SES Dolphin News
March 29, 2021
Dear Stafford Elementary Community,
We hope everyone had a lovely Spring Break and were able to find time to spend with your family. It is hard to believe but we are rapidly heading toward the fourth quarter of this school year and then the end of the year will be upon us!
As you know, we are looking to return to school 4 days a week from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. beginning on April 20. Mondays will still be asynchronous days with Morning Meetings and work completion required to count as being in attendance. Tuesday through Friday, to be counted as "in attendance" the children will need to be present either in the building or virtually from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
We want to thank everyone who has completed the Instructional Preference form that was sent out before Spring Break. We are using the information to help us build our schedule and send information to the Transportation Department for their use in creating bus routes.
When our children come back, there will be some changes that need to take place in our classrooms and with transportation. Our health mitigation strategies will still be in place with a few changes:
- Students and staff will continue to wear masks in the building (gaiters, bandanas, and vented masks are not considered appropriate face coverings on school property).
- Students will be washing their hands and using hand sanitizer on a regular basis to help reduce the spread of germs.
- Within the classroom, students will be social distanced between 3-6 feet, depending on the number of students and spacing available within the classrooms.
- When students are eating, students will be social distanced at 6 feet.
- On the school buses, students may be seated 2 to a seat, as needed, regardless of whether or not they are family members. Masked are required before students can enter the bus.
As we create our schedule for our return to school 4 days a week, we will be scheduling specials and lunch times with a little extra time between to allow for cleaning and sanitizing areas, tools, or equipment that has been used. We will continue to do everything within our power to make sure that our students and staff stay as safe as possible.
In order to prepare our classrooms for more students, SCPS has made some calendar changes.
- Wednesday, April 14 will become a Group B Day - Students who attend school on Thursday/Friday will come from 8-11 a.m. and the Group A students will log in on their Google Meets from 1-3 p.m.
- Friday, April 16, will be an asynchronous day for students. There will be no Morning Meeting. This day will allow our teachers to prepare for the students' return to a 4 day week beginning Tuesday, April 20.
We will be holding a Town Hall Meeting on April 7 from 6:15-7 p.m. through a Google Meet to share more information regarding the return to a 4 day week beginning on Tuesday, April 20. Our teachers will share a Google Meet link that morning. However, please save the date to join us to hear about our return.
We understand that there have been many changes this school year; however, we feel it is the next step in moving toward a regular 5 day school week next year. We appreciate your support and encouragement, as we make our way toward April 20 and the start of a new journey this year.
Take care,
S. Sanders, Principal
K. Hardman, Assistant Principal
Kindergarten Registration
In order to register your child for Kindergarten, please visit the SCPS website for Online Registration. Here you will find instructions on how to register online. You can find all enrollment requirements to include proof of residency listed here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Office Manage, Celeste Dozier at 540.658.6340 or email her at dozierlc@staffordschools.net
We look forward to meeting all of our new Dolphins soon!
Bus Schedule Updates
The web-based Versatrans e-Link is your connection to SCPS student transportation schedules. It provides a quick, easy way to verify your student’s bus assignment, stop location, and time. We ask students to be at their bus stops 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time noted on this site.
e-Link Instructions:
- Go to the e-Link website: https://scpsbussystem.staffordschools.net/elinkrp/Login.aspx
- Username: Student’s ID number (contact your child’s school if unknown).
- Password: Student’s Date of Birth (Format: mmddyyyy). Example: 04/15/2019 would be entered as 04152019.
- Hover over “Students”, then click “View My Students”. Select your student. It will then display your student’s bus information.
Early release days: e-Link does not provide separate transportation schedules on early release school days.
Incorrect address: Please contact your student’s school if the address that appears in e-Link is incorrect. All routing and bus stop information is based on the address your school has in Synergy.
Versatrans My Stop App
Tyler Technologies has released a new version of the MyStop Parent App. The app allows users to track their student’s bus from a computer or mobile device. My Stop displays the school bus’s approximate location on a map, as well as the estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a specific student’s bus stop.
If you are using this app, you must install the latest version available in the Google Playstore and Apple Store. Instructions for completing this process can be found here.
To log in, you will use your student's school ID and his/her birthdates - only numbers (example - Jan. 21, 2007 would be - 01212007). If you need your student's ID number, please call the front office.
For more information about using Versatrans My Stop Parent App, please go to SCPS Transportation Parent Information Page.
This will become important for bus riders once we being our 4-day school week on April 20. Parents will be able to track their children's buses.
Car Rider Arrival and Dismissal
As you have probably noticed, as we approach April, we are having a lot more car riders. I know that when April 20 arrives, our line will be extremely long. We ask that you be patient, keep an eye on the staff member directing the traffic and stay off your cell phones while your car is in motion.
Keep in Mind:
- Children need to be in their seats at 8 a.m., otherwise they are counted as tardy.
- It is always safer to let the children out on the passenger side of the car. This way the children are directly out of the line of traffic and safe on the sidewalk.
- The car rider doors close at 8 a.m. Therefore, if you pull up to the car rider drop off at 8 a.m. or later, you will need to park and walk your child to the front doors to sign them in.
- For dismissal, please make sure your car tag is up and visible to help the line move smoothly.
Curbside Meal Service
- Morning curbside service will take place on Mondays only from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Anthony Burns ES, AG Wright Middle, Conway ES, Kate Waller Barrett ES, Hartwood ES, Falmouth ES, Rocky Run ES, North Stafford HS, Mountain View HS, Brooke Point HS, Stafford HS, Colonial Forge HS, Shirley Heim MS, T. Benton Gayle MS, Dixon-Smith MS and Edward E. Drew MS only.
Curbside and bus service will no longer be available on Wednesday or Friday mornings.
- Bus distribution will take place Mondays only from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Evening meal service will take place Wednesdays only from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at North Stafford HS, Colonial Forge HS and Stafford HS only. (No evening meal service on Mondays and Fridays)
Hybrid Students:
- Will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch on each of their regularly scheduled in-school day (either Tuesday and Wednesday, or Thursday and Friday).
- Will pick up four additional free breakfasts and lunches on Wednesdays at curbside distribution sites from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Only Students:
- Will receive six free breakfasts and six free lunches on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m at curbside or community bus distribution sites. Wednesday Evening meals from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m will be available at North Stafford HS, Colonial Forge HS and Stafford HS only.
Click here for more information regarding SCPS Meal Distribution.
Mark Your Calendar
* March 1-31 - Women's History Month
* March 29 - April 12 - PTA Fundraiser - Boosterthon Dance Fit
* March 29 - Boosterthon Kick Off
* April 1 - Online Kindergarten Registration Begins
* April 5 - Holiday - No School
* April 7 - Town Hall Google Meet at 6:15 p.m. - Return to a 4 Day Week
* April 12 - Boosterthon Dance Fit Party online
* April 13 - Group A comes to school from 8-11 a.m.; Group B meets on Google Meet from 1-3 p.m.
* April 14 - End of Third Quarter; Group B comes to school from 8-11 a.m.; Group A meets on
Google Meet from 1-3 p.m.
* April 15 - Teacher Workday - No School
* April 16 - Asynchronous Learning Day - No Morning Meeting - Internet Café students may attend
* April 20 - Beginning of 4 day week from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
* April 21 - Report Cards available in ParentVue
* May 3-June 16 - SOL Window (specific schedules will come home later)
* May 14 - Interims Go Home
Contact Us - 540.658.6340 or email us
Registrar: Celeste Dozier - dozierlc@staffordschools.net
Attendance: Renee Kuczka - kuczkard@staffordschools.net
Special Education: Kim Hardman (Assistant Principal) - hardmankj@staffordschools.net
English as a Second Language: Bonnie Williams - williamsbj@staffordschools.net
FOCUS: Tiffany Sharon - sharontr@staffordschools.net
Health Services: Nurse Marisol Maltes - maltesm@staffordschools.net
K-2 School Counselor: Melissa Akin - akinm@staffordschools.net
Gr. 3-5 School Counselor: Catherine Williams - williamsce@staffordschools.net
School Principal: Stefanie Sanders - sanderssd@staffordschools.net
SCPS Technology Help Desk: helpdesk@staffordschools.net
SCPS Instructional Helpdesk: SCPSIT@staffordschools.net
SCPS Technology Help Line - 571.699.0720
Boosterthon is Here!
Stafford Families!
Our Dance Fit Fundraiser kicked off today, and we are thrilled about this year’s program! Our program includes EVERY student in a fun, fitness event that focuses on character while helping our school raise some much-needed funds.
This year, our entire school is trying to raise funds for staff walkie talkies! If you are able to, we are inviting YOU to help!
Here’s how you can support Stafford Elementary School:
- Register your student on FUNRUN.COM by searching for our school. Then, use FUNRUN.COM to log donations for your student(s).
- Reach out to family and friends by SHARING your Student’s Pledge Page. With FUNRUN.COM's smart sharing tools, reaching out to sponsors is easier than ever. The easiest way to get donations is to simply click the Facebook share button on your student’s pledge page. Plus, with a few clicks, you can create a custom Student Star Video to share on social media. You can also use the Easy Emailer to connect with friends and family.
- Ask your student about the Sports City Now Character Lesson of the Day! It’s a fitness theme all about inspiring students to be active and activate their character. Students will travel the country learning how to live and play with character from REAL kid-athletes. Our dynamic, documentary-style videos will teach your students about Teamwork, Care, Courage, Grit, and Celebration. Join along by watching the fun character videos with your student(s) on FUNRUN.COM.
Thank you for supporting our school, regardless of financial participation!
Yearbooks - On Sale Now
Yearbook Orders
Order online at:
ybpay.lifetouch.com
School Code - 1625821
$15.00 until April 23
$15 hasta el 23 de abril
Encarga en linea en:
ybpay.lifetouch.com
Codigo Escolar - 1625821
Teacher Wish List
Have you ever wanted to purchase your child's teacher a gift, but were just not sure what they wanted? Well we have the answer for you!
SCPS Now Hiring Substitute Teachers
School Mask Fundraiser
Stafford Elementary School
Email: sesfrontoffice@staffordschools.net
Website: https://www.staffordschools.net/Domain/21
Location: 1349 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA, USA
Phone: 540.658.6340
Twitter: @SEDolphins