Liberty Grove News

Translation/Traduccion

At the top right of this page you can choose to see this newsletter in your preferred language.

En la parte superior a la derecha de esta página, puede elegir ver este boletin en su idoima preferido.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please fill out the following survey to let us know how we are doing!

English: https://garlandisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnZzIPLBMvRXqFE

Spanish: https://garlandisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bj9lNJugv89FLIG

Vietnamese: https://garlandisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2uCweewAbhnNSC2

April Family and Community Connection

**NEW** Family and Community Engagement Letter

Parent Lunch Pre-Registration form

Principal's Corner- VERY IMPORTANT

Parents-

We are having an uptick in behavior over the past few weeks. While I realize that it is Spring and testing season, please talk with your children about the importance of being kind to one another, and respectful to others. One big area of concern is students responding with threatening language or comments of self harm, etc.

Please make sure you are having discussions with your children about comments they say when they are upset, mad, etc. and proper ways to manage those feelings. Threats of harm to themselves or others is very serious and requires very serious conversations and follow up. Students must understand the seriousness of these remarks/comments.

IN ADDITION- THIS IS A REMINDER THAT STUDENTS GOING ON FIELD TRIPS MUST RETURN BACK TO THE SCHOOL TO BE PICKED UP. THIS IS DUE TO SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL STUDENTS.

Thank you so much for your assistance with this!

Lauren Jeffries

ljeffries@garlandisd.net

Parent Visitors for LUNCH~

If you are planning to eat with your child, please complete this pre-registration form in order to expedite your time in the office. In addition, please remember you must have a photo ID. Please remember the following guidelines:

- student may only have a visitor once a week

- the visitor must be on the child's emergency contact list

- ONLY the visitor and the child may sit together at lunch at the designated tables. The ONLY exception is if there are siblings in the same grade.

- visitors are NOT to address any other students while attending lunch

- food that is brought to the cafeteria can only be for the visitor and the student they are eating with.

These guidelines are subject to change at any time.

Arrival and Dismissal

** students in PK-1 will not be permitted to be walkers without an older (2nd-5th) sibling- this is a safety concern and we want to keep all students safe.

Most of arrival and dismissal will be the same as last year but we do know that the beginning of the year can always be a little slow. Please be patient while everyone learns the routines and procedures. We understand that this may cause some delays/frustrations. For the sake of building safety and security, we feel that this is imperative at this time. Know that it is about keeping your (and our) babies safe and home to you everyday!

Also- please be advised that dismissal changes need to be made by 2 pm daily and should be communicated to the front office and the homeroom teacher.

NO students will be dismissed from the office between 3 and 3:50 daily. This is to ensure that students are accounted for at dismissal and where they need to be safely!

Front porch drop off is for blue car tags, bus, and daycare only.
Car riders – Form 1 lane as you drive around the back of the school to the cafeteria side of the building.
Pull all the way up to the end of the awning. Please do not exit your vehicle. Staff and safety patrol students will assist your children.
Stay in the inside lane. Do not drive around other cars.
Form 2 lanes to exit after drop off.
Car drop off lane closes at 8:10 a.m.
After 8:10 a.m. pull around to the front of the building. Park and walk up to sign in for a tardy slip in the front office.

Follow the lane color that matches your car tag color (orange, green, or blue).
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade Car Riders without a Pre-K/Kindergarten sibling will be picked up in the green outer lane away from the curb.
Pre-K/Kindergarten Car Riders and their siblings will be picked up in the inner orange lane closest to the curb.
Car Riders – Pull all the way up to the end of the awning on the cafeteria side of the building. Stay in your car. Staff and safety patrol will assist your children.
Front Porch Walkers/Bike Riders (2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders only) – Walk out through the front doors of the school and walk along the Liberty Grove Road toward Waterview. Students walk home independently without staff supervision.
Side Walkers (2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders only) – Walk out through the cafeteria doors into the cul-de-sac next to the school. Parents meet their child in the cul-de-sac or students walk home independently without staff supervision.

Disconnect to Reconnect

Disconnect to Reconnect Information from GISD

The expectations at Liberty Grove will remain the same as they were last year- devices stored away. Please speak with your children about this expectation and remind them that it is the law. We appreciate your support. Please reach out with any questions.
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We are honored that you have chosen Garland
ISD and look forward to partnering with you to ensure a successful year for your child.
We would like to inform you about a new state law, House Bill 1481, and its
implementation across our district. Enacted during the 89th Texas Legislative Session,
this law prohibits students from using personal digital communication devices, including
cell phones, smartwatches, and personal tablets, during the school day.
Garland ISD already had a strong policy prohibiting cell phone use during class;
however, this new law goes further by prohibiting all personal device use for the entire
school day, not just during instructional time. This means students will no longer be able
to use devices during passing periods, lunch, or other non-instructional times while on
campus.
The intent behind this legislation is to promote student well-being and create a more
focused learning environment. Research cited by lawmakers shows that excessive
device use can contribute to shorter attention spans, higher anxiety, and decreased
social interaction. By reducing distractions, we can help students stay engaged in
learning, connect more with their peers, and benefit from improved academic and social
outcomes.
What counts as a personal communication device?
■ Cell phones (smartphones, flip phones)
■ Laptops, Tablets, iPads, Smartwatches, Smartglasses
■ Earbuds, headphones, radios, or any device capable of calling, texting,
recording, or accessing the internet

More information can be found by clicking the link below or on the GISD website.

Disconnect to Reconnect District Communication

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is essential. It is the one-stop-shop to stay current with what is going on in your child's classroom and at Liberty Grove! Please be on the lookout for the invite from your child's teacher. Thanks for all that you do!

Birthday Celebrations

This year, student birthday celebrations will be done between 2:30 and 3:30- at the end of the day. Students are allowed to bring a cupcake (or similar treat) and a goodie bag (or the like) for each class member. Students may bring these in the morning or parents may drop them off at the front office. Drinks, Pizza and other items will not be allowed. Doing this makes it very difficult for the teacher to manage at the end of the school day. Thank you for your understanding.

In addition- this will be done with classroom members only. Parents will not be part of the celebration.

Counselor Corner

“Please check out my Counselor Update for my mission, vision, and goals for the year as well as my Virtual Office for information, resources, a virtual calming room, referral links, and even a fun read aloud. If you are in need of any food assistance or community resources for your family, please let me know or click the links.

Important Information:

Career Day is coming Tuesday May 12th! If you would like to volunteer to be a speaker or if you know someone with a career that would like to be a speaker, please email me to let me know or fill out the flier(English/Spanish) and return it to me ASAP.

Please reach out to me at bsmccay@garlandisd.net if you ever have any Counseling questions or need help getting to resources for your student or family. Thank you and I look forward to a great year!”

Dress Code

** Please be aware that ripped jeans, short shorts, revealing crop tops and open toed shoes (flip flops) will not be allowed.

**Crocs will be permitted but we request that they are not worn on PE days

The GISD Student Dress Code is intended to: (1) teach students grooming and hygiene; (2) create and maintain a respectful and positive learning environment; (3) prevent the disruption, interference with, or detraction from the educational environment and school activities; and (4) minimize health and safety hazards.

Note: This dress code provides guidance regarding common situations but cannot cover

every style of dress and specific situations that may arise. The District reserves the right to

prohibit any clothing or grooming style that the administration determines to be reasonably expected to pose a health or safety hazard or to cause disruption of, distraction from, or interference with general school operations. In addition, certain classes, courses or extracurricular programs may have additional requirements or guidelines for students participating in those programs.

Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following:

Garments must allow for participation in all regular school activities while maintaining dignity and modesty.
Apparel that advertises or depicts alcohol, drugs, nudity, tobacco products, any other substance prohibited under FNCF (Legal), violent or criminal themes, gang membership, obscene language and/or obscene graphics, will not be permitted. Any disruptive or distractive mode of clothing or appearance that adversely impacts the educational process is not acceptable. Extremes in modes of dress, such as see through clothing, exposed midriffs, or clothing normally considered as undergarments are not acceptable.
All articles of clothing must be worn as they are designed to be worn.
Undergarments should not be visible.
Shorts of modest length, loose fitting, and hemmed may be worn by students.
Dresses and skirts should be of modest length and fit.
Extremely sloppy, badly torn, or inappropriately torn/slit/ripped clothing is prohibited.
Shoes must be worn. Taps, metal plates, cleats, or wheels on shoes will not be permitted.
Students may not wear house shoes, pajamas tops or bottoms, boxers, or other sleepwear as outerwear.
Hair, including facial hair, must be clean, groomed, and by the nature of the style does not intend to create a distraction.
Hair color that is disruptive or distracting to the school environment is prohibited. Hair must either be a natural color or naturally tinted or colored in a blended and balanced manner.
Hair must be kept out of the eyes and must not be a distraction.
Students may not wear hair curlers, rollers, hair picks, combs, or brushes in their hair.
Hats, caps, bandanas, sweat bands, hoods, visors, or other nonreligious head coverings should not be worn in the school building.
Earrings are limited to the ears for all students. Earrings include clip earrings, pierced earrings or studs, or any item used as a post in a pierced ear.
Facial and body piercing of any kind is prohibited.
Jewelry that causes a distraction or that could be dangerous to the student or other individuals are prohibited (i.e. spiked/studded jewelry, chokers, dog collars, necklaces made out of safety pins or chain links, etc.)
All inappropriate or distractive tattoos must be covered at all times while in the school building or at school-related activities, or school-sponsored events. Non-distractive tattoos may also be required to be covered (campus administrator discretion).
Sponsors of extracurricular activities may set individual dress and appearance standards with the approval of campus administration.
Students must have their student ID visible at all times.

If the campus administration determines that a student’s grooming or clothing violates the school’s dress code, the student will be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school or allow a parent or designee to bring an acceptable change of clothing to the school. Repeated offenses may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.