Baker Elementary
Monday November 21, 2022
A Note from Mrs. Cimek
The excitement throughout our building with our recent snowfall is something special to share with the many learners filling our halls. A few tips to ensure your child(ren) are able to experience as much outdoor time as possible:
- Practice putting winter gear on independently
- Support positive play in the snow to ensure there are no snow/ice balls thrown at others
- Review lining up expectations (We understand students want to continue playing, however when the whistle blows, we need students to line up. This will ensure we do not need to create more time for lining up and keep the time allocated to enjoying the snow.)
We appreciate your partnership in providing the best recess experiences for your child(ren).
I'd like to personally wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the partnerships and support systems we have built together to ensure all students are supported and feeling successful at Baker. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Respectfully,
Rachel
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Upcoming Dates
November 18 Report Cards Available via Infinite Campus
November 21 WEPA Meeting 6:30pm
November 23 thru 25 Thanksgiving Break
December 6 Dentists R Us (form located below)
December 19 thru January 2 Winter Break
January 3 Back to School
January 13 Tri 2 Progress Reports Published
January 16 WEPA Meeting 6:30pm
January 23 No School - PD Day
February 6 WEPA Meeting 6:30pm
February 17 & February 20 Mid-Winter Break
March 7 & 9 Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 10 End of 2nd Trimester
March 10 & 13 No School
March 31 thru April 7 Spring Break
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November 8 was National STEAM Day!
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Lunch Accounts
- Link to our Parent University walking you through your account: https://youtu.be/MmxkhOdA0fg
- Website: https://waylandunion.org/departments/food-service/
- Contact via Phone: 269-792-3150 ext 2601
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WEPA Meetings
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Bus Safety Reminders for Dark Fall Mornings
As the weather turns colder and it is darker outside when students are heading to their bus
stops, the Transportation Department is reminding families and drivers in the community of
several important safety protocols.
The safety of students on our school buses is our top priority. State law requires very specific
safety precautions by bus drivers, students, family members and motorists to ensure student
safety.
All students are assigned and required to use a specific school bus stop with a designated place
of safety. When possible, students should wear light-colored clothing or jackets on dark
mornings (or place something reflective on coats or backpacks). Families should also:
Check new cold-weather clothing for safety. Draw strings and key chains can catch on
objects on the bus and create potential safety hazards.
Help students to be ready at their place of safety at the bus stop ten minutes before the
bus is due to arrive even in inclement weather. If necessary, family members should
take turns with friends and neighbors to be sure students are supervised at bus stops.
Never drive to catch up to a bus. Having students run alongside a bus to catch a missed
bus at a subsequent stop is dangerous as students could be in a driver’s blind spot. Also
never chase after a bus that may miss a stop on the ride home from school. Drivers
follow very specific protocols for missed stops, which includes radioing into the
Transportation Department and continuing along the route to a safe location to turn
around and bring the student back to the stop.
Remind students to alert the driver if they ever drop something near the bus. Students
or parents should not reach to pick up items that fall near the bus or roll near the
wheels until given the go-ahead that it is safe to do so by the driver.
Ensure students are not using technology such as phones or earbuds. Playing on a
phone or listening to music impedes students’ ability to watch and listen for potential
dangers around them as well as hear or see safety instructions from their bus driver.
For parents and other motorists driving during school transportation times, please remember
that:
Alternating flashing amber (yellow) lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is
preparing to stop to let students on or off the bus.
Alternating flashing red lights are on to warn motorists that the bus is stopped on the
roadway to let students on or off the bus.
The STOP sign arm is engaged at the same time as the red flashing lights are turned on.
A white flashing strobe light may also be used during unfavorable conditions or times of
day that limit visibility, such as darkness, rain, fog and snow.
Four-way hazard lights are activated at all railroad crossings and turn-arounds. The bus
will stop prior to crossing railroad tracks.
The school bus will have its four-way hazard lights and backup light on when preparing
to back onto a side street to turn around.
Motorists must use caution when they approach a bus in the process of completing a
turn-around.
Do not pass a school bus that has red alternating flashing lights. This is the signal that
the bus is stopped to load or unload students. Traffic should not move until the bus
resumes motion or the driver signals traffic to proceed.
Be careful and alert on dark streets in the mornings as students and families are
waiting at bus stops. Please observe posted speed limits on a roadways.
Remind teen drivers about these important rules of the road.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student safety as they travel to and
from school each day.
Transportation Department News!
Traversa is ready to roll out. That said, WUS will be doing this slowly bus by bus.
The following buses: 5, 6, 26, and 28 are up and running.
Please use the Rider 360 app for parent view. Instructions are available at:
Scan cards for lower grades will follow after all buses are up and running using Traversa.
Thank you to everyone for your patience as we bring on this new product.
-Transportation Department