Parent Comet News

Tombaugh Elementary Newsletter: November 2023

A Word from your Principals - THANKSGIVING ISSUE

We are thankful for our STUDENTS - they are kind, loving, smart, brave and amazing.

We are thankful for our TEACHERS - they truly love our students and always have their best interest at heart.

We are thankful for our PARENTS - you are supportive, friendly, fair, understanding, and committed to Tombaugh.

We are thankful for our SUPPORT STAFF - they are an advocate for all at Tombaugh.

We are thankful for our CAMPUS - we have a beautiful facility that easily accommodated approximately 600 people at our Fall Festival!

We are thankful our our DISTRICT - our district supports our school in many ways and praises our school for all of our strengths.

We are thankful for the JOY we witness every single day at Tombaugh! Many of our visitors have expressed the warmth they feel at our school. We are a HAPPY school!

We are thankful for ATTENDANCE - although we do have some room to improve in our chronic absenteeism, we have approximately 500 students on campus each day!

We are thankful for our COMET CHAMP AWARDS - we cannot express the absolute joy on your child's face when they receive a Comet Champ Award.

We are thankful to be district LEADERS - we are leading the way for other schools in the areas of Standards Based Learning and our STEM Academy to name a few.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE YOUR LEADERS!!

Thank you for all your support,

Lisa Manes - Principal

lmanes@lcps.net

Michele Coats - Assistant Principal

mcoats@lcps.net

JOIN US FOR LUNCH

Tombaugh will be serving Thanksgiving lunch in the cafeteria on Thursday, November 9. Families of all students are invited to join us for a delicious Thanksgiving meal. We ask that you please purchase your tickets in the school office in advance so we can know how many will be eating (sorry, no take-out trays). Tickets for adults and non-school age children are $4.00. If you are interested in helping serve the Thanksgiving lunch for a 30 minute shift, please call Margarita or Lyn at the office (527-9575). Older siblings are to join the younger sibling's schedule.

10:00 am McVaugh, Molina, Sanchez

10:30 am Carbajal, Barrio, Romero, Muniz, Ledezma

11:10 am Wilson, Oblack, Olivas, Valadez, Gallegos

11:40 am Garcia, Roybal, Bradee, Tingen, Lugo

12:10 pm Granados, Calkins, Gonzales, Madrid, Herrera

12:40 pm Martinez, Nunley, Smith, Silguero

1:10 pm Huber, Ochoa, Matthew, Gutierrez

Comet Champ Awards

Our students are LOVING our new Comet Champ Awards! These awards are given daily to students who display Leadership Qualities of being: Safe, Responsible, Respectful, and/or Kind. They can be given by any Tombaugh Staff member. When a student is given this award, they will call home to share this celebration with you. Please save our school number in your phone (575-527-9575) and make sure your voicemail is set up. The kids have been so excited to call home - we understand you may not be available to always take the call, but please provide us with a way to leave a message. Thank you for your help! We want to celebrate and allow students to step away from the classroom to call home. However, please understand we cannot call them back out of class if you miss the call. Thank you for your support! Thank you for sending us such amazing kiddos!

zoom_out_map

Our Vision & Mission Statement

Tombaugh Mission Statement

As teachers at Tombaugh, we provide each student with differentiated instruction in a safe, encouraging environment that develops critical thinking, motivation, and excellence in learning while promoting respectful core values. We work as a team with parents and community members to support the students in developing skills to become life-long learners.

Tombaugh Vision Statement

To create a SAFE, ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT, where EVERYONE feels APPRECIATED, LISTENED TO, and RESPECTED.

zoom_out_map

Tombaugh WEBSITE!

Please use our Tombaugh Website as your one stop shop for all things Tombaugh! We will use to post announcements, reminders, staff contact info and all district / school events.You can download an app called "Las Cruces Public Schools." Once app has downloaded, you may select Tombaugh Elementary and any other LCPS school you wish to follow. https://tombaugh.lcps.net

zoom_out_map

iRide App

We will still utilize the iRide App! It is a great system of communication to help us know your child is SAFELY released from school each day. If you do not have the option of using the app, PLEASE make special arrangements with your child's teacher to help us make sure they are ready for you. Instructions for the iRide app can be found below in English and Spanish.

zoom_out_map

NO DISMISSAL CHANGES AFTER 2:00

Please understand we have a building of almost 600 students. We are OVERWHELMED with last minute dismissal changes. PLEASE support us by contacting your child's teacher first. Teachers have been asked to respond to your notification to let you know they received the message. If your child's teacher does not respond, they must not have had time to check their messages. At that time, please call the office BEFORE 2:00 so we have ample time to notify teacher. Thank you for your help!

zoom_out_map

Walk to School Day

Join us this month!!

Thursday, November 16th @ 7:20 a.m

Meet us at Willow Glen Dr. / Stoneybrook Cir.

Last month we had 133 students and 58 adults. Woo Hoo!

zoom_out_map

November "No School" Dates

Friday, November 10th - Educator Planning Day

November 20th - 24th - Thanksgiving Break

Upcoming Events:

11/6-11/9: BOOK FAIR WEEK!

11/6-11/17: Tombaugh Kindness Drive / Comets Care

11/7: Tombaugh is an Election Site. CLASSES WILL TAKE PLACE as a normal school day!

11/9: Holiday Lunch - we hope to see you for a yummy meal!

11/15: First Grade Music Concert @ 1:45 - see flyer below for details

11/16: Walk to School Day @ 7:20 a.m.

11/17: TGT Littles Performances @ 9:00 & 1:00 p.m.- more info to come

11/20-11/24 - NO SCHOOL / Thanksgiving Break

A Word From Nurse Julie

Covid Info:

If your child tests positive for Covid, please contact the Nurses Office for notification purposes. I will document and let you know when your child can return to campus. If your child has been exposed to Covid but are symptom free, they are CLEARED to come to school.

No pumpkin products are allowed at school due to a life-threatening allergy. This includes pumpkin spice flavor from Starbucks, pumpkin scented products, baked pumpkin goods, and pumpkin seeds/pepitas. Please help keep our Comet family safe by leaving all pumpkin products at home!

Thank you Tombaugh Comets!

Julie Keller BSN RN

LCPS Nurse Tombaugh

Attendance Matters at Tombaugh!

UPDATE: Our current chronic absenteeism rate is around 16% so far this school year. Last school year we had a rate of 22%. Although we have a long ways to go, we are improving!!

Our school had a chronic absenteeism rate of 22% in the 22-23 school year. We are working to reduce that number by at least 12% for the 23-24 school year. A chronic absence is missing 10% or more of school days due to any reason (excused or unexcused ) Chronic absenteeism often has a negative impact on academics. Please be mindful of your child's attendance and reach out to our Attendance Team for support. Thank you for supporting us at Tombaugh!