Lancaster News Flash
September 4-15, 2023
Aztec Moments March 25-28, 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Aztec Families,
Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Our little Aztec scholars hit the ground running this past week with engaging lesson in class and in-school interventions. This week we will continue to layer the support for our scholars with after school interventions to ensure they continue grow. Our outstanding educators want to ensure that all our students get the targeted interventions they need to support them in closing the gaps and be academically ready to perform their best on End-of-Year and State assessments! Thank you parents for ensuring that our students attend their after-school tutoring opportunities and that your child(ren) come to school prepared everyday. If your child received/receives an invitation to attend tutoring, we ask that you allow them to attend so that they gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be confident in taking their upcoming End-of-Year and STAAR Assessments. Tutoring will begin this Tuesday, March 26 and will go through April 24. Together we can help all our Aztec scholars grow!
We have important events coming to our campus. This week, we have a Career Day this Thursday. In addition, we have Online Registration for PK-5, beginning April 1st on campus from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Please have the following documents ready to register your child: birth certificate, social security card, immunization records, current identification for yourself, and utility bill matching the address on your identification. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Mrs. Isela Ramirez at 434-3410 or email her at iramirez42@yisd.net. Also, please help us recognize those that are making an impact in your child's here at Lancaster or that have extended a lending hand to you by clicking on the following link Tell Me Something Good. This link will be available from here on out in our newsletter just scroll down to our cool Sun with sunglasses. We cannot wait to here from you!
Thank you to our wonderful PE department and volunteers for hosting another successful Fitness Friday! It is always fun to see students and parents join forces to make healthy choices by walking/running together. Also, a big thank you to our amazing librarian, Ms. Hanson for helping us Celebrate Reading this past week with fun dress up days.
We will be selling a year book this year for $25.00. Sales will begin this week and will only be open for a few weeks. We will only have 100 copies for sale on a first come first serve basis. We ask you pay with exact change at the front office. A link will also be available, however there is an additional surge charge applied in the final price.
Last but not least, congratulations to all our Aztec for coming in third in the District attendance challenge for February! Way to go Aztecs! Attendance Matters, thank you for being here at school everyday! We currently have a March Madness Attendance Challenge at school the winning class will earn a pizza party! Let us work together to achieve our goal of 96% and bring home the 1st place banner from the District.
Thank you parents for being our partners in education and supporting the academic success of your children! As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns that we can help you resolve. We are here for you. Thank you for all that you do!
Remember, Lancaster loves you! 💙🤍💙
Your proud principal,
Mrs. Wittke
#OneSchoolOneTeam
#AztecSquad
#AztecsMakingADifference
Our Little Aztec Scholars always engaged in learning.
Collaboration in 4th grade is key to growth.
Engaged in critical thinking by applying Math skills in Science.
Help us nominate our AWESOME AZTEC Teachers!
Peter Piper Pizza® is excited to bring back their El Paso’s Best Teacher Contest. This contest starts today, March 18th and runs through April 19th, 2024. Students from all grade levels are invited to nominate their teacher for a chance to win one of our six $500 Sponsorship Checks and a Free Pizza Party for their classroom. Attached you can find the official entry form.
Please read all details below and share this information with all faculty at your campus. If it’s more convenient, I would be happy to pick up entries from your campus.
Peter Piper Pizza® 2024 Best Teacher Contest
March 18th – April 19th
Peter Piper Pizza will award six (6) deserving teachers from all El Paso County school districts a $500 SPONSORSHIP CHECK for their classroom for the upcoming school year and host their current class an end-of-the-year pizza party.
Contest information:
- Contest dates: Monday, March 18th, 2024 – Friday, April 19th, 2024.
- All entries must be received no later than 9:00 PM on Friday, April 19th, 2024.
- Winners will be announced by Friday, May 3rd, 2024.
- Pizza Party should be claimed by the winning teacher or a school representative no later than Friday, May 31st, 2024.
To enter the contest:
- Students must nominate an elementary, middle, or high school teacher from any El Paso County school district.
- Students must fill out the form below and staple a half-page essay, a paragraph, or an illustration on why their teacher deserves to be named “Peter Piper Pizza’s Best Teacher.” Small paragraphs and illustrations are only allowed for grades Pre-K – 1st.
- All entries must be dropped off at any El Paso, TX Peter Piper Pizza® restaurant or mailed to:
Pizza Properties, Inc.
c/o Laura Ostos – Marketing Department
4445 N. Mesa St. Suite 100
El Paso, TX 79902
- Students who submit an entry at the restaurant will receive a FREE soft serve cone.
Lancaster Campus Attendance Goal
Let's stay in the green! Parents please help us with our daily attendance campus goal of 96% or higher on daily attendance. 😀
ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE- FREE DRESS on TUESDAY & Traveling Trophy
Aztec Attendance challenge to promote and celebrate individual daily attendance. Students will be rewarded by getting FREE DRESS every Tuesday, if the students are present, no early pull-outs and zero tardies for the entire week.
Teachers will notify students and parents every Monday, of students eligible to wear Jeans. Please do not send your child in free dress unless the teacher has notified you and/or the student.
Aztec Class Attendance Challenge Friendly Competition: One class in each grade level will earn bragging rights and display the AZTEC Attendance Traveling Trophy for having the highest attendance percentage for the week. We loves our Aztec students, so parent please help us by bringing your students to school everyday!
Pre K Attendance Winner. (TIED)
Congratulations to Mrs. Veleta and Mrs. Rosas classroom for tying the win for highest weekly percentage in PreK for February 26th-March 1st.
Kinder Attendance Winner
1st grade Attendance Winner
Once again Mrs. Porras/Macias class has won the traveling trophy for highest attendance in 1st grade for week of Feb.26-March1st.
Second Grade Attendance Winner
Congratulations to Mrs. Guevara's class for winning the Second Grade attendance competition for the week of February 26-March 1.
Specialized Support Classroom Attendance Winners
Congratulations to Mr. Dominguez's class for winning the attendance competition for the week of February 26-March 1.
Third Grade Attendance Winners
Fourth Grade Attendance Winner
Congratulations to Mrs. Chavez's class for winning the Fourth Grade attendance competition for the week of February 26-March 1.***2nd Week in a Row**
Fifth Grade Attendance Winner
Congratulations to Ms.Dunn's 5th grade class for winning the highest attendance percentage for the week of February 26-March 1st
DISTRICT ATTENDANCE POLICY & PROCEDURES
ABSENCES
Students who are not in class when attendance is taken will be counted tardy or absent. The parent must contact the school by phone, in writing, or in person to explain the reason for every absence within 72 hours or sooner of the student’s absence to avoid loss of class work credit and possibly truancy court referral. Attendance staff will document every contact parent/guardian makes with the school, whether absences will be excused or unexcused.
EXCUSED & UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
Excused absences are legitimate days of absence necessitated by personal illness, death in the immediate family, or a student teen parent taking her/his child to the doctor. Documentation is required when students are absent due to a doctor's appointment, a court date, or other official business.
If a student is absent without school permission or permitted exception, that absence will be counted as an unexcused absence. In this case the student may receive a zero for all work missed and parents will be notified, if necessary, an attendance warning will be issued, charges will be filed against parents to enforce the compulsory school attendance law if absences of this nature persist. See Reg. FE-R.
90% Rule for Promotion
A student must be present 90% of the days the class is offered in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Except as provided by state law, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days.
TARDIES
Students must be in their classrooms and ready to receive instruction when the bell to begin class rings at 7:45 a.m.. An elementary school student who arrives after the 7:45 a.m. tardy bell rings will be counted tardy for the day. It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to contact the school before the second hour of instruction by telephone, in writing, or in person to verify the reason for the tardy (unless a doctor’s appointment, or has been approved as a school activity or business on campus is documented).
- CAMPUS TARDY POLICY: Students who accumulate 4 tardies will be assigned lunch detention by administration on the 4th day.
LEAVING CAMPUS
For students in elementary a parent or otherwise authorized adult must come to the office and sign the student out. The adult person signing the child out must show proof of identification prior to releasing the child. Once the identity is verified, a campus representative will send for the student and bring him or her to the office. For safety purposes and stability of the learning environment, we cannot allow anyone other than authorized school personnel to go to the classroom or any other area unescorted to pick up the student. Excessive requests for permission for students to leave early will be monitored by the campus administration and conferences with the parent or guardian will be scheduled to resolve the situation. The parent will sign an early dismissal card from the attendance office in accordance with school procedure. Upon the student’s return, the student must report to the attendance office to be admitted to class. The last opportunity to pick up students during the school day will be at 2:10pm.
Reminders for the WEEK
1. Tutoring will resumes March 26
2. Career Day March 28
3. District Holiday No Classes March 29
3. Registration BEGINS April 1
4. STAAR April 11 (Reading), April 18 (Science), April 25 (Math)
5. Attendance Matters: Please help us by making sure your child makes it to school every day, unless they are ill and cannot attend. Schedule appointments after school when possible, so that students are not interrupted in their instruction during the day. Please be prompt in dropping off your child at school before 7:30 AM. We thank you for your help!
Every person on our campus contributes to the growth of all our Aztec scholars. Help us recognize those that have made an imprint on the heart of your child or even yours by telling us all about it. We will recognize our faculty/staff member in the Aztec Spotlight for the week.
Click on the button below to share a positive comment about any of our faculty/staff. We can't wait to hear from you!
Aztec Pledge & 4Bs are announced daily to promote a Positive Learning Culture
Congratulations to the February Aztecs of the Month
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do we wait for the school day to begin?
Parents who arrive before student entrance into the building is allowed at 7:10 will wait outside the drop off designated areas with their child. If possible, it is suggested that you drop off your child by car at the designated area in front of the Aztec Cafeteria.
What do I do if we are late to school?
If late to school, your child can enter through the front office. Please ring the bell on the screen, let the front office staff know your child’s name, that they are late and the reason. Your child will be let into the building, given a tardy slip and escorted to class if in PK and sent to class if 2nd-5th; only the student will be let into the building. We ask that tardies do not become habitual as students miss breakfast and instructional time.
What do I do if I am picking up early?
Please ring the bell, have your valid I.D. ready, you will be asked by front office staff to show your valid ID and reason for the pick-up. They will then retrieve the student and meet you at the entrance of the building to fill out the sign out documentation. You will wait outside the vuilsinf in front of the office until your child comes to the front office area. We ask that pick-ups be kept at a minimum to maximize learning instructional time. The last opportunity to pick up your student during the day will be 2:10 pm.
What if my child goes to an after school program (ACE 21st Century)?
Your child will be picked up by the respective after school program personnel and escorted to the cafeteria at the end of day. Please ask the corresponding program for their policies and procedures for dismissal.
What if I cannot pick-up my child at dismissal time due to work, school etc.?
All children need to be picked up on non-tutoring days at 2:45 and on tutoring days at 3:30. There is no personnel to care for students once they are no longer in an academic setting. Please make arrangements with after school care.
Can my child play on the O.L.E.s before/after school?
Students are not allowed to play on the Outside Learning Environments before or after school as there are no monitors available to watch these areas at those times.
Thank you for working with us to ensure that Lancaster's drop off and pick up times are safe and happy. We appreciate your support.
SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
Visitor policy will be enforced. Visitor must have a valid ID prior to entering the campus and background screening will be conducted through the Hall Pass System.
Volunteers must be cleared on a daily basis through the campus Hall Pass System and must be registered as an active volunteer through the District Affairs office; this includes field trips.
Due to increased security and safety protocols, we will not be allowing parents to drop off lunches during the day for students. Students need to bring their lunches with them in the morning. We will only allow if the student forgot their lunch in the car, but not habitual drop off of lunches. (ALL students receive free lunch in our cafeteria, therefore students will always have a meal available to them.)
- Birthday Celebrations: Will take place during the students lunch time. If the student will be bringing cupcakes or any snacks for the celebration, they must be brought in with the student during morning drop off.
Emergency preparedness (drills) activities will be conducted throughout the school year.
Counselor Message
Hello Aztec families
This week we are having our Career Day on Thursday March 28 in the morning. I have been giving lessons to students on College and Career readiness. This is a good time to start talking to your children about the importance of school and how it ties in with a good career when they get to be an adult. Discussions on your career and what kind of schooling or training you needed to go through to get a job are wonderful to have with your children. We do remind students that not all careers mean you have to go to college but you will always need some sort of training or school to learn about a job you want.
I am attaching a flyer on a food distribution event that is happening on Friday March 29. Please read it and take advantage of it for your families if you are in need of assistance with food. Flyer is attached below.
Also attached below is a flyer for our upcoming Parent Classes that our Del Valle Area Counselors are giving. It is a total of 6 classes, one class a week beginning this week Wednesday March 27. Please read the flyer below. Call me if you are interested in coming. You will be required to attend all 6 sessions. You will receive a book and a working manual.
I wish all of you a wonderful Easter, enjoy this day with your family and remember to please send your little bunnies back to us Monday morning. Lets be present everyday.
Have a great week.
Respectfully,
Susan Rivera Espindola
School Counselor
915-434-3405
PreK teaching 4th grade how to get their wiggles out.
Showing Kindness
New student at Lancaster was accepted with kindness by her peers.
Spring is in the air.
Dandelions all over Lancaster. Students making a wish.
Dear Aztec Families,
Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade will be taking the Language Arts STAAR test on on April 11th. Starting this Monday, students will be participating in a 10-day STAAR review to ensure that they are ready and successful in showing mastery of the concepts learned in class during the school year. We need your support in bringing your student every single day, so they don't miss this important review. Thank you for your ongoing support!
2024 March Book of the Month (Wordless Book)
Reading and Writing in Action at Lancaster!!! 📚📚
Syllable Division
Text Features
Mrs. Olivares's students analyzing text features in informational texts to gain information.
Syllable Dance
Ms. Cruz's kinder class learning about syllables while dancing.
Spring Into Reading Challenge 🐸📚
Math Counts But Science Matters!
STAAR Information
If you have a child in 3rd-5th grade they will be taking our state STAAR Assessment which checks for mastery of their grade level standards. Students in grades 3 and 4 will be assessed in Reading Language Arts and Mathematics. Students in grade 5 will be assessed in Reading Language Arts , Math, and Science. The following are the testing dates by subjects.
April 11, 2024 Reading Language Arts (3-5)
April 18, 2024 Science (5th Grade only)
April 25, 2024 Math (3-5)
In preparation for these assessments your child can use the Lowman study sheet found below. It contains essential concepts, examples, vocabulary, and strategies. The study sheet also covers 96% of what has been tested previously on STAAR.
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Math in Action Highlights!
We have the best teachers!
Our fabulous fourth grade teachers planning activities for their Math STAAR Reviews.
Investigating Food Webs
Students in Mrs. Perez's second grade class were engaged while creating food webs!
Hooked on Reading Heroes (It's All about the RULES) Dyslexia World!
Please click on the DYSLEXIA image for information about dyslexia.
"I have girl word power!
It's like watching a movie! How words work!!!
Analyzing words is fun! From whole to part!!
Why teach about syllables? Syllable games!
Watch a lesson: helping children clap or tap syllables in words (small group). Please click on the Syllable Games picture to open the link.
Library Notes
Thank you for making Celebrate Reading Week a Success!
Dress up as your favorite character
Book cover activity
Book mark activity
Hats off to reading
4th grade doing Celebrate Reading activities
Crazy Sock Day
Book Club starts again on Thursday, April 11.
Nurse Cisneros Corner
Be Safe and Healthy
YISD Sick Day Guidelines Highlights:
- Students need to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school
- If the student appears to have pink eye, please take them to your health provider for further assessment; the student is able to return to school if they are on an antibiotic eye drop/ointment treatment
- If the student has an uncontrolled cough, it may necessitate a visit to the doctor
Please take a few moments to review YISD Sick Day Guidelines.
Finally, please do not send your student with any over-the-counter or prescription medications, including cough drops, eye drops, or pills of any kind. If you have any questions regarding medications, please contact me.
As always, let's stay healthy and BE PRESENT every day!
March Calendar
Dates subject to change.
Calling All Chromebook Users. Please Restart Your Chromebooks Daily.
5th Grade Gaming Team
This weeks competition was against Ramon Stem Academy. Our Aztecs battled but came out short in both gaming tournaments. In Mario Kart the outcome of the game was Ramona 180 points and 124 points on our end. The other competition they participated in was Smash Brothers. This was a very close and exciting match to see. Our Aztecs battled and almost came out ahead but lost in the very last round. The score was Ramona 5 and Aztecs 4. The next competition is against Tierra Del Sol.
Lancaster Elementary Contact Information
Principal - Zeila Wittke (915) 434-3401
Assistant Principal - Evonne Rodriguez (915) 434-3402
Counselor - Susan Espindola (915) 434-3403
Attendance Clerk - Isela Ramirez (915) 434-3410
Nurse - Christine Cisneros (915) 434-3411