The Lake Ridge Bridge
January 9, 2021
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From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. It was a short week, but it was productive at Lake Ridge Elementary. Faculty returned on Monday for district professional development and Tuesday for campus planning. We kicked off our time Tuesday with a toast to 2021 (using non-alcoholic sparkling cider, of course). We toasted to health, safety, success, prosperity, unity, and so much more.
Our scholars arrived on the 70th day of school to discover a new water fountain located in the Cafeteria. The district provided a touchless water fountain, and we distributed refillable water bottles to scholars who needed one so that they can use them throughout the day. Whether you purchased one or scholars are using one provided by us, be sure to use a permanent marker to write your child's name on the bottom in the event they forget it somewhere.
Coming into 2021, we were blessed with a donation of toys from some Amazon workers. We will partner with teachers to have regular drawings that allow scholars to choose an item based on academic achievement, growth, and/or work ethic. Speaking of scholars choosing, we have kicked off a campaign to focus on family engagement within the home by collecting various games that can be used for quality family time. We will have regular drawings that result in a scholar coming down to the office to select a game to take home and keep. Feel free to share this link with those who may be interested in contributing by purchasing a game.
While the week was productive at Lake Ridge, unimaginable events occurred at the United States Capitol on Wednesday. As educators, our role is to add value to our scholars' lives while not imposing our own personal views and opinions on them, and when a scholar needs to talk and express themselves, we listen and provide a safe space. We also keep in mind that it is important that explanations are developmentally appropriate. Should you need guidance in how to have conversations with your child, feel free to reach out to me and/or Counselor Johnson.
This upcoming week, we look forward to continuing our race for excellence with engaging instruction and time well spent together both traditional instruction and online flex learning.
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- December 7-January 22: CHISD Choose Your Seat Applications Open
January 11-15: Learning Commitment Form for Parents
January 11-29: CLI/TX-KEA Pre-K/Kindergarten (MOY)
Read on below to find out about upcoming events, news from The Counselor's Corner, helpful resources and links, and updates from our PTA.
Always remember that "The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line."
Question for You to Pose to Your Child: What can you do when something has happened that you do not understand?
Principal McCullum
#LRENoFinishLine
#LakeRidgeNation
#LakeRidgeMontessori
Positive Behavior Referrals
Scenes from the Week
Upcoming Events
The Counselor's Corner
Gifted and Talented Fall Nominations
Gifted and Talented fall assessments have been completed. Parents will be notified of GT eligibility no later than January 11, 2021. If your child is enrolled in traditional instruction, the notification letter was sent home with your child. If your child is enrolled in online flex learning, you will receive notification via email.
Gifted and Talented Department Newsletter
CHISD's Advanced Academics and GT Services has launched a department newsletter. Please click here to find out about district-wide opportunities and services available to GT scholars.
Counseling Department Newsletter
CHISD has launched its first Counseling Department Newsletter. Each month, counseling services will release department services, news , and community resources. Please review the department newsletter for district wide services available to scholars, parents, and CHISD staff. Please click here for the most recent issue.
Grief Counseling and Support
Journey of Hope offers grief support groups for children and their parents/caregivers after the death of a loved one. We have a new support group for families who have a loved one with an advanced serious illness who are at any point in their illness journey. All groups are free and meeting virtually at this time. Click here for more information about our programs!
Virtual Counseling Office
Please visit my virtual counseling office at the link below. The virtual counseling office offers guidance activities for traditional instruction and online flex learners as well as resources for parents and teachers. Guidance activities and lessons have been developed to meet the needs of both traditional instruction and online flex learners.
January Guidance
Core Curriculum: Goal Setting/Transitions for 5th grade
Monthly Topic: Social Awareness
SEL Skill: Social Awareness
Virtual Office: Virtual Counseling Office
Counseling Request: LRE Counseling Request Form
Email: rashonda.johnson@chisd.net
Attendance
Attendance Incentives
Attendance Measures for Traditional Instruction Learning
- Teachers will take attendance at the scheduled time during the instructional day.
Attendance Measures for Online Flex Learning
Daily Engagement Measures:
Daily Bell Ringer
Phone Contact with Scholar
Email Exchange with Scholar
Engagement in Schoology on any combination of assignments for the course
Interaction with scholar’s counselor and/or campus administrator
For your child to receive attendance, aim for the following:
Daily Bellringer(s) Completed
Assignments Completed by 3:00 p.m.
Assignments Completed by 11:59 p.m.
There will be a generated phone call by the district's system at 6:00 p.m. if your child has not participated in a daily engagement measure to be counted present for the day. This will serve as a reminder to do so by 11:59 p.m..
Important Information
Instructional Technology Resources
CHISD Chromebook Connection
https://www.chisd.net/Page/14878
CHISD Parent Quickstart Guide
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V1tVTofMhY9c_5gCv4lwulUnrJcnMG0t/view
CHISD Schoology Parent Handbook
CHISD Schoology 101 Student Guide
WIFI Assistance
SPECTRUM PUBLIC WI-FI
Connecting as a Spectrum Internet Customer
To connect to Spectrum WiFi as a Spectrum Internet or Spectrum Mobile customer:
- Enable WiFi on your mobile device.
- Select a SpectrumWiFi network from the list of available networks.
- Enter your Spectrum Username and Password.
- Review the Terms & Conditions, and then select Sign In to accept.
- Enter a nickname for your device to sign in automatically in the future.
- Select Continue to connect to the Spectrum WiFi network.
Note: When signing in to SpectrumWiFi for the first time, you’ll be asked to verify your secure profile (certificate).
To Get 2-Hours of Free Spectrum WiFi Access
To connect to Spectrum WiFi as a non-Spectrum Internet or non-Spectrum Mobile customer:
- Enable WiFi on your mobile device.
- Select CedarHill_WiFi from the list of available networks.
- Open your web browser, which displays the sign-in screen.
- Review and agree to the Terms & Conditions.
- Select Connect to join the Spectrum WiFi network.
Public WIFI In Cedar Hill
Below is the list of current Public Wi-Fi spots that are available from Spectrum for students to potentially use if/when needed.
Zula B. Wylie Public Library
225 Cedar Street
Alan Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center
310 e. Parkerville Rd
Community Center Park
1740 Mansfield Road
Valley Ridge Park
2851 Park Ridge Dr
Crawford Park
401 Straus Road
Cedar Hill City Hall
285 Uptown Blvd
Parental Involvement
PTA Updates
PTA's Website
https://www.lakeridgeelempta.org/
Join/Pay Online
https://lake-ridge-elementary-pta.square.site/
Executive Board:
President: Denishea Williams
Vice President: Megan Micheli
Secretary: Kristi Lacy
Treasurer: She'Anka-Marie Johnson
Popular Links
Happier/Self-Care
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 have a conference.
Step Two: Contact the Assistant Principal (all discipline issues) or Counselor (mental health/academic advisement).
Step Three: Contact the Principal (if a school-wide concern, this becomes step one).
When emailing or calling the Main Office, it is helpful to provide details so that the call is directed to the correct individual.
Upcoming Activities/Events
- December 7-January 22: CHISD Choose Your Seat Applications Open
January 11-15: Learning Commitment Form for Parents
January 11-29: CLI/TXKEA (Pre-K/Kindergarten)
Ms. McCullum, Principal
marquita.mccullum@chisd.netDr. Washington, Assistant Principal
emily.washington@chisd.netMrs. Johnson, Counselor
rashonda.johnson@chisd.netLake 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