September 15, 2023

Huggins Community,

This week we finally heard a sound we haven't heard on our school rooftop in quite some time...RAIN! Thankfully it has brought in some cooler temps...which I know we are all looking forward to!

Next week, we will be engaging in Celebrate Freedom Week. Please be sure to check out the flyer below, as we have a designated dress-up day Monday-Friday. On Friday, we will conclude our week with our monthly House Pep Rally and can't wait to see our Hounds dressed in their house color best!

For those that use our car rider line, as you know there has been a change to the traffic pattern that went into effect on Monday. Thank you for your flexibility as we manage the complexities of increased traffic in our area. I am happy to report that every day this week, our morning drop-off line was cleared well before the 7:45 tardy bell! As a reminder, if you arrive after 7:45am, you will need to park and walk your student to the office to check-in.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Bethany Cunningham

Principal

Huggins Elementary

Bethany.cunningham@lcisd.org

Fourth Grade Swim Monday and Tuesday

Celebrate Freedom Week!

Monday, September 18th: Wear red, white, and blue

Tuesday, September 19th: Wear cultural attire or Go Texan attire, IT Professionals Day

Wednesday, September 20th: Wear Crazy Socks

Thursday, September 21st : Wear Camo/Support our Troops Attire, Progress Reports go home

Friday, September 22nd: Wear a hat and your best house color attire, House Pep Rally

Tuesday, September 26th: Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night

Friday, September 29th: No School - Fort Bend County Fair Day

The safety of your children is our top priority, and adhering to our established car rider procedures helps us maintain a smooth and organized process during drop-off and pick-up times. Here are a few key points to remember:

• Turn Right into the Huggins Car Rider Driveway: The entrance to our car rider line is off of Katy-Fulshear Road. To get in line, you must be heading south on Katy-Fulshear. Cars are not permitted to make a left-hand turn into the driveway.
• Stay in Line: When entering the Huggins driveway for drop-off or pick-up, please stay in a single file line.This helps avoid any congestion and ensures a steady flow of traffic. Do not pull off and attempt to pass cars in line, as this creates a safety hazard.
  
• Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff members are trained to guide and assist during drop-off and pick-up times. Please follow their instructions promptly and patiently. Their guidance is aimed in creating a safe environment for everyone.
  
• No Cell Phones: While in the car rider line, please refrain from using your cell phone. This allows you to remain focused on the line and surrounding area, helping to ensure a safe environment for our students and staff.
• Arrival and Dismissal Times: It's important to arrive at the designated times for drop-off and pick-up. Remember, our doors open at 7:15am. Staff will begin opening doors at that time. Please do not drop off your student before 7:15am. Students that arrive after 7:45 will be counted tardy. If you arrive to school after the start time and there is no longer line or staff outside, you will need to park and walk your child into the building to check-in and receive a tardy slip. Please note that all change of transportation changes must be made before 1:30pm. In the event you need to pick up your child early, please do so by 2:30pm.
• Car Rider Tags: You must have a 23-24 car rider tag hanging from your rearview mirror to pick up your student in the car rider line. In the event that you do not have your tag, you will need to park in the lot and go to the office. Your child will be relased to you with proper ID and after the car rider line is cleared.

By adhering to these procedures, we can collectively create a safe and efficient car rider process. We greatly appreciate your cooperation, understanding, and patience...especially the first few weeks of school!

As we all know, maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff is of utmost importance. Through our Neighbors on Watch initiative, we encourage our entire community to be vigilant and proactive in reporting any suspicious activities or situations that could potentially impact the safety of our campus.

Neighbors on Watch empowers each and every one of you to play an active role in keeping our school safe. Remember, if you observe anything out of the ordinary, unusual behavior, or situations that raise concern, we ask that you promptly report them to school administration and the LCISD Police.

How can you participate?

• Stay Aware: Keep an eye out for anything unusual or suspicious around our school premises or nearby areas.
• Report: If you notice something concerning, report it immediately to school administration or the LCISD Police.
• Provide Details: When reporting, please provide as much information as possible, including date, time, location, and a detailed description of what you observed.
• Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to report it. Your actions could make a significant difference in preventing potential issues.

We understand that safety is a shared responsibility, and we are always looking for ways to strengthen our safety net around our school community., By working together, we an create an environment where everyone feels secure and protected.

We would also like to formally introduce Officer Sanchez. Your have probably already seen her around campus, and she even participated in our House Pep Rally, where she was initiated into the House of Friendship. We are thankful for her support on our campus this year. You can reach out to her directly at ganessa.sanchez@lcisd.org

All student have received their 23-24 Smart Tags. As a reminder, all students must wear their ID at school, as it serves multiple purposes throughout the day including serving as their tag to purchase lunch, checking in and out of the school bus, and complying with school safety protocols. If your child loses their Smart Tag, a new badge may be purchased in the front office for $5 (cash only).

Please be sure to review the attached PDF to learn about Smart Tag.

If your child will be attending the Right-At-School after-school childcare, please note that you will pick up your child from the cafeteria doors (west side of the building) in the evenings. Students will not be released from the program until our car rider line is cleared.

Please be sure you have thoroughly reviewed the 2023-2024 LCISD Elementary Student Handbook below. This version outlines the changes that have been made to Section VI: Student Code of Conduct in red. If you have any questions concerning the contents of this document, please reach out to Bethany Cunningham, Principal or Jennifer Brewer, Assistant Principal.

During the first few weeks of school it is imperative for students to learn the expectations and procedures of Huggins Elementary. Students have been introduced to our school-wide expectation: Huggins Hounds Show Good Character! We will focus on six core values throughout the school year: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. It is our belief that modeling these values creates a culture of kindness, respect, and empathy in our school.

We utilize a PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Framework to support the social, emotional, and behavioral expectations of our students. Each Monday, our classes will engage in a Monday Morning Meeting, focusing on a social skills lesson aligned to the character trait of the month. Positive behavior will be reinforced through Hound Bucks and House Points. Students will have an opportunity to "purchase" items with their Hound Bucks each week in the classroom.

All students are randomly assigned to one of five houses. Students will stay in their same house through the fifth grade. For them, being a part of a house is like being a part of a team at school. Each house is heterogeneously grouped Kinder-5th Grade. Each month, we have a House Pep Rally, and the house with the most points for the month will be declared the winner. Their house flag will fly on the flag pole for the month. One student from each grade level, along with a staff member, parent volunteer, and community partner will be awared the Golden Paw during the house pep rally. Receiving the Golden Paw is a big deal at our school.....awared to those who demonstrate our core value of good character.

Parents, please click here to learn about Canvas and how your child's teacher will be utilizing this platform for teaching/leaning and parent communication.

Please click here to learn about Texas Kids First Individual Accident-Only Insurance options available for your student.

• Visit our school website here.
• Follow us on Facebook: Huggins Elementary - LCISD
• Friends of Huggins is our fabulous parent organization. Be sure to visit their website here and follow them on Facebook at Friends of Huggins (FOH)