District Newsletter

Dear Lemoore Union Elementary School District Parents & Staff,

As the year progresses, it is remarkable how quickly we find ourselves approaching the holiday season. Reflecting on the first part of the school year, I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in fostering positive learning outcomes for our students. This success is a direct result of the purposeful efforts of our talented teachers, dedicated support staff, and skilled leaders who work tirelessly to create enriching opportunities that promote growth and development.

Our shared priority remains steadfast: ensuring that EACH ONE of us maintains an unwavering focus on the learning and well-being of our students. It is an honor to collaborate with such a committed team in pursuit of our mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of EACH ONE of our students.

This commitment has been affirmed through our recently released CAASPP scores, EL reclassification rates, and several state and national recognitions. LUESD has once again been selected as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Elementary and Best Middle School Districts. We are also proud to be named an Educational Partners 2025 Honor Roll District, a recognition earned by only 16% of districts statewide. In addition, P.W. Engvall and Liberty Middle School earned 2025 Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll School recognition. Congratulations to our schools for the positive impact they continue to make on behalf of our students!

December offers us a special moment to reflect as another year draws to a close. As a district, we are grateful for our wonderful students who strive daily to achieve proficiency in their learning, meet their goals, and approach challenges with perseverance and resilience. Their collective accomplishments inspire us, and we are excited to support their continued growth in the new year.

We are pleased to share the winter edition of our LUESD Newsletter, which highlights the remarkable experiences our students have enjoyed during the first trimester. Inside, you will also find important updates about attendance, foggy day schedules, and enrollment information for the 2026–2027 school year.

As a reminder, Winter Break will run from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 9, 2026. All schools will be closed during this time. The District Office will also be closed from December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026. School will resume on Monday, January 12, 2026.

We are truly grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of our students, staff, and families. This holiday season, I encourage you to savor the traditions that make this time of year so meaningful. May you experience moments of joy, rest, and connection with those you hold dear.

Happy Holidays, and best wishes for a safe, healthy, and fulfilling 2026 New Year!

Sincerely,
Cheryl Hunt~ Superintendent

Attendance Awareness kick off- Attendance Assembly Building Excitement Around Attendance : This year, our school is launching new ways to celebrate and encourage strong attendance! The purpose behind our attendance assemblies and themed dress-up weeks is to motivate students, build school spirits, and highlight the importance of showing up every day. We want students to know that being present matters — not only for their learning but also for being part of our school community. How it Works: • Assemblies will spotlight and celebrate classes and students who are meeting attendance goals. • Dress-Up Weeks will happen once each trimester (3 times a year) and give the entire school a fun way to come together and show their spirit while promoting attendance. Other Recognition Opportunities: • Monthly: Grade-level competitions and student raffles for students with strong attendance. • Quarterly: School-wide assemblies and spirit-filled dress-up weeks. • Ongoing: Classroom shout-outs and small celebrations to recognize students’ efforts in real time. Together, these activities help make attendance something exciting and rewarding for everyone! #BeThereBeGreat

Get your thinking caps on Let the games begin! Rodeo Round Up was designed to recognize and honor students with creative strategy games to work together with their classmates and teachers. A series of games allows the students to critically think and race along the clock before it runs out. On September 26th, our 4th-6th grade students used their thinking caps and were assigned to move skittles from one plate to another while using a straw! On the other side of the campus students were assigned to use chopsticks to place marshmallows in a cup- talk about staying still and using your motor skills. Quite the pressure. As the students locked in and were competing against each other the crowd of students watching cheered them on with positive phrases both to the winning student and students who loss the challenge. Thank you, Mrs. Gomez and Mrs. Ibanez, for organizing these awesome events for our students who deserve to have some fun!

Spirit of the Mustang, formerly known as student of the month new title was upgraded this August. With the upgrade the of the title, Spirit of the Mustang, will recognize students for Self-Control, Perseverance, Involvement, Respect, Integrity, trustworthiness, and at the end of the year one student from each grade class will receive the ultimate “Spirit of the Mustang” award. This award will be awarded to a student who demonstrated S.P.I.R.I.T all year around. Each student will be recognized at the end of the month, eat breakfast with their parents, receive a certificate with an incentive, and be recognized. We are super proud of our Mustangs all the hard work they put into their studies and around campus. Way to go Mustangs continue shining brightly.

Family events: Family Literacy Night: A big thank you to Miss. Ledesma and her team for working together and providing a fun night for our families. Meadow Lane hosted their first Family night- Family Literacy Night on September 25th. Families gathered, were able to choose from 3 different stations, and enjoyed their time creating and playing games with their students. It takes a phenomenal team of people to come together to make this family night happen Pumpkin Patch Celebration A big round of applause to President Angie Neri and her team from the Mustang Nation Foundation for organizing a fun-filled community event. The pumpkin patch was bursting with festive spirit—rows of pumpkins, a welcoming atmosphere, and plenty of joy shared by families and vendors alike. A special highlight of the day was the beautiful family portraits captured by SPED teacher Jessica Geldore. Students could be seen excitedly moving from station to station— painting pumpkins, getting personalized glitter hairstyles, and showing off their creative face paint. And of course, the food was simply amazing! A true delight for everyone who attended.

Are you ready to play the games? Football and Volleyball season has come to an end! Our Mustangs showcase their mustang spirit on the field. They were led by the great Coaches Brown, Deel, and Santillan. GO MUSTANGS!

Let’s talk about the amazing field trips our Mustangs have had the pleasure of attending! We kicked off our fun-filled educational adventures with our phenomenal 5th graders, who took a deep dive into the underwater world at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Next up were our fantastic 4th graders, who were transported back in time during their visit to Harris Stage Lines in Paso Robles. Rounding out the excitement, our thrilled 3rd graders headed to Project Cat Haven, where they experienced BIG CATS up close. What an unforgettable season of learning beyond the classroom!

We had a very successful Trick or Treat Night on October 25th. Our Liberty ASB and staff worked very hard to prepare for this event for our entire Lemoore Community, including setting up, advertising, getting vendors, and candy donations. Our Liberty Jazz Band also performed many Halloween themed and spooky songs that night.
Not only was Liberty staff and students working the event, but we were joined by all the LUESD schools in our district: Cinnamon Elementary, Engvall Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Lemoore Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, University Charter School and our LUESD District Office. We also had many food and craft vendors on campus. Thank you to all the LUESD staff, students, and Lemoore Families that helped make our Liberty Trick or Treat Night a success. We hope everyone was able to attend and enjoyed their time.

A heartfelt thank you to all who generously donated to our canned food drive and contributed to our Lemoore community. Our Liberty ASB students helped pack and sort all the donations, and we donated over 1000 items to Lemoore Christian Aid on 11/19. Our staff pushed for two more days of donations, before Thanksgiving Break, and we doubled the total to 2020 items. We appreciate our community's kindness and commitment to helping others.

These are the final standings for the Advisory classes that donated the most items to our drive.
3rd place - Miss Hall
2nd place - Mr. Jessup
1st place - SDC and Shelly Baird

Congratulations to Ms. Herleman/Ms. Pasillas/Mr. Shanthraj’s classes

Our Liberty soccer teams had a strong season. Starting in October, the season moved quickly, and we are now preparing for playoffs. The girls’ soccer team currently have zero losses, and the boys’ team currently have a solid 5-3-1 record. This was Coach Price’s first year coaching the boys, while Mrs. Martinez continued to lead the girls’ team with her experience.

Mr. Moskowitz is returning as wrestling coach, and the team has been conditioning throughout November to prepare. We’re looking forward to seeing our student athletes compete in the upcoming season. We are gearing up for the start of wrestling season at the beginning of December, featuring two exciting home matches.

The Engvall Trimester 1 Award Ceremony was a great success! Every grade level had the support of so many families to celebrate their success. We are so proud of all of our Roadrunner's success during Trimester 1.

The Engvall Student Council, and Engvall PSO, hosted a vibrant and well-attended Family Bingo Night. Participants enjoyed friendly competition and the thrill of winning prizes throughout the evening. Student Council members and PSO volunteers kept the energy high by offering popcorn, snacks, and water for attendees. The event drew an impressive turnout, bringing families together for a fun and memorable night.

Engvall students participated in the week long Red Ribbon Week. Engvall Student Council planned dress-up days in which all grade levels could participate. Transitional Kindergarten through 2nd grade students toured a variety of emergency vehicles to learn about the important roles emergency personnel play in supporting and protecting our community.

The 2025/2026 school year at UCS continues to be an amazing experience for our students and families! We had a fantastic first trimester of school, and will be recognizing students on our “UCS Stars” and “Top Hawks” walls soon. Our enrollment continues to incrementally increase every year, and we’re at the highest enrollment we’ve seen in the last several years. Our Afterschool Program is a huge success, and we’ve started our 3rd round of electives, such as chess, lego STEM, ASB, art, pottery, gardening, ukuleles, etc. Soccer season has kicked off (pun intended), with games currently being played. Basketball tryouts will be in a couple weeks, with games starting in January. ASB officers have organized such events as our annual Fall Festival, Turkey Trot, and are planning our upcoming Jingle Bell Run. We’re excited to continuously show our Hawk Pride here at UCS. Here’s to a great year for our UCS Community!

Our 6th grade students had the opportunity to attend SCICON, an educational outdoor science camp located in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. SCICON is a hands-on environmental learning experience that allows students to connect with nature while deepening their understanding of science concepts.

During their time at camp, students participated in a variety of activities, including nature hikes, team-building exercises, and outdoor science experiments. They explored local ecosystems, observed wildlife in its natural habitat, and learned about the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship. The SCICON staff led interactive lessons that made science come alive outside the classroom.

Aside from the educational activities, students also enjoyed campfire songs, team challenges, and making lasting friendships. The experience helped build leadership skills, fostered teamwork, and inspired a deep appreciation for the environment.

Our 6th graders returned from SCICON with unforgettable memories and a new sense of curiosity about the natural world. The trip was not only a fun adventure but also an invaluable educational experience that will have a lasting impact on their academic journey.

Before Thanksgiving break we celebrated our achievements from Trimester 1. Students were recognized for Academic Improvement, Academic Effort, SOARING in class and around campus, and for perfect attendance. Individual students were given the opportunity to earn various prizes with drawings and a bicycle was given to 2 students- one from TK-3 and one from 4-6. Special recognition was also given our students who were reclassified as proficient English Learners and to both of our volleyball and football teams. Cinnamon volleyball team took 1st place this year! It was a wonderful time of celebration for all of our Eagles!

On November 7th, Lemoore Elementary had a Fall family night. The Washington Building had different family friendly activities set up along with food and drink vendors. A special thank you to all the staff who helped create these wonderful memories for our Lemoore Elementary Families. What a wonderful example of E.A.C.H. O.N.E.

Both the Volleyball and Football teams came away from the 2025 season with a 3 win and 2 loss record. The Lions showed good sportsmanship and played with heart.

Each month, students are rewarded for meeting the monthly behavior challenge. October was an extra special recess for being On-Task. November was board game fun for students who showed Responsibility by not having one behavior incident. Way to ROAR Like a Lion!

A big thank you to Lemoore Rotary for providing dictionaries to all the 3rd grade students at Lemoore Elementary. The students were excited; they were especially excited about the reference section in the back of the dictionaries that gave information about the states, the presidents, and showed how to form the alphabet in Sign Language.

What an incredible evening we had at our Freedom Family Craft Night in October. Families filled the Freedom Cafeteria with creativity, laughter, and festive fall spirit as everyone came together to paint pumpkins, make crafts, and celebrate the season while enjoying time as a community. Our family pumpkin decorating competition was a huge hit. Thank you to all the families who submitted their wonderfully decorated pumpkins. Everyone loved voting for their favorites, and the creativity on display was truly impressive. It was a warm, memory-filled evening and a perfect kickoff to the fall season. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night so special. We loved seeing our Freedom Family come together, and we can't wait for the next event!

At Freedom Elementary, we continue to focus on setting our students up for success by teaching and reinforcing school-wide and classroom expectations through our Flight Plan, which emphasizes Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. As we move forward, we’re excited to continue this important work. We see the Flight Plan in action everywhere on campus, in classrooms where students collaborate respectfully, on the yard where they solve problems and play responsibly, and throughout the community as they demonstrate resilience and kindness beyond the school day. These expectations aren’t just rules; they’re life skills that help students thrive wherever they go. Students are also earning Flight Tickets for showing Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. These tickets can be saved and spent at our Flight Store, giving students a fun and meaningful incentive to keep making

One of the things we value most at Freedom Elementary is celebrating our students. This fall, our athletes gave us so much to cheer about. Our football team finished with an undefeated season, and our volleyball team followed right behind with only one loss. We also honored students for Student of the Month and for consistently demonstrating Respect, one of our core Flight Plan values. In addition, classrooms and grade levels celebrated end-of-trimester awards, recognizing academic growth, academic achievement, exemplary attendance, positive behavior, resilience, and classroom leadership. These celebrations are a powerful reminder of the talent, hard work, and heart that our students bring to school every day. Students are also earning Flight Tickets for showing Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. The joy and pride students feel when they earn and redeem their tickets shows just how deeply our school culture is taking flight. Freedom Elementary is soaring because of the collective commitment of our students, staff, and families—and we are proud of every milestone, effort, and achievement along the way.

On behalf of the LUESD school community, we are proud to announce that P.W. Engvall Elementary School, Liberty Middle School, and the Lemoore Union Elementary School District have all been recognized as 2025 Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll Award recipients for high achievement and continued student success!

This year, Engvall Elementary and Liberty Middle School earned individual Honor Roll recognition for their exceptional performance, and LUESD was also named an ERP Honor Roll District—a significant accomplishment that reflects districtwide commitment to student growth and academic achievement, even as not all schools received individual school-level awards.

The ERP Honor Roll program, sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), is part of a national initiative that highlights schools and districts that demonstrate strong academic results, close achievement gaps, and show ongoing improvement. Engvall Elementary and Liberty Middle School are among a select group of California public schools to earn this recognition.

The 2025 ERP Honor Roll uses statewide academic data to highlight schools and districts that show:

• High levels of student achievement

• Growth and improvement over time

• Reduction in achievement gaps among student groups

• Consistent success in helping students meet or exceed grade-level expectations

A few key facts about the ERP Honor Roll:

• It is the only award developed in partnership with business leaders.

• It incorporates graduation and dropout rate data for a comprehensive picture of student progress.

• It sets a higher bar for performance than many other recognitions.

• It is conducted by Educational Results Partnership, which manages the nation’s largest database on student achievement.

• Schools and districts do not apply—ERP identifies honorees based strictly on results.

As recipients, Engvall Elementary, Liberty Middle School, and LUESD will be featured on the ERP Honor Roll website, and banners will be proudly displayed at each recognized school site.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our hardworking students, dedicated teachers and staff, and our supportive families and community. These recognitions reflect the shared commitment across LUESD to ensuring academic excellence and student success.

We are excited to share that our partnership with Fresno State’s Parent University Program continues to grow and support families across the Lemoore Union Elementary School District. Now entering our third year of collaboration, Parent University remains a valuable and free resource that equips parents with tools to support their children’s academic and personal success. To date, over 400 LUESD parents have participated in the program, and many more are set to join upcoming cohorts.

Since 2013, Fresno State Parent University has served families across California by offering accessible online courses designed to strengthen digital skills, support student learning, and promote family well-being. We are proud to continue bringing this opportunity to our community.

Program Highlights for 2025–2026

Free Virtual Classes
All courses remain fully online, allowing families to participate from the comfort of their homes.

Course Offerings Include:

• Digital Literacy (Levels I–IV)

• Financial Literacy (Levels I & II)

• Social & Emotional Wellness

• English and Spanish Conversation (Levels I & II)

• Pathway to College

• Health & Wellness

• Parenting Skills

Class Schedule
Each cohort runs for four weeks, meeting twice a week for two hours (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM) on either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday.

Multiple Language Options
Classes are offered in English and Spanish, with additional language support available upon request (Punjabi, Triqui, Mixtec, Vietnamese, and Hmong).

Certificate of Completion
Participants who attend at least five of the eight sessions will receive a certificate celebrating their achievement.

Why Participate?

Parent University supports parents as partners in education by providing practical skills in digital literacy, personal finance, communication, wellness, and more. These tools empower families, strengthen parent-school connections, and enhance the overall success of students.

Upcoming Cohorts

Information for the February 2026 Cohort has been included and will also be shared directly with families through ParentSquare. We encourage all families to explore these enriching opportunities and join us in continuing to build strong partnerships for student success.

Together, we help our students thrive!

We are proud to share that every 3rd grade student in our district received a personal dictionary this year, thanks to the generous support of the Lemoore Rotary Club. This long-standing partnership reflects our shared commitment to promoting literacy and fostering a love of learning in all students.

The Rotary Dictionary Project provides students with a resource they can use both in the classroom and at home, supporting vocabulary development, reading skills, and curiosity about the world. For many students, this dictionary becomes their very first reference book they can truly call their own.

We are deeply grateful to Lemoore Rotary for their continued dedication to our students and for investing in their academic success. Together, we are building strong foundations in literacy and empowering our young learners to thrive.

Thank you, Lemoore Rotary, for making a meaningful difference in our community!

The holiday season is full of joy, travel, and special memories — but it can also throw kids’ routines off track. While the change of pace is part of what makes this time of year exciting, a little consistency goes a long way in helping children feel their best.

Consistency Creates Comfort

Kids thrive when they know what to expect. Keeping familiar wake-up times, mealtimes, and bedtime rituals can help them feel secure, even when the rest of life feels a bit more festive (and chaotic!) than usual.

Better Behavior Through Predictability

When children understand what’s coming next, they’re more likely to stay calm and cooperative. A steady routine reduces stress and helps prevent meltdowns — something every parent can appreciate during a busy holiday week.

Protecting Quality Rest

Late nights and extra activities are part of the fun, but sleep is still essential. Sticking to a consistent bedtime helps your child stay rested, happy, and energized for all the celebrations.

Supporting Healthy Habits

A little structure helps kids stay balanced. Regular meals, playtime, and moments of quiet can keep their bodies and emotions steady, even when schedules shift.

BrightLife Kids is a California-funded program dedicated to giving children (ages 0-12) and their families no cost tools they need to build resilience, manage stress, and thrive. No insurance or referrals are required to access these supports, which include:

Register for the upcoming webinar on December 11th at 12:00pm.

LUESD remains dedicated to making school registration as simple and convenient as possible for families. Our online enrollment system provides a quick, user-friendly way to register new students.

Online TK/Kindergarten enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year will open on February 2, 2026, and can be accessed through the LUESD district website.

Families are strongly encouraged to complete TK/Kindergarten registration by May 1 to ensure they receive important updates and opportunities. Each elementary school will host a TK/Kindergarten parent orientation for registered students and their parents/guardians in May.

Transfer Requests:

• Intra-district transfer requests for TK/Kindergarten are due by March 31.

• Inter-district transfer requests for TK/Kindergarten are due by April 15.

Please note: Students currently attending an LUESD school do not need to complete the online enrollment process for the 2026–2027 school year.

Intra/ Inter District Applications

Window: February 1st and March 31st.

Note: Students currently attending school on an approved intra-district transfer permit are not required to resubmit a new application each year when continuing at the same school. However, a new application must be submitted when a student incurs an address change that establishes new residency outside the boundaries of their attendance area. Please submit all applications to the LUESD District Office

Hello LUESD Parents!

Is your child ready to sharpen their math skills and boost their confidence? There's still time to benefit from our ongoing Saturday School program!

This focused learning environment is designed specifically for students in grades 3 through 8 to reinforce critical concepts and provide the extra support they need to excel. It's a key opportunity for academic growth!

Program Details

• Focus: Targeted Math Skill Building

• Grades: 3rd through 8th Grade

• Location: Engvall Elementary School

• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Don't Miss These Upcoming Dates!

• December: 13

• January: 24, 31

• February: 7, 21, 28

• March: 7, 14, 21

• April: 11, 18, 25

• May: 2

It's easy to register! To enroll your child, please complete and sign the electronic registration form available below. Registration must be complete before your child attends.

Be sure to review the permission slip for details regarding transportation and program expectations. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school office.

Enroll Today using this link via ParentSquare

Lemoore Union Elementary School District encourages all students to take time to relax and recharge, but also to keep their minds active! Here are simple ways your family can reinforce academic skills and prevent the "break slide," broken down by grade span:

Early Learners (TK – Grade 2)

• Reading Together: Read aloud to your child every day. Use the local public library or school-provided books. Ask simple "who," "what," and "where" questions about the story.

• Hands-On Math: Use everyday items (socks, food, toys) to practice counting, sorting by color or size, and simple addition/subtraction games.

• Boost Language: Encourage your child to describe their day and holiday activities using complete sentences.

Upper Elementary (Grades 3 – 5)

• Independent Reading: Encourage your child to read independently for at least 20 minutes daily.

• Kitchen/Home Math: Have them help you measure ingredients for simple recipes (practicing fractions), or help keep track of the time for daily tasks (practicing elapsed time).

• Creative Writing: Encourage them to keep a journal of their break or write a friendly letter to a family member.

Middle School (Grades 6 – 8)

• Critical Reading & Discussion: Encourage reading news articles, informational books, or websites. Discuss the main idea and encourage them to explain their reasoning behind their opinions.

• Data & Rates Math: Look for opportunities to compare numbers—such as tracking the score differences in a sports game, comparing distances or speeds (e.g., how long it takes to walk places), or reading simple charts and graphs from news reports (practicing data analysis and rates).

• Research & Organization: Encourage them to research a topic of interest and organize the information into a simple outline or set of notes.