Principal Message 01/13/22 |
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Puster Families,
We always appreciate a warm, sunny day in the middle of January! That said, as jackets were shed, our Lost and Found has begun to grow again. Please put names inside of jackets and on water bottles. We offer a personal delivery service here at Puster when that is the case.
We are fielding questions around COVID protocols for students in multiple scenarios (confirmed positive, exposed, close contact. The protocols, at this time, have not changed for students and can be found here. Should the district receive revised guidance from TEA, our community will be informed promptly. We all want our kids to be healthy and in school and we appreciate your grace when working with our office staff.
Report cards will be coming home with your children tomorrow. Don't hesitate to set up a conference with your child's teacher should you have questions or concerns.
Monday is a holiday for our staff and students. I hope everyone has a restful, long weekend. We will see you at 7:55 a.m. on Tuesday, January 18th!
Puster Proud,
Holly
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@pusterlearners
#PES
#PusterProud
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Click here to tell us about a PES staff member who has gone Above and Beyond!
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January
January is School Board Appreciation Month!
13 - Yearbook Sales Begin (More info below)
14 - Q2 Report Cards Go Home
17 - School Holiday
28 - 4th Grade Spelling Bee
February
1 - 4th Grade Level Music Program, 5:30 p.m.
4 - 4th Grade Bump Up Day
4 - PTO Sponsored Daddy Daughter Dance
7-11 - School Counselor Appreciation Week
14 - Valentine Parties
17 - Early Release, 12:00
18 - Student Holiday
21 - Bad Weather Day/TBD
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WHY ATTENDANCE MATTERS
How important is it for kids to be in school?
School attendance is a baseline factor in determining school success.
A missed school day is a missed opportunity for students to learn.
Regular attendance fosters a classroom connection between teachers and students.
Attending school also provides time for social interactions with peers.
Did you know that?
Attendance is the most significant driver in the funding Lovejoy ISD receives from the state each year?
A 3% reduction in the yearly average daily attendance (ADA) can cause the district to lose $800,000 in funding.
An increase of 1% in the yearly ADA can fund 3 teachers’ salaries.
Although it may seem insignificant that the district loses $50 a day when a student is absent, consider the impact when 250 students are absent across the district and the district loses $12,500. Multiply that by 15 days and it is a loss of $187,500. The impact is significant.
Attendance taken at 10 AM determines the ADA funding that Lovejoy ISD receives for that date. If the student is on campus at that time, LISD receives approximately $50.00 per student. If a student is absent, ADA is lost.
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I would like to remind everyone to be very diligent in monitoring for symptoms of COVID.
TEA COVID-19 Public Health Guidance:
Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is test-confirmed with COVID-19,or if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in the household until the conditions for re-entry are met.
Please monitor your child for the following symptoms BEFORE sending them to school.
· Feeling feverish or temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
· Loss of taste or smell
· Cough
· Difficulty breathing
· Shortness of breath
· Headache
· Chills
· Sore throat
· Shaking or exaggerated shivering
· Significant muscle pain or ache
· Diarrhea/Abdominal pain
· Nausea/Vomiting
· Fatigue
· Congestion or runny nose or sneezing
If your student is not feeling well, please keep them at home and email Nurse Janet at janet_abramson@lovejoyisd.net and Holly Haynes, principal at holly_haynes@lovejoyisd.net. Please also keep your child home and contact the nurse and Mrs. Haynes if your student receives a lab positive COVID test or a family member receives a lab positive test.
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At Puster, we know EVERY staff member goes above and beyond, though we may not always hear about it. Who are our unsung heros? Has a Puster teacher or staff member gone above and beyond for your child/family? We want to hear about it! Parents, community members, staff members and students are welcome to share by clicking the link above. We will keep contributors anonymous in our shout outs. |
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Jana Pool, 1st Grade Teacher:
Jana is always working so hard to come up with innovative ways to teach her students.
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YEARBOOK SALES BEGIN!
The yearbook is now on sale! Starting January 13th for a limited time you can purchase the yearbook for $25. After February 13th the cost increases to $30, so the sooner you buy the better! All sales end April 1st.
You can purchase your yearbook here.
There will be an upcoming opportunity for the parents of our 4th graders to purchase "ads" to be placed in the yearbook. Stay tuned for more info.
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ATTENTION 4TH GRADE PARENTS
Annual Bump Up Day to take place on February 4, 2022.
Sloan Creek Intermediate, Willow Springs Middle School, and Lovejoy High School will host 4th, 6th, and 8th graders on Friday, February 4, 2022 for Lovejoy ISD’s Annual Bump Up Day. Bump Up Day was created to assist students with transitioning to a new campus and to help generate excitement for the new experiences they will have. Students will travel to the campus they will be attending for the 2022-2023 school year and have the opportunity to tour the campus, ask questions, and eat lunch. Students will be able to charge to their lunch account on this visit. 4th and 6th grade students will not be charged for a regular meal per our current pricing, however, they will be charged for any “a la carte” items or “extras”. 8th Grade students will be charged either $4.50 for a regular meal or $5.25 for a premium meal as well as any “a la carte” items or extras they choose. Please refer to this document for specific pricing.
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As we enter the cold weather season, we will be creating a separate, indoor space, for lunch visitors. Beginning January 10th, you may join your child(ren) for lunch and eat on the cafeteria stage OR you may continue to picnic outside. As always, we ask that students enjoy that time with parents - friends will not be allowed to join. |
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Volunteers and Visitors to Puster will be required to complete a COVID pre-screener the day of visit. Please scan the QR Code at the front of the building to access this form. We appreciate your diligence in keeping our leopards healthy!
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Library books
We love that students are reading so much, our goal is that students have access to books that interest them. Overdue notices will be going home this week, we currently have 631 books overdue!
Interested in shelving books by section in alphabetical order, tidying shelves, dusting, making sure books are in the correct order, assisting with other tasks such as laminating etc as needed? Then find a time date that works for you in the sign up link above.
Mark your Calendars! Our Spring Book fair is March 28th-April 1st. More volunteer opportunities are coming soon.
Bluebonnet Book Nominees: Voting & Celebration
How can your student attend?
3rd and 4th graders have had the opportunity to learn about this year's Bluebonnet Book Nominees. The Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List is one of the most distinguished children’s literature lists in the country.
If students have read at least 5 of the current nominees, and filled out this google form for each book before January17th, they will be invited to the Bluebonnet Voting Party after school on Tuesday, January 25th from dismissal until 3:45. Invited students will vote for their favorite bluebonnet nominee, have a blue snack and engage in the Makerspace. We will find out the state winner (voted for by Texas students!) in early February.
Makerspace donations welcome!
In makerspace, students are focusing on solving challenges or exploring using the 4C’s of 21st century skills: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
If you have these items and would like to donate, our makers would love them!
Feathers, Yarn, Cupcake liners, foil, paper plates, fun tape, pom. Poms, popsicle sticks, coffee filters, beads, dot markers
Want book or STEM gift ideas? Mrs. Dawson, the L.M.S at Hart Elementary has provided some resources here!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am here for you!
-Ariel Stewart
Puster Elementary
Library Media Specialist
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Attention 4th graders! Spring Morning Announcements: Anchors/behind the scenes for the morning announcements
The Puster News airs bright and early each morning to help our campus start our day. The smiling faces of the Morning Crew appear for each student as we broadcast a prerecorded morning show that includes the pledges, birthdays, fun theme days, and school news. We love to highlight special events and celebrate our students and teachers.
To become a Morning Crew member, you must be a fourth-grader and complete an application.
Morning Announcements: 4th graders wanted to be on the PES morning announcements broadcast!
We will meet on Monday mornings at 7:30 to record our video segments for the week (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, & next Mon)
We will have anchors introducing our week, recite pledges, our lunch menu, birthdays and more.
Don't want to be on camera but still interested? There is an opportunity to just work behind the scenes as well, adjusting slides, images and our script.
If your 4th grader is interested in participating this semester, please fill out this form with them by December 10th at 4:00pm. I will email you and your child with their dates to record before we return to school in January.
Ariel Stewart
Library Media Specialist
Puster Elementary
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4th Grade Texas Program - Tuesday, February 1, 2022
All 4th graders will present a celebration of Texas Tuesday, February 1st at 5:30 PM. Put the date on your calendar and join us as we share songs including George Strait's "Take Me to Texas", a German folk song "Himmel und Erde", "Texas, Our Texas", and more.
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Puster Elementary families,
We have just kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge! Kids Heart Challenge benefits our school by providing valuable health & wellness resources for our community and classrooms, PE equipment, and funding for our school and PE program. Joining the Kids Heart Challenge, raising awareness, and supporting the American Heart Association helps save lives. Students can also earn awesome thank you gifts! Thank you for your continued support of Puster Elementary and the AHA.
Each $50 any student raises will enter them into a raffle to pie Mrs. Haynes LIVE over the morning announcements!
Download the free and fun Kids Heart Challenge App (App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android)!
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After School Opportunities |
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ENGINEERING FOR KIDS
The Thursday class for grades 2-4 is now full.
Parents of students in grades 2-4 - please do not to send any further payments via zelle or venmo for payment. You are welcome to send your child's details and they can be added to a waiting list.
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Daddy Daughter Dance Friday, February 4, 2022
Use the QR code below or this link to RSVP:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eao3HlnIwjAEzHsFxe8b-pNYOnzgCBSVa84nsRpgPhc/edit
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PTO Membership
Calling all Puster students, staff, and families!! We want all of you to be members of Puster Elementary PTO! This system will allow members to join online, subscribe to our calendar of events, receive online directory access, and update personal information at any time! These features are also available via a mobile app on your phone. https://ptopes. membershiptoolkit.com/home
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Can I bring birthday treats to school for my child?
Yes, you can purchase birthday treats for your child through Student Nutrition. Please note that we are only allowing birthday treats from the LISD Student Nutrition department. Please click here to order your child's birthday treats today! Please email your child's teacher to inform them that you ordered treats so that we do not have 2 students celebrating birthdays on the same day. At this time, we are requesting no visitors during birthday celebrations.
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Gifted and Talented Kinder Referrals
The referral form for kindergarten G/T testing is open through January 7, 2022 in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Testing is scheduled for February 5 and 12, 2022 by appointment only.
Additional information may be found on the G/T portion of the LISD website.
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SCHOOL MESSENGER AND POWER SCHOOL APP
Beginning Monday, November 29, 2021
School Messenger
Lovejoy ISD will reinstate the use of School Messenger to notify parents when students are absent or tardy for class. Messages will be sent via text message, email and phone call. The District is committed to joining forces with parents to ensure timely communication is provided to assist with your student’s safety and school experience.
PowerSchool App
The PowerSchool Mobile App is available for Lovejoy ISD parents. The mobile app gives parents and students instant access to information they need to stay up-to-date on student grades, performance, and attendance.
Some of the Key-Benefits include:
Receive real-time push notifications with updates about Scores and Attendance.
Receive Email notifications for Assignments, Teacher's comments, Daily Bulletins, Schedules, and Fee Transactions.
Access all of your children in one portal
View Grades, Assignments, Attendance,and more
View Announcements from schools
Designed for iPhones/iOS, tablets, and Google/Android Devices
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools |
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We’re excited to kick off our Annual Appeal campaign! Our goal is to raise $300,000 and have 35% community involvement. The students of Lovejoy ISD are touched by Foundation dollars in every school and grade throughout the district. Now, more than ever, they need our support to ensure no interruption to the Lovejoy standard of exceptional learning. Visit our website today to learn more and donate! Click on the insert to go to the website. |
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