Pride Preview Vol. 13

If you’re feeling like this week somehow managed to have eight days in it, you’re not alone. Between Halloween sugar highs, lost costume pieces, and a full moon of energy still floating around, I think we all earned an extra cup of coffee (or three).

As we head into a new week, I want us to refocus on hallway culture — not just for order, but for safety and calm. The expectations below under Operations outline what we’re reinforcing campus-wide: quiet, structured transitions, closed lockers, and intentional supervision. It’s one of those foundational things that sets the tone for everything else.

I know you’re tired, but our consistency matters more now than ever. Every time we hold the line, model the expectation, and narrate what “Lions’ Hallway” looks like, we make the building run smoother for everyone.

Thank you for being the steady presence our students need — even on the weeks that feel longer than a STAAR testing day.

We’ve got this, Pride. 🦁💜

This week, we’re celebrating Ms. Acevedo, our incredible librarian! Her district supervisor recently shared how highly valued she is across Dallas ISD — often spotlighted as an example for new librarians. Thanks to her leadership, Lipscomb led the district in e-book checkouts last year, and our circulation rate remains one of the strongest in Dallas ISD.

Last week, Ms. Acevedo organized our campus Book Fair, bringing together an amazing team of volunteers and families to make it a huge success. Her energy and creativity continue to make our library a vibrant hub of learning and joy — and you can read below to see what’s ahead for our November library focus!

• Ms. Acevedo – for leading a very successful Book Fair this fall! Your hard work brought joy and excitement to our readers. 📚✨
• Mrs. Wright – for organizing a fun and creative pumpkin contest that showcased our students’ imagination and school spirit. 🎃💡
• Ms. Jackson – for ensuring a smooth and safe dismissal every day. Your consistency helps our afternoons run seamlessly! 👏

• A huge shout-out to our SPED Department for their incredible teamwork and dedication! 💪

• Last Friday, the team successfully conducted four ARD meetings — thank you to Ms. Wilson, Mr. Cautiverio, Mrs. Ragan, and Mrs. Coleman for leading these important discussions to better serve our students.
• A big thank-you also goes to Ms. Mena and Mr. Austin for covering TCclasses, ensuring a smooth day for everyone, and to Mrs. Davila, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Hernandez, Mrs. Sumners and Mrs. Bustor for being part of these meetings.
• Your collaboration and commitment truly make a difference for our students and our campus community.

• Mrs. Hernandez and Mrs. Gosling – for spending their Saturday taking our fifth-grade students to a Debate Workshop! Thank you for going above and beyond to give our Lions another opportunity to shine. 🗣️🦁
• Mrs. Flores – for updating her data wall in a way that encourages students to view their goals positively and meaningfully. What a great way to empower learners! 🎯💪
• Mrs. Cecilia Martinez and Ana Martinez – for representing our campus at the Discover Dallas event last Saturday. Thank you for showcasing all the great things happening at our school! 🌆🙌
• Ms. Banda, for making sure our lions has a friendly lunch. 🎃

• Shoutout to Ms. Flores for creating a classroom Data Wall that keeps students motivated and proud of their progress! We love how it celebrates growth without comparison — every Lion has a goal and a reason to shine. 🦁📊

• TA's clock in by 7:30am | Teachers clock in by 7:45 am
• 🎯Teachers, please pick up your students by 7:45 am from the auditorium.
• Morning Announcements, 5C
• Morning Circle Lessons
• 🎯 Week 4: four grades per subject in Powerschool (Grading Calendar)

Monday, Nov 3

• Morning Circle: Connection Question (Community Circle): What strategies can you use to stay focused on your realistic goals as a student?
• 🎈🎁🎂Happy Birthday, Ms. Alvarez!
• 🦁 IB Collaborative Planning – 2nd Grade AM / 1st Grade PM
• (4:15 PM) – PTA “Because of You” Event @ Garden Café

Tuesday, Nov 4

• Flex Day for Staff who completed Summer 2 Training
• Junius Heights HOA Meeting

Wednesday, Nov 5

• Morning Circle: We are Connected 3.1 - Embrace Everyone

• 8:30 AM | Coffee with Principal Carter

• 🦁 IB Collaborative Planning – 3rd AM / KN PM

• 🎭 3:30 - 5:00 PM | Finding Nemo Musical Auditions

• 🎭 E-Sports Club 3:30 - 4:40pm (4th - 5th)

Thursday, Nov 6

• Morning Circle:I am Responsible
• 🎈🎁🎂 Happy birthday, Mrs. Sumners!
• 🦁IB Collaborative Planning – 4th Grade AM / 5th Grade PM
• 3:30–4:30 PM | After School Instrument Ensemble
• Online Test Security Training Due
• 3rd Field Trip to Perot Museum

Friday, Nov 7

• Morning Circle: 10 Black Dots (Phase 2)
• Designated Supports are due on My Data Portal
• 🦁IB Collaborative Planning – Pre K4 AM /Pre K4 PM
• 2:30 PM – Peace Pantry Distribution
• Wear Purple Homeless Youth Awareness Month

Saturday, Nov 8

• ES Chess Tournament (North)

Please review the schedule below and ensure your grade level arrives on time to and from Specials. A few grades will see a 5-minute adjustment to protect:

• ✅ 50 minutes of Specials for students
• ✅ 50 minutes of planning for teachers

These times have always been correct on the Master Schedule — the posted schedule was slightly off and has now been updated to match.

Thank you for helping us stay consistent and on time!

House Bill 8 Overview:

House Bill 8 (HB 8), passed during the 89th Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025), and signed by Governor Abbott in September 2025, repeals and replaces the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) beginning with the 2027–28 school year. HB 8 also makes minor changes to the Texas Assessment Program this school year and revises several accountability requirements impacting the A–F accountability refresh that will occur for ratings issued in fall 2028. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has provided a high-level overview of HB 8’s assessment and A–F accountability provisions for Texas public school systems, which can be accessed via the link below.

House Bill 8 Frequently Asked Questions

November 4 is a Flex Day for staff. Teachers who completed and received credit for the required summer training do not need to report to campus.

All other staff are expected to attend district training or report to Lipscomb for a normal workday. Any teachers who did not receive credit for the summer PD have already been emailed directly with next steps.

Thank you for planning accordingly.

Helping students recall what they’ve learned — when it matters most.

This week's Spotlight on Supports highlights ✨ Supplemental Aids, an approved tool or resource that helps students demonstrate what they know and can do without giving them an unfair advantage or changing what the test is designed to measure.

Supplemental aids are designed to support memory, organization, or processing for students who need help recalling information they’ve already learned — not to teach or cue answers during a test.

Please click here to learn more about S.A.

LEAD and SMU are launching recruitment for the 16th Aspiring Leaders Program, designed for educators pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership and future campus leadership roles.

Interested staff can join a brief virtual info session on:

• Oct. 28 | 4:30–5:15 PM

• Nov. 11 | 4:30–5:15 PM

• Jan. 15 | 4:30–5:15 PM

RSVP HERE

The Dallas Education Foundation has invested over $10 million in Dallas ISD since 2020, directly supporting students, teachers, and campuses. The district has requested each campus to identify a Campaign Champion to help lead this year’s Employee Giving Campaign.

If you are interested in serving in this role for Lipscomb, please let Principal Carter know by Monday, November 10.

All in Learning (AIL) has created AI writing workshops, it has over 40 passages to choose from and can limit the amount of time the student revise , plus it gives them feedback. Some of you may already be familiar with them, but I wanted to make sure everyone has access.

👉 Click here to check them out

2) New Resources Added to Teacher's Dashboard:

✍🏻📝Reading and Writing

Revising and Editing (see pictures)

 AI Question and Passages Generator (See pictures)

Teacher-Led Look For’s

PLC Look Fors – K–5th

Looking Back:

Please come prepared to:

• 📘 Bring student work from last week’s WFA/Checkpoint.

• 📈 Discuss student growth and identify key takeaways.

• 🔁 Review reteaching steps – How will you address and close the learning gaps?

Looking Forward:

Please ensure the following:

✅ Watch the Lesson Preparation Videos prior to the meeting.

✅ Have the exemplar ready for the High-Leverage TEKS that will be tested.

✅ Be prepared for rehearsal and ready to engage in practice and feedback, including:

Addressing common misconceptions students may have.

Planning questions to ask during the lesson to deepen understanding.

Identifying extensions for students who have mastered the TEKS.

Determining the supports or laps students will need for success.

Video: How to create and manage a student plan in Powerschool Unified Insights

Naming Convention:

Student Initials_Student ID #_ConcernArea_Tier

Ex: TT_123456_Engagement_Tier2 or IC_654321_LanguageSpeech_Tier2

Important:

• All plans must be manually shared with: Ms. Timms, AP Yetts, Principal Carter, and other collaborative teachers (if necessary).

• To ensure students receive designated supports on assessments, they must have a documented intervention plan in Unified Insights.

Resources:

• BOY MTSS Slide Deck

• SST Meeting Prep video

For questions, contact Ms. Timms.

As we enter November, we’re taking time to reset our hallway culture across the building. This isn’t just about order — it’s about student safety. Clear expectations and calm transitions keep every Lion accounted for and ensure that staff can monitor students effectively throughout the day.

• Hall Passes: All students must have a hall pass during instructional time.

• Limit Traffic: Only students with medical needs or emergencies should be out during class.

• Lions’ Hallway: Walk on the right, stay on your square, hands behind your back, voices off, eyes forward.

• Teacher Monitoring: Teachers actively monitor and lead transitions — no unescorted groups.

• Lockers: Keep all lockers closed and belongings neatly inside throughout the day.

• Restrooms: Use restroom helpers, go 3–4 at a time, and keep breaks short and structured.

A consistent hallway culture helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and distraction-free environment where learning can thrive.

Nov 10: PK FT to Huddin Homestead Farm

Nov 10: PTA Executive Meeting @ 5:30pm

Nov 10: SBDM Meeting @ 6:30pm

Nov 11: Coding Club 3:45 - 5:00pm

Nov 11: Fire Drill

Nov 11: Happy Birthday Mrs. Gomez!

Nov 11: Basketball Practice 3:30 - 4:30pm

Nov 12: E-Sports Club 3:30-4:40pm

Nov 13: Thanksgiving Lunch

Nov 13: Afterschool Instrument Ensemble 3:30-4:30pm

Nov 14: Career Day

Nov 15: Happy birthday, Mr. Walker!

Nov 14: Wear Purple (Homeless Youth Awareness Month)

Nov 14: National Superintendent Day

Nov 14: World Diabetes Day

Nov 15: Family Movie Night

• All core content DOI teachers are required to complete a minimum of 12 hours of district-assigned professional development by December 15, 2025.
• Eligible sessions completed in Cornerstone will count automatically, but any PD not listed in Cornerstone will require documentation and an administrator’s signature.

• From October 1 through December 12, 2025, teachers and staff can receive important seasonal and preventive vaccinations at various District locations.
• Flyer

NEW CATALOGUE

Action Items for Sponsors:

• 🎯 Student Waivers — All club members must return a signed waiver by the end of this week.

• 🎯 Rosters — Update Student Activities Rosters.

• 🎯 Sponsor Training — 100% of sponsors must complete the 2025 training. A passing score of 80%+ generates a certificate emailed to you. Please provide a copy to Ms. Valadez for recordkeeping in case of audit/campus review.

• Dallas ISD is offering a $500 incentive for EC–6 Core Content and Secondary ELAR teachers who earn ESL certification in 2025–26.
• Eligible teachers must attend a prep session, pass the TExES 154 exam, and add the certification to their license.
• 📎 Details and requirements are in the attached one-pager.

• Maker Space: Nearly $20,000 remains for our new maker space (to be complete by December). If you’d like to join the design team, let Mr. Carter know.
• PTA Wishlist - Don’t forget—you can request up to $500 through the PTA using this form. Before submitting, please check with Mr. Carter to confirm the item isn’t already on campus.