Houston Chronicles Vol 3

Dear Houston Elementary Families,

Welcome to the new school year at Houston Elementary! We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and are as excited as we are to embark on this fresh chapter.

This year, our focus is #HESBetterTogether. We believe that by coming together as one united Houston Elementary community, we can achieve incredible things for our students. Our commitment is to provide High Impact Tier One instruction to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed, no matter their starting point.

Our goal is to eliminate achievement gaps and support each student’s journey to becoming their very best. We know that by working together—students, families, and staff—we can break down every barrier and create an environment where all our Houston leaders thrive.

Here’s how you can be a part of this exciting journey:

1. Stay Engaged: Keep in touch with your child’s teachers and school events. Your involvement and feedback are crucial to our collective success.
2. Support Learning: Encourage your child to embrace their learning journey with curiosity and enthusiasm. A little encouragement goes a long way!
3. Communicate: Share any concerns or ideas with us. We’re here to work with you to ensure your child’s success and well-being.

Together, let’s make this year extraordinary. By combining our efforts and supporting each other, we can create a vibrant and thriving school community where every student has the opportunity to shine. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead—let’s make it a great one, together!

Warm regards,

Daberechi Okafor

Principal
Houston Elementary

We’d love to hear from you about Houston Elementary! Let us know what you think is working well and if there are areas where we could improve.

We’re also excited to start a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and would love for you to join us! The PTO helps with communication between home and school, organizes events, and supports our school activities. If you’re interested or want to know more, just let us know.

Your input and participation are really important to us. Let’s work together to make our school even better!

Scan the QR code below to share your thoughts or get involved. Looking forward to hearing from you!

In accordance with the Texas Education Code, Section 22.083, Lancaster ISD may obtain criminal history record information on an individual who has indicated, in writing, an intention to serve as a volunteer. Completion of the online volunteer registration will serve as a written intent to serve as a volunteer at a designated Lancaster ISD campus and a release to conduct a criminal background information check. Criminal information obtained is confidential and used only for the purpose of ensuring student safety.

Mark your calendars—the first day of school is August 12, 2024. We are eagerly looking forward to welcoming each and every one of you back. Stay informed on all the amazing things happening at Houston this year by regularly checking our website and communications for updates and important information. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. We are here to support you and ensure a successful school year for all our students.

Come join us for Meet the Teacher night! This will be an opportunity for you to meet the admin team, meet your teacher, and order campus shirts. Please keep in mind that the schedule is broken down by grade:

Kindergarten-First Grade: 5:00PM-6:00PM

Second-Third Grade: 5:30PM-6:30PM

Fourth-Fifth Grade: 6:00PM-7:00PM

We look forward to seeing you!

As we prepare for the exciting start of the new school year, we want to share some important information regarding the first day of school procedures. We understand the significance of this day for both students and parents, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to our district safety protocols.

On the first day of school, parents will have the opportunity to hug their student at the entrances and then release them to a trusted Houston Elementary staff member. This allows for a warm start to the day while maintaining safety measures. Please note that in compliance with district guidelines, parents will not be able to accompany their child to the classroom on the first day.

We invite you to join us for our Meet the Teacher event on August 9, where you will have the chance to meet your child’s teacher and familiarize yourselves with the classroom environment. This event is an excellent opportunity to prepare your little one for their first day of school.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition on Day One. We look forward to a fantastic school year filled with growth, learning, and success for all our students!

Our school day ends at 4:00 p.m. Parents, Van drivers, etc. will remain in cars during drop off and pick up. Early pickups will not be allowed Students will be identified by a unique pin number (Ex: Student ID) to pick up, etc. Parents will not be allowed to “walk-up” to the building to pick-up students. All walkers will be escorted by a member of the HES team to the cross walk to be dismissed. All other pick ups must be by car so please ensure that you pick up students promptly at dismissal time! Be sure you have your HES-issued hangtag for a safe and smooth process. After 4:30, late pickups will be in the office and parents must sign their child out.

Students will not be released to individuals who are not on your documented contact list. For your child’s safety, the app or pick-up tag will be required to pick up your child on the first day of school. Parents will be required to wait after dismissal is over if you do not have the Pick-Up tag or the CurbSmart app with your child’s information. The app CurbSmart will be used for safe dismissal. See video below.

See example below:

All student meals will be eaten in the the cafeteria. Students must scan their student ID when going through the lunch line. Students receive free breakfast and lunch in Lancaster ISD. Visitors will not be allowed to eat in the cafeteria or classrooms with students. Outside food or beverage in a lunch bag will be allowed. Dropping off food from a restaurant, fast food, etc. is strictly prohibited.

Dont forget to order your school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year!

This summer, our district met to review our safety and security protocols and emergency management procedures thoroughly. As a result of these meetings, several safety and security enhancements will take place this school year. One safety enhancement will require all Lancaster ISD students to carry a clear or mesh backpack. This decision is a preventive safety and security measure, and all students who attend Lancaster ISD must adhere to this requirement.

Backpacks must be clear or mesh, and students may carry a non-clear pouch no larger than 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products. Below is a list of retailers where the backpacks can be ordered.

Safety, Security and Dress Code Updates.

The safety and security of our students and staff have always been our top priority in Lancaster ISD, and we continuously strive to implement measures that enhance their well-being. After conducting a thorough review of safety measures and carefully considering the feedback from our board of trustees, district leadership team, campus principals, and the district's safety and security committee, we have updated our dress code policy to enhance our safety and security efforts throughout the district. These updates will be implemented during the upcoming school year.

The dress code updates include eliminating the option for students to wear hoodies and any outerwear with hoods inside any district campus or building, continuing required student uniforms and clear or mesh backpacks, and expanding the district-wide student ID badge requirement.

This change in dress code to eliminate hoodies aims to remove barriers that hinder the quick and accurate identification of students' faces. Hoodies, hooded sweatshirts, and other outerwear with hoods can obscure a student's face, making it challenging for staff to identify them properly. Removing the option for hoodies and similar outerwear to be worn inside of schools will ensure a clearer line of sight, enhance our ability to identify students promptly, especially during emergencies, and will contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students and staff within our campuses.

In addition to the dress code update, we will be implementing a district-wide student ID badge requirement for grades K-12. Student ID badges will facilitate student identification and ensure that only authorized individuals have access to our school facilities. Each campus will provide additional information regarding the ID badge distribution process. Furthermore, we will continue enforcing our clear or mesh backpack and school uniform requirements.

We understand that hoodies and outerwear with hoods are popular among our students. We want to clarify that this decision is not an attack on this specific clothing item. Instead, this dress code enhancement is a district-wide initiative aimed at proactively preventing any obstacles that may hinder our ability to identify students during campus emergencies. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. By working together, we can continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students.

Please review the following information so that you are aware of the most recent updates to the student dress code for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

• All Lancaster ISD students have a district-wide uniform requirement

• All Lancaster ISD students must carry a clear or mesh backpack

• Student ID badges will be required for students K-12

• Hoodies or outerwear with hoods are no longer considered acceptable clothing items within Lancaster ISD and may not be worn inside any district campus or building. Articles of clothing falling within the unacceptable list include the following but are not limited to:

• Hooded sweatshirts with or without a zipper (hoodies)

• Hooded jackets

• Hooded sweaters

• Hooded coats

• Hooded windbreakers

• Hooded parkas

• Hooded raincoats

• Hooded fleeces

• Hooded vests

Please note that any outerwear or clothing item with an attached hood will be considered unacceptable according to the updated policy.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school administration via our Let's Talk app under the dress code topic. We value your partnership and thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring campus safety.

The Lancaster Independent School District attendance policy will be followed for all students. Students are expected to attend class AND complete assigned tasks to demonstrate engagement in learning and mastery of concepts. Student attendance is MANDATORY as absences may result in denial of credit. Attendance will be taken daily in the TEAMS student data management system. Please review the district attendance policy outlined in the LISD Student Handbook by clicking here.

Please be aware, if your student is in need of immunizations they will not be able to attend school for the 2024-2025 school year. Please reach out to loricullum@lancasterisd.org if you have any questions. See your primary care physician or you can contact Dallas County Health & Human Services to make an appointment.