Leon Valley ES Parent Newsletter

November has arrived, and our hearts are full of gratitude for the incredible students, families, and staff who make our school community thrive! Under our "Leon Valley, Driven with Purpose" theme, this month is dedicated to celebrating one another and honoring the many reasons we are thankful for our lion family.

We have a wonderful lineup of events planned for November: Fall Book Fair, Grandparent Breakfast, Science Night, Veteran's Day Ceremony, Middle School Transition Night, Thanksgiving Staff Lunch, grade level Field Trips, and so much more. We will wrap up the month with themed dress up days to celebrate all of the things we are thankful for before we head into Thanksgiving Break!

Thank you for your continued partnership, warmth, and dedication to our school. Wishing you and your family a joyful and restful Thanksgiving Break!

Sincerely,

Jessica Ruiz-Huerta

Leon Valley Principal

Planning to join us for field trips, or other volunteer opportunities this year? Please complete your NISD Background Check today! A background check must be renewed each school year for all campus volunteers. Processing takes time, so getting it done now ensures you are cleared and ready to participate in all upcoming events. Need help filling it out? Contact or visit our front office staff for quick assistance!

Link: https://hrvolunteer.nisd.net/TempMod.nsf?Open

Mark your calendars for Monday, November 2nd as Leon Valley kicks off our season of gratitude! We are deeply grateful for the grandparents and special family elders who bring so much love, wisdom, and strength into the lives of our lions. To honor the vital role you play in our school community, we invite you to join us for a FREE Grandparent Breakfast from 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM. Come enjoy a meal, spend quality time with your grandchild, and let us show our appreciation for all that you do. We look forward to welcoming you to campus and celebrating the generations that inspire our Leon Valley family every day!

Get ready to discover new books and support our school! Our Scholastic Fall Book Fair will take place November 2nd – 9th in the school library.

• Student & Teacher Shopping Hours: 7:10 AM – 3:30 PM daily

• Family Shopping Hours: 7:10 AM – 7:30 AM & 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM daily

• Science Night Shopping: Thursday, November 5th | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

• Fair Closing: Monday, November 9th at 12:00 PM

Go Cashless with eWallet!

Set up an eWallet to allow your child to shop cash-free during school hours. You can also preview books, watch video trailers, or contribute to "Share the Fair" by visiting our Book Fair homepage: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/leonvalleyelementaryschool.

Every purchase directly helps bring new books and resources to our school. Thank you for supporting our readers!

Did your lion miss our original Picture Day, or do you need a photo redo? Fall Picture Retakes will take place on Tuesday, November 10th! If you are requesting a retake, please make sure your child's teacher is aware. We can't wait to see those bright, happy smiles once again!

Leon Valley Elementary cordially requests the honor of your presence at our Veterans Day Celebration on Wednesday, November 11th at 7:30 AM! We invite all veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to join our students, parents, and staff as we express our deep gratitude for your service and sacrifice. Please scan the QR code on the flyer or click the RSVP link to confirm your attendance so we can properly prepare for our honored guests. We look forward to celebrating our military heroes and their families!

Calling all 4th and 5th-grade families! Join us on Thursday, November 12th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Leon Valley Cafeteria for our Middle School Transition Night. This informative evening is designed to help our students and parents prepare for the next step in their academic journey and we are encouraging our 4th-grade families to join us as well, because it's never too early to plan ahead!

Families will have the opportunity to meet middle school representatives, learn about course options, expectations, programs, and available resources, and ask questions to ensure a smooth, confident transition. Together, we prepare today for tomorrow, and we look forward to seeing our lions and their families there!

Get ready to celebrate gratitude, kindness, and school spirit before we head into Thanksgiving Break! Join us for Thanksgiving Spirit Week from Monday, November 16th through Friday, November 20th.

Partnering with our Lion families is the key to student success! Our Fall Parent-Teacher Conference window takes place from October 13th to November 20th. These meetings are a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child's growth, strengths, and goals for the school year. Keep an eye out for scheduling information from your child's classroom teacher so we can connect!

When visiting for lunch, please help us keep our cafeteria safe, private, and focused on student bonding by following these standard procedures:

• Check-In & ID: All visitors must check in at the front office with a valid Photo ID to receive a Visitor Badge before entering. (If you visit frequently, our office clerk will scan your Fast Pass.)

• Seating: All visitor seating is located on the cafeteria stage. Floor tables and chairs are strictly reserved for students to ensure classes have room to eat together.

• Focus on Your Child: For student safety and privacy, visitors are asked to interact only with their own child. Please do not feed, discipline, or interact with other students. If your child needs assistance, please notify a staff member on duty.

• Cafeteria Line: Visitors may not enter the cafeteria line.

• Cell Phone Free Zone (State Law): In compliance with state law, our campus is a cell-phone-free environment. Cell phones must be put away while in the building. Taking photos or videos of other students is strictly prohibited to protect every child's privacy.

We greatly appreciate your grace, cooperation, and support as we implement these safety measures for our school community!

Click on the link below to hear a word from our Counselors and Science Academic Support Teacher.

Our campus doors open bright and early at 7:00 a.m. each morning! Please use the Visitor Parking Lot for Morning Drop Off. For safety, please do not use the Bus Loop for morning drop off (see map below).

• Breakfast: Served 7:00 – 7:45 a.m. (Parents entering the cafeteria must show a Fast Pass or Visitor Badge).

• PK & ECSE: Students wait safely in the cafeteria with their teachers.

• Kinder–5th Grade: Students walk to their supervised grade level hallways. Staff members will be positioned throughout the halls to guide and assist them!

• 7:30 a.m. — Building Clear & Classroom Transition

  • Teachers pick up their students from the hallways and cafeteria to head to class.

  • To keep hallways secure and transitions smooth, all visitors must exit the building by 7:30 a.m.

• 7:45 a.m. — Tardy Bell & Morning Meetings

  • Instruction and Morning Meetings begin promptly!

• 7:50 a.m. — Late Arrival Check-In Required

  • If your child arrives at 7:50 a.m. or later, a parent or guardian must walk them into the front office to check them in and receive a tardy pass.

  • Why this matters: For safety reasons, please do not drop off a late student at the curb. Walking them inside guarantees that an adult directly sees your child enter the building safely once our main entrance doors are secured for the day.

Our school day ends at 3:00 p.m. To keep every child safe, all students remain secure inside the building until their specific dismissal method is called.

Transportation & Schedule Changes

• Daily Routine: Please ensure your child’s classroom teacher knows their regular homebound routine.

• Changes in Transportation: Any changes must be communicated to the front office by 2:30 p.m.

• ClassDojo Note: You may message the teacher directly on ClassDojo. However, if there is a substitute teacher that day, they may not see it. If you do not get a reply, please call the front office immediately at 210-397-4650 to guarantee the message is received.

🚗 Vehicle Pick-Up (Visitor Loop)

• Pull into the Visitor Loop (do not use the Bus Loop).

• Display your iDismiss Car Decal clearly on your rearview mirror so staff can call for your child.

• Students will exit through the main doors, and a staff member will safely load them into your car.

• Sending someone else? Make sure they have a clear photo of your iDismiss Car Decal on their phone to show staff.

🚶 Walk-Up Pick-Up

• Parking spaces are very limited.

• If you park and walk up, please wait across the driveway in the designated grassy area. Do not cross the Visitor Loop traffic line; our staff will bring your child across to you.

• Bring Your Decal: You must bring your iDismiss Car Decal (or a photo of it) to show staff on the lawn.

• Beat the Heat: It gets very hot and there is no shade on the lawn. We strongly encourage you to bring an umbrella and water!

🚌 Buses, Daycare, & After-School Programs

• Escorted Dismissal: Students attending Learning Tree, private daycare vans, or riding NISD buses are personally escorted and checked in by staff before departure.

• Bus Tracking & Info: Download the Here Comes the Bus app, call NISD Transportation, or reach out to our front office at 210-397-4650 (our Front Office closes at 4 p.m.)

• Late Pickup: Any student not picked up by 3:20 p.m. will be brought to the front office to await pickup.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we get all of our students home safely!

Leon Valley Elementary believes in the power of a strong partnership with you in your child's education. The assignments we send home are designed to reinforce and review the skills and concepts your child is learning in class. Therefore, we want to ensure every student has a positive and successful experience with homework.

Homework is a direct reflection of what's being taught and is meant to be a simple review, not a new or difficult challenge. We understand that sometimes students may struggle. If you find your child is having a difficult time with an assignment, please don't hesitate to communicate with their teacher. A simple note is all that's needed to let us know. This feedback is crucial; it helps us identify areas where a student may need more support, allowing us to adjust our instruction and provide targeted help. We're continuously working with our students to ensure they are on the path to success.

The policy is in compliance with state law. In summary, students will not be allowed to use personal communication devices during the school day, including the bus.

Devices (cell phones, smartwatches, etc.) will need to be powered off and left in student backpacks and placed in a designated location in each classroom. Students without backpacks will be asked to turn in their devices to be placed in an appropriate storage container in the front office. To assist in getting this message out to your communities, we have a short video that explains the adopted policy.

To secure bus transportation for the 2026–2027 school year, eligible families will be required to register their students in advance. Families can use the Buses & Boundaries System to determine whether their physical address qualifies for bus transportation.

Please view the video below for transportation updates and click on the link to download the "Here Comes the Bus" app, which will help you track your child's bus on your mobile device.

Click here to track your child's bus: https://www.nisd.net/schools/buses/here-comes-the-bus

The District’s Voluntary Student Accident Insurance Program is an optional resource that may help families with medical expenses if their student experiences an injury or accident on campus. Coverage is available to all eligible PK–12 students, not just student athletes. For questions, please reference the brochure below. Thank you and have a safe school year!

2026–2027 Student Accident Insurance Brochure

Please make sure to communicate with your child's teacher and send a note if they will be out. Once a student has 3 unexcused absences in the system, NISD will generate an Attendance Warning Notice that will be emailed. This Attendance Warning Notice is added to your child's school record. You may also email our Attendance Secretary directly at lourdes.hernandez@nisd.net

Click on the link below to read about the Safety Initiatives in NISD for the 2026-2027 school year and learn more about our Standard Response Protocol.

Vision: Every day, every student grows in confidence, curiosity, capability, and character.

Email: leon_valley@nisd.net
Website: www.nisd.net/leonvalley
Location: 7111 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210)397-4650
Twitter: @NISDLeonValley