Houston Chronicles Vol 7

Dear Houston Elementary Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to thank you all for a wonderful second week of school. Your support and partnership have been invaluable as we continue to build a strong foundation for a successful year.

A few important reminders as we move forward:

1. School Doors Open at 7:40 AM
   Please remember that our school doors open at 7:40 AM. For the safety of all our students, no child should be left unattended before this time. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your child arrives at school at the appropriate time.

2. School Uniforms
   We kindly remind all parents to ensure their children are in full school uniform every day. Uniforms help create a sense of unity and pride within our school community.

3. Clear and Mesh Backpack Policy
   There is a strict policy requiring all students to use clear or mesh backpacks. Unfortunately, we have noticed several students not adhering to this rule. Beginning next week, we will start contacting parents directly if a student is not in compliance. Please help us maintain a safe environment by following this important guideline.

4. Car Tags for Student Pick-Up
   To ensure a smooth and safe pick-up process, all parents must have a car tag to pick up their students. If you arrive after 4:10 PM, you will be required to come into the building to sign out your child. This policy is in place to protect all our students, and we thank you for your understanding.

5. Attendance Goal of 98%
   Our goal this year is to achieve 98% attendance. While we’ve made a good start, we are not quite there yet. Attendance is critical to your child’s success, so please make sure they attend school every day unless they are ill. Together, we can reach our goal and ensure every student has the opportunity to learn and grow.

Thank you again for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to a successful and productive school year with your child.

Warm regards,
Dr. Okafor
Principal, Houston Elementary

Grandparents Fun Day - September 6th

We are excited to invite all grandparents to join us for Grandparents Fun Day on September 6th from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Houston Elementary. Grandparents can enjoy a delightful morning with their grandchildren, sharing muffins and juice together. Please note that YOU MUST register using the QR code or link to attend. If you do not register you will be turned away. We hope to see you there!

Health Screening at Houston Elementary - November 6, 2024

Please be informed that Houston Elementary will conduct its annual Health Screening on November 6, 2024. This is an important day to ensure our students are healthy and ready to learn. This screening will be for specific grades, and more information from the nurse will be coming soon. Stay tuned for further details as the date approaches.

We met with our students today regarding our theme of Honor at ALL times, Exceed in ALL things and Serve ALL people! Please talk to your child about what this looks like in the Restroom, Hallways, Cafeteria and Hallway. We will select one student in each class that exemplifies this based on Dojo points and they will get a PIZZA PARTY!!

Our school day ends at 4:00 p.m. Parents, Van drivers, etc. will remain in cars during drop off and pick up. Early pickups will not be allowed Students will be identified by a unique pin number (Ex: Student ID) to pick up, etc. Parents will not be allowed to “walk-up” to the building to pick-up students. All walkers will be escorted by a member of the HES team to the cross walk to be dismissed. All other pick ups must be by car so please ensure that you pick up students promptly at dismissal time! Be sure you have your HES-issued hangtag for a safe and smooth process. After 4:30, late pickups will be in the office and parents must sign their child out.

Students will not be released to individuals who are not on your documented contact list. For your child’s safety, pick-up tag will be required to pick up your child on the first day of school. Parents will be required to wait after dismissal is over if you do not have the Pick-Up tag.

See example below:

All student meals will be eaten in the the cafeteria. Students must scan their student ID when going through the lunch line. Students receive free breakfast and lunch in Lancaster ISD. Visitors will not be allowed to eat in the cafeteria or classrooms with students. Outside food or beverage in a lunch bag will be allowed. Dropping off food from a restaurant, fast food, etc. is strictly prohibited.

This summer, our district met to review our safety and security protocols and emergency management procedures thoroughly. As a result of these meetings, several safety and security enhancements will take place this school year. One safety enhancement will require all Lancaster ISD students to carry a clear or mesh backpack. This decision is a preventive safety and security measure, and all students who attend Lancaster ISD must adhere to this requirement.

Backpacks must be clear or mesh, and students may carry a non-clear pouch no larger than 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches to hold personal items, such as cellphones, money, and hygiene products. Below is a list of retailers where the backpacks can be ordered.

Safety, Security and Dress Code Updates.

The safety and security of our students and staff have always been our top priority in Lancaster ISD, and we continuously strive to implement measures that enhance their well-being. After conducting a thorough review of safety measures and carefully considering the feedback from our board of trustees, district leadership team, campus principals, and the district's safety and security committee, we have updated our dress code policy to enhance our safety and security efforts throughout the district. These updates will be implemented during the upcoming school year.

The dress code updates include eliminating the option for students to wear hoodies and any outerwear with hoods inside any district campus or building, continuing required student uniforms and clear or mesh backpacks, and expanding the district-wide student ID badge requirement.

This change in dress code to eliminate hoodies aims to remove barriers that hinder the quick and accurate identification of students' faces. Hoodies, hooded sweatshirts, and other outerwear with hoods can obscure a student's face, making it challenging for staff to identify them properly. Removing the option for hoodies and similar outerwear to be worn inside of schools will ensure a clearer line of sight, enhance our ability to identify students promptly, especially during emergencies, and will contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students and staff within our campuses.

In addition to the dress code update, we will be implementing a district-wide student ID badge requirement for grades K-12. Student ID badges will facilitate student identification and ensure that only authorized individuals have access to our school facilities. Each campus will provide additional information regarding the ID badge distribution process. Furthermore, we will continue enforcing our clear or mesh backpack and school uniform requirements.

We understand that hoodies and outerwear with hoods are popular among our students. We want to clarify that this decision is not an attack on this specific clothing item. Instead, this dress code enhancement is a district-wide initiative aimed at proactively preventing any obstacles that may hinder our ability to identify students during campus emergencies. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. By working together, we can continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students.

Please review the following information so that you are aware of the most recent updates to the student dress code for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

• All Lancaster ISD students have a district-wide uniform requirement

• All Lancaster ISD students must carry a clear or mesh backpack

• Student ID badges will be required for students K-12

• Hoodies or outerwear with hoods are no longer considered acceptable clothing items within Lancaster ISD and may not be worn inside any district campus or building. Articles of clothing falling within the unacceptable list include the following but are not limited to:

• Hooded sweatshirts with or without a zipper (hoodies)

• Hooded jackets

• Hooded sweaters

• Hooded coats

• Hooded windbreakers

• Hooded parkas

• Hooded raincoats

• Hooded fleeces

• Hooded vests

Please note that any outerwear or clothing item with an attached hood will be considered unacceptable according to the updated policy.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school administration via our Let's Talk app under the dress code topic. We value your partnership and thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring campus safety.

In accordance with the Texas Education Code, Section 22.083, Lancaster ISD may obtain criminal history record information on an individual who has indicated, in writing, an intention to serve as a volunteer. Completion of the online volunteer registration will serve as a written intent to serve as a volunteer at a designated Lancaster ISD campus and a release to conduct a criminal background information check. Criminal information obtained is confidential and used only for the purpose of ensuring student safety.

The Lancaster Independent School District attendance policy will be followed for all students. Students are expected to attend class AND complete assigned tasks to demonstrate engagement in learning and mastery of concepts. Student attendance is MANDATORY as absences may result in denial of credit. Attendance will be taken daily in the TEAMS student data management system. Please review the district attendance policy outlined in the LISD Student Handbook by clicking here.

Order your School Spirit Shirt using the link and QR Code below!

We’d love to hear from you about Houston Elementary! Let us know what you think is working well and if there are areas where we could improve.

We’re also excited to start a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and would love for you to join us! The PTO helps with communication between home and school, organizes events, and supports our school activities. If you’re interested or want to know more, just let us know.

Your input and participation are really important to us. Let’s work together to make our school even better!

Please be aware, if your student is in need of immunizations they will not be able to attend school for the 2024-2025 school year. Please reach out to loricullum@lancasterisd.org if you have any questions. See your primary care physician or you can contact Dallas County Health & Human Services to make an appointment.