Community Compass | Issue 04
draft - personalize and then delete me
Quarter 1 Week 4
August 31 - September 4, 2026
Vea las opciones de traducción en la parte superior de este boletín proporcionado por Smore.
Principal's Message
Dear Lipscomb Families,
We have an exciting month ahead! This week, our Lions will celebrate Spirit Day, and we look forward to seeing everyone show their school pride.
A special thank-you to Trustee Weinberg and Executive Director Aguirre-Castillo for visiting Lipscomb to tour our new facility upgrades. We appreciated the meaningful conversations about screen time, parent engagement, student success, and everything in between.
September brings many opportunities for families to connect with our school, including the WATCH D.O.G.S. Kickoff, Picture Day, Grandparents’ Day, Coffee with the Principal, and our PTA meeting.
Most importantly, North Texas Giving Day is September 17! Our PTA’s goal is to raise $25,000 for field trips, classroom enrichment, books, STEM and makerspace resources, and memorable experiences for our Lions. Every donation makes a difference—please give and share our campaign!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Principal Carter
September 2026
- Sept. 1: Parent ARD Training | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Sept. 2: Spirit Day; WATCH D.O.G.S. Kickoff | 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Sept. 3: Progress Reports; Secure Drill
- Sept. 4: Peace Pantry Distribution | 2:30–3:30 p.m.
- Sept. 7: No School—Labor Day
- Sept. 8–18: CIRCLE BOY Assessment
- Sept. 8: Picture Day
- Sept. 9: Athletic Jersey Day; Lockdown Drill
- Sept. 11: Grandparents’ Day | 8:30 a.m.; Wear Red, White & Blue; TAG Referral Deadline; Woodrow Wilson Feeder Pattern Night!
- Sept. 14–18: Education Go Get It Week
- Sept. 14: Wear College Gear; Coffee with the Principal | 4:30 p.m.; PTA Meeting | 5:30 p.m.
- Sept. 15: Fire Drill
- Sept. 16: Favorite Decade Day; College Day; Family Engagement Meeting | 8:15 a.m.; Chipotle Spirit Night
- Sept. 17: Shelter-in-Place Drill; North Texas Giving Day—Donate to Lipscomb PTA
- Sept. 18: Future Career Day
- Sept. 19: Lipscomb’s 105th Birthday
- Sept. 21–Oct. 2: G/T Testing
- Sept. 21: SBDM Meeting | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 23: Western Wear Day
- Sept. 26: HR Professional and PTA Appreciation Day
- Sept. 28: Soccer Jersey Day; Hispanic Heritage Week Begins
- Sept. 28–Oct. 6: IB Unit of Inquiry No. 2 Begins
- Sept. 29: Lockdown Drill
- Sept. 30: Community Hero Day; Wear Your Country’s Colors
DISD Parent Training
Entrenamiento del distrito para padres
September 2: WATCH D.O.G.S. Kickoff Meeting
Join us for the WATCH D.O.G.S. Kickoff Meeting! All dads and father figures are welcome to come learn how you can support our students on campus.
📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Lipscomb Library
🍽️ Dinner provided
We hope to see you there!
September 8: Picture Day!
PTA Membership Drive Begins August 1st
Join the Lipscomb PTA!
Our PTA Membership Drive begins September 1 and runs through September 30, but families can join now and still receive credit for their grade level!
- Schoolwide goal: 200 members
- First place: Popsicle party + free-dress day
- Second place: Free-dress day
- If we reach 200 members: Schoolwide vote for a bonus themed free-dress day
The competition is based on the percentage of memberships earned by each grade, so every membership matters!
North Texas Giving Day
- Help us reach our $25,000 goal for field trips, classroom enrichment, books, STEM and makerspace resources, and memorable experiences for every Lion. Every gift makes a difference!
- DONATE TO LIPSCOMB PTA
- North Texas Giving Day: Thursday, September 17
- Early giving begins September 1—please donate and share our campaign!
Gifted and Talented Referral and Screening Process
🦁 ATTENDANCE MATTERS — EVERY DAY COUNTS!
- As we begin the school year, we want to remind all families about the importance of daily and on-time attendance.
- Please remember that absences accumulate throughout the school year.
- Under Texas law and Dallas ISD Attendance for Credit requirements, students must be in attendance for at least 90% of the days a class is offered in order to receive a final grade or credit.
An important reminder about excused absences:
- Providing a parent note or doctor's note is important because it allows the school to properly document and code your child's absence. However, an excused absence does not necessarily mean that the absence disappears or does not count toward Attendance for Credit. Certain medical-based absences with appropriate documentation may qualify for an exemption.
What happens when absences become excessive?
- Dallas ISD and Lipscomb closely monitor PreK-12 student attendance throughout the school year. Families may receive attendance warning or violation notices when students begin approaching or falling below the required attendance rate.
- If a student's attendance falls below 90%, the student may be required to complete a Principal's Plan to regain a final grade. A Principal's Plan is an attendance intervention—it does not erase the absences or replace the importance of attending school every day.
Please remember:
- An Excuse note does not always mean exempt.
- A doctor's note does not automatically erase an absence.
- A Principal's Plan does not erase accumulated absences.
- Every school day matters.
When your child is healthy, please make every effort to have them at school, on time, and for the entire instructional day.
If your family is experiencing a barrier that is making regular attendance difficult, please reach out to us. We want to partner with you and help your child attend school consistently.
Attendance matters. Learning matters. Every day counts. 🦁💜💛
Thank you for your partnership,
🦁 ¡LA ASISTENCIA IMPORTA — CADA DÍA CUENTA!
Estimadas familias de Lipscomb:
Al comenzar este año escolar, queremos recordarles la importancia de que nuestros estudiantes asistan a la escuela todos los días, a tiempo y durante todo el día escolar.
Es muy importante recordar que las ausencias se acumulan durante todo el año escolar.
De acuerdo con la ley de Texas y los requisitos de Asistencia para Obtener Crédito (Attendance for Credit) de Dallas ISD, los estudiantes deben asistir por lo menos al 90% de los días en que se ofrece una clase para poder recibir una calificación final o crédito.
Un recordatorio importante sobre las ausencias justificadas:
Entregar una nota del padre/madre/tutor o una nota médica es importante, ya que permite que la escuela documente y registre correctamente la ausencia de su hijo(a). Sin embargo, que una ausencia sea justificada no significa necesariamente que desaparezca o que no cuente para los requisitos de Asistencia para Obtener Crédito. Ciertas ausencias por motivos médicos, con la documentación correspondiente, pueden calificar para una excepcion.
¿Qué sucede cuando un estudiante acumula demasiadas ausencias?
Dallas ISD y Lipscomb monitorean de cerca la asistencia de los estudiantes en Prek-12 durante todo el año escolar. Las familias pueden recibir avisos o cartas de advertencia cuando un estudiante comienza a acercarse o cae por debajo del porcentaje de asistencia requerido.
Si la asistencia de un estudiante cae por debajo del 90%, se le puede requerir completar un Plan del Director (Principal's Plan) para recuperar su calificación final.
Es importante entender que el Plan del Director es una intervención de asistencia. No elimina las ausencias acumuladas ni sustituye la importancia de asistir a la escuela todos los días.
POR FAVOR RECUERDE:
Una ausencia justificada no siempre significa que está exenta.
Una nota médica no elimina automáticamente una ausencia.
Un Plan del Director no elimina las ausencias acumuladas.
Cada día de clases cuenta.
Cuando su hijo(a) esté saludable, por favor haga todo lo posible para que asista a la escuela, llegue a tiempo y permanezca durante todo el día escolar.
Si su familia está enfrentando alguna situación que dificulta la asistencia regular de su hijo(a), por favor comuníquese con nosotros. Queremos trabajar en colaboración con ustedes y brindarles apoyo para que su hijo(a) pueda asistir a la escuela de manera constante.
Muchas gracias por su apoyo y colaboración,
🦁💜💛 ¡LA ASISTENCIA IMPORTA. EL APRENDIZAJE IMPORTA. CADA DÍA CUENTA!
Our first Spirit Night raised nearly $300 for Lipscomb! 🎉
LIONS LEARNING
Peace Pantry
Reminder: Lipscomb Peace Pantry Sign-Up / Recordatorio: Inscripción para Lipscomb Peace Pantry
Reminder: Lipscomb Peace Pantry Sign-Up
New and returning families must register for the 2026–2027 school year. Please complete the form by clicking on the above image or email lipscombpeacepantry@gmail.com.
Recordatorio: Inscripción para Lipscomb Peace Pantry
Las familias nuevas y las que regresan deben inscribirse para el año escolar 2026–2027. Por favor, complete el formulario haciendo clic en la imagen de arriba o envíe un correo electrónico a lipscombpeacepantry@gmail.com.
The Inquirer: Inside IB at Lipscomb
🌍Welcome to The Inquirer!🌏
A new Community Compass feature designed to help families better understand what it means to learn at an IB school. Throughout the year, we will explain common IB terms and share how the Primary Years Programme comes to life at Lipscomb.
Volunteers/Voluntarios!
📣 Volunteer Opportunities at Lipscomb Elementary!
Parents, if you’d like to get involved and volunteer at upcoming events and opportunities at Lipscomb Elementary, please make sure you’re signed up on Voly!
Voly is where volunteer opportunities will be posted, and signing up ahead of time will help you stay in the loop and find ways to support our students and school community. 💙
Thank you for volunteering your time and helping make Lipscomb Elementary such a wonderful place for our kids! 🐾
📣 ¡Oportunidades para ser voluntario en Lipscomb Elementary!
¡Padres de familia! Si les gustaría participar como voluntarios en los próximos eventos y oportunidades de Lipscomb Elementary, ¡asegúrense de registrarse en Voly!
Voly es la plataforma donde se publicarán las oportunidades para voluntarios. Al registrarse con anticipación, podrán mantenerse informados y encontrar diferentes maneras de apoyar a nuestros estudiantes y a nuestra comunidad escolar. 💙
¡Gracias por ofrecer su tiempo y por ayudar a hacer de Lipscomb Elementary un lugar maravilloso para nuestros niños! 🐾