Thomas Jefferson Elementary News
Back to School ~ August 2022
Welcome Back!
Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendar
August 10: First Day of School
August 16: Back to School Parents Night
August 23: Restaurant Night Out ~ Chipotle
September 5: No School - Labor Day
September 16: Picture Day
September 23: 1/2 Day - Dismissal at 12:00pm
VCS School Year Calendar: https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/calendar
Meet Our New Staff
Mrs. Marissa Arizpe ~ Nurse
Mrs. Emily Tobias ~ First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kathryn Zeck ~ Title 1 Teacher
Mrs. Kellie Duncan ~ Part Time Kindergarten Aide
Mrs. Jolyne Bartley ~ Part Time Kindergarten Aide
Mrs. Vanessa Derrickson ~ Utility Aide
Staff Changes:
Mrs. Amanda Malo ~ ELL Aide
Back to School Night
This is also a great time to bring missing documents to the office or drop off medications.
A representative from Kidstop will be on site and available to sign your child up for before or after school care. Kidstop is a great before and after school child care program. Kidstop runs from 6:30 am until school begins and after school until 6:30 pm. See additional information on the flier below.
You can find out who your child's teacher will be via Skyward on Friday, August 5th. We will also have class lists posted during our Back to School Event.
Additional parking is available at ValPlayso or at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
Back to School Parent Night
School Hours ~ Arrival ~ Dismissal
Our school day is 8:45 am - 3:15 pm, Monday through Friday.
Our school doors open at 8:30 am for all students. If your child needs breakfast, they may enter the school at 8:20 am. We encourage all students to arrive in time to prepare for the school day and be in their seats, ready to learn when the bell rings at 8:45 am.
All students will enter through Door L. If you are dropping your child off for breakfast, please do not leave your child until a staff member is present and allowing children to enter the building. If your child walks to school, we ask that they not arrive until 8:20 am. We do not want children left unattended. If your child is not eating breakfast, please do not have them arrive prior to 8:30 am.
Dismissal begins at 3:15 pm. Kindergarten friends will be dismissed each afternoon through Door A. Students in 1st - 5th grade will dismiss through Door L.
We ask that parents not line up for dismissal until 3 pm. Middle school releases at 2:50 pm. Lining up prior to 3 pm creates a situation where middle school buses and traffic are blocked by the TJE pick up line that often extends onto Roosevelt.
If your child has a change in dismissal, please remember to send a note in with your child. If you need to change dismissal after the start of school, please call the office prior to Noon to arrange for the dismissal change. Receiving phone calls right before dismissal makes it extremely difficult for us to make these quick changes. It takes time to notify the teacher and the student. We want to ensure your child is in the proper location when we begin dismissal.
As we begin a new school year with new students and new procedures, dismissal does take a little longer on the first few days of school. We appreciate everyone's patience as we fine tune these procedures. Buses usually leave TJE by 3:30 pm each day. Buses tend to run later than normal as bus drivers adjust to their new students and new routes.
Our goal is to keep everyone safe. Please drive slowly as you pass through the school campus and follow the traffic flow map if you are dropping off your child. We do utilize the basketball court area inside the gates to help with the number of cars entering the lot for parent drop off and parent pick up. When exiting back onto Roosevelt, please note you can only turn right during Arrival & Dismissal hours. Please do not park in the designated bus area located on Roosevelt in front of the school. Additional parking is available at ValPlayso.
More Information regarding Back to School Procedures will available soon. Please check your email for this information.
Specials
TJE Spirit Wear
Water Bottles
Notes from Our Clinic
Any child that needs medication at school needs to have physician orders dated for 2022-2023. A parent needs to bring the medication into the nurse's office. Over the counter medications also need to be brought in by a parent and physicians orders must be on file. Please do not send medication in with your child.
If your child has a medical appointment, please send a doctors note in with your child or have the office fax the note to the school office.
Please refer to the VCS Health & Wellness link for any health related information. You may also call, dojo, or email Mrs. Arizpe with any questions. Marizpe@valpo.k12.in.us
https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1220839&type=d&pREC_ID=1455716
NOTES FROM Our SOCIAL WORKER (Mrs. Noonan)
If your child is in need of school supplies or if your family needs any additional resources, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email. Anoonan@valpo.k12.in.us
Notes from the Cafeteria
Funding for free meals for all students has ended and students will once again pay for their school breakfasts and lunches. However, to help, VCS will keep meals at the pre-pandemic price. Parents can deposit money into their child's account online via Skyward. Families needing assistance can apply for free and reduced meals.
Free & Reduced Meal Information: https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1221036&type=d&pREC_ID=1455815
Payment Information: https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1221036&type=d&pREC_ID=1455817
Menus are available on the My School Menus App. This app is the easiest way to see what is being served in our cafeteria each day. With supply chain shortages, we do anticipate changes to the schedule menu frequently. https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1221036&type=d&pREC_ID=1455820
Notes from our PTO
You can follow us on our TJE PTO Facebook page or watch for our posts on Class Dojo for events offered by the PTO.
We have three major fundraisers planned for this year.
- Domino's Slice the Price Cards (August 29-September 12)
- Fall Fundraiser: Stay Tuned for more info
- Spring Fundraiser: Butter Braids (March for delivery prior to Easter)
Money raised by PTO goes back to the students, teacher needs and school events. Stay tuned for more information about events we have planned and how you can stay up to date on PTO happenings.
We appreciate your support and look forward to another wonderful year. Be sure to save the date for our First Restaurant Night Out on August 23rd!
Sue Foster (President) & Chad Evans (Vice-President)
Earn Cash with Box Tops
Turn in your Strack & Van Til Receipts
Apples for the Students helps us earn classroom supplies
Ready Set Kindergarten
Parents as Teachers of Porter County’s FREE, one day a week classes start mid September and go through May. It is a kindergarten readiness program designed for children who will be 4 years old by August 1, 2022.
Email rskclassroom@gmail.com for more information and to enroll your child.
Communication
Class Dojo ~ We request all parents connect to Class Dojo. Classroom teachers can help you get connected, if you haven't done so. Class Dojo is great for personal messaging, reminders and school information.
Facebook ~ Follow Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Facebook for reminders & updates. You can also follow PTO reminders & updates on their Facebook page, TJE PTO.
Website ~ https://valparaisotjes.valpo.k12.in.us/
Parent Information
Please click below for the VCS Elementary Handbook.
https://4.files.edl.io/5628/07/19/22/105755-4d62d98d-1535-4f00-bd8b-c9b0b15b0ebd.pdf
About Us
David Muniz ~ Principal
Email: hevans@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: https://valparaisotjes.valpo.k12.in.us/
Location: 1700 Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Phone: (219) 531-3130