LCES Panther Cub Communication #25
February 9th – 12th, 2026
Para traducir al español, desplácese hasta el final y haga clic en la bandera
LCES Families,
Happy February! We are still waiting for some winter snow in our mountain town. Let’s all do the snow dance!
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and we are excited for friendship celebrations happening on Thursday, February 12. Students received in their Thursday folders last week a letter from their teacher that shows how many students are in their class. There is no expectation that students bring valentines cards and please remember, do not send food, candy, or snacks as part of the valentines. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.
PK Families: If you are in need of your 2025 tax statement for child care payments, please reach out to Marissa Martinez directly at mamartinez@lakecountyschools.net or 719-486-6927. Please expect up to a week to receive the document, once the request is received. Thanks!
K-2 Families: The February reading challenge is happening now! Come check out “Pooh’s Forest” in the hallway across from the music room and return those reading logs to Ms. Mulcey for a special prize. Let us know if you are in need of any reading books at home, we have plenty. Happy reading, Panthers!
Enjoy your weekend and see you on Monday,
Brandi Lovely, PK-2 Principal
LCES Important Dates (PK – 2nd)
February 12: K-2 Panther Day during Specials and Classroom Valentine’s Day Celebrations (letter sent home last week in Thursday folders- reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions)
February 23: 100th day of School! (flier here)
February 26: K-2 Community Meeting at 8:00am led by 1st grade, celebrating the HOWL of Compassion
March 2-5: Dr. Seuss Spirit Week (more information coming soon)
March 5: K-2 Panther Day during specials and K-2 Dollar Day
March 9-13: Spring Break, NO SCHOOL
Helpful Link: Lake County School District Calendar
K-2 Specifics
February Reading Log: Last week in your student’s Thursday folder, the February reading log was sent home by Ms. Mulcey. Please read with and encourage your child to read each day and color in one block for every 10 minutes of reading. We encourage you to read with your child in your home language and please reach out if you need more books at home. Happy Reading!
IXL: This weekend continues our next IXL pizza gift certificate challenge! Students who log on and complete at least 60 minutes of IXL skills practice between the next two weekends, will be entered into a raffle for a pizza gift certificate. The challenge will conclude on Monday, February 9. IXL is research based and proven to have a strong impact on student academic achievement. We encourage you to support your child in using this platform at home. Please reach out if you have any questions about how to login and thank you for reading to your child or using IXL.
Interested in more literacy resources? Check out this website from CDE: https://www.readlearnleadco.org/
February Panther HOWL (Habit of Work & Learning) Focus: Compassion
For the month of February, we will celebrating the HOWL of Compassion. Compassion means, “I care for and help others, my community, and the world around me.” The Student of the Month for each crew will be announced at our next community meeting on February 26th. If your student is chosen by their teacher, we will reach out at the beginning of that week to let you know!
Attendance
February 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 with Ms. Rapke 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!
Semester 2 Attendance Challenge:
The semester 2 attendance challenge is here! This semester, K-2 students who have 1 or fewer absences will have the opportunity to attend a Rockies baseball game in Denver at Coors Field on May 20th! We will be checking attendance from Jan 5th-April 30th to see who qualifies. Families will be notified if your student has earned this opportunity the week of May 4th. Students may opt out of attending if parents so choose (Opt out deadline: May 6th). As the event gets closer, we will share more details so check this section regularly for updates! Please note LCIS is doing an attendance reward at this Rockies game as well so please look for specific information from LCIS in their parent communication as the criteria is slightly different between schools. Make sure your student is present at school every day as long as they are healthy in order to earn this opportunity! We are so excited for this special event!
HOWLs Challenge: We are excited to announce our quarter 3 HOWLs challenge! Your student will try to earn as many HOWL Dollars as they can by March 23rd for the chance to tie dye a t-shirt with the principals on March 26th! The top four 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. The HOWL that we are focusing on for January is craftsmanship and we are excited to see you all at our community meeting celebrating this HOWL on January 29th!
K-2 Project Dream
LCES Project Dream Information
Raquel Contreras
LCES Site Supervisor
719-293-5363
rcontreras@lakecountyschools.net
The Center Specifics
Dear Center Families,
Hello and happy February! It is hard to believe we are already in a new month.
This month is mail month at The Center. We sent a letter home last week about this learning tradition that occurs each year in the month of February. Here are the steps.
- Make a mailbox with your child at home, please bring these to school by Thursday February 12. Remember smaller is easier in the classroom.
- Encourage friends and families to send your child some mail. You can:
- Drop this stamp free in our program mail box in our front entrance
- Send this stamp free with your child’s bus monitor
- Send mail through the mail! Please be sure you address items like this.
The Center
Attention- (your child’s name and Room #)
130 West 12th Street
Leadville, CO 80461
We will be accepting and delivering mail daily from February 16-February 27. Letters are best but if packages are sent they should not include food or candy.
We have also been learning a new self regulation strategy in the classrooms. Ask your child about Tucker Turtle. He follows 4 steps to help him when he is feeling upset.
- Recognize your feelings.
- Stop your body.
- Tuck inside your shell and take three deep breaths.
- Come out when you are calm and can think of a solution.
A Tucker Turtle resource with the 4 steps and a story we use here at school was sent home in your child’s yellow folder. Check it out and practice this skill at home.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend. See you Monday!
Tanya Lenhard, Director
719-486-6928 (work); 719-293-1055 (cell)
tdlenhard@lakecountyschools.net
From the Assistant Director
Hello Families,
Do you need your 2025 Tax Statement for child care payments, please reach out to me directly, I will complete and get these to you within a week of the request.
Returning families, if you received a letter or email in regards to the Universal Preschool Program for the 26-27 school year, please remember to use the QR to sign up. The first round has ended, and a new round will begin soon. If you need support registering please let me know, and I would be happy to sit down with you in person to complete this.
On Thursday February 12th, classrooms will be celebrating Valentines Day. If you want to send valentine cards, please leave the “to” name blank and have your child write on the “from”. Please remember no candy or food. Little trinkets or toys are okay to pass out. This is optional.
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
Family Engagement Corner
Continuing with our theme on nutrition for preschoolers, here are a few more tips around healthy eating.
- Offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy options
- Model healthy behaviors, eat your veggies together!
- Think about their drinks, beverages with no added sugars like milk or water should be primary choices.
- Encourage meals and snacks at the table. This helps prevent choking and is a great time for conversation.
- Try new foods! Serve liked foods along with new foods. It might take up to 12 tries for a child to like a new food option.
- Involve your child in the process where you can. Your preschooler can help with washing produce, mixing ingredients, or setting the table.
- Provide some choices! You can determine the options but let them choose. “Would you like a banana or an apple?”
For more resources and ideas check out ChooseMyPlate.gov
Menus
Menus can be found in your child’s yellow folder at the end of each month or in our main entrance vestibules!
Fliers
Back to School? We’ve Got You!
Coming back after the holidays can take some adjusting for parents and students alike! The School-Based Health Center is here to support your physical and emotional well-being. Not enrolled yet? No worries. Enrollment is open year-round!
Visit Lake County SBHC Enrollment (English), Lake County SBHC Enrollment (Spanish) to enroll and School Based Health Centers – Elevated Community Health to learn more.
Call (970) 710 – 5049 to schedule your appointment today!
*** *** *** ***
¿De regreso a clases? ¡Estamos aquí para ayudarte!
Volver después de las vacaciones puede requerir un período de adaptación tanto para padres como para estudiantes. El Centro de Salud Escolar está aquí para apoyar su bienestar físico y emocional. ¿Aún no están inscritos? ¡No hay problema! La inscripción está abierta todo el año.
Visita Inscripción al SBHC del Condado de Lake (Inglés), Inscripción al SBHC del Condado de Lake (Español) para inscribirte y Centros de Salud Escolar – Elevated Community Health para obtener más información.
Llama al (970) 710-5049 para programar tu cita hoy mismo.”
