Dear Liberty Creek Elementary Families,

Welcome back to another exciting school year at Liberty Creek Elementary! We hope this letter finds you rested, rejuvenated, and eager to embark on a new journey of learning, growth, and community-building. Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, we're thrilled to have you as part of our Liberty Creek family.

As we prepare to kick off the upcoming school year, we want to emphasize the importance of community and belonging. At Liberty Creek Elementary, we believe that a strong sense of community is the foundation upon which successful education is built. We are not just a school; we are a close-knit family where every student, parent, teacher, and staff member contributes to the vibrant tapestry that makes us unique.

Our journey together as a community is a shared adventure filled with moments of discovery, curiosity, and accomplishment. Just like any journey, it's the people we journey with that truly make it memorable. Each child's growth is not just an individual achievement but a collective victory that we celebrate together.

This school year, we are committed to fostering an environment where every student feels a deep sense of belonging. We want each child to know that they are valued, respected, and supported by their peers, teachers, and staff. Our classrooms will be spaces of kindness, understanding, and encouragement where everyone's voice is heard and acknowledged.

At Liberty Creek Elementary, our dedication to academic excellence goes hand in hand with our commitment to nurturing character and values. We are not just shaping young minds; we are helping shape responsible citizens who will contribute positively to our world.

We invite you to join us on this journey as active participants. Your involvement, support, and enthusiasm make all the difference. Keep an eye out for updates on events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities that will be shared in the coming weeks.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your child. We can't wait to see the smiles, hear the laughter, and witness the growth this new school year will undoubtedly bring.

Here's to a year of shared adventures, boundless possibilities, and a thriving community. Together, we will make this year at Liberty Creek Elementary truly exceptional.

With warm regards,

Mrs. Alsaker

Please consider this our parent handbook. It is designed to prepare you and your family for the start of the school year. We ask that you read all portions of the newsletter, as there are links to surveys as we gather pertinent information to have a smooth start to the school year. Thank you for your time and support.

Please fill out the attendance link for the 23.24 school year by Friday, August 18th.

Click this link: https://forms.gle/LxWLDXw3y6Dw1q7e6

Please find the attached school supply list for the upcoming school year. You can access it on our Facebook and Instagram pages. If you cannot access it there, you can always find it on our school website page: https://lces.cvsd.org/ under the "Student and Parent Resource" tab.

On September 1st, you will receive an email from the school notifying you of your child's classroom placement for the upcoming school year after 4 PM. We will also post the class lists in front of the school after notifications have been sent. We always plan to have class placements completed by Labor Day weekend; however, if this changes, we will let you know through School Messenger with an update. Thank you for your patience and cooperation with this.

Once class placements are distributed, you will be receiving a signup link from your child's teacher for our WAKIDS transitional meetings.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:55 AM-3:15 PM

Thursday: 9:55 AM-3:15 PM

The school playground opens at 8:45 AM (9:45 AM on Thursdays). Please do not have children arrive at school before this time, as there is no supervision.

Students arriving after 8:55 AM (9:55 AM on Thursdays) must check into the office with a guardian.

Breakfast is served from 8:45-8:55AM (9:45-9:55AM on Thursdays).

Parents may send a cold lunch, or students may order a hot lunch each morning when they arrive in their classroom.

For more information about NUTRITION SERVICES (menus, free/reduced eligibility forms, meal payments), please visit: https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/nutrition

Attendance-If your child is going to be absent, you MUST call our attendance line at (509)558-6363. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence.

The District School Messenger communication system notifies parents about student attendance. If your child is absent from school and has not been excused, you will receive an attendance call automatically. Our attendance line is available to leave messages 24 hours a day. Once again, that number is 558-6363.

Tardy-Our tardy bell is at 9:00 AM. We ask all guardians to park, walk their children into the office, and sign them in for the day. Please DO NOT send them unattended into the school.

For more information regarding attendance, please review the full version of CVSD's Student Responsibilities and Rights: https://4.files.edl.io/163a/08/18/22/025517-0f006c48-227a-4450-a40e-36159999d77d.pdf

Health Information- If your child has any special health considerations that the school needs to be aware of; please ensure this is indicated in your registration; if there are needs that require special attention, our school nurse will develop a health plan for your child. For your child’s safety, please be sure you meet with our nurse before your child attending school. Children are not allowed to have any medication at school, including over-the-counter medication, without a doctor’s order.

We understand birthdays are a special time for our students. As a K-2 school, we have a variety of things we do to celebrate and recognize their birthday. Therefore, we ask that you do not send in a birthday snack or treat as we want to be respectful to individuals who may have allergies within the classroom or special dietary needs. We appreciate your support and understanding.

CVSD utilizes School Messenger to keep parents up-to-date on events, activities, bus changes, principal newsletters, and also in case of an emergency. School Messenger sends information through email, phone, and text. Please make sure all of your contact information is correct in our front office in order to receive these notifications.

You will start receiving school newsletters regularly, so be on the lookout for updates, upcoming events, and other important information throughout the school year. Principal communication will be sent out through Central Valley School District’s online messaging system, School Messenger. We also post all of our newsletters on our school website. Please contact me (aalsaker@cvsd.org) or your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.

Email is an excellent way of communication regarding quick questions, but do not hesitate to call (509)558-6302 or set up a time to meet if you have more extensive questions or concerns. Just a friendly reminder when you receive our communication, it is a no-reply. Therefore if you try to email us from the email you received, we will not receive it. Please open up a new email using the email address above.

All students will receive a backpack tag with transportation information and a valet sign for your car window. Please keep the backpack tag on your child’s backpack for the entire school year. During dismissal, we ask you to display your valet sign in the window as it notifies which child we need to get and it is a safety clearance. We ask that you seat your child on the vehicle's passenger side for safety and to help us expedite our valet lines.

Each child will receive a transportation tag attached to their backpack. This tag aims to identify how they get home during dismissal.

· During the Welcome Celebration, your child will find their transportation tag in their classroom. This tag is to be placed on your child’s backpack. Please check that all the information on the tag is accurate.

· If you get to your child’s classroom and they do not have a transportation tag, you will need to go down to the office to let them know how your child will be getting home at the end of the day.

· We diligently ensure our students get to the correct place after school. If there is a change in transportation one day, we ask that you call our office no later than 2:00 PM so we can get the message to the teacher and supervisors.

· If you have any permanent transportation changes, please call our front office so we can update the change in our computer system and on their transportation tag.

Coming soon...Transportation Survey

If you plan to drive your student to or from school, please use our 3-lane valet system at the front of the building. Students should be seated on the car's passenger side and will exit on the passenger side only for safety reasons. In the morning, vehicles in LANE ONE along the curb can let students exit the car independently onto the adjacent sidewalk. Cars in LANES 2 and 3 will be greeted by a valet attendant who will open the door for the students and escort them safely to the sidewalk. The valet lanes close at 9 AM as our staff members begin working with students immediately. Therefore, we ask you to check your child into the office if the valet is closed past the school start time. Our supervisors work diligently to ensure student safety; please treat them kindly.

According to the student's transportation tag, staff members will escort students to buses, daycare, or valet zones. Once again, please call the front office if there will be a change to the student’s daily pick-up routine before 2:00 PM.

Parents who are picking up children are encouraged to use the valet lane or the “parent waiting area” next to the flag pole in the grassy area. An alternative area to pick up walking students is on the north side of the school near the playground fence. If you are traveling by golf cart, please use our valet line or the designated area by the baseball fields, next to our reader board (not on the grass next to the school).

Please use the parent and visitor parking located in the lot adjacent to Country Vista Lane. There is no parking or drop off in the bus lanes off Boone during the school day and no parking alongside the curbs in our visitor parking lot as it is a safety hazard. We have put bright orange cones out in the front parking lot to notify NO PARKING IN THOSE LOCATIONS as it will bottleneck our parking lot.

If you use our visitor parking for drop off or pick up, you need to walk your student across the crosswalk for safety purposes. DO NOT send them across on their own as there is a lot of movement happening.

What a great way to start the day with exercise on the way to school. Once your child gets onto the school property, we ask that they walk their bike or scooter as we have a lot of traffic and things in motion. There are bike racks on the west side of the school where they can park for the day.

We are a large campus and must provide a safe and healthy environment for children with allergies. It would be greatly appreciated if you could keep your pets at home. If you choose to walk your dog to the school, it must be leashed and kept away from the gates where students enter and exit.

Each classroom will have a sign along the edge of the playground, near the building, with the teacher’s name. Students may line up their backpacks in front of their classroom sign and play until they hear the whistle signifying the time to line up.

1st-2nd Grade

On the first day, parents can join their children on the playground. The students will line up once they hear the whistle, and their teacher will join them to take them into their class. Before entering the building, the children will wave goodbye to their parents/guardians and head into their classrooms.

Kindergarten

On the first day, parents can join their children on the playground. The teachers will come out to gather their class, and parents can walk with them into the classroom to help get them settled into their new environment. Once again, the children will wave goodbye as they begin their day together. At this time, we ask parents/guardians to exit the front of the building. We have an incredibly supportive staff that will be on hand to help students as they adjust to their classroom for the first time.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team, as we are happy to help and answer any questions you may have. Once again, we look forward to meeting all of our Liberty Creek Explorers!

As a courtesy to our classroom teachers, we postpone having parent volunteers during the first month of the school year as we establish routines and build relationships with our students. On September 28th and 29th, we will provide a one hour volunteer training for everyone interested in helping and supporting our school. Please see UPCOMING EVENTS for time and location.

In the meantime, all volunteers are REQUIRED to go through our district's approval process. Please click on the link to fill out your application: https://www.cvsd.org/apps/pages/CommunityAccess Once approved, it will be good for 2 years.

You MUST be an approved volunteer to help out in the school, work with students, work in the classroom, attend classroom parties, and other school events. Please DO NOT wait until the last minute to fill out the application.

September 1st: Notification of student placement

September 7th: First Day of School (1st and 2nd ONLY)

Start Time: 8:55 AM

September 7th, 8th, and 11th: WaKids Transition Meetings

September 12th: First Day of Kindergarten

September 14th: Late Start 9:55 AM

September 18th: Cross Country (1st and 2nd ONLY) Begins...more information to come

September 27th: PTO Fall Carnival

September 28th: Volunteer Training 2:15 PM in the Art and Community Room @ Liberty Creek

September 29th: Volunteer Training 9:15 AM in the Art and Community Room @ Liberty Creek

October 3rd: Cross Country Meet

October 4th: Leo's Fall Pictures

October 11th: Art Night...more information to come

October 13th: No School: Teacher Learning Improvement Day