Ivette Ellis Ed Wachowski
Principal Assistant Principal
January, 2012
Dear Parents,
I hope that everyone had a wonderful winter break. It is hard to believe that we are starting the second half of the school year. The time is going by very quickly.
Soon it will be time to begin our kindergarten registration process. Please be sure to let any family and friends with school age children know to be mindful of our school’s website. It will have important information regarding the registration period. Soon the website will also have the application for the Mano a Mano Program. This program fills very quickly and may require a lottery process for entry.
This year we will be offering parent tours during the month of January. Those dates are January 13, 20 and 27. The tours will begin at 11:00 a.m. During the tour we will share information with incoming parents about our fabulous school and taking them through some classrooms.
Remember that our school science fair will be January 12. Last year was a great success with more than 100 entries. We hope to match or improve student submissions this year. Some student projects will move forward to the district science fair, which is February 6th through the 8th at Ponus Ridge Middle School.
The CMT test for students in grades 3 through 5 will begin on March 5 through March 30th. The writing test will be March 6th. The specifics of other testing dates will be posted on our website soon. Please do not make any plans for doctor’s appointments, etc. during this time if you are the parent of a student in any of the testing grades. It is imperative that students be here to take the test and that they arrive at school on time each day of the test.
Our school day is filled with many important activities and lessons for all students. The science fair and the CMT tests are two important events where students are able to show and apply all that they have learned in the school year to that point. It is imperative that students arrive on time every day ready to learn. It is equally important that students stay at school a full day. Lately we have had many parents requesting that their child leave early for various appointments, etc. Please remember, that the school day ends at 3:15. Until that time we are engaged in learning activities. We would like to ask that parents not take children out of school earlier than 3:15 except in emergency situations.
Three additional gentle reminders: First, please remember that our children are your and our most precious commodities. Please be careful when entering the parking lot for drop offs in the morning and pick ups in the afternoon. We have witnessed some things in our parking lots that have caused us great concern for the safety of our students. No destination/appointment is more important that the life of a child or other visitor to the school. Second, students should not be arriving at school until 9:05 a.m. Students cannot enter earlier than that as any staff that is present is preparing for the day and there is no supervision for students dropped off early. In the future, any students who are left earlier than 9:05 will be taken to the After the Bell program for proper supervision and you will be billed for services rendered. Third, please be consistent in how your child goes home in the afternoon. If they are a walker/rider, please be sure to pick them up on time at the end of the day. Please remember, that students are not to change buses for play date purposes. Students must ride the bus they are assigned to every day. Any changes to students’ dismissal must be submitted in writing. We should not receive calls during the day to make changes to student dismissal arrangements at the end of the same day. Please be sure to make these plans in advance and send written notice to the teacher so that there are no mishaps.
We love your children and feel honored to be their educators. Please help us to provide them with the best school day experience possible. We value them and we greatly appreciate your support and cooperation in providing them a quality education each and every day.
We hope to see all of you at the January PTO meeting and Science Fair on January 12.
Sincerely,
Ivette Ellis