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A Message from Kevin Parker
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It was great to see everyone who attended Denim and Diamonds this past weekend. This coming week, on April 18, will be an early release. As a district, we will again use this afternoon to work towards providing a great learning experience for your children through professional development.
After this week, we have 7 weeks remaining of the 2017-2018 school year. There is still much to be accomplished. We always remind students that the last few weeks of school are as important as the first few weeks of school. Please remind your child to do what it takes to finish strong!
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.
Pride in Puster
Kevin
Follow Mr. Parker on Twitter @peskevinparker and follow what's happening on our campus @pusterlearners.
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Early Release - Wednesday, April 18 at 12:00
April 12 - 1st Grade Field Trip
April 12 - Watch Me Sculpt
April 16 - Chess and Choir
April 16 - KG Spring Fling Social 3:00 - 4:00
April 17 - Engineering K-1
April 17 - 3rd Grade Spring Fling Social 3:00 - 4:00
April 18 - Early Release @ 12:00
April 18 - Engineering 2 - 4 12:15 - 1:30
April 19 - Watch Me Sculpt
April 19 - 1st Grade Spring Fling Social
April 19 - Night of the Arts/ PTA Meeting @ 6:00 Choir Program
April 20 - 2nd Grade Spring Fling Social - 3:00 - 4:00
April 23 - Chess Club
April 24 - Engineering K-1
April 24 - Austin Chaperone Meeting @ 6:00 PM
April 25 - Engineering 2-4
April 27 - LNL Campout
April 30 - Chess Club
April 30 - Teacher Appreciation Week
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
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Denim and Diamonds - Thank You
Thank you to everyone who attended the Denim and Diamonds Auction and Gala on Saturday. The event raised a significant amount of money which will be awarded in grants to benefit the students of the Lovejoy Independent School District. The success of this event was led by chair, Carrie McClure and the Foundation Directors.
A special thank you to all of our sponsors who helped fund the costs of the event, and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to help make this evening a success. Thank you, as well, to the Lovejoy ISD staff who gave of their time.
Lovejoy Fiesta - Small Number of Seats Remain
A few available seats remain for the Lovejoy Fiesta. If you are interested in attending, email
Cindy Booker
or call
469-742-8043
.
Join hosts Kevin and Maria Ritchie, Henri and Allison Friloux, and Sean and Stephanie McCaffity on Saturday, April 21st for a multi-course dinner and drinks at the Ritchies' home. Beer and other adult beverages will be served. Dinner will be provided by Fogo de Chão with all proceeds going to the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. There is a limit of 76 people. This is an adult-only event and tickets are $60/person.
Kendra Scott Watters Creek - Summer Launch April 18th
Kendra Scott invites the Lovejoy community to help launch its Summer line. Get a head start on shopping for your Mother's Day or Graduation gifts. This is a "give back" event, with 20% of sales on April 18th, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM going to the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. We hope you will join us on the 18th for this special event. Kendra Scott will provide snacks and beverages during the event.
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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! Order Spring Individual Pictures Now!
Picture Proofs for Individual Pictures were sent home this week. You have a choice of ordering online or sending the envelope to the office with payment.
Orders are due by April 27.
VOLUNTEER BREAKFAST
May 8, 2018
7:30-8:30 a.m.
The Puster staff would like to thank you for all that you do to support us. We are blessed to have such wonderful parents who are willing to give their time and resources to make our jobs easier!
Please join the Puster teachers for breakfast in the Think Tank..
Register your Kindergarten student now
for the 2018-2019 school year.
If you have a child who will be 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2018, please come to the Puster Office and register.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR STUDENT REGISTRATION
:
Completed Enrollment Forms
-
we will have hard copies at our campus or they can be found at: www.lovejoyisd.net, click on Parents/Parent Resources/Enrollment & Registration/New Student Registration Requirements and Forms
Copy of original birth certificate
Copy of Social Security Card
Current Copy of Immunization Record
Proof of Residency:
Copy of Driver License
Copy of current utility bill
Copy of current rental agreement
469-742-8003
*Only complete packets will be accepted*
Students and parents will be invited to the school in May for a Kindergarten Sneak Peek.
We Look Forward to Meeting You
Puster Elementary
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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Live Music in the Library
This Friday, April 13 at 7:30am the Puster Library will be hosting Puster parent Erin Blake. Erin is an experienced pianist and will perform several selections for our students, teachers, and families. Please join us in the library to start your Friday on a good note!
Graphic Novel Workshops-- 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders
The GN workshop groups started meeting this week during lunch and recess. Students who signed up online are meeting one day per week to learn about the graphic novel format, how to be better GN readers, and how to create their own graphic novels. This week we discussed the synergy of text and images. Ask your student what this means. :)
First Grade Book Club
Nearly 50 first graders signed up on the clipboard for the first grade book club. Mrs. Smithwick is going to split the group and meet with half on Fridays and half on Mondays. Students don't need to bring anything besides their lunches to the Wonderspace on book club days. This group will listen to great stories and learn about some of the authors featured in the Puster Library.
BOGO Book Fair
The Buy One Get One Free book fair is coming to Puster May 22-24. This is a great time to stock up on titles for summer reading. We will not be selling toys and trinkets at this fair. A volunteer sign up will be available soon.
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PTA NEWS
NEW! PUSTER PTA SCHOLARSHIP
Do you know a Lovejoy graduating senior? If they meet the following requirements they are qualified to apply for the Puster PTA scholarship:
Puster Elementary PTA will award one $500 scholarship to a college-bound senior graduating from Lovejoy High School (LHS) in 2018. All applicants must have attended LHS during their sophomore, junior, and senior years; and belong to the LHS PTSA.
The application must be completed, all applicable documentation included, and turned into the Puster Elementary school office no later than Wednesday, April 25th,
Click here
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DISTRICT NEWS
NEW! Special Olympics Volunteers Needed
Lovejoy ISD is hosting the North Texas Special Olympics Spring Games on Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th. The event will be held at Lovejoy High School, with over 1,500 Special Olympics athletes competing in track and field, tennis, and soccer competitions. Volunteers are needed for timing, scorekeeping, staging and escorting athletes, along with other general event support and assistance. You may
click here
for additional information and to register as a volunteer
If you have further questions, please contact Lovejoy High School Sophomore
Lauryn Fuller
.
NEW! Lovejoy Parent Authors Book
Susan Hoemke, a Lovejoy parent, has authored a book titled,
Healing Scarred Hearts which will be released on May 8th. Following is information shared by Susan:
"After we lost our son Hayden in 2014 to drug overdose and our family was impacted the 8 years as he struggled with addiction and personality disorder, I began to feel the need to educate other families about what all we learned. I have been working with Kathy Stone to build a better drug awareness program. In 2016, when the Opioid crisis made the news, I decided to write a book and in 2017 Brown Books Publishing accepted my manuscript and this began the process to bring our story to the frontline.
Healing Scarred Hearts will be released May 8th with hopes to bring education and healing to the complicated issue of substance abuse, addiction and overdose. My book also shares the crisis of legal issues that many times are associated with kids and substance abuse."
NEW! April Student Nutrition Newsletter :
Lovejoy Gifted Association Presentation: April 19
The Lovejoy Gifted Association invites you to attend a presentation by SMU's Dr. Ann Batenburg, as she discusses, "Finding the right balance to motivate GT children - ending procrastination, encouraging achievement, reducing perfectionism".
The event is sponsored by The Lovejoy Gifted Association and is open to all parents, teachers and students interested in advice regarding supporting Gifted and Talented students. LGA membership is not required to attend this event. Please contact
Piritta van Rijn
with questions.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Lovejoy High School
Lecture Hall
NEW! LHS Baseball Presents Little Leopard Night
April 12th
The Lovejoy Varsity baseball team will host Little Leopard Night on Thursday, April 12. The team will play North Forney High School. All elementary students attending will receive free admission into the game, and will have the opportunity to join the Varsity players on the baseball field for the National Anthem. All participants will receive popcorn and baseball pennants. Please arrive at 7:00 PM, as the game will begin at 7:30 PM. For questions, please contact Alicia Pool at 817.999.0719.
NEW! Kids 1st Summer Camp
Kids 1st is no accepting registrations for summer camp. To to this link for additional information:
National Geographic Explorer Alizé Carrère -
LHS Softball Presents Future Leopard Night
April 13th
The Lady Leopards Softball Team will host Future Leopard Night on Friday, April 13th. The team will play Wylie East with a 5:00 PM start for JV and a 7:00 PM start for Varsity. Planned activities include a candy raffle during both games, joining the varsity players on the field for the National Anthem, a keepsake varsity poster for all elementary students, an autograph session following the varsity game, and other surprises. Bring your softballs to have them signed by players before and after the games. Admission will be free for all elementary students. Help the team fill the stands and cheer the Lady Leopards on to victory.
Sewing Camp
Join the fun at Summer Sewing Camps to be held at Willow Springs Middle School. Sewing Basics 101 teaches machine and tool basics while making a pillowcase and PJs. Sewing Skills Builder 201 continues to develop your skills with your choice of an individualized project. Choose 1, 2 or all 3 sessions, which will take place in June and July. To reserve your spot, email
Louisekingtx@gmail.com
. Hurry, as sessions will fill quickly.
Click here
for additional information and to learn more about the special 3rd week option: a t-shirt quilt.
Summer Enrichment Camps
Online registration is now open for Summer Enrichment camps. Click here for details.
Firefighters Pancake Breakfast -
April 21st From 8:00 - 11:00 AM Fairview Fire Station #2.
Metroplex Aquatics Offers Swim Lessons
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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