Principal's Note

Cherokee Families,

We would like to officially welcome you to the 2025-26 school year at Lamar School! Last year we our school community persevered and came together in the wake of the flooding from Hurricane Helene and we were #LamarStrong. As we push into new school year and look at to the future, we are excited to partner with your family to best meet the unique needs through our school's beliefs:

Our school community values and accepts all students by building supportive relationships based upon kindness, caring, and mutual respect.
We strive for all students to be successful by demonstrating ownership and accountability for their learning and growth.
We engage learners in a safe and respectful environment through collaboration and high quality instruction.

In looking at our TCAP goals from last year, we increased our achievement goal in math but continue to have work to do in ELA, Social Studies, and Science in terms of proficiency. Please check out the TCAP scores that will be coming home in August to see your child's individual progress.

These three areas of academic growth, social-emotional learning, and teacher collaboration will help us fulfill our school's mission of "meet[ing] the educational needs of all students enabling them to be responsible and productive citizens."

Please check out the rest of this newsletter for important information.

Again, welcome back and thanks again for helping our students achieve our motto to "Be the best that I be!"

Mark Merriman, Principal

Welcome New Teachers & Staff!

Click the Image to View the Supply Lists

Beginning of the Year Paperwork

The following required documents will need to completed digitally using your PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you do not have your PowerSchool Parent Portal account set up, please visit the library during Back to School Open House.

Student Registration
McKinney-Vento Form
Photo Release Form (if not already on file)
WCDE Student Handbook Signature Page
Migrant Occupational Survey
ChromeBook Contract

These items are hard copies and will need to be completed and returned to Lamar:

Lamar Behavior Expectations Letter Acknowledgement Form
Well Child (optional)
Telehealth Permission (optional)

New Cell Phone & Communication Devices Policy

Energy Drink Policy

Attendance Updates & Reminders

🚍 IMPORTANT BUS UPDATES 🚍

1.) 🚍ROUTES & MY RIDE K-12 SYSTEM
Families will be able to view their student's assigned bus, approximate times of pick up/drop off, and live updates when the bus is in route by using the My Ride K-12 app and/or website! Parents/guardians must have their student's ID# to register.
⭐To learn more about how to use the app/website, visit https://www.wcde.org/o/wcs/page/find-my-school-zone
⭐To log in, visit https://myridek12.tylerapp.com/login OR download the app.

2.) 🚍 STUDENTS OUT OF ZONE
Families who live outside of their student's school zone and are on an enrollment contract, must provide their own transportation to and from the school.

3.) 🚍 BUS NOTES
Students are NOT PERMITTED to ride a bus other than the one that is zoned for their residence. This includes but not limited to, students riding home with other students, riding to different addresses throughout the week, etc.

4.) 🚍 HOME ADDRESS
Students can only ride the bus to their home address. No exceptions.

5.) 🚍 KINDERGARTEN - 2ND GRADE STUDENTS
Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade must have an adult present at the bus stop or they will not be let off the bus. Any K-2nd grade student who does not have an adult waiting at the bus stop will be brought back to their school.

❗ IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUS UPDATES, PLEASE CONTACT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AT 423-753-1172 ❗

Chromebook Distribution

We are pleased that once again every student at Lamar will have access to a ChromeBook this school year assuming they follow the guidelines in the WCDE ChromeBook contract. However, only students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th grades will take them home. Grades K - 5th will store them in their homeroom classrooms. A ChromeBook contract will come home and needs to be signed and returned for each student.

Call the school office at 753-1130 if you have questions.