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A Message from Kevin Parker
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Good afternoon,
Next Friday, Feb. 2, is an early release for the students and we will be dismissing at noon. Early release days are essential to the work we do with your kids. During the afternoon, we work together as a staff to further fine tune our instructional practices and better our understanding of campus focuses. Over the last couple of years, our main focus at Puster has been to establish daily learning targets so students understand exactly what is expected of them in all content areas each day. Furthermore, we want to establish success criteria that lead students to be able to meet those learning targets. You send us highly motivated kids. We know that if students are aware of what the target is we would like for them to reach each day, they are more likely to hit the bullseye.
Don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to order your 2017-2018 yearbook at the $25 price point. After tomorrow, the price will increase to $35. The link to order is below under the PTA section. Have a great weekend.
Please let me know if I can do anything for you. You can always reach me on my cell phone at 469-667-2280.
Follow Mr. Parker on Twitter @peskevinparker and follow what's happening on our campus @pusterlearners.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 AT NOON
January 25 - Watch Me Sculpt
January 25 - PTA Meeting and 3
rd Grade Program
January 26 - 4th Grade Bump UP Day at SCIS
January 31 - Starbooks Café
January 31 - Positive Proof ID Program
February 2 - Early Release at 12:00
February 2 - Reading with the Leopards
February 9 - Daddy/Daughter Dance
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
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Give to the Foundation via AmazonSmile
If you plan on purchasing items from Amazon.com, please consider visiting Amazon Smile. Amazon established AmazonSmile to give back 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to charitable organizations. When you are ready to shop, log in to your Amazon account by visiting the
AmazonSmile website for the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. Once you have logged in, you will have access to the same products, same prices and same service you find at amazon.com. Thank you for your support of the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools.
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Absences/Tardies
Please e-mail Kendra Card @ Kendra_card@lovejoyisd.net
each day
that your child is absent. Absences accompanied by a doctor's note are considered excused.
Parents of children who are absent (unexcused) for 3 or more days or parts of days within any 4 week period will receive a letter from our office. A meeting/action plan may be requested for any child who is absent 10 or more days within any 6 month period.
Please remember that students need to be seated in their classrooms when the 8:00 a.m. bell rings. Otherwise, they are considered tardy
If you have questions or need more information regarding our district policy on absenteeism, please contact our Assistant
Principal,
Holly Haynes: 469-742-8227 or email :
holly_haynes@lovejoyisd.net.
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Lunchroom Visitors
You are welcome to have lunch with your child throughout the year. Please keep in mind that you may only bring food for your child to eat. We have many students on campus with food allergies and this will ensure that students are not put at risk. Also, just as in years past, we ask that only you and your child sit at the designated tables closest to the hallway windows.
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Morning Drop Off
This routine will stay the same as in years past. Cars will enter the north driveway and come to the back of the campus. Either staff or Safety Crew students will be waiting to assist your child out of the car. On the first day of school, students will go immediately to their classroom regardless of what time they arrive. Beginning on August 22, students who arrive before 7:45 AM will report to the cafeteria (3
rd
/4
th
graders) or the gym (KG, 1
st
, 2
nd
graders). They will then move to their classes when the bell rings at 7:45 AM.
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Afternoon Pick Up
Students will be dismissed at 3:05. Car riders will be dismissed to the back of the campus. Please have your car number visible so this procedure will go as smoothly as possible. If you plan to walk up to the front door to pick up your child, we will ask that you wait outside until the bus riders come through the front door. We will then release your child to you. This ensures the buses get out in a timely manner, as well as, we know exactly who your child is leaving campus with. The safety of your children trumps everything else we do at Puster.
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PUSTER NEWS
NEW! Positive Proof ID Program - Jan. 31
The Positive Proof ID Program will take place on Wednesday, January 31. . This program provides an ID card for parents to carry in case their child becomes lost, missing or involved in a disaster. Envelopes were sent home in Thursday folders with information.
NEW!
Yearbook Pictures Needed
If you have any pictures from the 2017-2018 school year, we would love to include them in the yearbook. Please send a digital copy to your classroom teacher so they can be passed along to Rhiannon Evans, PTA Historian.
FOLK DANCING NIGHT AT PUSTER
Puster 3rd graders invite you to our first Puster Folk Dancing Night on Thursday, January 25th at 6PM. The grade level will share 5 different dances from around the world. There will be opportunities for audience participation, too. Put on your tennis shoes and we'll see you there! If you have questions please contact
Anne_Tracy@lovejoyisd.net.
Notes from the Nurse:
If your child is or has been diagnosed with the flu will you please contact our nurse directly.
We are in the peak of flu season. Please take a moment to review the flu facts. If you have any questions, I may always be reached at 469-742-8282 or by email
janet_abramson@lovejoyisd.net
Be Kind to the Earth, Be Kind to Others
More than
15 million tons of used textile waste
is generated each year in the United States, and the amount has doubled over the last 20 years. An average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of used clothing per person. On average, nationally, it costs cities $45 per ton to dispose of old clothing. Synthetic clothing may take hundreds of years to decompose. Nearly 100 percent of textiles and clothing are recyclable. (Read more here:
https://goo.gl/atqhyj )
Many of us take time over the winter break to clean out drawers and closets. If you have clothing items and shoes that your kids have outgrown but are still in good condition, please plan to send these items to Puster when we return to school. We will collect the secondhand clothes and donate to friends and families in need. More information coming soon.
If your clothing items are no longer wearable, remember to look for a clothing recycle bin in the area. Retail businesses often have containers in their parking lots to collect clothing and textiles for recycling. Let's work together to keep clothing out of our landfills
SAVE THE DATE! First Annual Parent/Child Campus Campout
April 27-28, 2018 at Puster Elementary
We are excited to announce a new tradition at Puster Elementary where our families will have the opportunity to camp under the stars at our school! This campout will allow us to spend quality time with our kids while raising important funds for our school district. So, pack your tent and sleeping bag and join us for dinner, outdoor activities, a glow party and movie under the stars!
Be sure to save the date because an adventure awaits!
Registration Fee: $150 (one parent/one child), $25 each additional child
Registration will begin in February.
Watch D.O.G.S. 100 DAD Challenge
Take a day or ½ day to be a hero for your child. Get your picture on the Puster Watch D.O.G.S. wall with your child.
Signup below for your day. Let's see how fast we can fill this up.
What is WATCH D.O.G.S and how do you participate?
Watch D.O.G.S. is a program that helps bring dads and other male role models into our school. Dad's spend a day with their child at school and get to interact alongside the teachers, help with carpool, monitor hallways, help out in the classroom, help with specials...the possibilities are endless.
Each Watch D.O.G. dad will need a T-shirt that he will wear on the day he is volunteering at the school. Your child/children may also want a "My Hero" shirt to wear that day too. Below is the link to purchase your t-shirts.
*Dads order the official "Watch D.O.G.S ®" t-shirt
*For your kids order the "My Hero" t-shirt
To participate in the Watch D.O.G.S. at Puster you must be an approved volunteer. Please complete the Lovejoy ISD 2017-2018 Online Volunteer Application:
Go to
www.lovejoyisd.net , selecting "Parents - Parent Resources" from the top tool bar, and "Volunteer Application" from the right side of the page.
Please get your application in quickly to allow the district time to perform the background check prior to your volunteer day as a Watchdog. If you are not approved you will not be allowed to volunteer
If you have any questions you can contact Henri Friloux at henri.friloux@gmail.com or 972-365-5478.
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Author Visit
Children's author, Kate Klise, will be visiting Puster Elementary on February 23rd! Kate Klise has written many amazing books including the "Three Ring Rascals" series and "43 Old Cemetery Road" series.
She will hold an assembly for all grades and will be available for pictures and book signing afterwards. Several of her books will be available to purchase ahead of time and be delivered in time for her to sign your child's personal copy. If you would like to purchase through RevTrak, CLICK HERE to find some of her books and place your order today.
Book sales will close at midnight on February 12.
It's time for Bookfaces!
To be entered into this month's book box drawing, students are encouraged to make a Bookface. Simply find a book cover with a face or a head, and take a photo of the student holding the book in front of his/her face. Imagine Abraham Lincoln's head on the cover of a book, held up in front of the child's face, and the child's shoulders and upper body in view. It's a pretty funny sight! Check out the Puster Facebook page for some examples, and we hope to have a picture or two on the Puster website soon.
Bookface participants will be entered into the book box drawing. This month, we will also be giving away a copy of the latest book in Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
Live Music in the Library!
We are thrilled to offer a special opportunity for our students and staff in the library. On the First Friday of every month from 7:30- 7:50 am, we invite students and parents to come in and listen to an acoustic musical performance. We hope to foster interest in and appreciation for music and the fine arts. We encourage you to attend with your student and model appropriate audience manners. Students and parents will be asked to listen quietly to the performance and applaud at appropriate times. These performances can be great practice runs for attendance at larger performances and venues. We will wrap up in plenty of time for students to be in their classrooms before the 8:00 bell.
Who will be performing? Good question! We would love to feature Puster families. If you or your family members are musicians and would like to play for our Puster community, please contact Mrs. Smithwick at
alison_smithwick@lovejoyisd.net or 469-742-8277.
We can't wait to hear from you.
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PTA NEWS
2017-2018 Yearbooks on Sale!
The Puster yearbook for the 2017-2018 school year are on sale! Purchase your yearbook(s) by clicking
here. The price of $25 ends tomorrow
. After tomorrow, the price will increase to $35.
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DISTRICT NEWS
NEW! Lovejoy Lacrosse Spirit Day
January 29th
If you love Chick-fil-A and Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse stop by Chick-fil-A on Stacy Road on Monday, January 29th to show your support of the Lacrosse teams. Chick-fil-A, on Stacy Road, is a sponsor of the Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse program for the 2017-2018 season.
Before you place your order let the cashier know you are supporting Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse. Invite your family, friends, and co-workers. We hope to see you on the 29th.
NEW! January Student Nutrition Newsletter LInk:
https://1.cdn.edl.io/cGH4H0dgpCjXvoa5IIlrq5Fc0tXOmDXG
XjUe00GFUNfXF16
j.pd
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Mini Majestic Dance Camp
January 27th
Saturday, January 27
7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Cost $60 (includes t-shirt)
Registration deadline is Thursday, January 25th
Lovejoy students in grades K-6 are invited to join the Majestics Dance Team. Spend the morning learning a fun routine with the Majestics, meet new friends and perform the routine for family and friends at a "Show-Off" which will be held at 11:00 AM.
Click here
to register and
click here
for additional information.
Thank you for supporting the Majestics.
Elementary and Intermediate School Appreciation Night
January 26th
The Lovejoy Girls basketball team invites you to join them for Elementary and Intermediate School Appreciation Night. This event will be held on Friday, January 26th during the team's home basketball game against Wylie East. JV will play at 5:30 PM and Vasity will play at 7:00 PM. We hope to see you there to help us fill the stands in support of the Lady Leopards.
Lovejoy K-6 Talent Show
The Lovejoy High School Junior Class invites Lovejoy K - 6 students to register for its upcoming fundraiser talent show. The show will take place Thursday, February 15th at 5:30 PM at Lovejoy High School in the auditorium, with rehearsals on Thursday, February 8th at 5:00 PM. The cost for single acts to perform is $25, and group acts is $50. Admission to the event is free. All proceeds will go to support Prom.
For more information and to register,
click here
. Please note, only the first 40 acts to register will be accepted, so don't delay.
Relay for Life: April 6
Relay for Life is an annual event which will be held at Willow Springs Middle School to raise awareness of cancer and to donate to cancer research. This year's initiative is to bring the Lovejoy community together as a whole to promote a sense of unity and caring. We hope you will save the date of April 6th and join us for Relay for Life.
Relay for Life Dinner
A dinner in honor of survivors, caregivers, and their families will be held in conjunction with the Relay for Life event. If this applies to you or to someone you know, please RSVP to
Katherine Guo
.
Relay for Life Stories to Share
The high school Relay for Life committee is also organizing a tribute to those who have been affected by cancer. If you have a story to share, please contact
Katherine Guo
.
Relay for Life Gallery Wall Opportunity
To encourage participation of students at the elementary and intermediate school levels, the LHS Relay for Life organizers are hosting a coloring page activity. Students may
click here
to print the coloring page and decorate it as creatively as they can. They may then turn the page into the receptionist desk at their campus to receive a pencil, sticker or other prize. The event organizers will use all coloring pages to create a gallery wall for the event, which will represent loving support for those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Relay for Life Luminarias
Relay for Life is selling Luminarias for the Relay for Life event on April 6th at Willow Springs Middle School. Luminarias honor those whose lives have been affected by cancer. You may dedicate a Luminaria to loved ones who lost their battles with cancer, someone currently battling cancer, or anyone who has overcome cancer. When you attend the Relay event, you will see the Luminarias placed around the track, decorated with names and sometimes messages to whom they are dedicated. Luminarias are $10. If you would like to purchase one, please
click here
.
Lovejoy ISD App
The Lovejoy ISD App is available for download on both Apple and Android devices. To download the app for Apple devices, please click here. To download the app for Android devices, please click here.
Twitter and Facebook
Are
you following the district on
Twitter
? Have you liked us on
Facebook
? Join us on social media for news and announcements.
School Bus Safety Practices
We would like to remind everyone of the following school bus safety practices:
*When you see a school bus, assume children will be in the area, and take extra care: leave lots of space around the bus.
*When the bus turns on its flashing yellow lights, the bus is either preparing to stop at a railroad crossing or preparing to stop to pick up or drop off children. Please slow down and prepare to stop.
*When the bus turns on its flashing red lights traffic must stop in both directions. Never pass a school bus with flashing red lights.
Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our students safe.
SchoolMessenger
Lovejoy ISD is adding text messaging capability to SchoolMessenger, the system we use for phone calls and email communications for information such as school closings due to inclement weather. SchoolMessenger will be configured to send text messages to your wireless phone number(s), with your approval. Please confirm we have your accurate wireless phone number in the PowerSchool Parent Portal and then opt-in to participate by following the directions below.
In order to receive messages from Lovejoy ISD or your student's school via SMS text we must have your wireless number(s) in SchoolMessenger and receive an "Opt-In Confirmation" from your wireless device.
You can easily opt-in by simply sending "Y" (or "Yes"), via text message, to our SchoolMessenger Short Code number 67587.
The wireless number(s) you enter into the PowerSchool Parent Portal are updated nightly. If you update your wireless number, or add a new number, in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, the new number will automatically be sent an Opt-In message.
To access the PowerSchool Parent Portal,
please click here
. If you have any questions, or if we may be of any assistance, please contact Stacey Dillon at 469.742.8003.
MySchoolBucks Convenience Fee
MySchoolBucks, the district's online meal prepayment program, has provided notification regarding an increase in the convenience fee paid by parents using the online payment feature. The fee will be increasing from $1.95 per payment to $2.49 per payment and will be effective as of December 11, 2017. This increase is the result of an increase in card scheme fees. The district does not receive any convenience fee funds from MySchoolBucks.
In light of the increase, the district contacted MySchoolBucks. They agreed to increase the maximum payment from $120 per deposit to $240 per deposit. This payment deposit increase is effective immediately. You may contact MySchoolBucks directly by telephone at 855.832.5226 or via email
Text Link
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