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LES NEWSLES NEWS Lexington Elementary School
116 Azalea Drive
Lexington, SC 29072
803-821-4000, Fax 803-821-4003
www.lexington1.net/les
James H. Hamby, Principal
Sujata Wallace & Alicia Prezzy, Asst. Principals
Upcoming Events What’s Happening at LES
Feb 5 Collaborative Planning Day
Dismissal at 11:40 am
Middle/High Schools at 12:40pm
Feb 11 Class Pictures
Feb 14 1st Weather Make-up Day
Normal School Day
Feb 17 President’s Day
No School for Students
Feb 18 School Board Mtg, 7:30 pm
Feb 19 Interims Issued
Mar 5 Collaborative Planning Day
Dismissal at 11:40 am
Middle/High Schools at 12:40pm
February 2014
● LES LUNCH VISITOR POLICY - Parents and
guardians of LES children are welcome to visit the cafete-
ria and enjoy lunch with their children during their child’s
assigned lunch time. For the safety of our students, to
maximize instructional time and minimize classroom
disruptions:
Parents must sign-in at the main office and receive a Visi-
tor’s Pass stating their presence in the cafeteria. The Visitor
Pass sticker must be worn in a conspicuous fashion.
Please wait for your child in the cafeteria. Visitors are not
permitted in other parts of the building.
For the safety of our children, only your child will be allowed
to sit at the Parent Table with you.
All students are to leave the cafeteria with their teacher at the
assigned departure times.
Parents are not permitted to “walk” their child back to class.
Parents are expected to return to the office to sign-out.
● ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT CARD - A
joint resolution was passed in 2011 eliminating the expec-
tation that schools would provide all parents with printed
copies of the State of South Carolina Annual School Re-
port Card. Please use the following link to access the
school report card.
http://www.lexington1.net/lexoneweb/index.aspx?page=communications/SchoolReportCards.aspx .
Collaborative Planning Day
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Elementary schools dismiss at
11:40am.
Page 2 LES NEWS
Jim Hamby, LES Principal
In Education, What’s Really Important?
As a school administrator, one of the best parts of my job is seeing our young students grow and
mature into middle schoolers and beyond. Keep in mind it’s only one part.
I see first graders grow up and become Prom King or Queen. I blink my eyes and the fourth
graders who play soccer or basketball during recess are now playing on high school teams. Little
kids who sing their hearts out in music class suddenly become the lead performers in the high
school musical.
Time goes by so quickly. The experiences we have with our kids when they are young are valua-
ble. It is the basis of how successful they will become as adults.
This is why parents are always concerned about their child’s education. They want everything to
go just right. Parents want the best for their son or daughter and that’s how it should be.
They worry about getting them in the right school. They worry about them having an advanced
curriculum. They are concerned about getting them placed with the proper teacher.
I think all of these concerns are valid, but in my opinion they are not the biggest issue in regards
to a student having a positive school experience.
The number one thing a student needs to be successful is placement in the right class with the
right mix of students. In the correct situation with the right peer group, a student can make
wonderful progress.
Academics can improve. Behavior will be appropriate. Attitude won’t be a problem (until they
become teenagers… then it’s every man, woman, and child for themselves).
Without the right peers, all of this can go the wrong direction.
A good class can bring everyone along for the ride. Every student will maximize their potential.
This doesn’t mean they all have to be “A” students. It’s more about their personalities meshing.
Student placement in the right class far outweighs the right teacher or certain school building.
I don’t discourage parents from worrying about their child’s school, teacher, or curriculum.
They just shouldn’t forget to worry about the peer group that will surround their son or daugh-
ter for the next 13 years.
Page 3 LES NEWS
Weather Make-Up Day, Friday, February 14
Lexington School District One will make up the Wednesday, January 29 snow day, on Friday,
February 14, the district’s first designated severe weather makeup day of the 2013–2014 academic
calendar.
By law (Section 59-1-425 of the South Carolina Code of Laws), districts are required to in-
clude at least three severe weather makeup days in each year’s academic school calendar.
According to the law, the district is to use those days to make up “all school days missed be-
cause of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close.”
As you know, Lexington County School District One sets high expectations for every student.
We provide the environment, instruction and support needed to ensure that our students learn, and, as
part of that, we protect instructional time.
Page 4 LES NEWS
Yearbooks on sale now! Don’t miss out!
ONLY $25.00
Yearbook orders will be accepted through February 21, 2014. Make sure you reserve a copy of this important keepsake for your child.
Lexington County School District One does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in admission to, access to,
treatment in or employment in its programs and activities. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries or complaints. The Chief Human
Resources Officer handles inquiries/complaints regarding Title IX. The Director of Middle Schools handles inquiries/complaints regarding Section 504. The
Mathematics Coordinator handles inquiries/complaints regarding Title II. Contact these people if you have questions regarding these issues at 100 Tarrar
Springs Road, Lexington, SC 29072 and telephone number (803) 821-1000.
Each Thursday students have the
opportunity to make a deposit in their
Looney Tunes Savings Account with
Security Federal. A Security Federal
banker is in the café at LES each
Thursday morning from 7-7:30
accepting deposits.
If you would like for your child to open a
Looney Tunes Savings Account, you can
get more information by dropping by the
school’s main office.
Page 5 LES NEWS
Rethink Your Drink
In this cold weather the dry indoor heat can do a number on us all. Every day a number of your children are struggling with head
colds or allergies, headaches or fatigue. Keeping hydrated may help ease these symptoms. I hope you ,as parents, can reinforce
the importance of what your kids are putting into their bodies, good fuel that helps them run smoothly (like the family car).
Do you know that sodas contain from 10 to 16 teaspoons of sugar each? I can just picture myself spooning that much sugar on my
daughter’s dinner plate, yuck! The sodium & sugar in soda actually de-hydrates instead of hydrating. So why not teach them, and
reprogram ourselves, to rethink the drink?
Maybe buy a large pack of water bottles to keep in your car (that’s what I do). I love water, but maybe your child doesn’t. Add
the flavor packets - they come in all varieties. Order water at restaurants; you will save lots of money and in the long run have
healthier kids. Keep a pitcher filled at home of “spa water” (sounds so exotic!) and let them see you choose a healthy drink too.
Maybe I’ll serve “spa water” in the nurses office! Maybe not, they should be in class, right?!
Spa Water Recipe
Fill pitcher with ice & water, add any of these & chill, or leave on the counter as a reminder…enjoy!
(Thin slices lemon, lime, orange, cucumber, apple, berries, melon, pineapple, or a few mint leaves.)
Notes from the Nurse Jane Pinkham, School Nurse
Member Term E-mail Type of Member
Jenny Backman 2012-2014 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Jessica Bleakley 2013-2015 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Sheila Inabinet (V-Chair) 2013-2015 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Christi Steagall (Chair) 2013-2014 [email protected] Parent/Appointed
Dawn Wetherley 2013-2014 [email protected] Parent/Appointed
Kim Hatcher (Sec.) 2012-2014 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Patrick Mackin 2012-2014 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Sabrina White 2012-2014 [email protected] Parent/Elected
Ron Williams 2013-2014 [email protected] Community Partner
Sharon Taylor 2013-2014 [email protected] Media Specialist
Miranda Miles 2013-2014 [email protected] 1st Grade
Andrea Whitley 2013-2014 [email protected] 3rd Grade
Lexington Elementary School Improvement Council 2013-2014
Please feel free to contact any of our SIC members if you have any questions or concerns.
Page 6 LES NEWS
Applications are being accepted for our 5-yr-old kindergarten and
4-yr-old kindergarten program.
January 27—February 7, 7:30am - 3:30pm
The following documents are required for enrollment in either program:
Proof of Residence (power bill, water bill, lease agreement or closing statement)
Birth Certificate - legal, full-size certificate
Current, up-to-date Immunization Record
Five-year-old Kindergarten
Student must turn five for 5-yr-old kindergarten on or before September 1, 2014.
Four-year-old Kindergarten
Student must turn four for 4-yr-old kindergarten on or before September 1, 2014.
Once registered, screening for 4-yr-old kindergarten will be held by appointment during the
month of May. The 4K teacher will contact parent/guardian to schedule a time. The screening
process is available for families zoned for Lexington School District I.
5K & 4K Registration for the 2014 — 2015 School Year
The class winners for LES PTA Box Tops for Education, Tyson Project A+
Program, and Campbell’s Labels for Educations are:
Ms. Young’s First-Grade Class
Ms. Hendrix’s Second-Grade Class
Ms. Scott’s Third-Grade Class
Page 7 LES NEWS
News & Events
FLOWERS FOR TEACHERS February 14th from 7:00-7:35am
PTA will be selling flowers for $2 each and will be
sold at the front and back entrances of the school.
Our next big event is the
LES Talent Show on February 28 at 6pm in the cafeteria.
Donations of $1/person will be accepted at the door.
All donations will go towards our Fine Arts Program.
This is such a fun event!
Please join us as we watch the talent of our own LES students! Clipart from dancestudioma.com/talent-show/
If you would like to order spirit wear or have any questions, please contact the PTA at [email protected].
Page 8 LES NEWS
Technology Talk Suzanne Brooks, Technology Integration Specialist
http://lexelem.blogspot.com
Our students have been using lots of different apps to demonstrate their learning. Recently, several
grade levels used augmented reality apps on the iPads for a variety of subjects. Augmented reality apps
use a target image to show different types of content. Basically the iPad “scans” the image and shows
the information on the iPad screen.
1st grade students used the app, Aurasma, to review what they learned when they read the book, The
Polar Express. Multiple choice questions about the book were printed along with three answer choices
on the first grade hall. Students used the app on the iPad to scan what they believed was the correct an-
swer to the question. If the students were correct, a video clip with an animated “conductor” told them
they were correct, read the answer choice while a music clip played. Students were very engaged as
they showed what they knew from their reading.
1st and 2nd grade students are also using the augmented reality app, Fetch! Lunch Rush! This app allows
students to move around while they practice addition facts. When an addition question appears on the
iPad, students have to scan the printed numeric answer to the question. If the student is incorrect, it tells
them whether the answer they chose is more or less than the correct answer and prompts them to try
again.
Our 4th grade students have been using a variety of apps to share their research, their reading, and more.
Students in Ms. Allen and Mrs. Decell’s classes used video apps to create their own book commercials.
When they finished their video, they set a printed image of their book cover and book commercial in-
formation as a target image to play their videos. Using the app, Aurasma, students selected their videos
to play when these printed images were scanned. Be sure to stop by the 4th grade hall ,and eventually
the Learning Commons, to find out more about these book commercials.
The Math Moment Kim Bannister, LES Math Coach
821-4067 Email: [email protected]
Page 9 LES NEWS
Question: How do I help my child study for math unit tests?
Answer:
Teachers give their students “Unit Study Notes” at the beginning of every new math unit. Created by the Lexington One math coaches, these study notes are designed to take the “mystery” out of what students are learning in math classes. The teachers also send home the “Family Letter” at the start of a new unit, and this is an overview of the vocabulary, con-cepts, games, and at-home activities for parents and children to use. If you are not seeing these materials, please contact your child’s teacher. Another resource is http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/algorithms-tutorials/. This is the “For Parents” section for Everyday Math. It shows real teachers doing examples of common math problems given for home-work. Check it out!
Question: What are the Standards for Mathematical Practice?
Answer:
The Standards for Mathematical Practice are at the core of math instruction in our schools. We teach number sense, addi-tion, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, data analysis, etc. through these practices. In order to prepare our students for the future, we must teach them to be mathematical thinkers and to make sense of concepts and procedures. There are eight standards in all, and here is the first.
Standard for Mathematical Practice 1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. This involves:
- Working to make sense of your problem.
- Making a plan for solving it.
- Trying different approaches when your problem is hard.
- Solving your problem in more than one way.
- Checking whether your solution make sense.
- Connecting mathematical ideas and representations to one another.
Try out this month’s problems and keep the above practice in mind as you solve these problems!
(Resource: http://www.nctm.org/resources/archive.aspx?id=3604&journalid=4)