LCES Panther Cub Communication #38
May 18th – 21st, 2026
Para traducir al español, desplácese hasta el final y haga clic en la bandera
Dear Families and Guardians,
What a fun and engaging week of learning at LCES!
This week, our kindergarten students had a blast in STEM class with Mrs. Ritacco using the wind tunnel! Students experimented, made predictions, and explored whether different materials would sink or float. We saw so many excited, engaged, and curious learners asking great questions and thinking like scientists!
Our first and second grade students also enjoyed a wonderful trip to Hayden Meadows in collaboration with C4. Students were able to connect their CKLA Knowledge learning to the natural environment, making meaningful real-world connections while exploring outdoors together.
Looking ahead, next week is the Lake County School District Art Show from 5:00–7:00 PM at LCES! We hope to see many of our families there supporting the amazing creativity and artwork of our students.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Go Panthers!
Brandi Lovely, PK-2 Principal
LCES Important Dates (PK – 2nd)
May 20- K-2 Attendance Reward @ Colorado Rockies game
May 21- LCSD Art Show @ LCES 5-7pm
May 25- NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
May 27- Kindergarten Fieldtrip to Lake County Recycling Center
May 28- K-2 Community Meeting led by Specials celebrating the HOWL of Creativity at 8:00am
June 4- Kindergarten Fieldwork at the Fish Hatchery
June 4- Ice Cream Social for Kindergarten Ready Students 6:00-7:00pm (flier below)
June 9- K-2 Field Day and Teddy Bear Picnic (flier below)
June 15- K-2 Dollar Day (flier below)
June 15- K-2 Specials & Classroom Awards, beginning the gym at 1:30
June 16- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Helpful Link: Lake County School District Calendar
K-2 Specifics
May Reading Challenge: Happening now! Encourage your child to read at home each day to complete the reading log challenge throughout the month of May. Come check out Pooh’s forest and get a prize form Ms. Mulcey when the log is completed. Happy Reading!
Interested in more literacy resources? Check out this website from CDE: https://www.readlearnleadco.org/
May HOWL (Habit of Work & Learning) Focus: Creativity
For the month of May, we are celebrating the HOWL of creativity. Creativity means, “I can think of new and interesting ways to tackle projects and challenges.” The Student of the Month for each crew will be announced at our next community meeting on May 28th. If your student is chosen by their teacher, we will reach out at the beginning of that week to let you know!
Attendance
Attendance Pizza Challenge: Our next pizza attendance challenge ends on May 21st! See details in the fliers section below!
May Attendance Challenge: We have started a new monthly attendance challenge! The class with the best attendance percentage for the whole month will receive an extra recess at the end of the month. Please try to send your student to school every day, unless they are too sick. We appreciate your help in reaching our 94% attendance goal!
HOWLs Q4 Challenge: We are excited to announce our quarter 4 HOWLs challenge! Your student will try to earn as many HOWL Dollars as they can for the chance to earn cotton candy and extra recess with the principals at the end of the quarter! The top six HOWL dollar earners in each class will win. If your student wins, we will send home a paper parent communication in their backpack. You will also receive a text message from the front office. Students can earn HOWL Dollars by showing any of our HOWLs to any staff member in the school.
K-2 Project Dream
LCES Project Dream Information
Project Dream is going to the Butterfly Pavilion this Friday, May 15th! Here are some important details:
- Normal morning transportation will be provided.
- We will be departing schools by 9:00 am and returning at 4:30 pm.
- Due to our late return, we are asking parents to please pick their students up from their school at 4:30 pm.
- No afternoon transportation will be provided.
- Students will not be allowed to visit the gift shop or purchase snacks.
No Project Dream on Monday May 25th for Memorial Day
Friday June 5th: Final Day of Project Dream & Firefighter Field Day at CMC!
For our final day of Project Dream this year we are going to CMC in the afternoon for a special event hosted by Colorado Mountain College and Leadville Lake County Fire Rescue. Students will engage in fun, hands-on activities while learning about fire safety. The activity will be open to the public at 3:00 pm. See attached flyer. Here are some important details:
- Pickup will be from the CMC campus between 3:00-3:30 pm.
- If your student typically takes the bus home in the afternoon, routes will begin at 3:30 pm after parent pickup is complete.
- Parents are encouraged to stay after 3:00 pm and experience the activities with their students!
Raquel Contreras
LCES Site Supervisor
719-293-5363
rcontreras@lakecountyschools.net
The Center Specifics
Dear Center Families,
It has been a great week to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather and the sunshine. There was a lot of fun to be had on our playground with riding tricycles, blowing and chasing bubbles, and playing in the sand.
With the warmer weather, we have noticed an increase in activity in our parking lots and on the street. For the safety of all children and our families, we kindly ask that children stay with an adult at all times during drop off and pick up. Please do not allow children to run ahead to the car or through the parking lot without an adult beside them. Staying close together helps keep everyone safe. Thank you for your support and partnership with this!
This week you received a final TS GOLD outcomes and DECA report for your child. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.
You may see some extra adults in our building next week as we have an onsite review for our Head Start program. This is a part of our Head Start grant and gives us the opportunity to showcase our work and efforts and get feedback on areas that we can improve and grow.
Thanks for another great week! Enjoy your weekend, we will see you Monday!
Tanya Lenhard, Director
719-486-6928 (work); 719-293-1055 (cell)
tdlenhard@lakecountyschools.net
From the Assistant Director
Hello Families,
We have seen an increase in toys and stuffed animals coming to school. Please remember to keep toys at home, and only one stuffed animal to be used during nap time. All stuffies will be kept in the child’s cubby/backpack during school hours, and brought out during that time.
Please remember when signing your child in and out, please make sure to include the time and print or your signature must be legible.
Have a great weekend!
If you have any questions, please free to contact me:
Marissa Martinez
Assistant Preschool Director
719-486-6927
mamartinez@lakecountyschools.net
Menus
Menus can be found in your child’s yellow folder at the end of each month or in our main entrance vestibules!
Fliers
Mental Health Matters This May
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a great time to check in on your student’s emotional well-being. Stress, anxiety, and end-of-year transitions can impact how students feel and perform. The School-Based Health Centers through Elevated Community Health are here to support students with a safe, supportive space and access to care right on campus.
Looking ahead to summer, select School-Based Health Centers will remain open, so students can continue receiving care even when school is out.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 970-710-5049.
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La salud mental es importante este mayo
Mayo es el Mes de la Concientización sobre la Salud Mental, un buen momento para reflexionar sobre el bienestar emocional de su estudiante. El estrés, la ansiedad y las transiciones de fin de año pueden afectar cómo se sienten y se desempeñan los estudiantes. Los Centros de Salud Escolar a través de Elevated Community Health están aquí para apoyar a los estudiantes con un espacio seguro y acceso a servicios directamente en la escuela.
Pensando en el verano, algunos Centros de Salud Escolar permanecerán abiertos, para que los estudiantes puedan seguir recibiendo atención incluso cuando no haya clases.
Para más información o para programar una cita, llame al 970-710-5049.
Rockies Rock Summer Camp – Enrollment Open!
Join Get Outdoors Leadville for an unforgettable summer of outdoor adventure, confidence-building, and connection with nature.
Enroll by April 16th (requests processed by 4/23).
Questions or need help signing up? Visit our Open House on April 9th, 5–7 PM at the Get Outdoors Leadville building (next to Climax Building at CMC, 901 US-24, Room 219).
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Campamento de Verano Rockies Rock – ¡Inscripciones Abiertas!
Únete a Get Outdoors Leadville para un verano inolvidable de aventuras al aire libre, desarrollo de confianza y conexión con la naturaleza.
Inscríbete antes del 16 de abril (las solicitudes se procesarán antes del 23/4).
¿Tienes preguntas o necesitas ayuda para inscribirte? Visita nuestra Casa Abierta el 9 de abril, de 5 a 7 PM en el edificio de Get Outdoors Leadville (junto al edificio Climax en CMC, 901 US-24, salón 219).
