November 2025 Newsletter

Hello LCSD Families,

The joys of winter will be coming soon. During times of unfavorable travel weather, we do our best to evaluate road conditions and make a determination as to whether or not we have a late start, early dismissal, or school cancellation; always with our students’ safety as the priority.

SchoolMessenger

Your best source for accurate and timely school-related weather announcements will be received by signing up to receive alerts through SchoolMessenger. SchoolMessenger will provide numerous types of communication, including emergency/security alerts, weather-related announcements, and communication from your child’s teacher.

Below are some questions and answers regarding school and winter weather that I hope will provide clarity as we prepare for the winter months.

Go Bulldogs!

Road conditions will always be a determining factor. Our general rule is that when the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls issues a Blizzard Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Ice Storm Warning, or an Extreme Cold Warning for our area, we take precautions to keep everyone safe. That may mean starting late, dismissing early, or canceling school while the warning is in effect. There are other times when roads are not suitable for driving, in which case the district will consider adjusting the school schedule.

LCSD will not make up late starts or early dismissals. This is because many classes meet on an abbreviated schedule these days, and students are able to receive instruction. However, LCSD will make up school days in which the entire school day was missed.

If makeup days are needed during Memorial Day week, students will attend school only through Thursday. If just one day (Tuesday after Memorial Day) is needed, it will not be made up. All scheduling decisions are subject to the State of Iowa requirements.

The makeup dates are May 22, 26, 27, and 28.

Congratulations to Faith Garcia, special education teacher at Kluckhohn Elementary, for being named the September Employee of the Month!

Mayor Rob Bixenman stopped by Franklin Elementary to read to our first graders during library time. What a special visit!

This year’s 11th Annual LEEP MENuMASTERS Fundraiser was a huge success, raising $23,766 and bringing LEEP’s total contributions since 2009 to $300,226.55!

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event. Your generosity continues to provide vital resources—like textbooks, technology, and classroom materials—that enrich learning across LeMars Community Schools.

A special shoutout goes to our sponsors, volunteers, event committee, and the amazing MENuMASTERS chefs and assistants for making this year’s fundraiser unforgettable!

Congratulations to the October Employee of the Month, Jared Wurth!

As head custodian at Le Mars Middle School, Jared goes above and beyond to keep our school clean, safe, and welcoming.

Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Le Mars Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, and marital status in its educational programs, activities or employment policies and practices in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices.

Any person having inquiries concerning the school district’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § 504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 is directed to contact: Mrs. Rachel Leavitt, Curriculum Director, 940 Lincoln St SW, 546-4155.

A blood drive will be held in the entryway of the new high school gym on November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This blood drive is open to qualifying students, staff, and community members. Students who are 16 or 17 will need a consent signed by a parent/guardian.

Contact Erin Rolling at 546-4153 or erin.rolling@lemarscsd.org with any questions.

The 2025 Fall semester will end before winter break.

The semester test schedule is as follows:

Day 1 (December 17): Students take semester tests for odd class periods (1, 3, 5, and 7)

Day 2 (December 18): Students take semester tests for even class periods (2, 4, 6, and 8)

Make-up Day (December 19): Students take any missed tests

Important notes for semester test days:

• All students have an open campus for lunch (including freshmen)
• Students will not need to attend the Study Hall or the Success Center
• Students must still attend all other classes (even if they don't have a test that day)

A few of LCHS trimester classes will end on November 14. Students in College Welding and College English will start their new classes on November 15. Report cards for trimester classes will be mailed home on November 24.

Come one, come all to a magical night of music, mischief, and medieval times at the 2025 Madrigal Dinner!

The 2025 Madrigal Dinner is on December 5th and 6th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the Old MS Gym. Tickets will be going on sale in the HS office starting on November 10th, 2025. Tickets are $25 each. Proceeds directly support the Vocal Music Program at LCHS!

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form that determines your student's eligibility for financial aid for college. This includes federal grants like the Pell Grant, which doesn't need to be repaid.

Le Mars Middle School students are invited to enroll in the Le Mars Community Schools After School Program, designed to support academic growth and provide access to tutoring.

The program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and is led by middle school teachers. Please note that transportation is not provided after the program ends.

For more information or to register, contact Jason Martin or Abby Johnson at 712-546-7022.

We want to thank the many generous businesses and individuals who donated to the Middle School book fair and bake sale this year. The donations allowed 190 students to purchase their own books and promote reading. The sales from the book fair allowed us to purchase over 120 new books for the middle school library and literacy classrooms, as well as enough to purchase books later as we need them.

In addition, the book fair collected $300 in proceeds to give to “The Table” at Rejoice, located in Le Mars, IA.

Thank you for helping make our middle school book fair a great success!

Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on November 3 and 6, 2025, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The Elementary School libraries will be hosting Literati Book Fairs during Parent -Teacher Conference week, November 3-7! We hope to see you there!!

• November 3 & 6: Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:00 p.m.

• November 12: 2 Hour Early-Out for Teacher In-Service

• November 26: Parent-Teacher Conferences Comp Day (No School)

• November 27-28: Thanksgiving Vacation (No School)