

Your ability to volunteer at Lamar Consolidated ISD will end on 6/30/2024. If you plan to volunteer after that date, please take this time to complete a volunteer application by selecting this link https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTk1OmVuLVVT.

Thank you,

District Volunteer Coordinator

For our new volunteers, please follow these steps to become a volunteer at Dickinson:

1.) Apply to volunteer by completing the volunteer application found https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTk1OmVuLVVT

2.) After you receive your volunteer clearance email, contact the campus or department you wish to support as a volunteer to receive information on next steps.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the district’s various volunteer opportunities, please contact:

Asia S. Duhon (Partners in Education Coordinator) at mailto:Asia.Duhon@LCISD.org OR 832-223-0383.

Technology Devices

Personal Technology Lamar CISD believes that appropriate use of students’ technology devices enhances our students’ education. This includes but is not limited to: cell phones, smart phones, iPods, iPads, electronic tablets, and laptop computers. At Dickinson Elementary: All electronic devices stated above, including Smart Watches, must remain in the student's backpack turned off during the instructional day. Please review the code of conduct below regarding cell phone(electronic devices) policy. We have technology available for students to use while on campus. Thank you for reviewing this information with your child before school starts. We want to ensure that students are engaged in their learning and want to help minimize distractions.

Our Site Based Management Team voted and decided to make a slight change to the Dickinson dress code. Students may wear a collared (polo style, no logo) solid color navy blue, light blue, red, or white tops. A Dickinson spirit shirt may be worn any day of the week. Bottoms, including leggings may be in solid color khaki, navy blue or black pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts, or jumpers. If leggings or tights are worn, they must be under shorts, skirts, or jumpers. Blue denim jeans permitted on Fridays.

This is a video that all of the students and staff were required to watch as part of our safety protocol. LCISD is committed to keeping all of our students and staff safe. If you ever have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Our fence is completed. I am currently working with maintenance and operations to get some signage with hours and expectations during non-school hours.

Get your Dolphin reading and logging their reading minutes with our Beanstack Reading Challenges! The Library sponsors monthly challenges where students read and then log their reading minutes through ClassLink and the Beanstack app. Students who complete challenges within the challenge dates will earn a Brag Tag to celebrate their reading achievement.

Safety is our top priority! In Lamar CISD, we follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to prepare and respond to crisis situations should there ever be a need. It is important to be prepared for a quick response to keep our staff and students safe. When we practice drills, parents will receive an e-mail that we practiced a drill. Below is information about the SRP so that you can keep informed about the protocols we have in place. We need your support for when you visit the campus by wearing your visitor badge on the left or right side of your chest / torso in visible view for our staff members to see at a quick glance. The sticker badge should not be worn on the pants, arm, purse or other areas besides the upper chest area. Thank you for your help keeping our dolphins and staff safe!

The culture of Dickinson Elementary includes a partnership with our community. Last year, our parents volunteered hundreds of hours to support our students and staff. We value our partnership as together we educate our dolphins. This year all volunteers are required to register as a volunteer. This includes PTO Board Members, work room volunteers, Watch Dog Dad volunteers, room parents, field day volunteers, library volunteers, and the list continues! Please visit this website to begin the process:

https://www.lcisd.org/community/volunteers

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the front office at 832-223-1400.

Thank you for giving the gift of time for the success of our campus! What you value, you give your time to! - Channon Almendarez

• December 1st-31st: Reading Wrap-Up Beanstack Reading Challenge
• December 6th: Reading Junior High Band visits Dickinson for 4th & 5th Grade Students
• December 13th: Pre-registration link is due today by 4:00.
• December 16th: Rudolph Day Sponsored by House Council
• December 17th: Sing Along (Students Only) & First Grade Program @ 6:00
• December 18th: UIL Celebration & Awards @ 7:30 AM (Parents of UIL students are invited.)
• December 19th: Winter Holiday Parties
• December 20th: Student Holiday / Staff Planning & Work Day
• December 21st-January 6th: Winter Break

Email: channon.almendarez@lcisd.org
Website: https://www.lcisd.org/campuses/dickinson/home
Location: 7110 Greatwood Pkwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479, USA
Phone: 832-223-1400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dickinsondolphins