Pride Preview Vol. 18

🎶 Hark! The district angels sing,

Vacation’s near—it’s happening!

Parties, projects, kids run wild,

Counting days till grades are filed.

• 👏 Shout out to the Esports Team, led by Ms. Wilson and Mrs. Ragan, for their outstanding participation in the tournament last Saturday! Way to represent our school with pride and teamwork.

  🎶 Shout out to Mrs. Benton for a magnificent Holiday Performance! Thank you to all the teachers who attended to support their students—your presence helped make the event a huge success.

  ❄️ Shout out to Ms. Timms and all the teachers who helped make our Winter “Wonder”land IB Night truly epic! Students and families enjoyed engaging science stations and special moments taking pictures with Santa.

  📊 Shout out to Ms. M. Acevedo and all teachers and teacher assistants who have supported testing over the past two weeks. Your dedication and commitment have been essential to our students’ success.

  🎨 Shout out to Mrs. Wright for generously volunteering the use of the art room for small-group testing last week—your flexibility and support are greatly appreciated

• ⛄Shoutout to the IB Leadership Team - Mrs. Bustos, Mrs. Gosling, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Vega, and all teacher support for planning and executing the Winter Wonderland event! (💜 Ms. Timms)

• TA's clock in by 7:30am | Teachers clock in by 7:45 am
• 🎯Teachers, please pick up your students by 7:45 am.
• Morning Announcements, 3A
• Morning Circle Lessons
• 🎯 Week 7: seven grades per subject in Powerschool (Grading Calendar)
• Follow Master Schedule Daily

We will conclude testing with 5th grade ACP Science next Tuesday. Please take a moment to review the ACP plan, and reach out if you have any questions.

Science

• ACP Blueprint

The Academic Enrichment and Support department in partnership with School Leadership is excited to kick off the spring Student Experiences pilot. This opportunity will allow for students in select grade levels to attend curriculum-aligned, off-campus learning experiences.

Program Overview & Grade Level Assignments

For this pilot phase, specific grade levels have been paired with the following experience partners for the Spring 2026:

• 1st Grade: Dallas Zoo

• 2nd Grade: Perot Museum of Nature and Science

• 4th Grade: Dallas Arboretum

• 5th Grade: Environmental Education Center (EEC)

All required field trip paperwork must be finalized by the following dates to ensure campus participation in the scheduled learning experience:

• December 17: 5th Grade January EEC experiences

• January 26: All February experiences

• February 17: All March experiences

• April 10: All May experiences

Please review the key PTO guidelines that apply directly to staff:

• Teachers may NOT collect, handle, deposit, or manage PTO funds at any time. All PTO checks must be made out to the PTO—not the school—and must be collected outside school hours (30 minutes before or after).

• PTO fundraisers cannot occur during the school day, and PTO cannot solicit money from students while on campus.

• PTO groups are separate organizations and may NOT use the district’s tax ID, discounts, or sales tax-exempt status.

• Staff may not be involved in PTO finances, hold financial roles, or be signatories on bank accounts.

• PTO-sponsored events that involve students in the evening are limited to two per year, and student participation must be voluntary.

• When PTO donates items or funds to the school, a donation form must be completed and submitted through Dallas ISD Volunteer & Community Partnerships.

• PTO must provide the school with required documents (officers, meeting agendas, financial statements, 501c3 verification, etc.), which will be kept in the campus activity fund binder.

• Fundraiser requests for PTO must follow district procedure:

  • PTO President signs the fundraiser form

  • Submit to Office Manager two weeks in advance

  • Approval required by Principal and ED

  • Office Manager will return the approved form to PTO President

These expectations help ensure compliance with district policy and maintain a clear separation between campus operations and external organizations.

If you have questions or need clarity before a PTO-related event or request, please reach out to administration.

All items purchased by the PTA (including purchases in the past) must be accounted for using the PTA Wishlist Form. Please ensure you have added any items you have received that are not documented there.

We’re excited to share that Dallas ISD’s 9th Annual Poetry Slam is officially underway! Our 5th-grade students will have the chance to write and perform their own original poems, showcasing their voice, creativity, and confidence as they compete with students from across the district.

At Lipscomb, we will begin generating interest among our 5th graders and supporting students who would like to participate.

Timeline

• Select Coordinator by Jan. 6

• January 26–February 13: We will hold our Lipscomb Campus Poetry Slam to select our top two performers.

• February 20, 2026: Our campus will submit the names of our 1st- and 2nd-place winners to the district.

• March 27, 2026: These two students will represent Lipscomb at the Districtwide Poetry Slam held at Conrad High School.

All guidelines and procedures can be found in the Poetry Slam Coordinator Manual provided by Dallas ISD.

We look forward to seeing our young poets shine! Let’s cheer on our 5th graders as they prepare to share their voices with the district and beyond.

• In transpancy, I am linking the Grant Tracker used for our campus grant funds that we have used since the start of last year. Please reach out if you have any questions about the use of these funds, or if you have any ideas for how we could spend remaining funds. SBDM is a great place to have these conversations, so be sure to attend January's meeting!

• Teachers planning to host a classroom holiday party may invite up to two parents to assist. Please ensure that either you or the invited parents complete the Classroom Parties Parent Volunteer Form by the end of the day on Wednesday.

• If the outside temperature or wind chill is below 32°F, we will have indoor recess.
• Staff should be alert to students who appear uncomfortable during outdoor activities, especially those with underlying health conditions. For individual concerns, consult the campus nurse.

• Entering Semester or Final Grade for a Cycle
• Elementary (Grades PK-5) End of Semester Grading QRG
• Teacher Verification of Final Grades
• GRADING CALENDAR

• The campus will be closed during the holiday break. We will reopen on January 5.
• Please ensure you take everything you need with you home for the holidays!

• As we try and plan ahead for the Spring semester, please help us by submitting any important dates for our campus calendar to Ms. Valadez so they can be added.

The Department of School Safety is excited to announce the launch of our refreshed School Safety website, designed to provide quick access to essential resources and information that support a safe learning environment for all students and staff.

Safe schools protect students from violence, bullying, harassment, and substance abuse. A secure environment is critical for academic success and overall well-being.

What You’ll Find on the Updated Site

• Safety expectations and best practices

• Information on systems we manage, including:

• Key Card Readers

• Camera Systems

• Visitor Management (Raptor)

• Mass Notification Systems

• Clear Backpack Distribution

• Metal Detectors

• And more

• Starting Friday, December 19 after school, the moving team will start removing old furniture

• Removal of old furniture is scheduled to be complete by Sunday, December 21

• Campus staff to do list on or before Friday, December 19 by 12 noon

• Please declutter all spaces and box up your loose items/documents.

• Confidential documents are to be locked away in a safe location. Not to be left out or inside any drawers. All old furniture will be removed and taken to a landfill.

• Once old furniture is removed, we cannot get it back.

• All technology is to be unplugged and removed from old furniture.

• Remove any/all personal items from all areas. Lock them up and/or take them home for the holidays.

• Only in certain special circumstances will any existing furniture remain. All existing furniture will be removed

• New furniture will make a nice statement when delivered and installed. Upon your return from winter break, you should have all new furniture in place as pictorial depicts.

• If you have existing furniture that you would like to keep in your room/space, please speak with Mr. Carter.

• All new furniture must remain in place, no moving anything around until FF&E Team has inventoried all items in each room the 1st week in January 2026!!

• I will provide final room assignments as well as a pictorial of the new furniture installation later this week.

We are excited to announce the start of a friendly, campus-wide competition: Operation Math Magic! Details in prior newsletter.

Creating an advent calendar with your class, either as a whole-class, small group, or individual project, is engaging and entertaining in those challenging weeks before the holiday.

Not only is there endless creativity with upcycling or recycling classroom/household materials to create calendar, but instead of chocolate, each day could bring a soul-rewarding treat: a good deed to do, a compliment to pay someone, a learning challenge.

Try some of these ideas: https://www.goodplayguide.com/blog/five-ideas-for-alternative-advent-calendars/

Our IB Winter Wonderland was a joyful evening centered on curiosity, creativity, and community. Families and students explored interactive “Wonder Zones”—hands-on STEM stations provided by our partners at the Perot Museum—where learners investigated animal furs, engineered Rube Goldberg machines, created clouds, and engaged in many other inquiry-based experiences.

Each grade level proudly reflected on their favorite Units of Inquiry, showcasing the thinking, learning, and growth that has taken place across the school year. As students traveled through the Wonder Zones, they collected stamps in their IB Wonderwalk Passports—and students who keep their passports have earned a free dress pass and house points as a celebration of their engagement and inquiry.

We were also grateful to partner with our PTA, who helped make the night extra special with dinner for families and festive pictures with Santa, creating lasting memories for our school community.

Thank you to our families, partners, and staff for making Winter Wonderland a meaningful celebration of learning and wonder.

Big thank you to Ms. Jackson, Mrs. Davila, Mrs. Moncada, Mrs. Sumners, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Gamez, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Vega, and Mr. Ramirez for supporting the event stations!! You all did and amazing job!

To learn more about the IB Program within Dallas ISD, visit the Dallas ISD IB Hub.

On December 6, 2025, Lipscomb students proudly participated in the UIL Virtual Academic Competition, joining 1,791 students from 117 elementary schools across the district. Our Lions demonstrated strong academic skills across multiple events and earned impressive placements!

🌟 Lipscomb Student Placements

• Chess (4th–5th): Patrick S. (3rd), D’moni H. (3rd)

• Dictionary Skills:

  • Victoria J. (2nd), Lina L. (4th) – 4th Grade

  • Owen H. (10th) – 5th Grade

• Listening Skills:

  • Salvador M. (5th), Victoria J. (6th) – 4th Grade

  • Sawyer A. (5th) – 5th Grade

• Maps, Charts & Graphs: Oliver T. (3rd), Salvador M. (6th), Lucca S. (10th)

• Number Sense: (mental math with no paper and only 10 min!)

  • Daniel K. (2nd), Viola F. (5th), Frankie M. (6th) – 3rd Grade

  • Esteban C. (7th) – 4th Grade

  • Owen H. (3rd) – 5th Grade

• Social Studies (5th): Sawyer A. (6th)

• Spelling:

• Viola F. (1st place) 🎉

• Daniel K. (4th), Frankie M. (5th), Nico M. (9th) – 3rd Grade

• Lucca S. (6th), Esteban C. (9th), Oliver T. (9th) – 4th Grade

• Owen H. (2nd) – 5th Grade

This weekend’s esports tournament was an incredible success, bringing together over 500 students who showed amazing school spirit and sportsmanship! We are so proud of all our participants and the dedication they demonstrated throughout the event. Many thanks as well to the families who attended—your support and encouragement meant so much to our players.

🏎️ Mario Kart

• Jesse E. & Jesse M. (Chidori Champs) placed 5th overall and earned medals for finishing in the Final 12 out of 151 competitors!

• Haley T. & Shelby D. (Estrellas) also represented our school well with great participation and teamwork.

🚀 Rocket League

• Moses M., Yahir P., and Lucca S. (Rocket Lions) competed with determination and strong collaboration in the Rocket League bracket.

🕹️ Super Smash Bros.

• Patrick S., Isaiah G., D’Moni H., Alex J., Dylan H., and Rico L. gave outstanding performances, fighting through tough match-ups with focus and perseverance.

👏 Team Support
A special shoutout to Anderson S., who dedicated his day to supporting and cheering on his teammates. Your leadership and spirit did not go unnoticed!

Thank you to everyone who participated, attended, and supported our esports teams. We look forward to even more excitement at future tournaments!

eSports coaches are Ms. Wilson & Ms. Ragan

It’s time to plan for after-school snacks! If you sponsor a club, team, or group that meets after school, please take a minute to complete this form today so Ms. Johnson and her team can plan ahead and make sure your students stay fed and happy.

• This video has really easy tips for making beautiful holiday cookies
• This article from the Today Show has helpful ideas for $0 spending this holiday season
• This is a handy-dandy week-by-week guide of what to watch on Netflix (to simplify vacation binging...!)
• This blog post is rich with ideas for how to pamper yourself over vacation without spending a dime.
• And if you're not really feeling the holiday spirit this year, that's ok, too. This post has concrete, useful suggestions for how to tend to your own wellbeing.

Hello! At Lipscomb, we ensure every student stays warm during the winter by providing coats to those in need. Whether a student's jacket is too small, too large, worn out, or they have no outerwear at all, we're here to help! Please include their information below, and myself and the PTA will coordinate the rest. Thank you!

- Counselor Green

❄️ The season is better together! Join us this Friday as we celebrate with holiday fun, treats, and cheer—RSVP’d or not, you’re welcome!

Jan 1: School Board Appreciation Month

Jan 5: Teachers finalize grades for Report Cards

Jan 5: PD Day

Jan 6: Gradebooks Lock

Jan 6: Students Return

Jan 6: Epiphany Day

Jan 6: Circle MOY PK

Jan 7: 🍰 Happy Birthday Ms. Valadez

Jan 9: 2:30pm Pantry Distribution

Jan 9: 3:45pm - 4:45pm Yearbook Club

Jan 12: 3:45pm - 4:45pm Staff Meeting

Jan 12: 5:30pm Basketball Game Away vs. Dunbar @ Charles Gill ES

Jan13: 6:00pm Basketball Game Away vs. Highland Meadows @ Highland Meadows ES

Jan 13: Teachers print, sign, and date gradebook scoresheets.

Jan 16: Deadline for Special Admin for TELPAS/STAAR for newly enrolled

Jan 16: 3:45pm - 4:45pm Yearbook Club

Jan 17: Spring Open House

Jan 18: Bodhi Day

Jan 18: PK Circle (MOY)

Jan 19: MLK Day NO school

Jan 19: IB Unit #5

NEW CATALOGUE

Action Items for Sponsors:

• 🎯 Student Waivers — All club members must return a signed waiver by the end of this week.

• 🎯 Rosters — Update Student Activities Rosters.

• 🎯 Sponsor Training — 100% of sponsors must complete the 2025 training. A passing score of 80%+ generates a certificate emailed to you. Please provide a copy to Ms. Valadez for recordkeeping in case of audit/campus review.

• Maker Space: Nearly $20,000 remains for our new maker space (to be complete by December). If you’d like to join the design team, let Mr. Carter know.
• PTA Wishlist - Don’t forget—you can request up to $500 through the PTA using this form. Before submitting, please check with Mr. Carter to confirm the item isn’t already on campus.