Baker Bits
Friday, September 14, 2018
Upcoming Dates
Mon, Sept 17 - WEPA Meeting @ Steeby Elem. Media Center @ 6:00 PM
Wed, Sept 26 - Picture Day at Baker Elementary. All Grades
Thurs, Sept 27 - Picture Day for T/Th programs
Fri, Sept 28 - Dentist-R-Us - Mobile Dentist Clinic
Wed, Oct 3 - WEPA Walk-A-Thon - all students participate @ 1:45
Mon, Oct 1 - Free Flu Vaccine - Mobile Health Heroes
Fri, Oct 5 - Wayland Homecoming
Tues, Oct 9 - Early Childhood Playgroup - ages birth to 5 years - 10-10:45
Wed, Oct 10 - Equipping Parents Workshop. Baker Media Center @ 9:05 AM
Fri, Oct 12 - Progress Reports Published to the Parent Portal
Mon, Oct 15 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - By Appt Only
Wed, Oct 17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - By Appt Only
Wed, Oct 31 - Half Day for Students. Baker will dismiss at 11:55
Wed, Oct 31 - Fall Parties
Wed, Nov 7 - Literacy Night @ Baker Elementary ... 6:00-7:30 PM
TWEAKING THE MORNING DROP OFF
We know that the morning drop off at Baker is extremely busy. We are excited and happy that our school is growing (we've added 3 new classrooms) but that also means that we are adjusting to the larger pedestrian and vehicle flow. Thank you for your patience as we continue to tweak the process to make it flow faster and smoother in the morning. Here are some things that you may want to know and consider.
- Student safety is our #1 priority. For that reason, we have a separate bus loop, a separate drop off loop, a parking lot for staff only and separate designated parking areas for parents and visitors. These areas are not large enough (we know that) but we are doing the best we can with what we have and using these areas to KEEP STUDENTS SAFE. If the front parking lot is full, street parking is always an option and so is parking to the East of Baker Elementary near the WUS Central Receiving building.
- Preschoolers must be dropped off in the morning. There is no busing available for their programs. This includes over 60+ students on M/W/F mornings. Young 5's, Kindergarten and 1st Grade students are able to ride a bus. Parents who are frustrated with the morning drop off may want to consider the bus as an option.
-Schools of Choice students also have an option to ride the bus. You would need to set this up with the transportation department and transport your child to the nearest WUS bus stop.
-If you use the drop off loop, drop students ONLY in the loop, not in the front parking lot or on the street. This is very unsafe. Baker students are too young to walk between parked cars.
-Our staff is working to keep students safe. We have two staff at curbside for grade level students and a third staff member at the curb for preschool. In addition, our crossing guard helps student and caregivers at the crosswalk. These are the only employees available during drop off times to assist with students.
-Starting Monday, Sept 17, we will be making an effort to clear the front drop off loop more frequently with the help of our crossing guard. We hope this will help the backup of those trying to turn right out of the front drop off loop.
Please remain patient as we work to make this situation smoother and hopefully faster for our students.
TODAY WAS NATIONAL DOT DAY
WEPA Tshirts
Picture Day
Sept 27 - T/Th Preschool Classes
WAYLAND UNION SCHOOLS FALL HOMECOMING
Student Progress Reports
***NEW THIS YEAR***
Three Extremely Important Routine Reminders
Our buses are on a schedule. Once the go-ahead is given for the buses to leave, we will not stop the buses to pull a student. This disrupts the bus loop routine.
2. If you call the bus garage to make a busing change of any kind, please call the Baker office or email the teacher about the change. The bus garage does not send these changes to the school. It is the parent's responsibility to inform the teacher/school of any changes.
3. Writing paper notes and putting them in the child's folder or backpack is not a good way to communicate a change of routine. FYI - 1st grade teachers do not go through students' back packs. Informing the school office by phone or email is the best way to communicate a change of routine. Emailing teachers with an end of the day routine will work; however, this needs to be done by 3:30.
HAND2HAND
Hand2Hand is a wonderful program open to all Baker Elementary students in grades Young 5's, kindergarten and 1st grades. If you would like your child to bring home a backpack of healthy snacks and foods each weekend, please fill out the form (see below, or your child's backpack) and return to your child's teacher. Starting Friday, October 5th, your child will bring a backpack home each week. This opportunity is a combined effort between Baker Elementary School, Gun Lake Community Church and Hand2Hand https://h2hkids.org/
A HUGE THANK YOU to Connie Pifer, Linda Holcolm & Vicki Hooker from Gun Lake Community Church who organize and facilitate this service weekly for our students!