LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Thank you to everyone who came out this past week to celebrate and support our students! We have a busy two weeks ahead before Thanksgiving break, followed by just a few short weeks until Christmas break and the end of the semester. A huge congratulations to our Lady Patriot Volleyball team on a wonderful season! We are incredibly proud of everything these athletes and coaches have accomplished over the past four months. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to one another have been exciting to watch, and they have represented Liberty with tremendous PRIDE!

As we approach the finish line of the semester, I encourage all students and families to review the updated semester exam exemption policy. Now is the time to prioritize attendance, stay focused on academics, and finish the semester strong. Let's keep the momentum going and make these final weeks count!

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 18, as we celebrate Thanksgiving with a special holiday meal! We invite our families to join us for lunch and enjoy this time with their students. We look forward to welcoming you to Liberty and celebrating this season of gratitude together!

Senior Transcripts

All seniors received an updated transcript from the Liberty counseling team on October 1st. Seniors needing their transcript sent to a college or university, should submit their request using this link (must be logged into LCISD account). This link is also housed on the counseling center website. Utilizing this procedure will help to process, send, and track more efficiently, without requests slipping through the cracks. Please complete the Google form for each request. For example, if you need your transcript sent to four colleges, please fill out the form 4 times - once for each college.

Sophomore and Junior Transcripts and Classroom Visits

The counseling team will meet with 10th and 11th grade students in November to discuss course selection for the 2027-28 school year. At this time, students will also receive their updated transcript. During the class meetings, students will be presented with different options for both core classes and electives. Then, students will meet with their alpha counselor to update their 4 year plan and input course selections for next year. These courses will not be locked in until February, which allows the students plenty of time to think about the classes they would like to take next year.

Freshmen Transcripts and Classroom Visits

The counseling team will meet with the 9th grade students in December to discuss course selection for the 2027-28 school year and update their 4 year plan. Just like the upperclassmen, courses will not be locked in until February to help ensure students have plenty of time to plan their schedule for next year. In January, freshmen will receive their first high school transcript, as students are not ranked until they have completed one semester of high school. The counseling team looks forward to visiting with 9th grade students again in January.

Setting up a My Texas Future account is a new graduation requirement set by the state. Mr. Pena is currently working with the Class of 2027 to complete this task. An Opt-Out form is available for students that do not want to create an account. Please see the flyer for additional information.

MY TEXAS FUTURE LINK

Please see the attached document from UT Austin regarding an important update to automatic admission requirements. Beginning with students applying for Summer/Fall 2028 and Spring 2029 admission, eligible Texas students who rank in the top 5% of their high school graduating class will qualify for automatic admission to UT Austin. We encourage students and families to review the attached information as they begin planning for future college admissions.

Exemption Days are designated days at the end of each semester during which eligible students may earn the opportunity to be absent from school. This privilege recognizes students’ consistent attendance, academic responsibility, and effort throughout the semester. Students who meet the criteria outlined below will be exempt from attending school on the following days:

Semester 1: December 16-18 Semester 2: May 17-20

Attendance

• Students must remain in compliance with the mandatory 90% attendance rule in each class, consistent with state law and district policy.

Grades

• Students must maintain a semester average of at least 70 in each class.

Fines

• Students must resolve all outstanding student-related fines, including those for technology, badges, athletics, and library materials, to qualify for Exemption Days.

• Outstanding fines may be resolved through payment, return or replacement of district property, an approved payment arrangement, or an administrative waiver based on financial hardship or extenuating circumstances.

• Students are responsible for obtaining their Exemption Day cards once outstanding obligations have been resolved. (Exemption Day cards will be distributed on December 9 and must be returned by December 15.)

Additional Guidelines

• Eligibility is determined separately for each semester. Students must meet all criteria during Semester 1 to exempt Semester 1 dates, and during Semester 2 to exempt Semester 2 dates.

• Exemption Days excuse eligible students from attendance only. They do not exempt students from any coursework, assignments, or examinations assigned prior to Exemption Days. Students will not be penalized academically for an approved Exemption Day absence.

• Eligibility will be determined using attendance, grade, and fine/fee balance records as of the campus-designated deadline, communicated in advance.

• Students who believe their eligibility status was determined incorrectly may request a review by campus administration.

• Applicable accommodations and protections under federal and state law will be honored.

Please note, students enrolled in Dual Credit courses may be administered mandatory semester final exams regardless of exemption status. These exams will be administered prior to Exemption Days.

Note: High school students who fail to meet all criteria will be required to attend school during Exemption Days in order to receive course credit. Failure to attend may result in the inability to regain lost credit for the semester. All exemptions are subject to applicable state attendance and instructional requirements.

Liberty Cares and Concerns Committee are opening their Local Legends store again with the Retro shirt design in case you didn't get a chance to order those on the first round. In addition, we have a couple of fun new winter/holiday designs. The store will be open through Nov. 9th so we can get shirts distributed before Thanksgiving break.

https://local-legends-print-factory-2.printavo.com/merch/liberty-patriots

Our Liberty High School Robotics program hosted an exciting competition yesterday, with three of our teams participating: Freedom Forge, Liberty Robotics, and Cyber Sentinels! We are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work, creativity, and dedication. We look forward to an outstanding competition season as they continue to learn, innovate, and represent Liberty!!

A HUGE congratulations to our Liberty Patriot Regiment for advancing to the UIL 4A State Marching Band Competition! Our Patriots will compete on November 11 in San Antonio, Texas! We are incredibly proud of these talented students and their outstanding accomplishments! A special thank you to Band Director John Jones and Assistant Director Claire Entrekin for their dedication, leadership, and countless hours of hard work. Your commitment to excellence continues to make Liberty proud!

Patriot Football begins its playoff run this week! Our Patriots will take on Burkburnett in the first round of the UIL State Playoffs on Friday, November 13, at 6:00 PM at Abilene Christian University. Let's pack the stands, show our Patriot PRIDE, and cheer on our team as they begin their playoff journey!

TICKET LINK

In accordance with stadium policies, confetti cannons, streamers, baby powder, and glitter are not permitted inside the stadium. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us follow these guidelines and maintain a clean and safe environment for everyone!

Lubbock-Cooper ISD provides space in its newsletters for organizations to post their events and messages. Such posting does not indicate any endorsement by the District. This newsletter may contain such content.

Click the image above to shop Liberty Patriot gear and support our Liberty Baseball program! Gear up, show your school spirit, and help support our Patriots!

1. When using Venmo PLEASE put the student's name in the comments section.

2. Cash, check or Venmo to Project Graduation Class of 2030 with student name on envelopes may be placed in the container in the front office beginning Monday November 9th.

3. Each packet of 10 tickets will earn the student 5 Project Graduation points.

4. If you need more tickets, please contact Melody Cazares on Group Me.

Students (with help from parents) are able to nominate special teachers by clicking here and selecting “Lubbock,” where they can submit a short essay on how their teacher goes above and beyond the call of duty. Teachers On The Rise winners receive great prizes including a $100 United Supermarkets shopping spree, a $100 AMEX gift card from Mrs Baird's Bread, and a gift basket full of goodies from Mrs Baird's Bread. Students who nominate a winning teacher will receive a $50 American Express gift card!

Parents are to report student absences including early outs/late arrivals in their Skyward Family Access via an attendance request. This can be done in the app or on a computer and should be completed 48 hours after the absence.

***FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE YOUR STUDENTS ABSENCES WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF SEMESTER EXAM EXEMPTIONS. ***

When submitting an Early Out or Late Arrival absence request, please be sure to UNSELECT the ‘all day check mark’. This ensures the attendance office knows what time your child will be leaving and/or arriving. Campus attendance email is for submitting documentation, such as a doctor's note. If you have any questions, please contact Morgan Petty at mpetty@lcisd.net or call the front office.

Students must pay for meals or can apply for free or reduced-price meals (more information at https://www.lcisd.net/o/lcisd/page/free-and-reduced-meals). Applications and meal status are totally confidential and there is no penalty for applicants who do not qualify. Our meal account management platform has transitioned from LunchMoneyNow to PaySchools Central. Parents must create a new PaySchools Central account in order to deposit meal funds. You can find instructions at https://www.lcisd.net/o/lcisd/page/payschools-central. Meal prices for the 2025-26 school year can be viewed at https://www.lcisd.net/page/food-services. If you have questions about school meals or the free and reduced-price meal application process, email dborchardt@lcisd.net!

Due to security concerns, no outside entity (DoorDash, Pizza delivery, Chick-fil-a delivery, etc.) will be allowed to drop off lunches for students. Parents/Guardians may bring lunch for their students. Lunch can be dropped off in the front office. Please be sure your student knows they are getting lunch so they can come pick it up in the office.

LCISD will enforce a new policy regarding student use of personal communication devices in compliance with HB 1481. Students must either leave devices at home or keep them powered off, stored away, and out of sight during the school day—including class time, lunch, tutorials, and passing periods. This includes phones, smartwatches, tablets, gaming devices, and earbuds/headphones (unless permitted by a teacher for instruction). District-issued devices are not affected by this policy. You can review the policy in full, along with administrative procedures, disciplinary consequences, and FAQs at http://www.lcisd.net/o/lcisd/page/personal-communication-device-policy.

Refusal by a student to surrender a personal communication device when requested will be considered a violation of the LCISD Student Code of Conduct and could result in suspension or, for secondary students, placement in DAEP. Campus administrators will use administrative discretion to make a determination based on the student’s disciplinary history.

Email: psaffel@lcisd.net
Website: https://liberty.lcisd.net/o/libertyhs
Location: 4530 Woodrow Road, Lubbock, TX, USA
Phone: (806)993-2322