Pride Preview Vol. 23

Welcome back, staff!

Hope everyone got some good rest and enjoyed the time off. While the break was needed, even a week away can impact our young learners, so this week we’ll be focused on getting students back into routines and holding them to the high expectations we have for them.

February is packed with events, so let’s stay focused and be intentional about what we prioritize each day. And just as important—let’s celebrate the small wins along the way as we continue raising the bar for our school.

Glad to be back with you all. Let’s have a strong week.

— Carter

Shout Outs 💜💛 🙌 🦁

📣💥🎉🦁 HUGE shout-out to Ms. Jackson and Ms. Johnson!!

With your leadership, our cheerleaders BROUGHT THE ENERGY at the District competition with a spectacular performance, earning an EXCELLENT rating on their set!!

Way to lead, inspire, and show that Lion pride

A special thank you to the Lipscomb squad who came out to cheer and support our team: Ms. Banda, Mrs. Sumners, Ms. Armenta, and Ms. Paredes—your support truly made a difference!

Mrs. Gosling and Mrs. Hernandez for leading our Lions in the Debate competition—so proud of you and our students' outstanding performance! 🦁👏

Shout-out to Mrs. Wright and the Specials Team for an amazing House Meet-Up on Friday! 🎉🦁
Students collaborated across houses, engaged in hands-on activities, and expressed their creativity while demonstrating key IB PYP learner profile attributes such as collaboration, communication, and creativity.

Be sure to check out the incredible collage our students created together—true evidence of inquiry, teamwork, and student voice in action!

This week, we celebrate National Counseling Week, and we have the opportunity to recognize our very own Ms. Green.

Ms. Green has worn many hats and shown up in countless spaces to meet the wide range of needs our students bring every day. She has counseled hundreds of students, and I’m sure most staff can think of at least one moment when they’ve leaned on her as well. She is always a listening ear and a steady presence. I can personally attest to the amount of responsibility she carries each day, especially as our sole counselor, and the dedication she brings to our campus.

I also want to take this week to celebrate and recognize our mental health clinician, Ms. Horn. While she may not be on campus every day, she has been an incredible resource for many of our students. I’ve seen firsthand the impact she’s had on students who needed her expertise and support.

Both of these ladies are irreplaceable members of our school community. Please join me in celebrating Ms. Green and Ms. Horn this week and thanking them for all they do for every person who walks through our doors.

Hello,

The Kemper Foundation’s 2026 Read Conmigo School Impact Grant application period is now open!

These $10,000 grants support school- or program-wide initiatives that advance dual-language (Spanish-English) education for bilingual students.

Program Details:

• Eligible schools must be a Title I public or charter elementary school serving bilingual students in one of the following locations:
• Arizona: Maricopa County
• California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura counties
• Florida: Broward or Miami-Dade counties
• Illinois: Cook County
• Texas: Dallas, Harris, or Hidalgo counties

• Eligible schools must have an established dual-language (Spanish-English) program with at least one year of implementation.
• Grant applications must be submitted by the principal on behalf of their school by Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time.

Information Sessions

The Kemper Foundation is hosting three information sessions for principals and school staff. These sessions will include a short presentation about the grant and application process, followed by Q&A. Please register by clicking on the date and time of your choice below.

• Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CST
• Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST
• Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CST

Learn More

For more information, including how to apply and FAQs, please visit The Kemper Foundation website.

If you would like to receive news about the Read Conmigo Grant Program, please subscribe to our mailing list. For questions, contact us at readconmigo@thekemperfoundation.org.

Sincerely,

The Kemper Foundation

The Kemper Foundation, the philanthropic partner of Kemper Corporation, focuses on support for charitable causes and organizations in the areas of education, health, and community development. Through financial support and Kemper employee volunteerism, The Kemper Foundation aims to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we live and work.

If you no longer wish to receive emails of this nature, please email optout@thekemperfoundation.org with “Opt Out” in the subject line.

• Instruction must begin no later than 8 am daily. (This includes Morning Circles)
• Non-Negotiables:
1. Teach to the standard at the appropriate level of rigor.
• Activity (what the students do, should align to the standard/LO of the day)
1. Standard posted, verb highlighted.
1. Learning Objective aligns to the standard
2. Success Criteria posted
3. Teacher Exemplars

To support staff wellness during the Spring Semester, we will be sharing helpful small challenges to remind you to take care of your health and wellness. Each week, we will share a new challenge to take part in, and hope everyone takes a moment for themselves to complete the challenge.

• Spring Parent Conference Guidelines
• PAST DUE: Add Sign up Link here!

• Parent Conferences should include:
  
• Student Attendance (ALL)
• iReady MOY Report (Instructions here) (ALL)
• SMC Status Update (Grades 3-5) - I will email teachers individually with helpful data to review and share with parents.
• HB 1416 Tutoring Update (Grades 3-5)

Teachers will use this log to track the parents they conference with. All logs should be turned into Ms. Valadez's mailbox before next Friday.

Good morning Team!

Please see testing updates below:

• STAAR Field Test: This assessment is for Grades 3–5 Spanish Reading only. All campus secure-testing protocols must be followed. Please take a few minutes to review this presentation.
• NAEP Testing: This assessment is for 4th grade only. All campus secure-testing protocols must be followed.

Feb 03 - 3-5 STAAR Field Test (Spanish Reading Only)

Feb 12 - NAEP Assessment (4th Grade only)

Feb 18 - 3-5 STAAR Simulator Reading (SMC3)

Feb.20 - K-1 TELPAS Holistic Rating Due

Feb 24 - 5th Grade Only STAAR Simulator Math (SMC3)/2nd Grade TELPAS L&S

Feb 25 - 3-4th Grades STAAR Simulator Math/ 2nd Grade TELPAS R&W /5th Grade STAAR Simulator Math Make-Ups

Feb 26 - 5th Grade STAAR Simulator Science (SMC3)/2nd Grade TELPAS Make-Ups

During PLC blocks, Toddle will be on campus for PD. Location TBD!

Please plan to attend

Our IB Planning Days will be rescheduled NEXT WEEK, February 9-13 & 16

We’re excited to share a preview of what the Multicultural Committee has planned for Black History Month this February!

• Unity Days: Every Friday in February
• Main Event:
  📅 Friday, February 26, 2026 – our schoolwide Cookout & Cowboy celebration
• BHM100 Creativity Contest: “Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Present, Dreaming of Our Future.” Posters due on Feb 22, 2026!
• We will also be sharing daily morning announcement slides highlighting a different Black historical figure each day. We kindly ask for your support in displaying the slides every morning and helping us reinforce these learning moments with students.

As flyers are shared, we kindly ask for your help in sharing them with students and families to help us spread the word and build excitement across our school community.

Thank you for your support as we prepare a meaningful and engaging Black History Month.

Please share this in your Class Dojos and with your students!

The Office of School Improvement is excited to announce this year’s Black History Month theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations”. Each February, Dallas ISD celebrates the achievements of Black Americans and recognizes their critical role in U.S. History. This theme honors the 100th anniversary of the first Black History Week, created in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, celebrating the legacy, pride, and progress produced by lasting contributions over years.

We welcome everyone to participate in the following events and access these resources:

• Virtual Kick-Off on January 30, 2026, led by Deputy Superintendent of Staff and Accountability, Dr. Pamela Lear.

• Virtual Webinar Wednesdays occur at noon and feature local professionals sharing their career journeys and expertise.

• Commemorative slide deck presentation highlighting achievements by African Americans and recognizing the significant roles of African Americans throughout U.S. history.

• Interactive activities and resources located in Google Classroom, accessible to all teachers and staff by using this code 5 f q 6 m q t r .

• Daily OSI Social Media posts spotlighting African American traditions and contributions.

While this programming will be celebrated during February, the OSI encourages schools to use these resources to augment books and activities to spark discussions year-round.

To access these resources, visit the Office of School Improvement website at https://bit.ly/DISDBlackHistoryMonth. Please contact Dr. Candyce Grant at canfranklin@dallasisd.org for more information.

February is Black History Month, and Chamberlain University celebrated the diversity of students, alumni and faculty, but also the achievements of African Americans and their role throughout our country’s history, especially nurses.

The history of Black nurses in America has been marked by a fight for access – to education, to job opportunities, and most fundamentally, to freedom. Even when lacking formal education, early African American nurses played a vital role as healers to their communities.

The profession began to change when Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first Black nurse to graduate from nursing school and be professionally licensed. Since that day in 1879, African American nurses have continued to strive for equality in the profession.

This Black History Month, we recognize 14 famous Black nurses who have changed the nursing profession – and the world – for the better. From Harriet Tubman to modern-day trailblazers, these Black nurses have left their mark on our history.

https://www.chamberlain.edu/blog/a-celebration-of-10-famous-black-nurses-in-history

Team Lipscomb!

I am honored to serve as your Campaign Champion for the 2026 Employee Giving Campaign. This year’s theme is “Game On for Giving”—a rallying call to show up for our students.

Our district is aiming to raise $100,000 by March 30. To help us get there, Lipscomb has set a goal of $600! Thats $10 per Lipscomb Team Member

The Impact: For 26 years, this campaign has been a cornerstone of Dallas ISD, raising over $5 million. Every donation goes directly to the Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) and flows back into the classrooms and programs that support our scholars.

Your CARING generosity fuels the "wins" we see in our schools every day.

Step onto the Field: Every gift moves us closer to our goal. All contributions go directly to the Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) and flow back into the classrooms and programs that support our scholars. Your generosity fuels the "wins" we see in our schools every day.

Join the GAME: (Donate):

• Via Payroll: Use Oracle to set up a one-time gift or spread it over 12 months. The step-by-step playbook HERE.

• Via Card: Donate directly online (easiest & don't forget to input your EID!)

The Trophy: Once you get your donation confirmation, see Ms. Timms for a "Sweats to Work" pass.

Let’s come together to make a CARING impact again this year!

Game on, LIPSCOMB!!

Ms. Timms

• Fire Drill - completed every month (January through May)

• Lockdown - February 3, 2026

• Shelter in Place (Severe Weather) - February 3, 2026

• Shelter in Place (Hazardous Materials) - February 3, 2026

• Take a look at this new Academic Director, where you can quickly look up helpdful academic progress data for each student. This is great for parent conference, student conferences, LAB planning, etc.

• We are excited to bring Dr. Byron Morgan to campus on January 29th to meet with staff, answer questions, and provide massages for all staff who may be interested.
• Please sign up for a slot HERE if you would like to get a massage and ask questions to Dr. Morgan!

The Parent Ambassador Program includes Regional Parent Ambassadors, nominated by EDs, who help support campuses by strengthening communication between families, schools, and the Special Services Department. Interested in joining the team? Please see the flyer for details.

Assessing student progress with purpose

Assessment is intentional and embedded in daily instruction. Lessons include clear checks for understanding that reveal whether students learned the objective, and this evidence is used to guide reteach, review, spiral, and next steps. Students actively track, reflect on, and celebrate their progress so learning is visible and meaningful.

Strengthening expectations for small group instruction

Small group instruction is purpose-driven and responsive. Teachers and students have clear expectations for small groups, grounded in evidence of student learning. Instruction in small groups is informed by student work and data, with close attention to the quality, rigor, and progress of student thinking.

Rigor, agency, and instructional lift

Instruction prioritizes student thinking and academic rigor. Students do the majority of the cognitive work through explaining, justifying, and problem-solving. Tasks align to the full rigor of the TEKS, and teachers use intentional instructional moves to support growth for students across the achievement continuum.

Cynthia Flores to host Math PD on Jan 26, Feb. 2, and Feb. 9th!

• If the outside temperature or wind chill is below 32°F, we will have indoor recess.
  
• Staff should be alert to students who appear uncomfortable during outdoor activities, especially those with underlying health conditions. For individual concerns, consult the campus nurse.