The Lemon Crest ROAR

The countdown is on until the first day of school! I'm sending our Friday Newsletter a couple days early to remind families that THIS Friday, August 15 at 4pm is when you will be notified of your child(ren)'s classroom placement via our Infinite Campus Parent Portal! Please read the following information very carefully:

• THIS Friday, Aug.15, 2025:
• 4pm Class Lists go out on the Parent Portal - Please note that class placements are final for the first six weeks of school. During this important time, teachers focus on building strong classroom communities, establishing expectations, and getting to know their students both individually and as a group. We will not be able to honor requests for class changes during this period.

• 4:00–6:00 PM: Family/PTA Meet & Greet in the MPR: Come pick up your back-to-school packet, find out your child's teacher, meet and join our amazing PTA, and stock up on spirit wear at the ROAR Store! Please note that due to confidentiality, class lists will not be posted and PTA is unable to share who is in your child's class.

• 4:30-5:30pm: TK & Kindergarten Back to School Night/Orientation will be held the same evening from 4:30–5:30 PM. This event is for TK and Kindergarten parents/caregivers only, but ESS will provide care for students for those who need. If your child is in the Kindergarten/1st grade combo class, first grade parents/caregivers are welcome to attend as well!

• Monday, Aug.18: First Day of School!

• Drop off for TK and Kindergarten, as well as students in our K/1 combo will be in the MPR for the first 3 weeks of school so students can learn the path to classrooms. Dismissal will be at the middle driveway along the sidewalk (the driveway along the fence next to the parking lot with the solar panels).

• Wednesday, September 10 - 1st - 5th Grade Back to School Night from 5-6:30pm in our MPR. This is for Parents/Caregivers only! We'll start in the MPR with a quick meeting with the PTA, then information about Title 1 and our SPSA goals, then you'll be released to visit your child(ren)'s classroom!

Enjoy these last days of summer!

Jen Price
Principal, Lemon Crest Elementary

TK: Leah Hopkins, Melissa Underwood

Kindergarten: Lori Brown, Bayli McBride

Kinder/1st Combo: Laura Brewer

1st Grade: Deann Horn, Ashleigh Wyatt

2nd Grade: Gwen Fraley, Mike Dawson

2nd/3rd Combo: Corie Flynn

3rd Grade: Arianna Casas, Taira Holden

4th Grade: Kristin Smith, Ana Stewart

4th/5th Combo: Serena Anderson

5th Grade: Heather Taft, Heather Kotas

SDC TK-1st: Robyn Accardi

SDC 2nd-3rd: Seth Hanson

SDC 4th-5th: Michelle Dennis

RSP TK-3: Shelley Baca

RSP 4th-5th: Danieda Cooper

• Monday, August 18: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! We are so excited to see you! Drop-off begins at 7:40am and school begins promptly at 7:50am for all grade levels. Be sure to be on time every day! If your child needs school breakfast, they may be dropped off at 7:30am to receive free breakfast; All students are expected to follow school rules during breakfast.
• Please review the start and end times for school so your child is dropped off on time and picked up on time every day! School begins at 7:50am every day. TK and K Dismissal is 1:55pm and 2:15pm for 1st -5th grade. Every Wednesday, our school has early dismissal for Teacher Professional Development. Wednesday dismissal for TK and K is 11:55am and 12:15pm for 1st-5th grade.
• For students in TK, Kindergarten and our K/1 Combo class, please drop off students in the MPR for the first 3 weeks of school. Our teachers and staff will be working hard to teach students the morning routine and giving them plenty of opportunities to practice walking from the drop-off points (walking gate or car drop-off), so they'll be confident walking to class independently! Families, we'll have staff supporting students in getting to their classrooms, as well as chalk arrows to guide the way!
• Every Wednesday is early dismissal!
• TK and Kindergarten dismisses at 11:55am
• 1st-5th grades dismiss at 12:15pm

Safety is one of our top priorities at Lemon Crest Elementary. Read the following safety information for our drop-off and pickup times. The image on the left is for TK/Kinder & 1st-5th Grade Drop-Off & Pick-Up. The image on the right is for our SDC Drop-off and Pick-up only.

• Use designated drop-off zones only. You can park in the lots and walk your child in/out using the crosswalk where a staff member is directing traffic OR you can use the drive-through option for your child’s grade. All grades dropped off via car use the back driveway through the basketball court. ONLY TK and Kindergarten use the inside driveway for Pick-up only. DO NOT DROP OFF YOUR STUDENT AT THE CURB, BUS LANE OR IN THE PARKING LOT.

• In the drive-through line, make two lines and look for staff directing traffic. We have signs and staff to help support smooth traffic flow. Please be kind and respectful to our staff - they work hard to ensure your child’s safety. Pull all the way up.

• Do not park in front of the yellow Bus Lane curb OR in front of the red Fire Lane curb. This is for buses and emergency vehicles only.

• Follow all traffic laws for car seats, booster seats and speed limits. We work with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

• Exercise extreme caution around pedestrian areas; Slow down, be mindful of crosswalks, and follow the traffic patterns.

• If your child rides a scooter or bike, they MUST wear a helmet.

1. To Learn

2. To Stay Safe

3. To Have Fun!

This aligns with our three School Plan for Student Achievement goals (aka the SPSA) which are:

1. Academic Improvement

2. Social-emotional Wellbeing & Student Safety

3. Attendance Improvement

To help achieve these goals, we ask that you please read our Lemon Crest Family Handbook A-Z with important school information!

Our Lemon Crest School Pledge 25-26 will be shared at the PTA Meet-and Greet on August 15. Please pre-read this, review with your child so you can sign and return to school the first week of school.

This year, our school's theme is Planting Possibility, inspired by the children's book, Curious Garden, written by Peter Brown. Click the link below for a read-aloud of the book by Principal Price!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZYrAMnEhRpqGdUu8PIBmrSBAW-8HkET4/view?usp=sharing

August:

• THIS Friday, Aug.15, 2025:
• 4pm Class Lists go out on the Parent Portal - Please note that class placements are final for the first six weeks of school. During this important time, teachers focus on building strong classroom communities, establishing expectations, and getting to know their students both individually and as a group. We will not be able to honor requests for class changes during this period.

• 4:00–6:00 PM: Family/PTA Meet & Greet in the MPR: Come pick up your back-to-school packet, find out your child's teacher, meet and join our amazing PTA, and stock up on spirit wear at the ROAR Store! Please note that due to confidentiality, class lists will not be posted and PTA is unable to share who is in your child's class.

• 4:30-5:30pm: TK & Kindergarten Back to School Night/Orientation will be held the same evening from 4:30–5:30 PM. This event is for parents/caregivers only, but ESS will provide care for students for those who need. If your child is in the Kindergarten/1st grade combo class, first grade parents/caregivers are welcome to attend as well!

• Monday, Aug.18: First Day of School!

• Drop off for TK and Kindergarten, as well as students in our K/1 combo will be in the MPR for the first 3 weeks of school so students can learn the path to classrooms. Dismissal will be at the middle driveway along the sidewalk (the driveway along the fence next to the parking lot with the solar panels).

• Wednesday, Aug. 20: Food Pantry in the MPR 11:20am-1:30pm

In the future - save the date!

• Wednesday, September 10 - 1st - 5th Grade Back to School Night from 5-6:30pm in our MPR. This is for Parents/Caregivers only! We'll start in the MPR with a quick meeting with the PTA, then information about Title 1 and our SPSA goals, then you'll be released to visit your child(ren)'s classroom!

⭐ Lemon Crest is a TK-5 elementary school. Here are our school hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Breakfast: 7:30

Arrival (if not having breakfast): 7:40

School Begins: 7:50

TK & K Dismissal: 1:55 (please do not arrive before 1:45 as it will impede bus access)

Grades 1-5 Dismissal: 2:15 (please do not arrive before 2:05)

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Wednesday

Breakfast: 7:30

Arrival (if not having breakfast): 7:40

School Begins: 7:50

TK & K Dismissal: 11:55 (please do not arrive before 11:45 as it will impede bus access)

Grades 1-5 Dismissal: 12:15 (please do not arrive before 12:05)

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⭐ School Website: https://www.lsusd.net/lemon-crest/

⭐ School Breakfast & Lunch Menu: https://schools.mealviewer.com/district/lakesideunionsdca
⭐ Address: 12643 Lemon Crest Drive, Lakeside, CA, USA
⭐ Front Office Phone: 619-390-2527

⭐ PTA Instagram: @lemoncrestpta

⭐ Lemon Crest Elementary Instagram: @lemoncrest_lusd

⭐ LUSD Calendar for 2025-2026

⭐ Lemon Crest Family Handbook A-Z for 2025-2026

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Families, you are invited to our All-School Assemblies! We have them the first Friday of each month at 8am on the blacktop (unless there's inclement weather, then we'll reschedule):

• September 5, 2025

• October 3, 2025
• November 7, 2025
• December 5, 2025
• January 9, 2026
• February 6, 2026
• March 6, 2026
• April 17, 2026
• May 1, 2026

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Lemon Crest Food Pantry Dates: Feeding San Diego is hosting FREE food distribution at Lemon Crest! Receive pantry staples and fresh produce at no cost! We ask that you bring your own bags and/or wagon to carry your groceries. Food is distributed on a first come, first serve basis on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 11:45am after our early release Wednesday dismissal until 1:45pm:

• August 20, 2025
• September 10, 2025
• September 24, 2025
• October 8, 2025
• October 22, 2025
• November 12, 2025

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Each Friday, we will send out our Weekly Family ROAR, aka our family newsletter. The newsletter will have updates, reminders, announcements, as well as lots of important information for you and your Lion to know! The link below will be the page that has ALL of the ROARs for the year:

https://secure.smore.com/u/lioncrestlions

If you have a question or concern about your child, we encourage you to speak with your child's teacher first. Please note that during the instructional day, teachers and staff may not be able to respond to your message, email or call since they are busy doing what they do best: teaching! Your child's teacher will respond to you when they are able. Thank you for understanding!

Contacting Principal Price:

• Email: jprice@lsusd.net

• Call the Front Office: (619) 390-2527 - The front office staff will take a message, and Principal Price will call you when she is available

• In-Person: Call the office so Mrs. Whitehurst or Ms. Madina can help us set up a meeting so I can dedicate time to you!

Many of your questions may be answered in our Lemon Crest Family Handbook A-Z . We ask that all families read this.

Please know that there is a 24-48 hour "grace period" in my response time. When I respond, call or meet with you, I need time to get informed in order to have possible answers to your questions. I am prioritizing getting to know our students so I can support their success and am often not readily available in the office. Thank you for your understanding and support.