J.R. Ingram Parent News

📢 Stay Connected This October!

We’re excited to share another edition of our school newsletter with you! Each month, it’s your go-to source for updates on upcoming events, special programs, and resources to help support your child’s success.

Inside, you’ll find event highlights, important announcements, and helpful links designed for every family. If you’d prefer a printed copy, feel free to stop by the front office.

We’d also love to hear from you! If there’s something you’d like featured in future newsletters, please share your ideas with us. Your input helps us make this resource even more meaningful for our families.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s journey at J.R. Ingram—together, we make a lasting impact! 🌟

Oct 2~National Custodian Day

Oct 6~SIT meeting, Parents are invited to attend

Oct 7~Health-a-Rama, K and 3rd only

Oct 9~Title 1 & Cultural Night

Oct 13- 16~ NCCI ~Reading Grades 3-5, Math Grades 3-5 & Science (Earth) 5th grade

Oct 13-16~1st and 2nd Grade District Common Assessments

Oct 15~Last Day of 1st Quarter

Oct 16~Required Teacher Workday~No School for Students

Oct 17~Optional Teacher workday~No School for Students

Oct 21~3rd Grade Field Trip

Oct 22~Report Card Day

Oct 23~HWY 55 Spirit Night

Oct 23-Oct 31~Red Ribbon Week

Oct 23~Hwy 55 Night

Oct 27-Nov 25~Classroom Spelling Bees Held

Oct 28~RTA Test -4th Graders

Oct 31~PTO 99 Pledges Boo Run (during specials)

🌍✈️ You’re invited to Title I & Cultural Night at J.R. Ingram! ✈️🌍

Take a trip around the world without leaving our school! Families will receive a passport and visit different countries represented by our students and staff. Along the way, you’ll learn about different regions, cultures, and traditions—and have a blast as you “travel” the world. 🌎✨

🎶 Be sure to arrive at 5:30 pm to enjoy a special performance from our 3rd graders.
🍴 End your evening back in the cafeteria, where our families will showcase their countries of origin.
📘 Mrs. Brewer will be in the Eagle’s Nest to share how Title I supports our school.

🎁 Students who complete their passports will receive a prize from the principal, and all families will be entered into a drawing for a special gift!

We can’t wait to see you there for a night of learning, culture, and fun! 💙🦅

🍎 What’s Cooking in the Cafeteria?

Our Child Nutrition team has some exciting events planned this fall! These activities highlight healthy eating, local produce, and the connection between food, agriculture, and our schools.

NC Crunch Month

• Every Friday and Monday in October students will “take a bite” out of a fresh, local apple. This statewide event celebrates NC-grown produce and healthy choices!

Farm to Table Days

• October 8 & October 29 – Local favorites will be featured, including sweet potatoes, collard greens, and berries.

National School Lunch Week: “Taste the World”

• October 13–15 – Our cafeteria will celebrate global flavors with Italian, Asian, and German-inspired meals. Classroom connections are encouraged!

Halloween Fun

• October 31 – A fun food and sweet treat will be served to celebrate the holiday.

NC Farmer Appreciation Day

• November 6 – We will honor and thank North Carolina farmers for their dedication and hard work.

  • Students’ favorite mini corn dogs return—did you know they’re made locally in Raeford?

  • The menu will feature foods grown right here in NC, including poultry, sweet potatoes, cabbage, and apples.

Breakfast for Lunch Series

• November 13 & 19 – Everyone’s favorite breakfast favorites… served at lunchtime!

Thanksgiving Lunch: Season of Harvest

• November 18 – A Farm-to-Table meal that celebrates the season and honors our NC farmers. The menu includes:

  • Fried Chicken

  • Corn Muffin

  • Whole Baked Sweet Potatoes

  • Kale Crunch Salad

  • Sweet NC Berry Cobbler

We love seeing parents and families join their children for lunch—it makes the school day extra special! A few reminders to help lunchtime go smoothly:

• Lunchtimes: Please remember to check your child’s grade-level lunch schedule so you can arrive on time.

Lunches

10:30-11:00 K

11:00-11:30 5th

11:35-12:05 1st 11:30-12:00 3rd

12:00-12:30 2nd

12:30-1:00 4th

• Bringing Food: If you choose to bring in outside food, it should be for your child only.

• Special Celebrations: If you would like to provide food for a group celebration, please make arrangements ahead of time with your child’s teacher.

• Purchasing a School Lunch: If you plan to buy a lunch while eating with your child, please bring smaller bills or exact change. Our cash drawer is limited, and this helps us serve everyone more efficiently.

Thank you for helping us make lunch a safe and enjoyable experience for all students. We look forward to seeing you in the cafeteria this month!

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students,

It is my wish for every child at J.R. Ingram Jr. Elementary school to have a

wonderful and exciting year in Physical Education class. To ensure your

child’s safety they need to wear sneakers / tennis shoes to Physical Education.

Elementary age children tend to fall more than older adolescents while doing

engaging activities not only in the gymnasium (during physical education) but

at recess as well. Please help your child be safe and send them in tennis shoes

IE. Sneaker.

It is hard to believe the first marking period of the school year 25/26 is right

around the corner. October is ready to take over where September leaves off

and before you know it kids will be celebrating the Halloween holiday by trick

or treating.

During the month of October, Kindergarten will be continuing to learn spatial

awareness along with basic movements (skip, gallop, hop, jump, slide). Also,

being introduced to exciting Tag games using pool noodles to tag softly and be

kind to everyone while building social skills. 1 st grade and 2 nd grade will be

building off of learned material from the previous year and learning to catch

and throw different equipment (ball, bean bag, scarf).

3 rd , 4 th and 5 th will be learning basic football skills catching and throwing for

the first part of October. The second part of October we will complete the

fitness test known as the Pacer Test in the gymnasium. The children love that

the test keeps going as long as they can continue to make it from one side of

the gymnasium to the other before the timer sounds off.

I am looking forward to a fun month full of exercise and happiness during

Physical Education!

I will be preparing what’s going on in the gym or Physical Education class

every month this school year. If you have and questions you can email me

at andreward@lee.k12.nc.us or call (919) 774 – 3772 Ext 4325. I’m looking

forward to an awesome school year!

📢 Volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop & Help J.R. Ingram! 🏫💙

We need your help to earn funds for our school! We must reach at least 150 hours to qualify for a share of the profits—funds that can go toward school improvements like our new playground! That's only 15 hours a month!! Get your friends, family, church family, neighbors, anyone can volunteer for our school!

📍 Location: 303 S Steele St, Sanford, NC 27330
📞 Phone: (919) 776-4142
🕘 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9 AM – 4 PM

✨ Who Can Volunteer?
✅ Parents, staff, family members, and friends – you can work in a student’s name!
✅ Students (ages 12-18) – must be accompanied by a parent (1 student per adult).
🚫 No students under 12 years old can volunteer.

💡 Volunteers may be asked to sweep, hang clothes, straighten racks, and more. Every task helps profits go back to Lee County Schools!

📅 Sign up today! Let’s work together to support our students and reach our goal. Contact the school or PTO for more details.

The Science of Reading - What it means and why phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies matter.

Reading is one of the most important skills that your child will ever learn. All kinds of opportunities open up when a child is a strong reader. But have you ever wondered how children learn to read? The answer to this very question can be found in the Science of Reading.

The Science of Reading (SOR) is not one trend or program. It comes from decades long research that pulls from the fields of psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and education. This research has given us the most effective ways to teach children to learn how to read and how their teachers can best support them.

The Building Blocks of Reading

For children to become better readers, there are several skills that need to work together.

1. Phonemic Awareness - Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and play with each individual sound in a spoken word. For example, noticing that mat and bat are only different because of the first sound in each word.

2. Phonics - Children need to be able to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. This will allow them to "decode" words that are unfamiliar.

3. Fluency - Great readers are able to read text smoothly and with accuracy and expression. When a student is a fluent reader, they are able to focus more on comprehension of the text rather than sounding out words.

4. Vocabulary - It is essential for students to know the meanings of words in a text so they are able to comprehend what they are reading. The more words a child knows, the easier it is for them to make sense of what they are reading.

5. Comprehension - When we read, our ultimate goal is to understand and be able to think critically about what we read.

Why Does It Matter?

Research has shown that most children learn naturally how to talk, but learning to read does not occur in the same way. Children need direct, systematic instruction in phonics along with opportunities to build their vocabulary and comprehension skills. When all of these pieces come together, children will gain the ability and confidence to read widely and deeply.

What Can You Do At Home?

Your role in your child’s reading journey is very important! Here are a few simple ways you can help support your child in becoming an amazing reader:

• Read daily: What sparks their interest? You can read books, magazines, newspapers or articles that are interesting to your child.

• Play with sounds: For younger children, sing rhyming songs, teach them how to clap out syllables, or play word games. A quick Google search will give you many word games you can play with your child!

• Talk and listen: Daily conversations build vocabulary and background knowledge.

• Encourage and practice: Allow your child to reread their favorite books. This will help them build fluency.

• Celebrate progress: No matter how small each step may seem in their reading journey, that growth is worth cheering for!

Final Thoughts…

The Science of Reading shows us that with the right support, reading is a skill that can be taught and all children can succeed. By working together, parents and teachers can help children develop strong reading foundations that will last a lifetime.

If you would like more information on the Science of Reading or how you can help at home, please reach out to me at amykeister@lee.k12.nc.us. Happy reading!

This month, we’re excited to share all the wonderful resources and events happening through the Lee County Libraries! Be sure to check out the attached flyer to see everything they have planned for families—from storytimes to special programs that encourage a love of reading and learning for all ages.

And… stay tuned! Next week we’ll have a big announcement about our upcoming Book Fair. 🎉 It’s always one of the highlights of the year, and we can’t make it happen without YOU! We’ll be looking for parent volunteers to help make the fair a success, so please keep an eye out for more details on how you can get involved.

Happy Reading!
– Mrs. Parker

Parent Handbook

Lee County Schools Parent Hub