The Leopard Letter
August 31 - September 4, 2026
Principal's Report
Lake Forest Families,
What a great time to be an LFE Leopard! It was wonderful seeing so many of our families join us for Bingo Night on Friday evening. I love seeing our school community come together, have fun, and make memories!
Hereβs to another great week of learning, growing, and celebrating our Leopards. Thank you for your continued support of Lake Forest and for all you do to make our school such a special place.
We are proud. We are family. We are THAT Lake Forest! πππ
Wishing you well,
Julie Cooke
Principal
Lake Forest Elementary School
Calendar of Events | Aug 31 - Sept 4, 2026
Monday, August 31, 2026
- Scouts of America Rally - 1st-5th Classroom Visits beginning at 8:15 am
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- Scouts of America Student/Parent Meeting, 6:00 pm
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- no student activities
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- Chorus, 2:15-3:30
Friday, September 4, 2026
- National College Colors Day - wear favorite team attire
- SIC Meeting, 8:30 am
- PTA Attractions Book Sale Ends
School Counselor Spotlight
Check out this Month's Newsletter from the school counseling team!
Take a moment to explore our School Counseling Newsletter for updates on upcoming events and to learn how weβre supporting students and families throughout the year.
π Conscious Discipline Corner: Positive Intent π
We continue to focus on Positive Intentβchoosing to see the best in others, even during challenging moments. When we assume positive intent, we can shift from blame and frustration to teaching, connection, and problem-solving.
This short video shows what Positive Intent can look like during real moments of conflict and offers a great reminder for both school and home. Take a few minutes to watch and consider how changing the way we view a childβs behavior can change the way we respond.
π₯ Watch the video to learn more about Positive Intent.
Together, we can help our children learn that mistakes and conflicts are opportunities to practice new skills and make better choices. ππ
Meet our Counseling Interns
Courtney Taylor
My name is Ms. Taylor, and I am so excited to be here at LFE working with you all! I've been in GCS for six years, teaching 6th grade science and social studies. When I'm not at school, I enjoy reading, crafting, baking, and spending time with my friends and family. I have a sweet dog named Mollie who loves to cuddle and take naps! I am so excited to learn and grow with everyone this semester! I received my BA in Elementary Education at USC Upstate and am now working on my MEd in School Counseling through the GCS/Clemson Cohort program.
Madison Martin
My name is Madison Martin. I was raised south of Atlanta and recently moved to Greenville three years ago with my husband, David. In 2023, I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. I will soon be graduating from Wake Forest University with my Master's in School Counseling! I am excited to work alongside with students and staff at Lake Forest Elementary.
Scouts of America Classroom Visits
Scouts of America will visit our 1stβ5th grade classrooms beginning at 8:15 a.m. to briefly share information with students about opportunities to participate in Scouts. These short classroom visits are part of their annual school rally and have taken place at LFE in years past.
Families who are interested in learning more are invited to attend a Scouts of America Parent Meeting on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lake Forest Elementary cafeteria.
Information will also be sent home with students following the classroom visits.
National College Colors Day
This Friday is National College Colors Day! Show off your school spirit by wearing your favorite college colors or gear to celebrate. Whether you cheer for the Tigers, Gamecocks, Bulldogs, or any other team, letβs have some fun representing our schools. Letβs fill the halls with color and spirit!
Picture Day - September 8
Picture day is Tuesday, September 8. This will be the picture used in our 26-27 yearbook.
REPOSTED: Important Walker Dismissal Reminder
Lake Forest Families, we need your help ensuring our walker dismissal procedures remain safe and run as intended.
Students dismissed as walkers should truly be walking home from school. Parents should not park in the lot near Aldersgate United Methodist Church and walk over to pick up their child as a βwalker.β Parking in this lot for afternoon dismissal is not permitted.
Beginning this week, Mrs. Cooke will be outside during walker dismissal to speak with families and help reinforce this procedure.
We understand that parking and walking over may seem like a convenient alternative to car line, but our dismissal procedures are designed to help us safely account for students and manage traffic and pedestrian flow. Our car line moves very quickly.
ππ Thank you for partnering with us to keep dismissal safe and orderly for all of our Leopards!
π Join the Lake Forest PTA!
We're inviting everyone to join the Lake Forest Elementary PTA for just $6!
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, family friends, students...and yes, if your dog or cat could sign up, we'd welcome them too! πΆπ±π
Our PTA does an incredible job supporting our students, teachers, and school community all year long by funding programs, providing resources, hosting family events, and celebrating our amazing staff. Your membership helps make all of that possible.
Our goal is simple: one PTA member for every Lake Forest student. Every membership counts and helps support child advocacy, scholarships, educational resources, and so much more. Joining takes just a few minutes! Simply create an account through MemberHub and pay the $6 membership fee.
Join HERE today and help us make this our best year yet!
Attractions Coupon Book Sales
Our Attractions Coupon Book fundraiser is coming up! These books offer over $7,000 in local savings at hundreds of restaurants and businesses, and are only $25 each. Flyers will be dropped in your mailboxes to should be sent home in student folders on Monday.
Fundraiser Dates: Monday, August 24 through Friday, September 4
Book Delivery: Books will be delivered to the school on Fridays only for students who have received orders.
Student Incentive: Students who sell 5 books receive 1 book FREE.
We appreciate your help encouraging students to share the fundraiser with family and friends!
Thank you for supporting Lake Forest Elementary PTA!
Reserve Pride Rock
Reserve the LFE Pride Rocks Today!
Our Spirit Rocks are available for reservation. Painting Pride Rock is a fantastic way to send a special message, show your school spirit, or wish someone a "Happy Birthday!" The cost to reserve is $10/day per rock. We have two rocks available:
- Front Carline Entrance
- Side Carline (K4-1st Grade) Entrance
Don't miss out β reserve your spot today and make your message stand out!
Connect with PTA
Join us on the Remind App:
- Download Remind app or go to remind.com
- Our class name is Lake Forest Elementary PTA
- Our class code is @8bb434
Join Our Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/583337569143345
Follow us on Instagram: @LFEPTA
Our Why: LFE Vision, Mission, and Priorities
Vision
The vision of Lake Forest Elementary School is to empower students to learn, grow, lead, and succeed.
Mission
The mission of Lake Forest Elementary School is to provide a nurturing, student-centered learning environment where students are empowered to learn about the world, persevere through challenges, and develop positive character traits.
2026-2027 School Priorities
- Providing strong tier 1 instruction
- Strengthening our PLCs
- Collective Ownership of ALL students
- Enhancing our understanding and application of Conscious Discipline
Lake Forest Elementary School
Email: jcooke@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/lforest/
Location: 16 Berkshire Avenue, Greenville, SC, USA
Phone: (864) 355-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeForestES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeforestelemsc