The Principal's Pen
JC BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION 2022
Welcome Back to School! School begins on September 1st. Students in 1st-5th Grade First Day arrival at 8:15 AM, Kindergarten First Day arrival at 9:15 AM and Pre-K First Day arrival at 9:30AM
Dear Julian Curtiss Families,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We are very excited to welcome our students back to school. The official school year begins on Thursday, September 1st at 8:15 am for all students in grades 1 - 5. On the first day only, kindergarteners will have a delayed start and begin at 9:15 am and pre-K will begin at 9:30 am.
We have spent the summer preparing for the return of our wonderful students and staff as well as welcoming our new Eagles to the JCS Community, and we are eagerly awaiting everyone’s arrival in the building! Our goal is to work together with our families and staff to provide an engaging, safe, healthy, successful and rigorous learning experience for all of our students. We have set very high expectations and plans have been made with student safety and success as our top priority!
As the year begins please feel free to reach out to your classroom teacher, myself or Mr. Hartigan at any time with any questions or concerns. We aim to work together with our parents as partners in learning.
Please join us in welcoming some new staff members:
Art teacher- Eileen Brehm
FLES teacher- Rachel Gryak
Literacy Specialist - Dawn Mcauley
Second grade maternity leave - Madelyn Hand
Psychologist - Abigail Side
Social Worker - Meredith Odinak
Special Education - Molly Gleason
Special Education maternity leave- Jessie Lyons
You will receive additional background information on our new staff members next week.
On August 31st Kindergarten Students and all new students to Julian Curtiss are invited for a short visit to their classroom from 10:30-11:00. This will be followed by a PTA family picnic on our main field from 11:00-1:00. Kindergarteners and Pre-K should enter at the back of the school by the kindergarten patio and new students to grades 1-5 should meet in the front of the building. Staff will meet the students and their parents outside and then bring them into the classrooms.
JC has a total of 13 sections in grades Pre-K-5, which includes two sections at each grade level K-5 and one section of Pre-K. Unfortunately, the district has delayed sending the class lists until next Friday, August 26th, because some schools are still in flux with their overall sections.
In an effort to keep you well informed during the school year, the following avenues of communication will be available:
IMPORTANT Back to school information on our website, https://jcs.greenwichschools.org
A weekly S'more newsletter from the Leadership Team
A JC weekly newsletter from the PTA
OPEN HOUSE for all parents on Thursday, October 13 at 6:00 pm.
It is extremely important for you to read the weekly Principal’s S'more and the PTA JC Weekly News newsletter to stay abreast of all important school happenings. If you do not receive these newsletters contact the office at 203-869-1896.
School spirit is important and fun for our JC students and staff members! Our school colors are green and white. We will continue to display school spirit every Friday of the school year by wearing our school colors or JC Spirit Wear! Please wear school colors or JC Spirit Wear starting the first day of the school year, September 1st.
Any office business must be managed by calling the office at 203-869-1896 or email lisa_maniscalco@greenwich.k12.ct.us.
New Student and Family Orientation, August 31
All families with Kindergarteners, and students new to JC this year, are invited to our New Student Orientation on August 31 at 10:30AM.
All Kindergarten students will meet at the Kindergarten Patio and new students in grades 1-5 will meet in in the front of School at 10:30am for a quick welcome before heading to the classrooms for a visit.
All families with Pre-Schoolers- the PreK team will send specific times to parents about their visits.
Back to School Picnic, August 31 at 11:00AM! Please join us for our Annual Back to School Picnic on the field!
The First Day of School
The first day of school is Thursday, September 1. It is a full day. Arrival begins at 8:00 for all students in grades 1-5.
We will have our first through fifth graders head straight to the classrooms. The teachers will meet the students at the classroom door.
For the first day of school only, arrival for Kindergarten will be at 9:15. This is so we can have a special, separate arrival for our youngest learners on the first day of school. We will meet the kindergarten students and families outside on the back kindergarten patio.
For the first day of school only , arrival from PreK will be at 9:30. The teachers will meet the Pre K students and their families outside near the main front doors at 9:30 and walk them in together as a class.
Arrival for K-5 will be from 8:00-8:15 starting on the second day and for the remainder of the year. Arrival for PreK- will be from 8:30-8:45 starting on the second day and for the remainder of the year.
During arrival and dismissal, staff will be stationed at the designated parent drop off/pick up and bus arrival/departure areas to help ensure the students enter the building safely. Please review the Parent Drop-off and Pick Up Procedures carefully. They are included in this newsletter as well as posted on the Back to School Webpage.
School Supplies
The 2022-2023 School Supply List can be found on the JC Back to School page using this link
Please be sure to also send your child to school with a hearty, healthy snack and lunch, unless they are buying lunch in the cafe.
Lunch will no longer be free for all students. Families in need of free lunch should fill out the required forms posted on our back to school webpage. School lunch is $4.15 this year.
Back to School Documents
Please be sure to review all of the back to school documents accessed via this link on our JCS https://jcs.greenwichschools.org/
Once on the website click on the Back to School button under School Information.
There are several required forms that must be returned to the office as well as some optional forms.
Required forms-
School Handbook Acknowledgement Form
Please take time to read through the JCS Handbook on our Back to School webpage. The “Receipt of Handbook Form” is required. Please send it to school once signed.
Please be sure we have current contact information for your child. If you have a new email address or phone number, please fill out this form and submit to the office. If you have a new babysitter, nanny or someone else who is now able to pick up your child from school, please fill out this form and submit to the office.
Our home-school notification system known as Blackboard/Parent Link will continue to enable us to inform you of important events and emergencies through automated messaging. Please inform the main office immediately of any changes to your personal contact information to ensure you receive these emails.
Authorization for Medical Treatment/ Risk Notification (REQUIRED)
Press Publicity Permission/Denial Form (REQUIRED)
Additional/Optional forms to be returned if applicable.
- Student Device Loan Form (all new students and Kindergarten students)
- School Lunch Debit Account Form (if applicable)
- Free or Reduced Lunch Form (if applicable)
- Student Accident Insurance (if applicable)
2022-2023 Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Julian Curtiss School
Dear Julian Curtiss Families,
Below are the arrival and dismissal procedures for the 2022-2023 school year. Your understanding and cooperation in following these policies and procedures is greatly appreciated. We know your lives are busy and you want arrival and dismissal to happen quickly but it is of great importance that our school campus is safe for our students. Drive slowly and be patient when you enter the campus.
School Hours: Arrival 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal: 2:45 p.m.
Pre-School hours: Arrival 8:30 a.m
Dismissal 1:30 p.m
Morning arrival:
Staff will meet and supervise all arrivals outside of the building for grades K- 5 at 7:55 a.m. Preschool will be met at 8:25 a.m.
Students in grades K-5 arriving to classrooms after 8:15 are tardy.
Students driven to school are to be dropped off along the driveway in front of the school or the driveway on the gym side of the building and walk to the entrance.
Drivers please follow this procedure:
Drive up to the white sign along the gymnasium side of the school or the stop sign in front of the school. Do not stop in front of the door. Pulling up to the top of the driveway will help keep the traffic moving.
Remain in the vehicle while students exit the car independently on the sidewalk side only.
Do not pass the car in front of you at any time. This is an extreme hazard and is strictly prohibited. Please wait in line, proceed around the loop, and exit onto East Elm Street or Milbank driveways.
Please refrain from using cell phones during drop-off.
Once a student has been dropped off, he/she MUST stay on grounds.
Please keep in mind that one of our goals is to maximize instructional time for students, so arriving on time will assist your child with organization and academics throughout the school year. Our goal is to have all students in their classrooms at their seats by 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal:
Dismissal for grades K-5 begins at 2:45. Bus students, car riders, and walkers will be dismissed separately.
The front circle is restricted to buses from 2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cars are NOT allowed in the front circle during dismissal/pick-up. Drivers should park outside the school and park or enter the Milbank driveway only.
Car riders in grades 1-5 will be picked up on the gymnasium side of the building. There is no parking or standing. Vehicles must keep moving around the loop until their child is available for pick-up.
Walkers being picked up by parents should be met at the designated spots .
Older siblings will be able to meet younger siblings at their classroom with written permission from the parent.
IF there is a planned change in pick-up for your child, you must enter it in the School Dismissal Manager by 1:45 pm. Students will not be dismissed to an alternate party without written authorization from a parent/guardian.
Parking:
For parents and guests of the school, parking is available in the upper level of the back parking lot, along the east side of the driveway. Please note that cars parked in the 5 spaces immediately in front of the school in the afternoon will not be able to move until buses have departed. There is NO PARKING along the entire north (field side), along the entire south part of the driveway from Milbank to the Teacher’s lot and anywhere there is a NO PARKING sign.
We hope this outline of policies and procedures will assist you throughout your family’s time at Julian Curtiss Elementary School. Please remember to enter your child’s plan in the School Dismissal Manager.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with these very important matters.
Trish McGuire
Principal
Classroom Assignments- New Release Date
Class lists
The eleven Greenwich Elementary Schools will be emailing class lists on, August 26.
Given the significant complexity of the placement process, no changes will be made to class placements.
Save the Date
August
31 10:30 AM Kindergarten and New Student Orientation
31 11:00 AM Back to School Picnic on the Back Field
September
1 8:15 AM First Day of School Arrival for Students in Grades 1-5
1 9:15 AM First Day of School Arrival for Kindergarten Students
1 9:30 AM First Day of School Arrival for Pre-K Students
5 No School Labor Day
26 No School Rosh Hashanah
October
5 No School Yom Kippur
13 6:00-7:30 PM Open House
26 Early Release Day for Students
School Dismissal Manager
Reporting Absences
Please enter your child’s absence into School Dismissal Manager or call the main office at 203-869-1896.
Please be on the lookout for an email allowing you to set up your School Dismissal Manager account.
Principal Trish McGuire and Assistant Principal Matthew Hartigan
Email: Trish_McGuire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: https://jcs.greenwichschools.org/
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: 203-869-1896