The Weekly Update #4

Spring brings a renewed sense of energy and possibility across the Lemoore Union Elementary School District. As we move through the final trimester of the 2025–2026 school year, our campuses continue to be filled with meaningful learning, student achievement, and the strong sense of community that defines LUESD. This edition of our district newsletter highlights many of the experiences, accomplishments, and celebrations that make our schools such special places for students and families.

At the heart of our work is a shared commitment to ensuring the success of EACH ONE of our students. Every day, our teachers, staff, and administrators dedicate themselves to creating learning environments where students are supported academically, socially, and emotionally. That commitment continues to guide our district’s work and was reflected during our recent professional development day, where staff focused on strengthening a culture centered on Learning and Belonging. Through collaboration, professional learning, and continued refinement of instructional and behavioral supports, our teams are working together to ensure that every student feels valued, connected, and empowered to learn.

This spring has already brought many opportunities for students to grow, explore their interests, and showcase their talents. From participation in elementary and middle school athletics, to celebrating literacy through Read Across America Day, to impressive performances in music competitions, sporting events, and the District and Kings County Spelling Bee competitions, our students continue to demonstrate perseverance, creativity, and pride in their accomplishments. These experiences reflect the well-rounded opportunities we strive to provide for every student in LUESD.

We are also proud to recognize our LUESD Employees of the Year, whose dedication and passion help shape the positive experiences our students have each day. Their commitment exemplifies the collaborative spirit and excellence that continue to move our district forward.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in our schools. Educating the children of our community is both a responsibility and a privilege that we value deeply. As we approach Spring Break from March 30 – April 6, I wish all of our students, families, and staff a safe and restful break. We look forward to returning refreshed and continuing the important work ahead as we finish the school year strong.

Together, through our shared commitment to learning, belonging, and opportunity, we will continue to inspire, support, and empower EACH ONE of our students to reach their fullest potential.

Happy Spring Break!

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hunt, Superintendent

We are pleased to announce our Lemoore Union Elementary School District Employee of the Year

• Jeanette Clodfelter, District Nurse - Employee of the Year!
• Karen Anacleto, Teacher at Engvall Elementary - Teacher of the Year!
• Darrin Cooper, Director of Technology - Administrator of the Year!

The Lemoore Elementary Girls Soccer team completed their undefeated season on January 29th. The Lady Lions received medals and the perpetual trophy. MVP was awarded to Delayza Hernandez, Lillian Rodriguez was named Most Improved and Coach’s award went to Camila Rodriguez Cardenas.

From January to March, the students at Lemoore Elementary got a chance to attend various field trips. Our 6th grade students are attending SCICON. TK students got the chance to visit the Lemoore Fire Station, 2nd graders visited the Fossil Discovery Museum, and 1st graders visited the Zoo. They experienced interactive exhibits that sparked curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth with hands-on activities.

Each month students are nominated by their teachers and are celebrated for showing one of the markers of ROAR. ROAR stands for RESPECT, ON-TASK, ACHIEVE, RESPONSIBILITY. We honor students for showing one of these traits at our Lion of the Month breakfast. Parents and family are invited to see their child receive their award and have breakfast with them. Students receive a certificate with their picture, a 20 dollar ROAR buck for our school ROAR store and a gift certificate from a local business.

The new Little Free Library at Lemoore Elementary is a community-driven book exchange designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading. Located conveniently at the crosswalk in front of the school; it serves as a 24/7 accessible resource for students, families, and neighbors. The Lemoore Rotary Club donated and installed this library as part of a larger initiative to support early childhood literacy in Lemoore

How It Works

These neighborhood libraries operate on an honor system with a simple "take a book, share a book" philosophy:

• Take a Book: Anyone is welcome to browse the selection and take a book home to keep or return later. There are no library cards, late fees, or checkout limits.

• Share a Book: If you have gently used books that your family has outgrown, you can drop them off to stock the library for others.

• No Obligation: You do not need to leave a book in order to take one.

University Charter School continues to foster a positive and engaging environment through its Hawk HERO culture. Students enjoyed memorable events like the Turkey Trot and Jingle Bell Run, while Fun Fridays remain a favorite tradition that rewards positive behavior and encourages connection. ASB also played a big role in boosting school spirit with activities like Valentine’s Day Candy Grams and a student dance.

UCS students continue to excel academically and take pride in their accomplishments. This trimester, students will be recognized as Hawk Scholars (3.0–3.79 GPA) and Dean’s List honorees (3.8–4.0 GPA). Weekly and monthly recognitions—including Hawk Hero, Student of the Month, and Golden Hawk awards—highlight student success.
In addition, UCS students have collectively read over 500,000 pages this school year, and several 8th graders have taken the next step by enrolling in dual enrollment courses after a presentation from Lemoore College.

Middle school students had the opportunity to participate in boys and girls soccer and basketball, building teamwork and school pride. UCS also celebrated strong student representation in the Kings County Spelling Bee, where participants ranked among the top in the county.
Beyond campus, students and staff showcased their Hawk Pride by earning 2nd place in the local Christmas Parade—with sights set on first place next year!

UCS continues to grow programs that support the whole child. The after-school program has expanded, increasing student participation from about 15 to over 20 students. The 4-H program is also thriving with new additions including a fenced animal area, chicken coop, and student gardens growing a variety of crops, with spring planting just around the corner.
Students are also benefiting from new electives and tutorial classes, supported by peer tutors from Lemoore Middle College High School.

Engvall’s basketball season has come to an exciting close! Both the girls’ and boys’ teams had fantastic seasons and represented our school with pride, determination, and great sportsmanship.

The girls’ basketball team, coached by Ms. Ramirez, finished the season strong with an impressive record of 5 wins and 3 losses. The boys’ basketball team, coached by Ms. Salcedo, also had an outstanding season, ending with an excellent record of 6 wins and 2 losses.

Our Engvall staff and students are incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and teamwork shown by both teams throughout the season. Congratulations to all of our players and coaches on a successful and memorable season!

The Engvall Student Council plays an important role in building school spirit and strengthening connections among Engvall students and families. Throughout the year, the council has organized and supported several engaging events, including a Movie Night, two Bingo Nights, the Fall Carnival, and a variety of schoolwide dress-up days. They are currently planning the upcoming Engvall Family Paint Night, which took place on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. Student Council members are selected through a peer election process for officer positions, and each classroom in grades 4th, 5th, and 6th is represented by two student representatives. Together, these students collaborate throughout the year to plan meaningful activities and ensure that Engvall students and families have opportunities to participate in fun, memorable school events that help strengthen the Engvall community.

Transitional Kindergarten classes visited the Lemoore Fire Station to learn about their community. Kindergarten classes have an upcoming field trip scheduled for April 8. First graders explored animals at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, while second graders discovered the world of dinosaurs at the Fossil Discovery Center. Third graders experienced farm life during Kings County Farm Day and also visited Burris Park to learn about nature. Fourth graders traveled to Harris Stage Lines in Paso Robles to study California history. Fifth graders explored ocean life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and sixth graders will attend Scicon later this spring.

These experiences provide valuable, hands-on opportunities that help bring grade-level content to life. We are grateful to the many parents who volunteer their time to chaperone and support these trips.

In honor of Read Across America our students and staff gathered at Freedom Park to celebrate the joy of reading together. It was a beautiful day, and students spread out across the park to find cozy spots to dive into their favorite books. Many students also enjoyed reading alongside their book buddies and sharing stories.

We were grateful to have several special guests join us for this celebration of literacy. Members of the Liberty Middle School Student Council spent time reading with our students and sharing their enthusiasm for books. We were also excited to welcome the Lemoore Police Department, whose officers took time to read with our students and encourage a love of reading. We also welcomed members of the Lemoore Rotary Club.

This special event wrapped up a week filled with fun dress-up days and exciting guest readers as part of our reading celebration. At Freedom Elementary, the Jets love to read!

Our students are having an incredible year of field trips, and we would like to extend a huge thank you to LUESD for making these experiences possible for every student in our district.

So far, our students have explored many exciting destinations, including SCICON, the Fossil Discovery Center, Chaffee Zoo, Burris Park, the Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department, Harris Stage Lines, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Each trip has allowed students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences while exploring new places.

And the adventure doesn’t stop there! We still have more amazing trips ahead, including visits to Imagine U, the Storybook Garden, and Farm Day in the coming weeks.

These field trips have provided invaluable learning experiences for our students and created memorable moments for our staff and parent volunteers who help make these opportunities possible. At Freedom Elementary, learning goes beyond the classroom!

Students in grades K–6 are enjoying art lessons right in their classrooms this year. We are excited to have Mr. Rocker working with our 6th-grade students and Mrs. Meagher teaching art to our students in grades 3rd–5th.

Our youngest learners in grades K–2 are also getting creative through special art lessons provided by the King's Art Center. These experiences allow students to explore different artistic techniques, express their creativity, and build confidence in their artistic abilities.

We are grateful to our talented instructors and community partners for helping bring the arts to our students at Freedom Elementary!

At Freedom Elementary, our school commitments guide everything we do. Miss Cervantes brings these commitments to life through the care and dedication she shows our Freedom Jets. Miss Cervantes loves spending time with her 4th-grade students and is often seen sharing her lunch period with them, taking time to get to know who they are and what they enjoy both inside and outside of the classroom. Her dedication extends beyond the school day, as she frequently attends weekend activities to support and cheer on her students. She is also excited to coach track this year and has been supporting students as an after-school tutor. Miss Cervantes truly embodies our commitment to Every Student, showing what it means to support our students with dedication, high expectations, and excellence every day.

For the fourth year in a row Cinnamon participated in The Great Kindness Challenge. The Great Kindness Challenge creates a culture of kindness by focusing on teaching students about kindness and completing and recognizing acts of kindness. The theme for this year was “Show Us Your Kind.” Students from TK through 6th grade had the opportunity to spread kindness by sharing smiles, expressing gratitude, and performing thoughtful acts of compassion and kindness through various activities. In addition, students won prizes including medals,

stickers, and books. Cinnamon was recognized as a Kindness Certified School. We want the whole community to see our kindness in action!

Celebrating students is important for fostering motivation, confidence, self-esteem, in students. Acknowledging their accomplishments, whether big or small, helps students feel valued, boosts their self-esteem and encourages a growth mindset. At Cinnamon, individual classes recognize students for achievements as well as school wide recognitions that celebrate students daily, weekly, and monthly. Daily morning announcements include Way to Go’s that recognize both academic and behavioral accomplishments for students. Monthly Student of the Month celebrations recognize one student from each class for SOARing at school. Soaring Eagle Day

occurs several times throughout the year and celebrates students who consistently

demonstrate good behavior. Attendance challenges encourage the class with the best attendance to earn a reward. Most recently, Principal For a Day spotlights a student who demonstrated SOAR or kindness on campus. These celebrations validate the hard work of our students and reinforce positive values for our Eagles.

Read Across America celebrations just happened! This week was a week during which students read and learn about Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated more than 60 children’s books. His books are famous for rhymes and quirky characters and have influenced generations of readers. Read Across America celebrates Dr. Seuss by promoting literacy and building community by bringing kids, educators, and families together around books. During this week we had guest readers, trivia contests, dress up days and a door decorating contest centered around the titles of Dr. Seuss’ books. We ended the week with Storybook Character Day in which students and staff dressed as a favorite book character.

Our 7th and 8th graders recently traded the classroom for San Jose and San Francisco. Our 7th grade students visited the Tech Interactive Museum in San Jose and had a fantastic time exploring and learning. The museum featured a wide range of exhibits on topics like robotics, space exploration, and biotechnology. We hope it helped spark curiosity and inspired creativity in our students.

Our 8th grade students went to the San Francisco Exploratorium. From physics to perception, their enthusiasm was infectious as they engaged with the world around them in new and exciting ways. Thank you to all the parents, staff, and our LUESD board for giving our students an opportunity to attend these locations this year.

Six talented students from Liberty represented our school at the Tulare Kings County Music Educators Association (TKMEA) Honor Band. Out of a competitive field of applicants, these students were among only 80 selected via audition to participate. Their hard work culminated in a wonderful performance at the LJ Williams Auditorium at Redwood High School.

We are incredibly proud of these musicians for their dedication and for representing Liberty: Joelle Geldore - Flute/Piccolo, Sophia Calderon-Yanez - Clarinet, Nick Vazquez - Clarinet, Sophie Salinas - Trumpet, Antonio Menjivar- Tenor Sax, and Theodore Hubilla - Tenor Sax. We are so proud of all your hard work and dedication!

Congratulations to Mary Sadac and Joelle Geldore for proudly representing Liberty Middle School at the Kings County Spelling Bee. Both students demonstrated the incredible results of months of disciplined preparation. We are beyond proud of the dedication, preparation, and hard work they put in to make it to this level of competition.

Mary did an outstanding job representing the 7th grade and showed great confidence and determination throughout the competition. Joelle gave a stellar performance and earned 1st place for our 8th graders. What an amazing accomplishment! We are so proud of you both for representing our school with such PRIDE and determination.

For Read Across America week, some of our 7th grade ASB students visited Freedom Elementary School to serve as book buddies for younger students, during their school wide reading event.

Watching our 7th graders sit and patiently sound out words with their younger buddies, reminded us all that reading is more than just a skill; it’s a bridge between generations. We’re so proud of our ASB students for leading with kindness and showing that you're never too old (or too young) to get lost in a good story. Thank you to Freedom Elementary for this wonderful opportunity to share our love of reading with the next generation.

All students in grades 3–8 will be taking state assessments in English Language Arts and Math. Additionally, students in 5th and 8th grade will participate in the state Science test. We are confident that our students have worked hard and are well prepared for these important assessments. To help them feel their best, please ensure they get plenty of rest and have a healthy breakfast before testing.

Key Tests

CAASPP: The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress - All students in grades 3–8 will take the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments in English Language Arts and Math.

CAST: The California Science Test - Administered to students in grades 5 and 8.

ELPAC: The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California - This test is for students whose primary language is not English and assesses their English language skills.

How Can You Help Your Child?

• Encourage your child by reminding them that both you and their teacher want them to try their best and that you are there to support them.

• Ensure they get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy breakfast on test days.

• Foster a positive attitude toward the test, reminding them that it’s an opportunity to show what they know.

• Visit the Starting Smarter website to review sample questions and resources: https://ca.startingsmarter.org

Take a practice test with your child on the CAASPP Online Practice and Training Tests page: https://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

This year, our students have enjoyed a variety of exciting and enriching field trips that provide meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom. We are incredibly grateful to our parent volunteers who generously give their time to chaperone and support these adventures, and to our students for their enthusiasm as they explore new places and ideas.

Our youngest learners are already on the move! TK students recently visited the local fire station and will soon visit Storybook Garden. Kindergarten students also have exciting trips ahead to the ImagineU Children's Museum and Storybook Garden.

First-grade students recently had a wonderful day exploring the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, while second graders traveled to the Fossil Discovery Center to learn about the prehistoric history of our region.

Third graders recently wrapped up their trips to Project Survival's Cat Haven and Burris Park, and are now looking forward to attending Farm Day at the Kings Fairgrounds on March 19.

Fourth-grade students took a fascinating journey back in time during their visit to Harris Stage Lines, where they learned about 19th-century travel to the American West.

Fifth graders were fortunate to take an incredible trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, providing both a rich learning experience and a fun adventure.

One of the biggest highlights of the year is the outdoor science experience for our sixth graders at SCICON Outdoor School. Students from Cinnamon Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, Freedom Elementary, and University Charter School have already returned from an unforgettable five-day adventure exploring science and conservation in the beautiful Sierra foothills. Students from Lemoore Elementary and P.W. Engvall Elementary are looking forward to their upcoming trips.

Students at Liberty Middle School also had exciting learning opportunities. Seventh graders traveled to The Tech Interactive, while eighth graders visited the Exploratorium along the San Francisco waterfront. More trips are still ahead for our Liberty Middle School Students! Seventh graders will soon visit West Hills College, while eighth graders will attend a baseball game at Chukchansi Park featuring the Visalia Rawhide.

These memorable experiences give our students valuable opportunities to learn, explore, and create lasting memories with their classmates.

We’re excited to announce our 2026 Summer School Programs for current TK–7 students! Both sessions will be held at Freedom Elementary School from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch and bus transportation provided.

Summer Sessions

Session 1: June 10 – June 30 (June 19 observed as a holiday)
This program provides a well-rounded educational experience including music, art, and exploration activities, along with academic support focused on the standards covered this year in English Language Arts, Math, and Science.

Session 2: July 1 – July 17 (July 3 observed as a holiday)

This session includes music, art, and exploration activities while focusing on academic preparation and introducing standards for the 2026–2027 school year, emphasizing English Language Arts, Math, and Science.

An after-school program will be available from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for students who need extended care. This program offers additional support and activities beyond the regular school day.

After-School Program

Enrollment Information

• Enrollment is open to students who submit a registration form and currently attend a district school.
• Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Students may enroll in one or both sessions.

Registration information can be found here:
https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/73437988

The top spellers from across LUESD advanced to the Kings County Spelling Bee, held the last week of February at Lemoore High School. Our district’s participants earned several honors at the county level, and we are incredibly proud of their dedication and achievements.

LUESD Kings County Spelling Bee Winners

1st Place

• Vincent Ihejerika – 4th Grade, Freedom Elementary

• Julliana Cruz – 6th Grade, P.W. Engvall Elementary

• Joelle Geldore – 8th Grade, Liberty Middle School

2nd Place

• Prince Nastor – 3rd Grade, Meadow Lane Elementary

• Valerie Ihejerika – 4th Grade, Freedom Elementary

3rd Place

• Jaxson Maddox – 5th Grade, P.W. Engvall Elementary

• Nicholas Osuna– 7th Grade, University Charter School

Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your continued commitment to learning and growth across our district. It is inspiring to see the many opportunities our students experience both inside and outside the classroom. We appreciate your ongoing partnership in supporting the success of every student in LUESD.

Social media can help children with healthy development but it can also create risks. Psychological research shows it is critically important to focus on how children use social media and the type of content they see.

As a parent or caregiver, you are the expert on your child. You know what experiences will fit with their strengths and areas of vulnerability. These recommendations are based on research and will help you and your child be smart users of social media, avoiding the harms, and gaining maximum benefits.

1. Recognize developing brains may be especially vulnerable to specific social media features.

Communicating with friends on social media can be helpful for child development, including a chance to learn new social skills and complex relationships. But the like button and use of artificial intelligence to promote excessive scrolling may be dangerous for developing brains.

Adolescent brain development generally starts before puberty, around age 10, and lasts through early adulthood. This is an important phase of growth during which the brain undergoes dramatic developmental changes. In early adolescence, brain regions associated with a desire for attention from peers become increasingly sensitive. Social media may exploit that desire.

Meanwhile, brain areas important for self-control don’t fully develop until early adulthood. When thinking about the use of social media in your family, it’s important to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of adolescent brains. Your guidelines around social media use should evolve as children mature.

What to do: Limit social media use on platforms that include counts of likes or encourage excessive use. Use screen time settings available on most devices or on platforms to help children set limits and learn self-control. Prohibit screen time that interferes with at least 8 hours of sleep a night to ensure healthy brain development among children.

2. Monitor and discuss your child’s social media use.

Parents should take a multipronged approach to social media management, including time limits, parental monitoring and supervision, and ongoing discussions about social media.

As noted above, time limits can help children with self-control and encourage moderate social media use. Limiting chat functions, especially among strangers, and limiting exposure to adult content is also recommended. Particularly for younger children, parents may consider allowing social media use only when children are at home so that parents can keep a closer eye on their online activities.

In addition, adult monitoring of social media postings and content viewed is advised, especially in early adolescence. Unsupervised social media use is more likely to expose children to potentially harmful content and features of social media. Scientific studies demonstrate it is also critical for parents to engage in ongoing discussions with adolescents about how to use social media in safe and helpful ways. This is hard for many parents and caregivers since some of these platforms and their functions are unfamiliar to many adults today.

What to do: Talk to your child weekly about how social media platforms work so they feel safe telling you about their experiences without judgment. Ask them what they saw on social media, how they understood what was posted, and pose hypothetical questions to them to learn how they would respond to various situations they might encounter online.

3. Model healthy social media use.

Research studies show children learn some social media behaviors and attitudes from their parents. It is important for adults to model healthy social media use in their own lives. To model good digital behavior, avoid using social media when at the dinner table or engaging in family time, and make sure your conversations about social media reflect the ways you want them to feel about social media use.

What to do: Discuss how and why you use social media with your children. Set limits for social media use for yourselves and encourage your children to follow your example. Take social media holidays as a family and discuss the challenges and temptations you all experience when away from social media for a long time.

4. Watch for problematic social media use.

Keep an eye out for signs your child may be using social media in unhealthy ways. Your child’s social media use might be causing problems if:

• It interferes with their daily routines and commitments, such as school, work, friendships, and extracurricular activities.

• They often choose social media over in-person social interactions.

• It prevents them from getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night.

• It prevents them from engaging in regular physical activity.

• They keep using social media even when they express a desire to stop.

• They experience strong cravings to check social media.

• They lie or use deceptive behavior to spend time online.

What to do: Ask your child if any of these statements above are true for them. If you are concerned your child is dependent on social media or using it in unhealthy ways, consider enforcing new limits around accessing this technology. If you suspect your child is experiencing psychological harm or you are having difficulty managing your child’s social media use, a mental health professional may be able to help you find healthier ways to engage with the digital world.

We’re thrilled to share an update on the Meadow Lane TK/K construction project, a major step forward in expanding and improving our early education facilities. This project will add a brand-new four-classroom building designed to provide our youngest learners with a modern, engaging, and safe learning environment. In addition, the site will add four additional staff restrooms and an updated playground area for our youngest students.

The building is being expertly constructed by Bush Construction. Work officially began in December 2025 with site clearing, and full construction commenced in January 2026. We are on track for a completion date of October 2026, bringing our vision for enhanced early education spaces closer to reality.

This addition reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for all students, ensuring that our TK and kindergarten programs continue to thrive in a supportive and inspiring setting. Stay tuned for more updates as the project progresses!