TCU Le Center K8 October News

Happy October! It’s been a wonderful start to the school year, and our building is full of energy, learning, and Titan Pride. As the leaves begin to change, our students continue to shine—showing leadership, kindness, and excitement for all that’s happening at TCU Le Center.

This month, we’re looking forward to many special events that bring our community together, including Homecoming Festivities, Titan Pride Walk-a-Thon, Unity Day, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and our always-fun Halloween celebrations. These events are made even better by the incredible support of our PTO and families—thank you for all that you do to make our school such a vibrant and caring place for students to learn and grow. The fundraiser is going quite well and I am getting a little nervous that I may be spending a night on the roof!

Please take a few moments to read through this newsletter for important updates on upcoming activities, digital learning information, and ways to get involved. We truly appreciate your partnership in making this a great year for every Titan!

Sincerely,

Mr. Jeff Eppen, Principal

Please watch for directions from our school patrol students at drop off and pick up. They are very excited to be leaders and are still learning. Thank you for your support and willingness to allow students to help make our school day a little safer!

We are getting so close to the fundraiser goal of $10,000! Please return any donations collected by Wednesday, October 8th if possible.

Parents are welcome to join us during the Walk-a-Thon. See the schedule below for more details.

The PTO of TCU Le Center is INCREDIBLE! Every single day the things they donate through wishlists, activities, fundraisers - make life a little easier, more effective, and more magic for students and staff. This amazing PTO is always looking out for teachers and how to help support staff to bring the best learning to our amazing TCU Titans and we couldn’t be more grateful and couldn’t make the magic we do here at TCU happen without you. Thank you so, so much for all that you do!!

WALK-A-THON

The TCU Le Center PTO, along with the Le Center School, is planning the first annual Titan Pride Walk-a-Thon fundraiser for October 10, 2025. The event will be held at the school. With different activities happening around the track, be on the lookout for children asking for donations to achieve their set goal.

BLANKETS

TCU Titan Blankets will be for sale again this school year. Contact a PTO member or watch for pop-up sales around the community. Blankets feature Titian colors and the TCU logo, making them perfect for those fall sports games.

DUELING PIANOS

The Le Center PTO is proud to announce that we will once again be holding a Dueling Pianos fundraiser. Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 21, 2026. Tickets go on sale December 1, 2025.

To support digital learning opportunities for your Titan student(s), the TCU Board of Education has approved a $25 per device Digital Instruction Supply Fee for the 2025–26 school year.

This fee helps offset the cost of Chromebook devices, repairs, and maintenance. Students are issued a new Chromebook in Grade 5 and Grade 9, which they keep for four years. The Titan Technology Access Plan (TTAP) ensures that devices remain in good working condition and reduces family costs when accidental damage occurs.

You can review full TTAP details at this link:
The T.T.A.P (Titan Technology Access Plan) details may be found at this link.

Important Dates

• The $25 fee is due by January 1, 2026.

• After this date, families will be responsible for the full cost of repairs or replacements, as outlined in this schedule:
  

  
  

How to Pay
Payments can be made online through the JMC Parent Portal.

Thank you for your continued support of high-quality instruction and student learning.

Tri-City United Schools

Para apoyar las oportunidades de aprendizaje digital para su(s) estudiante(s) Titan, la Junta de Educación de TCU ha aprobado una tarifa de $25 por dispositivo llamada Cuota de Suministros para Instrucción Digital para el año escolar 2025–26.

Esta tarifa ayuda a cubrir el costo de los dispositivos Chromebook, reparaciones y mantenimiento. Los estudiantes reciben un Chromebook nuevo en 5º y 9º grado, el cual mantienen durante cuatro años.

El Plan de Acceso a Tecnología Titan (TTAP) garantiza que los dispositivos se mantengan en buenas condiciones de funcionamiento y reduce los costos familiares en caso de daños accidentales.

Puede revisar todos los detalles del TTAP en este enlace:
Los detalles del T.T.A.P (Plan de Acceso a Tecnología Titan) se encuentran en este enlace.

Fechas Importantes

La tarifa de $25 vence el 1 de enero de 2026.
Después de esta fecha, las familias serán responsables del costo total de reparaciones

o reemplazos, según lo indicado en este cronograma:

Cómo pagar

Los pagos se pueden realizar en línea a través del Portal para Padres JMC.

Gracias por su continuo apoyo a la instrucción de alta calidad y al aprendizaje de los estudiantes.

Escuelas Tri-City United

We are in need of a Title One Paraprofessional at Le Center! Judy Campbell is retiring at the end of October. We are so happy for her and wish her the very best! Judy has done a great job for us and we will celebrate her a bit more in our November Newsletter!

If you are interested or know anyone that is, an application can be completed here: Para Application Link

POSITION: Paraprofessional, K-6 Title One 1.0 FTE

LOCATION: TCU Le Center

STARTING DATE: November 3rd, 2025 SALARY RANGE: $17-$21 per hour based on qualifications and years of experience; $1/hour additional for fluency in Spanish or Teacher’s license.

BENEFITS: Insurance, retirement and paid time off

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPECTATIONS:

-This role involves assisting students and staff with accessing library resources, checking out materials,

and maintaining the media center.

- Paraprofessionals work with students receiving Special Education services under the direction of the licensed special education teacher and perform duties to support the programming in general, and to meet student's individual academic, functional, social, and emotional needs.

Every child deserves the opportunity to be a successful learner. That's why TCU is looking for great people to serve a tutors and help students build their skills and confidence. We hope you will consider serving or helping us spread the word!

Tutoring isn't just a meaningful way to give back to the community; it also helps create brighter futures! Tutors serve during school hours and spend their days providing students with extra practice and skill building. With the support of an on-site coach, you'll be trained to deliver activities proven to help students improve in reading or math.

Whether you're a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, you can make a great tutor!

*Reach out to jeppen@tcu2905.us for more info on being a Math Corp Tutor!

Oct. 6-10: Homecoming Week

Oct. 8: Walk-a-Thon

Oct. 16 & 17: MEA - No School

Oct. 22: Picture Retake Day

Oct. 24: Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Oct. 31: Halloween

Nov. 3: K-8 Conferences

Nov. 6: K-8 Conferences

Nov. 11: Veteran's Day Program 8:30

Nov. 27-28: Thanksgiving Break

We will be rollerskating in PE class from 10/13-10/31 this school year. Please contact the office if you still need to complete a permission form for your child/children to rollerskate. Payments can be made by cash or check in the school office.

On Thursday, October 20th, our 6-8th grade students will have the opportunity to attend a Duck Cup Memorial speaker at the high school.

This is Scott's bio https://mindingyourmind.org/speaker/scott/. If you would prefer that your child didn’t attend the speaker, please contact the main office.

We will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, October 31st. Students are invited to dress up for the day, but costumes must be school appropriate. No masks, blood, or weapons (real or fake) are allowed. If you would like to send treats with your student, please make sure that they are prepackaged and unopened.

The K-4th Grade Halloween Parade will be held outdoors. Students will parade around the school at 2:00 p.m. and Family and Friends are invited to attend. If the weather does not permit an outdoor parade, we will host the parade in the Commons Gym.

Save the Dates!

Monday, November 3rd, 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. & Thursday, November 6th, 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.

A Sign Up Genius for K - 6th grades will be shared as we get closer to the date. 7th & 8th Grades will be open house style.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies and colds are upon us. Just a reminder for all... the health office does NOT provide cough drops or any other medications. Medications, whether over the counter or prescription, should not be brought to school unless you have a medication administration at school form completed and the medication is brought to the health office to be stored and administered by the health office per TCU school board policy. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Amanda Sladek, TCU District nurse at 507-364-8194 or asladek@tcu2905.us

School Picture Packets have arrived and were sent home with your student. If you did not order pictures, the ordering info will be included with your child's packet.

If you decide you would like to have retakes done or if your child did not have pictures taken yet, the photographer will be here on Wednesday, October 22nd. You can get more information HERE. If you are having retakes done, make sure to send your picture packet back to school with your child on the 22rd.

Pictures can be pre-ordered online HERE.

Congratulations to our September Students of the Month. They were celebrated at our PBIS assembly in October.

September Academic Students of the Month

September Titan Pride & Leadership Students of the Month

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Council Members!

5th Grade: Maggie Closser, Grace Theis, Henry Fonseca, Brady Engel

6th Grade: Pablo Ruiz, Ruthie O'Malley, Tegan Thompson, Gabby Nuesbaum

7th Grade: Melanie VonBank, Theo Wondra, Brynleigh Schmidt, Angelica Kinney

8th Grade: Nolan O'Malley, Jacob Mendez, Tucker O'Malley, Jaden Batten

Parents/Guardians are always welcome to join us as a lunch guest, but we have a few requests from our Food Service Department. Please call before 10:00AM to be added to the daily lunch count. When you arrive please stop in the office with payment and to pick up a visitor badge and meal pass. If you are bringing food from outside of the building you will need to check in and pick up a visitor pass.

October 22nd is Unity Day - Wear Orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion!

Leading up to Unity Day, classrooms will engage in different activities to spread kindness throughout our school.

Students being dropped off or walking to school may enter the building (Door 2S) at 7:30 am ONLY if they plan to eat breakfast at school. Students entering before 7:55 will be guided through the breakfast line. All other students should not arrive earlier than 7:55 am. Students may arrive 10 minutes prior to the start of their school day (8:05 AM). This will help reduce congestion and improve supervision. If childcare before school is needed, KidZone is available by calling Layne Wilbright at 507-364-3042 or by contacting his email at lwilbright@tcu2905.us.

Students who ride the bus will be allowed in when their bus arrives and are encouraged to eat breakfast at school. They report to a designated space to wait to be dismissed to classrooms/lockers @ 7:55 AM.

Parents who walk their children to school should accompany them to the front door (2S). Parents are not allowed to enter the building unless they check into the office (door 1S) for approval and have a valid reason to be in the building.

WHERE TO PICK UP/DROP OFF STUDENTS:

○ Drop Off - Before school begins - Door 2S (By Commons Area)

○ Drop Off - DURING SCHOOL HOURS- Door 1S (By Main Office)

○ Pick Up - DURING SCHOOL HOURS- Door 1S (By Main Office)

○ Pick Up - After School Hours- Door 2S - Grade K-2 & Door 1S - Grades 3-8

Updates to Traffic Flow for Drop off and Pick up times:

○ It is important to follow this traffic flow framework to increase student and parent safety, increase emergency vehicle accessibility, and increase the efficiency and timeliness of the pick-up and drop-off process. Thank you in advance for helping with this!

Please make sure to notify the school office if your child is absent or planning on being absent. You can call the office at 507.357.6802 or email at ahardel@tcu2905.us.

Missing something? Please check the lost and found located in the commons to claim your items.

October 16 & 17: MEA

November 3: Professional Development Day & Conferences

November 27 & 28: Thanksgiving Break

Website: https://www.tcu2905.us/page/4182
Location: 150 West Tyrone Street, Le Center, MN, USA
Phone: 507-357-6802
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TCULeCenterK8/
Twitter: @jeffeppen