Liberty Grove News
September 13
Want to get involved at the DISTRICT LEVEL?
What is SHAC?
The TEA requires each school district’s board of trustees to have a district health
advisory council to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are
reflected in health education instruction TEC Chapter 28, Section 28.004. Our SHAC is
made up of parents, district staff, and community members appointed by the district to
provide advice on coordinated school health programming and its impact on student
health and learning. The 8 components of coordinated school health include health
education, a healthy and safe school environment, counseling and mental health
services, parent and community involvement, staff wellness, health services, physical
education, and nutrition services.
The GISD SHAC (Student Health Advisory Council) committee is always in need of
motivated parents to create a diverse, collaborative committee of parents, district
personnel, and community members. If you know a parent of a current GISD student(s)
that would like to serve on the SHAC committee, please complete or share the linked
application below.
💻 Questions? Contact Brian Trichell - HPE Coordinator (bltriche@garlandisd.net)
Principal's Corner- VERY IMPORTANT
Can you believe it is already the start of the 6th week of school! Our students are doing so well!
Here are some reminders:
- parent visitors are not allowed for the first 9 weeks of school. This provides an opportunity for students to learn expectations and acclimate without distractions. Thank you for your assistance with this.
- If you need to pick up your child early, afternoon pickup time ends at 2:50. Following that time, you will need to get into the pick up lanes for dismissal. This is to ensure all students get what they need for the end of the day and transition to their dismissal spots safely, etc.
- Make sure your child's teacher knows how they are getting home daily!
- Join class dojo to stay connected!
- Please see the Parent Handbook below! It will answer lots of questions!
A note about badges:
This year, students are required to have a badge on at school daily. We are really working on expectations and how students should treat them- they are not toys. Please reinforce this with them at home. Aside from bus students, we are keeping their tags here at school to avoid loss. Bus students must have their badges to board the bus. Please work with your students on keeping it in a safe place where they will remember it daily. After next week, we will have to begin charging for badge replacements- as our budget does not allow for supplies. We are trying to do everything we can to avoid loss/destruction of them. Badges are used for bus riding, lunch service and overall safety purposes so it is important that all students have them. Thank you for working with us on this.
Lauren Jeffries
Marshall's Memo
Attendance at school is mandatory and required by state law.
TARDIES
Students arriving from 8:16 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. are marked tardy.
Students arriving between 8:20 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. are marked as having a partial absence.
All students arriving at 8:16 a.m. or later will need to get a note from the office before going to class.
A significant late arrival could result in a partial-day absence or an absence. Repeated tardiness could result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Garland ISD Student Code of Conduct and Handbooks.
ABSENCES
Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his/her education to benefit from teacher-led lessons and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s lessons, and to grow as an individual.
Lack of consistent attendance can result in a student’s serious disruption of mastery of instructional information. Unnecessary absences should be avoided. In addition, under state policy, it may increase a parent's truancy court burdens.
Absences need to be reported. Upon return to school, the parent should send a note to the school office to Ms. Elvira. Notes can also be emailed to her at EMartine@garlandisd.net
■ List the child’s first and last name and the GISD ID #.
■ Dates and reason for absence.
■ Sign and date by the parent.
■ Turn in within 3 days upon return to school.
■ Parents may write up to 6 notes per semester before a doctor’s note may be required.
If absent more than 3 consecutive days, a doctor’s note may be required.
Any attendance questions should be directed to Ms. Elvira in the office.
LOSS OF CREDIT - 90% Attendance Rule
Students must attend at least 90% of the days enrolled in a course to receive credit
Applies to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12
All absences count toward the calculation, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused
Students may receive credit through a Principal's Plan and/or Campus Attendance Committee Review
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CHOMP GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS & Gators of the Week!
Please see our CHOMP Guidelines for Success can be found below. We encourage students to demonstrate these character traits throughout the year in order to be a successful student at Liberty Grove. We highlight these character traits throughout the year and recognize students as Gators of the Week if they have done an excellent job embodying these character traits. Students recognized as Gators of the Week have their names called on the morning announcements and come to the front office to receive a small prize and have their picture taken. These pictures will be shared in our Gator News parent newsletter.
Next week, we will begin recognizing our amazing students who go above and beyond to show they are Caring. Please encourage your child to show that they are Caring so they have the opportunity to be chosen as Gator of the Week!
C - Caring
H - Helpful
O - Organized
M - Mindful
P - Problem Solver
Counselor Corner
“Please check out my Virtual Office for information, resources, a virtual calming room, referral links, and even a fun back to school read aloud. There is also a link for my Counseling Needs Assessment to help me plan lessons with your students. If you are in need of any food assistance or community resources for your family, please let me know or click the links.
Upcoming Weeks:
College Week September 14th – 18th: During college week students learn about different colleges and options for after graduation. College Night will be at the CCC 9/15 from 6:00 – 8:00 if you would like to learn more!
If you ever have any Counseling questions or need help with counseling resources for your student or family, please reach out to me at bsmccay@garlandisd.net. Thank you and let's make it a great week!”
Nurse Notes
- please make sure you provide Nurse Lauren with immunization records and any daily medications!
Parent Visitors for LUNCH~
Lunches with students will begin following fall break to ensure time for students to adjust to expectations and protocols. 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.
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 2:50 and 3:50 daily. This is to ensure that students are accounted for at dismissal and where they need to be safely!
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!
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.
Lauren Jeffries, M. Ed
Liberty Grove Elementary
Email: ljeffries@garlandisd.net
Phone: 972-487-4416
Website: https://www.garlandisdschools.net/libertygrove
Twitter: @LGES_Gators
Facebook: Liberty Grove Elementary School
Dojo: www.classdojo.com
Alicia Marshall
Assistant Principal- Discipline, behavior, safety, attendance , PBIS
Liberty Grove Elementary
Email: acmarsha@garlandisd.net