Mars Area Primary Center Newsletter
May 2024
End of the Year!
Diaper Drive "Stuff the Bus"
The Mars Primary Center held its 16th annual “Stuff the Bus” Diaper Drive from April 15-19. Students and families were encouraged to bring in new sealed packages of diapers. 3, 883 diapers were collected and donated to the Lighthouse Foundation to restock their supply. Thank you to all who sent in diapers. The diapers that were collected by the Primary Center will fill the shelves at the Lighthouse for the months to come.
Spring Book Fair Success!
The PC held its Spring Book Fair April 15-19, 2024. Thank you to all the parents and families who supported our school to help support Mrs. Vandevort, our PC librarian in purchasing new books for the Primary Center Library! Our total proceeds totaled $4,657.01. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
PTO Sponsored Field Trips
This year, kindergarten students will have their "field trip" at the Mars Area Primary Center. Outside of the Box Labs will be visiting the Primary Center on May 2 & 3 to present hands-on science instruction to our kindergarten students. Kindergarteners will have the opportunity to rotate through 3 different themed stations with their class to participate in STEM activities. These stations include: Chemistry & Matter, Flight, and Light & Color.
May 2: Mrs. Duff, Mrs. King & Mrs. Nusser
May 3: Mrs. Detore (Wahl), Mrs. Lumpp & Mr. Richards
First grade classes will be visiting Keysone Safari.
Tuesday, May 14: Raible, Rhea & Rios
Wednesday, May 15: Davis, Diani, Shine & Shuck
Thursday, May 16: Fox, Huggins, McElheny & McKee
First Grade Picnics
First Grade Picnic Schedule
When: May 20-22, 2024 (Rain or Shine)
Where: Mars Primary Center
Please be sure to bring a blanket, we hope to eat outside!
*To avoid tears, please be on time.
*All parents and guardians (NO SIBLINGS) wishing to participate, MUST have their driver’s license scanned at the Primary Center.
Schedule below:
Special Consideration Letters for the 2024-2025 School Year
K-6 Special Consideration Letters
Principals are approaching the time of building classes for the 2024-2025 school-year. Regarding future teachers and class placement, most children will function quite well with most classroom assignments. We do, however, recognize that there may be special circumstances that warrant special consideration. In light of this, the following guidelines and procedures are to be used if a special circumstance warrants your parental input for a classroom assignment:
1. Parent input should be made in writing when an identifiable need exists…or if there is pertinent information, of which you believe, we need to be aware.
2. If you wish to provide input, you may submit a letter describing your child’s personality, learning style, and other pertinent information.
3. The purpose of a letter is NOT to request a specific teacher OR the classroom assignment of students with specific friends.
4. Please note that specific teacher requests and students with specific friend requests will NOT be honored.
NOTE: Special consideration letters are to be sent to the receiving grade level building principal by: May 10, 2024.
First Grade Visits MAE
First graders will visit the Mars Elementary School on either May 16 or May 17 with their classmates to take a tour of their school for next year. These visits help ease the transition from first grade to second grade.
PC Olympic Fun Day
Students at the Primary Center will be participating in PTO sponsored Fun Day activities on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Please be sure that your child wears clothing that is conducive to play that day. We are looking forward to celebrating the end of the school year during Fun Day with all types of games and activities.
Excuses for Absence
Parents please be reminded that if your child is absent for any reason, you are required to provide a written excuse for the absence. On the excuse, please provide your child’s first and last name, date of absence, classroom teacher’s name and reason for the absence.
Emergency Early Dismissal/Car Rider Notes
Any student having to be picked up for an emergency early dismissal or needing to be a car rider for the day of and did not have a note for their teacher, please call the office to let the school know. Our teachers are busy teaching and instructing and may not see their email until the end of the working day. Please call the office and we will relay the message to the classroom teacher.
Early Dismissals
If you need to pick up your child during the instructional day, please write a note to your child’s teacher letting them know the day and time you will be picking your child up. All AM Kindergarten students need to have an early dismissal no later than 11:00 AM and Grade 1 and PM Kindergarten students may have an early dismissal no later than 3:00 PM.
PBIS-"The Mars Way!"
We are so proud of all of our students for displaying "The Mars Way!" this year. This year was year one of implementing our PBIS initiative and our students did amazing! We can't wait to keep our school-wide positive behavior supports program going next year! Thank you to our families for all of your support recognizing our "Positive Planets!"
AHA Classroom Winners!
The Primary Center completed the Principal Challenge this year! Students and their families registered online to join our Kids Heart Challenge team. The winning classes of the most registered students were Mrs. Duff’s AM kindergarten class and Mrs. Rios' first grade class. As promised, the winning classes will “Silly String Mrs. Semler” on Friday, May 17, 2024. Rain date: Friday, May 24, 2024.
Counseling Corner
Incoming Kindergarten Important Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year
Lost & Found
With the school year coming to and end, our lost & found table located in the main entrance of the PC is overflowing with belongings left outside on the playground, in the cafeteria and/or hallways. Please have your child check the lost & found for any missing items.
Bus Information for 2024-2025
If your child’s learning center has changed for the upcoming school year or you have any transportation related questions for the 2024-2025 school year, please contact the Transportation Director, Tina Smith at 724-625-1507 or email: transportation@marsk12.org
🗓 Coming Up!
Kindergarten "Field Trip" (Duff, King & Nusser)
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 09:00 AM
Kindergarten "Field Trip" (Detore, Lumpp & Richards)
Friday, May 3, 2024, 09:00 AM
ACT 80 Day/Pre-K Assessments (No School for Students)
Friday, May 10, 2024, 09:00 AM
First Grade Field Trip- Raible, Rios, Rhea
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 09:00 AM
First Grade Field Trip- Davis, Diani, Shine & Shuck
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 09:00 AM
First Grade Field Trip- Fox, Huggins, McElheny & McKee
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 09:00 AM
PC Olympic Fun Day
Thursday, May 23, 2024, 09:00 AM
No School-Memorial Day
Monday, May 27, 2024, 07:00 AM
Last Day of School for Students
Thursday, May 30, 2024, 09:00 AM
Report Cards Posted to Skyward
Thursday, Jun 6, 2024, 04:00 PM
💡 Reminders
Kindergarten Orientation-August 14, 2024
K-6 Open Building Visitation Day- August 15 (9:00-3:00)
The first day of the 2024-2025 school year is set for August 22, 2024!
First Grade Orientation- August 26, 2024