October 2016 newsletter now available

The paper copy of the October newsletter is on its way, but view an advanced PDF copy here: 

October Newsletter
October Newsletter - Spanish

2016 Box Top Drive

Those little pink rectangles on your cereal boxes and other packages add up to big bucks for Lucas! Send your Box Tops to school between now and October 13, for our fall collection. The classes with the most Box Tops collected will win a prize!

Students will receive a flyer with a plastic baggie this week. Please check your Box Tops and make sure they haven't expired. Also, make sure your child's name is on the INSIDE of the baggie so your child's classroom gets credit! If you have been saving Box Tops for a long time, do our volunteers a solid and send bundles or bags of 50 to assist our parent volunteer in counting/sorting before they can be redeemed.

If you've been sacrificing your Box Tops to the recycling fairies, never fear! Start saving them now for our next collection. Grandparents and other relatives are also excellent sources of Box Tops.

Also, there is a new Box Top App that doubles Lucas rewards. Consider checking it out! 

Extended Learning Program Announcement

The Extended Learning Program (ELP) provides services to gifted and high ability students. Last year, changes were implemented in Kindergarten, first and second grades in an effort to provide all students with equitable opportunities to be screened for ELP services and to expand services to more diverse populations.

These changes involved ELP teachers collaborating with K, 1, 2 classroom teachers to provide several in-class lessons to all students based on higher order thinking skills. The in-class lessons continue this year on a trimester basis, followed by pull-out enrichment services with the ELP teacher. Screening and enrichment will address three areas. 

• First trimester: visual/spatial/creative thinking. 
• Second trimester: verbal and language arts skills. 
• Third trimester: analytical and math skills. 

Parents will be notified by mail or email if their child is involved in pull-out services. 

Kindergarteners and first graders will not take the Cognitive Abilities Test as some students did in past years. Rather, primary grade students will be re-evaluated each trimester for pull-out enrichment. All second graders will take the Cognitive Abilities Test later this year to provide universal screening information for future ELP services and to give instructional staff more information about students’ abilities. Second grade parents will be notified closer to the assessment time. This provides broader services to young students during their early developmental stages. 

More information is available on the ELP website: ICCSD ELP.

September PTO Newsletter Now Online

The paper copy of the September newsletter is on its way, but in case you missed it, here it is as a PDF.

September 2016 Newsletter
September 2016 Newsletter (Spanish translation)

First PTO Meeting, 6th Grade babysitters, Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Our first Lucas PTO meeting of the year is next Monday, Sept. 12th, at 6 p.m in the Multi­purpose Room (MPR).   All Lucas parents are invited and dinner will be provided, as well as babysitting for children ages 3 and up.

We’ll give a brief overview of what Lucas PTO, describe some of the activities we organize and support, and kick off our fall fundraising effort.

Responsible 6th graders interested in babysitting for PTO meetings during the year can apply here.

Find more information about Lucas PTO on on blog including volunteering opportunities. PTO is a great way to meet other Lucas parents and get to know your school better.  

Monday September 12th at 6pm in the MPR.  Hope you can make it!

Ben Hill, 

Lucas PTO