Houston Chronicles Vol 16

Dear Houston Elementary Families,

We’ve wrapped up another wonderful week here at Houston Elementary, and I want to extend my gratitude for your ongoing support in helping our students succeed! Here are a few important reminders and upcoming events:

Special Shout-Out to Our PTO!

A huge thank you to our amazing PTO for their hard work and dedication to Houston Elementary! In just a short time, they’ve made a remarkable impact through their support of the Apple Bar, Janitor Appreciation, Headphones for teachers, the Taki Truck, Staff Appreciation Gifts, Veterans Day decorations, Red Ribbon Week, and so much more. We’re so grateful for all you do to enhance our school community—way to go, PTO!

Veterans Day Program: November 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM

On Tuesday, November 12, at 6:00 PM, we will honor those who have bravely served our country during our Veterans Day Program. This special event will recognize the sacrifices of our veterans and show our deep gratitude for their service. We invite all families to join us in celebrating and paying tribute to our heroes.

Anti-Bullying Week: November 11-15

We’re proud to announce that November 11-15 is Anti-Bullying Week! This year’s theme, #BetterTogether, reminds us of the importance of standing united to stop bullying. Throughout the week, we’ll have activities and discussions focused on kindness, inclusion, and building a supportive school community.

Early Release on November 15, 2024

Please note that Lancaster ISD will have an early release on Friday, November 15. This adjustment is necessary to support our student auxiliaries who will be traveling out of town for an event, while still accommodating our regular bus schedules.

Attendance Goal – Let’s Reach 98%!

Our goal is for a 98% attendance rate across the school, as every day in class makes a big difference! Special congratulations to our 4th graders for achieving their attendance goal this week—they’ve earned a free dress day on Monday, November 11! Thank you for encouraging consistent attendance so we can reach our school-wide target!

Gratitude Week: November 18-22

Mark your calendars for Gratitude Week, November 18-22! This is a special opportunity to reflect on the people and experiences we’re thankful for, and we’ll celebrate each day with themed dress-up days. We look forward to this festive week of appreciation with our school community!

Thank you for your dedication and continued partnership. Let’s keep making this a fantastic school year together!

Warm regards,
Dr. Daberechi Okafor
Principal

Early Release on November 15, 2024

Please note that Lancaster ISD will have an early release on Friday, November 15. This adjustment is necessary to support our student auxiliaries who will be traveling out of town for an event, while still accommodating our regular bus schedules.

Anti-Bullying Week: November 11-15

We’re proud to announce that November 11-15 is Anti-Bullying Week! This year’s theme, #BetterTogether, reminds us of the importance of standing united to stop bullying. Throughout the week, we’ll have activities and discussions focused on kindness, inclusion, and building a supportive school community.

A huge thank you for your incredible hard work and dedication in supporting and sponsoring so many wonderful events for our school community! In such a short time, you’ve accomplished so much and made a tremendous impact. From the Apple Bar, Janitor Appreciation, Headphones for our students, and the Principal Taki Truck for student achievements, to monthly gifts recognizing our amazing staff, Veterans Day decorations, Red Ribbon Week, gift cards, and more, you’ve gone above and beyond. We’re so grateful for your support, and we can’t wait to see all the exciting plans you have in store.

Way to go, PTO—we truly appreciate all that you do for Houston Elementary!

Warm regards,

Dr. Daberechi Okafor

We are excited to announce that the week of November 18th to 22nd will be Gratitude Week at Houston Elementary! It’s a special time for us to reflect on all we’re grateful for and express appreciation for our friends, teachers, family, and school community. Each day, we’ll celebrate gratitude with themed dress-up days, making it a fun and memorable week for everyone!

We look forward to celebrating with everyone and showing how much we appreciate each other. Thank you for helping make this a meaningful week for our students and staff!

We’re excited to share that Houston Elementary will be hosting a Clothing Drive to support families in need within our community! This is a wonderful opportunity to come together and make a positive impact by donating gently used or new clothings and items. Donations accepted from November 1 to December 20.

Health Screening at Houston Elementary - November 6, 2024

Please be informed that Houston Elementary will conduct its annual Health Screening on November 6, 2024. This is an important day to ensure our students are healthy and ready to learn. This screening will be for specific grades, and more information from the nurse will be coming soon. Stay tuned for further details as the date approaches.

All student meals will be eaten in the the cafeteria. Students must scan their student ID when going through the lunch line. Students receive free breakfast and lunch in Lancaster ISD. Visitors will not be allowed to eat in the cafeteria or classrooms with students. Outside food or beverage in a lunch bag will be allowed. Dropping off food from a restaurant, fast food, etc. is strictly prohibited.

This summer, our district met to review our safety and security protocols and emergency management procedures thoroughly. As a result of these meetings, several safety and security enhancements will take place this school year. One safety enhancement will require all Lancaster ISD students to carry a clear or mesh backpack. This decision is a preventive safety and security measure, and all students who attend Lancaster ISD must adhere to this requirement.

Backpacks must be clear or mesh, and students may carry a non-clear pouch no larger than 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products. Below is a list of retailers where the backpacks can be ordered.

Safety, Security and Dress Code Updates.

The safety and security of our students and staff have always been our top priority in Lancaster ISD, and we continuously strive to implement measures that enhance their well-being. After conducting a thorough review of safety measures and carefully considering the feedback from our board of trustees, district leadership team, campus principals, and the district's safety and security committee, we have updated our dress code policy to enhance our safety and security efforts throughout the district. These updates will be implemented during the upcoming school year.

The dress code updates include eliminating the option for students to wear hoodies and any outerwear with hoods inside any district campus or building, continuing required student uniforms and clear or mesh backpacks, and expanding the district-wide student ID badge requirement.

This change in dress code to eliminate hoodies aims to remove barriers that hinder the quick and accurate identification of students' faces. Hoodies, hooded sweatshirts, and other outerwear with hoods can obscure a student's face, making it challenging for staff to identify them properly. Removing the option for hoodies and similar outerwear to be worn inside of schools will ensure a clearer line of sight, enhance our ability to identify students promptly, especially during emergencies, and will contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students and staff within our campuses.

In addition to the dress code update, we will be implementing a district-wide student ID badge requirement for grades K-12. Student ID badges will facilitate student identification and ensure that only authorized individuals have access to our school facilities. Each campus will provide additional information regarding the ID badge distribution process. Furthermore, we will continue enforcing our clear or mesh backpack and school uniform requirements.

We understand that hoodies and outerwear with hoods are popular among our students. We want to clarify that this decision is not an attack on this specific clothing item. Instead, this dress code enhancement is a district-wide initiative aimed at proactively preventing any obstacles that may hinder our ability to identify students during campus emergencies. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. By working together, we can continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students.

Please review the following information so that you are aware of the most recent updates to the student dress code for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

• All Lancaster ISD students have a district-wide uniform requirement

• All Lancaster ISD students must carry a clear or mesh backpack

• Student ID badges will be required for students K-12

• Hoodies or outerwear with hoods are no longer considered acceptable clothing items within Lancaster ISD and may not be worn inside any district campus or building. Articles of clothing falling within the unacceptable list include the following but are not limited to:

• Hooded sweatshirts with or without a zipper (hoodies)

• Hooded jackets

• Hooded sweaters

• Hooded coats

• Hooded windbreakers

• Hooded parkas

• Hooded raincoats

• Hooded fleeces

• Hooded vests

Please note that any outerwear or clothing item with an attached hood will be considered unacceptable according to the updated policy.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school administration via our Let's Talk app under the dress code topic. We value your partnership and thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring campus safety.

In accordance with the Texas Education Code, Section 22.083, Lancaster ISD may obtain criminal history record information on an individual who has indicated, in writing, an intention to serve as a volunteer. Completion of the online volunteer registration will serve as a written intent to serve as a volunteer at a designated Lancaster ISD campus and a release to conduct a criminal background information check. Criminal information obtained is confidential and used only for the purpose of ensuring student safety.

The Lancaster Independent School District attendance policy will be followed for all students. Students are expected to attend class AND complete assigned tasks to demonstrate engagement in learning and mastery of concepts. Student attendance is MANDATORY as absences may result in denial of credit. Attendance will be taken daily in the TEAMS student data management system. Please review the district attendance policy outlined in the LISD Student Handbook by clicking here.

Order your School Spirit Shirt using the link and QR Code below!

We’d love to hear from you about Houston Elementary! Let us know what you think is working well and if there are areas where we could improve.

We’re also excited to start a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and would love for you to join us! The PTO helps with communication between home and school, organizes events, and supports our school activities. If you’re interested or want to know more, just let us know.

Your input and participation are really important to us. Let’s work together to make our school even better!

Please be aware, if your student is in need of immunizations they will not be able to attend school for the 2024-2025 school year. Please reach out to loricullum@lancasterisd.org if you have any questions. See your primary care physician or you can contact Dallas County Health & Human Services to make an appointment.