LCE October Newsletter
LCE: A Great Place to Be!
A Note from the Principal
Little Cypress Elementary Families,
The school year has gotten off to a great start! We have seen such positive things in our classrooms. The students are actively engaged in our lessons, and our teachers are working hard to meet all of our students' needs. We ask that you do your best to have your student at school all day every day so they do not miss out on instruction.
I know that things are busy in the evenings with extra activities, but please check your child's binder nightly and stay connected to what your child is learning through reviewing their daily work and helping with homework. Independent practice is so valuable for your child!
The Beginning of the Year MAP data will be sent home with your child's report card, if not before. If you have questions about the first report card grades, MAP scores, or anything else, please reach out to their teacher.
We will have many fun things happening at LCE in October! We have the book fair, Fall Family Night, the Big Kahuna Fundraiser, Unity Day, Red Ribbon Week, and our Storybook Character Parade!
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. E-mail is the fastest way to get to me, and my e-mail address is sstjohn@lcmcisd.org.
Sarah St. John
Principal
LCE October Calendar
Storybook Character Parade
EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday, October 31st, LCE will be participating in a “Storybook Character Parade” to promote a love for reading. We invite you to join us and come see the students in our parade beginning at 9:00 am at our LCE campus. To attend, please see the information below about registration.
On this day, your child may dress up as a character from a children’s book.
Please have your child bring the book that goes along with their costume.
Please make sure the costume is appropriate for elementary age. We ask that students refrain from “scary” costumes. This may include aliens, demons, ghosts, bloody characters, etc.
No toy guns or weapons will be allowed, so please do not send them with the costumes. While we love our ninja books, we want to keep the ninja stars at home
If you have any questions, please contact your student’s teacher for approval.
We are not suggesting that anyone is expected to purchase a costume. Homemade costumes are welcome as well as store bought. If you are unable to dress your child in a costume, teachers will work with Counselor Sydney Carr to get them a costume prior to the parade.
Please use this project as a fun learning experience and get creative with your child.
Your child may also bring a change of clothes to change into after the parade. Thank you for your help and support.
EVENT REGISTRATION:
For the 2024-25 school year, Little Cypress Elementary is requiring ID checks for large school events. Therefore, we are requesting families to pre-register for large school events. For these events, two family members may register to attend per child. Visitors must be listed in the child's Skyward emergency contacts.
A new registration form will be used for each event. This year, we will have registration forms on Parent Square. Please click the link to enter your information to pre-register for this event. One form will be filled out with both visitors' names.
This form is for the LCE Storybook Character Parade at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 31st. This form must be filled out by October 18th to pre-register.
If you pre-register, your Raptor ID sticker will be sent home with your child before the event or, at minimum, placed at the back cafeteria doors like "will call." In order for this to work, you will need to get your ID scanned in the front office before the registration deadline.
If you do not have a Raptor ID sticker on the day of the event, you will be required to go to the front office to get your ID scanned. Please expect a long line.
LCM Football Games
The LCM Bear football season has begun! LCE/LCI students who attend games must be with a parent or guardian. Students should remain with their parent/guardian throughout the game. Please do not leave children unattended or allow them to run and play under the bleachers or around the stadium grounds.
Big Kahuna Fundraiser
The Big Kahuna fundraiser starts on October 8th!
This is the only campus fundraiser that we do, and based on feedback from students and parents last year, we chose to continue the same fundraiser this year.
Parent feedback last year was that that they like the catalog items for Christmas gifts.
The Adventure Dash fundraiser that we do at the end of the year is for the LCE PTO.
All the money raised from the Big Kahuna fundraiser goes to the Student Activity Fund.
This fund is used directly for students and for campus improvement.
For example, all Red Ribbon Week items, PBIS prizes, etc. come from this fund.
Big Kahuna staff will be here on October 8th to talk to students, hang posters, and distribute packets. We will briefly mention the fundraiser during the announcements each day and post on social media. Otherwise, this fundraiser completely takes place off campus.
Parents have the responsibility to sign their child's coupons for them to get the collectibles.
We will announce for students to come down to the office to get their keychains at the end of announcements every day, and then students will quickly return to class.
Big Kahuna will come and collect all money and order forms on the 29th.
We will send out information about the item delivery, but the tentative date will be November 20th.
Please contact Lisa Fisher, Campus Secretary, at lfisher@lcmcisd.org with questions. She can get you in touch with Big Kahuna if you have questions on their side.
Thank you for your support!
LCE Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to LCE!
BookFlyers and more information was sent home with all students, but if you have questions, please reach out to Mrs. Halliburton at thalliburton@lcmcisd.org.
The dates for the book fair are September 30th-October 4th. Students will visit the book fair during their library times. Get ready now by creating your eWallet and sharing with friends and family.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/how-ewallet-works.html?fairId=5418300
There will be one evening night to shop. October 1st from 5:00-7:00.
This will be a fun night with lots of games, activities, and prizes for all who attend.
This will be the only book fair we have this year.
Gifted and Talented Nominations
All Kindergarten and second grade students will participate in Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) testing in October.
This is one of the criteria used for Gifted and Talented placement.
To nominate your child for the Gifted and Talented program, please use this link:
https://forms.office.com/r/7YuPUbshbw
A separate form will be sent for PLUS Class Nominations at a later date.
Nominations will be accepted for Kindergarteners through December 20th; nominations will be accepted for 1st through 3rd graders through March.
The identification criteria will ensure the fair assessment of students with special needs, such as the culturally divergent, the economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. Data from multiple sources will be included in the assessment process for G/T services. At least three (3) or more measures (qualitative and quantitative) will be used (such as NNAT3, TABS, KOI, The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Student Products/Planned Lessons, District End- 0f-Year or State Assessment Scores, Academic Progress, etc.)
When all data needed for screening has been completed, the student profile will be reviewed by the campus Admissions-Review-Exit (ARE) Committee for placement.
Profiles (matrix/screening document) will be completed for each nominated student and blind profiles will be presented to the ARE Committee(s).
The admission decision for Kindergarten will be by February 28th, and the admission decision for 1st through 3rd grades will be after the final screening information is completed in May.
To see the entire elementary GT plan, please visit LCE.LCMCISD.ORG and select Campus Documents.
For further information, please reach out to Counselor Sydney Carr at scarr@lcmcisd.org.
A Note from Counselor Sydney Carr
October Focus: Bullying and Conflict Resolution
This month, we're dedicated to fostering a positive school environment by addressing important topics that affect our students' daily lives.
Unity Day - October 16th
Students are invited to wear orange on October 16th to celebrate Unity Day. By wearing orange, we show that we stand together against bullying and unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Red Ribbon Week - October 28-31
Join us for a movie-themed Red Ribbon Week as we're "Filming a Drug-Free Life at LCE"! Throughout this week, we'll engage in various activities and discussions to promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Stay tuned for more details on our daily themes and events.
Remember, a supportive community starts with each one of us. Let's work together to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our students!
GO BEARS!
Mrs. Carr 🙂
If your student is in need of a visit to see me, please fill out the counseling referral form linked below.
Car Line Procedures
Morning Drop Off
Afternoon Pick Up
DROP OFF:
LCE students should be dropped off between 6:50 - 7:10 a.m. The tardy bells rings at 7:15 a.m. and instruction begins at 7:20 a.m.
Only 2nd and 3rd grade students and Self-Contained students can be dropped off at the front of the school in the mornings. Everyone else will need to be dropped off in the back.
Parents with both LCI and LCE students may drop their LCE student off in the LCI car line between 6:50 - 7:10 a.m. After 7:10, all LCE students are to be dropped off at the LCE campus.
For safety reasons, please have your child ready to exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Please talk to your child about what it means to be ready to exit the vehicle. Please also stress to them not to run but to walk safely.
We know it will take a few days to get everyone used to drop off procedures again. After a few days, we will begin shutting the back doors at the 7:15 a.m. tardy bell.
Once the back doors are closed, you will need to drive to the front of the school, park, and escort your child into the building.
TURN RIGHT when exiting Meeks during drop off and pick up hours.
For the safety of your child and others, please do not use your cell phone while in the car drop off and pick up lines.
PICK UP:
The dismissal car line begins at 2:50 p.m.
Students cannot be checked out through the front office after 2:30 p.m. as we are in our final transition for the day. We will ask you to join the pick up line at that point.
The pick up line will run a little long for a few days, but after we get into the routine, it normally ends right at 3:10 p.m.
Please ensure that you are in line to pick up your child by 3:10 p.m.
If your child needs assistance to buckle, please pull ahead into the grassy area.
THE SCHOOL ISSUED CAR RIDER TAG MUST BE VISIBLE IN ORDER TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD. THIS IS A SAFETY MEASURE.
TURN RIGHT when exiting Meeks during drop off and pick up hours.
For the safety of your child and others, please do not use your cell phone while in the car drop off and pick up lines.
Bus Rider Information
Changes? Call Transportation at 670-4601 by 1:30 p.m.
Students must ride the bus to their assigned drop off location (home address/licensed day care).
All bus transportation changes must go through the Transportation Department 409-670-4601. Changes must take place before 1:30 p.m.
Without a note, the child will follow their established routine.
In an emergency, a phone call will be accepted but will require the student's last four digits of their social security number.
An adult must be present at the bus stop for all PK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students to be dropped off.
All students are eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch this year.
Upcoming Lunch Visitor Schedule
We rotate lunch visitors weekly, but we also allow two Skyward approved guests on your child's birthday. If your child has a birthday on the weekend, you can come the Friday before or Monday after.
The week of September 30th: Pre-K
The week of October 7th: Kindergarten and ECSE
The week of October 14th: First Grade
The week of October 21st: Second Grade / Life Skills Grades 1-3
The week of October 28th: Third Grade
As a reminder, only two guests can attend lunch, and they must be listed and approved through Skyward. Guests must sit in the assigned guest lunch area or at the assigned table for their child's class.
Guests are not allowed to take photos of other students on campus, and other students are not allowed to sit with guests. Food can only be shared with your child.
Dress Code
The district prohibits any clothing or grooming that in the principal’s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption or interference with normal school operations.
Shorts and skirts should be at least mid-thigh length and be hemmed.
Shirts should cover the midriff and have at least two (2) inch shoulder strap or sleeves. No muscle shirts or spaghetti straps.
Pants must fit at the waist or be belted. Baggy pants and jeans with holes above the knee will not be allowed. Holes above the knee with backing are allowed as long as the backing is intact.
All students are required to have shoes that are safe for participation in all physical education activities. Backless shoes, high-heeled shoes of any type, and flip-flops are prohibited. This is a safety issue and is in the best interest of the student. All rubber soled, laced up, closed back shoes (tennis shoes or any athletic type shoe) will be acceptable. Crocs are not allowed in PE.
Should you have to remove your child during the school day, please sign him/her out at the front office. School personnel will call for your child to meet you.
Please remember to send any doctor's notes upon the student's return to school. When absent, the student must have a signed parent note or doctor's excuse upon their return to school. New for the 2024-2025 school year: Absence notes must be turned in within 5 school days for a student to be counted excused.
Dear Families,
We are excited to announce that we adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at LCMCISD called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with LCMCISD. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:
Send and receive school and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Sign up to volunteer
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
All district and school, grade level and classroom information for next school year will 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.
We are asking parents to go ahead and download the ParentSquare app to be ready for next school year!
Little Cypress Elementary Contacts
5723 Meeks
Orange, Texas 77632
409-886-2838
Sarah St. John, Principal
Brittany Lalonde, Assistant Principal
Sydney Carr, Counselor
Lisa Fisher, Secretary
Bianca Sanchez, Registrar
Misty Coleman, Nurse
Meagan Washburn, At-Risk Coordinator
Tammi Halliburton, Librarian