October Family Newsletter

  

 Follow us on Instagram @ps354stem

MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY

october bitmoji

HAPPY OCTOBER 2024!!!

 

Fall is Here! Just as a new season brings changes in weather and scenery, so does a new school year. September was filled with many new experiences and engaging in our commitment ceremonies. Thank you for all of your support thus far!

 

Thank you to all of the families that attended our Back to School Meetings, including on September 12th.  We had a great turnout at all three sessions! Thank you to all of the families that came out to our Commitment Ceremonies. Also a huge thank you to the PTA, who helped with opening days of school. Last, but not least, we would like to thank our fathers who participated in our Dads Bring our Child to School Day on September 19th!

 

Students have been taking diagnostic assessments, including iReady, this past month to better help teachers provide the proper instruction This month, we are continuing these diagnostic assessments through the week of October 7th.

Events to Look Out For

This month, we are starting the following programs in the school:

  • Think Pink Fridays: We wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month every Friday. On October 25th, we will do a Breast Cancer Walk sponsored by SQPA. 
  • Student Clubs: We will be starting various clubs for students: Gardening Club, Hair Club, Art Club, Sports Club, and Dance Club. Interest Forms will go out on October 1st. 
  • STEAM Afterschool Program: This afterschool in partnership with Greater Allen Youth promotes STEM exploration for students in Grades K to 5. Applications for this program ends on October 2nd. 
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: From September 15th through October 15th, we celebrate Hispanic cultures. We will be holding a special celebration on October 17th. 
  • Student Government Elections: We will be holding student government elections and inauguration this month. Get ready to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!
  • Spelling Bee: We are bringing the Spelling Bee BACK!!! Vocabulary is important to know and have, and so students in Grade 3-5 will have spelling bees in their individual classrooms as part of the preliminary round. The top five students from each class will participate in a grade-wide spelling bee to determine the top three of the grade. Those students will then go on to the Semi-finals. The top 9 students will advance to the Finals. The top three Grade 5 students will move on to the Districtwide Spelling Bee. The top three students from Grade 3 and 4 combined will automatically advance to next year’s in-school Finals. The families of those students will be invited to watch their students compete. Both the semi-finals and the finals will be held in the auditorium. More information about the dates will follow soon.
  • Word Parade: Get your costumes ready! Costumes must represent a word. Costumes must adhere to this guideline in order for students to dress up. In the afternoon, families will have the opportunity to engage in Fall Activities with their children.

 

Arrival and Dismissal 

All K to 5 students enter from the schoolyard  each morning. Grade K students line up in the gym. Please see our Arrival and Dismissal Policy in the Family Handbook.  Any student that arrive after 8:10 am are considered late AND must sign in using the main entrance.

All students are dismissed to the schoolyard.  Late students are brought into the gym at 2:25 pm and the back lobby doors are closed after that. After 2:25 pm, all families must go through the main entrance and sign the late sheets. 

  

Thank you for your collaboration, and as always, stay safe! 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL POLICY AT A GLANCE

GRADE ARRIVAL ENTRANCE DISMISSAL EXIT
3K Entrance/Exit 6 Entrance/Exit 6
PREK Entrance/Exit 5 Entrance/Exit 5
KINDERGARTEN Gymnasium Schoolyard at Assigned Spot
GRADE 1 Schoolyard at Assigned Spot Schoolyard at Assigned Spot
GRADE 2 Schoolyard at Assigned Spot Schoolyard at Assigned Spot
GRADE 3 Schoolyard at Assigned Spot Schoolyard at Assigned Spot
GRADE 4 Schoolyard at Assigned Spot Schoolyard at Assigned Spot
GRADE 5 Schoolyard at Assigned Spot Entrance/Exit 1

All late students MUST enter through the Main Entrance beginning at 8:10 am. During the first two days,  During the first two days of school (SEPTEMBER 5TH AND SEPTEMBER 6TH, Kindergarten students will arrive and be dismissed in the Gymnasium. 

 

 ENTRY AND EXIT MAP FOR FAMILIES 

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER: 

  • Arrival: Grade 1 to 5 students report to the gymnasium
  • Arrival: Grades 3K to Kindergarten report to the auditorium
  • ALL students are dismissed to their designated spots for dismissal
    • Grade K to 5 students are dismissed to the schoolyard. Kindergarten dismisses at 2:15 pm.
    • 3K and PreK students get dismissed in the small schoolyard at 2:15 pm. Any student that is not picked up by 2:30 pm is brought to the auditorium for Parent Pick Up. Students must be signed/scanned out.

 

DISMISSAL TIMES:

Grades 3K to Kindergarten: 2:15 pm 

Grades 1 to 5: 2:20 pm

 

Students taking the yellow bus are to go to their designated boarding area in the Main Lobby.

 

All changes in dismissal arrangements must be submitted in writing to the teacher and Main Office by 1:00 pm.  To ensure student’s safety, verbal requests will not be honored.  In addition, students will only be released to names listed on the blue emergency cards. Please note that there are no early pick ups after 1:45 pm.   

LUNCH POLICY AND LOST ITEMS

If your child brings their own lunch to school, please be reminded that students have different food allergies, so speak to your child about not sharing their lunch or snacks with other children.

 

Lost Items can be found in the “Lost and Found” located in the cafeteria. Please label all of your child’s belongings (lunch bags, sweaters, coats, backpacks) so that in the event that they lose it, it can be found easily in the Lost and Found.

UNIFORM POLICY AT A GLANCE

Uniform is fully enforced. Please make sure that your child is in FULL uniform Mondays through Thursdays.  There is Freestyle Fridays, where students wear their own clothes. Hoodies/sweaters are not allowed unless they are school issued, solid black, solid navy, or solid grey.

 

See Full Uniform Policy