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A Message from Kevin Parker
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What a fantastic week! I hope you were able to join us for our Thanksgiving Luncheon yesterday. It is my favorite day of the year. It is a great scene to see all of the parents and grandparents who are able to have lunch with us. Last night and this morning, our second graders put on a great show that had a Veteran's Day theme. This morning we had an energetic Puster Pride Assembly.
I hope you were able to see our Veteran's Wall as you enter the building. Thank you to all of you who have served our country to keep us safe. We are going to take down our pictures and keep them for next year. If you would like to have your picture back, please let Patty know in the front office.
You have stepped up again just like you always do. We now have a letter for every staff member at Puster as part of our Lovejoy Letter Campaign (LLC). Thank you for taking a moment to share how much you appreciate the committed staff we have at Puster.
Finally, our yearbooks for the 2017-2018 school year are now on sale. You can pre-order your copy using the link:
The price for yearbooks is the same as last year ($25). After January 23rd, the price will go up to $35.
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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November 13 - Choir and Chess
November 14 - STEM Class - K-1
November 15 - STEM Class - 2-4
November 16 - Watch Me Sculpt
November 20 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday Break
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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
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 :
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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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Each November communities across the country observe
National Diabetes Month
to bring attention to
diabetes
and its impact on millions of Americans.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults at any age. While the causes of T1D are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. T1D is not related to diet or lifestyle, and there is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and-at present-nothing you can do to get rid of it. In T1D, the body's immune system destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, meaning the body produces little to no insulin to regulate blood sugar and get energy from food. The onset of T1D is sudden, leading to immediate insulin dependence and the need for injections. T1D requires rigorous 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels-even overnight-to avoid potentially lethal highs and lows in blood sugar, as well as other devastating complications like kidney, eye and nerve diseases, and heart disease. T1D can happen to anyone, and the number of people with T1D is expected to grow to 5 million by the year 2050 if we don't do something now.
To learn more about T1D and to support JDRF's mission
,
please visit
www.jdrf.org
.
Please join us here at Puster to show our support for T1D by wearing Blue every Friday in November.
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PUSTER NEWS
November 20 - 24 Thanksgiving Break
Watch D.O.G.S. 100 DAD Challenge
T
ake 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 [email protected] or 972-365-5478.
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LIBRARY NEWS
Shelfie Contest
What's next? A Shelfie contest! Snap a picture of your student and/or your family reading a book near a book shelf in your home, a library, a book store, anywhere! This is a chance to showcase the love for and the value of reading outside of school. Print the pic (no larger than 8.5 by 11) and send it to school to display on our library walls. We would love to fill up the half walls on the exterior of our library with Shelfies.
We will start accepting Shelfies next week. All students who bring a Shelfie will be entered in our first book box drawing of the year! The deadline is Friday, November 17 to be entered in the drawing
Makerspace Items
We are so fortunate to have a wide variety of items available for student use in our Makerspace. We often hear, "I wish I had this at home!" For your convenience, we have posted a document with pictures and names of some of our most popular activities. If you are looking for birthday or holiday gift ideas, take a look
HERE
.
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PTA NEWS
New:
2017-2018 Yearbooks on Sale!
The Puster yearbook for the 2017-2018 school year go on sale Monday, November 6. Purchase your yearbook(s) by clicking
here.
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DISTRICT NEWS
NEW! Kindergarten Gifted and Talented Referrals
Referrals for kindergarten Gifted and Talented services will be available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal from December 1, 2017 - January 12, 2018.
An information session for the parents of kindergarten students will review the referral process, as well as the G/T services offered in Lovejoy.
Lovejoy ISD Administration Building
Board Room
December 4 or 15, 2017
9:00 AM or 4:30 PM (Session information repeats)
If you are unable to attend and would like more information, a slideshow presentation will be available on the Gifted and Talented webpage after the December 4th presentations.
All kindergarten students will be tested at their home campuses in January. Additional testing for referred students is scheduled for both Saturday, February 10th and 24th. Services for identified kindergarten students begin March 1, 2018.
For questions regarding referrals, please contact Kari Lockhart (469-742-8015) or Brie Smith (469-742-8032).
NEW! Lovejoy ISD Fine Arts Festival
The Lovejoy ISD Fine Arts Festival will be held December 1st and 2nd at Lovejoy High School. There will be band, choir, and orchestra concerts. You may attend plays and short productions by the middle school and high school theatre programs. The dance department will perform two concerts. Every student enrolled in a visual art course will have one or more works on display. In addition, volunteers from the High School Fine Arts Booster Clubs and district fine arts parents will provide homemade baked goods and beverages for purchase as well as the infamous Fine Arts Festival Chili luncheon. This event is truly a wonderful showcase of the incredible fine arts programs in Lovejoy ISD. Please
click here
f
or additional information to include schedules, maps, and details.
NEW! Drop N Shop Fundraiser: December 8
Pajama Night with the LHS Cheerleaders
Kids, wear your pajamas and join the LHS Cheerleaders for a holiday fun-filled night while your parents shop or enjoy a night out. Play games, color, craft, and watch a holiday movie with the LHS Cheerleaders.
Click here
for additional information and to register.
Friday, December 8
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Lovejoy High School Auxiliary Gym
$30 first child; $20 each additional child
NEW! A New Tradition
The Lovejoy High Cheer Team is pleased to announce the new tradition of "Chant of the Week."
Please watch our Lovejoy Varsity cheerleaders' video and be ready to cheer our Leopards to victory at this Friday night's home game against Royse City at 7:30 PM. We hope everyone will join us for Senior Night, as we show our support for the Seniors at their last home game
November Student Nutrition Newsletter:
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.
Lovejoy Gifted Association Parent Panel: November 16
The Lovejoy Gifted Association invites you to join them for an evening of wit and wisdom shared by parents of recent Lovejoy GT graduates. This is an opportunity to receive answers to questions you may have. The Parent Panel members will share their stories and perspective on how to help you and your children get the most from the GT programs in LISD. It's a great opportunity for families who are new to GT to get a head start, as well as for families who have been with GT and are looking to reconnect as their children's interests continue to evolve and change. The event is sponsored by The Lovejoy Gifted Association and is open to all parents, teachers and students who are interested in learning more about the Gifted and Talented programs. You do not have to be a member to attend. Please contact
Piritta van Rijn
with questions.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Parent Panel: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Mix and Mingle: 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Lovejoy High School
Lecture Hall
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E-Waste Recycling Event: November 11
Lovejoy High School will host an e-waste recycling event on Saturday, November 11th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the front parking lot of LHS. Now is the perfect time to gather electronic items you would like to dispose of.
Click here
for additional information regarding the e-waste collection.
Auditions for Children's Roles in The Sound of Music: November 10
Auditions for children's roles for the Lovejoy High School production of The Sound of Music will take place on Friday, November 10th beginning at 4:00 PM in the Lovejoy High School choir room. The high school is looking for talented, responsible, and young looking students in grades 4 and above. The rehearsal schedule is especially rigorous and performances are January 18-20, 2018. For additional information, please contact:
Lovejoy High School Honors Veterans
On November 13th at 6:00 PM, Lovejoy High School will host its annual Veterans Day Banquet. The event, catered by Rudy's Barbecue, is open to all veterans and their families. Please share this information with friends and family members, and
School Store T-Shirt Sale
The school stores, located at Lovejoy High School and Willow Springs Middle School, are getting ready for the cooler weather. Don't miss their special sales as they make room for the new season.
All Short-Sleeved T-Shirts - 50% off
Hurry, as the t-shirts will go quickly at this special price.
The LHS Store is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. The WSMS Store is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:15 AM - 1:15 PM.
Girls Lacrosse Try-It Clinic: November 11
Lovejoy Lacrosse will host a free try-it clinic and introduction to lacrosse for all Lovejoy girls in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. The clinic will be held on Saturday, November 11th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Willow Springs Middle School Football Field. No lacrosse experience is necessary and there is no need to register. This will be a fun, no pressure environment where Lovejoy girls can try lacrosse and parents can learn about the Lovejoy Lady Leopards Lacrosse program. Please
click here for additional information.
Last year's inaugural season was a great success. Now, we're looking for more girls to join the fun. Come out and see why lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States and in North Texas.
Questions?
Click here
to email Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Discount
Thomas Mears, Group Sales Education Specialist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, has arranged for Lovejoy families and staff members to receive a 20% discount for all DSO Concerts, with the exception of Beethoven's 9th in May. When purchasing tickets online at www.mydso.com, type LOVEJOYISD20 at checkout to receive your 20% discount (you will be charged a $7 fee). If you call the box office at 214.849.4376, you will receive the 20% discount, and will not be charged the $7 fee
Running Over Depression 5K and 1K Fun Run: November 11
Bradley Davis, James Ayers, and Jonah Barton are organizing the second annual Running Over Depression 5K and 1K event for their Senior Projects. Last year, this event had over 360 participants, and raised over $8,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). This year, the organizers are looking forward to increasing the number of participants and involvement from the Lovejoy Community. The event will be held on Saturday, November 11th. The entry fees are $20 for the 1K and $30 for the 5K, with all proceeds donated to the AFSP. You may register by
clicking here
. Register early, as prices increase after November 3rd.
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.
Text Link
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