Pride Preview Vol. 8

As we step into October, I want to thank each of you for the energy and commitment you bring to our school every single day. The start of this month reminds us of the importance of both consistency and care—two things I see from our team daily. Whether in classrooms, hallways, or during special events, your work is what makes Lipscomb a place where students thrive.

This week also gives us an opportunity to highlight the power of gratitude. Taking time to celebrate one another reminds us that excellence isn’t achieved alone—it’s built through teamwork, encouragement, and shared purpose. Thank you for living out our motto, Excellence, Not Without Effort, and for setting the example for our kids.

Let’s make it a strong week together—focused, positive, and student-centered.

This week, we are honored to recognize Ms. Smalley, Ms. Sherry, and Ms. Mary as our Pride Members of the Week. October 2nd is Custodial Appreciation Day, and there is no better time to celebrate the incredible women who care for our building and our Pride each and every day.

Our custodial team works tirelessly—often behind the scenes—to make sure our school is safe, clean, and welcoming for students, staff, and families. Their dedication, kindness, and pride in their work shine through in everything they do. Whether it’s staying late to prepare for an event, helping a teacher set up a classroom, or simply offering a warm smile in the hallway, they are the heart of our campus.

Please join me in thanking Ms. Smalley, Ms. Sherry, and Ms. Merry for the countless ways they serve our community. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to celebrate them this week!

• Shout out to Ms. Acevedo for hosting the United to Learn Book Bash last Wednesday! 🎉 Our students had a wonderful time exploring books and choosing one to take home—what a great way to spark joy for reading!
• Shout out to our amazing 4th grade team—Mrs. Hernandez, Mrs. Sumners, and Ms. Armenta—for kicking off Academy 4 last Friday! 🙌 Students rose to high expectations during transitions and enjoyed an incredible first meet-up with their mentors. What a fantastic start!
• Shout out to the Multicultural Committee for organizing an exciting lineup of activities for our staff and students next week!

• Morning Announcements led by 3C this week. Ms. Flores, at 8:05 am please send two students to the main office.
• TA's clock in by 7:30am | Teachers clock in by 7:45am
• All Grades K-5 to collect 1 Data Point Weekly in All in Learning
• Morning Circle Lessons
• Hispanic Heritage Month Resources

Monday, Sept 29

• 3:45–4:45 PM | Faculty Meeting (SMC Overview, Committee Meetings)

• ⚽ Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day: Wear your favorite soccer team jersey

Tuesday, Sept 30

• 3:30–5:50 PM | Coding Club

• 🌸 Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day: Como La Flor! Make a flower for your teacher

• International Translation Day

• PEI, APEI, EDEI Scorecard Release

Wednesday, Oct 1

• 8:30 AM | Coffee with Principal Carter

• 🌎 Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day: Wear the colors of your favorite Hispanic country’s flag

• National Bullying Prevention Month

• National Dropout Prevention Month

• National Principals Month

Thursday, Oct 2 (School Custodian Appreciation Day)

• 📚 Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day: Research or read about a famous Hispanic figure (artist, scientist, musician, athlete, or leader)

• Fire Drill

• Rosh Hashanah

Friday, Oct 3

• 9:00 AM | Cliburn – Rhythms and Roots Program (2nd, 3rd, 4th Grades)

• 2:30–4:00 PM | Peace Pantry Distribution

• 👗 Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Day: Dress like a quinceañera or a chambelán

• Woodrow Wilson Homecoming vs. Adamson HS 🏈

• Compliance Videos due by September 30
• All Grades K-5 to collect 1 Data Point Weekly in All in Learning
• Student Goal-Setting By September 30:
• All student goals should be completed
• Evidence of goal setting visible in classrooms
• Students able to articulate their goals
• A sample Goal Sheet shared with your executive director
• Update Student Activity Rosters here (details below)
• SLO Forms: 2025-2026-SLO-Rubric.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Form.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Goal-Setting-Submission-Guide.pdf | 2025-2026-SLO-Student-Growth-Tracker (2).xlsx

Hello, Teachers and staff,

As you are aware, one key component at any school is the parent and teacher relationship. This year, we have more interested parents helping the PTA than I've ever seen at Lipscomb. We're headed into the year stronger than ever! As we continue to drive parent engagement, we ask for your support to join the PTA. You can join here. It's $15 to join and the majority of the cost goes to the Texas PTA organization.

Thank you to Ms Davila, Ms Gamez, Ms Flores, Ms Gosling, Mr. Ramirez, Mrs Newman, Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Bustos for joining!

As we continue to work hard to plan events & fulfill your needs, we ask for your continue partnership and to please join the PTA. It's easy and takes 2 minutes.

We'd love to have 100% teacher and staff participation by the end of September. Can we count on you to make that happen?

Thanks for all you do for our Lipscomb Lions!

• It’s time to kick off our annual recognition process! Next week, we will begin nominations and voting for Teacher of the Year, Teacher of Promise, and the Aspire Award (Support Employee of the Year).
• 🗳️ Voting will take place on Monday, October 6th.
• Attached to this Preview, you’ll find a one-pager with details on each award, including eligibility, qualities, and the selection process.
• Thank you in advance for taking part in recognizing the incredible staff members who make Lipscomb such a special place!

• September is National Suicide Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness, break the stigma around mental health, and remind our community that support is always available. Open conversations about suicide prevention save lives, and we all play a role in creating a safe, supportive environment for students and staff.
• 📎 Resources to share with, students, and families: National Suicide Prevention Month Toolkit
• Together, we can be a voice of hope and ensure everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.

• Dallas ISD is offering a $500 incentive for EC–6 Core Content and Secondary ELAR teachers who earn ESL certification in 2025–26.
• Eligible teachers must attend a prep session, pass the TExES 154 exam, and add the certification to their license.
• 📎 Details and requirements are in the attached one-pager.

• From October 1 through December 12, 2025, teachers and staff can receive important seasonal and preventive vaccinations at various District locations.
• Flyer

NEW CATALOGUE

Coach Meeting Reminder:

• Elementary Debate Coaches Meeting — Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Action Items for Sponsors:

• 🎯 Student Waivers — All club members must return a signed waiver by the end of this week.

• 🎯 Rosters — Update Student Activities Rosters [here].

• 🎯 Sponsor Training — 100% of sponsors must complete the 2025 training. A passing score of 80%+ generates a certificate emailed to you. Please provide a copy to Ms. Valadez for recordkeeping in case of audit/campus review.

We have ~10 students ready to launch an E-Sports Club, but we’re still looking for a coach. The program includes two tournaments (Fall & Spring) and comes with a $2,000 stipend.

Interested? Email Ms. Timms at totimms@dallasisd.org.

2nd graders learn to code the Ozobot

• All Grades K-5 to collect 1 Data Point Weekly in All in Learning
• Quality PLCs using PLC Agendas Template
• Student Goal Setting Template Established by September 30
• Annotated TEKS
• 👉 If it’s only written on the board, it’s a compliance item.
• 👉 But if you launch your lesson with it, reference it throughout, and return to it at the end, it becomes a powerful instructional tool that drives clarity and learning.

📘 SMC Testing – October 6–8

• Oct 6 — Reading | Blueprint

• Oct 7 — Math | lueprint

• Oct 8 — Science | Blueprint

• SMCs will be administered in SchoolCity. The redesigned Student Portal now includes Launchpad, Tests, Scores, and Reports. Please visit the Assessment webpage and show the instructional video to students so they are familiar with the updates.

• 📌 SMC testing procedures will be shared this week.

Goal setting is not an event. It’s a system. When designed with students at the center, it develops agency, focus, and ownership of learning.”

• Explore types of Student Goal Setting Sheets

Look Fors in Goal Setting Sheets:

• Simple, student-friendly language

• Clear data labels (no acronyms/codes without explanation)

• Space for students to write their own goals

• Reflection prompts (e.g., “What helped me grow?” “What will I try next?”)

• Visuals to track growth (graphs, color coding, trackers)

• Space to record progress at multiple points

• Progress made visible over time

• Positive framing (growth-focused)

• Room for adult feedback/affirmation

• Preview the Text (Talk)
• Annotate (Read)
• Check Comprehension (Talk)
• Evaluate with Evidence (Write)
• Using RACE Method

1) read the problem for understanding,

2) draw a picture or model (e.g., a tape diagram), and

3) write an equation and statement of their answer.

Video: How to create and manage a student plan in Powerschool Unified Insights

Naming Convention:

Student Initials_Student ID #_ConcernArea_Tier

Ex: TT_123456_Engagement_Tier2 or IC_654321_LanguageSpeech_Tier2

Important:

• All plans must be manually shared with: Ms. Timms, AP Yetts, Principal Carter, and other collaborative teachers (if necessary).

• To ensure students receive designated supports on assessments, they must have a documented intervention plan in Unified Insights.

Resources:

• BOY MTSS Slide Deck

• SST Meeting Prep video

For questions, contact Ms. Timms.

Unit #2 (Oct. 6 – Nov. 14)

Pride, thank you for a strong week of planning! Unit #2 launches Monday, Oct. 6 and runs through Nov. 14. Please use the rest of this week to collaborate and finalize Units of Inquiry in Toddle.

Classroom Reminders:

• Every PreK–5 classroom should have a visible space for student wonderings (KWL chart, Padlet, whiteboard concept map, etc.).

• Always connect lines of inquiry back to the unit.

• Encourage students to add their own wonderings as new readers and thinkers.

This is a non-negotiable safety requirement and aligns with DISD policy:

• I must review all students leaving campus.

• I must identify any medications that need to be sent with the teacher.

• I need time to train the teacher on how to administer the medication.

⚠️ If a student has medication at school but does not receive it during the field trip, it is considered a medication error — which we must report together to the parent, doctor, and Central Health Services.

Day of Field Trip:

• Designated teacher(s) must stop by the clinic in the morning to pick up:

  • Student medications

  • First aid kit

  
  

First aids kits can now be used for minor injuries for all students. According to ability by age, encourage students to participate in self-care, such as going to the bathroom to wash minor wounds and apply a band aid.

• Each grade level must plan one field trip per semester.

• Fall Field Trip Form Deadline: October 24

• Forms must be submitted to Ms. Valadez at least 20 instructional days before the trip.

• The last day for field trips is May 3.

• PTA will sponsor two trips per grade level (one in fall, one in spring).

• More details on forms will be shared next week.

📌Campus Committees

• Campus Committees will meet tomorrow after school.
• Committees are expected to meet once per month to ensure ongoing collaboration and shared leadership across our campus. Thank you for your commitment to this important work!.

• Woodrow Grant Foundation (up to $60,000): Please submit ideas to Mr. Carter by October 25.
• LECPTA Grant: If you have proposals, please get with Mr. Carter by October 25 (this funded the 5th Grade camping trip last year).
• Maker Space: Nearly $20,000 remains for our new maker space (to be complete by December). If you’d like to join the design team, let Mr. Carter know.
• PTA Wishlist - Don’t forget—you can request up to $500 through the PTA using this form. Before submitting, please check with Mr. Carter to confirm the item isn’t already on campus.