Welcome to the September School Newsletter. I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the school year. We know the first few weeks can be overwhelming, and we appreciate the patience and support you have given to our students and staff as we get the ball rolling this school year. Please continue to support our protocols in place to ensure a safe and effective school day for our students.

We are very excited to start a new tradition this year with our attendance Crocstars. These students are chosen at random for having perfect attendance from the week before. This means they were not absent, did not come late or leave early.

We would like to once again honor the following students for being an attendance Crocstars in August.

Zane W.

Riah M.

Danny P.

Mason N.

Josias S.

Mayleeah W.

There is no time like the present, and no substitute for being present.

~unknown

Ms. Black

Principal

Jamaica Elementary School

Follow our PTSO social media pages for important updates! Facebook is "Jamaica Elementary PTSO" and Instagram is "jamaicacrocsptso".

PTSO Reminder Dates

Aug 28th- Sept 1st- Fall Book Fair

Sept 4th- No School (Free dress day. Must be school appropriate)

Sept 8th- Picture day

Sept 13th- Back to School Night

Sept 18th-29th- Step it up Fundraiser

Sept 29th- Mother/Son Dance

Croc treats after school on Thursdays (early release days)

Welcome back Jamaica Crocs!! We have so many exciting things happening in music this year. We were able to purchase several new instruments that the students are excited to learn to play. In fact, all general education students have already had a chance to play a piano keyboard!!! This year 4th-6th grade will be focusing on ukuleles, 3rd graders are learning recorders and kindergarten through 2nd grade will be playing xylophones. All grades will be doing piano keyboard practice as well as playing fun musical tubes called Boomwhackers. Stay tuned for more information about our evening Holiday performance in December. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Carrie Clark

Music/Art Specialist

Jamaica Elementary

928-854-7280

carrie.clark@lhusd.org

Sick Day Guidelines (When to keep your student home)

School policy states a child must stay home if he or she:

· Has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. Keep your child home until his or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication.

· Has been vomiting or has had diarrhea. Keep your child home 12-24 hours after the last vomiting or diarrhea episode.

· Has symptoms that keep him or her from participating in school, such as:

· Very tired or lack of appetite

· Cough that he or she cannot control

· Moderate to severe headache, body aches or earache

· Sore throat - a minor sore throat is ok for school, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat, even if there is no fever.

Kaitlyn Weber, BSN, RN

Jamaica School Nurse

kweber@lhusd.org

928-854-7283

Please remember to wear your athletic/gym shoes for physical education class on your designated day. Physical education is a participation-based grade that incorporates cardio and sport activities where proper footwear is required. Thank you to everyone that has been dressed out and ready for class this past month!

As the weather is still warm, students are wearing shorts more often. Please be sure that your student is following the dress code. Per the district handbook, Shorts and skirts must be fingertip length. This means long enough so that when standing straight, hands at sides, the hem is at the edge of the fingertips. All bottoms must be free from rips, holes, or tears above the knees. Students are responsible for checking in the mirror before coming to school.

*Dress code will be enforced, and students will be required to change if they do not follow dress code. There will be NO exceptions.

Breakfast starts at 7:30 am, and students need to be finished eating by 7:55 am. Please remind your child that if they are having breakfast at school, they need to be coming in as soon as they arrive. Students that get to the office at 7:55 am with plans to have breakfast will not have enough time to eat.

Friendly reminder that the first bell is at 7:55 A.M. daily and students must be in class by 8:00A.M to not be considered tardy. If your student is tardy, an adult MUST come in and sign them in. Please do not drop them off and have them come in alone. Safety is our top priority.

Please ensure your students are promptly picked up at the release of school.

If you are running late, please contact the front office immediately.

Each Monday we will randomly pick 2 lucky winners of an In-N-Out gift card based on perfect attendance from the week before. Will it be you?

This year, there has been an increase in meal prices due to USDA regulations.

Breakfast is now $1.60 at all LHUSD schools. Lunch is $2.85 at all elementary schools.

Households will need to re-apply for this school year, as a new application is needed each year. To apply for free or reduced-price meals please visit the new website LinqConnect.com.

A household can submit an application at any time of the year, if there is a reduction in household income.

*WE HAVE SCHOOL SHIRTS BACK IN STOCK*

Stop by the front office to get your school shirts. Please bring cash or credit card for payment. Don’t forget there is a Web Store found at: https://az-lakehavasu.intouchreceipting.com/

Short Sleeve Youth Shirts are $6.50

Long Sleeve Youth Shirts are $8.00

Long Sleeve Adult Shirts are $9.00

We welcome you to come to have lunch with your student. We even have a special table just for you to eat with them. Per district policy, you may only bring food for your student.

All visitors during school hours must sign in at the front office and also be issued a visitors pass. Please ensure that you sign out upon your departure.

PTSO is still offering the Birthday Marquee Fundraiser. $10 will get your child’s name on the marquee for their birthday week. We can also do ½ birthdays as well! Forms are in the office.

At Jamaica, we take the safety of our students, staff, and guests seriously; therefore we are a closed campus.

1. It is critical for safety that all guests, including parents and guardians, check in at the front office and sign in for a visitor’s badge. We ask that you do not go into the classrooms without an appointment.

2. The gates are staying locked in the mornings until 7:45 am. This is for the safety and security of our students in the mornings. Students should wait near the building and away from the drive-through lane. Parents, please drop off and pick up outside the gates.

3. In the parking lot, please use the crosswalk and do not walk in front of traffic. Thank you to our many parents who follow this rule to help model for our students. (This includes Jamaica. Please do not cross where there is no crosswalk)