August 20- **URGENT** Deadline to pay for FPP for Technology (see below)

August 26- PTA Meeting (Join PTA!)

September 3- Fall Picture Day (FREE Dress Down Day)

September 6- Labor Day- No School!

• Covid Protocols
• Quarantine Learning Plans
• Arrival/Dismissal
• Uniforms
• etc.

For the health and safety of your student, please complete the 2021/2022 Ellis Student Medical Questionnaire regarding his/her medical conditions and/or allergies as soon as possible. This information will be an initial communication about the needs of your student and will be reviewed by the School Nurse. To ensure the proper care of your student, the information will be shared with the faculty and staff who interact with him/her and needs to be updated annually. Please complete a separate questionnaire for each of your students. Thank you for your help.

If your child is (or will be) absent for any reason, please email your child's teacher AND copy Nurse Chris on the email.

If your student is classified as a "Close Contact" with someone who has COVID-19 at school, you will receive a phone call from someone on the Ellis Contact Tracing team to pick them up immediately. When you pick up your student, you will be provided with a letter from Nurse Chris outlining further instructions including when your student will be allowed to return to the building. You can view that letter template at this link for your information. It is also listed in the updated Ellis Family Handbook.

Contact Information:

Christine.O'boyle@sccpss.com

912-395-5474

**Update 8/13/2021**: Devices have been distributed to all 1st-8th grade classes for the students who have the required paperwork on file. If you have not filled out the learning device loan form for your student(s) yet, PLEASE do so ASAP. It is imperative that your student has either a school device or a personal device to use at home in case they must quarantine.

If you have not filled out the "Student Learning Device Loan Form" (either a print copy or the linked digital form) yet for each of your students, please do so ASAP so that we can prepare to distribute a device to them per your request. If you agree to purchase the Family Protection Plan or FPP (which is highly recommended in order to avoid costly repairs this year!), please remember the deadline to pay for the FPP is Friday, August 20, 2021.

The district is offering a Family Protection Plan (FPP) for the devices this year for only $25. The FPP will cover accidental damage (not loss or theft) of the device and provide up to TWO replacement devices this school year. Please note that the cost of device repairs (if the FPP is NOT purchased) has increased due to demand for the parts (a Chromebook screen replacement, our most common repair, is now $90!), so we HIGHLY recommend that you purchase the FPP for each student's device.

The deadline to purchase the FPP is August 20, 2021.

The FPP can be purchased through School Cash Online. You will find instructions on how to register for School Cash Online and connect your student(s) to your account here.

If your family is in need of a HotSpot device, contact Ms. Lisa to see if you qualify.

Student Learning Device Loan Form and FPP Information (This form MUST be filled out by a parent/guardian for EVERY student)- These will be available in your classroom at Open House or you can fill out the digital version at this link.

**Please note: Per SCCPSS district policy, if your student has a fine still on their account for a damaged device or a lost charger from the 2020/2021 school year, they will not be allowed to check out a device until that fine is paid. Contact Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com) so that you can make payment arrangements.**

We have had reports of older students rough housing and accidentally hitting younger children who are caught in the crossfire. This is dangerous and inappropriate behavior.

At the school, We are NOT responsible for the behavior of the walkers at Circle Park, nor do we provide supervision for them; however, we do expect walkers to treat the park and others with Grace & Courtesy.

Thank you for your help and understanding.

We met with our PreK friends this week in the media center while our Kindergarten friends met with Ms. Angie for technology class. On August 20th, we will meet with our Kindergarten friends in the media center while Ms. Angie meets with our PreK friends.

Starting August 27th, our PreK friends will be allowed to check out ONE book from the media center to take home. Please read this book with your student, take good care of it, and return it to school the following Friday. Primary students will be checking out a book every other week.

If you would rather your student leave their media center book at school (and not to bring them home), please let your classroom teacher know ASAP.

We have not yet been able to start orientation with our other classes yet. We need to finish device distribution before we can get that started. Please thank your students for their patience.

If you haven't done so already, please read our welcome letter for what you and your student can expect from the media center this school year.

Sincerely,

Ms. Lisa and Ms. Laura

Ellis Media Center:

912-395-5470 Ext. 71210

Ellis Media Center website

"Like" and "Follow" us on Facebook!

The Backpack Buddies food program is available for any students in need thanks to a partnership with The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle. If your child or someone you know could benefit from a bag of food for the weekends, please contact Ms. Rebecca.

Check out our resources and activities on the School Counseling Website and reach out if you need anything.

Ms. Rebecca, School Counselor

912-395-5470 x2

tinyurl.com/BookMsRebecca

rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.com

or you can message me on ItsLearning

The Language of Responsibility from "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff

• When I do what I say I am going to do, I am being responsible.
• When I make a mistake and tell the truth about what I did, I am taking responsibility for what I do and say.
• When I do something that helps everyone and hurts no one, I am acting responsibly.
• When I tell the truth about my sad, scary or angry feelings and I ask someone to help me feel better, I am taking responsibility for me feelings.

We use SchoolCash Online to provide an online payment option for tech fees and other school items and fees. If you haven’t already created a free account, we encourage all parents to register now, so you’ll be ready to make online payments from home: both now and in the future as more school items become available again.

SchoolCash Online is free, safe, simple, secure, and saves time. You will help increase efficiency and security at your school by making payments directly into your school's bank account. This limits the number of people entering the school, reduces risk of lost payments, and allows teachers and office staff to focus on helping students and not counting cash. In addition, you are automatically informed about school activities! Registering takes less than two minutes: visit sccpss.schoolcashonline.com and click Register.

Joining the PTA is a small but significant way to get involved in our school and to make a difference in the lives of our Ellis community.

Click here to join or donate.

WE NEED YOU!

There are a few PTA Committee Chairs open:

Arts Enrichment

Fundraising & Sponsorships

Special Events Co-Chair

If interested in any of these positions, contact Emily Salzer (emilycsalzer@gmail.com) or Kellie Groover (kellie.groover@focuslabllc.com), PTA Co-Presidents.

If you are a parent/guardian of a new Ellis student, request to join the Ellis PTA Facebook Group to connect with us​. ​

Click here to view the new Charles Ellis Montessori Academy website.

Please visit the SCCPSS website regularly for the most up-to-date district information.