Panther Cubs Press

Dear Luce Road Families,

Seven weeks into the school year, our Panther Cubs continue to grow as learners and friends. They are becoming more confident with classroom routines, trying new activities, and learning how to work and play together. From greeting a classmate to asking for help or taking turns, these everyday moments help children build independence and feel a sense of belonging at school.

🍏 Learning Through Johnny Appleseed Day

This week, our Cubs celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day with apple-themed stories and activities. Experiences like these give children opportunities to explore, ask questions, learn new vocabulary, and connect what they are learning to the world around them.

Thank you to the families who helped make this celebration possible. Your involvement brings something special to our school community, and we appreciate the time and care you share with our students.

📚 Building a Love of Learning

Our Panther Cubs are continuing to explore library and discover the joy of books. Listening to stories, talking about characters, and choosing books that interest them help children build language skills and see themselves as readers.

Across our classrooms, literacy and math come to life through stories, songs, games, movement, and hands-on activities. Teachers are helping students explain their thinking, practice new skills, and keep trying when something feels challenging. We are proud of their growing willingness to participate and share their ideas.

🎨 Growing Through Intentional Play

Play is an important part of learning at Luce Road. Through art, music, building, and dramatic play, children practice communicating, solving problems, and working with others. Teachers guide these experiences by asking questions, introducing vocabulary, and helping students navigate sharing and cooperation.

As our Cubs build together or take on roles in pretend play, they are learning how to listen, make a plan, and consider another person’s ideas. These skills support both classroom learning and friendships.

🐾 Our Preschool and Toddler Cubs

Our GSRP Preschool Panther Cubs continue to build connections with their teachers and classmates while becoming more comfortable with daily routines. Familiar expectations help children participate with confidence and take greater ownership of their school day.

In our Toddler Care Program and Preschool Experience, Ms. Maici, Ms. Lynnie, Ms. Arden, and Ms. Brea are helping our youngest Cubs learn through songs, sensory exploration, play, and consistent routines. Each new word, attempt at a task, and step toward independence is worth celebrating.

💙 Growing Together

Learning to recognize feelings, ask for help, and work through frustration takes time and practice. Our staff continue to support children as they develop these skills and learn how to care for themselves and one another.

Families can support this growth by asking children about their day: What did you try? Who did you play with? What was tricky, and what helped? These conversations give children a chance to reflect and help connect their experiences at home and school.

🧸 Childcare for Alma Families

Luce Road continues to expand childcare options for families, including before and after school care, care on days when school is not in session, and snow day coverage. Please contact our office to learn more about availability and enrollment.

Thank you for trusting us with your children and partnering with us as they grow. Enjoy the photos below for a glimpse of the learning, play, and friendships that filled week seven!

Where Little Panther Cubs Begin BIG Journeys!

Warm regards,

Dr. Ernest Conerly
Principal and Director of Early Childhood Education
Luce Road Early Childhood Learning Center

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Please check your students backpacks for their folders. Important notes and information will come home via those folders. Today a note came home for some students from the main office about missing Enrollment Paperwork.

You will be receiving a document with your students magic code. This code is how you gain access to ROOMS. Which is the communication platform that teachers will use to communicate with you directly and post classroom updates. Please reach to the school if you haven't received your code.

Please communicate directly with the school main office about changes to your Childs transportation home. Staff will change a Childs transportation plans on the direction of a student. Also if you change to PICK UP and normally they ride the bus - please park and come to the pick up line with your ID. As the staff might not know you or you don't have your orange pick up tag.

Please submit all required documents as soon as possible, including your child’s immunization record, birth certificate, proof of residency, and emergency contacts. You may drop them off at the front office during school hours, upload them to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, or email clear scans to Mary Pratt at mpratt@almaschools.net. All documents must be received by Friday, September 11th, at 3:00 p.m. Students will not be able to attend school until all documents are on file after September 11th. Thank you for your prompt attention.

Pick UP Guidance

Please make sure you are calling the school by 1:00 p.m. to make changes to your students transportation routine, whether its a new person picking them up, switching between the CarLine and the Walk up Line, After Care and Bus. We need to know, before we place students in their dismissal lines. Please NOTE a BUS TAG takes priority over any other tags attached to your students back pack. Please make sure your student has the right tag on their backpacks: Letter BUS TAG, Orange WalkUp tag, Yellow Aftercare Tag, Purple DollarRide Tag or GREEN CarLine Tag. Let the office know if we have tag your student wrong.

Parents and guardians, please label your Panther Cub’s belongings, including backpack, coat, lunch box, and water bottle. Our Lost and Found is filling up, and labeled items can be returned quickly. Thank you for your help!

Please make sure you send a change of clothes in for your student. Sometimes accidents happen and it’s helpful for them to have a change of clothes.

Please make sure ALL of your student’s belongings are labeled with their name! If it gets lost, staff will know who to return it to!

Tucker the Turtle is a social-emotional learning strategy and scripted story designed to help young children (ages 2–5) calm down and manage strong emotions like anger, frustration, or disappointment. Students are learning how to do this at school. We are asking for you to partner with us and reinforcing this at home!

We offer before and after school child care for our K-5 students. This program is housed at Luce Road ECLC. Drop off begins at 6am for before school care and pick up for after school care is until 6pm.

Transportation is available in the morning to bus students from Luce Road to their appropriate schools and from their schools to Luce Road for after care.

We still have 10 spots open for our after care program. We have 10 spaces for before care. To sign up please visit: https://forms.gle/jvrUeWdYu1wC4xMV9.

If you have any questions reach out to Kimberly Hamad at khamad@almaschools.net