Bob and Lola Sanford Elementary Newsletter
Bob and Lola Sanford Elementary Newsletter
Passionate about Learning, Preparing for Tomorrow!
Embedded Files
Upcoming Dates
9/15-9/19 Literati Book Fair
9/15-9/19 Homecoming Spirit Week (Details Below)
9/16 - PTO General Meeting, Sanford Cafeteria, 5:30 PM
9/17 - Campus Improvement Plan Meeting 3:30, Homecoming Community Pep Rally 7 pm
9/19 - PTO Extra Recess Day, Homecoming Football Game Vs. Aubrey @ 7:00
9/22 - No School Staff Development Day
9/26 - PTO Wacky Day
10/1 - Picture Day
10/4 - Fall Festival
ABC's of Sanford Elementary
Here are a few things we would like to note from the ABCs that we have seen already this year. If you have questions, please let us know!
We do not accept student deliveries, ie, balloons and flowers. It is too difficult for students to get them home. If things are dropped off, parents will have to come in and get them at the end of the day!
When visitors come for lunch, we do not allow students to invite a friend to sit with them, and we are not allowed to share food brought in with any of the students' friends.
Cupcakes can be brought in for a student's birthday in all grades, PK-4th grade, but they cannot be homemade. They must be packaged with nutritional information included.
2025-2026 Sanford ABCs.docxParent Update: Understanding SB 12
This school year, a new Texas law called SB 12 (the Parents’ Bill of Rights) changes how schools provide some services to students. The law gives parents more control by requiring schools to get written permission each year before offering certain health services, counseling, or guidance lessons.
What does this mean for your family? Without your written consent, your child won’t have access to routine things like a Band-Aid from the nurse, a quick check-in with the counselor, or some classroom guidance lessons. Schools will always respond in true emergencies, but everyday supports now depend on your decision.
You have received a consent form from the school through Skyward. If you have not already, please review, make your choices, and submit your form so your child has access to the services and support they need.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
How to complete the Parental Consent Form found on Skyward Family Access:
Log in to your Skyward Family Access account ( link can be found on the district website under Students and Parents)
Find the Parent Consent Form on the dashboard ( in green)
Please complete the form for each student.
Handle with Care
Handle with Care
Parents, If your student is having a hard time coping with something, or just an off week that may carry over into the classroom or school day, do not hesitate to let me know! Feel free to email me Angela Lemons with the subject line Handle With Care. You do not need to share details about what they are struggling with, however, just letting me know, might aid in helping your student have the best day, week, or even year possible!
Ms. Lemons 903-712-1900
IMPORTANT DISMISSAL INFO
It is important for students to go home the same way each and every day to ensure consistency in routines for our students.Changes in Transportation must be made through the office before 2:00 PM and will only be accepted VIA EMAIL sanfordes@vanalstyneisd.org. We recognize the need for an occasional emergency change, but habitual changes may not be honored. Please do not contact your child’s teacher for dismissal transportation changes, as they must go through the office. ALSO: If you need to pick up early, please arrive by 2:30 to limit inference with our PRE-K dismissal at 2:40PM
Dress Code Reminders
The district dress code is enforced. Please ensure that your child is in dress code each day to limit class disruptions.
Dress Code
Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be at least fingertip length.
All outer garments must have sleeves (cap sleeves are permitted). “Spaghetti straps” or “tank tops” are not allowed. Shoulders must be covered.
Footwear must be a style that ensures safety and does not present a distraction. All shoes at the elementary level must have a back strap. "Slides" are not allowed at school. Crocs may be worn with a strap on the back.
Garments that are cut inappropriately are not permitted.
Holes in jeans are allowed in jeans, but skin cannot show through the hole above the fingertip. Oftentimes, students will wear leggings under their jeans or have patches behind the holes.
Anything form-fitting, such as spandex shorts, bicycle shorts, tights, leggings, and leotards, may only be worn under shorts or skirts that meet the school dress code.
Midriffs, cleavage, and undergarments should be covered at all times.
Tops must overlap the waistband of the pants; midriffs should not be seen, even when arms are raised above the head.
All students must have hair that is neatly groomed, out of the face, and of a natural color.
No Mohawks or designs in hair.
Goatees, beards, mustaches, and other facial hair must be short, neatly groomed, and natural in color.
Students may not wear hats, headgear, or sunglasses in the building during the school day.
Male students may not wear earrings, ear studs, or anything else in the ear.
Jewelry for face/body/tongue piercing may not be worn at school except for pierced earrings for females. No spacers.
Students may not wear garments or bring items to school that display pictures, emblems, or writings that are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene; and/or advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other objects or ideas that in the principal’s judgment may be expected to cause disruption of school activities or interference with classroom and other normal school activities.
Homecoming Mums
Homecoming Mums
Our Varsity Homecoming game will be Friday, September 19 at 7:00 PM. Please know mums and garters will not be allowed here at school on that day as they are a distraction to the learning environment. Students are welcome to wear mums and garters to the homecoming football game. We appreciate your understanding and hope you plan on enjoying watching our Panthers play Aubrey at the Homecoming game.
Homecoming Spirit Week Dress Up Days
Monday 9/15 - Twister: Wear Red, Blue, Green, or Yellow
Tuesday 9/16 - Battleship: Wear USA or Camo
Wednesday 9/17- Life: Wear College Gear or Dress As What You Want to Be When You Are Older
Thursday 9/18 - Go Fish: Find a Partner and Dress Alike
Friday 9/19 - Uno: Panthers are #1 - Spirit Wear
Homecoming Community Pep Rally
Homecoming Community Pep Rally
Everyone is encouraged to wear blue and white and join us for the VAISD Homecoming Community Pep Rally on September 17th at Panther Stadium. The festivities start at 7 pm.
Set Up Your Meal Account
Set Up Your Meal Account
Panther Nation,
We have a new way of taking care of your students' food service needs. Everything will now be in one spot! . You can now download the School Cafe Family Hub app. This app will let you see menus, put money on account, complete free and reduced lunch applications, as well as many other custom functions that you can choose to set up. You can also log in on a computer at https://family.schoolcafe.com/. We will no longer be using My School Bucks. All My School Bucks balances have been transferred to the new system(School Cafe).
Just a reminder, you can fill out the free and reduced lunch application online.
To complete free and reduced lunch applications, please go to the following link. https://family.schoolcafe.com/VAISD
If you have any questions, please contact bpylant@vanalstyneisd.org.
No Charging Button in School Cafe
Many parents have set up their accounts to block charging, believing they are protecting their students from charging into a deficit. However, when they block charging on accounts, it prohibits children from using the money that is on their accounts for any type of extra. So this would also prohibit them from getting milk, or even an extra freight, or a vegetable, or an entrée. It is important that parents understand that by checking the no charging button, their student is only allowed to get a meal. There is no way for our cafeteria to override that block that the parent has set up in the system.
New State Law on Student Device Use
Effective 2025–2026 School Year
We want to make you aware of a new Texas state law that will impact all public schools, including Van Alstyne ISD. Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 1481, which prohibits K–12 students from using personal digital devices—such as cell phones and smartwatches—during the school day.
Important Note: This is not a local policy—it is state law and will be enforced across all Texas public schools starting in the 2025–2026 school year.
VAISD Student Device Expectations – 2025–2026 In Compliance with House Bill 1481:
Cell phones and smartwatches must be powered off and placed in backpacks before entering the school building each morning.
Devices MUST REMAIN IN BACKPACKS and not be used at any time during the instructional day, including:
Class time
Before School
Passing periods
Lunch
Violations & Consequences
1st–3rd Offense: Device will be collected and returned to the student at the end of the school day.
4th Offense: Parent must come to campus to pick up the device.
5th Offense and beyond: Behavior consequences will be assigned according to the Student Code of Conduct (SCOC).
Exceptions for Documented Medical Needs
Students with medical conditions requiring access to a device may qualify for an exemption through a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Please contact your campus administration to discuss qualifications.
We appreciate your continued support in creating a focused, distraction-free learning environment. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure all students succeed under this new state requirement.
Medical/Dental/Counseling
Medical/Dental/Counseling
If your student is out for a medical appt, they need to turn in the medical note upon returning to school.
NURSE INFO: Students must be fever free/symptom free (without fever reducing medication) for 24 hrs before returning to school.
Parent notes
Parent notes
Students are only allowed 7 parent notes per school year. Those notes are to be turned in within 3 days upon returning to school. (Ex. if they are absent 2 days, that is 2 absences). We need all documentation- ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
Notes can be brought in by your student or emailed to: sanfordes@vanalstyneisd.org
PTO Information
Calling All Book Lovers and School Supporters!
Our Fall Book Fair is right around the corner, and we need YOUR help to make it a magical experience for our students! Volunteering is a fun and easy way to get involved at school—and no experience is needed.
Whether you're helping students shop, restocking shelves, or running the register, your time makes a big difference. Even a short shift helps us promote a love of reading while supporting our library and classrooms!
Sign up today and be part of one of the most exciting weeks of the school year!
#SanfordReads #BookFairVolunteers #PTOstrong
PTO Spirit Wear
Varsity Football Games
Our first varsity home game is Friday, September 5, at 7:30 PM, where our Panthers will play Alvarado. We love seeing our students attend games to support our high school students. Please see the information below about football game expectations.
Elementary students should be sitting with their parents.
No footballs or other balls can be brought to the game.
No one is allowed on the football field after the game.
Students will be escorted back to their parents if there are violations of the expectations at the game.
VA Athletic Booster Club
Click the link below for spirit wear in the Sanford Paw Shop, as well as membership options
https://van-alstyne-athletic-booster-club.square.site/
Home team prints is our new spirit-wear for the 2025-2026 school year! -
https://www.hometeamprints.net/store#!/Paw-Shop/c/183820295
Drama Kids
Attention East Side Drop-off Parents (including Pre-K and STC)
Attention East Side Drop-off Parents (including Pre-K and STC)
Just a reminder that the east side drop-off (by the cafeteria) in the mornings is not available until 7:35. The buses occupy that lane between 7:20 and 7:30, so we do not allow drop-off for anyone on that side of the building until 7:35. Thank you for understanding.
Arrival Procedures
Arrival Procedures
Please take a look at the graphic below to see our drop-off procedures:
Drop-off in car line - please do not get out of your car to help your student get out:
Front of school from 7:25 to 8:00.
Side of the school by the cafeteria from 7:35-8:00.
***Cub's Corner Parents: Please park in the parking lot if you arrive later than 7:15 to drop off your students***
Students go to breakfast, the playground, or the classroom.
Tardy bell rings at 8:00
Dismissal Procedures
Dismissal Procedures
All students will dismiss from their classrooms in the following order:
Bus Students – all grades by bus number
Daycare buses
Car Riders – By car number. K-2 in the front, stopping at the line in the front lot to allow our Pre-K to dismiss at 2:45. 3-4 in the bus line after the buses are gone. Please stage on Evans drive until busses leave. Older siblings will join their younger siblings in the K-2 line. Children will wait on the sidewalk and staff will help load them. Parents must have a car tag visible or they will have to park and walk in to show their ID.
Walkers - Out the back gym doors and across William’s Way - please wait for them on the sidewalk and do not come to the gym doors.
Cub's Corner - Students to the cafeteria
***Consistency is key for dismissal, please limit changes to your child’s dismissal routine.***
Kristi Odom, Principal
Haley Murch, Assistant Principal
Angela Lemons, Counselor
300 Williams Way Van Alstyne, TX. 75495
Phone: 903-712-1900
Fax: 903-712-4199
Email: sanfordes@vanalstyneisd.org
Student sites
Student Portal-Coming Soon
Parent sites
Skyward Coming Soon
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