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The Howl - Our Parent Newsletter
August 22, 2023
Our 2023-24 Theme
Carter Parent Orientation is Thursday, August 24 (See times/sessions below)
Grade Level Virtual Zoom Sessions Below:
Parents: This is an evening for teachers and parents to collaborate, and space is very limited, so we would like you to know that this is an adults-only event.
Pre-k Zoom link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/95803914199
Kindergarten Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/96875611622
1st Grade Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/92171887260
2nd Grade Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/94482930452
3rd Grade Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/93166675870
4th Grade Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/92775514490
5th Grade Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/92548936918
ECSE/Pegasus (Stanley) Zoom Link:
https://lcisd.zoom.us/j/96396997627
SLC K-5 (Davis & Fontenot) Zoom Link:
August 22, 2023
Dear Carter Coyote Families,
It was so wonderful to see our Coyotes back this week! Lots of smiles, laughter...and a few tears--but what a great first week we have had!
At Parent Orientation on Thursday, you will be able to learn more about the school and classroom processes and expectations. Teachers will touch on topics such as important dates, grading protocols, communication/newsletters to name a few!
See the flyer above for times of virtual and face-to-face sessions.
Beginning of the Year Forms: We still have about 20% of our Families Needing to Finish Required Forms
All required LCISD beginning-of-year forms MUST be completed online through the Skyward Family Access Center. Offering these forms digitally allows you the convenience of only updating information that has changed from last school year, while also helping us maintain accurate information in our student information system. Even if you just registered your child this summer, parents are still required to complete the beginning of the year forms as well. Online forms are available in the Skyward Family Access Center.
Student Bus Routes and Information
Registering for the parent portal is a vital safety measure that should be completed by ALL parents. Bus routing information will only be available in Smart Tag. The Parent and Campus Portal will show updated bus route information for your student and you will be able to view your child in real time as they are on the bus route!
The Parent Portal link can be found here: https://www.lcisd.org/departments/support-services/transportation/smart-tag-information
Parents please go into the Smart Tag Portal and make sure you are registered for bus service by using the link above.
Attendance Expectations:
Parents,
Per our LCISD student handbook, students must attend school regularly. When a student is absent from school due to personal illness, the student upon return, or within 5 days
of returning to school, must submit a note signed by a parent giving the date(s) and describing the reason for the absence. Parent notes may be sent by email but must come from a parent’s verified email account.
The note or email must be sent to the campus attendance clerk. Excuse notes turned in after 5 days are subject to approval by the campus principal. An excessive number of absences will be referred to the Campus Attendance Review Committee (ARC)
We are committed to making the 2023-24 school year a gold-medal year for your child. Thank you for supporting us in this most important task--we are so thankful to have the Coyote Community with us!
A Few Reminders
We know that our morning car line is very busy! Just like every year, the car line will go faster in the mornings as students get used to getting out of the car swiftly but safely and some families decide to allow their student to walk across the crosswalk or ride the bus to school in the mornings. A few things you can do to help speed up the morning car line:
1. Be ready! Back packs are on and lunch kits in hand. Kisses & hugs given before the car comes to a stop at the curb for departure.
2. Arrive a little earlier! If you arrive in the car line at 6:45-6:55, you can literally drive to the curb without pausing.
3. Take advantage of other modes of transportation! We accept walkers/bikers at the crosswalk on Stonecreek Estates Dr. Students walk into the entrance on the east side of the school. We have 9 buses that support Carter students. You are never tardy when taking the bus to school!
Dismissal is at 2:40, the end of school day.
Lunch Visitors: We welcome visitors for lunch! However, we ask that parents do not visit for lunch until we have had time to learn new procedures and systems. Lunch visitors will be welcomed back to the cafeteria starting August 28. Our cafeteria has tables where you and your child can sit and enjoy lunch together. Remember, that you may bring food in for your child, but it cannot be shared with or bought for other students.
As a visitor, you will be required to check in at the front office and receive a visitor's badge to enter the building. Please enjoy lunch with your child and once lunch is over exit the building through the front doors, returning your visitor's badge to the front office clerk as you leave. Please do not return to class with your child and if you need to speak with your child's teacher, email or call to request a call back or conference time. Teachers are on duty with their students and will not be available to conference with parents during or after lunch is over.
Parents Please Sign up in Smart Tag Portal for Your Child's Required ID Badge
Smart Tag is a MUST: If your child loses their Smart Tag, they will need to bring $5 to buy a replacement. Wearing a Smart Tag is an LCISD requirement and a security issue. Our students no matter what grade level have to get used to wearing it daily.
ALL students K-5 will receive a colored lanyard that identifies their House. Thank you, PTO!!
Registering for the Smart Tag Parent Portal is a vital safety measure that should be completed by ALL parents. Additionally, your child will use their ID Badge to purchase lunch and breakfast, on the bus, and library book check-out. Bus routing information will only be available in Smart Tag Parent Portal. The Smart Tag Parent Portal will show updated bus route information for your student before the first day of school.
The Smart Tag Parent Portal link can be found HERE
Slide Day into Our Houses for All New Students Is FRIDAY!
Important District Changes to the Student Code of Conduct That Will Affect All Students
Among some of the most important changes are:
1. Being in possession of a Vape or E-cigarrette will result in automatic removal from the home campus to the Alternative Learning Center for a period of time TBD.
2. Being in possession of a knife of any length will result in automatic removal from the home campus to the Alternative Learning Center for a period of time TBD.
3. Cellphones: Cellphones and personal electronic devices including smartwatches must be turned off and stored in backpacks unless given specific permission by a teacher to use for an instructional purpose. The district has outlined specific required consequences for violation of personal technology policy: See page 100 in elementary student handbook.
Link to Elementary Handbook and Student Code of Conduct: HERE
Link to the Parent and Guardian Standards of Conduct: HERE
Carter ES Is in Full Swing with New School Hours for 2023-24!
Carter Elementary fell into Group A, and our new hours will be: 7:15-2:40.
School doors will open 15 minutes earlier at 6:45, instead of 7:00 AM. The school day will start immediately at 7:15. Students who come to school after 7:15 will be considered tardy.
See flyer below for more information:
Tardies and Early Pick Ups
We attribute our achievement success to several factors, one being bell to bell teaching! Here at Carter Elementary School, our students can go straight to the gym/grade level pod at 6:45am and begin getting ready for learning activities to start at 7:00!
Any student not in class at 7:15am will be counted tardy. Students will be routed to the front office to get a tardy slip before being released to go to class. We know that it is important for students to acclimate to new routines so we will begin counting tardies on Sept. 5th.
Our announcements start promptly at 7:15am, therefore all our students need to be in class for the pledges and to hear important daily information.
If you drop your child off in the morning, the best time (with minimal wait) is between 6:45am - 6:55am. At 7:05am, traffic picks up tremendously. If you turn into the carpool area at 7:10am or later, you run the risk of being late.
We understand that you have absolutely no control of the pacing of the carpool line on any given day. For this reason, we strongly suggest you access our carpool lane during the earlier minutes (6:45am - 7:00am) so your child has time to exit the car, enter the building and make it to class before the tardy bell rings.
It is very important that students are at school everyday, on time and stay for the entire day. Just as tardies impact learning over time, early pick-ups also cause students to miss instruction. Tardies and Early Pickups are recorded by the front office staff electronically. If you must pick up your students early for appointments, our cut off time is 2:00pm.
PTO News
Carter PTO spirit wear is going on sale again next week! We'll have the same designs that were sold this summer, plus we'll have dri-fit, long-sleeve and hoodies. The sale will run from August 28-September 10 and you'll get your spirit wear a few weeks after that. Visit https://doncarterpto.ptboard.com/formvw?store=3815&form=7 to order your spirit wear. Please note that the link will not work until Aug 28. Thanks for supporting the Carter community!
Contact doncarterpto@gmail.com to learn how you can support our school!
Full Price & Free and Reduced Cost Meals - Breakfast and Lunch
Please click the link below to apply for Free and Reduced-Cost Meals, Breakfast/Lunch Menus, and all things about Child Nutrition. Students will be charged for all meals unless you apply and qualify for free and reduced-cost meals.
https://www.lcisd.org/departments/support-services/food-service
STAAR Scores
Dear Parents and Guardians of 4th and 5th Grade Students,
Grade 3-8 STAAR scores were released on Wednesday, August 16 and can be accessed through the parent portal in Skyward Family Access. For instructions on accessing STAAR scores from Skyward Family Access, please see the enclosed.
Los resultados de STAAR de 3º a 8º grado se dieron a conocer el miércoles 16 de agosto, y se puede tener acceso a ellos a través del portal de los padres Skyward Family Access.
Para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo acceder a los resultados de STAAR en Skyward Family Access, favor de ver adjunto.
2023-24 LCISD Instructional Calendar
Uniform Information
Below, please find the uniform colors and uniform clothing items that can be worn for the 2023-2024 school year:
Bottoms: Solid color navy blue, black, khaki or blue denim pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers. Leggings/tights worn alone as well as embellished and distressed jeans with rips and tears are not allowed.
Tops: Solid color, collared (polo style, no logo) shirts in red, white, navy blue (dark blue,) black or hunter green (dark green.)
Maroon, gray, olive, kelly green, royal blue and light blue are not Carter approved uniform shirt colors.
School and PTO approved Carter ES spirit shirts are allowed daily, such as the once a year Carter themed shirt.
Leggings/tights worn alone as well as embellished and distressed jeans with rips and tears are not allowed. Additionally, basketball shorts, roller shoes, shoes that light up and backpacks on wheels are not allowed.
If a student is not wearing the proper uniform, they will be sent to the Nurse to either call home or receive a change of clothes, as our inventory allows.
Arrival and Dismissal Areas for Car Line, Bus, and Walker/Bikers
Important Documents at Your Fingertips
Important Dates to Remember
August 24 - Parent Orientation: Parents attend only 1 session: Virtual Session A: 4:45-5:15 PM, Session B: 5:30-6 PM (F2F), Session C: 6:15-6:45 PM (F2F)
August 25 - House Slide Day 💗💛💚💙
August 28 - Lunch visitors begin
September 4 - Labor Day, Student & Staff Holiday
September 6 - College Day 🎓
September 21 - Progress Reports released in Skyward Family Access
September 28 - Go Western Day
September 29 - Fort Bend County Fair Day/Student and Staff Holiday
Don Carter Elementary School
Leann Imrie, Principal
Mandy Casey, Assistant Principal
Aerika Dial, Assistant Principal
Website: www.lcisd.org
Location: 8500 A Meyers Road, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: (832)223-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonCarterES/
Twitter: @cartercoyotes