Lion Families
We want to thank those that attended our recent Partners for Life Parent Meeting. Your participation is essential in creating a strong and supportive partnership between home and school.
We appreciate your valuable input and feedback on the topics we discussed. Your insights will help us continue to improve our programs and services.
We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on September 26th at 5PM.
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***As a reminder, since we did not have school on Monday, we will have school for students tomorrow, Friday, September 6th.***
Sincerely,
Principal Stovall
Sept 6 - School For Students & Staff
Sept 9 - 19 - Scholastic Book Fair
Sept 10 - Grandparents' Breakfast (7:15AM - 7:40AM)
Sept 11 - Big Kahuna Sale Ends
Sept 12 - Progress Reports available to parents in Parent Portal
Sept 13 - No School Friday
Sept 19 - Parent Compact/Annual Title I & Life Habits/SEBL Night (5:30PM)
Sept 20 - No School Friday
Please come and join us for Grandparents' Day on September 10th from 7:15am - 7:40am.
Donuts, orange juice, and water will be on a first come, first serve basis and students will not be able to attend without an adult. Adults will not be able to walk their children to class after breakfast.
If you would like to volunteer to help make this event successful, please email chameka.bishop@lifeschools.net.
To make the event as smooth as possible, please help us with these few things if possible:
Have the grandparent/s drive the child to school the day of the event.
Meet the grandparents at school so they can walk in together.
Make sure the grandparent/s know the child's grade level and teacher so the child can be easily located if they are not already with the grandparent.
Thank you for partnering with us to make this a wonderful event for our grandparents and students
Arrival & Dismissal
Please see our dismissal map provided below. We will spend some time going over our dismissal process during Parent Orientation.
See below some reminders regarding Arrival & Dismissal:
Arrival
Arrival is from 7:15-7:40.
Breakfast is from 7:15-7:40.
Any students arriving to the cafeteria after 7:40 will not be able to eat breakfast.
Tardies are written starting at 7:45.
Please do not ever enter the parking lot through the exits, this is dangerous for you, our students, and other drivers.
Please remain a safe speed and put your phone away during arrival and dismissal
All students must be dropped off through our arrival lines. Dropping off in the parking lot or on the service road is not safe for our students, as they are not monitored.
Remember, our doors do not open until 7:15. Prior to 7:15, students will not be permitted into the building and are not supervised by Life School staff. Our students' safety is our top priority, and being dropped off prior to 7:15, without adult supervision, is not safe for our students.
Dismissal
Dismissal is from 3:55-4:40.
- All parents and families must pick students up in the dismissal lines. Parents are not permitted to walk into the building to pick up a student. All parents must have a green hangtag in order to pick up their student from school. See below for arrival and dismissal times and maps.
- All daycares must also have a green hangtag when picking up students.
- If your child will be going home a different way, please communicate that information to your child's teacher and/or the front office before 3:25pm.
- Early dismissal ends at promptly at 3:25pm. Students will not be released from the front office after 3:25pm
- Our staff works really hard in the rain, cold, wind, and sunshine to release close to 800 students safely. We ask that you please be patient and kind to our staff and other drivers.
- Please remain a safe speed, adhere to the directions of staff and put your phone away during arrival and dismissal.
- Students are expected to be picked up promptly at dismissal time, before 4:40 pm, or make other arrangements to have students picked up. Adults picking up students must have a valid form of identification or a green hang tag to pick students up from the office after 4:40 pm and a $10.00 late fee per student will be due at the time of pickup. This fee can be paid with cash or online(transaction fee will be applied).
Guidelines for Eating Lunch with Your Child
Parents are welcome to join their child for lunch.
Only those listed as a child's approved pick up adult will be allowed to eat with students.
All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist with your photo ID upon arrival at the school. Visitors will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds.
Parents may only bring lunch for their own child. Students and parents may not bring in or give away food to other students during lunch times. Parents may eat lunch with their child only in the atrium at the provided cafeteria tables.
Students and parents are not allowed to use food delivery services to have food brought to school during school hours.
Please see our OCE lunch schedule to the right.
For more information, please see our Student/Parent Handbook.
Campus Visitor Procedures
At Life School we believe parents are their child’s first educator. It is important to partner together for your child’s education. Thank you for partnering with us to help your child be the most successful they can be!
We invite you to visit campus to volunteer, eat lunch, or conduct classroom observations. Student safety is also our number one priority each day. Please see the below guidelines for visiting our campus.
Upon Arriving on Campus:
- Please park in the parking lot near the front office entrance
- All visitors must enter through the front doors.
- Press the Access Control button to buzz into the office.
- The office staff will ask you the reason for your visit and ask you to show your Hang Tag or Driver's License to the camera above the Access Control button.
- Please be patient while we verify the student's Authorization Form.
- Once verified, you will be given access to report to the front office.
When visiting campus, please follow the below procedures:
All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.
You are only permitted to visit the areas you are checked in for. Parents are not to walk freely around the building or visit classrooms, unless a classroom observation has been scheduled with the teacher. Please limit your student interaction to only your child.
Please do not disrupt the orderly conduct of classes, school programs or other school activities.
Schedule conferences with teachers prior to arriving on campus. Teachers are not expected to take class time to discuss individual matters with visitors.
Guidelines for volunteering on campus:
All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.
Parents can be checked in after 9:00 am to volunteer on campus.
Parents are welcome to volunteer on Thursdays, if a previous arrangement was made between the parent and the teacher.
Parent volunteers should work in the atrium or hallway, not in the classroom, unless instructed to do so by the classroom teacher.
Guidelines for classroom observation include the following:
- Classroom observations may begin after Labor Day
All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.
Parents can be checked in after 9:00 am to observe in a classroom.
A maximum of two parents are allowed in the classroom at a time.
Only parents/guardians are allowed in the classroom.
There should not be any conversation with other observers or with the students.
Please take a seat in the back of the room. Please do not sit next to your child’s desk.
If you wish to discuss your child’s progress, please refrain from conversing with the teacher until after school or by appointment. It is very important that the teacher’s undivided attention be on the students.
It is strongly recommended that the parents call in advance on the morning of their observation to ensure that a substitute is not in the classroom.
Classroom observations should be limited to only 30 minutes. Classroom observations are for parents/guardians only.
Guidelines for eating lunch with your child:
Parents are welcome to join their child for lunch starting after Labor Day.
All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.
Parents can be checked in after 10:00 am to eat lunch with their student.
Parents/Guardians are welcome to eat lunch with their child on campus. Parents may only bring lunch for their own children. Students and parents may not bring in or give away food to other students during lunch times. Parents may eat lunch with their child in the atrium at the provided cafeteria tables.
Students and parents are not allowed to use food delivery services to have food brought to school during school hours.
Parents may only eat lunch with their student.
Parents and visitors are not permitted to take pictures or record video while in classrooms. Recording and taking pictures of field trips, special programs, or events are allowed.
For more information, please see our Student/Parent Handbook.
Breakfast & Lunch
Free Breakfast at School - All Students are Eligible
ALL students are eligible to receive a free breakfast at school. We are able to provide this benefit to all students by parents taking time to complete the free and reduced lunch application.
If you have not already received a letter from the district indicating your free/reduced/paid lunch status, please take a moment to complete the lunch application. ALL students, regardless of status are eligible to receive a free breakfast each day for the 2024-2025 school year.
Free Lunch - Students Who Qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch Eat Free
If you qualify for free or reduced priced meals, lunch will be free for the 2024-2025 school year. Please take a moment to complete the lunch application to determine your eligibility. Information collected through this application process provides opportunities for additional state and federal funding for our school operations.
If you do not qualify for free/reduced meals, you can deposit funds onto your child's account at My School Bucks.
Click here to view the breakfast/lunch menus.
Breakfast is served each day from 7:15-7:40. Breakfast is FREE this year at OCE for all students starting the first day of school.
Click here to sign Up for My School Bucks, our online lunch payment system.
Dress Code & Uniforms
Please see below reminders regarding school uniform and dress code:
- Elementary students must wear navy pants, skirts, or plaid jumpers or skirts. Elementary students should not be wearing khaki pants or skirts.
- Elementary students must wear navy or red polo shirts or a white oxford (button-down) shirt with the Life School crest.
- Spirit T-shirts can only be worn on Thursdays. Polo shirts must be worn Monday-Wednesday.
- Be sure to make note regarding hair color. As stated on page 13 of the handbook "Hair must be neatly groomed. No excessive colors or nonconforming hairstyles for boys or girls (only natural hair colors are acceptable)."
- For more information, please see our Student/Parent Handbook.
Note: Navy uniform pants and shorts can also be purchased at Walmart, Target, or other local or online retailers.
Life School jackets are available for purchase from our vendors.
Your student may wear a jacket, school cardigan, or hoodie over their uniform shirt provided it has a Life School logo (from Levine's or Land's End) or of solid red or blue color and has no images or words (other than a small logo).
Assistant Principal's Corner
Dear Life School Oak Cliff Elementary Families,
We hope this message finds you well as we approach our third week of school! It has been a joy to see our students back in the classroom, eager to learn and grow.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of a few important details:
1. Thursday $1 Jean Day: Don’t forget that Thursdays are our special $1 Jean Days! Students can wear jeans for just $1, but please remember that jeans should be free of rips, tears, or frays. Let’s keep our school looking sharp and tidy!
2. Jacket Policy: As the weather begins to change, please ensure that any jackets worn to school are solid red, navy blue, or feature Life School branding only. Students will be asked to remove jackets that do not adhere to this policy and place them in their backpacks for the day. This helps maintain a uniform and cohesive appearance throughout our school community.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. We are excited for another fantastic week of learning and growth!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Bishop & Mr. Hairston
Assistant Principals
Student/Parent Handbook
Each year, as a part of enrollment/re-enrollment, parents acknowledge that they have read and will follow the Student/Parent Handbook. Please note that the handbook is updated each school year, and it is recommended that you review the latest version with each of your learners. You may access the 2024-2025 Handbook on the Parent Resources page or by clicking this link.
Attendance
School Hours: 7:35 am – 3:55 pm.
Morning Drop-off/Arrival: 7:15 – 7:40 am.
No student will be allowed to enter the building before 7:15 am.
Students must be inside their classrooms and ready for learning by 7:35 am; students who are not in their classrooms at that time will be marked tardy.
Any person picking up a student must present a 2024-2025 vehicle hangtag before the student is released.
Early dismissal ends promptly at 3:25pm. Students will not be dismissed from the front office after 3:25pm.
NOTE: A Student Pick Up Authorization Form must be completed in order to receive the hangtag(s). Incomplete forms will not be accepted, and no old hangtags will be accepted.
Only adults with hangtags will be allowed to pick up students. Students not picked up by 4:40 pm will be charged a late fee of $10 per child per day.
If a student is going to be absent for any length of time, please provide documentation to Mari Williams at mari.williams@lifeschools.net, student's teacher or to the front office.
Any questions regarding absences, tardies/early pickups please contact Mari Williams at mari.williams@lifeschools.net. Attendance is available for you to review at any time in the Parent Portal.
Excessive unexcused tardies/early pickups can result in disciplinary consequences. Excessive absences can result in filing with the truancy court. Please refer to pages 7-8 in the Student/Parent Handbook for Life School’s attendance polices.
Cell Phones & Smart Watches
Below is our district's policy of any personal telecommunication devices. Please understand that cell phone and/or smart watch use falls under the following district policy that can be located, in full, in our Life School Student Handbook on our website.
Use of Personal Telecommunications Devices
For safety purposes, Life School permits students to possess cell phones while on school property or during school-related activities. However, these devices must remain on silent during the instructional day and shall not be visible during classroom instruction. A student must have approval to possess other telecommunications devices such as notebook computers, laptops, tablets or other portable computers.
The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing images is strictly prohibited in locker rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event.
Parents should not call or text their children and expect an immediate response during the school day.
Telecommunication Device Penalties
Students who violate this policy shall be subject to established disciplinary measures, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
- 1st Offense –Return cell phone/telecommunication device to the parent or guardian at the end of the school day plus pay a $15 administrative fee.
- 2nd Offense –Return cell phone/telecommunication device to the parent or guardian after end of third school day from time of confiscation and pay a $15 administrative fee.
- 3rd Offense – Student is not permitted to have a cell phone/telecommunication device at school for the remainder of the semester, or if confiscated during the 2nd or 4th nine weeks, the student may not be permitted to possess a cell phone/telecommunication device the following semester.
PARTNERS FOR LIFE
Don't forget to sign up for our Partners for Life parent organization by clicking here to receive the most up to date opportunities to engage on campus. After you sign up, be sure to become a fan of our campus.
When you respond for an event, you will receive hours for your participation. As parents receive hours, we will recognize parents throughout the year with shout outs, special prizes, and recognition.
For the Love of Reading!
Did you know... When you dedicate time to reading every day, you can reduce stress, boost your mental health, fall asleep faster, and enrich your vocabulary?
Did you know ... Children who read 20 minutes every day are exposed to a large number of books and stories throughout the year, which improves their understanding and analytical skills, increases their vocabulary, shapes their personality, and increases overall academic performance.
Click here to read 7 Benefits of Reading 20 Minutes a Day as well as some tips on how to get started. #LifeLeadersRead
LIFE HABITS
Every day we have Life Habits time that is focused on building social, emotional and behavioral skills. Each week we will post Life Habits conversation starters in our newsletter that are aligned with the Life Habits lessons from the week. We will also have signs in the pick up line for you to access the questions of the week. We hope you enjoy hearing about what your child is learning at school.
Sign Up for Parent Portal
Parents are encouraged to sign up for Life School Parent Portal by clicking here. The Parent Portal will allow parents to monitor attendance records and student grades throughout the year.
Grading Weights, Late Work, & Retest Policy
Parents are able to access their student's grades and attendance anytime using the Parent Portal. Click here to sign up and access your child's information.
3rd-6th Grading Weights:
- Daily: 35%
- Participation/Homework: 15%
- Tests: 50%
Late Work 3rd-6th Grade: All late work must be turned in within 3 days of the assigned due date. Work received after this time will not be accepted. For each day late -10 points will be deducted from the final grade. The maximum grade allowable for late work turned in on the 3rd day will be a 70.
Retesting 3rd-6th Grade: A student/parent may request a retest opportunity if a student receives a failing (below 70) test grade. This request must be made within 3 days of the grade being posted in Parent Portal. Open book quizzes and projects that fall into the testing category will not be eligible for retesting. District wide assessments are not eligible for retesting, per district policy. The maximum grade allowable for retests will be a 70.
Life School Oak Cliff Elementary
Email: quanesha.stovall@lifeschools.net
Website: https://lifeschool.net/schools-campuses/oak-cliff-elementary-school
Location: 4400 South R L Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 214-376-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeoakcliffelem
Twitter: @PrincipalStovall