Bronco Bulletin Parent Newsletter

Bronco families, we need subs! If you have some time or flexibility and want to help our school, please check out the info below about how to sign up to become a substitute. If you fill out the info and set up your appointment for fingerprinting and background check, email me at misti.thomason@lpsb.org so I can watch and see when you're ready to start subbing! I know that we have some Bronco Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts or Uncles that are ready to help and see first hand how hard our staff works each day! Who is ready to help?

Happy Sunday! This week our volleyball team will close out their season with their last 2 games at home on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will have Santa pictures on Tuesday for any students who are dressed in their holiday attire/not in uniform. Only students who are dressed will take pictures. On Wednesday, we have out Thanksgiving Parent Lunch for 4th, 5th and SDA classes. Teachers will send individual messages on Monday to parents who have paid to attend with the details and lunch times. We can't fit any additional guests so please understand. We have limited seats and time to get everyone fed so that's why we have to do the sign up so we can make sure that we have enough food and seats. On Thursday, we have early dismissal at 11:45 for the students for staff professional development. On Friday, we will send home interim progress reports marking the halfway point of the 2nd 9 weeks. Please be sure to review your student's grades. On Friday, we will also welcome 1st grade families for their Parent Picnic. First grade teachers will send out a message on Wednesday with their lunch times for the Parent Picnic. Up to 2 guests may attend but must be on the checkout card to attend. Students will still get a plate from the cafeteria but parents can bring something yummy for the picnic too. Only students who have a lunch box with lunch from home won't get a lunch tray. We really don't want students to check out but would love you to join them for a picnic lunch during the day. We are focused on attendance and having students present and ready to learn the whole day. We know that our Broncos know how to do the right thing and can try their Bronco Best each day. Thank you for your support to make this a great year to be a Bronco! It's a great week to be a Bronco and to do our Bronco Best.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Thomason

Monday, November 9:

*Happy Monday!

*Can pay for Wednesday's fundraiser dress day. ($3/online only/no refunds)

*4th/5th and SDA parents who paid for Thanksgiving Lunch will get a message from your student's teacher with the time for your child's lunch on Wednesday. Only those who pre-paid will be able to attend. Please watch for your message on ParentSquare on Monday.

Tuesday, November 10:

*Santa Pictures for students dressed in their Christmas outfits/non uniform clothing. Only students who are dressed in non-uniform clothing will take pictures.

*Home volleyball game @ 4:00.

*Can pay for Wednesday's fundraiser dress day. ($3/online only/no refunds)

Wednesday, November 11:

*Happy Veteran's Day to our Veterans and their families!

*Today is fundraiser dress day for those who have donated. ($3/online only/no refunds)

*Wednesday folders will be sent home today.

*Thanksgiving Parent Lunch for 4th/5th & SDA classes for parents who pre-registered and paid. No others may attend/payment deadline was Sept 14th.

*Home volleyball game @ 4:00.

Thursday, November 12:

*Please return signed Wednesday folders to school today.

*Early dismissal at 11:45.

Friday, November 13:

*Students may wear spirit shirts with uniform bottoms today.

*1st grade Parent Picnic.

*Interims are sent home today for K-5th grade students.

Parents,

Please understand that the messages that are sent out starting at the 3rd unexcused absence and each one after that are automated. They look like they come directly from Mrs. Thomason, but they don't. I don't even see them until AFTER they are sent! They are automated and go out automatically at the 3rd, then 4th and each unexcused absence after that. It also states in the message that if you have turned in a doctor's excuse, that it will be updated within a couple of days and if you have a doctor's excuse to turn it, to send it in when your student returns. Even if you call and tell us that your child is sick, it will still count as an absence and won't be excused until we receive the doctor's excuse. That is school and district policy. Please know that we get excuses entered daily. If you want the doctor to send it directly to us, see the ways that can be done below. If you send it with your child, be sure that you let the teacher know so they can get it to us in the office and we can get it entered the next day. Again, that takes longer than sending it directly to us in the office via email or fax so please understand that process. If a student is sent home sick that is an excused checkout. Thank you for your help!

*Thank you for helping to make sure your child is at school on time, each day, all day unless they are truly sick.

*Please have the Doctor's office fax excuses directly to school at 225-664-2282.

*See more details about attendance and acceptable excuses in the Student Handbook below in the Parent Resource section.

*Notices will be sent to parents starting at the 3rd unexcused absence.

*Tardy students are missing instruction. Please help to get them to school on time or have them ride the bus in the mornings. Excessive tardy students will be referred to Families in Need of Services/FINS.

*Students will be retained if they miss more than 10 unexcused absences for the year.

*Even if absences are excused, students are still missing instructional time so please limit absences unless they are truly sick or unable to attend.

*Mon, Nov 16: 1st grade Field Trip.

*Thurs, Nov 19: Community blood drive.

*Fri, Nov 20: 3rd grade Field Trip.

*Mon-Fri, Nov 23-27: Thanksgiving Holiday/NO SCHOOL.

*Mon, Nov 30: Back to school!

*Mon, Nov 30-Fri, Dec 4: Santa's Secret Shop for students.

*Mon, Nov 30: SADD Club meeting during school

*Fri, Dec 4: November Bronco Brag Parade @ 2:15.

*Fri, Dec 11: Christmas Parent Lunch for Pre-K, K and 1st Grade. Payment deadline has passed.

*Tues, Dec 15: SADD Club meeting during school

*Fri, Dec 18: Last day of school before Christmas Break

*Mon, Dec 21-Tues, Jan 5: Christmas Break

*Wed, Jan 6: Students return to school

*Tues, Jan 12: Q2 report cards sent home today.

*Wed, Jan 13: Fundraiser dress day for Staff Appreciation.

*Fri, Jan 15: K Parent Picnic

*Mon, Jan 18: No school for Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.

*Fri, Jan 29: January Bronco Brag Parade @ 2:15.

*Mon, Feb 1-Fri, Feb 5: Book Fair Week.

*Tues, Feb 2: Math & Science Night.

*Wed, Feb 3: No school for South Fork Elementary students.

*Mon, Feb 8-Fri, Feb 12: Mardi Gras Break. No school.

*Mon, Feb 15: Back to school!

*Mon, Feb 15: Heart Dance.

*Wed, Feb 17: Fundraiser dress day for Kid's Heart Challenge.

*Fri, Feb 19: Pre-K Parent Picnic

We are so excited to continue year 3 with Capturing Kids Hearts! As a National Showcase School, we are committed to making positive relationships with our students and our families. Check out the family newsletters below with more information about what we are doing at school and how you can help make connections at home. We committed to Start Strong in August! Starting in September, we will focus on 1 Leadworthy skill each month. October is all about Self-directing/thinking and choosing to do the right thing. For November, we are focusing on Teamwork and how to be a part of the team. Read about this month's Lead worthy skill that we are working to show each day. Staff are watching for Broncos who are showing that skill all month long to celebrate their success at the Bronco Brag Parade.

We start each day by sharing "Good Things" in each class so we've made a way for you to share the Good Things you've seen happening with South Fork Elementary. Click below to share with us and we will shout it out in the next newsletter.

If you have not joined your child's bus group on ParentSquare, come by the office and we can help you join. You can also send Mrs. Thomason a message on ParentSquare telling her what bus and she can add you to the bus group. Most parents joined at Meet the Teacher or when you came for Pre-K or K testing. Be aware that Mrs. Thomason is also on the bus group but if you need bus arrival/drop off time estimates, please message the driver. Mrs. Thomason can't drive a bus and can't help with those questions. Our drivers are the experts at that! ;)

Car pool parents,

Thank you for a smooth start even with our new PM car pool procedure. Please help us in the car line each morning and afternoon by pulling up and not leaving big gaps in between cars. Please watch and yield to buses at all intersections. You do not have to leave the front driveways open BUT when a bus approaches, stop so the buses can enter and exit the main drive by the office. Please remember that our whole campus is a no smoking zone and a hands free zone and that includes your car in car pool. Please do not go around other cars in line and be alert. A duty teacher will designate the last car that will be unloaded before the bell. All other cars arriving after that last car must go back around to the front, park and walk your student into the office to check them in. Please do not block the bus lane if we're out waiting for a late bus. Duty teachers can't stay out past the bell as they have to get inside to their students. Thanks for your understanding!

Students can log into Clever at home for additional practice in Reading and Math.

You have access to them at home——> Log into Clever, go to Amplify, and then click on the units. The “library” of books for each unit is in the boxes on the bottom on the page.

https://www.applitrack.com/lpsb/onlineapp/

Please note...menus are subject to change without notice.

Parents, please be aware that this is in place if conditions warrant a late start. Review it and have a plan in case LPPS calls for a late start.

LPPS Schools Emergency Winter Weather Late Arrival Plan

In the event that the area is experiencing wintery weather and driving early in the morning on such days would present a safety hazard, LPPS Schools created the following plan for starting school later in the day. Depending on the severity of the weather, schools could be delayed 2 or 3 hours. Please see below to know what that would look like for your child.

Two Hour Late Arrival Plan
1. All student start times will be moved (2) two hours later.
2. All bus pickup and carpool start times will be moved (2) two hours later.
3. (Example; 6:30 moves to 8:30)
4. All employee work arrival times will be moved (2) two hours later.
5. Breakfast will not be served.
6. Lunch schedule will remain the same.
7. Dismissal schedule will remain the same.

Three Hour Late Arrival Plan
1. All student start times will be moved (3) three hours later.
2. All bus pickup and carpool start times will be moved (3) three hours later.
3. (Example; 6:30 moves to 9:30)
4. All employee work arrival times will be moved (3) three hours later.
5. Breakfast will not be served.
6. Lunch schedule will remain the same.
7. Dismissal schedule will remain the same.

Email: misti.thomason@lpsb.org
Website: www.southforkelem.org
Location: 23300 Walker South Road, Denham Springs, LA, USA
Phone: 225-664-2281
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/South-Fork-Elementary-1677923075859627