1. Lancaster Elementary School “Unlock the Mystery of Learning”
Welcome to Open House
Lancaster Elementary School
“Unlock the Mystery of Learning”

2. Meet the Teachers
Jonnie Hebert – I teach all the children ELA and Social Studies to my homeroom. This is my 18th year teaching. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Gifted Education, and an M.Ed. in Educational Technology. –
Website –
Joanna Hidalgo– I teach all the children Math and Science and Social Studies to my homeroom. This is my 10th year teaching. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education, an I’m working on my M.Ed. In Educational Leadership. –
Website –

3. This year, our new counselor is Deanna Desmond.
New Faculty
This year, our new counselor is Deanna Desmond.
We are also fortunate to have a full-time MHP, Ashley Tamboli, along with our School Resource Officer, Deputy Troy White.
Feel free to reach out to our counselor and MHP if you have any counseling needs for your child.

4. Internet Resources
Parents have access to JPAMS to check grades and attendance in the student progress center. You will receive a letter from the school board with log in information specific to your child.
Please visit lancasterelementary.stpsb.org for updates on events, student handbook, teacher website links, cafeteria menus, etc…
We also have a link to My Payments Plus to pay for cafeteria fees and student fees.
You can also access Moodle which has a lot of our textbooks
online, as well as Typing Agent.
**Pass out Moodle Directions from Erin.

5. At Lancaster we prefer for them to be in the book bag.
Cell Phone Policy
STPSB has changed the policy on cell phones. Students are allowed to store cell phones in the off position at school.
At Lancaster we prefer for them to be in the book bag.
Consequences will be given for use of cell phone, and parents will be required to pick the cell phone up at their convenience.

6. Car Line Reminders
Make sure you have your tag displayed where it can be easily read.
Use the stacking lanes in the morning and afternoon. Please be courteous to other drivers, buses, and staff members.
Refrain from using cell phone.
If your child is serving a detention or is attending morning intervention, please arrive early, as kids will be dropped off in the carline.
For safety reasons, please do not check your child out after 2:45 pm.

7. Math Curriculum Updates
In review of data over the past few years, math has been identified as an area to be strengthened as a whole school.
We are following the STPSB Guaranteed Curriculum which addresses the Louisiana State Standards for math.
This year we are incorporating the use of Eureka strategies, along with traditional algorithms and procedures for teaching new math concepts.
Parents can visit the Louisiana Believes website to review the state standards, along with access to parent resources.
Visit stpsb.org to see sample units and the curriculum we follow.
Parents can also view resources on our individual teacher webpages. For example, the parent’s guide to Eureka with videos.
If you have questions during homework, please let us know by indicating on the homework assignment.

8. Math Assessment Breakdown
There are 6 Modules for math this year. Instead of using a textbook, your child will have the in-class notes/activities in their binder to refer to and help with homework. Any additional resources can be found in the MATH sleeve of their binder. We will clean out at the end of each module.
There will be mid-module and end-module assessments, as well as some assessments based on the standards covered in class to still make up 9 grades each quarter.
We will continue to use the MobyMax math program for fluency

9. ELA Curriculum Updates
State standards and curriculum resources can be accessed through stpsb.org and Louisiana Believes websites.
This year we are doing 3 Guidebook units which are based off of a novel study and supporting resources.
The Birchbark House
Novel – The Birchbark House
3 non-fiction supporting texts
The Making of a Scientist
Novel - The Templeton Twins Have An Idea: Book 1
Several non-fiction supporting texts
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Novel – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
1 poem and 2 fiction supporting texts
Number the Stars
Novel – Number the Stars
Achieve 3000 is a literacy-based program that we are also using. This strengthens our reading of non-fiction articles and written response to text.
** Discuss the main novels for your grade level at this point. Third grade: adjust with your curriculum.

10. ELA Grade Breakdown Each nine weeks as a grade level we will give:
2 Achieve 3000 grades – averaged every 4 weeks for a total of 2 grades
2 Chapter Comprehension Tests
1 Cold Read Comprehension Test (from Guidebook)
3 Writing Prompts – 1 narrative, 1 research simulation, 1 literary analysis
2 Language/Grammar grades (Spiral Review and Mentor Sentence averaged from 9 given for each)
1 RACE writing grade (teacher choice of topic)
Total of 11 grades for the nine weeks with 10 of those being common assessments
*** 4th-6th grade teachers: Please place the breakdown of the ELA grade here to include spelling, grammar, writing, comprehension, Achieve.
Category
Grades
Percent of Grade
Reading
Achieve Articles (2)
Comprehension Tests (3)
50%
Writing
Writing Prompts (3)
RACE (1)
45%
Language/Grammar
Spiral Review (1)
Mentor Sentences (1) 5%

11. Social Studies Curriculum Updates
In review of data in recent years, this is an area that we need to strengthen.
We are teaching literacy skills in social studies with the use of primary and secondary sources.
DBQ’s (Document Based Questions) will be used to analyze social studies content.
*** Explain what this means: DBQ’s

12. Social Studies Grade Breakdown
2 Achieve 3000 grades – averaged every 4 weeks for a total of 2 grades
Map Test
Map Book Project
Aztec, Maya, Inca Flipbook
Aztec, Maya, Inca Test
Mound Builder, Anasazi, Inuit Flipbook
Mound Builder, Anasazi, Inuit Test
Civilization Project
Native American Booklet
1 teacher choice if wanted
 Total of grades for the nine weeks
Every nine weeks we will send home a new breakdown for Social Studies.

13. Science Curriculum Updates
We are moving towards investigative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) based science lessons.
Our lessons are following the Louisiana State Standards and are incorporating literacy skills, anchor phenomenon, science experiments, and technology.

14. Science Grade Breakdown
Based on the curriculum changes, some grades will be in the form of in-class projects, lab reports from experiments, as well as traditional tests.

15. Curriculum Resources
As you can see, education today is pulling from a variety of resources to address state standards for each subject.
Textbooks are used to reinforce standards, but they are not used as a sole program.
At any time if you struggle with the content or resources, please let us know so we can help you.

16. State-Wide Testing LEAP 2025 Testing Dates:
5th-6th Grade Online Testing: April 1-May 3
3rd-4th Grade Paper-Pencil Testing: April 29-May 3
Please be mindful with student attendance during these dates.

17. Class Reminders
Please remember to sign your child’s agenda every night.
Please sign the behavior log every Friday.
Red graded paper folders are sent home on Friday. Please review the papers, sign the folder, and send back by Wednesday of the next week. Please feel free to keep all papers except D’s and F’s… sign those and send them back.
**VIP folder reminder here. What day does it go home? Procedures for that to be returned.