The Lawton Ledger
2023-2024 Theme: Level Up and CRUSH IT!
Lawton Chiles ES Community Member,

We want to thank all of the families and staff that joined us at our Astro Skate Fundraiser for the school. It was a wonderful event that greatly benefited the school, but more than that it, was wonderful to spend time with students and families building relationships.

There is no mistaking the importance of family and school relationships. Research has shown that family engagement in schools contributes to positive student outcomes, including improved child and student achievement, decreased disciplinary issues, improved parent-teacher and teacher-student relationships, and improved school environment. We are grateful to have the opportunity to partner with you to make Lawton Chiles Elementary the best school it can be!

There are multiple ways you can be involved on campus to help us make a difference in the lives of our students. You are always welcome to join our Parent-Teacher Association. We welcome all families into our PTA. A few upcoming events include:

● Attending our School Advisory Council Meeting and Multilingual Parent Leadership Committee on February 26th @ 3:45 pm. We will discuss school academic progress and upcoming events.

● Family Valentine’s lunch, February 29th. You are invited to bring a lunch and come eat with your child! Please RSVP to Glenda Martinez. 

● PTA- General Meeting on March 6th. More information will be shared soon!

● Field Day- April 29th! Sign ups will be going out soon. You do not want to miss this exciting event! 

By working together and establishing positive relationships, we create a positive school and working environment. There will be many other opportunities to get involved throughout the remainder of the school year, and we are excited to have you join us!

Principal, Erin Willis

Pictured at the top of this issue: Lawton Chiles Elementary celebrated our SRO, Office Watkins, for National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day this month. We are so grateful he keeps us safe daily and builds wonderful relationships with staff, students, and families.
Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
Useful Links 
Connect with Lawton Chiles Elementary School
11001 Bloomfield Drive
Orlando, FL 32825
(407) 737-1470
February Calendar:
Public Schools Week is an annual, week-long celebration to honor the invaluable contributions and achievements of educators, administrators, board members, and support professionals in our public schools and the communities they serve. 
Other important dates found in this edition:
Feb. 26: School Advisory Council and Multilingual Parent Leadership Committee meeting, 3:45pm (all LCE community members welcome!)
Feb. 27: OCPS Newcomer Academy event, 6-7:30pm (details)
Feb. 29: Family Valentine's Lunch
Mar. 4: VPK Registration opens for families with children already enrolled at their zoned schools
Mar. 5: OCPS Newcomer Academy event, 6-7:30pm (details)
Mar. 6: PTA General Meeting
Mar. 11: VPK Open Registration begins
Mar. 13: Victory Martial Arts & Leadership After-School Program begins at LCE
Mar. 15: Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
Mar. 18-22: Spring Break
Mar. 23: Girls in Aviation Day
Apr. 29: Field Day
Data and Outcomes: Accelerated Reader
One tool that we use at Lawton Chiles to increase student engagement in reading is Accelerated Reader (AR). Each quarter, students complete a STAR assessment. This computer-based assessment asks the students a series of questions and based on those results, the program provides the student’s reading Zone of Proximal Development.

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is defined as the space between what a learner can do without assistance and what a learner can do with adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers. You may have noticed your student showing you a range score pertaining to AR i.e. 3.6-5.6. This is their ZPD and means they may check out books that are between third grade, sixth month to fifth grade, sixth month level. Each student has an Accelerated Reader quarterly point goal and it is a part of their English/Language Arts grade. 
Throughout the year we’ve seen phenomenal growth with more students getting close or achieving their quarterly AR goal. Additionally we have an initiative in place in which students are able to earn Accelerated Reader Levels - Novice, Intermediate, or Expert (pictured above). This status coincides with our school’s “Level Up” theme and they can receive rewards! Expert status students receive lunch with the principal!

Let’s keep “Leveling Up” in our reading!
Parent Engagement
o Phone: 407-737-1470, Fax: 407-737-1471
o School email: lawtonchiles_es@ocps.net
o Parent Engagement Liaison email: glenda.martinez@ocps.net
o Registrar email: enid.pabon@ocps.net
o Follow us on Facebook: Lawton Chiles Elementary – OCPS
o Follow us on Twitter: @LCE_OCPS
o TalkingPoints
I am Glenda L. Martinez, your Parent Engagement Liaison for Lawton Chiles Elementary. My role is to bridge the gap between school and families. I support families, school staff and build community partnerships. I am passionate about life, family and helping others. My goal this year is to promote literacy and assist our LCE families by creating a cohesive, collaborative and coordinated system of support while building capacity in families so that all students can experience success.
Big THANK YOU to our friends at Astro Skate Family Fun Center for the time this past Tuesday, Feb. 20th. Our students, parents and staff had an amazing experience!
Astro Skate Panda, Ms.Serranoooo and LCE students at the car line.
Our wonderful Principal - Ms. Willis, School Clerk - Ms. DePaz, and our LCE students with the check from Astro Skate Family Fun Center.
Kindergarten Registration is open for the 2024-2025 school year. 
Parents, make sure to have the following documents ready:

* Birth Certificate
* The child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024
* Proof of Immunizations
* Proof of Physical Examination (document can not expire before school start date - August 12, 2024)
* Verification of residence in Orange County.

Any questions, please call the front office or stop by Monday thru Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Girls in Aviation Day Orlando:
The Victory Martial Arts & Leadership After-School Program's spring training begins on March 13th at LCE.

For questions, call (407) 736-0222 or email at waterfordlakes@victoryma.com. It's a great chance for our students to learn new skills.
Family Supports:
Catholic Charities
This agency serves people who experience a crisis and are seeking financial assistance to remain in their homes, provide important resources to people in need who are facing the threat of eviction or other crisis and provide services that are convenient for people in need to access for housing.

Call to make an appointment: 407-839-4357
Address: 1771 N. Semoran Blvd Orlando, FL 32807
Food Pantry:407-658- 1818
Hours: M-F (not Tues) 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm 

Assessment Family Resources
The Assessment Family Resources page houses a variety of tools and resources that can be used to support families with both state and local assessments. On this page, users can access family accessible links to videos and support documents as well as utilize templates and tools that can be customized with school specific assessment information.
REMINDER: New Worlds Reading Program Enrollment
New Worlds Reading Program enrollment is open for 2023-2024 school year. This year the program has been expanded to include VPK.

The New Worlds Reading Program is a FREE Florida literacy program for VPK-5 grade students currently reading below grade level. Students can apply to receive FREE books and reading activities every month! They can also choose books that match their interests. Available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole and Braille.

Click on: www.newworldsreading.com to get additional details.
OCPS News - Month of March Student Holidays:
WANTED: PARENT VOLUNTEERS
We would love to have nothing but Parent Involvement with LCE. If you have not done so, please sign up to become an OCPS ADDitions School Volunteer. Once you do that, you will only need to watch a short safety video on your dashboard and then we can place you to our school.

Below is the link for Lawton Chiles volunteers:
Areas needing parent assistance:
2023-2024 Family Guide (please click images below):
OCPS Parent Academies

LCE parents and families can always register for all Parent Academy events online at: https://ParentAcademy.ocps.net.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (407) 737-1470 x. 3572311.
LCE Families: All virtual mini-academies are on WebEx Webinars from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click here to register.

Advocate for YOUR Child | The Question Formulation Technique
● Date: 2/29/24
● Audience: Parents/guardians of students in grades K-12
● Description: Parents will learn about the Question Formulation Technique which helps generate questions and participate effectively in decisions. This can be used by all parents to enhance their ability to partner with educators to support, monitor, and advocate for their children.
● Language/accessibility options: Closed captioning is available in over 100 languages.

Parents and families can register for all Parent Academy events online at https://ParentAcademy.ocps.net
Welcome OCPS! Newcomer Academy - A Series for Families New to Orange County Public Schools

About Us
Join this five week series to discover how to get the most out of your school.

Remaining Dates:
February 27, 2024

March 5, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Locations:
1. Meadow Woods Middle School (Spanish ONLY)
2. Christ the King/ Jesus de Nazaret Episcopal Church (Spanish ONLY)
3. Water Spring Middle School (English with captioning in 100+ languages AND Portuguese ONLY session)
4. Pine Hills Community Center (Haitian Creole)

Registration Link: https://registration.socio.events/e/ocpsnewcomers2024 Links to an external site.

This registration includes admission for the sessions listed below:

Session 4: Structure & Function of School District and School Board
Parents gain an understanding of the district level processes by engaging in discussions on school finance, budgetary process, resources, and district state grade and graduation rates. This experience is enhanced with a Meet & Greet with a school board member and district leader to dialogue with parents.

Session 5: Literacy & College and Career Topics 
VPK Registration for 2024-2025 school year will begin in March.

Please make note of the following dates:

  • March 4, 2024 - for families with children already enrolled at their zoned schools offering VPK.
  • March 11, 2024 - for families with children zoned at schools offering VPK.

Parents, make sure you bring the VPK Certificate with you.

Any questions, please call the front office, 8am - 4pm Monday thru Friday. Thank you!
PTA
Please get your PTA membership today if you have not done so already. Thank you!!
Food, Fun, and Fellowship
Nearby pictures:
3rd graders in Ms. Garrett's class are using a discussion strategy called “Placemat Consensus” to help facilitate conversations surrounding reading comprehension. 
All County is a very special musical opportunity!
Each year, music teachers from all OCPS elementary schools are invited to select a small number of students to participate in the OCPS Elementary Honors Concert as members of various honor Ensembles. Students rehearse with teachers from across the county, as well as a guest clinician for their ensemble, and represent their schools on stage in a spectacular concert alongside some of the best young musicians in OCPS! 
LCE Music Stars!
All-County Chorus (pictured above from left to right):
SUSAN YOUNG, ILEAH NIETO, and ALONDRA SOSA
All-County Recorder:
SEBASTIAN BROCHERO 
Ms. Silva’s Kindergarten class celebrated Black History Month with a lesson and craft about Kente Cloth. They hung their artwork proudly in the halls for everyone to enjoy!  
Ms. Silva’s Kindergarteners are enjoying their Independent Reading time on the carpet. 
The 3rd Grade Teaching Team (Ms. Sol, Ms. Garrett, Ms. Wicker, Ms. Ambrosino, Ms. Lindell, and Ms. Fischer) is collaboratively planning for their upcoming lessons with Instructional Coach, Ms. Gutzmore. Keep up the great work, 3rd Grade!
1st Grade Field Trip to the Zoo:
Astro Skate Night Highlights:
Thank you to all the parents and students who came out to support our school at Astro Skate Night on Feb. 20, 2024! We had such a great time skating with you all!
Magali Rodriguez and Jaylen Marcano, 5th Grade
Joance Cintron, 4th Grade and Jose Berrios-Garcia, 5th Grade 
Florida flag
Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful week!
Ms. Willis, Principal
Lawton Chiles Elementary School
Sunday, February 25, 2024
11001 Bloomfield Drive
Orlando, FL 32825
Phone 407-737-1470
Fax 407-737-1471 | EEO Statement
This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that OCPS utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone.
Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Lawton Chiles Elementary School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of Lawton Chiles Elementary School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Principal Willis at 124924@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.