Dear Lakewood Families,

What an exciting time to be a Lakewood Bobcat! I am incredibly proud to share that Lakewood Elementary received an EXCELLENT rating on our School Report Card! This outstanding achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our amazing students, teachers, and staff. We also want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our wonderful families for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement makes a difference every single day, and we couldn't do it without you! Together, we are making Lakewood a place where students can learn, grow, and achieve great things!

We have another fun and busy week ahead! Red Ribbon Week kicks off on Friday the 23rd and continues through the next week. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage our students to make healthy choices and live drug-free lives. We have some fun dress-up days planned, so be sure to check out the schedule below and join us in celebrating!

Also, don't forget that Monday, October 19 is School Picture Day! We can't wait to see all those smiling Bobcat faces ready for the camera!

As always, thank you for everything you do to support our school. Let's continue working together to make this an amazing year filled with learning, growth, and achievement!

We are so proud to be Lakewood Bobcats! 💙💛

Mrs. Roberts

Principal, Lakewood Elementary School

Meet our newest member!

My name is Gene Warren, and I am the parent of a first grader at Lakewood Elementary.

I serve as Director of Marketing and Communications at Conway Medical Center, where I lead a team that helps our community understand and access local healthcare.

I have recently had the opportunity to see up close both the challenges our school faces and the dedication of the staff who work every day to help our students succeed. That experience has left me wanting to do more to support Lakewood.

I bring a practical, listen-first approach to the School Improvement Council, along with experience in communication, using data to guide decisions, and working collaboratively with groups who may have different priorities.

I am honored to serve on the School Improvement Council and help Lakewood continue to grow and improve for our students, families, and staff.

🐾Beginning Monday, September 27th, six of our Student Council members will be helping with morning car duty at Lakewood Elementary! These student leaders are excited for the opportunity to serve our school and help make mornings run smoothly.

Our Student Council members will be wearing bright-colored safety vests and name tags so they are easy to identify.

Please remember to show them the same respect, kindness, and cooperation that you would show our adult staff members. We are proud of these students for stepping up as leaders and appreciate your support as they serve our Lakewood family!

Thank you for helping us encourage and support our young leaders! 💙🐾

Go Bobcats!

Afternoon Car Riders

Parents, please keep your car rider tag visible on the dash the entire time through the car line. Security will be checking for tags, so please keep them visible even after Mrs. Keyser or Mrs. Gordon calls their child's name. It is also helpful if you listen for which number your child is being called to. Please do not ask students to get into the vehicle before reaching their number. We have this procedure in place for many safety reasons. We appreciate your help, support, and attention when in the car line. When we all do our part, the line runs much faster.

For the safety of all of our students, we want to remind families of our walker drop-off and pick-up procedures.

🚶 Only Crystal Lakes residents should utilize the crosswalk to drop off and pick up their children.

🚗 All other parents should use the designated Car Rider Line to drop off and pick up their children. This helps us keep traffic moving safely and ensures that students are dropped off and picked up in a controlled and secure area.

🚨 Most importantly, children should NEVER be let out of a vehicle in the street or along the roadway. This is extremely dangerous and puts both students and other drivers at risk.

We appreciate your cooperation and your help in keeping our Bobcats safe! Thank you for partnering with us to make arrival and dismissal as safe and smooth as possible.

Reminder for parents of CD through 1st Grade Students

All students that are in Child Development, Kindergarten or 1st grade classes must wear a tag while riding school bus.
Tagged students must have supervision at the bus stop before the child is allowed to depart the bus.
Please make sure you are at the bus stop so the bus driver can see who is picking up the child.
This does NOT mean standing in the doorway of your house, sitting on your porch, sitting in your vehicle, etc.... You need to be at the bus stop. The bus drivers can not verify who your child is going to if you are not at the bus stop.
If no one is at the bus stop to pick up your child or if the bus driver can not see who is picking up your child, they will be returned to the school.

If you have any questions, please contact the Socastee Bus office at 843-293-6941

This Month:

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Principal's Month

10/19 to 10/23 - National School Bus Safety Week

10/19 - Fall School Picture Day

10/21 - Unity Day - Wear Orange

10/23 - End of 1st Quarter

10/24 - Lakewood Farmers Market 10:00AM (watch for flyer)

10/25 - SHS Trunk or Treat from 3:00 to 5:00 (see flyer below)

10/26 to 10/30 - Red Ribbon Week (Watch for a flyer)

10/27 - 5th Grade Conferences starting @ 3:30

10/27 - 5th Grade Camp Parent Meeting @ 5:30

10/29 - 1st Quarter Honor/Merit Celebration (Grades 3-5)

10/29 - Report Cards Available

Help Us Give Back: Ronald McDonald House Tab Collection ❤️

The Ronald McDonald House is a kind and loving community that provides a comforting place for families to call home while their children receive medical care at MUSC in Charleston. They offer support, care, and a home-away-from-home for families during a difficult time in their lives.

One way the Ronald McDonald House raises money to help with expenses is by collecting and recycling aluminum can tabs. For the past several years, I have personally collected can tabs and would love to bring this opportunity to our Lakewood family!

With approval, I would like to place collection jars in the teacher workroom and cafeteria so our staff and students can donate their can tabs. Once the jars are full, Brooklyn House will collect the tabs and take them to the Ronald McDonald House in Charleston.

This would be a simple but meaningful way for Lakewood to show our Bobcat Pride by being a loving, caring school that gives back and helps families in need. Every little tab can make a difference, and together we can make a big impact!

I have also attached a photo from my most recent visit to the Ronald McDonald House a few weeks ago.

Thank you for considering this opportunity for our Lakewood family to give back!

Superintendent Reading Challenge

Superintendent Reading Challenge is Live!

https://www.horrycountyschools.net/academics/risewithreading/readingchallenge

Please let your child’s teacher know if you have any questions about the challenge. The goal is 1,000 pages per student per quarter! You’ve got this, Bobcats!

I have some exciting news to share about this year’s Superintendent’s Reading Challenge! Thanks to our partnership with the Bojangles Foundation, our students and schools have even more reasons to keep turning pages and Rise with Reading!

Bojangles Rewards & Recognition

Summit Readers | 4,000 Pages

Students who read and log 4,000 pages will receive a $10 Bojangles gift card.

Bo Readers | 10,000 Pages

Students who read and log 10,000 pages will receive a FREE 20-piece Bojangles Family Meal to enjoy with their family.

Bo’s Reading Champions | School Award

The school with the highest average number of pages read per student will be named Bo’s Reading Champions and will win a visit from the Bojangles Food Truck!

Important: All pages must be read and logged by April 30 to qualify for Bojangles rewards.

Please begin sharing these exciting incentives with your students, staff, and families and encourage everyone to keep logging those pages in Beanstack. This is a wonderful opportunity to build excitement around reading throughout the year while recognizing our students for reaching some impressive reading milestones.

Thank you for everything you do to promote a culture of reading in your schools. I can’t wait to see how high our students rise this year!

Happy Reading!

Change of Transportation

Dear Families,

All transportation changes must be submitted before 1:30 PM each day. Please email any changes to LWETransportation@horrycountyschools.net. If you do not receive a reply, your request has not been received or processed.

Transportation changes submitted after 1:30 PM CANNOT BE accommodated. For safety reasons, we must have written or emailed communication in order to make any changes.

Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for all students!

Doctor Notes/Parent Notes

As a reminder, the Horry County Attendance policy changed for the 2025/2026 school year.

We wanted to highlight and bring to your attention a few of the changes that will affect your student's attendance if not followed!

ALL ATTENDANCE NOTES MAY BE EMAILED TO LWEAttendance@horrycountyschools.net (if a note is emailed it does not have to be sent in as well)

Parent Notes

* Parents must submit a note within 3 days of the student's return to school from an absence. Notes may be submitted prior to the student's absence.

* Parents may submit notes for up to 6 school days, and the days will count as parent-excused.

* Elementary/Middle Schools - 6 days total

* Parent notes will not be accepted during designated state testing dates.

* Parents may submit notes for up to 6 school days, and the days will count as parent-excused.

Medical Notes

* Elementary/Middle Schools - 10 days total

* Parents must submit the dr. note within 3 days of the student's return to school from an absence.

* Parents may submit notes for up to 8 school days, and the day will count as an medical excused

absence

To view the entire HCS Attendance Policy, click on the link here. https://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments-services/policy-and-legal-issues/attendance-policy-updates

For questions, please reach out to Merrilyn Perritt at mperritt@horrycountyschools.net, Dana Murphy at dmurphy@horrycountyschools.net or (843)650-6768.

Tardies

Dear Families,

Please remember that students should be in their classrooms by 7:40 AM. Any student who is not inside the building when the tardy bell rings at 7:40 will be marked tardy, even if they have arrived on campus or are still in the car line.

If you arrive after the tardy bell, please park at the front of the building and walk your child inside to sign them in. For safety purposes, everyone entering the building must be screened, so please bring only your driver’s license and keys when signing your child in or picking them up early.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and smooth start to each school day!

Hello! I am Jennifer Bibbee, School Nurse at Lakewood Elementary. I have 17 years of nursing experience & this is my 7th year as a School Nurse with Horry County! Horry County Schools has full time licensed nurses in each school to enhance the educational process by addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students. If you have questions or concerns about your child's health or school nursing services, please contact me. It is important for parents to report any illness or condition that your child has that may require medical support during the school day.

Reminders:

1. Please call or email the school nurse prior to a parent bringing in any prescription or over the counter medications to ensure compliance with the HCS medication policy. HCS medication forms are required for the school nurse to administer any medications. The medication policy & forms may be obtained from the school nurse or the HCS Student Health Services website below:

https://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments-services/student-services/student-health-services/medication-policy

2. Please send a complete change of clothes to school or keep in your child's book bag if you have a child in kindergarten or child development in case of an accident. Please make sure the change of clothes is appropriate for the season.

3. Please send, fax, or email a copy of your child's current immunization record to the school nurse if your child is new to this school or district. If your child attended the CD program last year, then we may need an updated immunization record for kindergarten. The school nurse will be reviewing records & contacting parents for non-compliant immunization records. Parents have 30 days from the start of school to submit immunization records.

4. Please view the following Horry County Schools website with additional information from health services:

https://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments-services/student-services/student-health-services

8. Rhonda Blackmon, RN will be our Flex nurse at Lakewood Elementary.

I look forward to meeting your child's healthcare needs this school year!

Jennifer Bibbee, RN

Office Phone: (843) 650-6726

School Fax: (843) 293-7810

Email: jbibbee@horrycountyschools.net

Please do NOT send children who are sick to school. Children who have vomited or have diarrhea should remain home until vomiting/diarrhea free, able to eat and drink without recurring episodes of vomiting/diarrhea and feel well enough to participate in school. Children with fever of 100℉ or greater should remain home until they are fever free without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours. School nurses cannot excuse absences for students who are sent to school sick.

Parents of children that have moved from out of state- A South Carolina Certificate of Immunization record needs to be on file at school as required by South Carolina State Law. Parents must take their out-of-state immunization record to their local pediatrician or go to their local Department of Public Health to have the record transferred to a SC record. A copy of the SC Certificate of Immunization must be turned into the school nurse by the dates provided on the letters that are being sent home. If this is not completed, the student must be suspended in accordance with state law.

🎶 Chorus Morning Practice Drop-Off Reminder 🎶

Just a quick reminder that morning chorus practice drop-off is at 7:00 AM.

📍 Please drop your chorus student off at the last set of doors along the front sidewalk. This is the designated entrance for students arriving for morning chorus practice.

⏰ Please do not drop students off before 7:00 AM. Staff will not be available to supervise chorus students before that time.

We appreciate your help in making morning drop-off . Please make sure students arrive promptly at 7:00 so they can get inside and be ready for practice.

Thank you for your continued support of our chorus students! 💙🎶

"I am excited to introduce myself as the new Cub Care Afterschool Program Director. It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve our students and families, and I look forward to being a part of this positive and welcoming program.

Cub Care provides an environment where every child feels safe, supported, and valued. My goal is to provide quality care and engaging experiences that encourage students to learn, grow, build friendships, and have fun! I look forward to getting to know each of you and working together to make Cub Care a wonderful experience for each student.

Ellen V. Santos, Cub Care Director"

School Safety Drills

Our #1 goal is to ensure that Lakewood Elementary is a SAFE environment for our bobcats. To do this, we would hold a variety of safety drills throughout the year. Safety drills enhance school safety by allowing students and staff to understand proper emergency procedures outside of a crisis situation.

What drills will our bobcats participate in throughout the school year?

Fire Drill: Students and staff practice exiting the building in case of a fire.

Tornado Drill: Students and staff take safety position lining up along an interior wall or the safest area, in case of a tornado.

Earthquake Drill: Students and staff DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON, getting under a table or desk if one is near , in case of an earthquake.

Intruder Drill: Our school has adopted the "I Love U Guys" Foundation's Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol. You can learn more from this Standard Response Protocol Handout for Parents.

Metal Detector Wanding: Staff will use a metal detector wand to check students and their materials/backpacks as they enter the building.

DRESS CODE REMINDER

As we continue fostering a positive and distraction-free environment, we ask families to ensure students arrive at school properly dressed and in compliance with the HCS Dress Code Policy.

*Appropriate attire for learning and safety is most important. Any form of wearing apparel that is unsafe, unhealthy, and indecent or that may tend to disrupt class will not be permitted.

*Appropriate footwear must be always worn. Tennis shoes are appropriate for Physical Education class.

*Short shorts, short skirts, halter tops and midriff shirts and shirts with spaghetti straps are not acceptable.

*Hats and/or hoods should not be worn at any time in the building unless a designated hat day has been communicated to parents from the school.

*Pajamas and costumes are only permitted on designated days and will be communicated to parents from the school.

Students who are not dressed appropriately will be sent to the office to call home for a change of clothes. If dress code violations become a repeated concern, additional consequences may be assigned as needed.

HCS Elementary Schools (CD - 5th grade)

HCS Elementary Schools (CD - 5th grade)

Students who attend an HCS Elementary School may not have personal electronic devices or accessories visible or powered on during the school day or while they are on the school campus. This school day is defined as when they enter the school building and ending when the dismissal bell sounds. These devices include cell phones and all other personal electronic devices and accessories including, but not limited to, air pods, smart watches, tablets, wireless earbuds, handheld gaming devices, etc.

These devices MUST be stored in the student’s clear bookbag and must be powered off once students enter the building and remain off and out of sight until the end of the school day. Schools are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.

For every cell phone/electronic device violation, the following will apply:

Parents/guardians will be contacted.
When confiscated, cell phones/electronic devices will be stored in a secure location until the parent is able to retrieve it.
A parent/guardian must pick up the cell phone/electronic device from the front office (times determined by school).

Disciplinary consequences:

1st violation: Warning, Parent Contact
2nd violation: Warning, Parent must pick up the confiscated device.
3rd violation: 1 day ISS, Parent must pick up the confiscated device.
4th violation: 2 days ISS, Parent must pick up the confiscated device.
5th violation: 1 day OSS, Parent must pick up the confiscated device.