Lynx News

March has arrived, and with it comes an exciting stretch of learning, preparation, and school community events. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students grow academically and socially each day.

This spring, our students will participate in the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). Testing will take place in April 13- May 1, and we are working hard throughout March to ensure students feel confident and ready.

Student attendance is essential during testing. Please help your child be at school each day, rested, and ready to do their best. We appreciate your support in making daily attendance a priority.

• 2nd Grade: March 17 9:15AM
• 3rd Grade: March 17 10:00AM

We look forward to meeting with families to share student progress and goals.

Conference Dates:

• March 24: 4:00–8:00 PM

• March 26: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

📌 No classes on Friday, March 27th.

The link will be sent out for sign ups on March 5th at 7pm

Your involvement makes a difference—thank you for taking the time to connect with us!

Join us for a fun and cozy evening!

• March 12 in the gym

• Bring a blanket and enjoy a free movie

• All families are welcome

We hope to see you there for a relaxing night together!

March 20 marks the official end of the third quarter. Report information will be shared during conferences. It is a great time to celebrate student progress and set goals for the final quarter of the year.

We are excited to welcome our newest Loess Hills students!

• Kindergarten Registration: May 4–5

• Please call 279-6843 to schedule an appointment for your incoming kindergartener.

• Current kindergarteners will not have class on these days to allow for registration activities.

Please share this information with neighbors or friends who may have incoming kindergarten students!

At Loess Hills, computer programming is at the heart of what we do.
Our Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms use:

• Kodable to learn foundational programming concepts

• Bee-Bots for hands-on sequencing and problem-solving

• Osmos to support interactive coding experiences

We are proud of our students’ growing skills and the creativity they show through coding.

Thank you for your continued support of Loess Hills and for partnering with us in your child’s education. March is a full and exciting month—we look forward to learning, connecting, and celebrating together.

Hello Loess Hills Parents and Guardians, As we approach the busy month of March and the upcoming spring break, we want to remind you that regular, on-time attendance is essential for your child's academic success. We know illnesses occur, but regular attendance is critical for keeping up with daily assignments. We kindly ask that you plan your travel within the official school holiday dates or academic school days off. If there are any barriers to attendance, such as transportation or health concerns, please reach out so we can provide the support needed.

Thank you for your continued support in helping your child succeed.

Sincerely, Pablo - Loess Hills Attendance Specialist

Loess Hills Elementary

🎯 Mission
Loess Hills Elementary Computer Programming School incorporates computer programming to support students’ belief in their capabilities, achievement in academics, and success in preparing for college and career.

🌟 Vision
Collectively as a staff, we will create a safe environment, building strong and positive relationships among students, staff, and community to positively impact students.

Respect, Integrity, Growth, Belonging - Together We Thrive

During the month of March, our Character Strong focus is on Cooperation. One way to look at cooperation is “working together to reach shared goals”. As a family, talk about how this definition applies to how you work together at home. What are some goals you share?

Character Strong has Family Character Dare activities that offer families the opportunity to engage in challenges designed to increase connection and conversation at home. These also help provide students with more opportunities to practice habits discussed in class.

Here is your Family Character Dare this month:

What does Cooperation mean in your own words?

What is 1 way we can practice Cooperation as a family?

#1 This week, plan a time when everyone needs to work together to accomplish a shared goal like cleaning up the space you live in or making a meal together. Make sure everyone has a role to play with specific tasks. When the project is complete, discuss and celebrate how each person’s part was important to the end result.

#2 Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice Cooperation. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own! Remember to practice Cooperation as you take turns and listen to each other.

Celebration Prompts:

· What family member(s) do you want to celebrate for their Cooperation this month?

· What is 1 way you were a leader this month? What is 1 way you were a helpful follower this month?

Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of help. My email is: wanderw@live.siouxcityschools.com, or you can message me on TalkingPoints.

Thank you for everything you do for your children!

Miss Wanderscheid (Miss W)

Loess Hills Elementary PTO meets the second Monday of every month at 4:00 in the library. We truly need parent support and participation. These meetings help guide how we celebrate our staff and students and plan events that create meaningful experiences for all of our kids. PTO is for everyone, and you are welcome to join, even if you just want to listen. Upcoming meeting dates: March 9, April 13, and May 11.

Family Movie Night is Thursday, March 12 right here at Loess Hills Elementary School in the gymnasium. The movie begins at 5:30, and admission is free. Families are invited to bring a blanket and sit together on the gym floor. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children during the event. Concessions will be available for purchase, and concession sales are the PTO fundraiser that helps support school events like this throughout the year.

PTO schedule (25/26): Mar 9 • Apr 13 • May 11 • Jun 8

Questions or want more information?

Call 712-223-1428 or email LoessHillsElementaryPTO@gmail.com

March 5: Conference link will be sent out at 7pm

March 17: 2nd Grade Music Program (9:15AM)

March 17: 3rd Grade Music Program (10:00AM)

March 20: End 3rd Qtr.

March 27: Exchange Day (NO SCHOOL)

Spring Conferences- No School Days

Parent/teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 26.There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Friday, March 27. Thank you for partnering up with us in your child's education.

With the cooler temperatures upon us, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder winter. Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual, so it is important that students have the right winter weather clothing. When the temperature feels like 15 degrees or lower, students are kept inside for recess and activities. Students should be prepared for the cooler weather with a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. If your student does not have access to cold-weather apparel, please contact our school office.

We would love to collect your Hy-Vee receipts from the Sioux City or South Sioux City Hy-Vee stores. For every $100 dollars collected the school will receive $1 dollar!

Eligible receipts for groceries, prescriptions, floral, photoshop, and catering are accepted.

(No fuel, gas, postal, money order, Western Union, lottery, Quest, Mid American, bottle refunds or gift card receipts will be accepted.)

Download the app, enter rewards number when visiting Casey's. Cash out rewards to Loess Hills.

Click the Translate Newsletter button to the right of this page to view this newsletter in over 100 languages.

Haga clic en el botón Translate Newsletter para ver una traducción automática de esta carta de noticias en más de 100 idiomas.

Loess Hills is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program which allows our school to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to our students. Loess Hills students will not be charged for breakfast or lunch during the upcoming school year.

A complete list of CEP schools in our district can be found on our website. If you have a student attending another school that is not a CEP school, we encourage you to complete the 2025-2026 online application for free and reduced meals. This will help ensure other students in your family receive the meals they need during the upcoming school year.

For questions or assistance with school meals, please contact the District’s Food Service Department at 712-279-6860 or 712-279-6862.

The District is committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The District’s Anti-Bullying, Harassment, and Hazing policy defines bullying and harassment as well as the procedures for reporting and investigating bullying or harassment complaints.

If your student feels they are being bullied or harassed, encourage your student to visit with the student involved and tell them to stop. They should also tell a teacher, principal, or trusted adult at their school. An online discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hazing complaint form is also available on the District’s website and may be completed by the student, parent, or school employee.

Volunteers are needed to join the District’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee. As a volunteer, you will receive email updates about important legislative events that could impact public education and be asked to contact local and state leaders to advocate for our schools. Volunteer today and let your voice be heard! Contact Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com

to volunteer.