Lynx News
Loess Hills Computer Programming Elementary School

December 2025
A message from Our Principal
Dear Loess Hills Families,
It’s hard to believe we are already entering December! This month is always filled with excitement, meaningful learning, and celebrations of growth. Below you’ll find important dates, school updates, and a few reminders as we wrap up 2025.
Important Dates
December
· Dec. 8-12: Hour of Code (AI) Week Students will participate in special coding and AI activities and projects to celebrate Computer Science Education Week.
· Dec. 22 – Jan. 4: Winter Break — No School, School resumes Monday, January 5.
January
· Jan. 15: End of Second Quarter / First Semester Please remind students to complete missing work and finish strong.
· Jan. 16: No School — Teacher Work Day
School & Learning Updates
Coding at Loess Hills
This month students will explore coding challenges, robotics tasks, and creative problem-solving activities. Ask your child what they are building or programming—these conversations help reinforce learning!
Attendance Matters
As winter begins, consistent attendance remains important. Every school day builds academic skills, routines, and confidence. If your child is ill, please continue to notify the office.
Winter Weather Reminders
· Please send students with coats, hats, and gloves each day.
· Outdoor recess will continue unless temperatures or wind chill is 15 degrees or below.
· In the event of a weather delay or closure, messages will be sent through district communication channels.
· Students should NOT arrive on campus until 8:00.
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is overflowing! If your child is missing a jacket, sweatshirt, or lunchbox, please stop by before winter break to check the collection.
Looking Ahead
January will bring a fresh start, new units of study, and continued focus on coding, literacy, and problem-solving. We are proud of the hard work students have shown so far this year and look forward to a strong second semester!
We appreciate your partnership and wish all of our families a warm, safe, and restful winter break.
Our Mission and Vision Statement
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
Counselor Corner
Loess Hills will be focusing on the character trait of Empathy in the month of December! One way to think about Empathy is "understanding and connecting with other people's feelings." Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships.
Empathy is 1 of 3 traits that students will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind.
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Empathy. Here are two ideas that you can complete together!
#1 Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you'd like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss Empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to Empathize by sharing about a time they felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.
#2 Review the definition of Empathy as a family. Remember that Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people's feelings.
Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice Empathy. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own! Remember to practice Empathy as you listen to each other.
- What is 1 way a family member has shown you Empathy lately?
- Share about a time when you felt like someone really listened to you.
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)
Message from PTO
We need you at PTO!
Mark your calendar: our next PTO meeting will be Monday, December 8 at 4:00 pm in the Loess Hills library. Parent voices guide how we support classrooms, plan student activities, and use PTO funds. Even if you have never attended before, please consider coming. Your presence matters, and we cannot do this work without you.
PTO schedule (25/26): Dec 8 • Jan 12 • Feb 9 • Mar 9 • Apr 13 • May 11 • Jun 8
Mark Your Calendars
Winter break is quickly approaching! School will have a normal two-hour dismissal on Friday, December 19.
December 22 -31: Winter Holiday Break NO SCHOOL
January 1-2: Winter Holiday Break NO SCHOOL
January 5: SCHOOL RESUMES
January 15 End 2nd Quarter/ End 1st Semester
January 16: NO SCHOOL Teacher workday.
Winter Weather Decisions
As a parent or guardian, you have the right to decide to keep your child home on any day you feel it is unsafe for your student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you, as a parent or guardian, will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.
Dressing for Cooler Weather
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.
Is Your Contact Information Up to Date?
The District sends out important information regarding school closings and cancellations and other updates to our families via phone, email, and text. Additionally, our school will contact you in case of an emergency or student health concern. Make sure your contact information is updated in our system and that your phone accepts the school’s phone calls. Doing this will ensure you receive school communication promptly and we can reach you in case of an emergency. To make updates to your contact information, please contact our office.
Hy-Vee Receipts - Cash For Students Program
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.)
Casey's Rewards for Loess Hills
Newsletter: Now Available in 100+ Languages
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.
Important Reminders for School Meals
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.
Have a Safety Concern?
Safe + Sound Iowa offers students and families a convenient way to anonymously report safety concerns related to our school. Trained dispatchers will share the information with appropriate school administrators and/or law enforcement so help can be given to those in crisis or at risk.
Bullying and Harassment Free District
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.
Be An Advocate for Our Schools
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.