Everything you need to know is here - if you are a parent, student or caregiver to a Bluffton elementary student. The following information is from the August elementary newsletter.
MEET THE TEACHER: We will hold our “Meet the Teacher” on Friday, August 22nd, from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. in the elementary school.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: The school supply list is posted on the school website. Kindergarten student supplies will be furnished in their classrooms.
BREAKFAST PROGRAM: A small grab-n-go breakfast (cereals or granola items with milk) be served before school on a daily basis 7:35-8:05 a.m. in the Middle School Cafetorium. The price of a breakfast is $1.50. Free and reduced prices will be honored through the completion of the lunch program form given to every child on the first day of school.
BUS CHANGES FOR 2014-2015: If you have a transportation change for next year, please notify the school before August 16th. Any changes submitted after August 16th may take up to two weeks before the actual change takes effect. A Bus form is located in the Middle School section of the school’s website.
SCHOOL DAY: School begins at 8:10 a.m. daily (M-F). Parents may drop off their students in front of the elementary school between 8:00 and 8:10 a.m. Students that ride buses will be dropped off in front of the middle school. Dismissal for students that walk, or are picked up after school, will be at 3:00 p.m. from the Elementary entrance. Students that ride buses will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. from the Middle School parking lot.
LUNCH INFORMATION: A school lunch costs $2.50 and extra milk is 50 cents. The lunch menu will be sent home with students but parents may also view it on our website. A computerized debit system is utilized for payment. Students may deposit money in their accounts any day of the week before school. They need to place their money (in a sealed envelope), with name and ID number, in a locked box in the cafeteria. Students may buy extra items from the lunch menu. Parents may block this feature by calling the cafeteria. The food service is willing to help students who have lost or forgotten their lunch money on occasion but lunch charges are for emergencies only. For more information see “Meals Plus Info” in the elementary section on the school website.
P.T.O. NEWS: The PTO committee would like to welcome back all the students to the 2014 - 2015 school year! We are looking forward to this year, as we continue to pursue our goal of enhancing the children's educational environment. Look for flyers coming home with your student. One is our volunteer sign up form. If you want to volunteer, sign up for any of our events this year. Please fill out a separate form for each student you may have. Another paper will be what we collect, meaning labels, Box Tops, etc...where we are reimbursed. Turn these items into your child's teacher at any time throughout the year. Please make sure the labels, UPC codes, and Box Tops are neatly cut. Also make sure the Box Tops are not expired. This really helps our volunteer coordinators out when they are processing them. With Box Tops, we are expanding! There will be drop off boxes in the middle school and high school offices for families who maybe don't have elementary age children. There are also a couple new items we are collecting. Read about those! Watch for Market Day flyers! With Market Day this year, the new pick up location will be the Middle School Cafeteria, except for the months of December 2014 and May 2015, where the pick up location will be the Elementary School Gym. Instead of receiving 10% for each item sold from Market Day, we will now receive 20%! Come to our bake sale held in the Elementary School Gym during open house on September 22nd and purchase a baked good by donation! Our Spirit Wear sale will be going on this fall. Show your Bluffton Pirate pride! Thank you for all your continued support! We couldn't do what we do without our wonderful families and community!
OPEN HOUSE: Bluffton Schools will hold Open House on Monday, September 22nd. The following times are scheduled: Elementary from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m., Middle School from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m., and High School from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m.
WALKERS AND STUDENT DROP OFF BEFORE SCHOOL: Please do not allow your students to arrive at school before 7:45 a.m. No supervision will be available for students who arrive before then.
DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS: When it is necessary to close or delay school due to bad weather, announcements will be made on the WLIO.com (School closings) website, radio stations: WIMA, T102, & WFIN, and on WLIO TV 35. Please do not call the school offices for delay/cancellation information. See “Alert System” below for information on how one may sign up to get alert text messages for delays or cancellations.
PLAN B KINDERGARTEN: If school is delayed two hours, morning kindergarten will be extended until noon. Afternoon kindergarten will begin at 1:10 p.m. and will be dismissed at the normal time.
BLUFFTON EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS ALERT SYSTEM: If you would like to be notified of delays and/or cancellations via a text message on your cell phone, visit the school’s website at www.blufftonschools.org and sign up for this service. On the website’s home page under the “Parents/Community” heading click on “Parent Alert System” and follow the simple steps to subscribe to alerts. Contact the office if you have any questions.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: Please remember that if your child is going home a different way than normal, he/she will be required to have a note from a parent. If your student does not have a note, then he/she will be sent home the normal way. A Bus Request form must be signed in the elementary office if a parent is changing a daily pick up or drop off.
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES BY 2:00 PM: No transportation changes will be made after 2:00 p.m. for the current day. Written notes by parent/s must be turned into the office by 9:00 a.m. for same day changes.
WORKBOOK FEES: Workbook fees for the 2014-2015 school year are as follows: Kindergarten-$34.00,
First grade-$29.00, Second grade-$25.00, Third grade-$41.00, Fourth grade-$42.00, and Fifth grade-$55.00. You may send one check for all your elementary students. Please note on the memo line your child and grade level. For security reasons, please send the check in a sealed envelope marked “Student Workbook Fees” with the student and teacher name. Please pay your child’s workbook fees by October 15th. Thank you!
August
Friday 22 “Meet the Teacher” Grades K-5 @ 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday 25 First day of school - Grades 1-5
Mon.-Wed. 25-27 KRA testing for Kindergarten students
Thursday 28 First Day of School for Kindergarten
September
Monday 1 No School – Labor Day
Monday 8 P.T.O. Meeting @ 6:30 p.m. - Elementary Library
Monday 15 Market Day - pickup in M.S. Cafetorium @ 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 16 2 Hour Delay - Teacher Professional Development
Monday 22 Open House @ 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (M.S. 6:30-7:30 & H.S. 7:00-8:00)
