December PTO Newsletter Available

If you missed the December PTO newsletter, you can find it here!

December PTO Newsletter
December PTO Newsletter (Spanish translation)

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

Boohoo Breakfast for Kindergarten Caregivers

After dropping off your kindergartener tomorrow morning, the Lucas PTO invites you to join us for coffee, donuts and a hug in the lunch room immediately after the 7:55am bell! 

NEW 2016-2017 Bell Schedule

New this year, the ICCSD elementary school hours have changed. Here is what you need to know: 

• Breakfast is served: 7:30AM
• Outside adult supervision starts at: 7:40AM
• Classroom line enter building with teacher: 7:50AM
• Students are marked as tardy if not in their seats: 7:55AM
• Dismissal time: 2:55PM
• Early out dismissal time: 1:55PM

Popsicles with the Principal

Popsicles with the Principal is 5:30-6:30pm, Monday, August 22nd at Lucas Elementary! Find out who your teachers and classmates are, put your school supplies in your classroom and enjoy a tasty popsicle!

Renovations will be on-going at Lucas through next summer as our classrooms and other spaces are updated. The LOC doors will be the interim main doors. Both parking lots should be available as usual for the event.

Time to order your school supplies for next year!

Time to order your school supplies for next year! Save time and money when back-to-school shopping. Parents that use EPI school packs save up to 40% compared to the same supplies from a national retailer.

Order deadline is June 26!

To order online:

1) Go to: www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks
2) Enter our school code: LUC007

Supplies will be delivered before school starts in August. 

Questions? Contact Brooke at brookemhill@gmail.com.

FREE Wire Fencing from the Garden at Lucas

Last weekend the Outdoor Playground Committee cleaned up the Lucas garden and there is some wire fencing left that they didn't want to throw away. There is enough to go around approximately a 16' x 24' area. It is in the PTO shed. If anyone would like it for their garden, they can contact Ann Campion at ann.campion@gmail.com.

K-2 Music Room Visit Days

If any of the rest of you are thinking "Oh, crap. Where is that piece of paper with the K-2 Music Room Visit Days schedule?!" you can stop digging through the recycling now!

Kindergarten Music Room Visit Schedule
1st Grade Music Room Visit Schedule
2nd Grade Music Room Visit Schedule
(Information for Mr. Turnquist's class is incorrect. The correct information is: Wednesday, May 11, 12:56-1:23PM; Friday, May 13, 12:56-1:23PM.) 

The May Mighty Hawk Newsletter Available Online

In case your student's May PTO newsletter was lost in transition, below are links to electronic copies: 

May newsletter
May newsletter (Spanish)

This is our final newsletter of the 2015-2016 school year. Thanks to Lucas parent Aprille Clarke for donating her translation skills to our Spanish newsletter! 

Final PTO Meeting of 2015-2016 This Monday!

Our final meeting of the 2015-2016 school year is this Monday, May 9 at 7:00p.m. in the Art Room. Babysitting is provided.

May Agenda
April Minutes

As you have probably heard, this summer renovation work will begin on the Lucas Elementary school building. On Monday, Lucas Principal Ken Turnis plans to discuss the phases of construction and its impact on the staff, teachers and students. The work is scheduled to be completed July 31, 2017. Join us for more details and to ask any questions you may have. 

Get to Know A Mighty Hawk - Guidance Teacher Danielle Kennedy

Each month the Lucas PTO is featuring a teacher or staff member on the Mighty Hawk Messenger blog. This month we spoke with guidance teacher Danielle Kennedy who has worked at Lucas for the past three years. 

I imagine a lot of parents are a little in the dark about what a school guidance counselor does. Tell us about your role at Lucas.

The major parts of my role as a school counselor at Lucas include: classroom guidance, individual counseling, small group counseling, and responsive services. I teach guidance in every classroom (K-6), once per week. I also am a coach for the PBIS team and coordinate the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Lucas.

What prompted you become a school guidance counselor?

When I was doing my student teaching I became more aware of the school counseling position. I became very interested in it, so I decided to learn more about what a school counselor does. It seemed like a good fit for me, especially since I enjoy helping others. A few years later, I went to graduate school and received my Master’s in School Counseling. My first school counseling position was at the two elementary schools in the Highland Community School District.

How does paying attention to the social-emotional learning of a child prepare them for their intellectual education?

The learning that we do involves problem-solving skills, managing emotions, interacting appropriately with others, etc. These are all life skills. When children successfully use these life skills they are equipped and better able to handle life’s ups and downs, which will help them to focus on learning academic content. Social-emotional and academic learning definitely go hand-in-hand.

What can parents do to develop their child’s social-emotional learning and support the work being done at school?

Adults at home can help by reinforcing guidance topics and encouraging their child(ren) to use/practice  what they are learning. We focus much of our time in guidance discussing three main topics: problem-solving, emotion management, and safety. Children learn “steps” that will help them in dealing with different situations at school and outside of school. 

The Problem-Solving Steps are: 

1) Say the problem 

2) Think of solutions 

3) Explore consequences 

4) Pick the best solution (The first letter of each step spells the word “STEP”). 

The Calming Down Steps are: 

1) Stop (use your “stop signal”) 

2) Name your feeling 

3) Calm down (practice deep breathing, counting, positive self-talk, etc.). 

The Safety Steps are: 

1) Say “No” 

2) Get away 

3) Tell an adult you trust. 

Do you have a favorite student story?

I had a student share in guidance while we were learning about problem-solving that they, and a couple friends, had practiced using the Problem-Solving Steps outside of school and “it worked!” Hearing that story made my day!   

Other posts in this series: 

Music Teacher Nathan Kelley
Family Resource Center Director Yolanda Spears
Modified Teacher Jessica Flannery
Principal's Secretary Angela Kessler
Art Teacher Buffy Quintero
Physical Education Teacher Chad Lowry
Custodians Scott Calcote and Marvin Penro
School Nurse Suzi Wilkes

Congratulations to the 8th Annual Lucas PTO Team Spelling Bee Winners!

Mighty Hawk congratulations to the winners of the 8^th Annual Lucas Elementary PTO Team Spelling Bee! Thanks to all the parent and teacher volunteers who put on this event!

Our Grades 1 & 2 Winners! 

Miles Crall (2nd), Luna Winkowski (1st) and Lyndon Freeman (1st)!

Our Grades 3 & 4 Winners! 

Katy Harmsen (4th), Mariah Paterson (3rd) and Itzamar Mata-Rodriguez (3rd)

Our Grades 5 & 6 Winners! 

Nadia Castaneda (5th) and Jake Roth (6th)

Lucas Playground Workday

It's SPRING! Please join 9:00am-noon, THIS SATURDAY for the Lucas Outdoor Work Day as we get the Lucas Playground shaped up for our students! We need tools such as shovels, mulch forms, rakes, and wheelbarrows. Also lots of people of all ages to help! Click here to RSVP with Sign-Up Genius.

The weather forecast for this Saturday, April 30th indicates a strong possibility of rain.  If it is raining heavily on Saturday morning, the Lucas Playground Work Day that is scheduled from 9:00 - noon will be postponed until May 21st.  If it is overcast with light rain, we will plan to go ahead with the work and do what we can.  If you have any questions or want to join us but are unsure based on the conditions, please email Ann Campion on Saturday morning at:  ann.campion@gmail.com.

Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2-6

Our Lucas teachers work hard to engage and educate the minds and hearts of our kids and we want to give them a big THANK YOU. 

Next week during Teacher Appreciation Week we have two scheduled opportunities to let our teachers know how much their hard work means to us: 

• On Thursday, May 5 from 5:00-6:00pm, join other Lucas families and students as we Chalk the Walk! This is a fun and creative way to express our appreciation to our teachers. RSVP with Sign-Up Genius here.
  
• Every day of Teacher Appreciation Week, we're asking parents to sign up to bring treats every day of the week (and perhaps a bag of spinach for Mr. Ryan ;). Sign up to bring treats here. 

Other ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week: thank you notes, small gifts and goodies that your students can deliver any day of the week to their teachers. 

Don't forget our specials teachers like music teacher Nathan Kelley, modified teacher Jessica Flannery, art teacher Buffy Quintero, physical education teacher Chad Lowry and others! 

Summer Camp Scholarship Application

If you are struggling to pay for summer camp options for your children and you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you may qualify for a scholarship of up to $250 through the SummerShips program. The SummerShips Committee awards scholarships for cost of the camp or activity to enable young people to participate in summer activities.

Submissions must be received or postmarked by Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received.

If you have any questions, you can call the Community Foundation of Johnson County at 319-337-0483 (the number is listed incorrectly on the application).

SummerShip Application

Mark Your Calendar! Lucas Music Informance

Our fabulous music teacher Mr. Kelley is hosting the annual Lucas Music “Informance” on Monday, May 23 in the Lucas Gymnasium.

2:00pm – 3rd Grade

2:30pm – 4th Grade

3:00pm – 5th Grade

Kindergarten through second grade students will be having their annual music room visits days coming up in May. Look for more information in your student’s folders. 

Spelling Bee Study Aids

The 2016 Lucas Elementary Spelling Bee will be held on Tuesday April 26^th (Grades 1-2 and 5-6) and Thursday April 28^th (grades 3-4) at 6:30pm on both nights. If your child is participating in the annual Lucas Spelling Bee next week, you can help them prepare with the study sheets below: 

Grades 1-2

Grades 3-4

Grades 5-6

Also, if you'd still like to sign-up your child to participate, simply follow this link! 

This is a team spelling bee where groups of 2-3 students will work together to spell words in both a written and oral round. For more details of the rules, check out the details here. Members of the winning team from each of the bees will have their names added to the plaque in the front hallway at Lucas.  It’s an exciting Lucas tradition!