SME eBlast 8/7/2022
Important announcements from the SME Principal, PTA and AFB!
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year!
Welcome our new and returning families! I am thrilled and honored to be returning to the Sierra Madre Elementary family as your principal. This summer, I was able to spend some much needed time with my family in Arizona where we went horseback riding, rented a boat and cruised beautiful Lake Powell. I also spent the summer reading, listening to podcasts and talking with many others who have taken this path before me to best prepare for this transition. I have also been meeting with a variety of SME teachers, staff and partners to learn more about our school and what it is that everyone values. One common theme that has arisen from these conversations is community. Every single person values the community and commitment that every individual on campus has to ensure the success of all our students.
There is a lot of information for you this week so be sure to read through it all carefully!
Important Dates
- August 9-10 - Teachers return for Professional Development and classroom set-up.
- August 10 – Parent Portal teacher assignment access goes live at 4pm. Check the school website sme.pusd.us and Parent Portal for all school information. All class placements will be viewable from Parent Portal. If you do not yet have a Parent Portal Account, fill out this access form and email back to tarry.georgina@pusd.us
- August 10 – Drive through COVID test pick - up - 8:00 - 10:00 am.
- August 10 - Kinder Playdate & Welcome Back Event
- August 11 - First day of school for all students. School begins at 7:50 a.m.
- August 11 – Coffee with the Principal in the front lawn at 8:00 am.
- August 24 - Back to School night - Masks required!
COVID Updates and protocols
COVID testing before school starts
All students and staff are being asked to take a rapid test at home prior to coming to school on August 11th. Please report any positive cases to our main office. We will have tests available at school and will have 2 opportunities for families to pick up a test from school for all of their students. Test pick-up will occur in front of the school on Highland, August 10th from 8:00 am -10:00 am and again at the PTA welcome back event.
Please reach out to the office if these times do not work so we can find schedule a time for you to pick up your test.
Water Fountains
All water fountains on campus will be available for student use. However, we do encourage students to being a refillable water bottle to school in the morning. We have two locations where students can refill their water bottle throughout the day.
Self-Attestation before coming to school
Before leaving home all students, employees and parents/guardians must conduct a self-check. Ask these questions:
1. Do I have a fever?
2. Do I have a cough?
3. Am I experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
4. Am I experiencing any other symptoms?
5. Have I been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
6. In the last two weeks, have I been directed to quarantine, isolate or take a COVID-19 test?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then please stay home and take a COVID test.
Drop-off and Pick-up procedures
Arrival
Students may arrive as early as 7:35 when general student supervision begins. School begins promptly at 7:50. Student drop-off will be on all three sides of the campus, by grade level. You may either drive up, or park and walk up with your child. Please see below for grade level specific information. If you have more than one student, please drop off all of your kiddos at the youngest grade level entrance.
Kinder Drop-off Location- Hermosa Ave.
Please drive going east on Highland and then wait to turn left/North on Hermosa. Staff will be present at the gate and drop off line to escort students into their classroom.
1st, 2nd and 3rd grades Drop-off Location-Highland Ave.(in front of the school)
Please drive north on Auburn from Sierra Madre BLVD or West on Highland Ave. Drop-off will be at the sidewalk at the bottom of the stairs.
4th and 5th grades Drop-off Location- Auburn Ave.(at the compass gate)
Please drive going South on Auburn and pull over against the curb AFTER the staff parking lot gate entrance. For the safety of all, please do not walk through the staff parking lot to enter the campus.
Students in grades 1st - 3rd will walk up to the playground and wait for their teacher. Students in grades 4th & 5th grade will line up on the compass. All Kinder students will be escorted directly to their classroom where they will be greeted by their teacher at the door. If you choose, parents may walk with their child to the classroom door and wave goodbye. For safety reasons parents may not enter the classrooms and ask that parents exit the building once their child is inside the classroom. All visitors on campus are required to wear a mask while inside the building.
Dismissal
Student pick up at dismissal will be in the same locations as drop off and can be done via car or walk-up. Students will be escorted to the designated areas via staff. Tuesday through Friday dismissal is at 2:15pm and Monday is an early release at 12:35pm. Please be sure to use the posted crosswalks when crossing the street for the safety of all. Students not in an after-school enrichment program and not picked up from school by 2:30 p.m, T-F, will be escorted into the office where they will need to be signed out.
Late Arrival/Early Pick Up
If you need to drop your student off after the bell has rung at 7:50am, all students must enter through the main entrance on Highland Ave. and check-in with the office to confirm health screening and to obtain a tardy slip.
If you need to pick your child up early from school, come to the front of the school, knock on the door or call the office at 626-396-5890 and we will bring you the sign out book.
PTA Welcome Back
Please join PTA on the upper field on August 10th @4:00pm for our Kindergarten Play date followed by SME’s Welcome Back Event starting at 5:00pm-6:00 pm. It’s a great way to welcome our new families, catch up with families we haven’t seen all summer, and learn about the school. Kona ice will be there, 20% of the proceeds help support SME. Masks are highly recommended for outdoor events and will be required when entering the building.
Coffee With the Principal
Please join me on the front lawn on Thursday, August 11th at 8:00 am to hear about the learning plan and schedule for this year, updates about SME and how you will get information digitally this school year.
For more event information, please be sure to visit our school website at sme.pusd.us
PTA Announcements
SEEDs Announcements
Annual Fund Boosters (AFB)
AFB Info
Please join AFB by donating to support SME programs. Donate now at https://bit.ly/2LzqUOL and you can also find SME AFB on Facebook @SierraMadreAnnualFund
Visitor & Volunteer Protocols
Fall Ball Registration
Sierra Madre Elementary School
Email: marchesso.jodi@pusd.us
Website: sme.pusd.us
Location: 141 West Highland Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA, USA
Phone: 626-396-5890