The Spencer Scoop
The Amazing Spencer Elementary: August 27, 2021
News From the Office
Hello Families,
If you haven't heard, our official start date is Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Brighton Area Schools will be in session five days a week with in-person learning.
Brighton's Board of Education approved that all students (JK-4th Grade) are NOT required to wear a face-covering. You and your child always can; it's not a mandate at this time.
Thanks again for your time and for staying connected. I appreciate you and can't wait to connect soon,
B.Renner
The First Day of School is Coming!
Tuesday, September 7th is the first day of school!
Brighton Area Schools will have in-person teaching and learning five days a week, M-F.
Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Families
We're asking our Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten families to join us a bit later for the first day only.
9:15 - Meet your child's teacher with your child at their designated outside classroom door (See Map Below)
The students will begin their day with the classroom teacher and end their first day a bit earlier.
I invite you to stay after drop-off to join me outside around 9:30 to discuss your concerns and a chance for you to ask questions. We'll meet outside to the right of the kindergarten classrooms in the grassy area near the tree.
3:15 - Return to pick up your JK/K child at the designated outside the classroom door.
Note From the PTO
Did You Update Your Child's Info?
All families need to go into Parent Connect and register for the upcoming school year. Last year the process of registration and re-enrollment shifted to online. If you have a student returning to Brighton Area Schools, you need to go to Parent Connect and complete the back to school information called, re-enrollment.
If you are having a hard time with Password or Pin, use the Lookup feature. If, for some reason,
you still have difficulty, please send an email to pc@brightonk12.com
for account assistance. No account information will be addressed via telephone.
Also, please note it is better to do the re-enrollment process on a desktop computer rather than on your smartphone.
Lunch
We will offer a hot lunch each day the students are present. You are also able to bring your own lunch too!
This year, Spencer students will eat lunch first and then head out to recess to ensure proper hygiene before eating. When the students arrive in the lunchroom, they will sit in assigned seats with their classrooms. This will allow for appropriate contract tracing if needed. Lunch will be 25 minutes and recess 20 minutes.
PLEASE NOTE the adjustments that will take place:
- We would encourage you to bring a water bottle that can be refilled throughout the day.
- Microwaves are not available for use.
- The salad bar has been removed.
- We will no longer have a choice for lunch; it will be one entree only—no extra snacks for sale either.
- Condiments such as ranch, ketchup, and mustard will no longer be available.
In the past, we had a "late table" for those that needed a little more time to eat. This will not be an option due to the adjustments we've made to our plan for social distancing and contract tracing.
Medication
If your child needs to take medication during the school day, the Medication Authorization Form can be accessed by clicking the button below. This form MUST be filled out and signed by the physician and brought in along with the medication. For safety reasons, students are never allowed to carry medications. They must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original container. You can call the office and start dropping off medications next week (Monday, 8/31 - Thursday 9/3) between the hours of 8AM and 3PM.
Teacher List Delay
Due to technical issues at the county level, teacher identification will be delayed until Monday. We have done everything in our power to avoid this delay.
We will send out communication on Monday to let you know when teacher identification is available in Parent Connect.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to a great school year despite this hiccup.
Daily Start Time
Student drop off will be 8:40 (this is different than years past)
First Bell - 8:46
Starting Time in class- 8:50 AM
Dismissal Time - 3:43 PM
Attendance Line*- 810-299-4354
*Please remember to call your child's absence in as early as possible.
Drop Off Procedures
Also, we won't have adults outside until 8:40. Please do not drop off your child before then.
Click here for the procedures
Where Do They Go After I've Dropped them Off?
We will have adults stationed outside to monitor. Mr.Renner will also loop around each morning to ensure all students are safely in the building.
Click for Class Entrance/Dismissal Door Numbers:
It's the End of the Day...Now What?
If your child is a pick-up, you'll walk up to the classroom door indicated for the end of the day at 3:35. Wait outside the door patiently (please don't knock, we know you are there). Have your pick-up number in hand, and we'll match it up with your child's. If it's a match, your child's teacher will dismiss your child out.
If you have multiple children at Spencer, please go to your youngest child's classroom first. After, continue to your next oldest child and so on. Yes, I know this can be considered a pain. Once again, we'll make adjustments as needed as we continue to try our best.
If you forget your pass, you'll need to go to the office and show your pictured ID. When confirmed, you'll receive a temporary pass.
If you are late, your child will be sent to the office.
If your child rides the bus, your child's classroom teacher will dismiss those students to the bus from the classroom.
If you are late, please call and let us know; life happens. Saying that, please be on time, or make other arrangements. If Mr.Renner begins to see a pattern of late pick-ups, he will have a conversation with you.
These are your children, and when you are continually late, you send a more profound message to your child. Please be on time, and when you are, you send a deeper, positive message.
Family Passes
You will need this family pass to pick your student up at the end of the day. Please bring the Family Pass when you come to pick up your child during the day as well. The pick-up numbers will be connected to your child's backpack on the first day. Inside the backpack, you'll find your parent numbers.
Student Pick-Up:
All students will be issued a number ID card that must be attached to their backpacks. Teachers will take care of securing the number to your child's backpack the first day.
Parents will also be issued matching cards that will be sent home with their child on the first day.
A staff member will ask you to present your number, and he/she will check your card number with your child's number and make sure they match.
It is important to remember that you must have your ID number card to pick up your child.
We all have additional responsibilities beyond the hours of school. I am asking that you try to protect the learning time of your child. I understand it may be more convenient to pick up your child a bit early to avoid traffic and lines. In doing so, the office staff is taken away from other responsibilities that come with the end of the day.
It also is a disruption to the other students that are learning. If anyway, please try to protect all of the student's learning time and respect the office staff's time.
A Dash of Salt Podcast
Salt is essential to life; it heals; preserves; and adds flavor to life. I'll share my experiences not only as a principal but my other favorite title, dad.
To help make the back-to-school transition a bit easier, you'll find a new Spencer podcast focusing on one topic a day. It starts today and continues through September 1. (excluding weekends). You'll find the new episodes each morning at 8:00 for you to enjoy. They are short and hopefully will provide a glimpse of the year to come at The Amazing Spencer Elementary.
Click HERE to listen
Transportation
The Brighton Transportation Department is sending bus and route information soon for those that are in the district. If your child is to be picked up or dropped off anywhere but home, you will need to fill out an alternate destination form before school starts. Contact the office and we can email you the form.
*Please note:
Face Coverings/Masks Required for All Bus Riders
All students and staff must wear a face-covering/mask which snugly covers the nose and mouth on the bus, if medically feasible. If your child doesn't have a mask, they will not be able to ride due to federal regulations.
Questions
-That would be Mr. Renner. He's in charge of monitoring the staff and other visitors that come to Spencer.
Can My Student Ride the Bus?
If you are resident in Brighton and in the school boundary for Spencer, you'll have a spot on the big yellow bus. If you are a school of choice, you'll need to provide transportation to and from school. If riding, your child will need a mask.
Will You Call if My Child Shows Signs of COVID-19?
Yes, we will. We will use the information from the Livingston County Health Department to indicate symptoms of COVID-19. Please know, we are not medical professionals. When in doubt, we will quarantine your child and you'll need to come and pick up your child immediately. The district nurse will be contacted as well to help with the diagnosis.
Where is the Quarantine Room?
We have our clinic, for a person that needs quarantining. If your child is quarantined, an adult will be present at all times to monitor the situation.
When Will the Students Be Required to Wear Face Coverings?
At this time, masks are optional with the exception of riding the bus.
Will My Child Have Recess?
Yes, twice a day.
One time will be at lunch, the other will be in the morning or afternoon depending on the lunch schedule for your child.
While outside, your child will NOT be required to wear a mask. This also will include any time a teacher chooses to take a nature walk, do a lesson outside, or takes her class to play kickball.
What Does Recess Look Like?
The playground will be divided into six zones. Each teacher will have a designated zone to play in for that day only at lunch. The zones will be clearly designated. The classroom cohort will remain in their zones while playing. For example, Teacher A's third-grade class will play in zone 3, and Teacher B's third-grade class will play in zone 2. See the map. This is not due to COVID, this is due to our new lunch staff. Having the students together will help all of us get to know your child.
What if I Forget to Bring my Mask?
You will be responsible for transporting your child to/home from school
What Will the Before and After Care Look Like? (Friendship Center)
Friendship Center is in Spencer's multi-purpose room. For additional information click HERE.
What Supplies Will My Child Need?
It would be best if your child had crayons (12 of 24 counts), markers, scissors, a couple of glue sticks. The teacher will have a more detailed list that will be more grade-specific. Check the Spencer webpage for updates.
Save the Date
Sept. 1 - Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Meet and Greet from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. If you are planning for your child or yourself to take a ride on this night, remember, all riders will be required to wear a mask.
Sept. 7 - First Day of School (Full Day) The first bell rings at 8:46.
*JK & K Families - your child's day will begin at 9:15 and end at 3:15. This will help with transitions with fewer crowds. This is for the first day only. The JK/K students will Not ride the bus the first day.
Sept. 13 - Parent Night Meet and Greet for grades 1-4.
6:00 - 6:30 - First-grade and Second-grade families with student's last names starting with A-L meet with the teacher in class.
6:30 - 7:00 - First-grade and Second-grade families with student's last names starting with M-Z meet with the teacher in class.
7:00 - 7:30 - Third and Fourth-grade families with student's last names starting with A-L meets with the teacher in class.
7:30 - 8:00 - Third and Fourth-grade families with student's last names starting with M-Z meets with the teacher in class.
Sept. 14 - Spencer's P.T.O. Meeting at 7:00 pm
Sept. 21 - Spencer's Picnic on the Playground from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Spencer Elementary
Email: rennerb@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/238
Location: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI, United States
Phone: 810-299-4350
Twitter: @SpencerElem