Parent Handbook 2021-22
Welcome to Sunnyside School!
School Begins WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH!!!
School Contact Information
Amy Yost ~ Principal
Shannon Porter - sporter@sheltonpublicschools.org
Vivian Gleason - vgleason@sheltonpublicschools.org
Email: ayost@sheltonpublicschools.org
Website: http://sunnyside.sheltonpublicschools.org/home_page
Location: 418 River Road, Shelton, CT, USA
Phone: (203)922-3021
Facebook: facebook.com/SunnysideStrong
Twitter: @SSS_Shelton
School Hours
First Day of School: September 8,2021
School Hours: 9:00am-3:45pm (Parent drop off 8:45am-9:00am)
Early Dismissal Start & Dismissal Time: 9:00am-1:50pm
2 Hour Start & Dismissal Time: 11:00am-3:45pm
Important Dates
Friday, September 3 ~ Kindergarten Parent Orientation & Bus Safety Day @ 9:30am
Tuesday, September 7 ~ Rosh Hashanah (No School)
Wednesday, September 8 ~ First Day of School – WELCOME!
Wednesday, September 8 ~ PTO Popcorn Fundraiser Launch
Wednesday, September 8 ~ PTO Spirit Wear Sale begins
Thursday, September 9 ~ PTO Believe Catalog Fundraiser
September 15 - October 15 ~ Hispanic Heritage Month
Thursday, September 16 ~ Yom Kippur (No School)
Friday, September 17~ Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Logs Due
Monday, September 20 ~ PTO Meeting @ 6pm - Virtually
Tuesday, September 21 ~ School Picture Day
September 23 & 24 ~ PTO sponsored Scholastic Book Fair
Friday, October 8 ~ PTO sponsored Back to School Picnic 6-8pm
Monday, September 27 ~ Back-to-School Night @ 6pm
Mask Wearing Expectations
Masks are mandatory for all K-4 students inside the building and on school buses.
Mask breaks will be given throughout the day.
Students may take off masks when outside.
"Per Governor Ned Lamont's Executive Order #13, all students and staff, vaccinated or unvaccinated, will be required to wear masks indoors at school until September 30th, unless otherwise changed by the Office of the Governor. This mask mandate currently only applies to indoors. Students and staff will not be required to wear masks outdoors unless the individual chooses to wear a mask.
If the Governor rescinds or extends Executive Order #13, the Shelton Public Schools will communicate any changes to the community."
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this State of Connecticut mandate.
Bus Information
Students must wear a mask at all times while on the bus. Students will not be allowed to board the bus without one.
Students are expected to ride their assigned bus, unless a change is necessary for daycare purposes ONLY! Bus changes must be made ahead of time and in writing to the homeroom teacher as well as the main office (sporter@sheltonpublicschools.org). No student will be permitted to change without written consent. Changes to a student's dismissal plan will NOT be accepted after 12:00pm. This is for the safety of all.
If parents have transportation issues or questions contact the Board of Education directly at (203)924-1023, ext 310, or email transporation@sheltonpublicschools.org
Attendance
Students are expected to attend school each day school is in session for the entire day. Students arriving after 9:00 will be marked as tardy, unless on a bus. Being late to school is disruptive for all in the classroom. Our instructional blocks will be starting promptly at 9:10am daily and ending at 3:40pm; with 5 minutes to pack up. To ensure a smooth morning transition, please have your child to school on time.
Students have 9 excused absences allotted to them-after that all absences are considered unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor's note.
Students who miss school due to family vacations will not have any work sent with them ahead of time. All work will be made up upon return to school.
Click HERE for the full Attendance Policy.
Make Up Work Procedure for Vacations
Absence Verification: 203-922-3021
Board of Education policy requires that parents/guardians call the school when their child will be absent.
- Attendance is taken daily upon arrival.
- Automated absence calls go out at 10:30am daily. If a child is absent and no parental notification has been obtained, the parent/guardian will receive an automated call at home, cell phone, or place of work.
- Students who are absent without any notification will be marked as "unexcused". If a child sees a doctor during their absence, please provide a doctor’s note upon returning to school.
- A voice mailbox is available for calls at night or early morning for your convenience. When you leave a message, please state the student’s first and last name, the date of the absence, the classroom teacher, and the reason for the absence.
- The school number is 203-922-3021 or email Mrs. Porter (sporter@sheltonpublicschools.org) or Mrs. Gleason (vgleason@sheltonpublicschools.org) when their child will be absent.
Morning Drop Off Procedure
Parents are not permitted to drive in the front of the building, as this is our Bus Zone. Parking in front of the school during arrival and dismissal times is reserved for buses only.
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 River 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. Any child(ren) 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.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedure
If changes in dismissal are needed for your child, please inform the school immediately (note to office or classroom teacher) in writing. If during the day an emergency arises, you must call and email the school NO LATER than 12:00pm. We will need something in writing, either a fax or an email to sporter@sheltonpublicschools.org or vgleason@sheltonpublicschools.org .We will not accept dismissal changes over the phone. Please do not email the classroom teacher about dismissal changes during the school day, as they are instructing and may not be able to check emails, thus creating a safety issue for your child. All early pick ups must be completed by 3:30 at the office. Anyone arriving after 3:30 will pick up the student at 3:45 in the back of the building.
Unplanned early dismissal
School Medication Policy
To insure the safety and well-being of all our students, specific guidelines have been established for the safe distribution of medications. If your child requires a prescription or over-the-counter medication during the school day, you must follow the procedures required by the Shelton Public Schools, the Connecticut General Statutes, Sec. 10-212a, and the Connecticut Administrative Regulations, Sec. 10-212a-1 through 10-212a-9. These procedures promote safe practices for students and staff. Students are not allowed to carry medications without a doctor’s order. All medications are kept in the nurse’s office and administered by the school nurse or the designated staff in her absence. All medications administered in school must adhere to the following:
- Contact the school nurse to make arrangements to drop off medication.
- NO medications are to be given to a student to bring to school to hand in to their nurse.
- Medication is brought to school by a parent or responsible adult.
- Packaged in the original pharmacy container, clearly labeled, with the student’s name, the authorized prescriber, and the prescription information.
- Given to the school nurse or, in his/her absence, an administrator.
- Accompanied by a signed authorization from the physician and parent/guardian with the time to be taken, reason and duration. Medication will not be administered without this documentation.
- Over the counter medications such as Tylenol and sunscreen MUST follow the same procedure. The medication must be in a new, unopened container with a doctor's order.
- No more than a 45-day supply will be accepted
- A parent, or responsible adult, must pick up any discontinued medication within one week or it will be destroyed. Unused medication must be destroyed if not picked up by a responsible adult by the end of the last day of school.
Nut Free
Cafeteria Services
Free and Reduced Priced Meals and Insurance Links:
Dear Shelton Families -
Please find the 2021-2022 information and application for free/reduced price meals/benefits in the links:
- Family Application - https://bit.ly/3ykHW7O
- Frequently Asked Questions - https://bit.ly/37Xi874
- Public Media Release - https://bit.ly/3j37vG7
- Reminder for Last Year Students - https://bit.ly/3B18OLM
- SNAP Information - https://bit.ly/3k3Tnvu
- Husky Insurance Information - https://bit.ly/382byMx
Inclement Weather
Unplanned Early Dismissal:
In the event of an unplanned early dismissal due to inclement weather, we ask that you DO NOT call the school. It is imperative that these phone lines be kept open for communication purposes during an emergency. Please review with your child(ren) alternative arrangements regarding where they should go if you are not home on an emergency early dismissal day. Information regarding emergency delayed openings/early dismissals may be obtained from various radio and television stations or by simply checking the district website (www.sheltonpublicschools.org). Please refer to the main website for planned and unplanned early dismissal timesSchool Attire
Student Belongings
- Students are encouraged to keep toys at home. The school is not responsible for lost items.
- LABEL your child’s belongs with their full name (lunchboxes, sweaters, jackets, backpacks).
- If your child brings a cell phone to school, it must remain in their backpack and in the off position.
- Students may not reenter the building after dismissal to pick up forgotten items.
- IPads and other electronic devices (including, but not limited to, Smart Watches, Switches, etc.) are NOT to be brought to school.
- Reusable water bottles are encouraged, but must be brought home daily to properly wash. Non-reusable water bottles will be disposed of daily if they are not taken home.
Showing our Tiger PRIDE
At Sunnyside School, we focus on using proactive strategies to define, teach, and support appropriate student behaviors to create a positive school environment. We use Yale's RULER Program - The acronym RULER refers to the five key emotion skills of Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, & Regulating emotions. Staff embed lessons throughout the year on how to be respectful, responsible, caring and safe. Sunnyside Tigers are expected to show their PRIDE in all areas of the school and on the bus.
Sunnyside Tigers show their PRIDE.They are...
- Persevering
- Responsible
- Individual
- Dedicated to
- Excellence
Playground Access & Rules
Birthday Celebrations
Recognition of birthdays at school, while important, should not disrupt the learning process or endanger the health or well-being of any student. We have an increasingly growing number of students who have food allergies. These students, along with other students whose health conditions require dietary restrictions, need close monitoring. We thank you for helping make our school a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff by following these guidelines.
Birthday Books may be purchased in honor of student birthdays and will be added to the school library after the birthday student has a chance to share the book at home! This is a great opportunity to honor their birthday and help Sunnyside expand it's book collection at the same time!
Additionally, parents are welcome to read this special book to the class. Please coordinate with the classroom teacher on the best time for all.
More information will be coming from Mrs. Yacawych regarding how to purchase these books.
Safety Drills - Fire Drills, Lockdowns, Shelter-in-Place and Evacuations
Before/ After School Care
In addition, The Boys and Girls Club offers before and after care. Transportation is provided by one of our school buses. Please contact them directly for questions and registration at 203-924-9329.
Both program require pre-registration to participate.
Technology
- Students will have access to computers through the day.
- Technology agreements outline the expectations and usage of school technology, which are signed off at the beginning of the school year.
- The policy has been updated this school year 2021-22.
- Misuse of school technology may result in disciplinary action.
- Computers are for school use only.
- If a student is quarantined by the school, technology will be available during the quarantine timeframe.
School Reward Programs
COCA-COLA GIVE
Join the thousands of people partnering with Coca-Cola who are making a difference in lives around the world. Watch the video to learn how you can donate codes from your favorite Coca-Cola beverages. https://us.coca-cola.com/give/
Search by our zip code - 06484 and toggle down until you see Sunnyside School.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Box Tops for Education can be sent in to your classroom teachers anytime throughout the school year. Please submit them in an envelope whenever possible with your child’s name, teacher’s name and number of Box Tops written on the outside. The money we receive through this program will be used to purchase supplies for Sunnyside School. The more Box Tops we collect, the more educational supplies we can buy. The class that collects the most will earn extra recess time! Happy collecting!
TARGET
Help Sunnyside School earn extra funding by registering your REDcard under Sunnyside School. Parents may register online through the Target website. Target will donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases at Target stores and at Target.com.
AMAZON SMILE
Sunnyside School is registered for Smile Amazon. It’s another reward program where the school earns a percentage of your purchases when shopping with Amazon. All you need to do is sign into Amazon through www.smile.amazon and select Sunnyside Elementary School PTO. Once you select Sunnyside School, every time you shop through smile.amazon, it automatically recognizes that charitable organization. It’s the same site as Amazon, and your Amazon Prime subscription works too! The upcoming holiday shopping season is the perfect time to raise money for our school! All proceed will help support our PBIS incentives. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-3588783
SHOP & SHOP A+ Bonus Bucks
Please register your Stop & Shop card on the Stop & Shop website so that Sunnyside School will receive contributions from your grocery purchases. You will still earn your Gas Points.
Directions:
1. Go to Stop & Shop website: http://www.stopandshop.com.
2. Click on the A+ in the upper right hand corner.
3. When you get to the A+ page click on the Learn more button.
4. Register your card by responding to the questions about the first 3 letters of your last name and your card number.
5. Continue responding to the prompts until you have confirmed the registration. Please make sure that you select Sunnyside Elementary School as your school of choice. School Code - 06217 OR Send in your 13-digit number, and the name the card is registered under, to the main office.
Complete this COVID 19 check each morning before your child leaves for school each day. If you reply YES to any of the questions, STAY HOME!! It is imperative that we work TOGETHER to keep our schools safe.