DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
August 28, 2018
DAY 1!
It was a wonderful to have our students return today! Our staff did a tremendous job of welcoming our students and making it an awesome day! We'll work to establish and solidify our routines and expectations over the next few days. Keep an eye out for the updates with more information over the next week.
Please keep in mind as you review your child's first day with them that the transition back to school brings many different emotions. If you have any questions and/ or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher. Further, the weather over the next few days will most likely cause our students to feel more tired than typical. They may need some extra 'downtime' and an opportunity to mentally and physically rest. One of our teachers passed along the following link (HERE), which has some awesome ways to check-in with your child after a long day. That said, after a long day students aren't always ready to share right away and answering too many questions may feel overwhelming and/ or frustrating to them. They'll open up when rested and ready!!
Kindly,
Jay C. Norton, Principal
*Don't forget to read through the entire update... there are always more dates in the Upcoming Events Section. If you have any questions/ concerns- please don't hesitate to contact me/ the office.
Highlighted Events/ Information
Summer Weather
TRANSPORTATION/ DROP-OFF/ PICK-UP/ ETC.
TRANSPORTATION REMINDERS
Bus: Times
A reminder that it should be expected that buses District-Wide will experience delays in both picking children up and dropping them off over the first few days of school. If a bus is significantly delayed, I will use social media accounts and/ or school messenger to provide information to the community. Thank you!
Bus: Student Expectations
I ask that all families who have a student riding the bus please take a moment to remind them that the bus is an extension of our school and the expectation is that students are maintaining our core values of Pride, Respect, Responsibility and Excellence while riding the bus. More specifically, it is important that students:
-stay seated while the bus is moving
-use their indoor voices while talking on the bus
-have safe bodies/ keep their hands and feet to themselves
-are not eating/ throwing objects while riding
Note: Students are expected to ride the bus to which they are assigned. Our buses are quite full and we do not have the capacity to transport students on different buses for playdates/ practices/ etc.
PARENT PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF/ WALKING LINES
Davis Hill is unique in that we have a large population of student walkers and a large number of parent drop-off/ pick-ups. Our parking lot is a very busy place both in the morning and in the afternoon during the transition to and from school. Please review the below reminders regarding student safety during arrival and dismissal.
A reminder that students should not be left unattended in the front of the building prior to 8:50 when staff takes position to open the building. I ask that parents who drop students off in cars are all using the parent drop-off area*. In the morning, please do not circumvent the parent drop-off area by pulling up to the front of the building and dropping students off and pulling away. This is not fair to the other families who are waiting in line. If your child has a need that requires that they be dropped-off/ picked-up in a unique manner, please contact the office.
It is challenging for staff to manage the parent pick-up area and ensure child safety if there are other parents/ adults in the area. Please refrain from walking through the parent drop-off/ pick-up area during transition times.
Please drive slowly through our parking lot at all times. Younger children take a few minutes to get out of car seats or get buckled up. Sometimes new drivers are unsure of routines or need guidance; subsequently, we ask that you please be patient and follow the lead of the staff at the curb. Thank you for your patience and support in keeping our students safe.
*Parent Drop-Off/ Pick-Up Area: Please pull to the right when entering the driveway and pull up to the curb in front of the cafeteria. If you are new to the building, follow the traffic flow and/ or ask a staff member for help.
NOTE: It is understood that on the first day of school there may be additional traffic and a number of parents dropping off kindergarten students. If you are driving your kindergarten student on the first day of school, please understand that parking may be limited, as we may not have any cars parked on the sidewalk by the school or in the driveway entrance.
FIFTH GRADE FUNDRAISER MEETING
Also- Please see the attached link if you are willing/ able to help out with the Ice Cream Social Friday, September 7th.
HEALTH OFFICE
Please see the link attached HERE for reminders from the Health Office.
PARENT INFORMATION
KINDNESS
8/28-First Day of School!
8/29-Fifth Grade Fundraising Committee Meeting (6:00/ Community Room)
9/3-Labor Day/ No School for Students
9/7-Ice Cream Social (6:00-8:00PM)
9/20-Professional Development Half-Day of School (12:20 Dismissal)
9/28-Spaghetti Supper (5:30 and 6:30 Seatings)
10/4-Picture Day
10/8-Columbus Day- No School
10/14-Dragon Dash (12:00)
10/23-10/26-Ecology School Trip for 5th Grade
10/25-Professional Development Half-Day of School (12:20 Dismissal)
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal