The Howl - Our Parent Newsletter
February 13, 2024
Our 2023-24 Theme
February 13, 2024
Dear Carter Coyote Families,
This week we finished up spring Benchmark testing in grades 3-5, and our Coyotes did a beautiful job! Thank you for making sure our Coyotes came to school having eaten breakfast, a good night's sleep, and great attitudes. Our high achievement continues to be first place at Carter, and we thank you for your support.
On another note, I need to mention dress code at Carter. Leggings worn alone with a shirt are NOT part of Carter dress code. They can be worn under approved dress code bottoms for warmth, but not stand alone. We have also seen A LOT of sweatpants/clothing--Sweats are also NOT a part of our Carter dress code. (Our dress code was approved by our parents before our building ever opened). Dress code is listed at the bottom of this newsletter as well as on our website. Please do not send your student to school in stand alone leggings or sweats.
Save the date for our PTO sponsored Rock'n Bingo Family Night February 23. It is going to be a fun evening to get together--don't miss out! Link to sign up for bingo and the evening in general is below.
Thank you for all your continued support! It's what makes Carter a great school and our Coyotes great students!
Annual Campus Climate Survey for Parents to Give Critical Feedback
Parents, Complete the survey and receive a free homework pass for your student!
See Below for Info about the Climate Survey and a form to Return to Your Student's Teacher(s)
Every family has a voice in Lamar CISD’s ongoing pursuit of educational excellence, and we are seeking your feedback about the school your student(s) attends during the Annual Campus Climate Survey. The survey will be emailed to all families on Tuesday, February 13 and will remain open until Friday, March 1.
We encourage parents/guardians to respond to the survey through the email sent by K12 Insight or by visiting the campus website home page. There will be questions about critical school issues such as academic preparation, student support, family engagement, and more.
Families with students in more than one school may submit their feedback in a couple of ways: individually on the campus website home page or there will be a link in the thank you message to submit a response for another student after the first survey response.
Please know that your feedback is confidential, reports will not identify individuals. No one in the District will know whether you have participated unless you identify yourself in the space for open-ended comments.
After the survey closes, we will report the findings on the Lamar CISD website. Thank you for your feedback.
The Homework pass below can be redeemed by either printing it from here or by returning the copy sent home in the Tuesday folder. Thank you!
No-Homework Pass form due to Student's Teacher by March 2nd.
✨ We Want to See You There!
Save the date for Carter PTO ROCK'N BINGO Family Night on Friday, February 23. Join us for fun, food, and the chance to bid on some amazing auction items! See flyer below for more details!
Spring & Class Group Picture Day
Picture Day is coming up on 02/27/2024! Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school. Order online at https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/85071KF
This event's Order Code is 85071KF.
Pre-K/Kinder Round Up
Please save the date for our Pre-K/Kindergarten Round-Up: April 22, 2024 – May 3, 2024.
Survey Will Be Emailed to Parents Regarding Leveling & Attendance Zones!
In a growing school system, the district’s attendance zones will inevitably change to accommodate the growth. As a fast-growing district, we are experiencing significant enrollment increases in some areas. As a result, some schools are over capacity while others have available capacity. The Board may consider leveling plans to balance student enrollment across campuses and alleviate overcrowding.
The district’s process is to collect feedback from community stakeholders regarding attendance boundary options. We specifically look to include stakeholders from the potentially impacted campuses/areas. Please note that receipt of this survey does not necessarily mean that the boundary change will directly impact you.
This survey will be open until January 31. Preliminary results of this survey will be presented to the Board in February.
Please check your e-mail inbox for an e-mail from K-12 Insights, our external survey company, to complete the survey.
If you find that you have not received a survey e-mail, please e-mail Info@lcisd.org with your name, campus and student names.
Thank you for your time and input.
Spanish Translation
En un sistema educativo en crecimiento, las zonas de asistencia del distrito cambiarán inevitablemente para adaptarse a este crecimiento. Como un distrito de rápido crecimiento, estamos experimentando importantes aumentos de inscripciones en algunas zonas. Como resultado, algunas escuelas se encuentran por encima de su límite mientras que otras tienen capacidad disponible. La Mesa Directiva puede considerar planes de nivelación para equilibrar la inscripción de estudiantes en todos los campus y mitigar las condiciones de sobrecupo.
El proceso del distrito consiste en recabar opiniones de las partes interesadas de la comunidad sobre las opciones de límites de asistencia. Específicamente buscamos incluir a las partes interesadas de los campus/zonas potencialmente impactadas. Tome en cuenta que el hecho de recibir esta encuesta no significa necesariamente que el cambio de límites le afecte directamente.
Esta encuesta estará abierta hasta el 31 de enero. Los resultados preliminares de esta encuesta se presentarán a la Mesa Directiva en febrero.
Por favor, revise su buzón de correo electrónico para ver si ha recibido un mensaje de K-12 Insights, de nuestra empresa externa de encuestas, para completar la encuesta.
Si no ha recibido un correo electrónico con la encuesta, envíe un correo electrónico a Info@lcisd.org con su nombre, campus y nombre de los estudiantes.
Agradecemos su tiempo y su información.
Carter 2022-23 Federal Report Card
Carter Elementary is sharing the below information about the district and your child’s campus with you as part of its obligations under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).
Federal Report Cards for the state, the district, and each of the district’s campuses are now available on the district’s website at this link: https://www.lcisd.org/departments/academics/raa/performance-reports-and-legal-postings or are also available on the Texas Education Agency’s website at: https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/grants/essa-program/federal-report-card. A detailed description of these reports is enclosed.
If you have difficulty accessing the information from the website, hard copies of the reports can be requested from the district or campus office. If you have questions about the information, please contact Carter Front office staff @ 832-223-5500 or the Lamar CISD Research, Assessment, & Accountability Office at 832-223-0136.
Carter Elementary está compartiendo información sobre el distrito y el plantel de su hijo con usted como parte de las obligaciones que tiene bajo la Ley federal Every Student Succeeds Act de 2015 (ESSA, por sus siglas en inglés).
Los Reportes de Informe Federal para el estado, el distrito y cada uno de los planteles del distrito ya están disponibles en el sitio web del distrito: https://www.lcisd.org/departments/academics/raa/performance-reports-and-legal-postings o también están disponibles en el sitio web de la Agencia de Educación de Texas en: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/federal-report-cards.
Si tiene dificultades accediendo a la información desde el sitio web, las copias impresas de los informes están disponibles en el distrito o en la oficina del campus. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la información, póngase en contacto con Carter front office 832-223-5500 o Lamar CISD Research, Assessment, & Accountability Office at 832-223-0136.
Sinceramente,
📘 Reserve your 2023-24 Yearbook Now!
This is the direct URL: https://www.balfour.com/texas/richmond/don-carter-elementary-school
Meet Our GRHS Baseball Team! Run the Bases!
Campus Safety
Dear Carter Families,
As your principal, I remain committed to the safety and security of our campus and would like to request your cooperation and support with our students, which includes some important reminders about our visitor check-in process and consequences for failing to adhere to these procedures.
It’s important to understand that the visitor check-in process is in place to safeguard the well-being of everyone within our school community. Allowing unauthorized individuals into the school or using the wrong entrance poses a potential risk to the safety of our students and staff. All campus visitors must check-in at the campus front office. Throughout the building, all students and staff members must have their badge visible and should also use primary entrances.
The district has shared that some students on other campuses are violating the visitor check-in process and allowing individuals to enter the campus through side doors and back doors. Beginning on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, any student permitting individuals into the school without proper check-in or through the wrong door will face disciplinary consequences, which will result in a three-day out-of-school suspension and/or other measures deemed necessary by campus administration.
To maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all, we kindly request your support in reinforcing these security measures with your student. Please contact me at limrie@lcisd.org if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate your partnership in upholding our safety standards.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Leann Imrie
Principal
PTO News:
We need your help! We are looking for volunteers in the copy room. If you regularly have a few hours a week to support your child's teachers by making grade-level copies, please email us at doncarterpto@gmail.com. Thanks!
Library: News from Mrs. Garrette
Counseling: News from Mrs. Patel & Mrs. Hernandez
From Mrs. Delcid, Our EB Coach
From the LCISD Special Education Department:
Quick Reference Section
Student Code of Conduct
Important District Changes to the Student Code of Conduct That Will Affect All Students
Among some of the most important changes are:
1. Being in possession of a Vape or E-cigarrette will result in automatic removal from the home campus to the Alternative Learning Center for a period of time TBD.
2. Being in possession of a knife of any length will result in automatic removal from the home campus to the Alternative Learning Center for a period of time TBD.
3. Cellphones: Cellphones and personal electronic devices including smartwatches must be turned off and stored in backpacks unless given specific permission by a teacher to use for an instructional purpose. The district has outlined specific required consequences for violation of personal technology policy: See page 100 in elementary student handbook.
Link to Elementary Handbook and Student Code of Conduct: HERE
Link to the Parent and Guardian Standards of Conduct: HERE
Smart Tag Information
Parents Please Sign up in Smart Tag Portal for Your Child's Required ID Badge
Smart Tag is a MUST: If your child loses their Smart Tag, they will need to bring $5 to buy a replacement. Wearing a Smart Tag is an LCISD requirement and a security issue. Our students no matter what grade level have to get used to wearing it daily.
ALL students K-5 will receive a colored lanyard that identifies their House. Thank you, PTO!!
Registering for the Smart Tag Parent Portal is a vital safety measure that should be completed by ALL parents. Additionally, your child will use their ID Badge to purchase lunch and breakfast, on the bus, and library book check-out. Bus routing information will only be available in Smart Tag Parent Portal. The Smart Tag Parent Portal will show updated bus route information for your student before the first day of school.
The Smart Tag Parent Portal link can be found HERE
General Transportation Information
Transportation in General
Repeated Information Below:
- AM Car line--ARRIVE as Early as 6:45: There is absolutely NO pedestrian drop-off traffic crossing our busy car line in the morning. This is for the safety of everyone.
- ⛔After 7:15 AM, your student is considered tardy. If you pull into the car line at 7:10 or later, you WILL most likely be tardy. Starting Monday, September 11, cars will be routed from the car line into the parking lot at 7:15. At that time, cars must park and bring their child(ren) into the office to check-in and receive a tardy slip. ⛔
- PM Car line: PM car line is becoming very efficient. If you come to pick up your child in Car line after 3:00 PM, you may have to park and come in to the office to check out your child.
- AM and PM Car line: Refrain from using your cell phone on school property. We have seen an uptick in cell phone use while in the car line. Per elementary handbook, cell phone use in the car line is prohibited.
- Crosswalk: Please DO NOT park on Glass Peak Drive OR along Stonecreek Estates Drive on either side of the bridge and walk your student to the crosswalk--this road is not a parking lot. Lately an over congestion of cars parking near the intersections is causing an obstruction of a clear view for our walkers, bikers and crossing guard, particularly on the other side of the bridge where there is no longer staff assisting students and no crossing guard. Additionally, cars trying to come in and out of the neighborhood at Glass Peak Drive are blocked by cars parked to pick up or deliver walker students. The crosswalk is for students who are in the walk zone to Carter and do not have bus service due to their close proximity to the school.
- Pre-K and Kinder students: Students in this age category must have someone waiting to pick them up at the bus stop or cross walk otherwise they will be returned to school, causing inconveniences for you and your child.
Arrival and Dismissal Areas for Car Line, Bus, and Walker/Bikers
Tardies and Late Pickups
We attribute our achievement success to several factors, one being bell to bell teaching! Here at Carter Elementary School, our students can go straight to the gym/grade level pod at 6:45am and begin getting ready for learning activities to start at 7:00!
Any student not in class at 7:15am will be counted tardy. Students will be routed to the front office to get a tardy slip before being released to go to class. We know that it is important for students to acclimate to new routines so we will begin counting tardies on Sept. 11th.
Our announcements start promptly at 7:15am, therefore all our students need to be in class for the pledges and to hear important daily information.
If you drop your child off in the morning, the best time (with minimal wait) is between 6:45am - 6:55am. At 7:05am, traffic picks up tremendously. If you turn into the carpool area at 7:10am or later, you run the risk of being late.
We understand that you have absolutely no control of the pacing of the carpool line on any given day. For this reason, we strongly suggest you access our carpool lane during the earlier minutes (6:45am - 7:00am) so your child has time to exit the car, enter the building and make it to class before the tardy bell rings.
It is very important that students are at school everyday, on time and stay for the entire day. Just as tardies impact learning over time, early pick-ups also cause students to miss instruction. Tardies and Early Pickups are recorded by the front office staff electronically. If you must pick up your students early for appointments, our cut off time is 2:00pm.
Full Price & Free and Reduced Cost Meals - Breakfast and Lunch
Please click the link below to apply for Free and Reduced-Cost Meals, Breakfast/Lunch Menus, and all things about Child Nutrition. Students will be charged for all meals unless you apply and qualify for free and reduced-cost meals.
https://www.lcisd.org/departments/support-services/food-service
Uniform Information
Below, please find the uniform colors and uniform clothing items that can be worn for the 2023-2024 school year:
Bottoms: Solid color navy blue, black, khaki or blue denim pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers. Leggings/tights worn alone as well as embellished and distressed jeans with rips and tears are not allowed.
Tops: Solid color, collared (polo style, no logo) shirts in red, white, navy blue (dark blue,) black or hunter green (dark green.)
Maroon, gray, olive, kelly green, royal blue and light blue are not Carter approved uniform shirt colors.
School and PTO approved Carter ES spirit shirts are allowed daily, such as the once a year Carter themed shirt.
Leggings/tights worn alone as well as embellished and distressed jeans with rips and tears are not allowed. Additionally, basketball shorts, roller shoes, shoes that light up and backpacks on wheels are not allowed.
If a student is not wearing the proper uniform, they will be sent to the Nurse to either call home or receive a change of clothes, as our inventory allows.
Important Documents at Your Fingertips
Important Dates to Remember
February 19 - Student Holiday/Staff Planning Day
February 23 - Go Texan Day! Wear Your Western Duds!
February 23 - Rock'n Bingo Night, 6-8 PM
February 27 - Spring Picture Day. Wear Best-dressed!
March 4-8 - Read Across America Week
March 8 - Early Release @ 11:30
March 11-15 - Spring Break!
Don Carter Elementary School
Leann Imrie, Principal
Mandy Casey, Assistant Principal
Aerika Dial, Assistant Principal
Website: www.lcisd.org
Location: 8500 A Meyers Road, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: (832)223-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonCarterES/
Twitter: @cartercoyotes