The Lake Ridge Bridge
August 28, 2021
Need translation other than English? At the bottom of the newsletter, a bar will appear. You will be able to translate the newsletter to your desired language.
ÂżNecesita traducciĂłn aparte del inglĂ©s? Al final del boletĂn, aparecerá un bar. Podrás traducir el boletĂn a tu idioma deseado.
From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. The week was a productive one, and a lot was accomplished. Scholars received new lessons/presentations and reviewed and reinforced previous content. Chromebooks are in the process of being distributed to scholars, and every scholar will receive one. 100% of our faculty have joined the Lake Ridge PTA, and information will be sent home for parents/guardians interested in joining. Our NEHS, under the leadership of Counselor Johnson, partnered with Dr. Washington and Mr. Coit to prepare to operate our LRE Store; scholars will be able to use their LRE bucks to purchase items (see Dr. Washington's message for additional information). This is one of many efforts to provide incentives and rewards for scholars. A special shout out goes to the Lindley family for providing treats to our faculty this week.
We appreciate our parent volunteers, and if you would like to volunteer to assist with morning arrival, please click on this link to create an account and sign up for the opportunity.
This week, the race for excellence continues with engaging instruction and hands-on learning experiences. Scholars will also complete beginning of the year (BOY) universal screeners. These assessments are important because the data is used to create small groups to target specific needs.
As a reminder, we adhere to the guidelines shared by the district, and those can be located via this link. Here are some safety measures that continue to remain in place at Lake Ridge:
- All are encouraged to wear a face mask.
- Each classroom has a sink/soap dispenser.
- Each classroom/common space area has a sanitizer dispenser.
- Disinfectant supplies are provided.
- Touchless water fountains are available to refill water bottles (regular water fountains are disabled).
- Additional face masks (small and large) are available for scholars who may forget/damage theirs.
- Safety reminders are provided frequently.
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- August 30: Progress Report #1 Posts (traditional report cards only)
- September 3: College Colors Day (represent your favorite college)
- September 6: Labor Day/No School
Question to Pose to Your Child: What can you do if you experience a challenge?
Read on below for scenes from the week, updates from our AP, information regarding counseling & guidance, upcoming events, and other helpful resources.
Always remember that "The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line."
Principal McCullum
#LRENoFinishLine
#LakeRidgeNation
#LakeRidgeMontessori
#GraceChangesEverything
Scenes from the Week
Updates from Our AP
Greetings, Parents/Guardians!
You can still drop off any toys, chips, or candy for the LRE Store. Remember that scholars are earning "bucks" to shop at the store. The LRE store will open on September 7, 2021. Check out some of the NEHS scholars who are helping organize for the grand opening!
On another note, the NWEA MAP growth assessment window runs August 30-September 24. A letter was sent home on Friday that provided information about the growth assessments as well as an opportunity for your child to practice. Please encourage your child to do their best and come ready every day.
Thanks again for all of your support!
Dr. Washington
Counseling & Guidance Corner
College Color Day is September 3rd. Scholars may rep their favorite college shirt or wear college colors to promote a college bound culture. College Spirit Week will be held September 20-24, 2021. More information to come in the coming weeks.
Upcoming Events
2021-2022 Registration
Attendance
Attendance Incentives
Attendance Notes
- Notes regarding an absence must be brought to the office within three days of the absence; parents can also enter via Family Access. Notes should include the scholar's full name, date of absence, and signature/date of parent/guardian.
- You can email Principal McCullum for any attendance questions or concerns.
- If the method of your child getting home needs to change, notify the Main Office or your child’s teacher by 2:00 p.m. so that there is enough time to communicate the change to your child. If e-mailing the teacher, include an administrator in case the teacher is absent on that particular day.
- 2:45 p.m. is the latest that a scholar may be checked out due to preparation for dismissal.
Reminders
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Morning Arrival Procedures:
Doors open daily at 7:15 a.m.
Scholars arriving by bus will enter through Door #14.
Scholars in Pre-K & their siblings will enter through Door #12.
Scholars in ECSE/SKILL & their siblings will enter through Door #11.
All other scholars (car riders and walkers), will enter through Door #1/Main Entrance.
- Vehicles may enter the school driveway via the back/second driveway that runs behind the building and form one line.
- Only those going to the Main Office or dropping off with the classes indicated for Door #11 and Door #12 should enter the main driveway.
Parents should follow the arrows that indicate the flow of traffic, and drop off only in the lane next to the sidewalk. Children should not be dropped off in the center lane to ensure safety.
After the first day of school, parents will not be able to walk their children to their classrooms. All parents & visitors must report directly to the Main Office.
Dismissal Procedures:
Dismissal occurs daily at 3:00 p.m.
Scholars in Pre-K & their siblings will exit through Door #12.
Scholars in SKILL & their siblings will exit through Door #11.
Scholars who ride the bus or walk home will exit through Door #14.
Scholars picked up via Private Daycare transportation will exit through Door #1.
Scholars who are picked up by car will exit through Door #5 (remain in cafeteria until called).
Parents may enter the school driveway via the back/second driveway that runs behind the building and form one line.
As the cars approach the pick-up area, the scholars will be called outside and will wait for a faculty member to load them into the cars.
Anyone picking up a scholar must have the color-coded card prominently displayed. If the card is not present, then the scholars(s) will be sent to the front office, and the driver will need to show proper identification.
Parents, please stay in your car at all times. Children will not be released if a parent walks up to the cafeteria door.
Only those going to the Main Office for appointments or picking up with the classes indicated for Door #11 and Door #12 should enter the main driveway.
If there is a change in how a scholar regularly gets home, please call the Main Office or email Principal McCullum AND Dr. Washington by 2:00 p.m. This will help avoid confusion.
The latest time to check a scholar out via the Main Office is 2:45 p.m. After that time, please wait until the regularly scheduled dismissal.
If your child is in Right at School, remember that checkout begins after 3:30 p.m.; that occurs at Door #5.
The picture below shows how to properly place your car tag(s) for dismissal:
Driveway #1: Yellow
Driveway #2: Orange
K-5: Green Line (morning arrival=Door #1; dismissal=door #5)
ECSE/PK/SKILL: Blue Line
Main Office/Parking: Red Line
Message from 8.18.2021
Hello, Lake Ridge Family!
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. Thank you so much for having your car tag present and visible during our dismissal. This allows for a smoother process. Your patience is greatly appreciated because the majority of our scholars are car riders, and we aim to get scholars loaded in a safe and timely manner.
Here's how you can help this process continue to go smoothly:
- Have your car tag placed up high on the passenger side of your windshield DAILY, and leave it there until your child has been loaded in the vehicle. Regardless of who the announcer is, he/she needs to be able to see your car tag.
- Request a car tag via the shared form if you do not have one. Be sure to check your child's backpack because many were sent home on the first two days.
- Pay attention to the instructions being provided by our faculty.
- Pull over and park in a parking spot if you need to buckle in your child after being loaded.
- Understand that inclement weather will cause delays, but we will continue to get your child loaded safely.
- Remember that Right at School pickup begins at 3:30 p.m.
- Communicate any changes in dismissal methods for your child to the Main Office by 2:00 p.m. so that there is time to get the information relayed to your child's teacher.
As a campus, our goal is to finish our car line by 3:15 p.m., and this is possible when we all work together and exhibit patience. We actually achieved this goal on Tuesday, August 17, so it is possible.
After 3:16 p.m. if the exterior doors are closed for our regular dismissal, you will need to come to the Main Entrance (Door #1) WITH your ID.
Again, thank you for your cooperation and partnering with us. As always, remember that "The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line".
Sincerely,
Principal McCullum
Self-Care
Helpful Resources
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 schedule a conference.
Step Two: Contact the Assistant Principal (all behavioral/discipline issues) or Counselor (mental health/academic advisement).
Step Three: Contact the Principal.
When emailing or calling the Main Office, it is helpful to provide details so that the inquiry is directed to the correct individual. No in-person meetings are taking place at this time.
Upcoming Activities/Events
- Ongoing: 2021-2022 Registration
- August 30: Progress Report #1 Posts (traditional report cards only)
- September 3: College Colors Day
- September 6: Labor Day/No School
- September 9: Virtual Open House/Title I Meeting at 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- September 17: Staff Development Day/No School for Scholars
Lake 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