Gator Newsletter
November Newsletter 2023
Garden City Elementary School
Dear Garden City Families:
As we begin the 2nd nine weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, I want to let you know how good it has felt to have almost all of our 300 students at school daily. Every day as I visit and check in with classrooms, it is encouraging to see and talk to students who are happy to be in school and look forward to seeing their teachers, other staff members, and friends. Overall, it has been a great start to the school year and our students are reading, writing and discussing relevant learning material in every class throughout each school day!
Mrs. Williams
Cold Weather
November often brings cold weather. Please send a jacket with your students on cold days. We recommend labeling your child's jackets with their name especially in younger grades.
Car Rider Procedures
We have a large number of cars coming through our parking lot in the morning and afternoon. In the mornings, parents and guardians, please remember to have your students ready to leave the car as soon as our staff is ready to take your student out. In the afternoons, we will try to keep the line going as fast as possible. Please do not get out your car, staff members will assist your students getting into their seat. If you need to buckle your students in, please pull over into a parking spot instead of blocking the flow of traffic.
When dropping off and picking up your students please take the appropriate route so that you can safely pick up your children. When traveling on Garden City Blvd. Please turn down Mabry Ave, followed by a right on Ventnor Road, and then a right on Imlay. From Imlay, you will turn right into the school car rider pick-up line. This will assure that traffic does not accumulate onto Garden City Blvd and will keep all of us safe. Please remain in your car as there will be several staff members, including our SRO there to help and assist.
If you arrive after 8:00 a.m. you must accompany your student into the building as we will no longer have staff members outside to assist your students inside the building.
All afternoon transportation changes must be made before 1:30.
Please direct your questions to our main office at 540-853-2971
Thank you!
Attendance Matters
WHY DOES IT MATTER
If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Preliminary data from a California study found that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade. For additional information and resources, please click on the link below.
If your child will not be at school or will be tardy, please call our main office at 540-853-2971. If your child missed school due to a doctor’s visit, please provide the doctor’s note. We will mark their absence EMD (Excused Medical). The only excused absences that do not count towards “truancy” are excused medical notes and court notes. All other absences are considered unexcused.
The Virginia State Compulsory Attendance Law states that after 5 unexcused absences, the parent will receive an attendance letter from our student support specialist, Ms. Forrest. After 10 unexcused absences, a second letter will be sent as well as a meeting will be scheduled with administration and the student support specialist. If your child is experiencing any sick symptoms, please call our school Nurse to discuss a plan of action. Thank you for helping our school community prioritize learning and ensuring that your child(ren) is at school daily.
Join the PTA
The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is looking forward to another fantastic year as we partner with our school community! The PTA helps provide teachers and students with supplies, supports technology needs, provides funding for guest speakers and school wide events, and sponsors free family functions at school. There is a $5 fee for each member that joins. A portion of this fee pays for local and state PTA membership fees and a portion goes directly to our school’s PTA. If we reach our goal of 200 members, students will receive an ice cream party!
Important Dates and Reminders
11/7-Election Day (School's Closed)
11/22-11/24- Holiday Break
12/4- Winter Concert-Flyers will be coming home with more information.
12/15- PTA Skate Night- More information to come.
Vistors
All visitors must have a photo ID (such as driver’s license or passport) to enter the building. This includes picking up your child early from school or attending a meeting at the school. Thank you for helping to keep our school community safe!
Please Update Your Information
During the school year, if you address or phone number changes, please update your information by calling 540-853-2971. That way we can keep you informed of important events and situations at Garden City Elementary. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
School Contact Information
Garden City Elementary School
Main Office: (540) 853-2971
Fax: (540) 853-1237
3718 Garden City Blvd.
Roanoke, VA 24014
Principal
Caroline Williams | chwilliams@rcps.info
Assistant Principal
Rosalind Henderson | rhenderson@rcps.info
Office Manager
Lauren Onyett | lonyett@rcps.info
School Counselor
Crystal Lane | clane@rcps.info