The Lake Ridge Bridge
May 7, 2022
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From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. Last week was beautiful as we celebrated teachers, instructional aides, and our cafeteria team. Principal appreciation was also shown. On behalf of the entire Lake Ridge Nation, THANKS A BUNCH for ALL of the appreciation, kind words, and thoughtful gifts. A special thank you to First Baptist Church Cedar Hill, our PTA, Mija Barbecue, the Fresh Classroom, Sunshine Committee, the A-Team and Office Crew, parents, and various supporters who contributed to make this week spectacular.
The appreciation was on overflow, and so was the learning. Teachers and scholars dived into Rockin’ Reviews, older scholars found ways to assist their younger peers, teachers received coaching in leveled literacy instruction/intervention, scholars continued making memories fishing, PK/ECSE and Kindergarten continued their alphabet countdowns, faculty members “Tossed that Thought”, and faculty members took part in STAAR training. Faculty members also received their CHISD service award pins. Shout out to Mrs. Ramsey (10 years), Mrs. Hall (5 years), and Mrs. Rangel (5 years).
Unfortunately, no grade level met the attendance goal (96%) for the week of May 2-6. We hope all scholars who were absent are doing well, and parents are encouraged to contact the Main Office regarding absences within three (3) days.
This upcoming week, we will celebrate School Nurse Appreciation Day, engage in various instruction and learning, and take part in intervention/enrichment groups. We will end the week with Enrichment Clubs. Let's shower Mrs. Gaddy with love as she finishes up her last year at Lake Ridge Elementary before retiring; here are some of her favorites. We also encourage families to share information with potential guest speakers about our upcoming Find Your Future Career Fair for our scholars. Our order form for the Field Day t-shirt will be sent home next week.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS AND MOTHER FIGURES!
If you have not already started 2022-2023 registration, head on over to www.chisd.net/register. This is currently available for new and returning scholars. If you have a child who you would like to enroll in general education Pre-K, be able to complete the registration process as soon as you can because seats are limited. If all seats at Lake Ridge are filled, the district will offer another campus. Those who qualify based on the established criteria attend for free, and those who do not qualify will be tuition-based.
As a reminder, please make sure that you send your child to school daily with a refillable water bottle, and if you want your child to wear a face mask, be sure to send it to school (along with a backup because accidents happen).
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- May 11: School Nurse Appreciation Day
- May 13: Deadline to Order Field Day T-shirt
- May 13: Enrichment Clubs
Question to Pose to Your Child: How can you show appreciation to others daily?
Read on below for scenes from the week, updates from our AP, information regarding counseling & guidance, upcoming events, and other helpful resources.
Always remember that "The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line."
Principal McCullum
#LRENoFinishLine
#LakeRidgeNation
#LakeRidgeMontessori
#GraceChangesEverything
Scenes from the Week
CHISD Service Awards
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
School Lunch Hero Day
Principal Appreciation
CHISD Choice Program: Montessori at Lake Ridge
Assistant Principal Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are winding down the school year, and unfortunately are seeing a rise in inappropriate behaviors. Please speak with your child about making good choices and decisions daily. Our staff is working hard so that all scholars will be successful in school and on the upcoming STAAR test. With that being said, help us to continue the race for excellence.
Please remember to continue ensuring that your child reads at least 20-30 minutes per night, completes their homework, and works on IXL and Achieve 3000 at least 3 times per week.
Teachers will continue reviewing key concepts for the next 5 days to better prepare your child for the STAAR. Please ensure that your child is well rested and comes to school with the right mindset and attitude. Scholars will also need to bring their devices charged daily.
Thank you for all of your support as we continue to pursue the race for excellence.
Dr. Emily Washington
Guidance Services
HELP WANTED
Lake Ridge Elementary will host its annual career fair on Monday, May 23rd. Please assist me with promoting the career fair to friends, family, and community members in an effort to have a variety of occupations represented for little Longhorns. Find Your Future will be held in the school gym. Each participant will be provided a space to set up props, presentations, or giveaways. All professions are welcomed! Please click the hyperlinks below to access the Find Your Future Invitation & Registration Form for the annual career fair.
Find Your Future Registration Form
May Guidance Focus
- Career Exploration
- Study Skills
- Building Positive Relationships
Counseling & Guidance Services: LRE Guidance Office
Counseling Request Form: LRE Counseling Request Form
School Counselor: Rashonda.Johnson@chisd.net
CIS Facilitator: Christopher.Coit@chisd.net
Upcoming Events
Attendance
Attendance Incentives
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.
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. Cooke, Attendance Clerk, at frances.cooke@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 2:00 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.
Reminders
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival Procedures:
Doors open daily at 7:15 a.m.
Scholars arriving by bus will enter through Door #14.
Scholars in Pre-K & their siblings will enter through Door #12.
Scholars in ECSE/SKILL & their siblings will enter through Door #11.
All other scholars (car riders and walkers), will enter through Door #1/Main Entrance.
- Vehicles may enter the school driveway via the back/second 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.
Walkers should not be dropped off via car. To be a walker, that means the scholar walks to the campus from his/her residence.
After the first day of school, parents will not be able to walk their children to their classrooms. All parents & visitors must report directly to the Main Office.
Dismissal Procedures:
Dismissal occurs daily at 3:00 p.m.
Scholars in Pre-K & their siblings will exit through Door #12.
Scholars in SKILL & 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 will exit through Door #5 (remain in cafeteria until called).
Parents may enter the school driveway via the back/second 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 call the Main Office or email Principal McCullum AND Dr. Washington by 2:00 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.
If your child is in Right at School, remember that checkout begins after 3:30 p.m.; that occurs at Door #5.
Walkers should not be picked up via car. To be a walker, that means the scholar walks to his/her residence from the campus.
The picture below shows how to properly place your car tag(s) for dismissal:
Driveway #1: Yellow
Driveway #2: Orange
K-5: Green Line (morning arrival=Door #1; dismissal=door #5)
ECSE/PK/SKILL: Blue Line
Main Office/Parking: Red Line
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 drop off store bought cupcakes or packaged fruit and individual juice/water at the time indicated by the teacher if you have communicated with the teacher. 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 Primary and Lower Elementary are generally celebrated with an activity called "Walk Around the Sun". Each classroom, including Upper Elementary, has their own way of celebrating birthdays which is communicated by the classroom teacher.
Self-Care
Helpful Resources
CHISD C.A.R.E.S. & CHISD KUDOS
CHISD C.A.R.E.S
Unfortunately, there are times when a member of the Longhorn Family experiences a death. Employees, or families of scholars or former CHISD employees who wish to share the information are asked to complete the CHISD CARES (Cares About Retirees Employees & Scholars) form. The CHISD Communications Office handles all CHISD C.A.R.E.S submissions and shares the information via email to all staff. C.A.R.E.S notifications will be sent out by the end of the day that the form was received; if the submission is received after 2:30 p.m. it might not be sent out until the following business day.
The C.A.R.E.S form is available on the communications page of chisd.net. Here is a direct link.
CHISD KUDOS
The CHISD Communications Department loves to share the positive experiences and interactions happening across the district.
If you want to share some kudos for a parent, employee or scholar who exhibits the Longhorn Essentials, please email a description/information to webmaster@chisd.net and you might see your kudos on one of the district’s social media accounts.
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 schedule a conference.
Step Two: Contact the Assistant Principal (all behavioral/discipline issues) or Counselor (mental health/academic advisement).
Step Three: Contact the Principal.
When emailing or calling the Main Office, it is helpful to provide details so that the inquiry is directed to the correct individual. No in-person meetings are taking place at this time.
Upcoming Activities/Events
- May 11: School Nurse Appreciation Day
- May 13: Deadline to Order Field Day T-shirt
- May 13: Enrichment Clubs
- May 17-19: STAAR Testing (3-5 Grades)
- May 20: Field Day
- May 23: Find Your Future Career Fair
- May 24: Spring Concert
- May 24-25: Awards Programs
- May 25: Instructional Support Day
- May 26: Last Day of School
Lake Ridge Elementary
Email: marquita.mccullum@chisd.net
Website: http://www.chisd.net/lre
Location: 1020 Lake Ridge Parkway, Cedar Hill, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 293-4501
Twitter: @LRELonghorns