February 2020 Principal's Newsletter
Principal's Newsletter November 2019
New Haven Symphony Orchestra
Music from Around the World
Good Evening-
Students are to be in their seats at 9:00 A.M. as the instructional day begins at that time. Students coming in to the classroom after that time can be a disruption to the learning process for others that are already seated. Please keep this for reference throughout the school year and plan accordingly especially during inclement weather. The drop-off line can become VERY long
School Hours:
REGULAR DAY: 9:00 A.M. – 3:45 P.M. (Doors open at 8:45 A.M.)
LATE START: 11:00 A.M. – 3:45 P.M. (Doors open at 10:45 A.M.)
EARLY DISMISSAL: 9:00 A.M. – 1:50 P.M. (Doors open at 8:45 A.M.)
Unplanned Early Dismissal:
We ask that you DO NOT call the school or radio/television stations. It is imperative that these phone lines be kept open for communication purposes during an emergency.
It is important to review with your child (ren) alternative arrangements regarding where they should go if you are not home on an emergency early dismissal day. Information regarding emergency delayed openings / early dismissals by checking the district website (www.sheltonpublicschools.org) or from various news sources such as radio (WICC 600AM) and television (WTNH Channel 8) stations. Please refer to our website for planned and unplanned early dismissal times.
Absence Verification:
Board of Education policy requires that parents call the school when their child will be absent. A voice mail box (929-1330 ext. 399) is available for calls at night or early morning for you convenience. The voice mail box is available until the office staff arrives in the morning. If a child is absent and no parental notification has been obtained, the parent will receive an automated call at home, cell phone or their place of work. Please remember to provide a physician /dentist note when possible.
Student Items and Belongings:
Birthdays will be recognized in the following manner:
If you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, you have the option of:
-OR-
2) Sending in a non-food item for the entire class. Some examples of non-food items include: bookmarks, erasers, pencils, pens, markers, stickers and bouncy balls.
Birthdays are special days for our students. Recognition of birthdays at school, while important, should not disrupt the learning process or endanger the health or well-being of any student. We have an increasingly growing number of students who have food allergies. These students, along with other students whose health conditions require dietary restrictions, need close monitoring. Please check with your child’s teacher prior to sending in anything.
Thank you for your assistance in helping make our school a happy, safe, and healthy environment for all students and staff.
3) Invitations ~ Students may distribute invitations under the following guidelines so that hurt feelings can be avoided: ALL the girls in the class, ALL the boys in the class or the ENTIRE class. If this is not the case, then invitations CANNOT be distributed in school.
Bus Information:
We encourage you to send your children by bus (if eligible). Parents are requested to refrain from driving in the bus loop prior to 9:15 A.M in the morning, and between 3:20 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. in the afternoon. Parking in front of the school during these times is reserved for buses only. This will provide a safe and secure environment for our bus drivers and our bus transportation students. Appropriate behavior is important so that drivers are not distracted, and all students can ride safely and happily. Inappropriate behavior may result in suspension from the bus.
The transportation department’s policy is the following: It is the responsibility of the Durham Bus Company to take students from home stop to school and back. To assist working parents, they will take students to a daycare stop within the Elizabeth Shelton School District on a set schedule. For example, Mrs. Smith sends in a request for her son to go to her sister’s house for daycare on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays every week. They will take students to ONE other address besides the home stop on the same fixed, day/days each week.
We will communicate these requests to the transportation coordinator who will add them to transportation information system and make it part of the driver’s regular route. This is especially important if the student will ride two buses; the Monday-Wednesday driver knows he will have this student on these days and the Thursday/Friday driver knows to expect the student on those days. Without these stops being part of the routes, a spare driver will not be aware of stops the regular driver may do automatically. In the event of an accident or emergency situation, the transportation coordinator looks to the transportation information system for student lists because this is how they track everyone.
We realize that sometimes exception situations arise, such as a serious illness or emergency within a student’s family. In these instances, we will do whatever we can to accommodate the family in need.
For the reasons listed above, we will NOT be approving daily changes. Please put your request regarding dismissal in writing to your child’s teacher. If you have more than one child, each teacher MUST get a note. If during the day an emergency arises, you must call the school NO LATER than 3:00 P.M. We will need something in writing, either a fax or an email to either dquinlan@sheltonpublicschools.org or bkingersky@sheltonpublicschools.org Do NOT email just the classroom teacher. They might not be able to check their email, thus creating a safety issue for your child.
Once again, students may only have ONE other address besides the home stop on the same fixed, day/days each week. I would very much appreciate your help, cooperation and support, as we continue to make safety a priority at Elizabeth Shelton School.
Student Drop – Off Procedure:
If it is necessary for you to bring your child(ren) to school in the morning, they must be dropped off at the north end (upper wing) of the building. Please enter the school grounds from the Soundview Avenue entrance. Staff members will be stationed at this entrance each morning from 8:45 A.M. until 9:00 A.M to ensure the safety of your child(ren). This is a STOP and DROP Line ONLY! If your child needs assistance exiting the car, kindly pull into a parking stop as not to slow the drop-off line. Children will enter the building through the upper wing door entrance and proceed directly to their classroom. Parents should not accompany their child into the building through this entrance. If you must accompany your child into the building prior to 9:00 A.M., please park in a space at the north end, enter via the main entrance front doors, and sign in at the office. Doors will close at 9:00 A.M. regardless if you are in line or not.
Student Pick-Up Procedure:
Parents picking up their child(ren) after school are to use the Soundview Avenue entrance, park at the North end of the building, and wait until your child exits through the cafeteria. Any change in the going home process (i.e. bus student being picked up by parent, after school activities such as religious education, Boy and Girl Scouts, early dismissal for a doctor’s appointment) must be put into a note to the classroom teacher. If a note is not received, the parent or guardian must report to the main office to pick up your child(ren).
Please remember when entering or exiting our school parking lots that BUSES AND PEDESTRIANS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. Passing a bus with its lights flashing is a $450.00 fine for the first offense.
Appropriate Dress:
Please be sure that your child(ren) are dressed for the day’s weather. Flip flops are NOT allowed in school. Open toed sandals or clogs can be dangerous as well. Students will be outside for recess as much as possible, weather permitting.
Cafeteria Services:
Checks should be made out to “Shelton School Lunch Program”. Please check the website for meal prices. Free and Reduced applications are available on line all year long. Breakfast is NOT available on late start days.
Fire Drills/Lockdown Drills/Shelter in Place/Evacuation Drills:
Over the course of the school year, students will be taking part in various drills as monthly safety routines.
Opening Exercises Procedure:
Each classroom will conduct its own opening exercises each morning. This will include the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, Patriot Song and Moment of Silence
Visitors:
Visitors are always welcome at ESS. The Board of Education has a policy in place regarding visitors. It is very important, in the interest of safety of all the children and the educational process, that visitors follow our policy. All visitors MUST enter the building through the main entrance front doors and sign in at the office. They will be issued a visitor’s badge which should be worn at all times while visiting the school. Please remember to sign out at the main office upon leaving the building. This will ensure that we account for you in case of a building emergency. You may only go to the place that you have signed in for and NOT to any other area. This is for the security of our entire school community.
School Medication Policy:
To insure the safety and well being of all our students, specific guidelines have been established. Students are not allowed to carry medications. All medications are kept in the nurse’s office and administered by the school nurse or the designated staff in her absence. All medications administered in school must be:
Please read this important letter regarding changes in your child's arrival or dismissal in the event a bus driver strike occurs next week
ESS has been recognized as a "School of Distinction " for the hard work and progress on the Next Generation Accountability Results for the 2017-2018 school year. Congratulations to all students and staff!
Did you know that a celebrity is on staff at ESS? Our very own Mrs. Kristen Zack, first grade teacher, will be making her TV debut on Wheel of Fortune on Tuesday, November 19th! Be sure to tune in.
Rainbow Day at ESS!
The Teen Summer Reading Program for Shelton Libraries is geared to kids entering grades 5-12. Teens are encouraged to visit either Plumb Memorial Library or Huntington Branch Library to register for the program. There will be weekly prizes of $25 gift cards and teens have a chance to enter in both libraries to increase their chances of winning weekly. See the attached flyers for more info.
The Shelton Public School system is looking for committed individuals who are interested in working as tutors and/or substitute staff for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. For more information please contact Human Resources: 203-924-1023, extension 339
The redistricting plan proposal for Booth Hill, Elizabeth Shelton, Long Hill, Mohegan, and Sunnyside elementary schools was adopted by the Shelton Board of Education at their meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Please see attached PDF "new" school zone map which outlines all elementary school districts and lists school zones by street and lot. Note that PDF map can be enlarged to determine street names and lot positions.
All elementary school families that were directly affected by redistricting have been contacted by their current school with a transition plan for their students.
A warm welcome to our entire Elizabeth Shelton School community!
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ESS Staff Room @ 6:30pm
