Welcome Brave Bulls!

Dear Tom Lea Families,

Welcome to another exciting year at Tom Lea Elementary! We are thrilled to begin a new adventure with our students, families, and staff as we continue our commitment to excellence.

🎮 Brave Bulls Level-Up to Excellence 2026–2027 🚀

We know this will be a year filled with unforgettable memories, incredible achievements, and opportunities to shine. Thank you for being an essential part of the Tom Lea Elementary family. We can't wait to welcome our Brave Bulls back and begin an amazing year together!

https://www.episd.org/o/tle

https://www.facebook.com/TomLea.bravebulls

Open House

Join us from 3:00-5:00 PM

1. NEW students to Tom Lea will need to come in to take their photo to ensure their ID is active the first day of school.
2. RETURNING students to Tom Lea have the OPTION to take a new photo to replace the Spring 2026 photo on file.
3. BUS RIDERS must come in to campus for issuance of Bus ID card.

• BUS RIDERS must come in to campus for issuance of Bus ID cards.
• Bus ID cards will be attached to the student's backpack for daily transportation.

Student ID Badges & Bus Transportation

Beginning this school year, students who ride the bus will scan their student ID badge when boarding. This helps improve the accuracy of student ridership and provides families with timely transportation updates through the Stopfinder app.

If a student forgets or does not have their ID badge, they will still be allowed to ride the bus. Transportation staff can manually check students into the system, and no student will be denied transportation for not having their ID.

Stopfinder App

To help families get started, visit episd.org/stopfinder for registration information, frequently asked questions, and a step-by-step video on using the app.

Tom Lea Follows Non-Uniformed Dress Code (click for details)

El Paso ISD's web friendly version: https://www.episd.org/page/dress-code

FNCA (Local)

• 7/20 to 7/24 - Student ID Photos taken
• 7/30 - Open House/Meet the Teacher
• 8/3 - First Day of School

The El Paso ISD Board of Trustees recently approved the renewal of the district’s District of Innovation (DOI) Plan, which will take effect beginning in 2026-27 and continue through the 2030-31 school year.

A District of Innovation designation gives school districts more flexibility under Texas law to better serve students, staff, and families. For El Paso ISD, this flexibility helps support strong academic programs, college and career opportunities, and efficient district operations while continuing to maintain high expectations for students.

What this means for your child in the 2026-27 school year:

• Students must now meet the state attendance requirement to receive course credit. Under Texas law, students must attend at least 90% of the days a class is offered in order to earn credit or a final grade.
• El Paso ISD believes regular attendance is important to student success and classroom learning.
• Students whose attendance falls below the required threshold will be required to make up lost instructional time per policy (FEC) and district procedures.

Participation in UIL and district sponsored events will not count against your student.

The renewal process included feedback from district committees, staff, and community representatives before final approval by the Board of Trustees.

WIN Time is designed to provide targeted support and enrichment:

• Students who need intervention receive focused instruction.
• Students who have met performance standards engage in a variety of enrichment opportunities.
• This structure includes 5th grade students.

Students in grades 3–5 who earn “Approaches” or higher on the Math and/or Reading STAAR will participate in enrichment during WIN Time. Each campus offers a variety of enrichment options to meet student interests and needs.

Students in grades 3–5 who do NOT earn “Approaches” or higher on the Math and/or Reading STAAR will participate in Intervention during WIN Time.

Additionally, 5th grade students should be scheduled to receive fine arts during the 45-minute Social Studies block. This ensures that all students have access to fine arts instruction.

Thank you for your leadership and for supporting clear communication with our families. Please reach out with any questions.

For the latest menus, visit FNS's Facebook Page by clicking here.

The EPISD App is your destination to get school updates, communicate with educators seamlessly and securely through the Rooms feature, access classwork and materials, and so much more. We’re excited to offer a collection of resources and information to enhance your user experience.

What is Rooms?

Say hello to two-way communication in the El Paso ISD app; Rooms allows parents and teachers a safe and secure place to communicate through messages, and for teachers to share announcements, materials, and more!

Your school administration and staff will be sharing updates, resources, and reminders through Rooms as well.

Setting up Rooms Step-by-Step: Click Here

Elizabeth Jo Sandoval,

Tom Lea Elementary Principal

Email: ejsandov@episd.org
Website: www.episd.org/tomlea
Location: 4851 Marcus Uribe Dr, El Paso, TX 79934
Phone: 915-230-5450
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TomLea.bravebulls/
Twitter: @TomLeaES

Instagram: @tomleaelementary

VISION: Tom Lea is committed to fostering a love for learning and achieving academic excellence in a safe learning environment.

MISSION: In partnership with our diverse school community, we believe in developing well-rounded

students by providing high-quality, authentic learning experiences that cultivate critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Together, we'll embrace new challenges, celebrate every success, and encourage every Brave Bull to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Each new day will be an opportunity to level up—building confidence, strengthening character, and unlocking new skills. As we begin this journey together, we invite everyone to bring their Brave Bull spirit, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn, grow, and encourage one another. We know this will be a year filled with unforgettable memories, incredible achievements, and opportunities to shine.

The badge is the school's dedication and commitment to helping students think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, participate, and share.

The campus' information and parent letters on accessibility pathways are listed on the school's website: https://www.episd.org/o/tle/page/school-information

Including:

• Parent Notice for Plan Pathway
• Parent Letter on Policies - Nondiscrimination, Harassment & Grievance

Here at Tom Lea, our goal is to listen, support, and improve. If you have a concern regarding student safety, bullying, or anything related, please know you can reach out! Scan the QR code or click the flyer to submit a concern.