Baker Bits
Friday, August 19, 2022
Welcome!
Thank you for bringing your child in to meet their teacher and get a feel for the school.
This newsletter is PACKED with information that will be helpful to you. I would suggest saving it for easy access.
Saying goodbye to your child on the first day of school can be difficult. Over the past few years, we have learned that our "Hug Zone" just outside of the doors is very beneficial for our students. We are able to welcome students and walk them to class with less tears and bigger smiles. I understand this is difficult for you, too. I promise it is not our intent to make it hard. Instead, we are using what children have responded to best as we work to set their day up for success. Thank you for joining us in creating this positive experience for your child!
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out.
We are looking forward to a wonderful year together!
Respectfully,
Rachel Cimek
Principal
AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT REMINDER
IDENTIFY YOUR CHILD ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
- THE STUDENT'S LEGAL NAME
- ASSIGNED TEACHER'S NAME
- BUS NUMBER/PARENT PICK UP
What to Expect First Day of School
The first day of school is always thrilling and a bit nerve-wrecking for parents and students alike. Knowing what to expect can help ease some worries. Here are a few notes that will provide insight on our First Day of School.
There are three ways you can drop your child off to school.
Parent Drop-Off Lane:
Parents, please drop your student off using the west loop.
Parent Walk-Up:
Feel free to park in the front lot or across the street and walk your child over to the west side doors. Please note, there will be many students on the sidewalks in front of the building who have just gotten off the bus. This area will be congested.
Bus Drop-Off:
Students ride the bus to school and enter through the front doors of our building.
Please know that we will have all hands on deck the first few days of school to help assist students.
Young Fives - First Grade Parent Drop-Off Loop
Enter our driveway from the west, turning right off of Sycamore.
Drive to the back loop and begin preparing your child for drop-off
Shoes on, backpack and lunch ready
Say your good-byes
When you reach the space between the balloons/cones, your child should get out of the car - please encourage your child to quickly get out of the car when you are safely stopped.
At least two adults will be watching to ensure students are safely making it into the school
Please Note:
Please refrain from walking your child to the front door. The front door will be reserved for students riding the bus.
If you must walk your child to the door, please walk to the west entrance using the sidewalk and enter with the other students being dropped off.
You may not walk between buses. Please respect this guidance from our bus drivers.
Know that the sidewalk in front of the school will be very congested with students getting off the bus.
ECSE Preschool Program:
If your child attends our ECSE AM Preschool Program, your class begins at 8:45. You may pull ahead of the line and park where you see the dots on the map below. There will be cones and a sign for you on Tuesday that show this space. Once your child is unloaded and safely making their way inside, we will move the rest of the line forward.
Please stay tuned for drop-off information that is relevant to you within the next couple weeks.
Upcoming Dates
Mon, Aug 22 - First day of school - HALF DAY - Dismiss at noon
Tues, Aug 30 - GSRP + Community Preschool Open House 6pm
Fri, Sept 2 - NO SCHOOL - All WUS offices are closed for Labor Day weekend
Mon, Sept 5 - NO SCHOOL - All WUS offices are closed for Labor Day weekend
Tues, Sept 6 - Community Preschool Begins
Wed, Sept 14 - School Wide Pictures
Fri, Sept 23 - Muffins in the Morning - details coming soon
Whom Do I Contact With Questions?
STAFF AT BAKER ELEMENTARY - Any and all staff (teachers, office personnel, principal, etc) can be reached via email by using the employee's last name and first initial. Example - Krista Battenfield, School Secretary at battenfieldk@waylandunion.org
TECHNOLOGY - Any and all questions concerning parent portals (log-ins, passwords, changing information, etc) must be directed to the WUS Technology Department. You will also want to contact technology with any iPad concerns, including broken iPads.
BUSING - If you need to change a student's assigned busing routine, you must contact the Transportation Department. Please follow up any answers or changes made by calling/emailing with the Baker office staff and your child's teacher. These changes are not automatically communicated between the two buildings. It is the parent's responsibility to communicate the change.
Transportation/Busing - transportation@waylandunion.org OR call 269-792-2262
FOOD SERVICE - All Free/Reduced Hot Lunch Applications are confidential. If you have questions concerning the WUS food service program, please contact the following:
Food Service Program - mathisc@waylandunion.org OR call 269-792-3150
Picking Your Child Up
All changes in routine and pick-up changes must be made by contacting the office by 3:25 pm each day. This ensures we have time to get the information to the appropriate people. After 3:25, the office staff will be unavailable as they will be assisting with monitoring end-of-day routines with students throughout the building.
If you are picking your child up at release time, there are a few things I'd like to prepare you for.
- Please expect the doors to open at 3:55. That said, the first week we will open them early to ensure all students are accounted for safely.
- ANYONE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD MUST BE LISTED WITHIN YOUR PARENT PORTAL
- BRING YOUR ID - until our team gets to know your face and familiarize ourselves with your family, we will ask to see your ID. Please give us grace as we ensure your child is safe at all times.
- You will enter our building on the east side. After showing your ID and signing your child out, you will walk down the hallway and find your child seated with their class. Please find your child and continue walking forward, exiting the building at the front entrance.
- Children under 16 years of age are not allowed to sign students out.
First Day of School
To prepare for the first day of school this is a reminder of what to pack in your child's backpack:
- PE shoes, if you choose
- Healthy Daily Snack
- Leak Proof Water Bottle - filled with water
Bus Information
Busing the first week of school is very hectic. Be assured, as routines are established the busing WILL get better. Drivers are trying to verify every student who is put on their bus to make sure they are being delivered to the correct address. Many of our young students have never ridden a bus before and all these routines are new experiences for them. You can expect buses to run about 30-45 mins slower than anticipated during the first two days of school. Each day will get smoother and faster. By Friday of the first week, busing will be tweaked closer to the "normal" expected times.
If you intend for your child to ride the bus to and from school, we have found it is more successful to start those routines from day 1. This is less confusing to the younger students.
Medications At School
Medications at school can only be given if a parent signs a medication release form. Antibiotics, cough drops, Tylenol, cold medicine, etc, should not be sent to school with students. If medicine must be given to a student at school, parents should drop the medication off in the office with a signed medication form. You will find medication forms on our district website, waylandunion.org, under the tab for parents. There is one form for both over the counter and prescription medication.
Communications Between School & Home
Just a reminder...WUS is trying to be as paperless as possible. All school and district information can be found online at the district website— www.waylandunion.org. Click on Baker Elementary for specific school information.
School communication from Baker Elementary is through the Parent Portal and email. You may also join our Baker Elementary Facebook page.
Most teachers are set up to send group email, such as class newsletters, to all their parents. If you have not been receiving email from your child’s teacher or from the school office, please verify your email address listed in your parent portal.
At this time, WUS and Baker Elementary have sent many messages, emails and phone calls to our families. If you have not received messages or emails, you will want to call the technology department and make sure your portal is set up correctly. REMEMBER—It is parent’s responsibility to update any changes in the portal; phone number changes, work phone number changes, child care changes, emergency contact changes, etc. There is also an Infinite Campus app you can download to your phone.
Peachjar.com is other way to keep up-to-date on things happening in the district. You can access Peachjar from the WUS home page. Here is where you will find information for a variety of classes and team sports offered by WUS Community Education.
Upcoming Dates
Aug 22 - First Day of School - Half Day - Noon Dismissal
Sept 2 - NO SCHOOL
Sept 5 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
Sept 6 - First Day for Extended Day Preschool (Tuition Based)
Sept 14 - School Wide Pictures for Baker Elementary
Sept 20 - First Day for GSRP Preschool