Welcome to Asbury! We want to take this opportunity to say how excited we are to see our returning families, as well as welcome new faces to Asbury. Mrs. Peters and Ms. Maille have spent the summer learning and planning. Our custodial staff has worked to make our building look amazing! And, many of our staff members have spent time during the summer not only planning, but working on new playground improvements!

If this is your first year at Asbury, it is our hope that you feel welcome! We often hear that Asbury is a special place. Our staff truly cares about the work that happens here. Whether it is academics or social/emotional learning, our staff puts an intense amount of heart into every moment of the day. In fact, our building motto is: Moments Matter: Every student, every lesson, every day.

With almost 500 students, we do our best to communicate to our families. If you ever have a concern, question, or suggestion, please reach out to your child's teacher or one of our office staff. We are here to help your child feel success and gain confidence. Additionally, we hope that our families feel engaged and connected to Asbury.

We look forward to an another amazing year at Asbury! Enjoy your last few days of summer!

Mrs. Peters, Principal

Ms. Maille, Assistant Principal

Open House for 1st through 5th grade is Thursday, August 11th from 4-6 pm. At Open House, you will be able to tour the building, meet your child's teacher and drop off school supplies. Note that this is not for kindergarten. Also, we do not post class lists. If you are unable to attend Open House, staff members will help your child find their homeroom assignment on the first day of school. You may stop in at any time during the two hour Open House.

Kindergarten Orientation is Tuesday, August 16th from 5:30-6:30 pm. If you are a parent/caregiver of an incoming kindergarten student, please plan on joining us at 5:30 pm for an informational session with your child's kindergarten teacher. When you arrive, you will be given the name of your child's teacher.

Please make sure to complete ALL FinalForms associated with your child. If you are a returning student, you should have received an e-mail regarding completion of these forms. New families may use the link/instructions and set up a new account. It is imperative that these forms are completed as soon as possible.

Bus route information for your child(ren) can be found HERE. Please allow extra time at pick-up/drop-off during the first few weeks of school as bus routes work through traffic patterns and learn new routes. Also be aware that there may be times that bus numbers may change. Groveport Madison Schools, together with our new provider, Community Bus Services, Inc., will work hard to ensure a smooth start to our '22-'23 school year.

Alternate Bus Stop Locations

Unless you have made arrangements in advance, students can be picked up only from or dropped off at their assigned bus stop location. Due to childcare or other reasons, parents wanting another pick-up or drop-off location should contact Community Bus Services, Inc. at 614-486-4180.

Stabilizing Bus Routes

No bus stop change requests will be considered until after September 6 so that routes can be stabilized and transportation can determine if additional route modifications are necessary

The USDA has discontinued the universal free lunch program (where all students receive free lunches without the need to apply). Groveport Madison Schools will continue to provide free breakfast for all students. Still, students' families must complete an online application to be considered for free or reduced-price lunch next school year. This form is part of your child's FinalForm account. It can also be found at this link.

Arrival:

Students will be permitted in the building at 9:00 am.

Walkers:

If your child walks to school, please do not have them arrive early as we do not have staff members outside to monitor students. As the weather changes, please have your child dress accordingly.

Parent Drop-Offs:

Parents who are dropping off students may use the front loop. The front loop will have two designated lanes. The lane closest to the street will be for car drop offs and daycares only. A staff member will open the car door for your child. Please do not allow your child to exit the vehicle without the assistance of a staff member. This is for the safety of your child, as busses will also be using that same loop during drop off. Please make sure your child is ready to exit your vehicle.

Dismissal:
Dismissal will begin approximately 3:35 pm. Parents are NOT permitted to use the front loop in the afternoon. Please park on the street or in the parking lot.

There are several ways to stay connected to the happenings at Asbury.

- Newsletters will be sent out monthly to the e-mail(s) that are indicated on your FinalForms account.

- Follow Asbury Elementary on Facebook!

- Sign up for Class Dojo (once your child receives that information from their homeroom teacher).

In the event of a student absence, it is important that the office is notified. Even if you report an absence to your child's teacher, a phone call must still be made to our attendance office at 614-833-2000. If our office does not receive a phone call, an attendance call will be sent out by 10:00 am notifying you of your child's absence. Students who arrive after 9:15 am will be marked as 'tardy'. Information regarding absence hours can be found here.

We still want to encourage best practices, and follow CDC guidelines, in keeping our schools and communities safe and as healthy as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The guidance for schools has not changed since the end of summer.

Please follow the following guidance for a POSITIVE Covid-19 case:

Day 0 (Onset of symptoms) to Day 5 – Student must stay home (please inform the office).

Day 6 - The child may return to school if they are no longer symptomatic (feverish,

chills, cough/congestion, headache, and or chest pains), but must wear a mask for

days 6-10.

If the child is unable to wear a mask, then regardless of vaccination status, they must stay home for the full 10 days.

NOTE: Groveport Madison Schools no longer have masks or test kits.

When visiting (or picking up/dropping off a student), please do not park in the front loop. You may park on the street or the small parking lot. Visitors must ring the front doorbell and show their ID. Once inside the building, all visitors must go directly to the office to sign in. No adults will be permitted to be anywhere else in the building without a visitor's badge. This includes walking students to their rooms. These precautions are for the safety of all of our students and staff. Thank you for your understanding.

Although students may bring a cell phone to school, it needs to be turned off and in the child's bookbag throughout the school day. Students who need to contact a parent must use the classroom or office phone.

Just a reminder that cupcakes/treats and balloons are not permitted. It is, however, OK to send in small trinkets such as pencils or erasers for your child to pass out to their class. Allergies, time away from instruction, and, more recently, Covid guidelines, have led to this decision. For safety reasons, balloons and food are also not permitted on our buses. Thank you for your cooperation!