Panther Cubs Press

This is how we Take Chances, Make Mistakes and Get Messy! Our little Panther Cubs are learning to ROAR with pride and how “we do school”!

Dear Families,

Happy March! This month at Luce Road is a big one because we are celebrating March is Reading Month, Women’s History Month, and our character focus on Cooperation.

March is Reading Month is a special time to build a love for books and stories. Reading helps children grow their vocabulary, imagination, and confidence, and even a few minutes of reading each day makes a difference. We encourage you to read with your child at home, talk about the pictures, ask simple questions about the story, and let them see you enjoying books too.

We are also proud to celebrate Women’s History Month as we learn about women who have made an impact in our world through leadership, creativity, courage, and service. Throughout the month, students will hear stories and learn about strong women in history and in our everyday lives, including women who help our school and community thrive.

This month, students also have an opportunity to get their name on our Making Good Choices bulletin board. Good choices mean you show safe hands, a calm body, and kind words. If you make good choices all week, then each Friday I will announce your name on the morning announcements and in our newsletter. We are excited to celebrate students who show our school expectations and take pride in doing the right thing.

Along with that, students are learning about cooperation, which means working together to reach shared goals. We have a Cooperation Challenge for the group of students in each class who work as a team by taking turns, sharing materials, listening to others, and helping friends when they need it. We will celebrate the students who show teamwork and help build a positive classroom community.

And families, please remember to encourage and challenge your student to keep earning Panther Paws with Panther Paw Power Up. Ask them how they earned their Paws each day and celebrate the small wins. When students stay focused, make good choices, and follow our expectations, great things happen.

Thank you for partnering with us as we grow strong readers, kind friends, and great teammates. We are grateful for your support and cannot wait to celebrate our students all month long!

Warmly,
Mr. Ernest Conerly

Principal, Luce Road Early Childhood Center

COMING SOON PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE - STAY TOON!

You may hear your child talk about “tucking like Tucker Turtle.” When this happens, it means they are practicing calming their body, using gentle hands, and choosing kind words. Learning how to pause and regulate emotions is an important skill that helps students be successful in the classroom and with their friends.

We encourage you to practice this strategy at home. When your child feels upset, remind them to stop, take a deep breath, and think of a solution, just like Tucker Turtle. Working together, we can help our Panther Cubs build strong self regulation skills and make positive choices every day.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s growth.

Parents have the opportunity to spotlight a staff member at Luce Road each week for the care, support, and love they show our students every day. If a teacher, para, office team member, or support staff has made a positive impact on your child or your family, we would love to hear about it. Please submit your shoutout with the staff member’s name and a short message about what you appreciate. We will share a new staff spotlight each week to celebrate the incredible people who make Luce Road such a special place.

This month students have an opportunity to get caught making good choices and get their name on a yellow star and put on the making good choice board!

Dear Luce Road Panther Cub Families,

How can students earn Panther Paws?

Students can earn Panther Paws when they:

• Use kind words and gentle hands with friends and adults

• Follow classroom routines like lining up, cleaning up, and using inside voices
  
  

• Try again when something is hard instead of giving up
  
  

• Use Tucker the Turtle strategies to calm down before reacting
  
  

• Solve problems with friends by talking, listening, and asking an adult for help
  
  

• Include others in play and show friendship skills
  
  

• Follow safety rules in the classroom, hallways, playground, and bus areas

Teachers and staff will hand out Panther Paws when they see students doing these things on their own or when they respond to reminders in a positive way.

How will the school celebrate students?

Each week we will:

• Count Panther Paws by student, class, or program

• Give a special shout out during morning announcements to the student or class who earned the most Panther Paws

Warmest Regards,

Luce Road ECPBIS Team!

We are now enrolling for Spring Break Camp for your preschool - 5th grader! Camp will be March 27th-April 2nd. Please fill out one form for each student you want to attend!

🧥 Dress for the Weather

Please help your child come to school dressed for the changing fall weather. Our Panther Cubs go outside 3 to 4 times a day, and mornings can be chilly.

• Check the weather each morning to help your child dress appropriately.

• Send a jacket or hoodie and closed-toe shoes every day.

• Students are expected to go outside each time, so being prepared helps them stay comfortable and focused.

• Label all items with your child’s name so we can return lost items quickly.

Thank you for helping keep our Cubs comfy, safe, and ready to play all day long! 🐾

As we return back to school - Please label your Panther Cub’s belongings, including backpack, coat, lunch box, and water bottle.

Please make sure you send a change of clothes in for your student. Sometimes accidents happen and it’s helpful for them to have a change of clothes.

Please make sure ALL of your student’s belongings are labeled with their name! If it gets lost, staff will know who to return it to!

Why We’re Playing with Colored Foam in Toddler Preschool

This week in our toddler classroom, we’re exploring sensory play using colorful foam! While it may look like simple fun, foam play supports important areas of early childhood development. As children scoop, squeeze, swirl, and explore the soft texture, they strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and early problem-solving abilities.

Sensory experiences like foam play also encourage language development as toddlers describe colors, textures, and actions. The open-ended nature of the activity nurtures creativity, curiosity, and confidence in trying new experiences. Most importantly, it provides joyful, hands-on learning that engages the whole child.

We love watching our little learners discover, experiment, and build new skills through play!

Our new child care room at Luce Road is designed for children 18–30 months! We are now accepting registrations for all children 18 months-4/12 years

Tuition Rates:
• $45 per day for 4 days or fewer
• $40 per day for all 5 days OR $200 A WEEK

* 3 DAY MINIMUM REQUIRED*

Spots will be limited, so we encourage families to register early. To register please email Kimberly Hamad at almachildcare@almaschools.net.