Lamar School

The Cherokee Chronicle

October 2025 Family Newsletter

Principal's Note

Autumn Greetings, Lamar Families!

We are officially moving into the second nine weeks of the school year, and it is exciting to see our students continue to grow both academically and socially. This progress is intentional and begins at home with simple habits—talking with your child about their school day, staying in touch with their teacher, and encouraging at least 20 minutes of reading each night.

First nine weeks report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, October 17. Please review your child’s report card with them, sign it, and return it to school. Report cards are also available digitally through the Parent Portal; if you need login help, our office is happy to assist.

Also, if you child is in 3-8th grade then they just completed their first MVPA Fall Check Point. This standards-based assessment is a first glimpse at their progress for the year and allows teachers and staff to better individualize instruction. Please review their progress with them on this assessment and reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns.

Finally, as you review this newsletter, please note all of the field trips and other events that are taking place in the 2nd nine weeks including the beginning of our winter athletic season for 6-8th grade.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping make the first nine weeks such a success!

Respectfully,
Mark Merriman, Principal

Mr. Merriman

🎉September Kind Cherokees of the Month🎉

september kind
Almen

📅UPCOMING EVENTS

AttenDANCE
Teacher Inservice
Fall Break
family pe week

🏃‍♀️💚 Family PE Week at Lamar! 💚🏃‍♂️

Get ready to move, play, and have fun—Family PE Week is here! While it’s officially celebrated in October, Lamar is excited to host our very own “Bring Your Parent to PE Week!” 🎉

Parents are invited to join their child’s PE class, jump into activities, and experience the energy, fun, and learning that happens in the gym every day.

✨ Why participate?
✔ Strengthen family connections through active play
✔ See how PE supports health, focus, and well-being
✔ Show your child the value of staying active—together!

Your support makes a huge difference in promoting the importance of physical education at Lamar. We can’t wait to see families in action, moving and having fun side by side!

👟 See you in the gym!
— Coach Clawson & Coach Flannagan

If you choose to take your student home after PE class it will be counted as an early dismissal!

red ribbon

🎗 Red Ribbon Week: Oct 27th – 31st 🎗
We’re celebrating Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s largest drug prevention campaign! Started to honor DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, red ribbons show our commitment to a drug-free life.

🧩 This year’s theme: “Life is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free” – encouraging kids to make healthy choices every day.

👕 Dress-Up Week:

  • Mon 10/27: Rally in Red – Stand Up to Drugs! Wear red ❤️

  • Tue 10/28: Peace Out to Drugs – Wear tie-dye ✌️

  • Wed 10/29: Team Up Against Drugs – Wear your favorite sports jersey 🏀⚽

  • Thu 10/30: Follow Your Dreams, Don’t Do Drugs – Wear pajamas 😴

  • Fri 10/31: Drugs Are Scary – Wear a school-appropriate Halloween costume 🎃 (no masks/full face paint)

👪 Parents, get involved! Talk with your kids, encourage participation, and help inspire a brighter, drug-free future.

💚STUDENT & FAMILY SUPPORTS💚

holiday help

Dear Families,

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and the Family Resource Center for WCS is partnering with several organizations to help ease some of the challenges this time of year can bring. Our goal is to ensure families can enjoy the holidays and celebrate together.

If your family is already receiving holiday assistance from another agency (i.e. Salvation Army, Churches, etc)  we kindly ask that you decline this opportunity so that more children and families may benefit.

This form is being sent to identify those in need. If you wish to apply for holiday assistance, please complete by October 31, 2025.  Please note that submitting this form does not guarantee assistance, but we will work diligently to support as many families as possible. A form must be completed for each child in your household.

CLICK HERE to complete the form.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Clanci Tipton
Email: tiptonc3@wcde.org

Warm regards,

Family Resource Center – WCS

Smart Social

OCTOBER LIVE EVENTS

🚫💻 Combat Online Bullying: Parent + Student Event 💬✨
Nearly half of U.S. teens report being bullied online—let’s change that together. Join this live event to:

✅ Learn what online bullying looks like and how it impacts students
✅ Hear from students and district leaders
✅ Discover practical tools to recognize signs, resolve conflicts, and encourage positive online behavior

🎁 Bonus: Attend for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle, 3D printer, or Bluetooth speaker!

📅 Multiple dates available in September & October (including a special Spanish session on Oct. 29).

📆 Tuesday, Oct. 7 – 7 p.m. ET
🔗 Register Here

📆 Tuesday, Oct. 14 – 7 p.m. ET
🔗 Register Here

📆 Thursday, Oct. 23 – 7 p.m. ET
🔗 Register Here

📆 Tuesday, Oct. 28 – 9:30 p.m. ET
🔗 Register Here

Combatir el Acoso en Línea (Evento en Español)
📆 Wednesday, Oct. 29 – 7 p.m. ET
🔗 ¡Regístrate aquí!

👉 Don’t miss out—register today and help create safer, kinder online spaces for students!

🏀🤼‍♀️ATHLETICS🏀🤼‍♀️

boys basketball
wrestling

💥 Get Ready to Hit the Mat! Middle School Wrestling is Back! 💥
Want to join the action? Text or call Coach Jerry Hilton at 423-948-1295 to sign up!

  • When: Practices start in September and run through December (football players can join after football season).

  • Where: DCHS Wrestling Room

  • Practice Times: 6–8 PM on Monday–Thursday

  • Important: A current physical is required before your first practice.

  • Gear: Wrestling headgear, shoes, and comfy shorts/sweats + t-shirt

  • Note: Transportation is not provided and basketball may conflict with practice.

Step onto the mat, learn new skills, and have a blast this season! 🏆🤼

sports

Lamar families,

As we begin to host athletic events again after the reopening of our gym please remember that students may not be dropped off at sporting events. All students/children must be accompanied by an adult and remain under their supervision for the duration of the event. Students who arrive without an adult will not be admitted. In addition, student behavior at events can affect their ability to attend future games.

We also want to share the Washington County Schools' updated 2025–26 Gate Prices:

  • Adults: $6

  • Students: $2

  • Families (immediate family only): $12

Thank you for supporting our athletes and helping us maintain a safe and positive environment at all sporting events!

💚SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL💚

school bucks

🎉 2025-26 Food City School Bucks Challenge is here! 🎉

Earning money for our school is as easy as grocery shopping — but don’t forget, you MUST re-link your ValuCard every year!

Food City is giving away $800,000 to schools for classrooms, equipment, and supplies. Every time you shop with your linked ValuCard, our school earns points — and the more points we collect, the bigger share of the cash we receive!

👉 Linking is quick and easy: just log into your Food City account at https://www.foodcity.com/schoolbucks, choose Lamar as your school, and you’re set for the year.

Don’t have an online account? No worries — check out this helpful video!

Let’s make every grocery trip count for our students! 🛒🍎

box tops

📱✨ Make a BIG Impact in a Small Way! ✨📱

Supporting our school is easier than ever with Box Tops for Education!
Just buy participating products, scan your receipt with the Box Tops app, and watch the earnings add up for our school.

💡 No time to scan? Link your Walmart account and earn Box Tops automatically!
💰 Twice a year, our school gets a check that helps teachers and students succeed.

Let’s come together to give our kids more opportunities to shine.
👉 Download the app today and start scanning!

🔗 Learn more at BTFE.com

Lamar PTA
Click the logo to join online!

https://lamarschool.givebacks.com/store/items/66366

🍴SCHOOL NUTRITION🍴

oct menu

📅SCHOOL LOGISTICS⏰

october
Early dismissal
Cherokee

Email: merrimanm@wcde.org
Website: https://www.wcde.org/o/ls
Location
: 3261 Hwy 81 South, Jonesborough, TN 37659
Phone: 423-753-1130
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LamarSchoolTN