Gator Family News 8/20

Vision:

Empowering today’s students to embrace tomorrow’s possibilities.

Mission:

Our mission is to foster and motivate high level learning through innovative strategies to create lifelong learners in a safe and positive environment that partners with a diverse community.

Happy Friday Gator Family!

Wow!!! What an awesome first week back to school! I am so excited about this school year and our Three Lakes Team! I truly feel this is going to be the best year this campus has ever experienced! There is something in the air...from the students to the staff to the parents! Thank you for allowing us to teach your children!!!

Our focus for the 2021-2022 school year is: Climate and culture, writing across the curriculum, data driven small group instruction, and student collaboration. Our goal, as middle school educators, is to prepare our students to be successful in high school. What we focus on gets done! If we keep our focus, we will, without a doubt, move Three Lakes to the next level...Success for ALL students...Successful Student Outcomes!

Every student was provided an agenda this week in order to maintain records of their coursework, assignments, quizzes, tests, and other important dates. Please review their agenda with them and ask them questions about what they are doing in their classes. Ultimately, by utilizing their agendas, our students will improve their organization skills and will be better prepared for learning.

We are looking forward to an AWESOME school year!!!!

Christopher J. Blake, Principal

Melanie Bush: Instruction

Tiffany Koop: 7th (A-L) & 6th Grade

Kristopher Reece: 7th (M-Z) & 8th Grade

I am so proud and humbled to serve at Three Lakes Middle School. This is my 10th year in education. I was in the classroom for 6 years teaching middle school math. I then served as a Master Teacher in Tyler ISD before becoming the Assistant Principal at Orr Elementary in 2019. I am excited to begin work with the Three Lakes community. I am a product of Tyler ISD. My husband I have two amazing children ages 6 and 11 months.

Educational Background: --B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies—University of Texas at Tyler and M.Ed. Educational Leadership—Lamar University

Statement: All means All.

Contact Info: Email: melanie.bush@tylerisd.org Phone: 903-262-2970

A message from the TLMS PTA: Please sign up to help at Three Lakes Back to School Bash next Friday, August 27th. We are excited to host this fun event for the kids and we need plenty of parent help! There are two sessions: one for 6th grade and one for 7th and 8th combined. Feel free to help for one or both. Times are listed in the sign up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084CACAA22ABF49-three

Join us in the Library Friday, August 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for Cookies with the Counselors. This will be a come and go opportunity to visit with the TLMS Counselors. They will be able to assist you and answer questions. Below are some topics they will discuss:

• 8th grade parents: If you have questions or concerns about high school scheduling and course choices for next year (which must be completed in December), this is a great opportunity to ask questions. Each student will be required to select a career pathway and an endorsement that they will be working towards in high school, and we can share resources on the different areas of study they can pursue.
  
• All parents: If you have any special circumstances that you believe the counselors should know about, this is a great opportunity to share with us about your student.
  
• All parents: If you are in need of resources, such as outside counseling services for you or your student, we can help you identify and connect with these resources.
  
• All parents: If you are not familiar with the parent portal, where you can monitor your students grades, we can help you set it up and show you how to receive alerts when your student’s grades drop.
  
• We will not be discussing schedule changes during these meetings. After the first week of school, we like to keep the students in their same schedule.

Thank you for your patience during the first week of school with our TLMS traffic plan. Our duty is to ensure the safety of every child, first and foremost. The morning drop off has been extremely smooth this year...thank you for pulling forward each morning! Also, our afternoon pickup is running faster each day. Remind your child to pay attention and to look for their ride, so the line will not be held up. It takes teamwork in the morning and afternoon to make things run smoothly...thanks for being a part of the team!!!

A few reminders:

• Do not drop your children off in the parking lot. Please utilize the parent drop off line.
• The lane closest to the school is for dropping off students. The outside lane is for moving traffic only.
• Be aware that shopping centers near TLMS have no parking/no trespassing signs posted. Please be sure you are not violating these by parking in, or having your child meet you in, an unauthorized area.

Parents,

Please assist us in ensuring students are in compliance with the student dress code. If you have any questions concerning dress code, please reach out to your child's assistant principal.

Improving attendance at Three Lakes Middle School is a top priority this school year. There is a direct correlation between student attendance and school success, so encourage your students to attend school and discuss the importance of them being here daily.

Our attendance for the week is as follows:

Grade 6: 98.57%

Grade 7: 99.07%

Grade 8: 98.77%

Overall: 98.81%

Congratulations to our 7th graders for having the highest attendance this week!!! Continue motivating your students to attend school...it makes a difference!!!

Here are some helpful hints to help with attendance:

• Establish and stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance.
• Talk to your child about why going to school every day is critical and important unless they are sick. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, counselor, or administrator to get them excited about going to school.
• Come up with back up plans for who to turn to (another family member, a neighbor or fellow parents) to help you get your child to school if something comes up (e.g. another child gets sick, your car breaks down, etc.).
• Reach out for help if you are experiencing tough times (e.g. transportation, unstable housing, loss of a job, health problems) that make it difficult to get your child to school. Other parents, your child’s teacher, principal, social worker, school nurse, counselor, or community agencies can help you problem solve or connect you to a needed resource.
• If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure she or he has an opportunity to learn and make up for the academics missed.

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." ~T. S. Eliot

Email: christopher.blake@tylerisd.org
Website: https://www.tylerisd.org/o/tlms
Location: 2445 Three Lakes Parkway, Tyler, TX, USA
Phone: (903) 262-2970
Facebook: facebook.com/threelakestylerisd
Twitter: @ThreeLakesTISD