The Lake Ridge Bridge
April 23, 2022
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From the Principal
Hopefully this message finds you well and in good spirits. Last week was a productive one that had some slight roadblocks. We experienced difficulty with technology; however, our teachers and scholars persevered to engage in relevant activities since the testing schedule needed to change. We celebrated our Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Hryekewicz, and our STEM Teacher of the Year Finalist, Mr. Gaines, at the district's annual celebration. During the event, others were recognized for service including our lead Custodian, Ms. Rosalia Herrera who has 20 years, and retirees were recognized as well including one of our speech pathologists, Ms. Hernandez. It was a great night of recognition, and we were glad to be in attendance with them.
The efforts and dedication continued on as we ended our week with our final STEM Club activities for this inaugural year. A huge thank you goes out to Ms. C. Williams and Mrs. Maglott who served and put forth much effort to ensure our STEM Clubs ran smoothly and scholars and teachers had the necessary supplies. They rock!
Unfortunately, no grade level met the attendance goal (96%) for the week of April 18. We hope all scholars who were absent are doing well, and parents are encouraged to contact the Main Office regarding absences within three (3) days.
This upcoming week, we will participate in trivia during morning announcements, continue receiving talent show submissions, continue on with our Read-A-Thon, complete EOY MAP assessments, engage in various instruction and learning, and take part in intervention/enrichment groups. We will end the week with Enrichment Clubs during the instructional day and our Spring Fling Dance from 5:00-7:00 p.m. If you have not already done so, please RSVP so that we can plan accordingly.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A044BA4A72CA3FA7-lake2
If you have not already started 2022-2023 registration, head on over to www.chisd.net/register. This is currently available for new and returning scholars. If you have a child who you would like to enroll in general education Pre-K, be able to complete the registration process as soon as you can because seats are limited. If all seats at Lake Ridge are filled, the district will offer another campus. Those who qualify based on the established criteria attend for free, and those who do not qualify will be tuition-based.
As a reminder, please make sure that you send your child to school daily with a refillable water bottle, and if you want your child to wear a face mask, be sure to send it to school (along with a backup because accidents happen).
Be sure to keep the following dates(s) in mind:
- April 7-22: Read-A-Thon
- April 11-27: Talent Show Video Submissions
- April 19-29: NWEA/MAP End of Year Assessments & Makeups
- April 27: Administrative Professionals' Day
- April 29: Enrichment Clubs
- April 29: Spring Fling Dance 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Question to Pose to Your Child: How do you respond when things do not go your way?
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
CHISD Choice Program: Montessori at Lake Ridge
Assistant Principal Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are nearing the end of the school year. With that being said, below is the list of upcoming end of year assessments.
1. End of Year MAP tests- Grades K-5 (April 19-29)
We will be looking to see how scholars grew in Reading, Math, and Science. Please make sure that your child/children bring their Chromebooks charged daily.
2. STAAR Assessments- Grades 3-5 (May 17-19)
Parents of scholars in grades 3-5, be sure to come to our STAAR Parent Night on April 7th @6:30 p.m.
Continue to encourage your child/children to believe that they can achieve academic excellence. Thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Washington
Guidance Services
Find Your Future Career Fair
Lake Ridge Elementary will host its annual career fair on Monday, May 23rd. Please assist me with promoting the career fair to friends, family, and community members in an effort to have a variety of occupations represented for little Longhorns. Find Your Future will be held in the school gym. Each participant will be provided a space to set up props, presentations, or give-aways. All professions are welcomed! Please click the hyperlink below, if you would like to present at our annual career fair.
Find Your Future Registration.
Autism Acceptance Month
NEHS presented information to the student body and faculty during morning announcements in the month of April. NEHS will wrap up Autism Awareness month with an Autism Trivia the week of April 25th. Scholars will compete for a chance to win special treats. NEHS morning essays and presenters can be found here.
Gifted & Talented Notifications
The Lake Ridge GT Committee met on April 19th to confirm recommendations provided by the district's GT Committee. Parents and teachers of nominated students were notified of the results. Parents please check your email for Gifted & Talented Qualification Results. The next nomination period for scholars in Grades K-5 will take place during Fall 2022. If you have questions about GT instruction or committee recommendations, please contact Natalie Garrett at natalie.garrett@chisd.net.
April Guidance Focus
- Resolving Conflicts
- Social Awareness
Counseling & Guidance Services: LRE Guidance Office
Counseling Request Form: LRE Counseling Request Form
School Counselor: Rashonda.Johnson@chisd.net
CIS Facilitator: Christopher.Coit@chisd.net
Upcoming Events
Attendance
Attendance Incentives
Class Perfect Attendance: Each scholar in a class has an opportunity to receive an incentive once the class spells out A-T-T-E-N-D-A-N-C-E (a letter will be earned each day the homeroom class has perfect attendance). This is ongoing and repeats.
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 Mrs. Cooke, Attendance Clerk, at frances.cooke@chisd.net 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.
Walkers should not be dropped off via car. To be a walker, that means the scholar walks to the campus from his/her residence.
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.
Walkers should not be picked up via car. To be a walker, that means the scholar walks to his/her residence from the campus.
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
Birthday Recognition
If you would like to recognize your child at school on his/her birthday that falls on a school day, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher so that he/she can notify the office. On your child's birthday, you may drop off store bought cupcakes or packaged fruit and individual juice/water at the time indicated by the teacher if you have communicated with the teacher. If your child's birthday falls on a weekend or on a non-school day for students, no alternate arrangements will be made.
Arrangements should be made prior to the child's birthday so that the teacher can verify that it will not interrupt scheduled class activities.
Montessori
Birthdays in Montessori Primary and Lower Elementary are generally celebrated with an activity called "Walk Around the Sun". Each classroom, including Upper Elementary, has their own way of celebrating birthdays which is communicated by the classroom teacher.
Self-Care
Helpful Resources
CHISD C.A.R.E.S. & CHISD KUDOS
CHISD C.A.R.E.S
Unfortunately, there are times when a member of the Longhorn Family experiences a death. Employees, or families of scholars or former CHISD employees who wish to share the information are asked to complete the CHISD CARES (Cares About Retirees Employees & Scholars) form. The CHISD Communications Office handles all CHISD C.A.R.E.S submissions and shares the information via email to all staff. C.A.R.E.S notifications will be sent out by the end of the day that the form was received; if the submission is received after 2:30 p.m. it might not be sent out until the following business day.
The C.A.R.E.S form is available on the communications page of chisd.net. Here is a direct link.
CHISD KUDOS
The CHISD Communications Department loves to share the positive experiences and interactions happening across the district.
If you want to share some kudos for a parent, employee or scholar who exhibits the Longhorn Essentials, please email a description/information to webmaster@chisd.net and you might see your kudos on one of the district’s social media accounts.
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
- April 7-22: Read-A-Thon
- April 11-27: Talent Show Video Submissions
- April 19-29: NWEA/MAP End of Year Assessments & Makeups
- April 27: Administrative Professionals' Day
- April 29: Enrichment Clubs
- April 29: Spring Fling Dance 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- May 2-5: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 11: School Nurse Appreciation Day
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