Mars Area Primary Center Newsletter
December 2023
Special Thanks
PTO PC Winter Parties
PTO sponsored Winter Parties will take place on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. All parents that have been selected as party parents will need to have their driver’s license scanned in the RAPTOR system by Friday, December 15. Please provide a written note, if you are planning to take your child home after the party.
AM Kindergarten Party Time: 9:30- 10:30 AM
PM Kindergarten & Grade 1 Party Time: 1:15-2:15 PM
Remote Learning Days
What is a Remote Learning / Flexible instruction Day?
On a Remote Learning / Flexible instruction Day, students will be able to connect remotely to their classes during the school day. Note: This school year, all schools will run on a Two-Hour Delay Schedule on a Remote Learning / Flexible instruction Days to better enable both teachers and students to prepare for the school day.
What will be expected of students on a Remote Learning / Flexible instruction Day?
On a Remote Learning / Flexible instruction Day, students will need to connect remotely to their classes during the school day. Students will be expected to log on to each class to participate in live instruction throughout the school day. Assignments and other instructional materials will be available via the Schoology learning management system, which may be accessed via the District website, www.marsk12.org.
ELEMENTARY — At the elementary level, students will login with their homeroom teacher to verify their schedule for the day, which may vary. (Note: The Two-Hour Delay Start Time for AM Kindergarten as well as for Grades 1-6 is 11 a.m. The delayed start time for PM Kindergarten is 1:45 p.m.)
When a remote learning day is called, all buildings are closed to students, as well as all after school events. When referring to the local television and radio stations, please continue to check for updates regarding delays and remote learning days. Our schools may start out as a two-hour delay but change to an official remote learning day if the weather continues to worsen throughout the morning. If you have any questions regarding a two-hour delay or remote learning day, please check the district website www.marsk12.org.
Two-Hour Delays: No child may enter the school before our delayed starting times. A two-hour delay means buses will pick up children two hours later than normal and parent drop-off will be 2-hours later than usual. Our official entry time for students to enter the building is 10:35 AM on a two-hour delay schedule. Afternoon kindergarten students can be dropped off no earlier than 1:30 PM.
Holiday Shop
The PTO Sponsored Holiday Shop will be held at the PC on December 6-8. Students will be permitted to shop for family and friends in the gymnasium during their scheduled shopping time. The shopping schedule has been emailed home from the PTO. Parents wishing to shop with their child will need to have their driver’s license available for scanning in the RAPTOR system on their shopping day. Parents will park and enter through the main entrance. Parents wishing to take their child home after shopping will need to provide a written note and have their child give the note to their classroom teacher.
Thank You, First Grade!
Thank you to all our First Grade Families who made this year’s Thanksgiving Feast a success. We served almost 400 school Thanksgiving lunches over the 3 days of the event. We can’t thank you enough for your support and participation.
Outdoor Recess
We believe outdoor recess is an important and valuable part of our students’ day. Fresh air, exercise and time spent outside afford students a break from the structure of the classroom. As we approach the winter season, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Students will go out to the playground when the temperature is 32 degrees or warmer.
Happy Holidays from the Gym!
We are always busy and moving in the gym! We finished our toss & catch unit, played gratitude games and moved into our current unit of gymnastics. We are working on balancing and exploring how we can transfer weight from feet to hands using our whole body! It is amazing to see how the students come up with unique ways to move.
Due to inclement weather, students may often begin to wear boots to school. Please make sure that on PE days, your child brings tennis shoes to school.
Enjoy our holiday season with your family!
Mrs. Coon
Emergency Early Dismissal/Car Rider Notes
Any student having to be picked up for an emergency early dismissal or needing to be a car rider for the day of and did not have a note for their teacher, please call the office to let the school know. Our teachers are busy teaching and instructing and may not see their email until the end of the working day. Please call the office and we will relay the message to the classroom teacher.
Student Vacations/Educational Trips
Students missing school due to a vacation must obtain a vacation form from the school office. Students may not miss more than 10 consecutive school days. Students are not to be excused for more than two vacations/educational trips within a single year. Vacation forms must be submitted to the Primary Center office at least 2 weeks prior to departure. If the proper application is not completed, the absence will be considered an unexcused absence. Vacation form link attached.
Reading Rockets
Just a reminder for those students staying after school to participate in the Reading Rockets program, you must have your permission slip to attend. Students may bring a snack from home to enjoy before groups begin at 4:00. The last day of this session will be December 18.
Excuses for Absence
Parents please be reminded that if your child is absent for any reason, you are required to provide a written excuse for the absence. On the excuse, please provide your child’s first and last name, date of absence, classroom teacher’s name and reason for the absence.
Early Dismissals
If you need to pick up your child during the instructional day, please write a note to your child’s teacher letting them know the day and time you will be picking your child up. All AM Kindergarten students need to have an early dismissal no later than 11:00 AM and Grade 1 and PM Kindergarten students may have an early dismissal no later than 3:00 PM.
Birthday Celebrations at School
Just a reminder that there are no birthday treats of any kind permitted in the Mars Area Primary Center. If you would like to distribute birthday invitations to students in your child’s class, an invitation needs to be provided for ALL students in the class.
Positive Planets
Congratulations to the whole school on being positive planets and filling up the Principal's 50 & 100 Clubs! We celebrated as a school with PJ Day and students were able to bring their favorite stuffed animal to school! The students have been doing a fabulous job displaying The Mars Way! Keep up the great work!
Mars Area School District December Spirit Days
PC New Year's Celebration
Holiday Shop
Holiday Shop December 6-8, 2023
Wednesday, Dec 6, 2023, 09:00 AM
High School Chamber Ensemble Concert
Friday, Dec 15, 2023, 01:30 PM
PTO Winter Party
AM Kindergarten: 9:30-10:30 AM
PM Kindergarten & Grade 1: 1:15-2:15 PM
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023, 09:30 AM
Winter Break
Winter Break December 22-January 2, 2024
Friday, Dec 22, 2023, 07:00 AM
Classes Resume
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2024, 09:00 AM
PC New Year's Celebration-Dress to Impress Day
Wednesday, Jan 3, 2024, 09:00 AM
In-Service Day/End of the Second Nine Weeks
No School for Students
Monday, Jan 15, 2024, 07:00 AM
In-Service Day-No School for Students
Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024, 07:00 AM
Happy Holidays!
I would like to wish all the Primary Center Staff, Students and Families a very merry holiday. Best wishes for the New Year!
~Mrs. Semler