Tiger Talk
09/27/22
All School Pep Rally Friday, September 30
We will hold an all-school pep rally this Friday in our school gym from 7:40 - 8:00 am. Parents are welcome to attend.
If attending, please consider avoiding long security check-in lines by sending your RSVP here. Otherwise, please be sure to bring your photo ID with you and allow time to obtain your visitor's security badge at one of our sign-in kiosks in the Front Office.
And, Friday is the last day for families to join the PTO during our "dunk Mrs. Russ" PTO membership drive. If you have not already joined our PTO, this would be a great opportunity to help your Tiger's classroom to win the right to dunk me. With this heat, I'm actually looking forward to it!
With warmest regards,
Amy Russ, Principal
Board Action Reinforces Commitment to Student & School Safety
Dear Lake Travis ISD Staff, Parents and Guardians,
During Wednesday night’s school board meeting, our trustees approved two action items that will further support student and campus safety.
First, the board adopted a resolution authorizing the Lake Travis ISD administration to apply for the Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program. The recent tragedy in Uvalde emphasizes the importance of security in public schools. In response, the State of Texas authorized certain grant programs in order to improve the ability of public schools to respond to emergencies. One of these programs is the Bullet-Resistant Shield Program which provides funding for ballistic shields to be used by police officers employed by the District. In the event of a shooting, these ballistic shields will provide extra protection to our police officers.
Secondly, our school board voted to amend local policy that will allow the District to purchase, store, and administer opioid antagonists such as Naloxone (also known as Narcan) in the event of a drug-related overdose—in particular, fentanyl. Only a registered nurse or other designated and trained District employee will be authorized to administer this medication and may do so only in accordance with a standing order or procedures approved by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas.
While we are not aware of any fentanyl overdoses at Lake Travis ISD, we know that the greater Austin community has been impacted. We want you to be informed of this crisis and partner with us to create awareness. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain. Under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, fentanyl has a legitimate medical use. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s website, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often the ingredient used in counterfeit pills sold as something else like Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone. It is important to note that while fentanyl may be present in pills, it can also be found in more commonly used products such as vape cartridges. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies are reporting that many who overdose on fentanyl believe they were taking something to help ease their anxiety. When someone is experiencing a fentanyl overdose, they might experience dizziness, weakness of the muscles, slow and shallow breathing, and unconsciousness. Fentanyl is highly potent. In fact, a dose the size of the tip of a pencil is considered a lethal amount.
The DEA is especially advising the public of an alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl, referred to as “rainbow fentanyl,” available across the United States. Drug traffickers have made these pills look like candy, coming in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes, in an effort to appeal to kids and young adults. We encourage parents to communicate the dangers of fentanyl to their children. Anyone can anonymously report or notify school officials of incidents or actions which may pose a danger to individuals or the school during or outside the instructional day through our Cavs Who Care tip line.
All LTISD campus nurses and police officers will be equipped with Narcan which can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes. Narcan has proven to be a highly-effective, life-saving treatment when administered during an emergency. You can learn more about this medication at www.narcan.com.
At no other time have school safety and security been at the forefront of our daily operations as they are today. We know you expect nothing less. It is imperative that Lake Travis ISD take proactive measures to ensure response and care can be provided as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency occurring on school property. On behalf of our school board and the administration, thank you for your continued support and partnership. Working together, we will keep our students and schools safe.
Sincerely,
Paul Norton
Superintendent of Schools
State of Texas Provides Child ID Fingerprint Kits for All Students in Grades K - 8
The National Child ID Program was passed in this last legislative session under Senate Bill 2158 (Child ID Kits for Safe Recovery Act). This program provides parents with children in grades K-8th inkless I.D. kits for safekeeping in case of an emergency. The kits are voluntary, kept at home (so the information is not stored in a central database unless it is submitted by the parents,) and may be turned into law enforcement in an effort to locate their missing child.
The hope is the kits will never have to be used, but if an emergency occurs, information from the kit could directly lead to the safe recovery of a missing child. This is an at home fingerprint kit and it is to be done and stored at home. All of the information and instructions are on the kit that we recently sent home with our Tigers..
WCHE 3rd - 5th Grade Students EnGOLFIng Learning
On Friday, September 23, our very own West Cypress Hills Elementary Gifted and
Talented/Discovery students (grades 3- 5) came together with other GT elementary students across the district to share their most recent project; student-created themed mini putt-putt ourses. The student “golf outing” came just prior to the annual LTEF Golf Scramble, making a connection between our school community and our neighborhood community.
Students interacted with one another by sharing their creative courses and by “playing a game of golf” at the City of Bee Cave Central Park. Parents of students and District representatives such as Amanda Prehn, Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, were also present to show their interest in student work and warm-up their golf swing prior to the LTEF event.
This project enabled the students to tap into various skills and express themselves creatively while aligning with the GT framework. It provided opportunities to work together
collaboratively, to engage in research and understand content-specific vocabulary, critically
analyze cause and effect, problem solve, manipulate objects in a new way and explore alternative functions of ordinary objects, etc.
The experience from start to finish was a hole in one!
Fall Picture Day is Thursday, October 6
Our Tigers will have individual school pictures made in our school Library on Thursday, October 6. Our photo sessions will be done during the school day beginning at 8 am and ending at 11:30 am.
If your Tiger cannot make it to Picture Day on October 6, no worries! We have a Picture Retake Day already scheduled for Thursday, November 17.
Tiger fall photo packages can be ordered online at your convenience at mylifetouch.com using our picture day ID EVT6MRWSJ. Paper order forms are also going home with students. If you'd prefer to order your pictures using the order form, please complete it, enclose your payment, and return the envelope to the classroom teacher.
Discovery/Gifted and Talented Program - Parent Referrals Due by October 21
Attention LTISD Parents and Guardians,
The Discovery Program, otherwise known as Gifted and Talented, is now accepting parent referrals for GT Screening via this google form.
Transfer students, who were already identified as GT coming from their previous district, should submit their google form as soon as possible, as the transfer student screening will be set within 30 days of the first day of school. Parents should send proof of their child's selection/participation in the previous GT program directly to the campus GT coordinator.
Parents can submit referrals for screening up until the end of the first 9 weeks, by October 21, 2022. Students will be tested during the 2nd 9 weeks of instruction. If the referral and permission forms are not submitted by the deadline, the student will have to wait until the next year's screening opportunity, as the spring screening session is only for students moving in new to the district after the fall testing window is closed.
The forms and further information about the program can be found here.
Once the request is submitted through the google form, the campus GT coordinator will contact parents via email when the testing dates are set and share additional information. Please plan to attend the Virtual Elementary GT Parent Event on October 14, at 11:30 AM, for an informative presentation about the program along with a Q&A session with your campus GT teacher.
You are also welcome to contact your campus GT coordinator directly, at any time, with questions. The West Cypress GT coordinator is Ms. Natalie Nowrocki.
Thank you,
Amanda Prehn | Director of Elementary Curriculum & Instruction
District GT Coordinator | Phone: 512.533.5761 | prehna@ltisdschools.org
Now Hiring!
WCHE is continuing to hire for this school year. Perhaps, one of our open positions is perfect for you! Currently, we are looking for full-time instructional aides.
To view the LTISD employment website, click here!
Upcoming Events
By 09/30/22............Join the PTO & Help Dunk Ms. Russ!
09/30/22.................Tiger Pep Rally @ 7:40 am in the Gym Please RSVP if attending.
10/04/22................LTISD Anxiety & Depression 101 Google Meeting 6 - 7 pm
10/05/22.................WCHE Spirit Night @ Angel's 6 - 9 pm!
10/06/22.................Fall Picture Day!
10/06/22.................LTCL Book Mobile @ West Cypress Park 3 - 5 pm
10/07/22.................Student Holiday!! No School for Students Today!
10/10/22.................Student Holiday!! No School for Students Today!
10/11 - 10/21/22.....APEX Leadership Team on Campus!
10/12/22.................Community Bond Presentation via Zoom noon to 1 pm
10/14/22.................Virtual GT Parent Event 11:30 am
10/20/22.................APEX Fun Run! RSVP
10/20/22.................LTCL Book Mobile @ West Cypress Park 3 - 5 pm
10/21/22.................Parent GT Referrals Due by Today
10/27/22.................1st Grade Celebrates 50th Day with Sock Hop
10/27/22.................PTO General Assembly 9 am, Superintendent Norton to Speak RSVP
10/28/22.................Book Character Parade
10/28/22.................Tiger Pep Rally in the Gym 7:40 am RSVP
10/31/22.................Student Holiday!! No School for Students!
Useful Links
West Cypress Hills Elementary
Email: WCHPrincipal@ltisdschools.org
Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/Domain/16
Phone: 512-533-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools
Twitter: @principalwch