The Gayman Gazette
"Every time we act, we send ripples into the world."
Welcome to Gayman Video
Letter From Mr. Testani - Welcome Back Students!
Dear Gayman Student,
Hello from Gayman Elementary School! I hope this letter finds you enjoying your summer vacation (It’s not over YET). We have been very busy at Gayman gearing up for the upcoming school year. Mr. Fulmer and his team have done a beautiful job making sure the classrooms and hallways shine for your big first day on Tuesday, September 2nd. Your teachers have been putting up welcome back bulletin boards and preparing their classrooms for you.
I look forward to hearing all about your summer travels. The Testani family did a fair amount of traveling during the month of July. We enjoyed beautiful weather at Cape May the week of July 4th. A few long weekend trips took us to Richmond, Virginia and Rochester, New York. Probably our favorite stop introduced Mateo, Dominic, Luca and Anthony to their first experience tubing on a lake. We spent a few days at Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey which started with breakfast at the famous Jefferson Diner featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I highly recommend the Monterey Skillet.
I am excited to share the theme for this school year is, The Ripple Effect – “Every time we act, we send ripples into the world!” The Ripple Effect is based on the understanding that we are all connected. We make connections with each other through our thoughts and actions. These thoughts and actions are like stones dropped in a pond and they create ripples that travel outward. We will be talking more about The Ripple Effect on the first day of school. I look forwarding to reading a story titled, Ripple’s Effect to all kindergarten, first, second and third grade students during the first few weeks of September. I will also be reading a story titled, Each Kindness to all fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. These stories connect with this year’s theme.
Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives and their reactions in turn affect others. The choices you make have far-reaching consequences. Each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse.
I hope you are ready for an exciting school year filled with many new learning opportunities and fun events. You are invited to Gayman’s Open House on Thursday, August 28th from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. This is an opportunity for you to meet your new teacher, see your classroom and say hello to some of your classmates.
Whether I see you for the first time on August 28th or September 2nd, I look forward to seeing your smiling face at Gayman.
Sincerely,
Mr. Testani
Mr. Testani Accepts ALS Cold Water Challenge from Mr. Finger
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 28th – Kindergarten Orientation @ 9:00 AM
- August 28th – Open House for Grades 1 – 6 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- August 28th – CB Cares/40 Assets & Kids Care Club Fundraiser @ Chubby’s and the Plumsteadville Inn starting at 6:00 PM
- September 1st – Labor Day – No School
- September 2nd – First Day of School
- September 3rd – BTSN – Kindergarten & 1st Grade – 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
- September 3rd – BTSN – 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade – 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
- September 4th – BTSN – 4th Grade & 5th Grade – 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
- September 4th – BTSN – 6th Grade – 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
- September 5th – HSA Ice Cream Social @ 6:30 PM
- September 10th – HSA Kindergarten & New Families Picnic – 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 24th – HSA General Membership Meeting @ 9:00 AM
- September 25th – Rosh Hashanah – No School
- October 1st – Picture Day
Parent Portal
The Central Bucks School district uses Infinite Campus as its student information system. The Parent Portal allows parents/guardians to view schedules, attendance, immunizations, and assessment information. Parents can also update demographic information for their family. The Parent Portal is now open. For more information on the parent portal please visit the CBSD web site, or contact the school at 267.893.4350.
Effective with the 2014-2015 school year, elementary school parents will also be able to view, print, and/or save their child’s progress report directly from the Parent Portal
Report Cards Are Now Progress Reports and Reporting Conferencees
As was shared throughout last year, Central Bucks has revised the elementary curriculum over the past years to better reflect state and district standards. Thus, a standards-based reporting system is the final step in creating a fully unified and interconnected educational system. In addition, a standards-based reporting system gives more specific information than traditional letter grades, and reports how well students are progressing towards achieving the standards expected at each grade level.
The CBSD Standards-Based Report is one document which holds two templates. The first of those is the Conference Report which is completed after the 1st and 3rd quarters. This report offers achievement information and fosters quality conversations about learning for parents, teachers, and students.
The second template is the Progress Report which is completed by teachers at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters. The Progress Report communicates specific mastery levels, as well as student strengths and goals for continued growth. Please CLICK HERE to view a short video highlighting the Conference Form and Progress Report. For additional information and resources please visit our web site.
Supply Lists
School Hours
For Our Younger Friends
On the first day of school, for younger children who might be unable to remember their room, teacher assignment, and bus number you may wish to pin an index card on their clothing or book bag indicating their name, classroom, teacher and bus number.
Teachers will be stationed throughout the building to assist students as they arrive. Teachers will also have a list of student busing information prior to the start of school, but a written note will assist the teacher in confirming the information.
Peanut/Nut Safe Classrooms
From The Nurse
Bus Stops
Bus transportation will also begin on the first day of school. You can find specific information about your child’s transportation arrangements after August 18th by logging on to the Transportation Department's website and entering your street address. If you have questions regarding school district transportation, you may contact the bus garage directly at 267-893-4000.
In the interest of establishing an orderly dismissal system, we proceed through dismissal more slowly than usual during the first week of school. Please do not be alarmed if your child(ren)’s bus is not at their bus stop at the stated time during the initial week of school.
Before And After School Care
Car Rider Drop Off
Please be aware that the school day begins at 8:35 in the classroom. It is my recommendation that children are dropped off no later than 8:30 in order to get to their classrooms for the start of the school day at 8:35. If a student arrives in their classroom beyond 8:35 they are considered tardy. The adults supervising the car-rider drop-off line will be on duty until 8:32. Students dropped off after 8:32 will more than likely not be able to make it to their classrooms on time for the start of the school day at 8:35.
Also, for safety reasons, students arriving to school prior to 8:15, need to be supervised by their parent/caregiver. We ask that they wait with their family member in a parking space until 8:15.
Walkers and Bike Riders
At the end of the day, walkers and bicyclists will be dismissed first so that they can exit the building in advance of buses (3:15 PM). To ensure that classroom teachers have a complete list of walkers, we ask that you advise your teacher now if your child is going to be a walker at any time during the year so that their name will be included on the list.
Changing Dismissal
Any phone calls regarding a change in end-of-day plans must be directed to the office before 2:30 PM through a phone call (267 893-4350, dial zero for the office) and not directly to the classroom teacher, as they do not pick up phone calls or messages during the instructional day
Parent Pick Up
Food Services
- Breakfast Meal-$1.65 - Reduced price $0.30
- Lunch Meal-$2.55 - Reduced price $0.40
- Milk $0.75
For more information regarding Aramark Food Services, including menus, please visit their web page.
Gayman Back-To-School Ice Cream Social
The Family Fun Night Committee would like to invite you for a night of ice cream and fun!
When: Friday, September 5th, 2014
Where: Gayman Elementary School Playground
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Cost: Free to Gayman Students and Parents
To sign up please click here. Return forms to your child's teacher by Wednesday, September 3rd.
Race For Education
The 6th annual Gayman HSA Race For Education fundraiser will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014.
Race times will be:
Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade: 8:55 AM - 9:55 AM
5th and 6th Grade: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
3rd and 4th Grade: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The committee is in need of volunteers to help with the entire process of this school-wide event in order to ensure it's success. If you are available to help please contact Suzanne Lahetta (suzanne@lahetta.com) or Carol Acquilano (jeromeandcarol@verizon.net)
The RFE is currently the Gayman HSA's primary fundraising event. For complete details please click here.