The Lake Ridge Bridge
February 12, 2022
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From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. It was a productive week as scholars engaged in various instructional activities. 5th graders traced their shadows and measured change, Primary presented their Black History Month presentations, and 3rd grade peers modeled for each other just to name a few. It was a full week of celebrations as we recognized National School Counseling Week. Mrs. R. Johnson, Counselor, and Mr. Coit, C.I.S. Site Coordinator, make up our Counseling Team, and we appreciate their continued efforts to meet the needs of all scholars on a daily basis. We ended the week with our new rotations of Enrichment Clubs.
Shout out to 5th grade on achieving the 96% attendance goal for the week. Parents are encouraged to contact the Main Office regarding absences within three (3) days.
This upcoming (short) week, we will engage in various instruction and learning and take part in intervention/enrichment groups. We will also induct 4th and 5th graders who met the criteria into the National Elementary Honor Society; the ceremony will take place Tuesday, February 15 at 6:00 p.m. in our Cafeteria. 5th graders will also take the TEA Science Field Test on Tuesday. Everyone is encouraged to complete one random act of kindness on February 17. Parents should be on the lookout for information to sign up for a conference for our Spring Parent-Teacher conferences. Remember that there is no school on Thursday, February 17 and Friday, February 18 of this week for scholars, and the district will be closed on Monday, February 21.
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- February 15: TEA Field Test (Grade 5)
- February 15: National Elementary Honor Society Induction Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
- February 17: District PD Day/No School for Scholars
- February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- February 17: Evening Parent Conferences
- February 18: Parent Conference Day/No School for Scholars
- February 21: Holiday/No School
Question to Pose to Your Child: What can you do to inspire others?
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
Enrichment Clubs
National School Counseling Week
CHISD Choice Program: Montessori at Lake Ridge
Assistant Principal Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We need your support and assistance with practicing with your child on the new STAAR testing platform for Grades 3-5. The STAAR test is changing to an online platform. Almost all of our scholars in grades 3-5 will take the STAAR Reading, Math, and Science tests online. Please see the links below to access a video presentation about the STAAR platform and how you can help your child.
Additionally, below are some upcoming assessments.
- February 15: STAAR Field Test-Grade 5 only
- February 22-24: Interim Assessments-Grades 3-5 (Math and Reading and (Grade 5 Science)
Link Video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13zYb1y1OY5Z_QsJspfZ7B25ANJQh1m0E/view?usp=sharing
Presentation Link:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vzLfz0KcMItMZmPSGVxiaiV2mZoHLQ1og6lc2aLoEDQ/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for all of your support.
Dr. Washington
Guidance Services
Please accept my deepest gratitude for all of the love shown to me during National School Counselor Week. I am thankful to serve scholars and families in the Cedar Hill Community. Thank you for allowing your children to celebrate with me and the counseling service team at Lake Ridge.
National Elementary Honor Society
Congratulations to 4th and 5th grade scholars who will be inducted into the Lake Ridge Chapter of National Elementary Honor Society. An induction ceremony will be held on February 15th at 6:00 pm in the school cafeteria for current members, new candidates, and parents.
Our new NEHS 4th grade candidates are: Dania A., Parker A., Arianny C., Rhyder C., Isabella H., Mikah L., Quyen N., Noah N., Triniti R., Kariss R., Isaiah S., and Kerrington W.
Our new NEHS 5th grade candidates are: Korrie B., Carlee F., Ricoh G., Sofia H., Lauren L., Zhai'ryl M., Liam M., Hailey M., Neda M., Jariah P., Saleily R., Andre S., Katia S., Sasha W., Sydnie W., Aliya W., and Malak Z..
Fifth Grade Course Selections
Scholars in 5th grade will continue to meet with Counselor Johnson to select middle school courses for the 2022-2023 school year at Permenter Middle School. One-to-one meetings will occur on campus during the instructional day. Please review and sign your child's green course selection form and return to Counselor Johnson immediately.
Gifted & Talented Testing for Grades 1-5
Scholars in grades 1-5 who were previously scheduled for Gifted & Talented testing on Saturday, February 5th will be tested, Saturday, March 5th. Parents of eligible scholars were notified in January.
Gifted & Talented Screening for Kindergarten
Kindergarten GT screenings have been completed. Parents will be notified via email if your kindergarten child is eligible for the Gifted & Talented Program in Cedar Hill ISD. If you have any questions, please contact Counselor Johnson at rashonda.johnson@chisd.net or Natalie Garrett at natalie.garrett@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
- February 15: TEA Field Test (Grade 5)
- February 15: National Elementary Honor Society Induction Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
- February 17: District PD Day/No School for Scholars
- February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- February 17: Evening Parent Conferences
- February 18: Parent Conference Day/No School for Scholars
- February 21: Holiday/No School
- February 22-25: Interim Assessments (3-5 Grades)
- February 25: STEM Clubs
- February 28: Spring Pictures (Free Dress)
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