Pontiac School News
September 12, 2019
Morning Car Rider Procedures: A message from Assistant Principal, Mr. Williams
Parents,
Sixteen days have already passed and we are humming right along. Thank you for cooperating with the following morning arrival expectations. These expectations are designed to create a win-win situation for all parents.
Car Rider Morning Drop Off
Please follow the blue car rider line around the building. Following the line completely around the building ensures a smooth flow of the line. When you get back to the front of the school, please pull all the way to the end of the drop off line to ensure more cars can get as close to the curb as possible to let their students out. You may walk your child into the school or drop them off at the front of the school after going through the car rider’s line. Faculty members are stationed along the line in the front of the building to assist students out of the cars and in the building. If you would like to walk your child into the school, there are three parking areas for your convenience. These parking areas include: the parking lot directly behind the school, the side parking lot next to the cafeteria, and the parking lot in the front of the school. Please refrain from parking along the grassy area in front of the building. You are able to access the building prior to 8:10 am in two locations, the front entrance, and the kindergarten hallway entrance. Please have your ID ready so you will be able to sign in through IdentaKid at these locations.
Tardy Bell
Our tardy bell rings at 8:10 am. At this time, the kindergarten hallway entrance is closed and all parents and students are asked to enter through the main entrance at the front of the school. At this time, all parents must park and sign their child into school because your child is considered tardy at this time.
If your child arrives after 8:10 am, a staff member will be happy to ensure they arrive to class safely. This will allow your child to quickly and quietly enter the classroom with minimal disruptions to classroom instruction.
Thank you for your adherence to these expectations for the safety of all.
Book Fair
We are excited to announce the dates of our fall Follett Book Fair. Come shop the week of Monday September 23 - 27th. The times will be sent home with your students on the flyer that will come home next week.
Our Book Fair is part of a reading event that brings to school a wonderful selection of fun, engaging, and affordable books kids want to read. Giving kids access to good books and the opportunity to choose books will motivate them to read more!
And let’s not forget- the Book Fair is a great fundraiser that both parents and kids can enjoy together!
Lunch Room News
2019-2020 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Grace Period Ends Oct. 3
The grace period for Richland Two families who were receiving free/reduced meal benefits at of the end of last school year will end on October 3, 2019.
During the grace period, families returning to Richland Two receive the same benefits as last year until a new application has been submitted and processed. At the end of those 30 days, anyone that has not had a new application submitted and processed will be responsible for paying the full price for school meals. Families new to the district for the 2019–2020 school year pay full price for school meals until an application has been turned in and processed.
Click here to start the free/reduced meal application. While the online application is the quickest way to apply, you can can access a paper form by clicking here. Please note paper applications can take up to 10 business days to process.
News From our SRO, Deputy Proctor
Parents we are off to an awesome and safe start of the school year! I've listed some additional safety tips to help keep us on track.
PARKING
· Please park in the available parking spaces, if the parking space is designated for a school official please be respectful and not park there, even if only for a minute.
· Please do not park along the red curb, this is a fire lane and for emergency vehicles only.
· There are additional parking spaces in the rear of the building, follow the car rider line towards the back and it is mark as additional parking.
· You are not allowed to park on the grass in front of the school. These NO PARKING ZONES are marked with no parking signs.
· For those parents who park in the Kindergarten parking lot, you will have to park your vehicle and walk your child into the building or remain in the car rider line and drop off in the front of the building.
VISITORS
· Parents please understand that you must go through the Ident-a-Kid system in order to enter our building. You will need a state ID or Drivers License to sign in.
CAR RIDER LINE
· During the car rider line please be mindful of cell phone usage-there are little ones walking in the area.
· If your child is a car rider afterschool, please do not park and walk in – follow the car rider line and your child will be waiting in front at a colored cone.
If you have any questions or would like to come in and chat, my office is always open.
Thank you,
Deputy Proctor
Back-to-school handbook
Thank you for taking time to review the Back-to-School handbook with your children. The handbook is available on the district’s website at www.richland2.org/studenthandbook. If you would prefer to receive a printed copy, please email me at lroof@richland2.org. After reviewing the handbook, please complete the acknowledgement form that your child brought home the first week of school. The signed form must be returned to your child’s school.
The annual notification required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is included in the Back-to-School handbook. The information includes instructions on how to notify the district about restricting the release of directory information. Please see Page 7 of the handbook for complete details.
School Improvement Council
Parents you are invited to join our School Improvement Council!
The School Improvement Council is an advisory council to the school principal and school consisting of parents, teachers, and community members. Monthly meetings focus on issues related to school improvement. School Improvement Council Annual Goals are:
To increase student achievement in the area of literacy through the work of continued community partnerships.
To develop leadership skills in students by utilizing Stephen Covey’s Leader in Me framework.
To create a culture of college and career readiness.
To promote a partnership among students, parents, school, and the community.
To provide a college scholarship to a graduating senior at a Richland Two high school that attended Pontiac Elementary as a 5th grader.
2018-19 Accomplishments
During the 2018-2019 school year, our School Improvement Council was recognized as an Honor Roll school for the work we did as an SIC, particularly focusing on student achievement in the area of literacy. Our SIC members mailed out letters to more than 50 community partners in hopes to secure funds, increase reading volunteers, and create awareness around our goal of increasing literacy initiatives at Pontiac. We held two family literacy events to support literacy in homes.
You are invited to our first meeting on September 19, 2019 at 7:45am
2019-20 Future Meeting Dates
October 24, 2019
November 21, 2019
December 19, 2019
January 23, 2020
February 20, 2020
March 19, 2020
April 23, 2020
May 21, 2020
All meetings begin at 7:45 am in the BrainForest.
Attendance Awareness Month
Dear Parents,
I’m excited to announce that September is Attendance Awareness month. What that means is that we are going to celebrate classrooms with 100% attendance EVERYDAY during the month of September!!
Let me explain what that will look like. Each day that your child's teacher has EVERYONE at school, on time, and no early dismissals their class will earn a letter. Each class is trying to spell out the words PERFECT ATTENDANCE!
If their class is able to spell PERFECT ATTENDANCE before September 30th, they will earn a party! What kind of party??? Well, they could earn a popcorn party, or a bubble party, bingo party with prizes, or even an ice cream party!!
It’s so important that your child is in school everyday!
When we make attendance a priority it helps students to achieve better grades, develop health lift habits, avoid dangerous behaviors and have a better chance of graduating from high school.
Just remember, if you’re truly sick, it’s better for you to stay home and get well!
If you have any questions please contact me jawatson@richland2.org
(803-699-2700) ext 81020
PS Don't forget you can email, send in a copy and or faxed me your child's excuse.
Thanks,
Ms. Watson
IMPORTANT DATES THIS MONTH
September 13 - Habits and Hashbrowns 7:30 am
September 20 - Fall Pictures
September 23 - Book Fair Begins
September 26 - Open House
September 27 - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:30 am
October 16 - Full Day of School - This is a change to the calendar
About Us
Visit our Website: http://cmsweb1.richland2.org/PE/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pontiacelementary
Follow our Blog: http://pontiacpress.blogspot.com/
Twitter @PontiacElem Phone 803-699-2700
Address
500 Spears Creek Church Rd.
Elgin, SC 29045
Principal Dr. Katie Barber
Assistant Principals Mrs. DeAnna Savage and Mr. Jessie Williams
Website: https://www.richland2.org/pe
Location: 500 Spears Creek Church Road, Elgin, SC, USA
Phone: 8036992700
Facebook: facebook.com/pontiacelementary
Twitter: @PontiacElem