September 2016
Stay Connected to Lancaster ISD
We are excited to connect with you to highlight what's happening in Lancaster ISD! In this newsletter, we will share information on relevant topics such as academics, district news and STEM education. Please look forward to receiving this newsletter at the close of each month.
Lancaster ISD Trustees Win Most Outstanding School Board in the State of Texas
Excerpt from Region 10 Press Announcement...
Lancaster’s board was chosen from among five finalists interviewed by a committee of Texas school superintendents. Their decision was based on several criteria, including the board’s support for educational performance; educational improvement projects and school transformation initiatives; commitment to a code of ethics; and placement of the welfare of children served by the school system above other motives. Read More
Lancaster ISD Campuses Earn 28 TEA Academic Distinctions
Number of Distinctions
- Rosa Parks Millbrook Elementary - 5
- Lancaster Elementary - 5
- Houston Elementary - 4
- Belt Line Elementary - 4
- Rolling Hills Elementary - 3
- George Washington Carver 6th Grade STEM Learning Center - 2
- Pleasant Run Elementary - 1
- Elsie Robertson Lancaster STEM Middle School - 2
- West Main Elementary - 1
- Lancaster High School - 1
Lancaster ISD Athletic Director To Be Inducted Into Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame
Lancaster ISD Athletic Director and Head Girls Track and Field Coach Beverly D. Humphrey will be inducted into the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
Humphrey, along with six living and 11 posthumous track and field legends, will be honored at an induction ceremony as part of the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association’s 8th Hall of Fame class. Lancaster ISD will honor Humphrey during half time of the Lancaster High School Homecoming Football game on October 14, 2016 and the School Board will help celebrate her with a Community Tiger Tailgate prior to the game at 5 p.m. Read More
What’s Ahead 2016: STEM Education
Elementary Students
In the primary grades (PK-2nd), select teachers from each campus have received iPads for students to use in the classroom. Students will use iPads to create products (videos, slideshows, animations, movies) to demonstrate what they have learned in new ways. What students create will be showcased using the SeeSaw app, which gives parents online access to their student's digital work.
At the upper elementary level (3rd-5th), select teachers have received carts of 30 Chromebooks, which allows every student in their class to have access to a device. Teachers are using Chromebooks for students to collaborate using Google’s suite of productivity tools (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.), as well as to gather real-time data on what students know and where they may need additional assistance.
Secondary Students
All 6th grade students will work collaboratively using Chromebooks in their core classes (ELAR, math, science, social studies). Select teachers at the middle school will also use Chromebooks with students. This will enable students to use Google Apps for Education in order to work together and create authentic work for their classes.
Secondary teachers in 6th - 12th grades are also using blended instruction (video lessons with traditional classroom instruction) in order to meet the needs of their students. Additionally, students at the high school are working with Canvas, an online learning system.
Early Childhood Learning is Moving Full Speed Ahead in 2016
Lancaster ISD remains a strong leader in Early Childhood education and it is poised to maintain and enhance the educational environment for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students due to the recent passage of House Bill (HB) 4 during the 84th Texas Legislature in 2015. The bill established a high-quality Pre-Kindergarten grant program and all districts in the state of Texas were awarded a percentage of collective $116,955,193 in grant funds. This high-quality grant allows districts and charters campuses to receive funding for qualifying prekindergarten students in addition to the half-day Foundation School Program (FSP) funding that is already received for each eligible prekindergarten student.
This school year, Lancaster ISD Early Childhood teachers are receiving additional high-quality training and enhancing their qualifications to educate our young learners. The district is also implementing new technology-based learning opportunities to accelerate phonemic awareness, increase letter recognition and build vocabulary for its Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. The district aims to implement high-quality standards in prekindergarten classrooms to give enrolled children access to the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in Kindergarten and beyond.
Also, Lancaster ISD was selected to participate in the Texas School Ready Online program this year and will provide our educators access to free tools and resources. This includes online and face-to-face professional development opportunities, student progress monitoring systems, classroom observation tools, and supplemental activities aligned to developmentally appropriate research-based best practices.
Students in Kindergarten to second grade, will see an enhanced writing addition to their curriculum to increase proficiency in writing before students are tested in fourth grade.
Bond Construction Continues
Last month, we were excited to welcome more than 7,300 young scholars for the 2016-2017 school year. Because our students matter, we spent this summer preparing our facilities and our lessons to meet the needs of our 21st Century learners.
While students and teachers went home for the summer, construction on the 2015 Bond Projects continued so you’ll notice some improvements in the safety and security of every campus as we’ve upgraded our entry points to include controlled, remote access.
Some of the campuses still have a little more work that needs to be completed, so we appreciate everyone’s patience as we implement our new visitor systems.
We are working hard to remain on track to open our newly constructed campuses next year. Every week (if the weather permits), we are flying our drones to get real-time progress on the construction taking place at Pleasant Run and West Main Elementary.
Click HERE to see the latest Pleasant Run construction video.
Click HERE to see the latest West Main construction video.
Stay connected with our progress at LancasterISDBond.org.
Lancaster ISD Hosts Its 7th College Go Get It Week - Leaving A Lasting Legacy
Just like on the first day of school, student arrived at their campuses to see the red carpet rolled out, with their district and campus leaders, support staff and teachers dressed in their college regalia greeting them as they began their day. Teachers and staff donned their regalia for most of the day and shared their journey to obtaining their degree. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness and to kick off college week.
Additionally, the students were able to learn about college, its costs and the careers that can be obtained with various degrees. Lancaster High School students were able to attend a vast college fair with more than 60 colleges, universities and military organizations to learn about and start the admissions process.
Our younger students showcased their favorite colleges, made college pennants, posters, bookmarks, listened to speakers and studied about various collegiate institutions all in an effort to help connect the students to importance of higher education.
The goal of this week aligns back to the our vision of our district that "all students will achieve self sustaining success and leave a lasting legacy."
Other Important Information
The City of Lancaster Invites You to Participate in National Night Out - October 4
Lancaster ISD is a proud partner of the City of Lancaster and frequently collaborates to share information about city/community news and events with our staff, students and parents.
The City of Lancaster will join other Texas cities for a NATIONAL NIGHT OUT (NNO) event on October 4 at the Lancaster Recreation Center from 6 PM to 8 PM.
It is a free event designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participate in, local anti-crime programs; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Activities include: basketball tournament, bounce houses for the kids, music, lots of vendor give-a-ways, and free food from In-N-Out Burgers. Read More
Are You Receiving Too Many Calls From Lancaster ISD?
Set Your School Notification Preferences
We understand that some parents are getting frustrated with the frequency or number of calls that they are receiving. While our goal is to keep you connected and engaged to Lancaster ISD news and information, the last thing that we want to do is become a nuisance.
The SchoolMessenger parent video clearly communicates how you can set your preferences for school notifications.
Click here to view the short video about setting your preferences:
We hope this video helps you to set your contact preferences so you can remain connected to the Lancaster ISD news and information that you need
New! View Student Report Cards Online!
Parents + Teachers = Student Success
Parents, you are a valuable part of the equation!
We would like to invite you to sign up for the Lancaster Independent School District Parent Self Serve Portal for 2016-2017 school year.
Parent self-serve portal and the mobile app are two valuable tools to allow you to foster a two-way communication with your child’s teacher, have 24 /7 access to your child’s grades, and receive an alert of failing grades. It also removes your worry about lost report cards that never make it home.
Since we are nearing the close of the first 6-weeks report card, we want you to look for an invitation on October 6, 2016 to register for Parent Self Serve to retrieve your digital copy of your child(ren) report card in grades 1st through 5th.
Sign up for Parent Self Serve Portal
District Upcoming Events
October 10: Fair Day District Offices and Campuses Closed
October 10-14: STEM Week in Lancaster ISD
October 10-14: Lancaster High School Homecoming Week
October 12: Lancaster ISD Homecoming Parade (5 PM)
October 13: Lancaster ISD State of Schools Report at Chamber (11:30 AM - 1 PM)
October 14: Lancaster ISD Tiger Tailgate Celebrating AD Beverly Humphrey (5 PM)
October 14: Lancaster High School Homecoming Game (7:30 PM)
October 17: Lancaster ISD School Board Meeting at (7 PM)
October 23-31: National Red Ribbon Week
October 29: Hispanic Heritage Academic Bowl and Cultural Celebration (9 AM)
Campus Calendars for October 2016
The Mission of Lancaster ISD
Email: info@lancasterisd.org
Website: www.lancasterisd.org
Location: 422 S Centre Ave, Lancaster, TX, United States
Phone: 972-218-1400
Facebook: http://facebook.com/golancaster
Twitter: @LancasterISD