Dear Puster Community!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Good afternoon!  I hope you are surviving the heat.  I know that our air conditioner seems to be running nonstop!  Rain and cooler weather would be much appreciated.

This afternoon was our New Student Orientation and it was wonderful to see new faces who will be joining the Puster family!  I am counting the days until August 23 when everyone returns.  Next week our teachers will be busy working on curriculum updates, planning, and preparing for the first week of school.

Class Lists

Class lists will post this afternoon @ 5:00.  The lists will be posted on the doors at Puster and online,  http://pes.lovejoyisd.net/.

Puster Volunteers – NEW PROCESS …PLEASE READ!

New for the 2010-2011 school year, all classroom volunteer opportunities will be available ONLINE!  Previously done using the “sign up boards” at Meet the Teacher Night, this year you will be able to go ONLINE as soon as homeroom lists are posted on August 13^th and sign up for any volunteer needs in your child’s class.  

Just go to www.lovejoyisd.net, select Puster for the Campus, under Parent Resources click Classroom Volunteers and then select your child’s homeroom teacher…it’s that easy!!  **You must be a “cleared” volunteer to help with school activities and field trips, so please fill out the Volunteer Application while you’re there.

Please be sure to go online and enter all of your contact information under your teacher’s “Information” category, even if you are unable to volunteer so that you will be informed of classroom events and happenings!!  Also, be sure to check out other links such as Specials, Library and Gate 10. 

Thanks,

Carrie Gallagher

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Purchase of Microsoft 2007 for Student Home Use

If you would like to purchase Microsoft 2007 for your student to use on your home computer, you can visit: www.journeyed.com/select , select k12, select state, select county, click on Lovejoy ISD.  On main page is a button that shows Microsoft Academic Discounts. Click that button and you are directed to page that provides all MS products and prices available to the faculty, staff and students - 2^nd row down you will find Office 2007 download.  The cost is $79.95.

Please Note: Office 2007 download product will be available until the end of September.  Microsoft will no longer offer 2007 option after September – 2010 will be the only option.

Microsoft 2007 installed on all computers at Puster

This summer our campus software programs have been updated and improved at Puster.  One major change our staff and students will see is the transition to Microsoft Office 2007.

We would like to provide you with a tool that will help with this transition.   Below is a link to a Free Compatibility Pack update offered from Microsoft.  This compatibility pack will allow you to view files that were created in Microsoft Office 2007 on a system that may be running a previous version.  For example, if you have Microsoft 2003 on your home computer, this compatibility pack will all your son or daughter to access files at school in Microsoft 2007 and at home in Microsoft 2003.  We encourage you to take the time to install this free update to help alleviate any problems that may arise between systems (school and home) running separate versions of Microsoft Office.

To install the update, follow the link below.  Read the simple directions provided from Microsoft and click on the Download button.  When the pop up appears, select “Run."

Microsoft Compatibility Pack free download

Parent Portal – IMPORTANT

Lovejoy ISD Parent Portal gives parents and students access to real-time information including attendance, grades, and detailed assignment descriptions. PowerSchool now provides single sign-on access to the Lovejoy Parent Portal. With single sign-on access parents/guardians can now have their own individual parent/guardian account, including user name and password.

Please note the individual student account login information that you have used in the past will no longer work to login to the Parent Portal.

In order to login to the Parent Portal, you must follow these steps:

1. Open your Web browser to http://powerschool.lovejoyisd.net/. The Log In page appears.

2. Click Create Account. The Create Parent/Guardian Account page appears.

3. Enter the required information in the Create Parent/Guardian Account section.

In order to create an account, you must have the Access ID (firstname_lastname) and Password (first initial of the first name and first initial of the last name followed by the last four (4) digits of the student’s social security number) for at least one student enrolled in school. When creating the account, you will need the Access ID and password for each student you want to associate to your parent/guardian account.  For example:

Student:                                 John Doe

Social Security Number:    XXX-XX-1234

Access ID =                           John_Doe        (be sure to capitalize the first letter of the first and last name)

Password =                           JD1234           (be sure to capitalize both initials)

4. Use the student’s Access ID and Password in the Link Students to Account section.

If you need additional help, please refer to the Parent Portal User Guide: http://www.lovejoyisd.net/Uploads/34/misc/f191946.pdf

Once your account is created, you can manage your account information, link any and all students to your account (for whom you have parental and legal rights to), and set email and notifications preferences for each student linked to your account. If you've forgotten your account login information, you can retrieve them by using auto-recovery.

Upcoming Dates:

August 13 – Post class lists @ 5:00

August 19 – Meet the Teacher, 6:00-7:30

August 23 – First Day of School

August 26 – 5^th grade Curriculum Night and Camp Meeting @ <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />6:00pm

Sept. 6 – Labor Day Holiday, No School

Sept. 7 – 1^st grade Curriculum Night @ 6:00pm

Sept. 7 – 4^th grade Curriculum Night @ 7:00pm

Sept. 9 – Picture Day

Sept. 9 – Kdg. Curriculum Night @ 6:00pm

Sept. 9 – 3^rd grade Curriculum Night @ 7:00pm

Sept. 13 – 17 – Bookfair

Sept. 14 – 2^nd grade Curriculum Night @ 6:00pm

Sept. 16 – PTA Meeting @ 6:15 and Ice Cream Social @ 6:30pm

Sept. 24 – Noon Early Release

Sept. 24 – Leopard Friday

Can’t Imagine Us Without You!

Janet