Loudon Elementary School
Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year
Dear Students and Families;
Welcome back! We hope everyone has enjoyed a restful and relaxing summer. The LES team has been hard at work in eager anticipation of the return of students. LES is excited to welcome Mrs. Tracy Koufos to our Kindergarten team, Miss Rebecca Lorden as aSpecial Education teacher, Mrs. Stacy Bennett as our Media Center Assistant and Mrs. Justine Crockwell as our Building Assistant!
First Day of School Arrival
The first day of school is August 28th. We will begin welcoming students at 8:45 for the official start of the school day at 9:00am.
On the first day of school Kindergarten teachers will greet their students in front of the main entrance. First grade teachers will greet their students outside the cafeteria entrance. This will happen in the gym should there be inclement weather. After taking attendance we will say our goodbyes and enter the building. We recognize that this is a significant transition that can be difficult for both parents and children. Experience has taught us that making this a positive experience and departing together as a class allows for a smooth start to the student’s day.
Students in grades 2-5 will enter the building on arrival and proceed to their classrooms, in what will be the typical manner during the school year. Staff members will welcome students at our main entrance and guide any student who might need assistance to their classroom. Please understand that we ask that parents of our older students say their goodbyes in the lobby area for safety reasons. We do understand that some circumstances might require a parent to travel with their student; if this is a necessity you will need to sign in at the office and receive a visitor’s badge. If you are unsure of the classroom teacher for your child, please call the school and we will confirm this information prior to the first day of school.
Car Drop Off / Pick Up Procedure
To ensure the safety of all students and staff at LES, we request that students arrive for the school day no earlier than 8:45. If you desire to park your car and escort your student to the cafeteria doors, please park in the first lot. Those dropping off their students should take their first right after turning into the school, form a single file line and pull in up in front of the cafeteria doors before releasing your child. We request that students exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle to prevent them from crossing in front of another vehicle. In the interest of efficiency, we ask that students depart from their vehicle quickly. If a longer “Goodbye,” is necessary, it would be preferred that you park your vehicle. Please do not pass other cars when in the parking lot!
Afternoon pick up is a busy time and we ask for your patience! When picking up your student at the end of the school day, the procedure is similar to the morning, however we ask that you pull as far forward as possible in the lower loop and remain in your car. Students will be directed to cars. Should you find yourself waiting on School Street, on the same side as LES, please pull as far over as you can to allow traffic to continue to flow on the road. If you are on the opposite side and the loop is full, please drive forward and turn around in front of the building so that you can pull to the side and wait. This will allow bus traffic to enter and exit the parking lot. Our goal is to alleviate congestion and maintain a safe environment for all.
Attendance and Changes in Routine
School success goes hand in hand with good attendance. Regular attendance promotes a positive attitude towards school and a child’s self-esteem. Establishing this healthy habit from the first day, students will learn that arriving at school on time, every day is important. Please be aware that the NH truancy law, RSA 189:34, defines truancy as 10 half days of unexcused absences or 5 full days. In the event your child will be absent, please be sure to call the school by 9:00am to report this. If your child is absent due to an appointment, a note from their doctor or dentist is always appreciated.
If there is a change in your child’s pick up plan, please be sure to send a note in with your child. Last minute changes can be communicated by phone. In order to ensure that messages are properly relayed, we ask that these phone calls be received prior to 3pm.
Student Information System
An exciting change for the Merrimack Valley School District this year is the adoption of a new student information system, Alma. This software system that will help us better manage school, classroom and student information.
Alma, is a secure, easy-to-use online system that brings important school information and tools together in one place. We expect this update will save LES faculty time, and make it easier to get a complete view of what’s happening with each student’s learning.
Chromebooks For 5th Graders
The Merrimack Valley School District is pleased to implement our one-to-one learning initiative at the 5th Grade level this year. All 5th Grade students will be assigned a Chromebook for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. It is the intention that these devices will stay with them through their middle school years.
5th Grade students will have access to their own dedicated Chromebook throughout the school day.
The one-to-one program enables students to more easily exchange ideas and remain connected with classmates and teachers. The predicted result is a learning environment in which problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership skills are developed and enhanced through the responsible use of technology and continuous access to digital resources.
Open House
We look forward to celebrating the start of the school year with you at our annual Open House evenings. There will be opportunities to tour the school, meet teachers and learn about curriculum.
- The Kindergarten Open House will take place on Monday, August 27th from 4:00-5:00pm.
- Open House for grades 1-3 will take place on Tuesday, September 4th from 6:00-7:00pm.
- Open House for grades 4 and 5 will take place on Wednesday, September 5th from 6:00-7:00pm.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTA invites all interested parents to join them on September 6th at 6:30 in the LES Media Center for the first meeting of the new school year!
Please enjoy the remainder of summer break. Remember to visit our website at les.mvsdpride.org to access bus routes, food service information, the school handbook and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office at 783-4400.
Sincerely,
Catherine Masterson, Principal
First Day of School!
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018, 08:45 AM
Loudon Elementary School, School Street, Loudon, NH, USA
Loudon Elementary School
Email: cmasterson@mvsdpride.org
Website: les.mvsdpride.org
Location: 7039 School Street, Loudon, NH, USA
Phone: (603)783-4400
Twitter: @LoudonElem