The Lake Ridge Bridge
January 11, 2020
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Weekly Recap
Hopefully this message finds you in good spirits. The first week of the Second Semester was a productive one. We were glad to welcome scholars back, review expectations, engage in classbuilding/teambuilding, and dive into instruction. The race for excellence continues, indeed.
Kudos to Early Education and Pre-K for meeting the 98% attendance goal for the week.
"We're playing basketball!" Our Basketball season kicks off this week, so come out to support our scholar-athletes every Wednesday; upcoming dates are indicated. Please remember that sportsmanship is important for our scholars, and it is important for adult spectators at the game as well. Speaking of basketball, Friday is the CHHS Basketball Elementary Night for Lake Ridge Elementary. CHHS Girls play at 6:00 p.m., and CHHS Boys play at 7:30 p.m. You can arrive when you choose, but if girls want to be on the floor when the team is announced, they need to arrive by 5:40; boys will need to arrive by 7:15 to be on the floor when the team is announced.
Cedar Hill ISD is partnering with BrightBytes, an educational data analytics company, in order to help us understand your child’s access and use of technology both at school and at home. We are reaching out to ask you to take part in our parent survey. Your participation is essential in helping us form a more complete picture of technology use for learning in our students’ lives. Please know that all of your responses will remain anonymous to protect your privacy, and they will help guide our school district in making future technology decisions. This survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. The last day to complete the questionnaire will be Friday, January 17, 2020.
You may access the survey here - www.BByt.es/M37RP . This URL is unique and intended only for parents and guardians of Lake Ridge Elementary.
This week, keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- January 13-17: Bright Bytes Parent Survey
- January 13-February 7: Spring Gifted and Talented Nomination Window
- Tuesday, January 14: Fine Arts Preview Field Trip for 5th Grade
- Tuesday, January 14: Cheer Tryouts at 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 15: Lake Ridge vs. Waterford Oaks at 4:30 p.m. (Bessie Coleman/Gym #2)
- Thursday, January 16: All A/Achievement Honor Roll Parade at 8:00 a.m.
- Friday, January 17: 90th Day of School (dress in 1990s attire)
- Friday, January 17: Elementary Night at CHHS Basketball Game (CHHS)
Read on below to see Scenes from the Week, Upcoming Events, Attendance Percentages, and other important reminders.
Always remember that "The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line."
Question for You to Pose to Your Child: What strategies have you learned this school year, and how can you continue using them?
Principal McCullum
#LRENoFinishLine
#LakeRidgeNation
#LakeRidgeMontessori
Leading House
Scenes from the Last Week of the 1st Semester
Upcoming Events
Attendance
Attendance Incentives
- Strive for 5: Scholars who have perfect attendance Monday-Friday will receive a "Free Dress" day on the following Monday; this also applies to short weeks.
- Weekly Class Perfect Attendance. If a homeroom class has perfect attendance for the week, they receive a pizza party.
- Class Perfect Attendance: Each scholar in a class has an opportunity to receive an incentive once the class spells out A-T-T-E-N-D-A-N-C-E (a letter will be earned each day the homeroom class has perfect attendance). This is ongoing and repeats.
- Grade Level Attendance: If a grade level has 100% attendance for the day, every scholar in that grade level receives a special treat.
Attendance Notes
- Notes regarding an absence must be brought to the office within three days of the absence; parents can also enter via Family Access. Notes should include the scholar's full name, date of absence, and signature/date of parent/guardian.
- You can email Mrs. Castillo, Attendance Clerk/Registrar, at bonnie.castillo@chisd.net for any attendance questions or concerns.
- If the method of your child getting home needs to change, notify the Main Office or your child’s teacher by 2:30 p.m. so that there is enough time to communicate the change to your child. If e-mailing the teacher, include an administrator in case the teacher is absent on that particular day.
- 2:45 p.m. is the latest that a scholar may be checked out due to preparation for dismissal.
Counseling Corner
Counseling Clubs
Fall Counseling Clubs concluded prior to winter break. Gender-based counseling clubs focused on topics such as conflict resolution, developing positive relationships, positive self-image, and goal setting tasks. Each counseling club created its own rules, name and logo, with pride. Members experienced a sense of security amongst peers, took responsibility for self and club members, and expressed ideas with thoughtfulness.
Spring counseling clubs will begin in February for scholars in grades 3-5. Counseling club members are recommended by classroom instructors, campus personnel, administrators, and/or the school counselor.
Fall Gifted and Talented Update
Students who were nominated for Gifted and Talented in Fall 2019 should receive results by January 24th. Campus coordinators will meet as soon as scores are available in CHISD and will notify parents and scholars of eligibility. Scholars who were nominated in the fall and are eligible will begin program services, February 2020.
Spring Gifted and Talented Nominations
Nominations for Gifted and Talented (G/T) will begin January 13, 2020 through February 7, 2020 for students enrolled in first grade through fifth grade. If you would like to nominate your child for this program, please contact your child’s teacher to request his/her input. The teacher will be able to tell you if he/she is seeing characteristics of a gifted child and will be able to evaluate your child in relation to others at his/her grade level. It is often difficult to determine how advanced a child is unless he/ she is able to be compared to his/her peers. Students who qualify for G/T during spring semester will begin GT services in Fall 2020.
There will be a universal screening for all kindergarten scholars enrolled at Lake Ridge. If your kindergarten scholar demonstrates GT characteristics on the screening, the GT Coordinator will complete the full assessment for consideration into the GT program.
You may access hard copies at the links below or from “Popular Links” on the campus website. Please return all completed forms to Rashonda Johnson, Counselor, no later than February 7, 2020. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the nomination process, please contact Rashonda Johnson at 972-293-4501 or via email at Rashonda.johnson@chisd.net.
From the Clinic
GET INVOLVED
All Pro Dads
Email Address: lakeridgeAPD2018@gmail.com
- Join APD to see how you can be a part of involvement, connections, engagement, partnership and mentorship. Reach out so that you can be ready for 2019-2020.
PTA NEWS
PTA President: Mrs. Kristi Lacy
Email Address: lakeridgeelempta@gmail.com
JOIN PTA FOR THE 20119-2020 SCHOOL YEAR; WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SOME GREAT TRADITIONS. WE NEED YOU! MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED SO THAT YOU CAN JOIN AT OUR "MEET THE TEACHER" EVENT IN AUGUST.
On-going Opportunities to Donate/Serve:
- Amazon Smile: Don't forget to increase PTA Texas Congress 10239 Lakeridge Elementary's AmazonSmile donation potential by shopping at smile.amazon.com. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/72-1526809 and Amazon donates to PTA Texas Congress 10239 Lakeridge Elementary.
- Kroger Plus: If you shop at Kroger, you can help our PTA help our campus. The included document shows parents step-by-step how to link their Kroger Plus Card to the Lake Ridge PTA. This is a very easy way to earn money for our school because our students’ families and friends all shop at their local Kroger. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzoByVmF8VTnc0gyejQ0TVBEekJaNGRlVE45OWJtcE5qMzVB/view?usp=sharing
Volunteer via Voly
Become a Volunteer!
Keeping the safety and well-being of our students first, state law and district policy require that all Cedar Hill ISD volunteers (students between age 13-17 and District Employees are exempt) complete the district's volunteer application which includes a Criminal Background Check. Applications must be renewed each school year. The background screening report can take up to 72 hours to process.
Volunteer Process
- All volunteers must be approved through cedarhillisd.voly.org in order to volunteer in CHISD.
- Once a Voly account has been created, an email will be sent from JDP asking volunteer to complete a background check.
- Approval time is normally 5-7 business days pending there are no flags in the applicant's background.
- If the account is flagged for any reason the approval of your account could take up to 2 weeks. If you have any questions please email face@chisd.net.
- All volunteers must use their legal name. Any error when entering information will prolong the approval process.
- You are encouraged to become a FAN of the school you wish to volunteer with during the application process in order to receive specific volunteer opportunities and be shown as a regular volunteer.
Reminders
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival Procedures:
Doors open daily at 7:15 a.m.
Scholars in PK & their siblings will be instructed to enter through Door #12.
Scholars in Longoria/Lynn/Rangel & their siblings will enter through Door #11.
All other scholars, including Montessori, (car riders, bus riders, and walkers) will enter through Door #1/Main Entrance.
- Parents may enter the school driveway via the back driveway that runs behind the building and form one line.
- Only those going to the Main Office or dropping off with the classes indicated for Door #11 and Door #12 should enter the main driveway.
Parents should follow the arrows that indicate the flow of traffic, and drop off only in the lane next to the sidewalk. Children should not be dropped off in the center lane to ensure safety.
After the first day of school, parents will not be able to walk their children to their classrooms unless an observation has been scheduled with the teacher. All parents & visitors must report directly to the Main Office.
Dismissal Procedures:
Dismissal occurs daily at 3:00 p.m.
Scholars in Crow/Stelter & their siblings will exit through Door #12.
Scholars in Longoria/Lynn/Rangel & their siblings will exit through Door #11.
Scholars who ride the bus or walk home will exit through Door #14.
Scholars picked up via Private Daycare transportation will exit through Door #1.
Scholars who are picked up by car, including Montessori, will exit through Door #5 (remain in cafeteria until called).
Parents may enter the school driveway via the back driveway that runs behind the building and form one line.
As the cars approach the pick-up area, the scholars will be called outside and will wait for a faculty member to load them into the cars.
Anyone picking up a scholar must have the color-coded card prominently displayed. If the card is not present, then the scholars(s) will be sent to the front office, and the driver will need to show proper identification.
Parents, please stay in your car at all times. Children will not be released if a parent walks up to the cafeteria door.
Only those going to the Main Office for appointments or picking up with the classes indicated for Door #11 and Door #12 should enter the main driveway.
If there is a change in how a scholar regularly gets home, please send a note to the scholar's teacher or call the front office by 2:30 p.m. This will help avoid confusion.
The latest time to check a scholar out via the Main Office is 2:45 p.m. After that time, please wait until the regularly scheduled dismissal.
The picture below shows how to properly place your car tag(s) for dismissal:
Birthday Recognition
If you would like to recognize your child at school on his/her birthday that falls on a school day, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher so that he/she can notify the office. On your child's birthday, you may bring store bought cupcakes or packaged fruit and individual juice/water at the time indicated by the teacher if you have communicated with the teacher. Cupcakes should not be dropped off and left with the teacher or the office. If your child's birthday falls on a weekend or on a non-school day for students, no alternate arrangements will be made.
Arrangements should be made prior to the child's birthday so that the teacher can verify that it will not interrupt scheduled class activities.
Montessori
Birthdays in Montessori are celebrated with an activity called "Walk Around the Sun". We will celebrate birthdays each month on the last Friday of the month unless otherwise stated. On that Friday, each child that is going to Walk Around the Sun is asked to bring uncut, fresh fruit that we will wash and prepare in class. Our room parent will help organize this monthly event. For example, if we have 4 children celebrating birthdays in September, one child can bring 4 uncut oranges, one can bring a sealed container of uncut strawberries, one can bring 4 apples, and one can bring an uncut pineapple. Due to allergies, please do not send nuts. In class, the birthday scholars will help prepare a fruit salad for the class. Each birthday child will then have their opportunity to Walk Around the Sun and we will sing a collective Happy Birthday. If there are only one or two children celebrating a birthday in a particular month, a bag of apples or
Cuties would be appreciated. Please do not send cupcakes or other high sugar
items. August and summer birthdays will be celebrated in May.
In addition to sharing a fruit snack with their friends, the birthday children may also bring a poster that displays photos of them as a baby, at 1 year old, at 2 years old, etc. until the current year. The birthday children are encouraged to present this poster and the photos to their peers. This activity is optional.
Bus Transportation
Join the respective Remind account for your child's bus route. In the event that we are notified of delays, we will send a message to the route(s) affected:
- Route 5022: Text @7bka3hf to the number 81010.
- Route 5028: Text @d8chbbff to the number 81010.
- Route 5039: Text @2d7a8e to the number 81010.
2019-2020 Bus Routes:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19tZMBvTKKxIDnL-2HdujI_PT3iRlI_2N6VEKrDUE_Rs/edit?usp=sharing
Have a Concern?
All concerns are encouraged to be addressed at the lowest level possible first in an effort to resolve the matter using the steps below:
Step One: Contact the teacher, and have a meeting/phone conference.
Step Two: Contact the Assistant Principal (all discipline issues) or Counselor (mental health/academic advisement).
Step Three: Contact the Principal (if a school-wide concern, this becomes step one).
When emailing or calling the Main Office, it is helpful to provide details so that the call is directed to the correct individual.
Upcoming Activities/Events
- January 13-17: Bright Bytes Parent Survey
- January 13-February 7: Spring Gifted and Talented Nomination Window
- January 14: Fine Arts Preview Field Trip for 5th Grade
- January 14: Cheer Tryouts at 3:30 p.m.
- January 15: Lake Ridge vs. Waterford Oaks at 4:30 p.m. (Bessie Coleman/Gym #2)
- January 16: All A/Achievement Honor Roll Parade at 8:00 a.m.
- January 17: 90th Day of School (dress in 1990s attire)
- January 17: Elementary Night at CHHS Basketball Game (CHHS)
- January 22: Lake Ridge vs. Plummer at 4:30 p.m. (Bessie Coleman/Gym #1)
- January 27: Spring Picture Day
- January 28: Family Game Night/PTA Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
- January 29: Lake Ridge vs. Highlands at 4:30 p.m. (Bessie Coleman/Gym #2)
Ms. McCullum, Principal
marquita.mccullum@chisd.netDr. Washington, Assistant Principal
emily.washington@chisd.netMrs. Johnson, Counselor
rashonda.johnson@chisd.netLake Ridge Elementary
Email: marquita.mccullum@chisd.net
Website: http://www.chisd.net/Domain/16
Location: 1020 Lake Ridge Parkway, Cedar Hill, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 293-4501
Twitter: @LRELonghorns