The Lake Ridge Bridge
March 5, 2022
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From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. Last week was a productive one with many moments to celebrate. We recognized Bus Driver Appreciation (we were delayed due to the weather last week) by sharing a token of love with each Bus Drive and Bus Monitor who is a part of our Lake Ridge Elementary team. We are proud of our scholar, Jayden, who competed in the Special Olympics Basketball Skills Competition and came in 2nd Place. Ms. Peterbark compiled various Black History Projects that took place from grade levels with a special selection to kick it off from our 4th and 5th graders (see the video in "Scenes from the Week"). The week was also filled with themed attired, guest readers, and various activities for Read Across America Week. In addition to all of that, instruction continued in classes, we wrapped up Interim Assessments and DCCAs, and we ended the week with Enrichment Clubs.
This upcoming week, instruction and learning will continue as we aim to finish the week strong before heading into Spring Break; as a reminder, there is no school March 14-18. We continue to place an emphasis on reading, so all families are also invited to read together at least 30 minutes each night.
There will be one slight change for Kindergarten, 1st Grade, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary when we return from Spring Break on Monday, March 21. Since the beginning of the year, scholars in those particular classes had breakfast in the Cafeteria to accommodate class sizes and/or programming/class structure; however, we have been informed that we have to have all scholars have breakfast in the classroom. With this change, breakfast will still conclude at the regular time so that instruction can begin. Thank you to our Cafeteria staff and all Teachers in those grade levels who have planned and prepared for the change to begin on Monday, March 21.
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- March 8: Extended Day (Reading)
- March 10: Extended Day (Math)
- March 11: Enrichment Clubs
- March 14-18: Spring Break/No School
- March 21: School Resumes
Question to Pose to Your Child: How can you reinforce the information that you have learned?
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
Black History Month Performance/Projects
Special Olympics Basketball Skills Competition
Bus Driver Appreciation
Read Across America Week
CHISD Choice Program: Montessori at Lake Ridge
Assistant Principal Updates
Dear, Parents/Guardians,
Continue to work with your child on the STAAR Platform (grades 3-5), IXL (K-5), and make sure that they read at least 30 minutes per evening. Reading increases their overall comprehension, builds fluency, and expands vocabulary.
Thank you for continued support!
Dr. Washington
Guidance Services
Fifth Grade Course Selections
Scholars in 5th grade met with Counselor Johnson to complete middle school course selections for the 2022-2023 school year at Permenter and Bessie Coleman Middle Schools. One-to-one meetings were held to discuss course offerings and future academic and career aspirations. Scholars were recommended for "Honors" courses if they met the district criteria for placement. If your scholar did not submit a course selection form, schedules will be developed upon enrollment at the middle school in August 2022.
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 committees meetings have been completed. Parents will be notified via email by April 1st, if your kindergarten child is eligible for the Gifted & Talented Program in Cedar Hill ISD.
March Guidance Focus
- Anti-Victimization (Continue)
- Study Skills (Continue)
- Self Awareness
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
- March 8: Extended Day (Reading)
- March 10: Extended Day (Math)
- March 11: Enrichment Clubs
- March 14-18: Spring Break/No School
- March 21: School Resumes
- March 25: STEM Clubs
- March 26: Primary Montessori Parent Interest Meeting at 10:00 a.m. (Virtual)
- March 29: Primary Montessori Parent Interest Meeting at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
- April 4-8: Spring Scholastic Book Fair
- April 7: Family Night for Spring Scholastic Book Fair 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- April 7: 3-5 Grade Focus Forum at 6:00 p.m.
- April 11: Spring Picture Day (Free Dress)
- April 13: Kindergarten Completion Pictures
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