SWS News - March 26
A GREAT Week!!
For a VIDEO review of this newsletter, please click and enjoy.
- Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th--in school--Wednesday 31st--REMOTE day
- Thursday, Apr 1 - Monday Apr 5--SPRING BREAK--No School
- Tuesday, Apr 6--Return to In-School Learning--no more Remote Wednesdays
Some FUN ways to stay connected and support SWS are included below--thanks for all of your support, as always. Make sure to check these out!
Looking for a quick way to get some glimpses into SWS? Follow us on twitter ! @SWSelem
Drop Off & Pick up...UPDATE
We have made some changes to how we will do buses each day that will help, but here are some things that you can do as parents:
- Consider coming a bit later. I know that sounds backwards, but when we have 100 cars in line before the line can move, it backs up and affects the entrance to the campus and out to 202, as many of you know already. By about 3:10, the line is moving quickly, and by 3:14, the line is just about done. Instead of coming at 2:00, consider coming at 3:15 and you should experience smooth sailing.
- Carpool. Many of you are already hanging out with your neighbors anyway and some have already been carpooling successfully. Kids can still wear their masks in the car while they take the quick ride home.
- Stay in the car. The vast majority of kids are able to get themselves in and out of the car, and things slow down when parents get out and walk around the car to help it out. We just want things to go as smoothly as possible. Practice with your child at home and on the weekend.
- Use the passenger side. The safest way to have your kids get in and out is on the passenger side, using the sidewalk.
- Leave room and Pass. Leave a bit of distance between cars so that you can safely pass the cars that are still waiting for their kids.
- Use the whole sidewalk. Especially in the morning, you can drop off along the whole Car Line loop. We will also be using more of the loop when we load in the afternoons, too.
- Keep things moving. I know you want to bid your child farewell in the morning and greet your kids at the end of the day, but please have those conversations in the car, before or after their day.
- Ride the bus. Once we have things settled a bit, there MAY be room for more kids on a bus, but please do not assume that. Routes and times were adjusted based on survey responses. Please email me if you have questions.
We have adjusted where we will load and unload buses, adjusted our staff duties inside and outside, conferred with the police department and PennDot, and with Stetson, too. As things roll out, we can continue to make adjustments on our end, but if parents do their part, too, that will help!
THANKS!!!
Breakfast & Lunch--UPDATE
Breakfasts will be served in the cafeteria.
All lunches will be in the cafeteria, too. We have expanded into the gym so that we can fit entire grade levels in there at once. Mrs. Douglas is doing PE in the atrium, or outside when weather permits.
Check with your child about what they are eating (or throwing out) each day. Some kids are coming with a packed lunch and still wanting to get the lunch from the cafeteria...and then end up throwing out a lot of food.
Lunches go smoother when kids bring a packed lunch, but we are also making some changes to help the lunch line go quickly, too.
Spiritwear Spring Sale
The Yearbook Store Is Still Open!
Deadline for Photo Submissions is April 1
The 2020-2021 Yearbook is really coming along! Make sure you send your child's photos in to be included in this book!
New!!! You can now upload any and all photos directly to our Memory Book site!
Please send yearbook photo submissions to our yearbook's private photo submission site: https://images.memoryebooks.com/416174493. All you have to do is enter our code: 416174493 and upload!
See flyer and reach out to swspto.yearbook@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Remember to include the student's name, grade, and teacher FOR EACH CHILD(This helps the yearbook committe organize the classes.
We hope, with your help, this yearbook will showcase this unprecedented time and help include all the kids in the 2020-2021 yearbook! Thank you!
PTO Dues
If you haven't paid your PTO dues and are able to pay them, please head over to our membership site to help support Starkweather. With the end of the year approaching fast, we rely on the money collected from the PTO dues to help support our school in many different ways. We are asking families to make a donation of $15 per child, with a cap of $50 for families of 4 or more children.
Please go to SWSMembershipSite or download the Membership ToolKit App to help support our school:
- To pay your PTO dues online, simply go to the store and add the amount of students to the PTO dues form and then, add to the cart and check out.
- You can also pay PTO dues by check made out to the Starkweather PTO and mailed to Starkweather: Attn: Starkweather PTO, 1050 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382.
Thank you for your support!! If you have any questions, reach out to swspto.communication@gmail.com.
Important School News:
KINDERGARTEN Registration for '21-'22
To register for K, or any other grade next year, click Registration Info.
Thanks!
Barksdale Photo/Picture Day Images
- If you pre-ordered photos, you will receive a booklet with your photos and/or instructions on how to download your digital prints. If you DIDN'T preorder photos, that's okay! A proof booklet will be sent into school to go home with students within 4 weeks of photos being taken. If you didn't receive your pre-ordered photos, please see contact information below.
- Have questions about orders? Click https://www.barksdalephoto.com/online-order-assistance.php, call 1800-220-7667, or email service@barksdalephoto.com. They have been very great at responding to any issues you may have!
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT FEELING WELL?
Check for Symptoms each day:
***If you are showing symptoms or have gotten a positve test result in your family, contact JANET DOYLE, nurse, even though we are currently in REMOTE LEARNING, please!!!***
jdoyle@wcasd.net or 484-266-2206
Contact your health care provider if your child has symptoms.
Contact the nurse’s office if your child or another person in the household is getting a test for Covid-19. Keep your child home if he/she is waiting for test results or if your child has a known exposure to someone who tests positive for Covid-19.
Janet Doyle jdoyle@wcasd.net 484 266-2206
ABSENCE NOTES
You should have received an email from Dr. Leigh Ann Ranieri, informing parents that the district will start accepting parent notes via email for students who are absent from school. An original signature is not required. The email address must be registered in Power School and will be verified by the attendance secretary when the note is received. Parents can still choose to submit notes in paper form within five school days of the absence. The email needs to be sent directly to Donna MacLeod, our building attendance secretary (dmacleod@wcasd.net), not through Schoology or Seesaw. Phone calls will not be accepted as documentation of a student’s absence. This will go into effect starting December 14, 2020 and will remain in place until otherwise notified.
SUBS--
The technology component of our current way of educating kids is great for the kids and teachers who use it all the time, but that may not be the case with the person who is coming in to sub that day. Thanks for your understanding on this!
A MESSAGE ABOUT SCHOOL MEALS IN HYBRID
Through JUNE, breakfast and lunch will be offered daily at no cost to parents for all children regardless of income or Free/Reduced Lunch eligibility. Because we won't be using the Point of Sales (POS) system, a child's allergy won't automatically show up as the student checks out of the lunch line. The school nurses will be providing the lead cafeteria manager a list of students who have food allergies so that an alternative meal can be provided. Please note that no cafeteria food will be served at the elementary level that contains peanuts.
STAY CONNECTED with MS. KADIS, Starkweather Counselor
- Check out this COUNSELING VIDEO for how to get in touch with Ms. Kadis.
- Then click Ms. Kadis's Virtual Counseling Office and Calming Corner...it is pretty cool.
TECH Support at HOME
As technical issues arise during remote learning, please use the following resources:
Tech Support @ Home – WCASD website with important information:
- Schoology / Seesaw Support
- Laptop / iPad Support
- Additional Resources
If there is an issue with your 1:1 device please email SSEtech_support@wcasd.net