HES Shark Scoop
September 9, 2022
From Principal Cutone
Dear Harwich Elementary School Families,
What a joyful week we had at Harwich Elementary School! Students and staff have spent the week getting to know each other, learning routines, and building collaborative working relationships. There has been an abundance of smiles, hugs, and laughter as friends reunite and new friendships begin. We are excited for a truly special year, and we will enthusiastically welcome our preschool friends on Monday!
I would like to thank all Harwich families for their flexibility and patience during arrival and dismissal this week. New routines can be challenging but everyone is doing a great job, and we are quickly becoming more efficient with our processes.
YOU are PTO! Every Harwich Elementary School family is automatically a member of our PTO, and we sincerely hope that you will get involved this year. Our first meeting of the year is Monday, September 12, at 7pm in the library. We would love to see you there! As the saying goes, many hands make light work. Let's unite to make the Harwich Elementary School community more vibrant and fun for everyone!
Have a wonderful weekend. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way.
My best,
Christie Cutone
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, September 12 -- First Day of School for Preschool
Monday, September 12 -- PTO Meeting in the Library 7pm
Wednesday, September 14 - Early Dismissal 1:35pm
Sept. 19-23 -- MRSD Safety Week
Tuesday, September 20 -- Curriculum Night for Grades 2-4, 5:30 -7:00pm (Adults Only)
Thursday, September 22 -- Curriculum Night for Grades PreK - 1, 5:30-7:00pm (Adults Only)
Friday, September 23 -- Half Day for Students 11am Dismissal
Wednesday, September 14 & 28 -- Early Release Days
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrivals
Buses are unloaded at 7:35am when the bell rings and proper supervision is available. Early morning drop-off is from 7:15 to 7:30am at Door 2, where students enter the building and are supervised in the cafeteria. Caregiver drop-off will be from 7:35 to 7:45am at Door 3 ONLY this year (K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4). After 7:45am, students must be brought to the Main Office Door 1 by an adult and checked in to school with the front office staff. Students entering the building after 7:45am are tardy.
Dismissal
Beginning at 2:05pm, students are dismissed to the caregiver pickup doors as their car arrives or called to their buses from their classrooms. Walkers report to the Office and then are dismissed through Door 1. Students who are attending after-school programs will be dismissed to these locations or picked up at their classroom by program staff.
Caregiver Pick-Up and Drop-Off Placards
Each family receives a dashboard placard for Door 3. Placards must be used to make this process most efficient. Please place the placard on your passenger side dashboard for a smooth transition pick-up.
Click here for a Map of HES Drop Off and Pick Up
Pickup Patrol
Please enter all dismissal/transportation changes (either one-time or recurring) into PickUp Patrol. PickUp Patrol is our online system for parents to communicate dismissal plan changes to the school. Parents with an existing account will be able to continue to make changes as they have in the past. Parents of kindergarteners and new students will receive an email at the beginning of the school year with PickUp Patrol login instructions. Dismissal changes can be entered from a computer or smart phone at any time until 12:45pm on the day of the changes (12pm on Early Release Wednesdays). Changes can be made days, weeks, or even months in advance. However, please note that if you enter a change and the dismissal plans are canceled, you must remember to delete the change from PickUp Patrol or your student will be given the PickUp Patrol dismissal directions. After 12:45pm (12pm on Early Release Wednesdays), changes will not be accepted except in the case of an unexpected emergency. Such changes can be made via phone directly to the Main Office. As the end of the school day is a busy time, please plan accordingly and limit these exceptions to emergencies only to ensure the safety of all students.
School Hours
Start time: 7:45am
Dismissal begins: 2:05pm
Early Release Wednesday every other week at 1:35pm (buses will arrive approximately 40 minutes earlier than normal)
Half-day dismissal time: 11:00am
Now is the time to start transitioning from summer to school routines. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses 10-13 hours of sleep per day for 3-5 year old children and 9-12 hours of sleep per day for 6-12 year old children. Here is a link to the article. Well-rested Sharks are better able to learn and flourish!
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Staff List
Harwich Elementary School Handbook
Additional Resources for Families
Join us for the 15th Annual Lower Cape PMC Kids Ride on Sunday, September 25th from 9 am to 12:30 pm. Bike in support of Dana Farber Cancer Institute. . This ride is great for ages 3 to 12. Register to ride or volunteer at www.kids.pmc.org/lowercape
Routes range from short enclosed loops for tricycles and training wheels to longer routes up to 8 miles. The ride starts at Stony Brook Elementary School at 384 Underpass Rd in Brewster. Riders will ride along the rail trail. Pizza Party to celebrate after the Ride.
Register today to make a difference for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber and Cancer Research. Join the Lower Cape PMC ride today!!
Stay in Touch
Ms. Allyson Joy, Assistant Principal
Email: ccutone@monomoy.edu
Website: https://www.monomoy.edu/Domain/9
Location: 263 South Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7216
Twitter: @monomoyschools