Lorena ISD Christmas Holiday Important Dates

Please note the following dates and times:

Friday, December 19th - Early Dismissal on all campuses

Monday, December 22nd through Friday, January 2nd - No school 

Monday, January 5th - School resumes for students

We hope all of you have a safe and happy holiday season!

---

ThinkFast Interactive

As part of its DriveitHOME^TM parent education campaign, The Allstate Foundation and the National Safety Council are bringing the award-winning ThinkFast Interactive® educational game show to Lorena High School at 6:00 pm, on December 15^th. 

ThinkFast Interactive® is a live, exciting, rapid-fire trivia game show that engages the entire audience with chances to win an array of great prizes, while clearly demonstrating the biggest risks facing new teen drivers and what parents can do to reduce these risks, backed by the research driven message of DriveitHOME^TM.

Car crashes continue to be the No. 1 killer of teens in the U.S. and in Texas, killing more teens each year than suicide and homicide combined. From 2007 to 2012, more than 2,100 Texas drivers ages 13 to 19 were involved in fatal crashes. Recent research from The Allstate Foundation shows 43 percent of Texas parents don’t know car crashes are the No.1 cause of teen deaths.

This is an excellent opportunity for parents of teens currently driving and for those who aren’t driving yet! The event is free to all who attend and for every parent-teen pair in attendance; our school will receive extra grant funds that will go towards improving our school and classrooms.

Please bring your teen and join us on Monday, December 15^th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.!!!

---

Upcoming Concerts

LISD ​Fine Arts Department 

presents:

Lorena High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble Holiday Concert

Monday, December 8, 2014

7PM 

Festive Music and our annual Cake Auction

Lorena Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Band Holiday Concert

Thursday, December 11, 2014

6th Grade starts at 6PM

7th and 8th Grade starts at 7PM

  

Both concerts will be in the LISD Performing Arts Center 

Both concerts are FREE!!!!

---

Lorena ISD will be closed Wednesday, November 26th - Friday, November 28th to observe the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope everyone in the LISD family has a safe and happy Thanksgiving break.

---

Leopard Angels Gift Tree

The Lorena Community is amazingly generous. All of our Leopard Angles have been adopted; however, we can still help many families in need. If you would like to donate a new item of clothing, toy or toiletries, we will match them with our families. 

Clothing needs:

Middle & High School Students:  Shirts (Adult Small - XL), Hoodies/Jackets/Coats (Adult Small - XLarge), gloves, socks

Elementary School Students:  Shirts (Youth Small - Adult Medium), Hoodies/Jackets/Coats (Youth Small - Adult Medium) gloves, socks

Primary School Students: Shirts (Youth Small - Youth Large), Hoodies/Jackets/Coats (Youth Small - Youth Large), glove, socks 

Toys:

Boys and Girls ages 2-17

Suggestions:  Board games, card games, activity books, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, markers, sketch pads

Toiletries:

Deodorant, Bath Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Toothbrush

Please drop off all unwrapped gifts on or before December 11 to the LISD Administration Building, located at 308 N. Frontage Rd. 

Many Blessings and Merry Christmas!

---

Playoff Friday!

This Friday night is Playoff Night for Lorena ISD. Both the volleyball and football teams will be playing at Bryan High School


First up at 6pm, our LHS Lady Leopard Volleyball team will take on Bellville in the first round of the Regional Tournament. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students.

Then at 7:30, the Leopard Football team will kickoff postseason play vs Coldspring. Tickets for that game are $6 for adults and $4 for students.

Come support our teams!

---

Upcoming PTO Events

The Lorena ISD PTO is an outstanding asset to our district. Here are some upcoming PTO events and fundraisers.

---

Lorena High School invites you to participate in the State Farm Celebrate My Drive campaign. Log on to celebratemydrive.com daily between October 15-24, 2014 and make a safe driving commitment on behalf of LHS. Each commitment gives us a better chance of winning one of several great prizes. You can find out more about the campaign and prizes available by clicking here or by visiting celebratemydrive.com.

---

Click here for the form to buy pre-sale tickets.

Sponsor a carnival booth! More details here.

---

Construction Update

It was an exciting summer in LISD! We had construction crews on every campus! Please click on this link to view some photos and a brief update on the progress at each campus.

If you have any questions or would like to tour any of the new facilities, please contact me at the administration office! Indeed, IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A LEOPARD!!

Dr. Sandra Talbert
Superintendent

---

2014 Homecoming Highlights Video !!!

Click here to view on YouTube.

---

---

Homecoming Events

---

New Leopard Stadium Procedures

We appreciate your patience with the construction on all of our campuses over the last year. We face another challenge this Friday night as we open the newly renovated Leopard Stadium for the first home game against the Robinson Rockets. 

We ask if you plan to attend, that you note the following:

• The new stadium has plenty of seats for students, so they will be required to sit in the stands. Younger students must be seated with a parent or other adult.
• The seating with red chair backs is reserved for season ticket-holders. General admission seating is in Sections A and E.
• Items such as footballs and Frisbees will not be allowed.
• Of course, no alcohol, tobacco or firearms are allowed in the stadium.
• We ask that you please stay off the new grass at this time.

Kickoff is 7:30 Friday evening. Parking will be a challenge, so we encourage you to arrive early for the game if possible. We are planning some tailgating opportunities in the near future, so be on the lookout for more information coming soon.

Thank you for being a part of Lorena ISD!

Sandra Talbert

Lorena ISD Superintendent

---

Back to School - September 2, 2014

Orientation or "Meet the Teacher"

• HS-  9th and 10th grade orientation 5:30pm – 6:30pm on Wednesday, August 27th
• HS -  11th and 12th grade orientation 7:00pm – 8:00pm on Wednesday, August 27th
• MS – 8:00am to 6:00pm on Friday, Aug 29th “Come and Go”  Students should arrive ready for pictures.  Yearbook photos will be taken.
• PS – 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Thursday, Aug 28th
• ES – 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, Aug 28th

School Supply Lists
The links below are to downloadable PDF files ( Download the free reader). 

Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade
In lieu of a published school supply list, Lorena Primary collects a fee of $35 to furnish all of the supplies that students will be required to use during the year. 

3rd grade

4th grade

5th grade

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

---

Lorena Featured on KWTX Spirit Week

Tuesday morning August 19th, the KWTX morning show team featured Lorena ISD as part of their Spirit Week. Hundreds from Leopard Nation got up early to show their Leopard Pride while our school district and its students, teachers and parents were highlighted. Visit the Lorena ISD Facebook Page to see pictures from the event.

Thank you KWTX for allowing us to show everyone in Central Texas what makes Lorena ISD extraordinary.

---

Leopard Nation to be Featured on KWTX This Morning

***Location Changed to Lorena Middle School***

Tuesday morning August 19th, the KWTX morning show team will be in Lorena to do a feature. We'd like as many students, parents, and fans there as possible to show our Leopard pride. You'll even get a chance to be on television.

Wear your Lorena gear and meet at Lorena Middle School at 4:45 am on the 19th. We look forward to seeing you there!

---

Fill a Fiat for Pack of Hope and Lorena ISD Students

This Saturday, August 9th the McLennan County Pack of Hope (along with Waco Women's Lions Club, Allen Samuels, Brookshire Brothers, and News25) will host a "Fill a Fiat" event to stock up on items for the charity. 

Pack of Hope's mission (from their website) is "to erase child hunger in McLennan County by supplying participating school districts and their eligible students with backpacks filled with nutritious food to prevent hunger from Friday through Sunday while they are not in school."

The Fiat will be parked in the Lorena Brookshire Brothers parking lot from 11 am to 2 pm Saturday. They will accept donations from the Pack of Hope wish list (found here) or cash. 

---

2014 Scoreboard Sponsorships

Don't miss out on your chance to support your Lorena Leopards and show your community pride! Show of your business on our digital scoreboard during home games at Leopard Stadium. Details can be found on the following flyer. Contact Karen Hansen at the Lorena ISD administration building to become a proud sponsor.

---

Summer Building Access

We are in full construction and renovation mode in Lorena ISD this summer. The Elementary, Middle, and High School campuses will all be affected during this process. Due to construction traffic and work outside the buildings, these areas will not be accessible for the majority of the summer. If you need to reach a campus, the following information may be helpful:

• You can contact the Lorena ISD Administration Building at 254-857-3239, and they can transfer you to whomever you need to reach.
• The High School and Elementary offices have been relocated to the Primary School for the summer.

---

LHS Senior Receives West Point Appointment

Congratulations to LHS Senior Lovett Ledger on his appointment to West Point! Congressman Bill Flores was on hand at Lorena High School on May 13th to officially recognize Lovett.

Leopard Nation is extremely proud of this outstanding student.

---

Construction at Leopard Stadium

Parents and Community Members:

As you look around LISD campuses, you see evidence of construction all around! We appreciate your patience throughout these facility renovations and additions. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Paragon Construction is now in the process of demolishing our track and football field in the first phase of the Leopard Stadium renovations. Therefore, the gates to the stadium will be locked to prevent anyone from entering the construction site. We want to ensure everyone's safety! 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Dr. Sandra Talbert

Superintendent

---

School Performance Report

Please click on the image below to view our latest School Performance Report.

---

Lorena ISD Receives ESC Region 12 Technology Foundation 2nd Annual Grant Award

(WACO) — The Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 Technology Foundation recently awarded six school districts with $59,460 in grant funds to support educational technology programs.  Lorena ISD was one of the award recipients, earning a $9,742.60 grant.

Photo courtesy of ESC Region 12

ELAR Department Chair Jenny Glaser and History Department Chair Pat Browder submitted the grant “Portable Reading and Writing Center (PRWC).”  The grant award will fund a class with Chromebooks for reading and writing. 

“I am excited to present grant awards to local school districts for the second consecutive year, which both advances and encourages the innovative use of technology in the classroom,” Advisory Board Chair Kevin Houchin said. “The Technology Foundation is a great example of how ESC Region 12 promotes collaboration between educators and the community to produce outcomes that benefit students throughout central Texas.” 

Collectively, these schools represent 1,327 students across four counties and six districts.

“The ESC Region 12 Education Technology Foundation became part of our vision for how to continually leverage resources and drive more money to students and teachers in the classroom, where it matters most, more than two years ago. To now present grant money that helps Region 12 schools place instructional technology in the hands of students is an exciting victory,” commented ESC Region 12 Executive Director Jerry Maze, Ed.D. “We are proud to support our schools in their efforts to give all students first-class technology in the classroom.”

The foundation, established fall 2012, is primarily funded by revenue from technology services provided by the service center to area districts and charter schools.  

The foundation’s Advisory Board is comprised of the following members:

Kevin Houchin, Superintendent, McGregor ISD, President

Gene Solis, Superintendent, Whitney ISD, Vice-President

Dr. Bruce Tabor, Superintendent, Wortham ISD, Secretary

Dr. Alexis Neumann, Superintendent, Rapoport Academy Public School

Denise Ayres, Marketing Specialist, ESC Region 12

Dr. Jerry Maze, Executive Director, ESC Region 12

Joe Pirtle, ESC Region 12 Board of Directors, Chairman

Kevin Stanford, Superintendent, Kerens ISD

Mark Woolery, Manager, TCG School Services

Dr. Sharon Shields, Superintendent, La Vega ISD

###

About ESC Region 12

Education Service Center Region 12 focuses on helping schools save money and leverage resources into the classroom.  One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, ESC Region 12 offers training and expert assistance to educators and school personnel in order to increase student achievement. ESC Region 12 offers effective, economical programs and services through professional development, expert assistance, direct services and alternative educator certification. 

Based in Waco, ESC Region 12 serves 77 school districts, 12 charters and private/parochial schools in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Mills and Navarro counties.

8th Grade Parent and Student Meetings

On January 31, 2014, the State Board of Education approved House Bill 5 adopting new rules regarding Texas high school curriculum and graduation requirements. In response to these new requirements, Lorena High School will hold mandatory eighth grade parent and student meetings on April 21 and April 24.  Both meetings will be held in the Lorena High School Commons at 6 PM. All current eighth grade parents and students are highly encouraged to attend one of these meetings. Information concerning House Bill 5 curriculum and graduation requirements will be presented, and parents will have an opportunity to ask questions. This information will allow parents and students to make informed decisions regarding freshmen requirements and electives.

At the end of each meeting, parents and students will be asked to complete a 2014-2015 Freshmen Choice Sheet and to select an endorsement. Information regarding endorsements will be presented, and advisers will be available to assist with this process. Choice sheets must be signed and turned in before students can register for their freshmen classes. For more information prior to the meetings, students and parents may reference LHS House Bill 5 graduation requirements and possible endorsements which are located on the Lorena High School website.

You can click here to find all the Info for Incoming Freshmen on the High School's Guidance and Counseling page. Please make plans to attend one of the two important meetings on either April 21 or April 24. For more information, call the high school office at 254-857-4604.

Bond Project Update - 2/18/2014

In May 2013, the Lorena citizens voted to pass a $22.9 million bond for renovations and additions to all four LISD campuses.  Once the requirements for selling bonds were met, the bonds generated $22.06 million. At the time of sale the bond market rates had changed, resulting in an $840,000 shortfall. This shortage was taken proportionally from each of the campus projects.  For more information, see the details provided here.

In Lorena ISD our primary focus is our students. These facility decisions, like every other decision we make, are made with students’ success and well-being in mind. Working within the financial parameters, we want to provide facilities that enrich the students’ academic as well as co-curricular and extracurricular experiences.

The projects are in various stages of planning and/or completion. For a full update on the status of each project, please click here.

---

LISD Earns Gold Leadership Circle Award

Lorena ISD has once again earned the Gold Leadership Circle Award for financial transparency from the Texas Comptroller's office. To find out more about how we qualify for this recognition, visit the Leadership Circle website.

You can visit our Department of Business and Finance page at any time for information regarding the finances of Lorena ISD.

---

2014-2015 Calendar Options

LISD has provided three options for school calendars for the 2014-2015 school year and a short comparison of the three.

Please note that option 3 was added this year as a one-time plan to start school after Labor Day. We would still finish by the first week of June. The benefit of this option would be to allow additional time to complete the primary, elementary, and middle school building projects as well as to get more accomplished at the high school.

If you have questions, comments or input about the calendars listed below, please email LISD at calendarcomments@lorenaisd.net

Summary of Calendar Option 1

• Teachers begin on Monday, August 18
• Students begin on Tuesday, August 26
• A week off at Thanksgiving
• Teachers return from Christmas break on Monday, January 5
• Students return from Christmas break on Tuesday, January 6
• Students finish school year on Thursday, June 4 (if no bad weather days are used)
• Teachers have ½ workday at the end of the year and finish school year on Thursday, June 4 (if no bad weather days are used)

Summary of Calendar Option 2

• Teachers begin on Friday, August 15
• Students begin on Monday, August 25
• Three days off at Thanksgiving
• Teachers and students return from Christmas break on Monday, January 5. NOTE: No teacher workday before students return
• Students finish school year on Friday, May 29
• Teachers have full workday at the end of the year and finish school year on Monday, June 1
• *If a bad weather day is used during the year, and June 1 is a student make-up day, teacher workday will be Tuesday, June 2
• Discussion of workday Saturday, May 30 vs. Monday, June 1

Summary of Calendar Option 3

• Teachers begin on Friday, August 22
• Students begin on Tuesday, September 2
• Three days off at Thanksgiving
• Teachers and students return from Christmas break on Monday, January 5. NOTE: No teacher workday before students return
• First semester ends after Christmas
• Students finish school year on Friday, June 5
• Teachers have full workday at the end of the year and finish school year on Monday, June 8

---

LHS Receives the Texas Honors Circle Award

The Texas Comptroller's Office created the Texas Honors Circle Award to recognize campuses who "successfully combin(e) cost-effective spending with academic excellence." The office uses the results of the Financial Allocations Study for Texas (FAST) analysis to determine which schools merit the award. Lorena High School is one of only 317 schools in the state to receive the distinction.

---

School Board Information

Sometimes people ask, “How can I get involved with Lorena schools?" “What role can I play in my child’s school district?” One answer is SERVE ON THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD! Texas school board members are elected by the community to make important decisions about the local school system. These board members are not paid, so they serve because they are passionate about quality education.

Lorena ISD currently has a tremendous group of men and women who selflessly serve our community and genuinely have our students’ success at heart! A school board member’s term is three years, and every year 2-3 positions come up for election/re-election. Sound interesting? Come by and visit with me for more information or visit Texas Association of School Board’s website at www.tasb.org

A school board has three basic roles:

1) adopt policies that guide how the district operates (consistent with and within the scope allowed by federal and state laws and regulations)
2) adopt a budget and set a tax rate to ensure that school district funds are spend appropriately to benefit students, and
3) hire and evaluate the superintendent.

Additionally, the school board communicates with the community and monitors the success of the district.

To run for the Lorena School Board, you must complete a packet which can be obtained at the administration office at 308 N. Frontage Road in Lorena. The deadline to turn in packets is February 28.

Consider serving the students in Lorena ISD!

---

Note from Dr. Talbert

Happy New Year! Lorena ISD faculty and staff are excited about all that is in store for the spring semester. 

We want to continue to challenge our students academically, encourage them in character development and citizenship, and provide opportunities for involvement in service projects, clubs, activities, sports, and more. In the midst of all that a normal spring semester entails, our building projects are in various stages of planning and construction which adds to the excitement! We ask that you share our enthusiasm for the great things happening with the facilities in the district, and, additionally, we ask for your patience as we have to re-route traffic, change activity locations. modify schedules, etc.... 


As you drive down Old Lorena Road, you can see the progress on the 2nd grade wing addition at Lorena Primary School. At Lorena Middle School, crews worked throughout the Christmas holidays to prepare for the cafeteria expansion. The detailed plans for the high school renovations and additions are being prepared to go out for bid, and the plans at Lorena Elementary are in the works as well. Check the Construction link on our website for updates. 


Looking forward to an extraordinary spring semester!
S. Talbert
LISD Superintendent

---