Stephens Star Parent Update
#ShiningBrighterTogether
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Message From you Principals
This is your principal, Lindsey Young, and I just wanted to introduce myself and get the communication started for the new school year. Every week you will receive a newsletter from me or my assistant principal, Denise Campbell. Every Sunday, you will get a Skyward email with a link, and all you have to do is click on the link, which will bring you to our next weekly update.
If you are a new student at Stephens, please let me be the first to welcome you and ensure you that we will do our very best to support you and your student this year. The purpose of the weekly newsletter is to make sure you are informed about all school events, dress-up days, school district information, and community events and meetings that we love our parents to participate in. Please make sure your Skyward account is up to date with all the correct phone numbers, email addresses, health information, and emergency contacts. This is the district's platform for everything related to your student's school information and records.
Thank you to those of you that were able to make it to Meet the Teacher this last week; we had a great turn-out. If you could not make it or were not enrolled yet, no worries, we will have their teachers reach out to you and answer all your questions. We will have parent-teacher conferences in October, but if you ever need or want to schedule a meeting with your student's teacher, please call and make an appointment.
We can't wait to see everybody tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Principal Young and Vice Principal Campbell
Parent and School Information
Here are a few reminders:
Attached above and below this information is the Drop off/Dismissal Map for Stephens. Please make sure you know where you go to drop off and pick up your student.
1. The school does NOT open until 7:35- If you drop your students off and drive away, we are not responsible for them until the doors open at 7:35. The
2. School is over at 3:30 for K-5, and we can not dismiss until this time
3. Parent Pick-up and Drop- off are only on the side of the building by the teacher parking lot. No parents should be getting out of their vehicle and walking up to campus to get their students after school.
Please contact the Principal, Ms. Young, if you have any concerns about these procedures. All parents will receive a car tag, and you need to have this in the front window until your student is in the car and you are driving away.
I know the line for pick-up seems long but give us a week, and my staff will get your students out to the car quick. Please do not be rude, honk at people, cut in line, or drive too fast through the pickup and drop-off areas.
Every year we have parents that get extremely upset because we ask you to follow the dismissal protocol. All protocols are set up for safety and security reasons...WE ARE NOT BEING MEAN OR RUDE, but we have a lot of kids to keep track of, and we just ask that you respect that.
4. If your students are walkers and you come over to meet them, please make sure the teacher knows this and wait for them with the crossing guard in the front of the school. You do not need to walk to the front doors and meet them, they will walk to you.
If you need your student to be considered a walker but you DO NOT live in the neighborhood, you must set up a time to meet with Ms. Young. Again for safety purposes, we are being stricter about who and how many students are walking. Once we walk the students across the street, it is your responsibility to be there to walk with them home, or if they are old enough to walk home by themselves, we will release them from our care at that point.
5. Please send your student with a water bottle and a jacket daily to school. They can leave it at school if you prefer. We have water filling stations, which are extremely hot outside, so we want our students to stay hydrated. Some of our classrooms get really cold once the A/C has been running all day so we just like our students to have options if they get cold.
6. Breakfast and lunch are served to all students free daily. Please get your student to school before 8:00 if they are eating breakfast. This year our school has been approved for Breakfast in the classroom. This is an amazing program that allows every student to get free breakfast every day when they walk into class. If they prefer to eat at home that is ok, but they have the option if they want it. For this reason and trying to stay on track with our instructional minutes, every student will be in their classrooms by 8:00. Students will not be counted tardy if they can get to class by 8:10.
7. The cafeteria does sell cookies, chips, and ice cream for an extra charge in the cafeteria line. If your student is asking for money, this is probably what they are wanting it for. If they have cash or you put money on their account, then they can purchase these extra items; otherwise, they cannot purchase the extra snack options. We have had lots of students in the past try and buy snacks for their friends, but we do NOT allow this. It causes too many problems, and we do not have the time to call parents during lunch and get approval.
8. Tuesday Folders- This goes home with students every Tuesday, and if the office has any handouts, information from the district, or just school info, you will receive the hard copies in these folders.
9. Please join our PTA or at least donate...do not worry we will not ask you to do a lot, and we promise all of the funds will go back to our students and teachers throughout the school year. It is $10/Membership, and we desperately need your support, so please join and volunteer at our PTA events. Our PTA President is Jill Cummings, and her email is JCummings@garlandisd.net if you have any questions. I will send a link to all parents this next week if you want to join.
As always, we can't thank you enough for all the support! We are in this together, and if you need anything or have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Ms. Young
Dates to Remember
August 8th - First Day Of the 2022-23 School Year
Arrival, Dismissal, Transportation
We ask for your patience during the first week of school as some buses may experience delays. We have major construction in all three of our GISD cities (Garland, Rowlett, and Sachse), but we will be doing our best to deliver your students to school and home safe and sound.
The Transportation Call Center will be open from Mon., July 25 to Wed., August 31. Parents are encouraged to call the Call Center for help with anything related to bus rider needs. The Transportation Call Center Number is 972-494-8530.
GISD Elementary School Supply List 22-23
GISD Elementary School Supply List 22-23
#2 Pencils- 24 count
2 Packs Washable Markers - 8 count each
2 Boxes of Crayons - 24 count each
1 package of black Expo dry erase markers with eraser
Large Glue Sticks (6)
Scissors
Folder with pockets & brads (4)
Grades PK-1: MEAD Primary Journal K-2 (2)
Grades 2-5: Notebook paper - wide ruled (1 package)
Grades 2-5: Composition/Spiral notebook, wide-ruled (4)
Grades 3-5: Graph Paper Packets (2)
Grades 3-5: Package of Highlighters
1 package of white or manila construction paper
1 package of colored construction paper
Large box of facial tissue (2)
Pencil bag or supply box
1 set of headphones/earbuds in a baggie labeled with student name
2 - 12oz. bottles of hand sanitizer
Clorox wipes or sanitizing wipes
1 box of Ziploc sandwiches baggies- GIRLS ONLY
1 box of Ziploc gallon size baggies- BOYS ONLY
Personal Water Bottle
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CONTACT INFO FOR STEPHENS
Email: LMyoung@garlandisd.net
Website: https://www.garlandisdschools.net/stephens
Phone: (972) 463-5790
Facebook: facebook.com/StephensElementarySchoolStars
Twitter: @Stephens_Stars