Barkley Elementary News
Weekly Updates from Dr. Nic 8-25-23
UPDATES!!
Hello Barkley Families!
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
Our first day of school is here and we here at Barkley are so excited to get started. We look forward to welcoming our second grade students and our new students to Barkley! We are also happy to welcome back our third, fourth, and fifth grade students! We can't wait for another fabulous year.
As our extremely hot summer comes to an end, we are eager to officially welcome our students on Monday, August 28, 2023.
Wow! I want to take the time to thank all of those that attended our open house! It was so exciting to see you all and have the hallways buzzing with excitement.
This update contains a lot of important information so please carefully review.
Enjoy the remaining days of summer!
Well Wishes,
Danielle Nicolino, Ed.D.
Principal
Barkley Elementary School
ANNUAL STUDENT UPDATE
All families are required to complete the Annual Student Update in Skyward for students in 1st-12th grades. This year, the updates MUST be completed in order to see your child’s homeroom assignment and/or class schedule. Families will still be able to complete the updates after August 18, but they will not have access to classroom assignments until the update is completed.
This process is very important to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. It is essential that the district has the most up to date family and emergency contact information as well as health updates for each student. Please also make sure to update your preferred language so that you can receive communications in that language.
To access the Annual Student Update, please login to your Skyward account and click on 23-24 Annual Update on the left side menu. You must complete the update for EACH student in your family. Families who are new to the district should register for a Skyward account first. A reminder that currently registered kindergarten students do not need to complete the update.
If you need are having difficulties logging in to Skyward or completing the update, please contact Skyward@pasd.com.
BUS INFORMATION
BUS SCHEDULES ARE AVAILABLE IN YOUR SKYWARD ACCOUNT!!!
We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding next week. Even though we have carefully mapped out the routes, we know there may be delays in the scheduled times. Please bear with us as we work through any kinks. We will make every effort to notify you if there is a significant delay in the pick-up or drop-off time.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
PICK UP PATROL
Barkley Elementary School will be using PickUp Patrol effective at the start of the year to help us better manage our dismissal process. PickUp Patrol saves time for our office staff, reduces classroom interruptions, and most importantly, adds a layer of safety for our students.
If you have still not received the email please contact Dr. Nic on Remind or at nicolinod@pasd.com.
Use the PUP web app for:
ATTENDANCE: Notify the school office when your child will be absent, arriving late or leaving early.
DISMISSAL CHANGES: Submit changes to your child’s regular dismissal plans.
For example:
- Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.
- Your child usually goes to aftercare but is leaving early for an appointment.
How it works:
Your child's regular dismissal plan is entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan. Then whenever you have a change to the Default Plan, you’ll submit it through the PUP app. When the change is submitted, the school will be notified, and your child’s teacher will relay the change to them.
Getting started:
1. REGISTER: On August 8, 2023, you will receive a registration email with a link to set up your account.
- The web app is free to parents, and you can use it from your smartphone or computer.
- For easy access, follow the instructions in your registration email for how to add it to your phone’s home screen (PUP is not accessed through the app stores).
2. ENTER DEFAULT PLANS: Once you register, log into your PickUp Patrol account no later than August 25, 2023 to confirm your child’s default dismissal plan. It’s important that you complete this step so that we can accurately dismiss your children.
Notes, emails, or phone calls will be accepted for changes for the first week, but starting September 5, 2023, all changes should be submitted through PickUp Patrol.
Thank you for using PUP to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students. If you have any questions, please first check the PUP FAQ page. If you still need help, contact us here in the office.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Please be sure to read through our Arrival Procedures. It is extremely important for the safety of our students, staff, and parents, that we following these guidelines.
Please note: Parents are not permitted inside of the gates to the playground. Please allow your child to walk to their designated line or door on their own.
8:40 a.m. - 8:55 a.m.
Students enter the building through the back playground doors. Students who need breakfast report to the dining room. There will be a Grab and Go breakfast again this year. Once students get their breakfast they will report to their homerooms. Students who are not eating breakfast will report to their classroom and wait for directions from their teacher.
Late Arrival
After 8:55 a.m.
Students must be signed in by a parent
Arrival at 8:40 a.m.
Please drop your child(ren) off on Quick Street. Please note: this is a one-way street. You will need to enter through Second Avenue.
Please do not park or exit your vehicle as we need to keep the flow of traffic moving.
For the safety of our students, please do not drive around the car in front of you.
Bus riders who need to purchase breakfast will be released from the bus when the bus arrives to school.
Arrival Locations
All students will enter the building through the Third Avenue playground doors in the morning. 2nd and 3rd grade students arriving between 8:40-8:55 a.m. will enter through door 3A and report directly to their classroom. 4th and 5th grade students arriving between 8:40 – 8:55 a.m. will enter through door 3D and report directly to their classroom and line-up in the hallway.
Late Students
Students arriving after 8:55 a.m. are late. Parents will need to escort their child(ren) to the front entrance and sign their child(ren) in. The attendance clerk will meet you at the front doors.
Important
Students should not be dropped off at school prior to 8:40 a.m. unless they are participating in a before school activity such as band or chorus. There is no supervision available prior to 8:40 a.m., so please do not drop students off before this time. Students should not be dropped off at the main entrance of the building unless they are late or participating in a before school activity such as band or chorus.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Please remember that if you are picking up your child, you must bring your ID. Your child's safety is important to us, and we must be sure you are the individual that is supposed to be picking up your child. Please help us keep your child safe by bring your ID for us to check. Thank you!
- 3:39 p.m. - Dismissal Announcements
- 3:40 p.m. - Independent Walkers are dismissed (students must live within walking distance and have parental permission to walk home independently). Students will exit through the playground doors.
- 3:41 p.m. - 2nd grade parent pickup students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:42 p.m. - 3rd grade parent pickup students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:43 p.m. - 4th & 5th grade parent pick-up students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:44 p.m. - Bus dismissal will begin.
- 3:50 p.m. - Buses will exit school.
- 3:50 p.m. - Students participating in the YMCA after care program and clubs/extra-curricular activities will be dismissed.
* Please note that these are approximate dismissal times
SCHOOL LUNCHES
Free and Reduced cost meals are available for eligible students. If you believe your family is eligible and have not yet applied for the 2023-2024 school year, please visit Free and Reduced Meals - Phoenixville Area School District (pasd.com) to learn more and access the School Café application.
Reminder: if your student was eligible last year, they will continue to be eligible only until October 10, 2023 unless you have received a notice of direct certification or an approved application for 2023-2024 (please check all email folders for determination letters).
If you need assistance completing the application, please contact Alyson Riffey at 484-927-5117/ riffeys@pasd.com or Myra Hernandez at 484-927-5027/ hernandezm@pasd.com. For questions on your application status, please contact Mary Jane Weiss at 484-927-5000 or Weissm@pasd.com.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
As we prepare for another year of in-person events and activities, we will need parent volunteers. All volunteers will need to be board approved. Please click here to register for board approval. We are planning trips and activities beginning in the fall and look forward to welcoming parent volunteers.
REMIND
We will be using Remind again this year!
All communication will go through Remind only. Download the app today!
You have an important role in communicating with your child's teacher. Remember that during the school day, teachers are working with students and are directed to limit their communication so that they can teach. If your child's teacher does not respond immediately, trust that they will respond within 24 hours.
In addition, our teachers have families too! Evenings are spent much like yours and I have asked the teachers to take this time with their families and catch up on communication the next day.
TECHNOLOGY
BIRTHDAY TREATS
DEPARTMENTALIZATION FOR ALL GRADES
PHANTOM BACKPACKS
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S REPORT CARD
Understanding Your Child's Report Card - Phoenixville Area School District (pasd.com)
SUMMER WORK!
HSA ANNOUNCEMENTS
BACK TO SCHOOL SOCIAL!
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
- First Student Day: Monday, August 28
- School Closed: September 1
- School Closed: September 4-Labor Day
- Back to School Social: September 15
- Start With Hello Week: September 18-September 22
- PASD ELD Night @ PAMS: September 20 @ 6:00PM
- PASD Community Cookout @ Washington Field: September 22 @ 5:00PM
Barkley Elementary School
Email: nicolinod@pasd.com
Website: https://bes.pasd.com/
Location: 320 2nd Avenue, Phoenixville, PA, USA
Phone: 484-927-5300