Hello Dolphin Families!

Happy Sunday! This week many of our families celebrate Thanksgiving where others are enjoying the break. Either way I hope you enjoy the time with your friends and family. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not this time of the year I love because we tend to focus on what we are thankful for. One of many things I am thankful for is you, our LNE community- our staff, children and families. I love celebrating every aspect of LNE and I couldn't do that without you. Very grateful for our community and cannot thank you enough for all your love and support. I hope you all enjoy the time with your loved ones over the next few days!

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Families who are participating in the parade please listen up and help us out! With the parade being on Tuesday we tend to have anywhere from 50-150 children picked up. Please let your child's teacher know if you are planning to pick up your child earlier than dismissal. Also please don't wait until last minute to pick up your child and be prepared there might be a little wait. We tend to have staff on hand to help but when you have 20 families come at once, we cannot check 20 children out at one time. Remember to have your ID on hand and please know we cannot have children waiting in the front office- our office is small as it is. Just a reminder, for your child to be counted present for the day he/she must be in attendance until at least 10:45am- children who are checked out prior to this time will be counted absent.

School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• LAKE NORMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE284524

Help spread the word! Kindergarten Tours start in December! If you know a family who has a rising kinder please help spread the word! Share this link with them to sign-up for a tour: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAaNU5LfgPyeQNPWX4PH8gxHR6-Nsqcut7VTEOvW350fBYuQ/viewform

Who doesn't love a good home-cooked meal? Do you have a special recipe? Do you have a recipe that is kid-friendly (meaning something easy for kids to make)? Thanks to our staff's chili cook-off on the last teacher workday, our PTO is heading up putting together a LNE Cookbook that we are hoping will be available for purchase at Holiday House in December. Click here to submit a recipe

Thank you to all who have already signed up on tour to Costa Rica!

Now that a new school year has arrived and we're back in the swing of things, we wanted to provide one additional opportunity for all LNES families to learn about and enroll on this amazing experience.

UPDATE: NEW SPOTS AVAILABLE

Due to the overwhelming positive response, we are going to open 10 more spots, first come, first served! With new LNES families and a new interest from others, we expect these seats will go fast.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions that you have. You can also speak with EF’s dedicated Traveler Support Team online at https://www.eftours.com/contact-us or by phone at 800-665-5364.

Also, if your student has friends who have not signed up yet, feel free to pass this message along to their families, too.

We are very fortunate to offer our children some enrichment opportunities after school. Please understand some have grade level restrictions so ensure you fully read the flyer before signing your child up. A few guidelines regarding clubs:

• 3 unexcused absences/late pick-ups and/or warnings about behavior will result in your child being removed from that club
• Please ensure your child is truly interested in that club before signing up
• We cannot take everyone

If you have specific questions about the club please reach out to the staff member/community member who is over the club.

LNE partners with the two below you will need to reach directly out to them:

ATA Winners for Life

Soccer Shots

We are excited to announce the 2024 NC Farm to School Art Contest!

The NC Farm to School art contest encourages public school students in grades Kindergarten through fifth to create artwork showcasing “North Carolina Agriculture” Each year 13 winners are chosen and their artwork featured in the NC Farm to School calendar.

I have attached the rules and entry form for this year’s contest. You can also find them on our website, https://www.ncfarmtoschool.com/programs/nc-farm-to-school-art-contest/. In addition, you can find the winners and finalists featured in the 2024-25 calendar and the honorable mentions.

The contest is coordinated by NCDA&CS with support from the NC Farm to School Cooperative and the School Nutrition Association of NC. Deadline for entries is Friday, December 13, 2024.

• Parents we are seeing more and more come right at 7:20am. This has only become an issue recently. Around 7:10am we have a lull in our car rider line and then a large amount coming right at 7:20am. To help us ensure school starts on time we need you to be in the car line prior to 7:20am. Our teachers are starting instruction at 7:20am and we need children here on time to ensure they are not missing anything! Thank you for your help!
• Our doors open at 7:00am and the tardy bell rings at 7:20am- please be mindful of this, we need to start school on time. We dismiss at 2:10pm- please do not line up before 1:45pm- when cars line up early it blocks access in the event there is an emergency.
  
• Please be mindful of families who are walking and children riding bikes in the morning.
• Parents can eat lunch with their child and only their child. Please ensure to utilize the designated parent tables in our cafeteria.

• Please remember all transportation changes must be emailed to Amanda LaBarbera (amanda_labarbera@iss.k12.nc.us) and Nichole Tilley (nicholetilley@iss.k12.nc.us) by 1:00pm
• Students are only released to those with a valid ID and those permitted on the pick-up list as indicated by the parent/guardian

• 4th and 5th graders can be released without a parent present but please speak with your children about safety, using crosswalks and sidewalks- if they have younger siblings walking with them we need a note on file permitting the younger sibling to be released with the 4th/5th grader.
• Parents picking up children K-3 are required to have a walker tag otherwise be prepared to show a valid ID in the front office to obtain a walker tag for pick-up.
• Families who are not truly walkers should not park to pick up their child.

• For AM car, please continue to follow the traffic signs, be kind to our neighbors, adhere to speed limits and know if our doors are closed (in the front and/or out back) you need to walk your child in and check them in at the office. Remember K-2 students cannot be dropped off out back.
  
• For PM car, please ensure you have your car tag (it is green this year, families will need a new one each year) ready to go- if you need one and/or need additional ones please let Mrs. Ford know at molly_ford@iss.k12.nc.us. All students are picked up in the front of the school.

• Our buses are full, please know we cannot permit additions to the bus for playdates.
  
• Please allow 10-15 minutes before and after pick-up and drop-off times
• Any student who does not ride the bus for 10 days will be removed from the route.
• See the flyer to track the bus!

• We have a Spirit Night Monday November 25th at the new Tacos 4Life Mooresville from 4-7. If ordering online select “fundraiser” and add to cart. If dining or ordering in let them know you are with Lake Norman Elementary.
• We have a double spirit night coming up in Birkdale on Thursday December 5th! You can shop at Kendra Scott and Lily Pulitzer while giving back to LNE!
• Get excited for Holiday House starting December 9th! Be on the lookout for an information sheet coming home soon!
• LNE Cookbook- PTO is looking to put together a LNE Cookbook featuring our staff and families- if you have a favorite recipe that is special to you, made by you and/or made by your children please share! Here is a link to submit a recipe: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0MpHdYS0Wrzll0pvpCOu_2h6pPGD0-AT05jCgdjtUh01H2A/viewform
• Lake Norman Elementary School PTO has just launched a Regal Fundraising Campaign! This ticket bundle is perfect for movie enthusiasts who don't want to miss out on the latest hits or catch their favorite films before they leave the big screen. The best part is 25% of the purchase price goes back to our PTO! Use our unique fundraiser page to join in and enjoy the magic of movies at Regal: https://www.groupraise.com/offer-campaigns/50158?utm_source=offers_promo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=regal_cinemas&utm_content=a&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR36FOF_xqMcvDO_WaQ1Dt_lFdcgYJyzb2J9Ynv3O2oBVbXtqXvOhu_ixMg_aem_5La8RZDA44KtPwdTM-Z_NQ
• We will be doing monthly drawings for our volunteers! For each slot you sign-up for in November your name will be entered to win a prize!
• Just a reminder all volunteers MUST have a cleared background check! (Check with your child's teacher if you are unsure if it is cleared or not)

• Interested in being a part of PTO and/or helping out with some of the events this year? Reach out to our PTO at lakenormanelementarypto@gmail.com

• Cafeteria- https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/
• Technology- https://osp.osmsinc.com/ISS/
• Field Trips- https://osp.osmsinc.com/ISS/
• Class Donations- https://osp.osmsinc.com/ISS/
• Background Check (Chaperones and Volunteers): https://iss.quickapp.pro/forms/iss-volunteers-self-pay

We had a great year last year with LOTS of growth from our children but there is always room for improvement- nothing is perfect. This year at LNE our theme is 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. We are looking at how we can 'climb higher'. To be transparent with our families here is our focus as a school:

• Being intentional with our time
• Growing our relationships- greeting every child at the door, whether it is car line or at the classroom room, focusing on the relationships with our children
• Challenging our students with more rigor in our instruction- not more work but taking the learning deeper with our questions and activities

Lake Norman Elementary

Commitment. Dedication. Excellence

Principal Nichole Tilley

Email: nicholetilley@iss.k12.nc.us
Website: https://lakenormanelementary.issnc.org/
Location: 255 Oak Tree Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Phone: (704) 662-8261
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeNormanES