Panther Pride News
#ExcellenceIsWorthTheEffort
March 22, 2024
Potter Gray Elementary staff and families are committed to providing a caring, productive, learning environment in which all children can develop their abilities and talents to the maximum.
School Hours: 8:00am-3:00pm
Congratulations Odyssey of the Mind Team!
The students on the Odyssey of the Mind team placed 1st in their division at the State Championships this past weekend! We are SO proud of their dedication, hard work, and teamwork! They have qualified for the World Championships in May! Thank you to their coaches, Mrs. Mosley & Mrs. Padin for all of their hard work and dedication to our OM team!
Calendar of Events
Related Arts Week B
Monday
EL Maz Spirit Night - Support our Jr. Beta Club - 4:00-10:00 p.m.
Fairview Location - Take-out orders also apply
Tuesday
Wednesday
FCA - 7:30 a.m. (Library)
STLP Group to State Competition
AR Awards Luncheon
Certified Staff Meeting - 3:20-4:20 p.m. (Library)
Pouncing Panthers Practice - 3:15-4:30 p.m. (Gym)
Odyssey of the Mind - 3:15-4:15 p.m. (Art Room)
Thursday
Engineering Club - 3:15-4:15 p.m. (Gentry's room)
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
Friday
School Librarian Day
1st, 3rd, & Kindergarten Field Trip
Pouncing Panthers Tour
Grade Level Information
Each grade level will post their upcoming week newsletter which will have what's going on in that grade level as well as what learning targets will and units will be taught that week. These will be updated on a weekly basis.
PTO's Evening for Education
The Evening for Education fundraiser is tonight and the auction is LIVE! You can place bids on the auction items throughout the day and into tonight. The auction will close at 8:30 p.m. and there will also be some awesome LIVE auction items AT the event! We look forward to seeing everyone there! Click the picture below to see all the awesome items up for bid!
Solar Eclipse Information
On April 8th, all of our students and staff will be taking time to learn and teach about the solar eclipse. All students will be given solar eclipse glasses on the day of the event. These were purchased by the district for all BGISD students. Students will have lessons and activities to do during the day leading up to the event and then will be given time to view the eclipse in the afternoon. Dismissal on the 8th will be at the regular time. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Pre-Registration Info for 24-25 School Year
Kindergarten Pre-Registration
- Pre-Registration is used to notify BGISD of plans to enroll a Kindergarten student beginning August 2024. Schools will use the information provided to contact families and schedule an appointment for registration at school. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by August 1, 2024.
The following documents will be required upon enrollment:
A legal birth certification
A Kentucky Certificate of Immunization
Proof of a preventative health care examination conducted within one year prior to initial entry into the school program and another preventative health care examination within one year prior to entry into the 6th grade
Proof of an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, documented on the Kentucky School Eye Exam Form
Proof of a dental screening or examination by a dentist, dental hygienist, physician, registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant, documented on the Kentucky Dental Screening Form (This form must be presented to the school no later than January 1 of the first year that a 5- or 6-year-old child is enrolled.)
Proof of residency (Examples: lease, mortgage, utility bill with parent name and address).
Non-Resident Application
- Priority enrollment is based on the date of application, with priority to those applying before March 31st.
- SIBLINGS of current non-resident students should also submit a nonresident application prior to March 31st.
- Non-resident students will be notified about enrolling for the upcoming year on or soon after April 15th. Students may continue to complete the application and enroll after April 15th, as long as the enrollment of non-resident students may not exceed the capacity of each school.
- An annual tuition of $500 will be charged to each nonresident student to offset the local tax assessed to residents.
Inter-District Transfer
- This form is to be completed by families residing in the Bowling Green City School District but requesting to attend a different elementary school than assigned.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten
- Parents/Guardians of children born after August 1, 2019 AND before October 1, 2019, planning to enroll in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year must complete a kindergarten readiness screening process. Please submit the form online by May 10, 2024 to be considered. Applications accepted after this date may not be accepted based on limited classroom availability.
FRC Services for Students & Families
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Winter Crisis enrollment will begin on January 9 and run through March 31, 2024.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Winter Crisis is designed to provide assistance to eligible households experiencing a home heating crisis across various fuel types, including Electric, Natural Gas, Propane, Coal, Wood, and Fuel Oil.
Applications will be accepted during the enrollment period, or until designated funds are depleted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Income eligibility for the program is up to and including 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Eligible households can apply for a benefit that covers the minimum needed to alleviate the crisis, up to the maximum benefit. Households can reapply each time they experience a crisis until they reach their maximum benefit. The benefits are paid directly to the household's fuel vendor.
Interested households should contact their local Community Action Agency office to apply.
Applicants must bring the following:
- Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.
- Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month.
- Most current electric bill, statement from your landlord if electric is included in your rent, statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program.
- The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.
Assistance received during previous LIHEAP components does not affect a household's eligibility.
Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kid Catering
If you would like to volunteer please click this link.
Visitor Sign-in
Morning Drop-off and Afternoon Dismissal Proceedures
Drop-off and dismissal times are very busy for us at Potter Gray. Being a community school, there is not a lot of extra space to park near the school, so we do ask that we all follow our morning and afternoon procedures closely so that we can be safe and efficient with getting students to and from school safely.
Morning Drop-off
- The front loop is for bus drop off only. Only those cars with prior permission are allowed to drop students off in the front loop.
- Car riders are to be dropped on in the rear of the building. When the line in front of you moves up, please pull all the way forward to the furthers available spot.
- Walkers are asked to enter the front lobby of the building. If you park on Wakefield or in the church parking lot, please walk your child up to the sidewalk where they will enter the front lobby.
- Any parent/guardian wanting to enter the building, must sign-in via the front office.
Afternoon Dismissal
Car Rider Pick-up: Please remember these VERY IMPORTANT items...
- Keep your car rider tag up in the window until your child(ren) is in the car.
- DO NOT enter the car rider line using BATSEL STREET. This is for buses only in the afternoon.
- When the line in front of you moves up, please pull all the way up to the furthest available spot.
Walkers:
- All walkers (1-5th) will be dismissed from the exterior Library door facing Wakefield.
- All Kindergarten walkers will be dismissed via the Kindergarten hall exterior door facing Wakefield. Parents must be present for your kindergarten child to be a walker.
- If you are a parent/guardian either walking or parking and meeting a walker, please wait outside on the sidewalk in front of the school. Your child(ren) will be dismissed to you.
School Instructional Schedule
The instructional day begins at 8:00 A.M.
If your child arrives at school after 8:00 A.M. they will need to be brought to the front office where they will need to be signed-in by an adult and they will be considered tardy. Please make sure that all family members who will be bringing a student to school on a daily basis understands this policy. Please see full policy further down in the newsletter.
Dismissal will begin at 3:00 P.M.
Potter Gray & BGISD Attendance Policy
Below is an outline of our school and district's attendance policy. Instructional hours at Potter Gray are from 8:00am-3:00pm. If your child gets to school late (after 8:00am) they are considered tardy.
To excuse absences or tardies we must receive a written note (examples: doctors note, hand written parent note, or an email). Once the note is received by the front office, the attendance code is changed within Infinite Campus from an unexcused absence/tardy to an excused absence/tardy. If a child is quarantined due to Covid, once the quarantine or positive case is confirmed, those absences are automatically adjusted and do not require a written note.
At weeks end, Mr. Brown prints attendance letters and mails them to the parents of students who have either 3, 5 or 7 unexcused absences/tardies. If you receive one of these letters please communicate with the front office to provide proper paperwork for the absences on record.
- Death or severe illness in the student’s immediate family;
- Illness of the student;
- Documented military leave/return of a parent or guardian;
- Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal, including trips qualifying as educational enhancement opportunities.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: Missing more than 10% of the school year, or 17 days, for any reason, excused or unexcused. TRUANCY: A student who has been absent or tardy without a valid excuse for three or more days is considered truant. A student reported as a truant two or more times is a habitual truant. Students reaching the status of habitual truant can expect a home visit from a school district official. Continuing absences or tardies will result in referral to the court system.
Community Events
About Us
Home of the Panthers
Email: william.brown@bgreen.kyschools.us
Website: https://pottergray.bgreen.kyschools.us/
Location: 610 Wakefield Street, Bowling Green, KY 42103, USA
Phone: 270-746-2280
Facebook: facebook.com/PotterGrayElementary
Twitter: @pottergraypride