Tiger Talk: Back-to-School Edition!

I hope you have had a wonderful summer filled with rest, fun, and meaningful time with family and friends. As I begin my first year as principal of West Cypress Hills Elementary, I am honored and excited to join this incredible community. From the moment I stepped onto campus, it was clear that WCHE is a special place filled with dedicated staff, amazing students, and supportive families.

It is truly a blessing to partner with families in shaping their children's educational experiences. The trust you place in us each day is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I am grateful to serve your children in this capacity. I look forward to partnering with our students, staff, and families as we continue building a culture of excellence, connection, and joy.

Below, you will find important back-to-school information to help your family prepare for a fantastic start to the school year. This newsletter contains quite a bit of information, but my hope is that it serves as a one-stop resource you can refer back to whenever questions arise as we begin the school year. Thank you in advance for bearing with me as I share everything you need to know for a successful start.

Please enjoy these final weeks of summer break with your family. I can't wait to welcome our Tigers back to campus and begin what I know will be an amazing year together!

Sincerely,

Laura Keogh, Principal

As we gear up for an exciting new school year, here is a quick snapshot of important back-to-school dates. Additional details for these events can be found throughout this newsletter.

8/6: Popsicles with the Principal from 6 - 7 pm

8/7: Kinder Play Date from 9 - 10 am (Snow cones from Southern Snow available for purchase.)

8/7: Teacher assignment emails sent at 4 pm

8/10: Meet the Teacher

8/12: 1st Day of School!

8/12: Principal's Coffee at 7:50 am

8/12: Spirit Night @ Dumont Creamery 3 - 9 pm

8/18: Tulley's Taco Tuesday @ Angel's Icehouse 5 - 8 pm

8/27: Tigers' Backyard Bash

9/8: Curriculum Night

• Teacher assignment emails will be sent to families on Friday, August 7 at 4pm
• All pre-ordered school supply kits will be in the teachers' classrooms for Meet the Teacher
• If you purchased school supplies on your own, please bring them to Meet the Teacher
• Medication can be left with Nurse Kate if this applies to you
• Stop by the front office to have your photo ID scanned and pick up your wristband if you plan to walk your student in on the first day of school

Please join me for coffee and conversation in the library at 7:50am after dropping your student off on the first day of school. I look forward to welcoming you, introducing myself, and sharing information about the year ahead as a Tiger family. It’s a great opportunity to connect and start the year together.

Although the deadline for having EPI school supply kits delivered directly to your student's classroom for Meet the Teacher has passed, you can still purchase a kit through EPI and have it shipped to your home. Simply bring the supplies with you to Meet the Teacher, and your student will be ready for the first day of school!

7:20am: Doors open for students to arrive

7:35am: 5 minute warning bell rings

7:40am: School starts! Instruction begins!

• Any student who arrives after 7:40 will enter through the front office to receive a tardy pass.

3:00pm: School ends

3:15pm: Students must be picked up by this time

Returning Student Verification is required to be completed for all students who will be returning for the 2026-2027 school year.

To complete the Returning Student Verification process, log into Skyward Family Access and click on the “Returning Student Verification for 2026-2027” tile (refer to image below).

Please note, you will be required to verify and update information on your student, family, and residency. Current proof of residency documentation (fully executed lease agreement, signed closing documents, most recent property tax statement, mortgage statement, or property deed in parent's/guardian’s name), AND a current utility bill (water, electricity, or gas with parent's/guardian’s name) are a required portion of the online form.

While returning students are automatically enrolled for the coming school year, student information must be verified and/or updated annually. Therefore, the primary parent/guardian must complete the verification process for each child before August 1, 2026.

Once you have submitted the online form, the tile will no longer be available in Skyward Family Access under the student’s profile. You can view the online forms that have been submitted by navigating to 1. Main Menu > 2. Online Forms > 3. My Online Forms History (refer to image below).

Kinder-2nd Grade: Students (and any siblings) should be dropped off in the back car rider loop off Verbena Parkway.

3rd-5th Grade: Students should be dropped off in the front car rider loop on Cypress Ranch Boulevard.

• Have your child ready to exit the vehicle before entering the car rider line (backpack on and belongings in hand).

• Pull all the way forward and allow your child to exit wherever staff direct you along the sidewalk. There is no need to wait until you reach the front entrance.

• Please remain in your vehicle. Our staff will assist students with exiting the car, including unbuckling seat belts and helping with booster seats or car seats if needed.

• Allow extra travel time each morning, especially on rainy days.

• All car riders must be dropped off in the designated car rider lane.

• Never allow your child to exit the vehicle and walk between parked cars or across the parking lot.

• Both car rider loops are one-way at all times.

• If possible, consider carpooling and arriving a few minutes early to help reduce traffic congestion.

General Dismissal Reminders

• Please plan ahead when checking out your student early for an appointment. Parents picking up students during the day will need to sign out the student through the Receptionist. Students are called from class once the parent arrives.

• Please remember that school zones are cell phone-free zones.

Bus Riders

• Students can only ride their assigned bus to and from school. Students will be escorted to the cafeteria at dismissal. A teacher/adult assigned to your child’s bus will escort them to the bus.

Car Riders

• Enter the front circular drive and ensure your numbered car tag is hanging from your rear view mirror.

• Please remain in your vehicle at all times. Our staff will assist your child(ren) with getting in and safely buckled if need be.

• Your car will be loaded once you arrive at the loading zone.

• Please pull forward to the next available loading zone. We will move your child to that area if need be.

Walkers

• Parents who walk or ride their bike to campus to pick up their children may meet them outside the fourth grade neighborhood. (lower level side of building facing Sabino). Please have your car/walker tag number with you so that we can quickly match the student backpack number to the tag. There is NO PARKING on Sabino Drive.

• Crossing guards are stationed at the corner of Sabino Drive and Cypress Ranch Boulevard.

• Please do not ask children to cross the street without an adult.

Bike Riders

• Students will be escorted to their bikes and down the front sidewalk to Sabino and Cypress Ranch Blvd.

Extended Care

• Students will be escorted to the cafeteria and check in for extended care each day. When picking up your child from extended care, please come into the front office with your photo ID. Students will only leave through the front office after being checked out by an approved adult.

Pre-K

• Parents will park in the back parking lot off Verbena Parkway. This is the same location where you park for morning drop off. You will walk to the door that leads to the kindergarten hallway. This is the same location you dropped off in the morning. A Pre-K staff member will be there with the students. In order for a student to be released, you will need your assigned Car Tag and/or photo ID in hand that matches the name of your child.

• In the event you do not have your car tag or a photo ID that matches your child’s name, please proceed to the front office and we can access Skyward for approved pick ups. We will meet you there with your child.

Daycare Bus Riders

• Students participating in after school care off campus through the daycare/after school providers, they will be escorted to the daycare bus at dismissal time.

WCHE uses SMART Tag to safely manage student dismissal and transportation. You can access SMART Tag from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

We use the information in SMART Tag to determine how your child will go home each day. Please do not email, call, or text your child's teacher or the front office with dismissal changes. Instead, update your child's information directly in SMART Tag.

For student safety, early dismissals are not permitted between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m.

SMART Tag allows you to:

• Report absences

• Schedule early dismissals

• Report late arrivals

• Add after-school activities

• Make transportation changes until 2:00 p.m.

Transportation Changes

• Enter changes in SMART Tag by 2:00 p.m. on the day of the change.

• Look for a confirmation email. If you don't receive one, call the front office at 512-533-7500.

• Transportation changes cannot be accepted after 2:00 p.m.

• To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal, please keep your child's transportation routine as consistent as possible.

Whenever possible, siblings should use the same dismissal method. Older siblings should check in with younger siblings after dismissal. If a sibling cannot find the other, they should notify a staff member immediately.

Bus routes for the 2026-2027 school year will be available in Transfinder, an independent web-based boundary and routing system. Please note, some routes and pick-up and drop-off times will be adjusted from the previous school year.

Also, did you know that you can receive alerts regarding arrival times, delays and other updates regarding our transportation services? To do so, be sure to create an account in our SMART tag Parent Portal.

If your child will be riding the bus this school year and you have yet to enroll in transportation services, you may request services by selecting the ‘Transportation Update Form’ in Skyward Family Access. Additionally, if your contact information is not updated in Skyward Family Access, our Transportation Department will not be able to correctly identify your child’s bus route. Be sure to visit the Transportation Department web page for additional resources.

Every school day matters. Research shows that students who are chronically absent in the early elementary years are much less likely to read at grade level. Missing just 2 days of school each month adds up to chronic absenteeism. Every day in school is a chance to learn, grow, and belong. Thank you for partnering with us to make every day count at WCHE!

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

• Official attendance is taken at 10 a.m.!!
• Students who are not in the building by 7:40 a.m. must check in at the front office and will be considered tardy.
• To receive a final grade in a class, a student in kindergarten-grade 12 must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.
• Students may miss no more than 17 school days to meet the 90% attendance requirement.
• Pre-K students are subject to compulsory attendance requirements as well as long as they are enrolled.
• Walk-ups for student checkouts are not accepted 30 minutes before dismissal.
• **Attendance affects our state accountability rating**

ENTERING ABSENCES

• Absences should be reported in the district’s SMART Tag absence management system.
• Notes from parents may be emailed from the parent’s email address to the school’s campus attendance office.
• Notes signed by students, even with the parent’s permissions, will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law.
• Acceptable documentation must be provided to the campus within 3 days after the absence.

• Students must be up-to-date on required immunizations or have a valid exemption affidavit on file.
• A written excuse is required if a child is injured and unable to participate in physical education. If a child is excused from PE participation, he/she will also be excused from recess.

Prescription and non-prescription drugs must:

• Be dropped off and picked up by parent/guardian
• Be in the original container
• Have label attached on prescription medication
• Have medication administration form completed by parent
• Remain in nurse's office and not with the student (except for asthma medication and epi pens with written permission)
• Be new and unopened if an over the counter medication

House Bill 1481 requires all Texas school districts to prohibit student use of personal communication device during the instructional day. The law defines personal communication devices to include:

• Cell phones (smartphones and flip phones)
• Smartwatches and smart accessories (such as Apple Watches, Fitbits, smart rings, and glasses)
• Personal laptops and tablets
• Gaming systems with messaging capabilities
• Pagers and radios
• Any device capable of digital communication

Exceptions will be made for documented medical needs and special education accommodations. Please note, district-issued devices will continue to be provided for instructional activities.

**Hats are not allowed to be worn in the building at WCHE**

District Dress Code Prohibits the Following

•Bare midriffs

•Backless or strapless tops/dresses

•Beach wear

•Spandex, biker, or short shorts ( shorter than fingertip length)

•Muscle shirts

•Baggy pants or shorts

•Trench coats or dusters

•Hats

Items That Do Not Belong at School

•Weapons, including pocket knives

•Toy or virtual weapons

•Tobacco, tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes

•Drugs, alcohol, or drug paraphernalia

•Skateboards, rollerblades, or shoes with wheels

For a more detailed list, see the district Student/Parent Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct.

The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. To help us maintain a safe and secure learning environment, all visitors must present a valid photo ID each time they visit our campus to sign in and receive a visitor badge.

Visitor badges confirm that you have checked in through the front office, provided proper identification, and stated the purpose of your visit. If you would like to meet with your child's teacher, please be sure to schedule an appointment in advance, as parent-teacher conferences are held by appointment only.

Lunch Visitors

To help our students establish routines, learn campus procedures, and build positive relationships with their classmates, we will not have lunch visitors during the first two weeks of school. We appreciate your understanding and support as we help students make a successful transition into the new school year.

Student Deliveries

To minimize interruptions to instructional time, deliveries of forgotten items should be limited to emergencies whenever possible.

If you need to drop off a lunch or other school item for your child, please place the clearly labeled item in the drop box located outside the front office. Please include the following information on each item:

• Student Name
• Grade
• Teacher

Office staff will ensure that labeled items are delivered to students as soon as possible.

Want to recognize someone who makes WCHE shine? Submit a CAV Kudos to celebrate a WCHE or LTISD staff member who has made a difference. Your words of appreciation mean more to our teachers and staff than you know! Help us spread gratitude and celebrate the amazing people who make our Tiger family special.

Website: wche.ltisdschools.org

Location: 6112 Cypress Ranch Boulevard, Spicewood, TX 78669

Phone: 512-533-7500

Facebook: West Cypress Hills Elementary School

Instagram: @wchetigers