Baker Bits
Friday, September 7, 2018
And enjoy the many picture of the happy faces we saw this week!!!
Upcoming Dates
Wed, Sept 12 - Equipping Parents Workshop. Baker Media Center @ 9:05 AM
Mon, Sept 17 - WEPA Meeting @ Steeby Elem. Media Center @ 6:00 PM
Wed, Sept 26 - Picture Day at Baker Elementary. All Grades
Thurs, Sept 27 - Picture Day for T/Th programs
Fri, Sept 28 - Dentist-R-Us - Mobile Dentist Clinic
Wed, Oct 3 - WEPA Walk-A-Thon - all students participate @ 1:45
Mon, Oct 1 - Free Flu Vaccine - Mobile Health Heroes
Fri, Oct 5 - Wayland Homecoming
Tues, Oct 9 - Early Childhood Playgroup - ages birth to 5 years - 10-10:45
Wed, Oct 10 - Equipping Parents Workshop. Baker Media Center @ 9:05 AM
Mon, Oct 15 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - By Appt Only
Wed, Oct 17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - By Appt Only
Wed, Oct 31 - Half Day for Students. Baker will dismiss at 11:55
Wed, Oct 31 - Fall Parties
***NEW THIS YEAR***
Three Extremely Important Routine Reminders
Our buses are on a schedule. Once the go-ahead is given for the buses to leave, we will not stop the buses to pull a student. This disrupts the bus loop routine.
2. If you call the bus garage to make a busing change of any kind, please call the Baker office or email the teacher about the change. The bus garage does not send these changes to the school. It is the parent's responsibility to inform the teacher/school of any changes.
3. Writing paper notes and putting them in the child's folder or backpack is not a good way to communicate a change of routine. FYI - 1st grade teachers do not go through students' back packs. Informing the school office by phone or email is the best way to communicate a change of routine. Emailing teachers with an end of the day routine will work; however, this needs to be done by 3:30.
LET THE LEARNING BEGIN!!!
HAPPENING THIS WEEK - EQUIPPING PARENTS WORKSHOP
New Walking Track on the Baker Playground!!!
MORNING DROP OFF PROCEDURES
Safety Note: A child should NEVER be dropped off in the parking lot and allowed to walk alone through the parking lot to the sidewalk. This is very dangerous. If you are going to drop off in the morning and do not intend to walk your child to the front of the building, then YOU MUST use the drop off lane.
Families who drop students off in the morning should not start arriving before 8:45. We cannot have students dropped off before 8:45 because there are no adults on duty to watch your student until that time. You may see someone outside earlier than 8:45 setting up cones; however, they are just getting things ready. DROP OFF DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL 8:45.
Also, just a reminder—PLEASE, do not park in the drop off lane for any reason. This disrupts the flow of the drop off traffic as well as the flow of bus traffic when waiting for a line up of cars. When dropping students off in the morning, please drive slowly. Cars should pull up as far as possible when letting the child out of the vehicle. If you must hug and kiss your child goodbye in the morning when you drop them off, then please park in the front lot and walk your child to the font door.
An adult is in the front loop to help assist students out of the car. The drop off lane runs smoother if the student is on the passenger side in the back seat when you drive through. Parents should not exit their car if they are using the drop off lane.
PRESCHOOL DROP OFF - This starts at 8:53. Preschool families should pull all the way to the East end of the drop off lane before stopping. Preschool aides are outside ready to assist at 8:53. There is one aide posted on the sidewalk, one aide posted in the side yard at the entrance door and one aide posted in the hallway helping teachers assist students. DO NOT EVER drop off a preschool student without an aide present on the sidewalk. The doors to the preschool hall shut and lock at 9:00 sharp. A child can not get in the doors after that time. They must have an adult walk them to the main entrance for entry.
Pick Up Procedures At The End of The Day
Young 5's - Kindergarten & First Grade Only
As we get used to routines - parents will notice some teachers start dismissal at 3:45 and other teachers wait until closer to 4:00. This allows parents to come, park, retrieve the student and go quickly - allowing parking for other parents. Younger grades tend to send their pick ups earlier than most first grade classrooms.
Parents do not need to come any earlier than 3:45. If you step into the office and ask to retrieve a child earlier than the class dismissal, you will need to sign the child out in the office and the child will receive an afternoon tardy for leaving early.
Parents who are picking up children are expected to park in the front parking lot or on Sycamore Street in front of the building and walk to the front entrance to secure your child. Parents who are picking up their children after school should not park in the parking lot within the bus loop. This parking lot will be closed to all traffic during scheduled bus drop off and pick up times. Other than buses, no vehicle traffic should be present in the bus loop during school hours.
Parents picking students up from school are asked to wait outside until school dismisses. Parents are not allowed to wait for students in the office or the hallways. At no time are parents allowed to enter the bus loop and retrieve students from the bus line up.
This week was a learning week! Once students learn the end of the day routine, where to stand and wait, once staff sees a caregiver's face a few days in a row and once parents have a better idea of their child's individual dismissal time ... the end of the day procedure WILL go smoother!
NOTE - Children under 16 years of age are not allowed to pick up younger siblings and sign them out. It is the parents/caregivers responsibility to meet their child at the door at the end of the day. Children under 16 trying to pick up a younger child will be send back to the vehicle to get the legal adult.
NOTE: Parking on the south side of Sycamore Street is illegal. Tickets have been issued during open house and the first week of school for people who violate the no parking signs. Also - there is no parking in designated hadicap parking spots without a handicap license plate or a sign on the mirror. Also - the nurses parking spot is designated for her only.
PICK UP PROCEDURES FOR PRESCHOOL ONLY
Establish Your Child's Routine
As a school, we are trying to establish routines for our little ones. We can not stress enough how important it is to be on time for school each morning. The first 30 minutes of class sets the tone for the day. Within the first 15 minutes of school, classes are doing the following: hanging up coats (& eventually snow pants), changing shoes (& eventually taking off boots), going through backpacks with the teacher and pulling out notes and homework, making a lunch choice, saying the pledge of allegiance and they are starting their morning work. The teacher usually gives instruction and the students do a short pencil to paper writing assignment. When a student walks in late - the entire class is affected by the interruption. It also causes a lot of anxiety for the student who is late. If the teacher is in the middle of instruction, the child does not get to have the personal greeting and assistance the teacher can give during the regularly scheduled routine time. Also, many of our classes leave for specials at 9:15. Students arriving late often walk into an empty classroom. This can cause tears, fear and confusion. Please make every effort to have your child here on time in the morning. Drop off begins at 8:50. Students are allowed to head to class at 9:55. School begins and students are expected to be in their seats at 9:05. We hope this helps you understand the morning routine class experience as well as how being late to class can affect your child and others.
Homework is another routine we are trying to establish. If your child has homework in their backpacks, please have them return it to the teacher on time. This teaches them responsibility.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME
Just a reminder...WUS is trying to be as paperless as possible. All school and district information can be found online at the district website— www.waylandunion.org. Click on Baker Elementary for specific school information.
Baker Elementary does not have a facebook page. You can join the WEPA facebook for both Baker and Steeby Elementary. The WEPA committee does a fantastic job reminding parents of upcoming events, school closings and district happenings.
Most teachers are set up to send group email, such as class newsletters, to all their parents. If you have not been receiving email from your child’s teacher or from the school office, please verify your email address with the school.
At this time, WUS and Baker Elementary have sent many messages, emails and phone calls to our families. If you have not received messages or emails, you will want to call the office and make sure your portal is set up correctly. REMEMBER—It is parent’s responsibility to update any changes in the portal; phone number changes, work phone number changes, child care changes, emergency contact changes, etc.. There is also an Infinite Campus app you can download to your phone.
School lunch menus are available at the following link. http://wayland.nutrislice.com/menu/baker/lunch/2017/9/4/ There is also a Nutrislice app for smart phones so the daily lunch menu can be right at your fingertips at all times.
Peachjar.com is another way to keep up-to-date on things happening in the district. You can access Peachjar from the WUS home page. Here is where you will find information for a variety of classes and team sports offered by WUS Community Education.
HAND2HAND
Do you have a student who could benefit from the Hand2Hand program? Families will have the opportunity to sign up for this program later this month. Parents will need to sign a permission form before students can participate in the program. Backpacks will start going home the first week of October.
HUGE THANK YOU to Connie Pifer, Linda Holcolm & Vicki Hooker from Gun Lake Community Church who organize and facilitate this service weekly for our students!