Lynx News

Dear Loess Hills Elementary Parents and Guardians,

As we embrace the colder weather and the winter season, we want to keep you updated on important news and achievements at Loess Hills Elementary.

Cold Weather Reminder:

With the arrival of colder temperatures, it's essential for students to be dressed appropriately for outdoor activities. Our policy is to have students go outside for recess if the "real feel" temperature is above 15 degrees. Please ensure that your child comes to school with warm clothing, including coats, gloves, hats, and boots, to stay comfortable while enjoying outdoor breaks.

Exciting News:

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news about our school's performance:

Iowa Performance Profile: Loess Hills Elementary received a Commendable rating on the Iowa School Performance Profile. This recognition highlights the dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, and staff.

ISASP Scores: Our students in grades 3-5 have excelled in their ISASP math and reading scores. We are proud of their achievements and the progress they continue to make.

Fastbridge Reading Improvement: Our K-5 students demonstrated remarkable growth in reading with a 24% improvement in their Fastbridge reading scores from fall to spring. This reflects our commitment to fostering a love for reading and enhancing literacy skills.

New Initiatives at Loess Hills:

This year, we have introduced several new programs and initiatives to enhance the educational experience for our students:

Morning Meetings: We have implemented a morning meeting in every classroom to build a stronger sense of community among our students. These meetings provide an opportunity for social interaction and emotional growth.

Character Strong: As part of our morning meetings, we have integrated the "Character Strong" curriculum. This program aims to support students in their social and emotional development, helping them become well-rounded individuals.

Heggerty Phonemic Awareness: In grades K-2, our students are developing their phonemic awareness and phonics skills using the Heggerty program. This initiative enhances their early literacy skills and prepares them for future academic success.

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

We would like to express our gratitude for your attendance at parent-teacher conferences. Your active participation and engagement in your child's education are vital to their success. These conferences provide an invaluable opportunity for collaboration between teachers and parents to ensure your child's growth and development.

As we continue through this academic year, we remain dedicated to providing a supportive and nurturing learning environment for all our students. We appreciate your ongoing partnership in your child's education journey and look forward to the continued success of our students.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to discuss any of the topics mentioned in this newsletter, please feel free to reach out to us. Your involvement is highly valued.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, and we wish you a safe and enjoyable winter season.

Sincerely,

Tami Voegeli

Earlier this year, our very own Ms. Bigbee (5th grade teacher) was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. As a fundraiser to support Ms. Bigbee, we are selling t-shirts in her honor. If you wish to purchase a t-shirt, please use the following link:

https://lhe-store.1rti.com/gildanr-ultra-cottonr-100-us-cotton-t-shirt-front-imprint-bee-lieve-in-a-cure.html

Shirts will be shipped directly to the buyer.

Thank you for your support!

5th grade students will be visiting the Career Academy on Friday, November 17. Students can explore opportunities with the Sioux City Career Academy to develop their passions and learn what they love. Students will be bused to and from, and lunch will be provided. Please watch for permission slips to be sent home.

November 5: Daylight Savings Time Ends

November 6: Coffee on the curb for parents

November 7: NO SCHOOL

November 11: Election Day

November 11: Veteran's Day

November 14: Camp Read S'more - 5:00-6:30 pm

November 17: 5th grade to Career Academy

November 22: Early Out - 1:30 dismissal

November 23-24: Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL

Download the app, enter rewards number when visiting Casey's. Cash out rewards to Loess Hills.

Connect with your student’s school, the superintendent’s office, or transportation. Let’s Talk provides you with an easy and convenient way to connect with schools and departments across the District with your ideas, questions, and concerns.

Get started today by clicking on the Let’s Talk icon located on the District’s homepage.

Click the Translate Newsletter button to the right of this page to view this newsletter in over 100 languages.

Haga clic en el botón Translate Newsletter para ver una traducción automática de esta carta de noticias en más de 100 idiomas.

With the cooler temperatures upon us, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder winter. Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual, so it is important that students have the right winter weather clothing. When the temperature feels like 15 degrees or lower, students are kept inside for recess and activities. Students should be prepared for the cooler weather with a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. If your student does not have access to cold weather apparel, please contact our school office.

The weather in Iowa can be unpredictable. If the weather requires us to delay the start of our school day, cancel school for the day, or dismiss school early, information will be sent to families through email, text, and voicemail. In addition, this information is posted to our social media sites and the District website.

Please remember that parents and guardians have the right to make the decision to keep their child home on any day they feel it is unsafe for their student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home, or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you as a parent or guardian will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.