The Leopard Letter

Principal's Report

Lake Forest Families,

🚀 Launch Day Is Almost Here, Lake Forest Families!

We are so excited to welcome our Leopards for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 11! Our staff has been working hard to prepare classrooms, hallways, and learning spaces, and we can't wait to see our students' smiling faces as we launch into an amazing new school year together.

For our K4, K5, and 1st grade families, we know this may be your child's very first experience in "big school." We encourage you to practice saying goodbye ahead of time so your child feels comfortable and confident on the first day. A quick, positive goodbye helps students transition into the classroom, build independence, and begin their day ready to learn.

As you prepare for Launch Day, please remember to allow a little extra time for arrival and dismissal during the first week as everyone gets into new routines. Our staff will be stationed throughout the building to help students find their way to breakfast and their classrooms. We've got them—and thank you for trusting us with your children.

Together, we're ready for an incredible year of learning, growing, leading, and succeeding. Here's to a fantastic launch!

Wishing you well,

Julie Cooke

Principal

Lake Forest Elementary School

Calendar of Events | August 10-14, 2026

Monday, August 10, 2026

Back-to-School Eve =)

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
4K Staggered Start

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

4K Staggered Start
Independence Day - students walk in the building independently

Thursday, August 13, 2026

4K Staggered Start
Back-to-School Assembly, 8:15-8:45 - 2nd, 4th (cafeteria)
Back-to-School Assembly, 9:10-9:40 - 3rd, 5th (cafeteria)
PTA Board Meeting, 11 am

Friday, August 14, 2026

Fire Drill, 8 am
Back-to-School Assembly, 9:10-9:40 - K5, 1st (cafeteria)

Start and End Times for Elementary Schools

The elementary instructional day begins at 7:45 and ends at 2:15. Students arriving to school at or after 7:45 am will be marked tardy and should be walked in by a parent. Please make every effort to arrive to school on time. We also want to remind parents that early dismissals are not permitted after 1:45 pm, so please plan ahead. We appreciate your support and cooperation.

Transportation Reminders

Parents are allowed to walk their student into school on the 1st day, August 11. Beginning August 12, all students should be dropped off in the appropriate carlines, and parents are asked to remain in their cars. We will have sufficient staffing to be sure students get to class safely. Thank you for abiding by this request.

Our front car line is open to receive students from 7:00-7:45 am. Afterwards, you must walk your child into the office for a tardy slip. Please arrive on time.
The side car line is open from 7:30-7:45 am. This should be used for our K4, K5, and 1st grade students. Parents may walk their child in this entrance on the first day only.

Car Rider Info

All parents who pick up children in the carlines need a school issued hangtag. Children will not be released to cars unless the NEW school issued hangtag is displayed. Parents should set a good example for their children by following these guidelines. Please be patient with the carlines, especially in the afternoons during the first few weeks of school.

Bus Rider Info

IMPORTANT!! If you have a K4, K5 or 1st grade child who will need bus transportation at any time this year, you need to have a school-issued, numbered hangtag to show the driver at the bus stop. K4, K5, and 1st graders will not be allowed to exit the bus without the parent or designee showing this school-issued tag.

Independence Day Begins Day 2

🚀 Launching Independence at Lake Forest! 🐆💙

We are so excited to welcome our Leopards back to school!

📅 Tuesday, August 11 (First Day of School): Parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom.

🌟 Wednesday, August 12 and beyond: It's Independence Day! Students are expected to walk into the building and to their classrooms on their own. Building this routine early helps students gain confidence, develop independence, and start each day ready to learn.

💙 Don't worry—we've got them! Our staff will be stationed throughout the building each morning to greet students, help them find breakfast, and make sure they get safely to their classrooms. We promise they'll be greeted with smiles, encouragement, and plenty of helping hands.

Exceptions include:
⭐ 4K students, who have a staggered start during the first week. Parents are welcome to walk them in on their first day of school.
⭐ Students with special circumstances that have been approved by the principal.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. It is an honor to partner with your family, and we can't wait to watch our Leopards learn, grow, lead, and succeed this year! 💙💛🐆

🍎 Lunch Visitors Begin After Labor Day 🍎

As we launch into a new school year, we ask for your support by waiting until after Labor Day to join your child for lunch.

The first few weeks of school are an important time for teachers to establish classroom expectations, build routines, and help students develop independence and friendships. Giving our students this time to settle into their new environment sets them up for a successful year.

We know you're excited to spend time with your Leopard, and we look forward to welcoming lunch visitors beginning after Labor Day, September 7!

Birthday Treats/Classroom Treats: ALL treats sent in for a class to eat must be commercially bought. Homemade treats will not be passed out to students. Individual packaging is preferred.

Thank you for partnering with us as we help every student learn, grow, lead, and succeed. 💙💛🐆

GCS Dog Policy

🚫🐾 No Dogs on School Grounds

For the safety and comfort of all students, families, and staff, Greenville County Schools Board Policy does not allow dogs on school property during arrival, dismissal, or during the school day.

The only exception is for service animals.

Even the friendliest pets can become unpredictable in large, noisy crowds, and some children may have allergies or fears.

We kindly ask:

Leave pets at home during arrival, dismissal, and school hours.
If walking your dog to meet your child to walk home, please leave your dog at home.

Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe! 💙🐆

GCS Board Policy: https://greenville-sc.community.highbond.com/home/policies/policydoc/7d64d3c5-6e99-4de0-8a7a-01513c56b833

GCS/LFE Student Handbook

The Greenville County School District student handbook has District-wide information. The second part of the handbook contains school-specific information for Lake Forest Elementary. We encourage ALL parents to read through both handbooks which is linked below and on our school website.

Staff Google Drive:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YghG99fHHAHpSgz9QBWvzMpuqWbDv_0K?usp=sharing

🎶 We've Got a Fast Car Line 🎶

We’ve got a fast car line,

We’ve got a smooth plan to get you through on time.

Stay in your lane, pull all the way up,

Have your student ready — backpack zipped up.

The safest ride is the right side,

That’s where we load and unload with pride.

Please don’t pass or hop out too soon,

We’ll get your leopard to you — very, very, soon

Car Line Reminders:

- Morning Drop-Off: 7:00–7:45 AM (after 7:45, please park and walk in)

- Afternoon Pick-Up: Have your car tag visible at all times.

- Pull all the way forward before your child exits or enters the car.

- Students exit/enter on the passenger side only.Stay in your vehicle — our staff will assist as needed.

With everyone following the beat,

We’ll keep the car line moving fast and sweet! #carlinereminders #LFEpride #leopardsleadtheway

Attendance Policy

According to GCSD Attendance Policy, students are allowed a maximum of 10 absences, regardless of the reason. After 10 days, a medical note will be required for any additional absences, but even medical notes won't reset the 10-day limit. ALL notes must be received within 3 days of a student's absence. Please send notes to our attendance clerk, Loida Evatt. You can also email her at levatt@greenville.k12.sc.us.

Students perform better in school when they have a high attendance rate. We appreciate your attention to this important policy as we work together to ensure our students have the best opportunity for success.

GCS Board Policy: https://greenville-sc.community.highbond.com/home/policies/policydoc/8001d93a-073a-48b4-a4c0-fb651c8c2de3

Perfect and Prompt Attendance Award

This award will be presented during our end-of-year Awards Day ceremonies to celebrate students who have demonstrated outstanding attendance all year.

Criteria for receiving the award:

No absences for the entire school year
No more than 3 tardies for the entire school year

We look forward to recognizing students who show their commitment to being at school every day, on time, and ready to learn. Thank you for helping us encourage strong attendance habits — it truly makes a difference in student success!

💙 Join the Lake Forest PTA!

We're inviting everyone to join the Lake Forest Elementary PTA for just $6!

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, family friends, students...and yes, if your dog or cat could sign up, we'd welcome them too! 🐶🐱😊

Our PTA does an incredible job supporting our students, teachers, and school community all year long by funding programs, providing resources, hosting family events, and celebrating our amazing staff. Your membership helps make all of that possible.

Our goal is simple: one PTA member for every Lake Forest student. Every membership counts and helps support child advocacy, scholarships, educational resources, and so much more. Joining takes just a few minutes! Simply create an account through MemberHub and pay the $6 membership fee.

Join HERE today and help us make this our best year yet!

Reserve Pride Rock

Reserve the LFE Pride Rocks Today!
Our Spirit Rocks are available for reservation. Painting Pride Rock is a fantastic way to send a special message, show your school spirit, or wish someone a "Happy Birthday!" The cost to reserve is $10/day per rock. We have two rocks available:

Front Carline Entrance
Side Carline (K4-1st Grade) Entrance

Don't miss out — reserve your spot today and make your message stand out!

Connect with PTA

Join us on the Remind App:

Download Remind app or go to remind.com
Our class name is Lake Forest Elementary PTA
Our class code is @8bb434

Join Our Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/583337569143345

Follow us on Instagram: @LFEPTA

Our Why: LFE Vision, Mission, and Priorities

Vision

The vision of Lake Forest Elementary School is to empower students to learn, grow, lead, and succeed.

Mission

The mission of Lake Forest Elementary School is to provide a nurturing, student-centered learning environment where students are empowered to learn about the world, persevere through challenges, and develop positive character traits.