LCE May Newsletter
LCE: A Great Place to Be!
A Note from the Principal
Little Cypress Elementary Families,
May is my favorite month of the year! It's crazy busy, but it's packed with so much fun. I hope you enjoy this month, even as it flies by!
It's a bittersweet time for me, but I am thankful to end my time as LCE Principal with so many great student activities going on. There's still lots that our students are learning, but they are also going to have so much fun.
As we transition over to the summer, I want to encourage you to continue pouring into your child's education. Simple things like requiring them to read or listen to a book every day, practice their math facts, play outside, or watch a documentary to build background knowledge can go a long way! Kids enjoy routine and structure, and while we want them to relax and have a great summer, we also want to prevent the dreaded "summer slide."
Students will still have access to their computer programs, such as Zearn and Amplify, and they can log on through ClassLink. If you need their log in information, please ask their teacher. Based on our most recent assessments, your child's teacher has specific things they can work on if you'd like to ask. If nothing else, I encourage you to get involved in the Orange Public Library's summer reading program. Instilling a love for reading starts early! There are also some great LCM sports camps scheduled as well as several local Vacation Bible Schools. There's lots to keep your kids busy!
As always, please let me know if there is anything we can do to better serve your family. We want LCE to be the best place for students, and that begins with a partnership between home and school.
If I don't see you before I move over to LCMHS this summer, please know that it has been a joy to serve as the LCE Principal, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to lead this campus the past three years.
I am honored to share that Dr. Sarah St. John, LCE Assistant Principal, has been named the Principal for the 2024-2025 school year. Please take time to read her introduction letter below.
At your service,
Amber Hawk
Principal
Dr. Sarah St. John Named New LCE Principal
Dr. Sarah St. John, current Little Cypress Elementary Assistant Principal, has been named the new principal at Little Cypress Elementary for the 2024-25 school year.
Dr. St. John is married to Brandon St. John, Control Systems Engineering Team Lead at Motiva Enterprises in Port Arthur.
The St. Johns have two children who are students at Little Cypress Elementary.
Dr. St. John attended Lamar University and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.
She received her Master of Educational Leadership from Lamar University in 2021 and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University in 2023.
She started her teaching career at Little Cypress Elementary, teaching second grade, in 2012.
With more than 12 years in education, she has served as a second, third, and fourth grade teacher, Elementary Campus Curriculum Coordinator, and Assistant Principal. Dr. St. John is a member of Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.
"I have loved my time as a teacher and administrator at Little Cypress Elementary, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to lead the campus," said St. John. "I attended Little Cypress Mauriceville CISD from kindergarten through graduation and started my teaching career there. Having the opportunity to be principal is such an honor. I can't wait to see what the future holds for LCE and our community."
Dr. St. John is thankful for all the opportunities she's had throughout her career and feels fortunate to still work with some of the teachers that mentored her when she began her teaching career at LCE.
For the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, Dr. St. John will continue her assistant principal duties while also beginning to plan for next school year. "I am going to collaborate with our current principal, Mrs. Hawk, to ensure that the transition in leadership goes smoothly. I want to continue all of the great things we have been doing on campus and find more ways to support our students and staff."
See below for more information about Adventure Dash Fun Run.
We no longer have school on Friday, May 24th! The last day for students is Thursday, May 23rd.
Kindergarten graduation will be the Last Day of School since we no longer have school on Friday, May 24th. We will hold Kindergarten graduation at 9:45 a.m. as their Last Day of School party. Two guests may attend. Please use the registration link below to pre-register.
Last Day of School Party Registration
For the 2023-24 school year, Little Cypress Elementary is requiring ID checks for large school events.
Therefore, we are requesting families to pre-register for large school events.
For these events, two family members may register to attend per child.
A new registration form will be used for each event.
Please see the link below for the form.
This form is for the LCE Last Day of School Party day on Thursday, May 23rd.
This form must be filled out by Thursday, May 16th to pre-register.
If you pre-register, your Raptor ID sticker will be sent home with your child before the event.
In order for this to work, you will need to get your ID scanned in the front office before the registration deadline.
If you do not have a Raptor ID sticker on the day of the event, you will be required to go to the front office to get your ID scanned. Please expect a long line.
Please contact Principal Amber Hawk at ahawk@lcmcisd.org with any questions.
We are so thankful for our partnership with the LCE PTO. They do so much for us, and it’s hard to even list or explain their impact. The Adventure Dash is the largest PTO fundraiser of the year, and what I love most about it is that all students get to participate in a fun day regardless of how much money they raise. However, if your child raises money, they do get some extra special opportunities which I will explain below. I scheduled the Adventure Dash fundraiser at the end of the school year because it serves a two-fold purpose as a campus “field day.” The best thing about the fundraiser is what PTO can do with the funds in the upcoming school year.
Examples of what PTO has spent money on this year at LCE include: water fountains on two of our three playgrounds, new shade that will be installed over our playgrounds, playground balls, PBIS incentives, and more! With this year’s funds, we hope to add another water fountain, more inclusive playground equipment, more playground shade, and PBIS incentives, just to name a few things. The Adventure Dash funds really help us get things that we can’t use state and federal funds on. Again, we appreciate this partnership.
As far as the actual Adventure Dash program goes, here are the details:
Dash Day for LCE is Friday, May 17th. All classes will get to participate in the Dash Day.
This year students will wear the field trip shirts that PTO has already purchased for them.
There are individual student goals for fundraising, school wide challenges, and overnight challenges.
The individual student goal for each student is $300. At different points in the fundraising, students will earn different Adventure Dash bands. Just by registering with AD online, students get a band. The bands count for different “extra” fun things that happen during the Dash time. However, again, if your child does not even raise a penny, they will still get to Dash and run through the obstacle courses etc. The overnight class challenges are put on by PTO and include things like popsicles for the class, cookie cakes, or a bounce house.
The school wide challenges are as follows: $15,000 and everyone gets Face Art, $25,000 and everyone gets to watch a show and have a snack, $30,000 and students get to duct tape Coach Haile, $35,000 and Mrs. Hawk and Dr. St. John have to do an inflatable race, $40,000 and the Adventure Dash run becomes a Color Run, $45,000 and everyone gets Snow Cones, and $50,000 is a visit from the fire truck that will spray water on everyone.
On the actual Dash Day, May 17th, you will need to send your child with extra clothes and a towel. Your child’s teacher will communicate the details with you.
Although the ADFR kick off is not until later this month, the registration and donation links are already active! Check out the links below.
Preparing for Next Year
See above for the School Supply list and calendar for next year.
Pre-K parents, we will not have a nap time in Kindergarten, so please work with your child to transition away from a nap time before August gets here.
See information below about ParentSquare, the new district communication tool.
ParentSquare for 2024-2025 School Year
Dear Families,
We are excited to announce that we adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at LCMCISD called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with LCMCISD. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:
Send and receive school and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Sign up to volunteer
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
All district and school, grade level and classroom information for next school year will be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).
Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.
We are asking parents to go ahead and download the ParentSquare app to be ready for next school year! See the links below.
We recently celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we are so thankful for our LCE volunteers!
A Note from Counselor Sydney Carr
This month I will be wrapping up an AMAZING school year with some safety tips with LCE students to use this summer. We will be learning about water safety, staying healthy, communicating with a trusted adult, and more! It has been an honor to serve your students as Counselor at LCE this year.
Love,
Mrs. Carr
If you could take the time to fill out this quick anonymous survey, I would appreciate it!
A Note from Nurse Coleman
If you know someone who might be interested in joining us at LCMCISD, have them visit LCMCISD.org.
All students are eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch this year.
Upcoming Lunch Visitor Schedule
We rotate lunch visitors weekly, but we also allow two Skyward approved guests on your child's birthday.
If your child has a birthday on the weekend, you can come the Friday before or Monday after.
The week of May 6: 1st Grade
The week of May 13: 2nd Grade - Except for Friday, May 17th
The week of May 20: 3rd Grade - Except for Thursday, May 23rd
As a reminder, only two guests can attend lunch, and they must be listed and approved through Skyward. Guests must sit in the assigned guest lunch area.
Guests are not allowed to take photos of other students on campus, and other students are not allowed to sit with guests. Food can only be shared with your child.
May Dyslexia Newsletter
May Second Grade Math Newsletter
Bus Rider Information
Changes? Call Transportation at 670-4601 by 1:30 p.m.
Students must ride the bus to their assigned drop off location (home address/licensed day care).
All bus transportation changes must go through the Transportation Department 409-670-4601. Changes must take place before 1:30 p.m.
Without a note, the child will follow their established routine.
In an emergency, a phone call will be accepted but will require the student's last four digits of their social security number.
An adult must be present at the bus stop for all PK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students to be dropped off.
Car Line Procedures
Morning Drop Off
Afternoon Pick Up
DROP OFF:
LCE students should be dropped off between 6:50 - 7:10 a.m. The tardy bells rings at 7:15 a.m. and instruction begins at 7:20 a.m.
Only 2nd and 3rd grade students and Self-Contained students can be dropped off at the front of the school in the mornings. Everyone else will need to be dropped off in the back.
Parents with both LCI and LCE students may drop their LCE student off in the LCI car line between 6:50 - 7:10 a.m. After 7:10, all LCE students are to be dropped off at the LCE campus.
For safety reasons, please have your child ready to exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Please talk to your child about what it means to be ready to exit the vehicle. Please also stress to them not to run but to walk safely.
We will begin shutting the back doors at the 7:15 a.m. tardy bell.
Once the back doors are closed, you will need to drive to the front of the school, park, and escort your child into the building.
TURN RIGHT when exiting Meeks during drop off and pick up hours.
For the safety of your child and others, please do not use your cell phone while in the car drop off and pick up lines.
PICK UP:
The dismissal car line begins at 2:50 p.m.
Students cannot be checked out through the front office after 2:30 p.m. as we are in our final transition for the day. We will ask you to join the pick up line at that point. On Early Release days, final front office pick up will be at 10:50 a.m.
Please ensure that you are in line to pick up your child by 3:10 p.m.
If your child needs assistance to buckle, please pull ahead into the grassy area.
THE SCHOOL ISSUED CAR RIDER TAG MUST BE VISIBLE IN ORDER TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD. THIS IS A SAFETY MEASURE.
TURN RIGHT when exiting Meeks during drop off and pick up hours.
For the safety of your child and others, please do not use your cell phone while in the car drop off and pick up lines.
Dress Code
The district prohibits any clothing or grooming that in the principal’s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption or interference with normal school operations.
Shorts and skirts should be at least mid-thigh length and be hemmed.
Shirts should cover the midriff and have at least two (2) inch shoulder strap or sleeves. No muscle shirts or spaghetti straps.
Pants must fit at the waist or be belted. Baggy pants and jeans with holes above the knee will not be allowed. Holes above the knee with backing are allowed as long as the backing is intact.
All students are required to have shoes that are safe for participation in all physical education activities. Backless shoes, high-heeled shoes of any type, and flip-flops are prohibited. This is a safety issue and is in the best interest of the student. All rubber soled, laced up, closed back shoes (tennis shoes or any athletic type shoe) will be acceptable. Crocs are not allowed in PE.
Should you have to remove your child during the school day, please sign him/her out at the front office. School personnel will call for your child to meet you.
Please remember to send any doctor's notes upon the student's return to school. When absent, the student must have a signed parent note or doctor's excuse upon their return to school.
You can e-mail attendance documentation to Attendance Clerk and Registrar Bianca Sanchez at bsanchez@lcmcisd.org.
Little Cypress Elementary Contacts
5723 Meeks
Orange, Texas 77632
409-886-2838
Amber Hawk, Principal
Sarah St. John, Assistant Principal
Sydney Brittain, Counselor
Lisa Fisher, Secretary
Bianca Sanchez, Registrar
Misty Coleman, Nurse
Meagan Washburn, At-Risk Coordinator
Tammi Halliburton, Librarian