Panther Cubs Press

Dear Luce Road Families,

This is how we Take Chances, Make Mistakes and Get Messy!

Our little Panther Cubs are continuing to learn how to ROAR with pride as they grow more confident in “how we do school.”

Ten weeks into the school year, we are seeing so much growth in our Cubs. They are building friendships, strengthening their independence, and becoming more confident learners. Every school day gives them another opportunity to try, think, practice, and grow. 📚💙

🧠 Learning at Luce Road

One of the most important things we can do together is help children think and talk about their learning.

At the end of the school day, take a few minutes to reflect with your child. Instead of only asking, “How was school?” try questions like:

• What is something you learned today?

• What was something you were proud of?

• What was hard today?

• Did you make a mistake and learn something from it?

• Who did you help today?

• What do you want to get better at tomorrow?

These conversations help children understand that learning is more than finishing an activity. It is about recognizing what they know, what they are working on, and what they can do next.

📖 Read Together Every Day

Reading with your child is one of the most powerful ways to support their learning.

Even 10–15 minutes of reading together each day makes a difference. While reading, ask your child to look at the pictures, make predictions, talk about the characters, retell what happened, or tell you their favorite part.

You can ask:

“What do you think will happen next?”

“Why do you think the character did that?”

“Can you tell me what happened in the story?”

Most importantly, make reading enjoyable. Snuggle up, laugh together, use silly voices, and help your child see reading as something special you do together.

🔤 Practice Letters & Sounds

Our Cubs are also working hard to build strong early reading skills by learning their letters and letter sounds.

Families can help by practicing a few letters at a time at home. Keep it simple and playful:

• Find letters on signs, cereal boxes, shirts, or around the house.

• Practice saying the letter name and the sound it makes.

• Ask, “What sound does this letter make?”

• Think of words that begin with that sound.

• Practice writing letters with crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, or even with a finger in shaving cream or sand.

You do not have to practice every letter at once. A few minutes of consistent practice makes a big difference.

🖐️ Responsibility & Safe Hands

As we finish October, we continue practicing Responsibility and reinforcing Safe Hands.

Our Cubs are learning that responsibility means making choices that help themselves and others. That includes taking care of materials, following routines, listening to directions, using kind words, keeping their hands safe, and trying their best even when something feels difficult.

At home, continue giving your child small responsibilities such as putting away toys, carrying their backpack, helping set the table, or getting their coat ready.

When you notice responsible behavior, name it:

“You remembered to put your things away without being reminded. That was responsible!”

🌟 Responsibility Challenge

As October comes to a close, each classroom will recognize a Panther Cub who has demonstrated outstanding responsibility.

We are proud of all of our Cubs who continue to make responsible choices each day and help make Luce Road a safe, caring, and joyful place to learn.

🧥 Cooler Weather Reminder

Cooler weather is here! Please continue sending your child with a jacket or coat appropriate for outdoor play and label it with their name.

Practicing putting on, zipping, and taking care of coats at home is another simple way to build independence.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us. When school and home work together, our Panther Cubs are able to build strong habits, strong relationships, and strong foundations for learning.

Where Little Panther Cubs begin BIG journeys! 🐾

Warm regards,

Dr. Ernest Conerly
Principal and Director of Early Childhood Education
Luce Road Early Childhood Learning Center

Please make sure you are calling the school by 2:00 p.m. to make changes to your students transportation routine, whether its a new person picking them up, switching between the CarLine and the Walk up Line, After Care and Bus. Please communicate directly with the school main office about changes to your Childs transportation home. Staff will NOT change a transportation plan on the direction of a student.

Please help your child dress for the weather. Our Panther Cubs have outdoor recess 3 to 4 times a day. Mornings can be chilly, so send a jacket or hoodie and closed-toe shoes. Students are expected to go outside each time. Please label all items with your child’s name. Thank you for keeping our Cubs comfy and ready to play!

Please check your students backpacks for their folders. Important notes and information will come home via those folders. Today a note came home for some students from the main office about missing Enrollment Paperwork.

Parents and guardians, please label your Panther Cub’s belongings, including backpack, coat, lunch box, and water bottle. Our Lost and Found is filling up, and labeled items can be returned quickly. Thank you for your help!

Please make sure you send a change of clothes in for your student. Sometimes accidents happen and it’s helpful for them to have a change of clothes.

Please make sure ALL of your student’s belongings are labeled with their name! If it gets lost, staff will know who to return it to!

Tucker the Turtle is a social-emotional learning strategy and scripted story designed to help young children (ages 2–5) calm down and manage strong emotions like anger, frustration, or disappointment. Students are learning how to do this at school. We are asking for you to partner with us and reinforcing this at home!

We offer before and after school child care for our K-5 students. This program is housed at Luce Road ECLC. Drop off begins at 6am for before school care and pick up for after school care is until 6pm.

Transportation is available in the morning to bus students from Luce Road to their appropriate schools and from their schools to Luce Road for after care.

We still have 10 spots open for our after care program. We have 10 spaces for before care. To sign up please visit: https://forms.gle/jvrUeWdYu1wC4xMV9.

If you have any questions reach out to Kimberly Hamad at khamad@almaschools.net