The Compass Newsletter Issue #5

Reminder: Election Day (Nov. 3) is a Professional Learning Day

Williamson and Travis Counties will use several Leander ISD campuses as Election Day polling locations Tuesday, Nov. 3. Students will have the day off thanks to a calendar adjustment the Board approved at their Aug. 27 meeting. Staff will use the time as a professional development day.

Beginning Nov. 11, Early Release Days on Most Wednesdays for Dedicated Teacher Planning Time

We love our teachers and salute the incredible sacrifices they are making to keep our students learning virtually and in-person during this challenging time. One way we can support them is by giving teachers time to create unique and personal learning experiences that make Leander ISD such a special district.

Beginning Nov. 11 and continuing for most Wednesdays for the rest of the 2020–21 school year, all LISD schools will dismiss two hours early so that teachers can collaborate and plan for in-person and virtual learning experiences. In addition, LISD custodial and contracted cleaning services can use that time to deep clean learning spaces on campuses.

For Wednesdays designated as Dedicated Teacher Planning days:

All students receive lunch
Normal bus routes run
After-school programs start early
Schools will run on shortened schedules for all classes

Students currently enrolled in the YMCA Afterschool program will have care provided on campus beginning at 12:55 p.m on early release days. For students who are not currently enrolled in YMCA, childcare will be available for $25/early release day and may attend 12:55 pm – 6:30 pm. Financial assistance is available, for more information contact 512-246-9622.

Campus transition coordinators are working with ACC instructors to determine a solution for early release days. If you have questions please contact the campus transition coordinator.

Because the district has enough minutes in its bell schedules, we can cover these reallocated 2,050 instructional minutes. For an electronic and printable version of the school calendar, click here.

Please visit our support site for more information on the calendar adjustment’s impact on STAAR testing dates, AP and IB exams, as well as changes to existing early release days.

Reminder: Complete Health Screener Each Morning (In-Person Only)

For the health and safety of our students and staff, parents are required to complete a campus health screener each morning for each student attending classes in-person. Every campus has a designated health form that needs to be filled out before the student arrives at school. Please check with your child’s campus for more information.

Also, please remember the best practices during this time are to wear a mask, keep a safe social distance, and wash hands often.

Board Briefs

Leander ISD Trustees saluted two longtime, retiring Board members, reviewed the district’s annual demographic report, and considered district plans to further support teachers with more dedicated planning time at their Oct. 22 meeting.

Click here to read the Board Briefs

We See Your True Colors

#1LISD let their colors shine last week! First, students, teachers and staff #madeitorange to celebrate Leander ISD’s commitment to kindness, inclusion and hope as a “No Place for Hate” district. Days later, LISD made it a #pinkout to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month, encourage early detection, and show support for our loved ones dealing with this disease. We are so proud of our community for rallying around such worthy causes.

K-2 Early Reading Screener

Leander ISD kindergarten through second-grade students are administered a brief screener of the foundational skills of reading three times per year. This screener is utilized with kinder and first-grade students to identify children in kindergarten (at end of year) and first grade (at middle of year) who may be at risk for dyslexia or a reading difficulty and/or a related disorder. If your child is identified as at risk for a reading difficulty through this process, you will receive additional information specific to intervention from your child’s teacher. For more information about the K-2 early reading screener, click here.

Leander ISD sees more growth in Advanced Placement (AP) Program and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program in 2020

More Leander ISD students took AP and IB exams in 2020, with the total number of AP and IB Exams taken reaching a new high. We’re proud of these students for challenging themselves academically and celebrate their incredible teachers and families for supporting them.

LEEF

3 Days Left to Help your campus win a cash prize!

LEEF Receives over $34,000 through grants from St. David’s Foundation and Henry Renfert Jr Fund

(LEEF) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $29,485 grant from the St. David’s Foundation and a $5,000 grant from the Dr. Henry Renfert Jr. fund, part of Austin Community Foundation’s Community Grant Program.

These grants combined with the $50,000 award from the Moody Foundation total nearly $85,000 that will be used to support mental health services for Leander ISD students and their families. More info here.

Remind

Not receiving messages sent through Remind? Follow these steps:

Log into Remind using the same email address on file in Home Access Center.
Once logged in, click on your name in the top left corner, and select Account Settings and then Notification Preferences.
By default, your email address and the phone number on file in Home Access Center should both be listed.
On this page, you can select which method(s) you’d like to receive messages on. More Remind Info

Not seeing your cell phone on your profile?

A phone number can only be listed on one Remind profile at a time, so it’s possible your phone number is already linked to a Remind account with an email address different from the one listed in HAC. If you’d like to merge these two profiles together, select “Add Device” on the Notifications Preferences page and follow the confirmation prompts from Remind. More info about Merging Profiles

Help needed in special education: Apply to be a substitute teacher

Help Leander ISD and our commitment to serving all students by applying to be a substitute teacher in special education. Hear our special programs staff speak about the importance of substitute teachers in our program.