December Highlights

Our students have been busy the last few weeks traveling around the globe. Preschool, kindergarten and first grade classes learned about different holidays and celebrations around the world.  They culminated their study with Polar Express Day.  Our second grade classes held a holiday workshop to enrich their economics unit.  We hope everyone has a wonderful winter break and enjoys spending time with family and friends!

Lower Campus Coding

All Kindergarten, First and Second grade students learned to code! You can practice coding at home using the Scratch Jr App (It is free and available on iPads and Android tablets.) or using the website www.code.org.

Elite Soccer for 2nd Semester

Information for 2nd Semester Classes

Happy New Year

PTO Corporate Programs/Free Money Update

Thank you to all the families, students, and teachers who have contributed to LCE through saving and recycling this school year. Whether it is clipping out Box Tops, Label for Education, Tyson labels or saving your Little Bites and Capri sun pouches, it ALL makes a difference to our school when those items are turned into cash. We are already at the halfway point to our goal of $3,000 in Box Tops alone!

While we are out for Winter Break, please continue to clip and save.  We will have another collection contest with Box Tops when we return, with our annual SNOWBALL FIGHT!  Every FULL collection sheet has a chance to “throw” a snowball at another classroom. But, watch out! They just might throw one back at YOUR classroom! The teacher whose classroom tosses the most snowballs AND the teacher who gets hit the most will earn a fun prize. Be on the lookout for the collection sheet when we return from break.

And, as always, continue to use your Publix rewards card and your Target Red Card. If you haven’t already linked your card to LCE, do it today! We receive a portion of every dollar spent, which to date is over $1,000!!

Many Thanks,
Susan Keim, PTO Corporate Programs Chair

Information from Health Room

From the school nurse....

With cold and flu season upon us, many parents have questions on when to keep their child home from school. We follow DHEC guidelines for school exclusion. 

Information brochure for guidelines for parents to help with these questions.

Hour of Code

See a video from Upper Campus

Upcoming Reminders

• December 15: Upper Campus Chorus Concert @ 6pm
  
• December 18: PTO Winter Celebrations for Classrooms
  
• December 18: Submit Talent Show Application
  
  COMPLETED applications will only be accepted via email on Friday, December 18th, starting at 8:00 PM. Only the first 15 applications will be accepted. Email your completed Talent Show application to lce.talentshow@gmail.com.
  The Talent Show dates:
  K-3rd Grades will be Monday, February 8th at 6:30 PM
  4th & 5th will be Tuesday February 9th at 6:30 PM
  
  Lower Campus Application PDF Format
  Lower Campus Application MS Word Format
  
  Upper Campus Application  PDF Format
  Upper Campus Application MS Word Format
  
• December 21-January 1: Winter Holiday Break
  
• January 4: Inclement Weather Make-Up Day/School In Session
  
• January 14: 11:30am Dismissal for Teacher Collaboration
  
• January 15: Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday
  
• January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/No School

PTO News

Dear Parents,
As we approach the Winter Break holidays, I wanted to take a moment to thank the families of Lake Carolina Lower and Upper Campuses for their continued support of our school and PTO.  Your participation in PTO events has allowed us to support the Lower and Upper campuses in some the following ways:

• Hosting a free Family Fun Night at the Upper Campus in September that included music, inflatables and a movie
• Gifting Scholastic Dollars to all teachers at both campuses for Book Fair purchases
• Purchasing books, shelving, book processing supplies and decorative items for the Upper Campus Media Center
• Purchasing 352 library books and 11 magazine subscriptions for the Lower Campus Media Center
• Purchasing Target gift cards for each teacher, administrator and staff member at both campuses for their birthday
• Purchasing 200 padded folding chairs for use at Upper Campus during performances and promotion exercises
• Purchasing a digital display sign at Lower Campus

Wow! We are truly thankful for the giving nature of our community which allows us to do so much for our schools.  And while that list seems like a lot, there are many other projects that your generous support allows us to be a part of that provide for the needs of all our students and staff.

In the past two years, because of the overwhelming support of our families, Boosterthon has been our schools’ only fundraiser.  However, unforeseen weather events postponed our fall Boosterthon fundraising event.  Because of this delay, as well as our desire to offer “flat fee” pricing to all of our families, we had to restructure several of our PTO events. Unfortunately, this means that prices were raised for all families so that PTO could meet existing financial obligations and continue to provide the quality events that our families are accustomed to attending.

With that mind, please know that cost of an event should NEVER prevent any family from attending. Confidential assistance is available.  If you have financial concerns that impact your family’s ability to attend a PTO event, please contact Kelli Harper – 714-1300 x 3003 (Lower) or Jessica Skinner – 691-3360 (Upper).

Our PTO strives to be a valuable resource for our schools and our community.  We will continue to review our financial commitments and fundraising efforts so that an undue financial strain is never placed on our families.  Please know that your continued support of PTO and LCE is very much appreciated.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.  I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Sincerely,
Nashiba Boyd
LCE PTO President

Third Grade Mining with Diamond Del

See pictures from the third grade Diamond Del Gem Mining. This was a hands-on experience as part of their study of rocks and minerals in Science.

Tumble Tree Winter Break Camp

Service Learning for December and January

Upper Campus Homework Guidelines

Please click on the link to read the Lake Carolina Upper Campus homework guidelines.

From the School Nurse

As part of the eight components of school health, School Nurses conduct periodic vision, dental, hearing, blood pressure,and other screenings as recommended by SC DHEC, and as needed as part of the nurse's assessment during a health room visit. These screenings are important in early detection of hearing or vision difficulties that may impact teaching and learning. Many times a student is not even aware he/she is having difficulty seeing the board, reading, or hearing classroom instructions. 

Nothing But Net Charity Basketball Game

Click here for more information

Two Midlands school districts are holding a friendly rematch on the basketball court to see who can score the most points and raise the most money to fight breast cancer. The 2nd annual “Nothing but Net” charity basketball game between Richland One and Richland Two will take place on Thursday, January 7 at 6 p.m. at Keenan High School, located at 361 Pisgah Church Road.   Proceeds will benefit Palmetto Health Breast Center’s Walk for Life.  In addition to the basketball game, “Nothing but Net” fans will honor breast cancer survivors, see who boasts the best mascot and watch which school district official can make the most free throws.  Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at Richland One and Richland Two district offices and at the door. Admission is free for children under age 6. Come out for a fun night and a great cause!  The game was originally scheduled in October but had to be postponed because of the historic flood. All tickets previously purchased will be honored. For more information call 738-3232 or email triley@richland2.org.