Grayhawk Elementary
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL REMINDERS
Dear Grayhawk families,
Wow! What a great morning! It was so nice to have the opportunity to meet so many of you at the Meet the Teacher event this morning. Just when I thought I couldn’t be any more excited to be part of this community, I was greeted by so many wonderful families, and so much positivity, I am now even more confident than ever that we are going to have an amazing year!
I just wanted to give you a couple of reminders for the first day.
SAVE THE DATE
More information coming soon!
MASKS
State law prohibits us from requiring that students or staff wear masks. The Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Arizona Department of Health (ADH), and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) recommends masks for all individuals, including in schools. Given our limitations in maintaining a 3-foot distance between students at all times of the day, we strongly recommend that families consider having their students wear masks at school to help maintain a healthy environment for all of our students and staff.
We also ask that families encourage their children to support the decisions of other students when it comes to wearing or not wearing masks. We will work to create an environment where all students feel comfortable at school and free from harassment and bullying.
BELL SCHEDULE
School starts at 8:45am and ends at 3:15pm (Kindergarten day ends at 3:00pm)
- Campus will open for morning drop-off of students at 8:30. The playground will be open, students will not need to lineup or enter the building immediately.
- To increase social distance among grade levels, and to streamline dismissal, we will continue to stagger dismissal.
- Students who walk home will be dismissed at 3:13pm
- Students who ride the bus will be dismissed at 3:14pm
- All other students (parent pickup, enrichment, etc.) will be dismissed at 3:15pm
- Early Pick-up - If you need to pick your student up early, please do so by 3pm. After 3pm we request that you follow standard dismissal protocols. Please let teachers know if you will be picking your child up early, so they can have any work etc. prepared before you arrive.
WE ARE RETURNING TO OUR PRE-COVID DROP-OFF PROCEDURES
Sorry for the confusion regarding morning drop-off procedures. I have heard your feedback and walked through both morning drop-off scenarios, and for the convenience of our families and the safety of our children, we have decided to return to our Pre-Covid drop off procedures. Vehicles will now enter from Grayhawk Drive and drop-off in front of the school. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks!
Car Drop-off for K through 6th grade
All Kindergarten through 6th grade students being dropped off curbside will be using the designated drive-thru lane located in the front of the building. Please refrain from using your cell phone during this time.
Enter from the West on Grayhawk Dr. and pull all the way through to the end of the lane so that we can get as many cars in as possible.
Students should be ready to be unloaded on the passenger side of the car and will exit curbside only. Do not unload your child on the driver’s side of the car as this is unsafe for both your child and campus assistant.
Please stay in your car to make this procedure safe and efficient. Campus assistants will be available to help students get out of their cars, if needed.
The back parking lot is NOT a drop-off and go area. If you use the back parking lot you must park and walk your child to the back gate.
Walkers
If your child walks to school he/she will go to the back of the building to drop off their backpack. There is a designated spot for your child’s backpack. Look for the cone with your teacher’s name on it and place it in line behind the cone. Walkers will either walk through the perimeter gates on the East, South, or West side of the building. Students only pass through these gates. Back parking lot is for parents choosing to park and walk their students(s) to the South gate. For your child’s safety this is not a drop-off area. Make sure to use designated crosswalks and be safe walking to and from school.
Bikers
Students who ride a bike to school may use the bike rack located on the Northwest corner of the school. Also use designated crosswalks to get across streets. Walk your bike when using the crosswalk.
Kindergarten parents
Kindergarten parents that wish to park and walk their child to the kindergarten playground may use the parking lot on the East side of the building at the corner of 76th and Grayhawk Drive and walk their child along the front of the building to the playground. Reminder: you will have to sat goodbye outside of the gate.
AUGUST 10TH HALF DAY FOR KINDERGARTEN
In an attempt to mitigate the number of parents in the building on the first day of school, we are changing our first day of Kindergarten procedures slightly.
On Tuesday, Kindergarten parents will follow the standard drop off procedures from 8:30-8:45. (See procedures above).
Parents will not be staying with their child on the first day of school.
Parents may walk children to the kindergarten playground gate, but may not enter.
Please send your child with a snack. Students will not eat lunch at school on Tuesday.
Teachers will stagger release to allow each teacher extra time to connect students with their families at pickup and increase social distancing for parents picking up their children. Dismissal times are as follows:
Schaub: 11:55
Gering: 12:00
Atkinson: 12:05
INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT PORTAL AND ANNUAL UPDATE
Click HERE for instructions on how to setup a parent portal account.
Every family must complete the Annual Update in Infinite Campus. The online version of our Annual Update process is now available for the 2021-2022 school year. The Annual Update allows you to make any updates to your contact information such as address changes, phone number changes, changes to a child’s health history, as well as update emergency contact information. This will replace the printed Emergency Card.
Click HERE for instructions on how to complete the annual update
AUGUST CALENDAR
August 9th - PTO Dining out at Barros
August 10th - First day of school!
August 20th - PTO Bingo Night 6-8pm
August 30th- Curriculum Night
August 31st - Half Day and PTO Dining out at Freddy's