Pride Preview Vol. 10

As we step into Quarter 2, let’s continue to raise the bar and set the standard of an A campus—because we know that’s exactly what we are.

This quarter is about modeling what we want to see in our students, reflecting on our belief systems, and operating with a can-do attitude in every space we lead. The energy we bring each day shapes the environment our students thrive in. Let’s make it count—together.

— Principal Carter

This week, we’re celebrating Mrs. Benton for jumping right in and making an immediate impact! She’s already begun leading our after-school Instrument Ensemble, agreed to help direct the Spring Musical, and even spent her weekend preparing her new classroom to welcome students tomorrow.

Thank you, Mrs. Benton, for your energy, commitment, and passion for creating opportunities that make our Pride shine! 💜🎶

As part of this recognition, our Pride Members of the Week now receive a $15 gift card along with their reserved parking spot. Past winners will also be receiving their gift cards this week. Congratulations, Ms. Elias—we’re lucky to have you in the Pride!

• Shout-out to Ms. Gamez, Mrs. Flores, Mrs. Davila, Mrs. Hernandez, Mrs. Sumners, and Ms. Armenta! Thank you for your hard work and positive attitude while packing and preparing to move classrooms. Your resilience and growth mindset are truly inspiring — you embody what it means to lead with heart and flexibility!
• Shout-out to Coach Walker! Thank you for being such a team player and stepping up during testing last week. Your teamwork and can-do spirit don’t go unnoticed!
• A huge shout-out to all teachers and teacher assistants who participated in testing last week! Thank you for your incredible support and teamwork. Even with a few tech glitches, you remained calm, flexible, and solution-oriented, ensuring our Lions had the best possible testing environment for success. We appreciate your dedication and positivity
• Shout out to Ms. Jackson, Mrs. Hernandez, Ms. Wilson and Mrs. Gosling for attending their IB training on Monday and Tuesday.
• Shout out to Ms. Benton for dedicating her day to building a welcoming, student-ready classroom!

• Due to the AWS server issues that impacted the School City platform on October 7-8, the testing window has been extended through Wednesday, October 15th to accommodate the disruption.
• AI scoring will also be delayed by one week.

• Test Security & Accommodations overview

• Designated Supports Input Window in MyData Portal opens Oct. 15-Nov. 7, 2025.

  Here is the link to the presentation for your review.

• Morning Announcements led by 2A this week. Mrs. Gomez, at 8:05 am please send two students to the main office.
• TA's clock in by 7:30am | Teachers clock in by 7:45am
• All Grades K-5 to collect 1 Data Point Weekly in All in Learning
• Morning Circle Lessons
• Hispanic Heritage Month Resources

Monday, Oct 13

No School

Second Nine Weeks Begin

Teachers finalize grades for report cards

🎂 Happy Birthday, Ms. Litzy Martinez!

Tuesday, Oct 14

SMC Q1 Make-Ups

Purple and Pink Dress Day – In memory of Ms. McFadden, wear pink and purple to honor her bright spirit and love for flamingos.

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day

National School Lunch Week – “Texas Taste Tour: Your School Lunch Passport”

Gradebooks lock at 11:59 PM

3:30–5:00 PM | Coding Club

5:30–6:30 PM | PTA Executive Meeting (Library)

6:00–8:00 PM | Woodrow Feeder Community Night (Times Ten Cellars)

6:30–7:30 PM | SBDM Meeting (Library – CNA Focus)

Wednesday, Oct 15

Show your PRIDE! Wear traditional clothing representing Hispanic or Latino culture

SMC Q1 RLA & Math Make-Up (Last Day)

Teachers print, sign, and date gradebook score sheets

Designated Supports Window opens

8:00–8:30 AM | SPED Training for Specials Team (Library)

5:00–6:30 PM | Hispanic Heritage Night – Celebrate performances, traditions, and community as we honor Hispanic and Latino cultures at Lipscomb.

Thursday, Oct 16

3:30–4:30 PM | After School Instrument Ensemble

Friday, Oct 17

🎂 Happy Birthday, Ms. Timms!

• All Grades K-5 to collect 1 Data Point Weekly in All in Learning
• SLO Forms: 2025-2026-SLO-Rubric.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Form.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Goal-Setting-Submission-Guide.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Student-Growth-Tracker (2).xls

Oct 14–15 – SMC Q1 Make-Ups (By Permission Only)

Oct 14 – 5:30–6:30 PM | PTA Executive Meeting; 6:30–7:30 PM | SBDM Meeting (Campus Needs Assessment); Teachers finalize grades for report cards; Staff Meeting; ⏰ Gradebooks lock at 11:59 PM

Oct 15 – ⏰ Teachers print, sign, and date gradebook score sheets

Oct 19 – SLO Survey

Oct 20 – 3:45–4:45 PM | Staff Meeting

Oct 20–24 – IB Unit #3 Window; SEL Survey (K–5) Window

Oct 23 – 3:30–7:30 PM | Parent-Teacher Conference Night (Elementary)

Oct 24 – 11:30 AM–2:30 PM | Academy 4 Friday; 5:00–6:30 PM | Trunk or Treat

Oct 27 – 3:45–4:45 PM | Staff Meeting

Oct 27–31 – Book Fair; Halloween Door Decorating Contest

Oct 29 – Principal for a Day

Oct 31 – Story Book Character Day; ⏰ FCE Fall Parent Survey Closes; ⏰ Finalize Grades for Progress Reports

• We’re thrilled to announce our 2024–2025 Lipscomb Teacher of the Year nominees — Ms. Paredes and Ms. Gamez! 🎉 Both have been recognized by their peers for their exceptional dedication, leadership, and the lasting impact they make in the lives of our students every day.

• We also proudly recognize our Aspire Award nominees, Ms. Litzy Martinez and Ms. Smalley, for their positivity, teamwork, and unwavering dedication to supporting our students and staff.

• Staff will have the opportunity to vote anonymously after school on Monday to determine our official campus honorees. Thank you to everyone who continues to model our standard of Excellence, Not Without Effort!

• Dallas ISD’s Pink Out Campaign runs October 1–31, celebrating this year’s theme: Educate, Empower, and Support. The campaign focuses on raising awareness and showing solidarity with those affected by breast cancer across our district community.
• Pink Out Week: October 20–24
• All staff are encouraged to wear pink, denim, and cowboy boots to show support and raise awareness.
• Race for the Cure: October 18 at UT Dallas
• Join the Dallas ISD team at the Komen Dallas North Race for the Cure. Registration is $45 and includes a race-day shirt.
• UT Southwestern Mammogram Vehicle: October 28, 8 AM–2 PM
• Located at Linus D. Wright Administration Building (9400 N. Central Expy).
• Appointments are covered by TRS ActiveCare BCBS and other major insurers. To schedule, call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710.

• Next Tuesday, October 21, students in grades 2–12 will participate in the Dallas ISD School Environment Survey. This districtwide survey—administered by Panorama Education—gathers student feedback about school climate, belonging, and safety to help improve the learning environment.
• Teachers will receive instructions from campus leadership on how and when to administer the survey during the day. The process is similar to the TEI Student Experience Survey and should be completed within one class period.
• Results will help our staff, counselors, and support teams identify areas where we can better serve students. Individual student data will not be shared.

• The Kemper Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 Read Conmigo Educator Grant, offering $3,000 to support classroom resources or professional learning that promote dual-language (Spanish–English) education.
• Up to 100 grants are awarded annually, with the fall deadline on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
• Learn more about eligibility and the application process on The Kemper Foundation website.

We’re inviting all teachers to create an Amazon Wishlist to share with parents and feature on the PTA website. This is an easy way for families to support your classroom—whether for birthdays, supplies, or special projects.

Thank you to those who have already created their lists! By doing this together, we’ll make it easier for parents to give directly to the things that help your classrooms thrive.

NEW CATALOGUE

Action Items for Sponsors:

• 🎯 Student Waivers — All club members must return a signed waiver by the end of this week.

• 🎯 Rosters — Update Student Activities Rosters.

• 🎯 Sponsor Training — 100% of sponsors must complete the 2025 training. A passing score of 80%+ generates a certificate emailed to you. Please provide a copy to Ms. Valadez for recordkeeping in case of audit/campus review.

One of the most impactful ways we can respond to CA and SMC data is through small group instruction. During LAB (Elementary) or the Tier 1 Instructional Block (Secondary), small groups can be structured in multiple formats to differentiate support and accelerate learning.

Small Group Structures

Teacher-Led Small Group

• Led by the classroom teacher

• Focused instruction based on formative data

• Includes reteaching, guided practice, and checks for understanding

Online Practice

• Students work on i-Ready / Imagine Learning MyPath

• Reinforces foundational skills tied to learning gaps

• Requires real-time teacher monitoring

Self-Directed Learning

• Students complete teacher-curated tasks

• Encourages independence and metacognition

• Can include goal-setting and self-monitoring tools

Look-For’s

• Teacher-Led: targeted questioning, checks for understanding, scaffolds aligned to data

• Personalized Instruction: students engaged on platform, teacher monitoring usage/progress

• i-Ready usage is actively monitored for the minimum 45 minutes per week in both RLA and Math.
• Access usage in: Reports > Instruction > Personalized Instruction Summary > (Select RLA/Math) > Show Results By

• As we move into quarter two, PLCs must be anchored in clarity, preparation, and consistency.
• Each one should have a clear identity - either a Planning PLC or a Data Meeting PLC - with a tight focus that leads to observable next steps and a plan for progress monitoring.

How are we shifting thinking and doing to students?

EIA Regulation:

• Grades 2–5 – At least one classwork grade per subject each week, or a minimum of nine grades per subject per nine weeks.

Unit #2 (Oct. 6 – Nov. 14) - Week #2 of Unit #2!

1. Week 1 - Students should have experienced a strong provocation for the learning.

• What is a Provocation? A provocation is a spark — like a teaser trailer or a thought-starter — designed to ignite curiosity and invite students into deeper inquiry.

2. Week 2 - Create time and space for student wonderings RELATED to the unit!

• Bring each day BACK to the unit of Inquiry and the Central Idea !
• Why are we learning what we are learning? Why are we exploring this concept?

Classroom Reminders:

• Every PreK–5 classroom should have a visible space for student wonderings (KWL chart, Padlet, whiteboard concept map, etc.).

• Always connect lines of inquiry back to the unit.

• Encourage students to add their own wonderings as new readers and thinkers.

Effective Sept. 1, 2025, Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for most health-related services in schools. TEA guidance confirms that nurses may still provide basic care and emergency support without prior consent.

What can be done without consent:

• Basic first aid (bandages, cleaning scrapes) unless a parent opts out

• Taking temperature, visual checks, simple symptom screening

• Comfort measures (rest, hydration, ice packs)

• Helping with change of clothes if needed for comfort/modesty

• Routine screenings (vision, hearing, scoliosis) if annual consent is on file

• Life-saving interventions in emergencies (e.g., epinephrine, CPR, choking response)

What requires consent:

• Any health service beyond general caretaking or emergency response

• Teachers, if you are sponsoring a club or activity on campus, please remember that students must have a signed parent consent form on file before they are allowed to participate in any activities outside.
• To help with this, we’ve created a roster system for you. You do not need to type anything—simply go to the tab with your club, select the student’s name from the drop-down list, and the rest will auto-populate.
• Please ensure your roster is completed as soon as possible so that we remain in full compliance with new state laws. Thank you for taking care of this important step for our students’ safety and participation.

• All core content DOI teachers are required to complete a minimum of 12 hours of district-assigned professional development by December 15, 2025.
• Please use upcoming district professional development days to meet this requirement. Eligible sessions completed in Cornerstone will count automatically, but any PD not listed in Cornerstone will require documentation and an administrator’s signature.
• Human Capital Management will contact teachers who are missing hours with next steps for submission.

• PreK paraprofessionals have an exciting opportunity to grow in their teaching careers through the Dallas College Early Childhood Program. This partnership provides a pathway to gain classroom experience, earn a degree, and receive mentorship—all at little to no cost.
• I’ll be nominating candidates from our campus who may be a great fit. If you’re interested, please reach out to me directly.
• Nominees will be invited to a virtual information session on October 15 or October 17 from 3:30–4:30 PM to learn more about the program. Spring enrollment begins October 27.

• From October 1 through December 12, 2025, teachers and staff can receive important seasonal and preventive vaccinations at various District locations.
• Flyer

• Each grade level must plan one field trip per semester.

• Fall Field Trip Form Deadline: October 24

• Forms must be submitted to Ms. Valadez at least 20 instructional days before the trip.

• The last day for field trips is May 3.

• PTA will sponsor two trips per grade level (one in fall, one in spring).

• More details on forms will be shared next week.

• Dallas ISD is offering a $500 incentive for EC–6 Core Content and Secondary ELAR teachers who earn ESL certification in 2025–26.
• Eligible teachers must attend a prep session, pass the TExES 154 exam, and add the certification to their license.
• 📎 Details and requirements are in the attached one-pager.

• Dallas ISD is participating in the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) cyclical monitoring process for special education. As part of this process, TEA is gathering feedback from staff and families on how special education services and supports are provided.
• The survey is anonymous and takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. Your feedback is valuable and will help strengthen how we serve students receiving special education services.
• Please take time to complete the survey and encourage families of students receiving special education services to participate as well. The survey is available in English and Spanish and will remain open through December 15, 2025.

Video: How to create and manage a student plan in Powerschool Unified Insights

Naming Convention:

Student Initials_Student ID #_ConcernArea_Tier

Ex: TT_123456_Engagement_Tier2 or IC_654321_LanguageSpeech_Tier2

Important:

• All plans must be manually shared with: Ms. Timms, AP Yetts, Principal Carter, and other collaborative teachers (if necessary).

• To ensure students receive designated supports on assessments, they must have a documented intervention plan in Unified Insights.

Resources:

• BOY MTSS Slide Deck

• SST Meeting Prep video

For questions, contact Ms. Timms.

• Woodrow Grant Foundation (up to $60,000): Please submit ideas to Mr. Carter by October 25.
• LECPTA Grant: If you have proposals, please get with Mr. Carter by October 25 (this funded the 5th Grade camping trip last year).
• Maker Space: Nearly $20,000 remains for our new maker space (to be complete by December). If you’d like to join the design team, let Mr. Carter know.
• PTA Wishlist - Don’t forget—you can request up to $500 through the PTA using this form. Before submitting, please check with Mr. Carter to confirm the item isn’t already on campus.