Dear Tombaugh Families -

As we navigate into the month of February at Tombaugh Elementary, I wanted to take a moment to address an important aspect of our students' development - kindness, empathy, and the prevention of bullying.

Creating a safe and supportive environment for our students is a top priority for us at Tombaugh. We believe that instilling values such as kindness and empathy is essential for their overall growth and well-being. Our school community thrives when every student feels respected, included, and valued.

Tombaugh has placed a special emphasis on promoting kindness and addressing bullying in all its forms. We believe that fostering a culture of kindness not only enhances the overall school experience but also helps our students develop essential social and emotional skills that will serve them well in the future.

To support these efforts, we have implemented the following initiatives:

Leader in Me / Restorative Practices: Our staff works tirelessly to instill leadership within all students during their time at Tombaugh. It is our ultimate desire to teach students how to display kindness, empathy, and respect. We are committed to remove negative behaviors to help students understand the impact of their words and actions on others and create a more positive and inclusive atmosphere.

Anti-Bullying Programs: We will be conducting age-appropriate anti-bullying programs throughout the school year. These programs will provide students with the tools they need to recognize and address bullying behaviors and encourage them to be active bystanders who stand up against bullying.

Open Communication Channels: We encourage open communication between parents, teachers, and students. If your child experiences or witnesses any form of bullying, please encourage them to report it to a teacher, staff member, or directly to our school counselor. We take all reports seriously and are committed to addressing any concerns promptly.

Parental Involvement: We believe that parents play a crucial role in reinforcing the values we instill at school. We invite you to engage in conversations with your child about kindness, respect, and the importance of treating others with empathy. Your involvement will contribute significantly to the success of our initiatives.

Thank you for your commitment to the well-being of our students,

Lisa Manes - Principal

lmanes@lcps.net

2/2 - Stargazing Night 6-8 p.m.

2/5 - World's Greatest Candy Bar Sales Begins

2/7 - First Grade Dental Screenings

2/14 - Kindergarten Concert @ 1:45 p.m.

2/15 - Walk to School Day @ 7:20 a.m.

2/16: Parent Teacher Conference Day / No School for Students

2/19: Presidents Day / No School

2/20 - Educator Planning / No School for Students (Remote Learning Day)

2/20 - PFO Meeting @ 3:00 - in person in Library with a Zoom option!

Nurse Julie has left Tombaugh Elementary to return to working in a hospital ER. She was able to provide us with a blurb for our parent newsletter before she left.

Happy New Year Comets!

February is dental awareness month! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children see a dentist twice a year for cleaning and screening. Luckily, our local dentists make a trip to Tombaugh every February to do a free visual screening of our first grade students! A dentist will be available to take a look at our students' teeth for dental issues, and send a notice to parents if dental work is recommended. No dental work will be done at school. First grade parents, look out for a letter from health services for more information.

We are still in cold and flu season, thank you all for taking good care of our students when they're not feeling well! When we all work together, we can protect our friends and loved ones from unnecessary illness.

Thank you!

ATTENDANCE WORKS

Our mission is to advance student success and help close equity gaps by reducing chronic absence.

We are working hard to reduce our number of chronic absences and improve our school's overall attendance rate. During the 22-23 school year, Tombaugh had a rate of 21.96% Chronic Absences. Students with 10% or more absences make up our Chronic Absence rate. Please be aware we must follow State guidelines to notify parents if any student reaches the Chronic Absence threshold. This notification must be made regardless of the reason. Please continue to provide doctor's notes to help with documentation purposes. Our current Chronic Absence rate has improved to 19%, but we still have much room for improvement. Our 23-24 goal is 10.98% or lower.

If you have questions or concerns, your first point of contact is our Social Worker, Amanda Barela, as she leads our Attendance Initiative at Tombaugh. You may reach Ms. Barela at 575-636-7370 or abarela4@lcps.net

Email: lmanes@lcps.net
Website: https://tombaugh.lcps.net
Location: 226 Carver Road, Las Cruces, NM, USA
Phone: 575-527-9575