Donut order forms go home on Wednesday, October 1. Orders and money are due Wednesday, October 22. Order pick up will be Wednesday, October 29 at the Latta Recreation Center from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. Funds raised through the donut sale will be used to support field trips and purchase classroom materials.

Fundraiser Incentives:  The top selling students will be invited to ride on the LES Christmas Parade float in December.  The top selling classes will also receive a prize!  The top 2 individual sellers will take a trip to Wal-mart with Officer Trent and Mrs. Dollie for a $100 shopping spree!

Fall pictures were taken in September, but we have a make-up day. If you weren’t happy with your child’s pictures or your child missed picture day, please plan to have their picture taken on Thursday, October 16. These pictures will be used for our 25-26 yearbook. If you would like to purchase a yearbook for $30, please send your payment to school in an envelope labeled with your child’s name, homeroom teacher, and the word “yearbook”. You may also purchase online at www.jostens.com. If purchasing online, you can personalize your child’s yearbook. The price of the yearbook will go up to $35 in January.

This year, we invite our parents to attend Breakfast with a Buddy. We are serving NutriGrain bars and water for our guests each day! On your assigned day, please park in the main parking lot and enter the cafeteria with your child. If you have more than one child at LES, you may choose a day to eat with all of them at one time. We can accommodate ONE adult guest per student.

Oct 21: Sarah Duprel & All 4k/5k Classes

Oct 22: Smith, C. Long, Kirk, Haynes, Bryant, Short, Ivey, Jordan

Oct 23: Graham, McLaurin, Rice, Ramos, Floria, Sapp, S. Long

Oct 24: All 4th and 5th Grade Classes

Red Ribbon Week will be observed Oct 27-31. The week promotes a drug-free environment, and our theme is “Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free”. All students will be learning about how to make positive, healthy choices that keep us free from the harmful effects of drugs. Students may also participate by following the schedule below:

Mon.: Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week

Tues.: Wear Latta Gear – “Team Up Against Drugs!”

Wed.: Wear Pajamas – “Follow Your Dreams”

Thurs.:  Dress as your favorite book character – “Don’t’ let drugs ruin your character!”

Fri.: No School for Students

All second graders will participate in state testing in October. Please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest the night before tests, arrives on time for school, has eaten a healthy breakfast at home or has time to do so at school, and that early dismissals are completely avoided. Please make note of the following test dates and how they may apply to your child.

2nd grade CogAT Test: October 7-9

2nd grade ITBS: October 14-15

We are excited about our Fall Festival on Thursday, October 30 from 5:00-8:00! Our teachers are busy preparing for their classroom games and collecting items for their class basket!  We are in need of some donations, so please make sure you are checking your child’s folder daily for specific announcements for their class. We plan to have games, face painting, picture booths, food, and much more! There will be a separate flyer coming home with more details, so you can prepare to join us on this fun night!  

A draft copy of the Dillon School District 3 Compact was sent home by text message a few weeks ago. This compact describes how parents, children, and the school will work together to support the child's learning. A final copy will be sent home next week for you to sign. Please take a moment to review this important information, sign, and return to school. Every student must have one on file for every school year.

Report cards will go home on October 21. Parent conferences were held in September. If you would like to conference, please send a note to your child’s teacher. She/he will contact you to set up a date and time. Thank you for being involved in your child’s education.

Students in 1st - 5th grade will participate in a walkathon during PE in honor of Walk to School Day!  Walk to School Day is officially on October 8, but we will celebrate all week during PE.  We are discussing the importance of walking and biking as exercise.  Please make sure your child wears his/her tennis shoes for PE this week, and they are encouraged to bring a water bottle.  Let's work together to promote healthier students and safer walking routes to school

All Lower Elementary Montessori classes will be attending a field trip to Ripley’s Aquarium in November. Teachers have worked together with the staff from Ripley’s to plan a fun, educational field trip for your child. Please make sure your child dresses comfortably, with good walking shoes, on the day of their trip.

Nov 3: Kirk, Bryant, Smith, C. Long, Haynes

Nov 4: Floria, S. Long, Rice, Ramos, Short

Nov 5: Jordan, McLaurin, Sapp, Ivey Graham

Our lost and found rack at school is filling up quickly. If your child has lost an item, please send a note to the teacher. We will do our best to help find it. Please label your child’s belongings with a permanent marker. It’s much easier to return missing items to students when they’re labeled.

Several of our parents volunteered to hold positions for PTO and the School Improvement Council. After a vote held by our parents, we are pleased to announce our new officers. Jessica German will serve as PTO president. Cierra Sullivan will serve as PTO vice-president. Mia Brown and Steven Reynolds have agreed to serve as members of the School Improvement Council. Thank you to all the parents who were willing to help serve in these capacities. Thank you to the ones who have accepted these roles. We look forward to working with each of you to make this the best school year ever!

Parents are an important piece of the puzzle! Thank you for reading through the newsletter to stay informed on your child's education!

October is Fire Safety Month! Our local fire department is coming to visit LES students on Friday, October 10. This will be for students in grades Kindergarten through third grade. We are so excited to have them here to teach our students about fire safety. The students will also have a chance to tour the trucks! We appreciate these men and women who are volunteering their time to be with us on this wonderful day!

The Be Present S.C. campaign aims to improve school attendance across South Carolina, and Latta Elementary School is taking part! Recent data shows that our state’s chronic absenteeism rate is 22.5% — meaning nearly one in four public school students in SC is chronically absent. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of school days. This level of absenteeism impacts student achievement.  By raising awareness about this issue, we aim to empower both parents and students to prioritize school attendance. Our goal is to build a community where every child attends school consistently, paving the way for academic success and a brighter future!