Socorro Independent School District

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December 9, 2014

Dear Shining STAR Parents,

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the last five years at Lujan-Chavez. This is a wonderful community and it starts at home. Thank you for supporting our efforts and working with us so that all students can shine. I’ve loved every minute of my time here and hope to recreate a school just like this one with the new school. Thank you for sharing your children with me- I will miss them all very much.

Below are a few things to be mindful of as we finish our first semester and enter into the New Year:

Attendance: Thank you so much for supporting our attendance goal of 98.2% by having your children in school every day. We are currently tied for first place in the district for the year. Yahoo! Thank you for all that you have done to ensure your kids stay healthy and are in school.

Kinder: 98% 1st: 98% 2nd: 98% 3rd: 97% 4th: 98.5% 5th 97.2%

Gift of Reading Night: Please join us on Thursday, December 11, 2014, for our annual Gift of Reading Night. Not only will you walk away with a plethora of reading ideas to support your child at home, the entertainment is second to none with our littlest stars performing. Don’t miss out on this spectacular event. Concessions will be available.

District-wide Benchmark Testing: When we return from the Winter break, we will begin scheduling our benchmark testing for students in grades 3-5. This testing is critical as it will give us important data that will drive our decision making process as we plan for instruction, intervention, and enrichment. Please mark this important testing window on your calendars:

January 12th-January 16th

We will share the results of these assessments with you as soon as they are provided to us. Thank you in advance for having your students in school on these days as well.

January/February Book of the Month: Fifty Cents and a Dream-Young Booker T. Washington by Jabari Asim. Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, with only fifty cents in his pocket and a dream in his soul, Booker walked five hundred miles to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps towards a college degree. The young slave who once waited outside of the schoolhouse would one day become a legendary educator of freed men. Ask your children all about this great book!

Once again, I want to thank you for sharing your children with us. I will miss you all greatly. Thank you for starting the year strong. I have no doubt you will finish stronger!

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Jennifer Parker

Upcoming Dates:

December 8th-12th - PTA Christmas Store

December 11th- Gift of Reading Night

December 11th and 12th- Pictures with Santa

December 19th -Early Release, Pajama Day-Polar Express Day, Classroom Celebrations

January 6th- Students return on this Tuesday