Little Elm High School
Weekly Newsletter - August 19, 2018
Technology: A Powerful Tool
Rapid change is a constant in our lives. Think of the televisions, telephones, and cars of our childhoods and you will quickly recognize that technology has been a force of change in everything around us. Even when the change is not as apparent, if you look deeper at the change in manufacturing, communication, and research and you will discover that technology has been the basis of change in everything around us. Students of today have grown up in a technology saturated world.
Technology has had a significant impact on how teachers teach and students learn. By embracing and integrating technology in the classroom, we are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. The mission of Little Elm ISD is to ENGAGE, EQUIP, and EMPOWER each student to realize their full potential. Technology is key in all three strands of this mission. Technology helps us engage students in learning that is more relevant to them and connects students to people, places and things that without technology would be impossible. Teachers equip students with technology skills such as communication, collaboration, research, networking and coding which provide students with the tools that will prepare them for the ever changing 21st century workplace. Finally technology empowers by providing students with marketable skills that will help them successfully follow their dreams.
LEHS students are fortunate to be in a district that recognizes the value of technology in the learning environment and provides the resources to have a 1 to 1 technology experience. We will begin the deployment of our Macbooks on Monday, August 20th. Some classes that are internet based (online language, dual credit, OnRamps, and E2020) have already been issued computers if their device protection fee has been paid. A yearly device protection fee is required before a student’s device can be issued. Please see the information below for the specifics of the fee and payment discounts. The fee averages out to $10 a month for the use of this powerful tool. Please help us ensure a quick and smooth device deployment by taking care of the device protection fee now.
Looking forward to a fantastic 18-19,
Renee Pentecost
Principal LEHS
LEHS Laptop Deployment August 20-24
Please pay your protection fee before August 20th to ensure your student can receive their laptop on the first date available. ***All fines and fees from the prior year must be cleared before a laptop can be issued.
MySchoolBucks.com is available for online payments toward your student laptops.
We will distribute a MacBook Air to 9th-12th grade students. Please read below for pricing.
Cost Breakdown:
Base Price:
MacBook Air: $100
*students not enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch program
Free and Reduced Lunch Price:
MacBook Air: $50
*students enrolled in Free and Reduced Lunch program
It is not too late to apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and receive the discounted price for technology. Click here to be taken to the application.
Sibling Discount: families with three or more children in 4th-12th grades with laptops
3 - 30%
4 - 40%
5 - 50%
6 - 60%
If you are a family with multiple children (three or more) using district issued devices, the sibling discount would be applied to the Base Price.
If you are a family with multiple children, enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch program, the sibling discount would be applied to the Free and Reduced Lunch Price.
Our goal is to ensure each student in the appropriate grade levels receive their device no matter the financial situation. We have made the discount process as easy and convenient for all of our families as possible. MySchoolBucks.com will allow anyone to extend payments up to four installments. You may pay by electronic check, debit or credit card.
Your discounts will be automatically applied at the point of payment through MySchoolBucks.com. Some parents may have already received an invoice through email.
We have enjoyed seeing everyone back on campus this week! As we transition back into another school year, we realize that some students have questions about their schedules and allowable changes, so we'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate the information and process outlined in the Student Handbook.
Beginning Monday, August 20, students may pick up a schedule change request form from their house offices before or after school or during lunch only, in order to protect valuable classroom instructional time. Allowable schedule change categories are outlined on the form and include:
- Senior students who are not scheduled in a course required for graduation
- Students who were misplaced in a course (lacking prerequisites, already received credit, etc...)
- Students for whom there was a scheduling conflict
- Students who would like to move UP from an on-level course to an advanced course in the same subject area.
Any change requests that fit in one or more of these categories must be documented on a schedule change request form, signed by the student, parent, and teacher, and returned to the house office no later than 3 pm on Friday, August 24. Any change requests that do not fit into one of these categories will not be considered, in accordance with the policy included in the 2018-19 Student Handbook.
All change requests that involve dropping an AP or PreAP course will need to follow the SAVE process. These forms will also be available in house offices beginning Monday, but the approval process is a little different. A copy of the form, which includes detailed instructions, will be included in this week's newsletter. The deadline for completing the initial steps and submitting the form for review is September 14 in order to be considered for a first quarter schedule change.
More information about schedule changes may be found beginning on page 78 of the Student Handbook, located here.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work within the established processes for scheduling in order to support the student body as a whole, and we look forward to a very successful 2018-19 school year for all of our Lobos!
Michelle Gentry, M.A.
Lead Counselor
LEHS
ASVAB – September 19th
We will be offering the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to all interested 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students on September 19, 2018. The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test used by the military to determine if you are qualified to join one of the services and what areas you would excel in. The test will be given during the school day at LEHS and results will be released to recruiters about a week after the test. This is a great opportunity for students who have thought about a career in the military.
The deadline to register is September 1st – please use this link: ASVAB Registration
Meet the Lobos
This is a community-wide event for parents, students, and community members to come meet the Lobos for the 2018-2019 school year!
When: Wednesday, August 29 at 6:30 PM
Location: Little Elm Athletic Complex.
Save the Date: LEHS Meet the Teacher
LEHS Picture Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors: August 31 (all day); Retake day is October 15.
Senior picture day at the school is September 12.
Senior Sunrise - Success!
- Class of 2019 Senior and STUCO Officers
Parents and Volunteers
On June 30, 2018 all volunteers were deactivated. Volunteers must reapply for the 2018-2019 school year using the link below. All volunteer applications must be done through App-garden.
How do you know if you need to complete a Volunteer Application?
If you will be working with any of the the Parent Booster Clubs such as Athletics, Band, Choir, Theater, etc. or if you would like to assist by serving as a chaperone on field trips or if you plan on volunteering on campus - these are all reasons why you must fill out a Volunteer Application before you serve. Our students benefit from the many volunteer hours that our parents and community members invest in our schools. For the safety of our students, we require all volunteers to complete a volunteer application and we run a name-based, state-wide criminal history record check on all applicants. The background check must be completed and approved before volunteering.
For the safety of our students - requiring a background check on all adults who work directly with students is just another example of how LEISD puts the safety of students first! The application just takes a few minutes to fill out but this small investment of time will avoid any delay to your ability to be involved at your child's school.
Do you need a parking pass?
You can purchase your 2018-2019 parking pass NOW. This year we are offering the added convenience of purchasing parking passes online. Parking passes are $30 for the year. Students or parents can go online to the LEHS website under Students > then Parking Permits. When you click on the 2018-2019 Student Parking Permit Application link, a Google Form Application will open up where you will fill out all of the needed information. There are also links on Parking Permits website page with information on Parking Pricing, Parking Enforcement, Parking Maps, and Frequently Asked Questions. Please read all information about parking on campus before purchasing a parking permit. While we are offering the convenience of purchasing a parking permit online, students may still purchase a parking permit in person with cash or check only in their house office. Once school begins, parking permits can be purchased online or in House Offices before or after school.
***All fines and fees from the prior year must be cleared before a parking pass can be issued
Why Apply for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program?
- Reduced device protection fee to use a district issued laptop.
- Fee waiver to take the SAT and/or ACT for free
- Dual Credit tuition for free at NCTC
- AP Exam Test fee reduction
High school students often do not want to participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The Federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program is the standard used by many programs to qualify students for financial assistance. Even if a student never uses their eligibility in the lunchroom, they can benefit greatly in other areas if they qualify for the Lunch Program. Eligibility has to be reestablished each year. You can fill out the application here. We highly suggest that all families fill out an application to see if you qualify.
Greetings Class of 2019 Seniors,
Welcome to your senior year. Students, this is your opportunity to really prepare for the next phase of your lives, seriously thinking about the kind of student or employee you want to be and become in the future.
It no longer matters who you were in the past and the mistakes you have made; this year is about establishing who you will be.
So choose wisely and get ready to jump in with your full being to the learning journey you are about to embark upon. Traditionally, students think that senior year is supposed to be an easy one that can be dialed in, after the work put forth since freshman year, but the habits you establish this year can carry you onto the road of success whether you choose to go to college or into the workforce.
This will be a busy year - a year of lasts. The last Pep Rally, the last game, the last Homecoming, the last concert, the last play, the last yearbook, the last Prom, but it can also be a year to leave your mark on LEHS. What will your legacy be? The last two classes have left LEHS with traditions that will have a positive impact for years to come. The Class of 2016 was the first class to participate in the Lobo Legacy Walk. This tradition gives seniors one last opportunity to tour the district schools that have invested in their future as well as giving current students the opportunity to see what the end goal, graduation, looks like. The Class of 2017 was the first class to participate in the LEHS Senior Days of Service. This tradition provides seniors the opportunity to give back to their community. Students who participate in community service learn that they can actually make a difference which leads to a better understanding of their own competence, leading to more self-confidence and a can-do attitude that can spread to their work and academic pursuits. The Class of 2018 was the first class to graduate more than 500 seniors. So Class of 2019 Seniors, it is your time to shine! We are looking forward to seeing how you as a class choose to make a difference at LEHS and beyond.
Here are a few dates to mark on your calendar:
Friday, August 17, 6:00 AM - Senior Sunrise gathering hosted by the Class of 2019 Senior Class officers. More details in next week's newsletter
Monday, May 20, 2019 - Senior Cap and Gown Panoramic Picture with Lobo Legacy Walk
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - Graduation Rehearsal @ LEHS, 8:00 AM until finished.
Thursday, May 23, 2019 - Graduation 10 AM at UNT
Please note that graduation will be on a Thursday this year. This is the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend so let your family and friends know early so they can plan accordingly. The Saturday time slot that we had the past few years was not available when we were allowed to book several months ago. We had to take the next best date so that we did not have to hold graduation a week or more after the last day of school. The good news is you and your family can celebrate graduation and then have the entire holiday weekend for other plans.
Looking forward to your leadership in 18-19!
Renee Pentecost
LEHS Principal
Report Harmful, Harassing, and Bullying Behavior
LEISD has an on-line tool called "Anonymous Alerts" that students, parents, and teachers can use to report harmful, harassing, and bullying type behaviors. Anonymous Alerts bullying reporting mobile app helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressures are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome. Anonymous Alerts encourages students, parents and staff to quickly, easily, and anonymously report bullying, cyber-bullying, gang-related issues, and other sensitive topics through private messages to school officials by building. All reports remain completely anonymous even during a two-way email conversation, although submitters have the option to reveal their identity if they prefer to have a person-to-person discussion.
To send a report from the Web/Internet go to: www.anonymousalerts.com/littleelmisd/
To send a report from your phone:
- Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, and the Chrome store
- Start the App, enter login: leisd and password: leisd
- Send important reports to school officials
- Add a screen shot or photo about the incident
Scholarship Opportunities
The Lexus Eco Challenge empowers teens to practice citizenship and strengthen STEM skills through environmental projects. Register today to jump-start inquiry, creativity, and advocacy in your classroom.
GET STARTED!
- Assemble teams of 5–10 students and register them for Challenge 1: Land & Water. (You can register as many teams as you like.)
- Advise them as they create practical solutions for issues related to land and water.
- Submit each team's environmental Action Plan by October 15 for a chance to win amazing prizes—up to $500,000 in scholarships and grants are awarded each year to eligible teachers, students, and schools!
Scholarship Search Site - Provided by College Board
College Covered
While you are there, check out the website College Covered. Do you want to know what you need in a winning college essay, what college entrance test score you need, or what makes a top notch college application? Get what you need to help get into the college of your dreams with the help of College Covered.
An App Matches Students with College Scholarships They Can Use
Little Elm High School
Chris Reza - Associate Principal (creza@littleelmisd.net)
Alen Palislamovic - White House Principal A - E (apalislamovic@littleelmisd.net)
Ruben Molinar - Grey House Principal F - Li (rmolinar@littleelmisd.net)
Kyle Heller - Blue House Principal Lo - Ri (kheller@littleelmisd.net)
Terilyn Thomas-Monday - Gold House Principal Ro - Z (tthomas-monday@littleelmisd.net)
Website: http://www.littleelmisd.net/Domain/9
Location: 1900 Walker Lane, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 947-9443
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Elm-High-School/736775073135970?notif_t=page_fan
Twitter: @LittleElmHS