FAE ~ Back to School Update 21-22

What Parents Need to Know Vol 1.5 Ed. 1

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Welcome to Forest Acres Elementary School!

It's hard to believe that the first day of school, August 3rd is just around the corner! We look forward to an incredible school year ahead. We hope all of our families have had an amazing summer making lasting memories. Our school doors will open at 7:30 am daily and learning begins promptly at 8:00 am.


As you prepare for the first days of school, please be patient as every family will be experiencing some “first moments” to include car line drop-off and pick-up procedures. Please allow more time for transportation during the first few weeks while students, families and buses adjust to new routines.


For safety purposes, we want to remind everyone of these procedures. All families must strictly follow these procedures to ensure the safety of the students that attend Forest Acres daily.


The speed limit is 15 mph through the traffic loop. Please be courteous to drivers as traffic merges as you approach the building. Our SRO, Officer Morgan will be present to facilitate safety. All parent car traffic is required to move through the new loop. The entrance to the loop is on McAlister Road.


The Kindergarten Lot is now a dedicated BUS LOOP. No students are allowed to be dropped off or picked up on the Kindergarten side. We refer to that lot as the BUS LOOP.


In Service,


Ashley Anderson-Murray, Ed.D.

Principal

864-397-1800 ext. 1810

ashleymurray@pickens.k12.sc.us

FAE Parents follow these SAFETY EXPECTATIONS

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Meet the Teacher - July 29th, 11am-6pm

Meet the Teacher will be Thursday, July 29, 11- 6 pm. We look forward to an incredible school year with our new & returning Panthers! SIGN UP HERE with your child’s teacher.

School Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will require you to go online to update your student’s personal information. You should have received an email from SDPC with all needed instructions. Please note that this is a required step that must be completed before the start of the school year.


o Link to Gateway - https://update.pickens.k12.sc.us

o Username - Student’s ID Number (located on report cards)

o Password - Student’s DOB - Ex: mm/dd/yyyy (include symbols)


If you have any questions, please call the FAE main office at (864) 397-1800

My School Bucks

Pay for school fees securely online! CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON ABOVE. Login using a computer (not the App) to view our School Store for a list of purchases like our annual $20 Tech It Home, $22 Yearbook and ASC Registration fees.

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Resources for the 2021-2022 School Year

K4 Students-WELCOME TO SCHOOL!

  • AM Class- 8:00 a.m.-10:55 a.m.
  • PM Class- 11:25 a.m.-2:20 p.m.
  • K4 Students in the AM class will be picked up from the Bus Loop
  • K4 Students in the PM class will be dropped off at the same location (See pictures of the pick-up and drop-off location using the Printable Info. links below)

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

PARENTS MAY NOT WALK STUDENTS IN DUE TO CURRENT HEALTH & SAFETY

RESTRICTIONS

  • ONE EXCEPTION - K4 and K5 on the 1st day only (Tues. 8/3)
  • K4 and K5 parents may escort students to the exterior doors of K4-K5 classes for THE FIRST DAY ONLY between 7:45-8:00 am off of Laurel Rd. and Page Dr.
  • Parents should not enter the classroom. Plan on giving your child a hug, take pictures and allow your child to enter the classroom on his/her own.
  • Time will be limited in order for every family to have the same opportunity.

· VISITORS - We will not be opening the school to visitors at this time.


PRINTABLE INFORMATION

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Arrival Procedures

Arrival begins at 7:30am. Please do not allow students to get out of cars until this time. The school cannot provide supervision prior to 7:30am.


1. Buses – BUS LOOP on Kindergarten Side (off Laurel Rd and Page Drive)

  • The BUS LOOP (Kindergarten side) is dedicated to bus/daycare drop-off throughout the morning.


2. Car Riders

  • All car riders must use the new CAR LOOP located on McAlister Road.

  • There are entrances into the CAR LOOP from both directions of McAlister Road.

  • Do not attempt to drop off students in any other area or street.


3. Parking/Walking Students In

  • If there is a need to walk a student in through the office, please use designated parking places and do not attempt to park in the loop or areas painted in red/yellow.

  • You may not park on Page drive as this is a two-lane road requiring both sides to remain clear for moving traffic.

  • PARENTS MAY NOT WALK STUDENTS IN DUE TO CURRENT HEALTH & SAFETY RESTRICTIONS

    • Kindergarten – see above regarding the 1st Day


7:50 a.m. - First bell rings. To students, this is the “beginning” of the instructional day. They are missing out if they are not in the classroom at this time.


8:00 a.m. - Second bell rings. This is the TARDY bell. All students should be in their classrooms prior to the sounding of this bell.


After 8:00 a.m. bell – Any vehicles behind our SRO-Easley Police Patrol Vehicle is considered TARDY and a parent must escort the student to the front office to sign him/her in late. This documentation will be maintained for state truancy purposes.


If your child arrives after 8:00 am, please escort your child to the front office and sign the appropriate form. This process will ensure that your child is marked present for the day.

Children who are not in their classroom by 8:00 am are tardy. According to state law, all tardies must be documented in the child’s attendance record.

Dismissal Procedures

Early Dismissal – If early dismissal is needed, we ask that parents plan to do this prior to 2:00 pm.


Afterschool Dismissal

  • 2:15 pm for buses and vans
  • 2:25 pm for car riders


We have three methods of afterschool dismissal at Forest Acres:


1. Bus/Day Care – 2:15 pm

  • Students are dismissed to the BUS LOOP (Kindergarten Side) where bus and daycare vehicles will load students.

  • The BUS LOOP is dedicated to school bus and daycare pick-up; parents should not be in this loop at dismissal.


2. Car Riders – 2:25 pm

  • Parents will enter the new car loop and pull forward using all space in the line.

  • There are 15 cones that are loading locations. You will pull forward as directed using all space in the line.

  • Your child will meet you at the assigned cone in the loop when the tag number appears on the screen inside. School staff will help your child exit the building.

  • If you do not have a car tag displayed, you will be asked to park and come inside to sign your child out.

  • Parents should not walk into these areas. Go to the office if you need school personnel to retrieve a student from these areas.

  • You will need to pull forward as soon as your child is loaded so that we may resume the loading process. If you need to buckle your child, that will need to occur around the corner – OFF THE LOOP.


3. Walkers – 2:25pm

  • This option is only available to neighbors that literally WALK to campus. If your transportation involves a vehicle, you are considered a Car Rider. Parents that choose to walk to campus from their home in local neighborhoods (not parked on campus) may pick up their students at the bus loop and WALK them off-campus. With the changing weather, if you are driving on campus, you are a car rider. This is NOT an option for parents to simply skip the car lines.

School Calendar - Year at a Glance

CLICK HERE for monthly activities.

Our Month at a Glance

July 25th - August 27th, 2021


July 28th: Teachers Return

July 29th: Meet the Teacher, 11-6 pm

August 3rd: Students First Day of School

August 6th: FAE Spirit Wear

August 13th: FAE Spirit Wear

August 20th: FAE Spirit Wear

August 27th: FAE Spirit Wear

September 1st: Interim Reports

September 3rd: No School/Teacher In-Service Day

September 6th: No School/Labor Day

PTO Officers - JOIN US! We need committed hands and hearts!

  • Stephanie Ross, President
  • Erin Fellers, Vice President
  • Mahalie Miller, Recording and Communications Secretary
  • Lori Buckheister, Tresurer
  • Jamie Bryant, Parliamentary
  • Megan Dossett, Faculty Representative

Follow Us On Social Media

#FAExcellence

Instructional Leadership Team:

  • Dr. Ashley Anderson-Murray, Principal
  • Mr. Dewain Fludd, Assistant Principal
  • Mrs. Angela Nalley, School Counselor
  • Ms. Tracy Brandt, Instructional Coach
  • Mrs. Gracie Wilson, Reading Coach
  • Mrs. Jenny Bogle, Certified Intervention Support Specialist