Mohegan Back to School
August 25, 2023
Back to School Update
Hello parents! Wednesday, August 30th is our first day of school. Our staff is ready to get started, and we hope your children are too! Here are a few reminders about school procedures.
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Class assignments were sent out earlier this week. Please contact the main office if you did not get your child's class assignment.
BUS ROUTES
Bus routes are posted on the district website. You can follow the link below, then click "Mohegan". Some bus stops may have changed since last year, so be sure to check before your child comes to school.
http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/transportation
ARRIVAL AND PICK UP PROCEDURES GRADES K-4
For the first few days of school, please be patient with our arrival and dismissal procedures. We have new staff, new parents and new students that need to learn the routines. Buses are typically a little delayed and walker pick up lines are long. Our number one priority is ensuring that your child gets home safely, so thank you in advance for your patience.
The front driveway is for SCHOOL BUS DROP OFF ONLY. If you bring your children to school in the morning, please drive around to the back of the school. There are two lanes going into the back lot of Mohegan School which have recently been painted. Stay in the double lanes until you merge into one in the back. Please stay in your car and follow the loop around the parking lot. There will be staff members out there to help guide traffic. Staff members will help children out of the car and guide them into school.
Parents are not allowed into the building through this entrance.
Cars in the drop off loop must pull all the way up, signaled by our staff. We request that parents stay in their cars and have the student leave the vehicle from the passenger side back door. We try to make this quick and easy for families and avoid a back-up on Mohegan Road.
For safety reasons, only students are allowed to enter the building during morning drop off. All students are expected to be in their seats by 9:00am or are considered tardy (if not arriving to school via bus). If the drop off doors are closed, please drive around to the front of the school. We know this procedure will go a little slow until parents and students are familiar with the routines, so please be patient while waiting. No student will be marked tardy if there is a long drop off line.
LATE ARRIVALS
Any child arriving to school after 9:00am, MUST be accompanied by an adult and buzz-in at the main doors. A staff member will assist in signing your child in.
EARLY PICK UP
If an emergency occurs and you must pick up your child early, please pick up your child by 3:30 at the front entrance. Anyone picking up a child MUST show an ID. If you try to pick up your child after 3:30, we will ask you go around to the pick up line which will start at 3:45.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
If you wish your child to be in the parent pick up line, please send a note into the school. If we do not have a note, we assume the child will be going home on a bus.
Similar to arrival, parent pickup will occur in the back of the school. The front of the school is for BUSES ONLY during dismissal. Dismissal will begin at 3:45. Parents will pull around back, wait in line, and remain in their cars for dismissal. Anyone picking up a child at dismissal must have an ID. We need to verify that your child is being picked up by someone on the Infinite Campus profile. Parents will stay in line in their cars and your child will be brought outside to you. Again, please be patient for the first few days as pick up lines typically move slow as parents and staff adjust to the procedures.
PRE-K ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
AM Pre-K arrival coincides with arrival for the rest of MES. Pre-K parents will stay in their cars and pull around to the Pre-K drop off area in the back of the school. Staff members will be there to guide you. Pre-K parents will need to exit their car to unbuckle their children from the car seats and bring them to the door.
AM Pre-K pick up at 11:50 is in the back of the building. Please drive carefully as recess is also occurring at the same time. Parents will wait in line and can get out of the car to buckle their child in. MES Staff will not buckle children into their car seats.
PM Pre-K arrival at 12:50 is in the back of the building. Please drive carefully as recess is also occurring at the same time.
PM Pre-K dismissal is at the same time as dismissal for the rest of MES. Pre-K parents will stay in their cars and loop around to the pre-K pick up area. Parents can get out of the car to buckle their child in. MES Staff will not buckle children into their car seats. Once the Pre-K child is picked up, parents will then re-enter the K-4 MES pick up line and proceed to the exit.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is very important and we ask that if you are planning a family vacation that you utilize your school calendar when planning your trip. Work will not be handed out ahead of time for family vacations. Work will be completed when the child returns to school. Parents can excuse up to 9 absences themselves. Any absences beyond 9 must be approved by a medical professional (Doctor, PA, Dentist, etc).
DISTRICT CALENDAR
The district calendar is on the district website under the District Info tab. Please use this calendar as you plan your year. We ask that families coordinate their family vacations around the school calendar so students do not miss school and fall behind. A link to the calendar is also here.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Shelton Public Schools are returning to its regular food service program. This means that breakfast and lunch will be available for sale daily. Parents may apply for Free or Reduced lunch prices based on their income. Prices are listed below:
Breakfast - $2.00
Reduced Breakfast - $0.30
Lunch - $3.25
Reduced Lunch - $0.40
If you would like a hard copy of the application, please contact the secretaries in the main office. An electronic version of the application can be found at the end of the newsletter.
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
At the bottom of the newsletter is the Acceptable Use Policy which pertains to any student using the district computers and school internet network. The policy reviews appropriate internet and computer use etiquette and consequences if those protocols are not followed. This is for all students. A sign off sheet will be sent home with your child. You can view the entire policy in the attached PDF. Should you wish a hard copy, please contact the main office.
SUMMER WORK
Students were asked to complete the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge and Shelton’s Summer Math Challenge. All paperwork needs to be submitted to school by September 8th for a special reward.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Please see the 2 Cub scout fliers below. I want to thank Scout Troop 5, Girl Scout Troop 60670 and Cub Scout Pack 28 for helping to clean up the grounds at Mohegan Elementary School prior to the first day of school.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, August 30th for a great opening day of school!
Mr. John Coppola
Mohegan School Principal
Important Dates and Times
IMPORTANT DATES:
August 28th - Chalk the Walk and Stock the Lounge with PTO (6PM)
August 29th - Bus Safety Day for incoming Kindergarten (9:30) and Pre-K Orientation (11:30)
August 29th - Kindergarten Play Dates (see PTO flier for details)
August 30th - First Day of School for all students; Mohegan School hours are from 8:45-3:45
September 4th - No School (Labor Day)
September 5th - PTO meeting and Stock the Lounge (7PM)
September 8th - PTO Back to School Picnic (5:30-7:30)
September 22nd - Early Dismissal Day
September 25th - No School (Yom Kippur)