Dolphin News You Can Use
Volume 9: April Newsletter
Principal's Message
Hello Dickinson Families!
We are in the home stretch, and there is much to be accomplished before the school year ends. We have end of year assessments, and it is time for all of our awesome dolphins to put their best feet forward. It is an exciting time in which our kids will be able to celebrate their academic growth.
April is volunteer appreciation month. Please see the invitation below for any parent who has volunteered at Dickinson or at home with projects. We want to honor you with a breakfast on April 30th. Please RSVP to dweist@lcisd.org if you can attend.
Our campus will be closed to visitors on STAAR testing days. This means no lunch visitors or special guests are allowed. Thank you for your understanding!
Thank you to everyone who attended our STEAM Night in March. It was a huge success! We have lots of exciting events planned for April. Please check them out below and I hope you can make it to our annual Dickinson PTO Family Bingo Night.
In case you haven't heard...we will be experiencing a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! This is an amazing learning opportunity for our students...and we are looking forward to engaging our future scientists. We have sent home a Solar Eclipse permission slip today in your child's folder. Please review it and return it to your child's teacher as soon as possible. Monday is quickly approaching!
This month leveling will be voted on and soon we will know who our future Dolphins will be joining us for next school year. We are excited about our new students and look forward to meeting them once the LCISD board votes on April 16th.
As a friendly reminder you can follow us on Facebook and all past newsletters are housed on our Dickinson Website page.
Warm Regards,
Channon Almendarez
#dolphinproud
New Information
Important Student Transportation Information for 2024-2025 School Year Lamar CISD was recently named a hypergrowth district, which requires significant planning to ensure our schools remain a great place to learn, and our students get the best education available. For the 2024-2025 school year, and in alignment with our mission to remain a destination District, Lamar CISD is moving from Smart Tag to Tyler Technologies Versatrans My Stop ™ (My Stop). This change will require all parents/guardians to complete a Transportation Form. We are requesting this form to be filled out for all current and new students including bus riders, car riders, bike riders, and/or walkers. It’s especially important that students who ride the bus complete this Transportation Form so they can receive bus services at the start of the school year. The new transportation software will provide a smoother experience for our drivers, which increases the safety of our students. Additionally, My Stop will provide a parent portal, student rider onboarding, and student rider location. To plan accordingly for your student, please review a list of important dates below: · Sunday, August 4: Deadline to submit Transportation Form for students who want to receive bus transportation on the first day of school (Monday, August 12). · Monday, August 5 – Wednesday, August 21: During this time, if families fill out the Transportation Form requesting bus transportation for a student, the student will start receiving bus transportation on Monday, August 26. · Thursday, August 22 and beyond: During this time, if families fill out the Transportation Form requesting bus transportation for a student, the student will start receiving bus transportation five school days after the form is submitted.
Please welcome Mrs. Campbell officially to Dickinson Elementary!
Mrs. Jennifer Campbell has been our long term sub since Ms. Meihaus got promoted to a dyslexia specialist. She has done such a wonderful job working with our students that we decided we did not want to let her go. Mrs. Campbell has three amazing children of which two currently attend Dickinson. If you see her in the community, please be sure to give her a warm Dickinson welcome. Mrs. Campbell is teaching third grade English/Language Arts and Social Studies. Thank you Mrs. Campbell for joining our team. It is an honor to work with you!
Congratulations to Coach Rice Dickinson's Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to Dr. Moeller Dickinson's Support Staff Member of the Year!
Science Olympiad Awards on April 4th at 7:30 AM
You will have to get an ID Badge when you enter. Please arrive as early as 7:15 in the morning to get checked in. Thank you for ensuring the safety of our students! :)
Friday, April 5th Ron Clark Color Out Day
Solar Eclipse Viewing on April 8th
On Monday, April 8 our students will have an opportunity to view the partial solar eclipse at Dickinson Elementary. Our campus has purchased approved glasses to view the Solar Eclipse. If you prefer to provide your child with their own pair of solar eclipse glasses, feel free to do so for our school wide event. Please write your child's name on their glasses. Dickinson teachers will be discussing what a solar eclipse is and the safety behind wearing the glasses or using the viewing box. If you wish to have your child opt out of this activity, please e-mail your child’s teacher by Friday, April 5. We will make other arrangements for your child to remain inside the building on this date. They will have an opportunity to watch the eclipse on-line with a staff member.
Pre-K
Dickinson Elementary does not have Pre-K, however we do enroll students that are zoned to our campus. Velasquez Elementary is where our Dickinson Dolphins go for Pre-K. Please contact our front office, if you have any questions or would like to setup an appointment for enrolling.
Dickinson is excited to announce our Pre-K/Kinder Round Up! This will be a time for your children to come take a tour of our school, see how a kindergarten classroom is set-up, and register for next school year. In order to turn in required documents, online registration must be completed prior to this event. Please share this event with all community members that you know will be here next school year. There will be a presentation from 5:30-6:00. If you have any questions, please contact the front office at 832-223-1400. Thank you! We look forward to meeting our new dolphins!
Possible Growth at Dickinson
There is a possibility that Dickinson will be growing next year with the leveling process. If you know of any great teachers who want to work with an amazing staff and service hardworking students, please have them email their resume to channon.almendarez@lcisd.org. LCISD is the place to be!
If full time does not work for you, our campus is always looking for wonderful substitutes to assist. You can pick the days you want to work as a substitute. Apply by visiting the lcisd website and click on careers.
Reading Jr. High Theatre Production Opportunity
Dickinson Parents: I am the Theatre teacher and director at Reading Junior High, and this spring, our musical is The Little Mermaid Jr. We are performing April 25th, 26th, and 27th at 7 pm. We wanted to get the community involved and excited about our upcoming contest, so we are holding a coloring and essay contest for the elementary schools. My students are very excited about it, and we hope yours are too!
For our Kinder and 1st graders, I've attached their coloring contest sheet, as well as for the 2nd and 3rd graders. For 4th and 5th graders, I've attached an essay prompt sheet for an essay contest. (See pdf documents below)
1st , 2nd , and 3rd place winners will receive a free ticket to our Under the Sea Dance Party on Saturday, April 27th (which also includes a ticket to that evening's show!) I've attached our flyer for that event as well that has more information. (See pdf flyer below) All entries will be displayed in our lobby area!
We need to have these in by Friday, April 12th so that we may determine a winner by Wednesday, April 17th . (Send them to Dickinson's office and we will deliver them to the theatre teacher, Ms. Cobb)
Ann Cobb
ARJH Theatre Director & Teacher
832-223-4400
April Board Meeting is on April 16th @ 6:30
Please feel free to visit www.lcisd.org to watch it online or click below to be directed to the page.
April Beanstack Reading Challenge
April will be our final Beanstack Reading Challenge for this school year.
Remember, there is a Beanstack How-To located under the Repeated Information section of the newsletter.
Dickinson Elementary Library Named Beanstack Reading Culture Trailblazer
Dickinson Elementary Library was named a Beanstack Reading Culture Trailblazer. This is the inaugural year for this award and it was awarded to libraries who had 75% or more reader participation this school year in the Beanstack app. Our library earned a $150.00 Amazon Gift Card which was used to purchase Code and Go Mice for our Dolphins to continue to practice their coding and reading skills together. Thank you to all families who support their child's reading at home and encourage them to log their reading minutes in Beanstack.
More information to come soon....
Repeated Information
Dickinson Elementary Federal Report Card for 2022-2023
Dickinson 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 Channon Almendarez at 832-223-1400 or the Lamar CISD Research, Assessment, & Accountability Office at 832-223-0136.
Clinic Reminders
Health Services - Clinic Reminders
Preventing the spread of contagious health conditions is a priority at Dickinson. Please encourage your student to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry) before eating, after using the restroom, after sneezing or coughing, and discourage them from touching the face. Keep your children home if they are sick and communicate concerns with your healthcare provider.
District policy (pg 44 Student Handbook)
LCISD encourages all students to attend school every day unless prevented by severe injury, illness, or hospitalization.
Parent should keep students' home if:
- Temperature >100.0F, are severely ill, or known to have or suspected to have a contagious health condition. **Student must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications before returning to school.**
- Vomiting 2 or more times within 24 hours, student should be free of vomiting at least 24 hours to ensure they are not contagious.
- Students with diarrhea illness must be excluded from school until they are diarrhea free for 24 hours without the use of diarrhea suppressing medication.
Medical excuse (pg 42 Student Handbook)
If a student needs to be excused from participation in physical activities for medical reasons, a written excuse from the parent must be provided if the student is to be excused for less than 2 days. If a student is to be excused form physical education activities for more than 2 days, a written excuse from the doctor is required. Coach will also need a medical release to return to physical activity with any restrictions.
Thank you for helping us keep our students healthy! Prevention is powerful 👋
Alyson Jarvis, RN
School Nurse
Dickinson Elementary
832-223-1406
fax 832-223-1401
Spring Testing Schedule
Closed Campus on Testing Dates Above
Parents and visitors are not allowed on campus during the Spring Benchmark and STAAR dates listed above. This means that visitors are not allowed to eat lunch with the students at any grade level.
Spring Book Festival - April 6, 2024
We hope to see our Dolphin Families at the Spring Book Festival on April 6, 2024. The event will be held at Terry High School from 9AM-1PM. This is a family-fun event for our elementary students and their families! Please see the flyers below and be sure to register using the QR code or bit.ly/lcisdreads so our district librarians can plan for attendance numbers. Our own librarian, Mrs. Bromonsky, will be showcasing a graphic novel event at the First Cat in Space Ate Pizza Book Experience.
2023-2024 CAR TAG
I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE! RAINY DAY DISMISSAL!
We have had several rainy day dismissals this school year. We are continuously reflecting and trying to speed up the process. Recently, we are noticing that parents are bringing their old car tags which have different numbers. Please be sure to check your car tag and be sure you have the correct one. If you need another tag, please contact the front office and we will print one for you. It is imperative that you have these tags posted in your car windshield.When we have to stop to get a name, it slows down the process. If you do not have a tag, you will be directed to go park and check out through the front office. This is to ensure the safety of all students. Thank you for your understanding! I apprecaite your support!
Tardies
Students that arrive after 7:45 are considered tardy. Please be sure to walk your child in if they arrive after that time.
After Hours Playground Vandalism
It has been reported to the front office that on the weekends we have older children on the playground making poor decisions. Please know that our Officer Nash, LCISD police, has been in contact with Fort Bend County police department to closely monitor in the evenings. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. and share information. If you see something, suspicious, please do not hesitate to call the police. Thank you!
THE BENEFITS OF GOOD SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ARRIVING ON TIME
Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class. Many of our learning opportunities include cooperative group learning. Learning is reinforced when academic vocabulary can be used in conversations with each other and the teacher. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in elementary school so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college and at work.
We have noticed that several students have earned a tardy the past few weeks. The start of the school year was amazing with little to no tardiness. As per the district handbook, students must be in the building at 7:45am. There is a 30 minute window to arrive so please evaluate if leaving your home 5 minutes earlier would be beneficial. A student's positive start of the day reduces their stress!
Safety Video
Our fence is completed. I am currently working with maintenance and operations to get some signage with hours and expectations during non-school hours.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR RON CLARK HOUSE SPONSORS!
Parent Standards of Conduct
Library Information and Reminders
Please remember that library books must be returned weekly in order for your child to check out additional books. Students also have the option to renew their book/s, if they are not finished reading them.
New this year - Book Bag: All library books are required to be stored in a 2 gallon plastic bag. On your child's first library checkout, they received their Book Bag. Please ensure your child uses this bag to help minimize water bottle and lunch kit mishaps, as these are the main causes of many non-repairable forms of damage to library books. Our goal is to decrease the number of library fines our Dolphins pay. Your child will receive a new Book Bag at the beginning of the second semester.
Beanstack Reading Challenges - How-To for Families to Log Reading Minutes
Safety
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)
SMART Tags / ID Badge
The Smart Tag is used to ride the school bus, check out library books and purchase a tray in the cafeteria. We need parents to assist us with making sure students have their badges available each school day. Work with your child's homeroom teacher as to the procedures followed in the classrooms.
It is significantly important to register your child's Smart Tag in the system which provides a great deal of additional information should your student ride the bus. Click on this link to learn more about this process: https://www.lcisd.org/departments/support-services/transportation/smart-tag-information
This link has videos on how to:
- Create a Parent Portal Account
- Create Additional Parent Portal Accounts
- Setup Phone Notifications
KINDERGARTEN PARENTS: If your student is going to ride the bus, parents are required to register their name and any other person's name (adult and/or older sibling) who have access to assist your child getting off the bus. Every person listed having this permission must have an ID on them to show the bus driver at the bus stop for your child to get off of the bus. If that person does not have their ID at the bus stop, the child will be brought back to campus to check out the student from campus.
FAQ'S:
Are SMART tag ID badges required to ride the bus?
Yes, in order to foster increased student safety and security as well as to provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading our buses, SMART tag ID badges will be required for all riders. Additionally, in order to minimize the manual review of students who misplace or forget SMART tag ID badges at home or school, those students possessing SMART tag ID badges will be allowed to board the bus first.
Lamar Students are issued Smart Tag ID cards with an electronic chip Smart sensor (please do not modify the ID cards, or place holes in the card). The student name is printed on the front of the card, and there is no student information stored on the card.
Will students be eligible to ride the bus if they lose or forget their SMART tag ID Card?
Yes. If a student does not have their smart tag at the bus, the driver must personally log them in. This is more time consuming than students tagging in and can delay a route causing anxiety or late buses down the line. This is the reason why those not having their tags are loaded and unloaded last. Manually logging in is time consuming and the compliant students should not be held up.
What are the consequences of not having your Smart Tag?
Elementary: If a student does not have his/her Smart Tag ID badge for five (5) consecutive days, the Lamar CISD Transportation Department will contact the school/campus or parent to request that a Smart Tag replacement card be purchased. Replacement cards can be requested through the campus office or via the Lamar CISD Transportation website https://lcisd.org/departments/support-services/transportation. There is a $5.00 fee to replace Smart Tag cards. Replacement cards include the Smart Tag and clear plastic sleeve. A lanyard, badge reel, or zip tie are not included.
When a student receives the maximum number of warnings allowed by the school, the student may be subject to disciplinary action which may include the suspension of transportation service.
How do I link my students together on the SMART Tag Parent Portal?
Once you have registered, you will have the option to add multiple students within the Parent Portal.
Are notifications through SMART tag available?
Yes, electronic notifications (text alerts) are available through SMART tag. The parent must be registered for the Parent Portal and the option for notifications to be turned on. There is no cost to parents to utilize the SMART tag Parent Portal. The portal may be accessed directly at https://www.parent.smart-tag.net
Will parents receive a notification when their child gets on/off the bus?
Yes. The parent must be registered for the Parent Portal to receive an alert/notification. SMART tag will deliver an electronic notification (text) approximately 10-15 minutes prior to pick-up and drop-off.
Can parents view their child’s bus route?
Yes. Parents will be able to track their child’s bus once his/her student swipes his/her SMART tag ID badge upon boarding the bus. Bus activity/tracking will remain active until the child swipes his/her SMART tag ID badge to get off the bus. Please note, parents must be registered to use the Parent Portal to view bus activity.
Can a parent see when his/her child gets on/off the bus?
Yes. The parent can view a student’s ridership activity for the entire school year. If the parent wants to review the daily history, it will take a minute from loading/unloading the bus for SMART tag to update its records due to network connectivity. Parents should be aware it may take longer if there is a poor signal or the network provider is experiencing a delay/latency issue out of Lamar CISD’s control.
Is the information regarding a student’s bus location in real time or is it delayed?
There may be a one-minute delay to process the exchange of information between the SMART tag tablet mounted on each bus and the SMART tag main server.
How does SMART tag benefit transportation departments and school administrators?
SMART tag not only provides immediate information regarding which students are on which bus, it also automates a number of reporting functions for transportation department personnel such as state headcount and mileage reports. SMART tag also provides efficient communication between the transportation department and parents.
How does SMART tag benefit drivers?
SMART tag provides the driver a student profile with a photo ID. The system enables the drivers to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively while improving overall safety and security. It also automates seating charts, maintenance requests, and other critical documentation.
How does SMART tag benefit parents?
The SMART Parent Web Portal is designed to enhance communication between the transportation department and the parents of student riders. SMART tag provides parents with improved security and leading-edge technology designed to keep students safe.
LCISD Elementary Student Handbook / District Code of Conduct
https://www.lcisd.org/departments/academics/elementary-education
HIGHLIGHTS
Technology Devices
Personal Technology Lamar CISD believes that appropriate use of students’ technology devices enhances our students’ education. Students may be asked to bring their own device to school. This includes but is not limited to: cell phones, smart phones, iPods, iPads, electronic tablets, and laptop computers. Students may use devices in class at the teacher’s discretion. Students must follow teacher, campus, and district rules and guidelines for use.
(Campus Guideline: All electronic devices stated above, including Smart Watches, must remain in the student's backpack turned off during the instructional day unless the teacher allows the student to use the device for an assignment.)
Vapes / e-cigarettes
During the last Texas Legislative session, a law was passed making it illegal for a student to be in possession of a vape / e-cigarette at school events or on campus. If a student is in found of possession of such items violating the district code of conduct, there is a mandatory placement at ALC. (Page 113 Elementary Student Handbook)
Possession Of Prohibited Items Students shall not possess or use:
(For a complete list of prohibited items see page 99 of the LCISD Elementary Handbook)
- fireworks of any kind, smoke or stink bombs, or any other pyrotechnic device
- razor, box cutter, chain, or any other object used in a way that threatens or inflicts bodily injury to another person
- “look-alike” weapon
- air gun or BB gun, firearm, stun gun
- a pocketknife or any other small knife
- mace or pepper spray
(Parents, please discuss this with your child and check your student's backpacks or pockets every once in a while. Students have shared that on the weekends they go fishing or hunting where they use a pocket knife. We simply do not want a pocket knife left in a pocket or back pack from a fun weekend trip inadvertently. If you look on page 113, there's mandatory placement to ALC if these items are brought on campus.)
Compulsory Attendance Law
Excused Absences for Compulsory Attendance
State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all work. The District shall excuse a student from attending school for the following purposes:
- Religious holy days
- Required court appearances
- Activities related to obtaining United States citizenship
- Health-Care Appointments*
- For students in the conservatorship (custody) of the state
- TAPS at Military Funeral
- Parent, Stepparent, or Legal Guardian who is an active-duty member of the uniformed services leaves for active duty
- Personal Illness**
- Death/Funeral of an Immediate Family Member
- Quarantine Absences for a student who is required to quarantine will be excused with written documentation from a medical physician or the school nurse.
*Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences related to autism services shall be excused, if the student returns to school on the same day of the appointment and brings a note from the health-care provider. A consultation over the phone or via video (telemedicine) is considered an appointment with a health care professional. However, an appointment with a school nurse does not count as an appointment with a health care professional.
**When a student is absent from school due to personal illness, the student upon return, or within 5 days of returning to school, must submit a note signed by a parent giving the date(s) and describing the reason for the absence.
Unexcused Absences
If an absence does not meet the criteria for an excused absence, the absence will be considered unexcused for attendance accounting purposes. Examples of unexcused absences includes, but are not limited to the following:
- Any absence without required documentation.
- Family trips/vacations, reunions, weddings, parent business trips.
- Non-school sponsored activities.
- Private lesson or tutoring.
- Religious retreats, camps, mission trips, and individual rites other than a religious holy Day.
- Non-enrollment days – These are days that a student is not in school due to transferring to another LCISD campus or alternative placement.
ABSENT NOTES:
Parent notes may be sent by email but must come from a parent’s verified email account. The note or email must be sent to the campus attendance clerk. Excuse notes turned in after 5 days are subject to approval by the campus principal. An excessive number of absences will be referred to the Campus Attendance Review Committee (ARC). If a student is absent 5 consecutive school days or more, a doctor’s note is required within 5 days of the student’s return to school for the absence to be excused.
MAKE-UP WORK:
It is critical for students to work with teachers when they return from an absent from school so that assignments can be completed.
Dickinson Dress Code
The culture of Dickinson Elementary includes a partnership with our community. Last year, our parents volunteered hundreds of hours to support our students and staff. We value our partnership as together we educate our dolphins. This year all volunteers are required to register as a volunteer. This includes PTO Board Members, work room volunteers, Watch Dog Dad volunteers, room parents, field day volunteers, library volunteers, and the list continues! Please visit this website to begin the process:
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the front office at 832-223-1400.
Thank you for giving the gift of time for the success of our campus! What you value, you give your time to! - Channon Almendarez
2023-2024 / 2024-2025 Instructional Calendar (2 year adoption)
Federal Report Card
Dickinson 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 Joanne Bromonsky or the Lamar CISD Research, Assessment, & Accountability Office at 832-223-0138.
The federal report card is located below for your reference.
2023-2024 Dickinson Elementary PTO Board
- April 1st: Student Holiday
- Apr. 9th: 5th Grade Rdg. STAAR
- Apr. 10th: 4th Grade Rdg. STAAR
- Apr. 11th: 3rd Grade Rdg. STAAR
- Apr. 16th: LCISD Board Meeting @ 6:30
- Apr. 17th: 5th Grade Science STAAR
- Apr. 23rd: 5th Grade Math STAAR
- Apr. 24th: 4th Grade Math STAAR/ SBMT Meeting (3:30-4:30)
- Apr. 25th: 3rd Grade Math STAAR
- Apr. 26th: Dickinson PTO Bingo Night (5:30-8:00)
- Apr. 30th: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at 8:00 in the Library
- May 2nd: PK/Kinder Round Up @ 5:30
- May 7th: Multicultural Night @ Reading Junior High 6:00-7:30
- May 20th: Principal/AP/Counselor for the Days
- May 21st: 5th Grade Awards
- May 22nd: ECSE-4th Grade Awards
- May 23rd: Early Release / Last Day of School
- May 24th: Summer Begins