August 16, 2024
Announcements
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL LIONS-
We were excited to welcome all of our lions back to school this week! Students were busy learning and practicing our expectations for being respectful, responsible, and productive. Our PTO met this week and we want to share a signup link for volunteering this year. Please click on this link to sign up for ways to help our school. Volunteers are so important to our school and we would love your help!
*Upcoming Important Dates for LHES:
August 23rd- House Meeting Day and Kindergarten Reveal, wear your house colors! Our Kindergarteners will find out which house they will be in on this day!
August 27th- Fall Growth Reading Assessments for 3rd graders
September 1st- October 1st- Attractions Fundraiser for PTO, more information coming soon.
September 2nd- Labor Day Holiday for Students and Staff, School will be closed on this date.
September 5th- Back to School Night at LHES, 5:30-6:30 pm
September 10th- PTO Meeting at Ledo’s 6:00 pm. A virtual link will be available on the PTO Facebook page.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LHES SCHOOL OPERATIONS & PROCEDURES 2024-2025-
**NEW BUS LOOP/PARKING PROCEDURES:
In preparation for our upcoming office renovation and construction, the front bus loop will be reserved for buses only on all of the days school is in session.
This means no vehicles will be allowed to park and/or drop-off students between
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Visitor parking spaces and Quick-Stop Spaces (10 minutes or less) will be designated in the larger parking lot adjacent to our building. There are plenty of additional parking spots available within the larger lots.
Parking may be altered for special school-wide events pending construction updates.
Reminder: ADA/Handicap spaces are only for vehicles with proper identification.
The school day begins at 8:45am and ends at 3:30pm
We know how valuable each moment of the school day is and attendance for our students is critical. Late arrivals or early dismissals should only occur in cases of emergency. Please ensure students are able to attend school for the entire day. Students are considered tardy if they are not in the classroom by 8:45 A.M.
Parent Drop Off will begin at 8:25 each day. Students will not be able to enter the building prior to that time.
Please only allow your student to exit the car in the designated area with a staff member present.
Dismissal: Transportation changes are only accepted in written form
Student safety is our top priority, and for safety reasons we can only accept changes in writing.
Please send in a written note or email to leehillesattendance@spotsylvania.k12.va.us, if your student has a change in afternoon transportation or is being picked up early. Students will be released only to parents, guardians, or persons officially designated in writing by the parent or guardian.
Notification for changes in dismissal should be done by 2:00 p.m.
After 3:10, students will not be dismissed from the office. Please go to Parent Pick-up/Curbside line if you are picking up after this time.
Clinic Reminders:
All medicine, to include herbal and over the counter medicine (cough drops, allergy medication, eye drops etc) must be delivered to the school nurse or principal in the original unopened container by the parent/guardian. All medicine must have a written doctor's order and must be administered in the school clinic.
When a child is sick and/or reports he/she will not be able to participate
comfortably in classroom activities or could potentially spread a contagious disease, he/she should be kept home. If you are unsure if your child may come to school, please contact the school nurse prior to sending to school.
Outside Food Deliveries:
Outside deliveries, including food vendor deliveries, cannot be accepted for students. Parent visitors during lunchtime may only provide outside food for their own child. As part of our safety plan, outside food may not be distributed to any other student.
Cell Phones:
Students may not access cell phones during the school day while on school property including buses.
Electronic devices should remain at home. If a student has a cell phone, it must remain off and in their backpack. Please refrain from any cell phone and smartwatch communication use in the building or on the bus. Taking pictures or video in the school setting or on the school bus is not permitted.
CURBSIDE REMINDERS FOR OUR PARENT LOOP-
We want to take time to remind all parents using the parent loop about our curbside safety rules. New numbers are issued each year for students using curbside for dismissal. Families can sign up for curbside numbers during our Open House on August 8th. Please remember that curbside drop off times are from 8:25-8:45 am each morning. We ask parents to remain in their vehicles to keep the line moving. Students should be ready to exit with their backpacks ready when vehicles reach the cone zone. Parents should not get out of their vehicles during morning drop off or afternoon pickup times. It is important to follow the directions of our staff working in the curbside loop and keep the line moving. Thank you for your cooperation! We want to make sure our lions are safe during arrivals and departures in the parent loop!
Curbside Expectations for Students-
Use the restroom before leaving your classroom to go to curbside at dismissal time.
Report directly to the cafeteria.
Sit in the row that corresponds to your number. Sit with your siblings or other riders in your car.
Remain in your seat, listen carefully for your number, and be ready to leave. This means talk at a Level 1 and keep all your belongings in your bookbag.
Once your number is called go directly to the door to leave.
Stay on the sidewalk and walk to your car.
FOOD SERVICE INFORMATION-
Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all students free of charge for the 24-25 school year. Students may also choose to pack lunch. We have a new food vendor servicing Spotsylvania Schools this year, but the birthday celebrations practice remains the same. The explanation can be found on page 15 in the Student Handbook which can be accessed digitally on the county website. See the attached CEP Letter from SCPS.CEP Letter One important item to note coming from the entire school division is the following:
In SCPS elementary schools, we work hard to ensure that students’ minds and bodies are ready for learning each day. In addition to the hard work our teachers and staff do every day to prepare students for success in the classroom, we also work to encourage healthy eating and physical activity, leading them to lifelong success. We understand that celebrating students is very important and we are committed to recognizing students in healthy and safe ways.
Like many other schools, we have many students who suffer from life-threatening allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control (2011), allergies have increased more than 20% among American children since the mid-1990s. Childhood obesity has tripled over the past 20 years. As a school community, we must do all we can to lessen the chances of an allergic incident happening and must work diligently to keep our students safe.
Each year, across our elementary sites, feedback from staff and parents is mixed with regard to outside food and treats. We are aware that this is a sensitive subject. We will continue to celebrate student birthdays as a school-wide community, however, should you choose to provide birthday treats to classmates, these goodies must be non-edible. Cupcakes, candy, and/or any other edible food items will not be allowed. Your school will reach out with specific, non-food alternative ways you can use to recognize your child’s birthday at school. Specific, school-wide celebrations will continue with other guidance and forward planning for a safe, healthy event.
LION NATION DIRECTORY-
Our schools do not distribute birthday invitations, but if you would like to share your information with others, we have a student directory that is optional. We are making a LHES School Directory. This is OPTIONAL. If you would like make your information available to other LHES parents, please fill out the information below. A directory will be created and shared with only those parents/guardians listed within the directory. Adherence to technology use/conduct guidelines within our SCPS Parent/Student Handbook are to be upheld.
Here is the link:
https://forms.gle/jU1vyZ6M91fpLAbB8
DRILLS-
Our school practices safety drills each year in order to train students and staff on emergency procedures. We will be practicing fire drills, severe weather drills, and lockdown/intruder drills several times within the first 20 days of school and then continuously throughout the year. We will also practice bus drills in September and throughout the year. **We will have our first lockdown practice drill next week, the week of Aug. 19th.
HERE COMES THE BUS APP-
SCPS has an app that you can download to track your child’s bus. Please visit the Transportation section of the SCPS website, sign up, and find support there, including the two school codes.
https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/page/transportation
SCPS PRESCHOOL INFO-
Spotsylvania County Preschool is an income based program. They are accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year and have available slots. Applications are available online on the Center for Family and Preschool Services page. Please feel free to call them at 540-582-8816 for more information.