September 27, 2024
Announcements
PLEASE CHECK PARENTVUE-
We need all families to check ParentVue to access your child’s information. Please check ParentVue online for the beginning of the year information packets to be completed digitally for each student. Click on “new year packet” to complete the digital forms for each child. We have 142 students who have not had the “new year packet” completed. By completing the new year packet, you are acknowledging receipt of the Back to School information. We need all families to acknowledge receipt of these forms. Thank you for your cooperation!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING CAREER DAY A SUCCESS-
We appreciate all of our volunteer presenters and helpers for our LHES Career Day today! The students enjoyed learning about a variety of future careers. Thank you for helping to make this a successful learning experience for our lions!
SCPS BUDGET CONVERSATIONS-
Please see the attached flier for more information on the Superintendent’s Budget Conversation Events.Budget Talks Info
PTO NEWS-
*Maintenance/Custodian Appreciation Day is October 2nd!
We are looking for volunteers to help make decorations and decorate their office at 8:25 am that day. We are also looking for volunteers to help make a small goodie bag of thanks for each custodian. Their names are: Ena, Irma, and Marthe. Please email lhespto.treasurer@gmail.com if you are able to help.
*Thank you to all the parents who sent in goodies and volunteered for Apple Fest! You helped make a wonderful treat for our Staff!
*Next PTO meeting will be held Oct 8th @ 6pm at Ledo's Pizza or online with the shared link.
*Trunk or Treat is coming up on October 25th from 5:00-6:00 pm. PTO will share a link to sign up to host a trunk soon!
PARENTVUE INFO-
Here is a link to a document that can be shared with your school community on accessing standard grades in ParentVue. ParentVUE for Standards Based Instructions
REPORT CARD MESSAGE-
In a few short weeks we will unveil a new elementary report card! After a year of focused committee work and feedback from parents, teachers and administrators, we look forward to sharing your student’s quarterly grades with this new tool! We hope that you find the new format streamlined and more parent-friendly.
Over the coming weeks we will highlight different features of the report card. Feature 1 highlights what standards-based grading is and what each grade means. We have retired the grade of: 4-exceeds standard, and instead will report students’ exceptional achievements as well as areas to grow by using the comment section.
The report card is only one way to communicate grades! Please remember that we want to partner with you at any time to discuss your student’s progress! The first report card will be posted online in ParentVue on October 17, 2024.
VALLSS LETTERS COMING HOME SOON FOR GRADES K-3-
Hello parents,
You are most likely familiar with the PALS screener most schools in Virginia have given for the past 20 years. Students K-3 were given a multi-part screener to determine their level of proficiency with the foundations of reading. If they failed to meet the benchmark score, they received 150 minutes of reading instruction in addition to their classroom instruction.
In response to the Virginia Literacy Act, the University of Virginia has retired the PALS screener and has replaced it with the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System or VALLSS. A letter will be coming home in the next week that will tell you more about VALLSS and to let you know your child's band of risk.
Do not let the term "risk" alarm you. Students in the High Risk band will again receive 150 minutes of instruction to help close the gaps and help them meet expectations. Students in the Moderate or Low Risk bands will receive what they need in the classroom. We will be working to support all students with reading instruction!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS-
Our attendance team created an informational flier with tips on how to help students attend school regularly to support their learning and academic success in school. Please see the attached flier.Attendance flier
CURBSIDE REMINDERS-
If you are using the curbside loop to drop off or pick up students, please remember to pull up as close as possible to the car in front of you. This helps our line go quickly and also helps with traffic flow on the road. Also, please leave car numbers on display in your vehicle throughout the entire loop so that staff can easily keep track of numbers. Thank you for your cooperation!
BOXTOPS TO SUPPORT LHES-
Join us in earning cash for our school by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios!) and scan your grocery receipt. Box Tops are worth $.10 each and they add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies or experiences the kids love!
Use this referral code QDMV1M4P when you sign up and you’ll get 25 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt now through 05/31/2025, while supplies last! Download the Box Tops for Education app here: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=QDMV1M4P
4E EXPO FLIERS-
SCPS is holding a 4E Expo for 5th-8th grade students on November 7, 2024. See the attached flyers.4E Flier 4E Spanish
*Upcoming Important Dates for LHES:
**Each Friday is LHES Spirit Day to wear school colors of blue and white. Special House Day Fridays are noted once a month for House Colors.
September 1st- October 25th- Attractions Fundraiser for PTO, please see the attached flyer.Attractions Fundraiser Info
October 2nd- Custodian and Maintenance Appreciation Day
October 3rd- Student/Teacher Holiday- no school for all students in SCPS
October 4th- House Meeting Day, Wear your House Colors!
October 8th- PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm at Ledo's or by Zoom Link posted on Facebook
October 11th- End of the 1st Quarter
October 14th- Student Holiday/Teacher Workday- no school for all students in SCPS
October 15th- Student Holiday/Teacher Workday- no school for all students in SCPS
October 17th- Report Cards Posted Online on ParentVue
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*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!
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.
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