The Lion's Share
August 2022
Important SPE Procedures
Start/End Times
School begins at 8:05, and students are marked tardy at 8:10.
Before School Procedures
If a student is coming before 8:05, they do have the option to eat breakfast here (please see lunch/breakfast information below).
Kindergarten and first grade students will enter the school using the gate from the primary playground (if you are looking at the front office, they will enter through the gate on the right). Second through sixth grade students will enter the school through the doors immediately behind the front office.
We will have plenty of staff members stationed around the campus to help direct your student to the correct place around campus.
Bus Riders
Students on bus 239 will have orange electrical tape, and students on bus 255 will have green electrical tape. Please don't take this tag off for the first month of school.
This procedure allows us to ensure that every student gets on the correct bus.
Special Notes for Kindergarten:
- As a reminder, kindergarten releases at 2:50. You are more than welcome to stay in your car and follow the procedures listed below. However, we have found that many parents choose to "walk up." The kindergarten students wait at the front of the school. The teachers have the students line up. You should approach your child's teacher, who will call for the student, and the student comes to give a high five to the teacher, which releases them to you.
- Remember, the lunch line can be slow in the first couple days. If you can, I would encourage you to pack your student a lunch the first couple days of school.
End of Day Procedures
- During the beginning and end of the day, you must make a right turn to enter the campus. A left turn will block traffic in two directions.
- When leaving the lot, please turn right. This ensures that the line of cars moves efficiently.
- Once everyone learns the system, we are able to clear all cars at the end of the day in under 12 minutes.
- If you are getting out of your car to pick up/drop off your child, please use only designated parking spots. Otherwise this "clogs" the flow of traffic.
- Parent "walk ups" will pick up their students from the left side of the office (if you are looking at the office). Note: Kindergarten uses a different procedure that's detailed above).
- Parent "drive ups" will pick up their students from the right side of the office (if you are looking at the office) in the area covered by the awning.
- Place your "Parent Pick Up" sheet on your dashboard to expedite the process. Additionally you don't have to roll down your window to tell us who you are picking up (stay in the cool AC). These sheets will be handed out during this first week of school.
- Encourage your student not to walk passed the gated area. Again, if we can keep students under the awning, they are in the shade, and the process moves quicker and safer (less cars moving in and out).
- Children should only enter the car on the passenger side to avoid them walking out into traffic.
- Please don't create a "secondary" drop off/pick up line through the parking lot. We don't have staff to cover this, and it's a safety risk.
- Our west parking lot (staff lot) should only be used by daycare vans, GPS buses, and preschool pick up/drop off.
Infinite Campus Annual Update
Returning SPE parents, it's time to do your "Annual Update" on Infinite Campus. This is essential to do as it keeps your contact information current. These are the phone numbers that we pull in case of an emergency, the emails we use to stay in contact, and it also lets us know if your student has any health status changes.
Please use the following link if you need additional information/support.
Bike/Scooter/Walking Reminders
- Bike/scooter riders need to bring a lock with them to school in order to lock up their bike/scooter. While we do lock the gate during the school day, we have had bikes stolen or "mixed up" in the past. Using a lock prevents this from happening.
- Bike riders and walkers need to use designated cross walks while around campus. Bike riders should walk their bikes across the crosswalks.
- Parents that are on campus should use the designated crosswalks to ensure that a good example is set for our students.
- If students are entering through our Cypress gate, we have a bike rack to accommodate near the garden.
Checking a Student Out Early
- If you are picking up a student early, please be prepared to show a photo ID. The front office staff will compare the ID with our emergency contact list.
- If someone is picking up your student that's not on the "emergency contact" list, they will not be released (this is why completing your Annual Update is so critical).
- The front office will not call up students while you are in the car. This does not allow for proper checking of identification, and often leads to student missing more class time. Your student will be called to the front office once your ID has been checked. Please plan accordingly.
What's Happening in July/August?
- Tuesday, July 26: First day of school
- Wednesday, July 27: 1:55 release
- Thursday, July 28: First day of preschool
- Wednesday, August 3: 1:55 Release
- Thursday, August 4 @ 5:00: PTO/Dads' Club Joint Meeting in the SPE library
- Wednesday, August 10: 1:55 Release
- Wednesday, August 17: 1:55 Release
- Monday, August 22-September 2: PTO Calendar Fundraiser
- Monday, August 22 @ 3:00: Student Council Meeting
- Wednesday, August 24: 1:55 Release
- Wednesday, August 31: 11:55 Release
Spring 2022 AASA Test Results Update
Your student’s Spring 2022 AASA Results will be mailed out no later than August 15.
Family Reports for AASA English Language Arts and Mathematics
Students in grades 3-8 during the 2021-2022 school year will receive two AASA (Arizona’s Academic Standards Assessment) Reports: one for English Language Arts and one for Mathematics. Your student’s Performance Level Result and Scale Score are currently available within the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. To locate AASA Results, go to the Assessment tab:
Under “Test Scores”
- AASA - ELA Grade Level 04/26/2022 Scale Score: 3550 Result: 3
- AASA - Mathematics Grade Level 04/26/2022 Scale Score: 3595 Result: 3
Performance Level Key
Result: 1 = Minimally Proficient
Result: 2 = Partially Proficient
Result: 3 = Proficient
Result: 4 = Highly Proficient
Students who were not enrolled in a GPS school during the 2021-2022 school year will receive their state assessments results from their previously enrolled school.
If you have questions regarding your student’s result, please contact our school office.
AzSCI Family Reports for grade 5 will be mailed via USPS by the end of September 2022.
Here Comes the Bus
This app will give you updates on where your student's bus is via GPS, and you can set notifications so your alerted when the bus arrives at a stop. The school district is even piloting having students swipe when they get on and off the bus with an ID card at a couple of elementary schools, so we can track exactly where students are in real time (you can even get those notifications sent to your phone).
Notice for 6th Grade Parents!!
Any 6th grade student that has not updated their vaccination records with Nurse Chris will not be allowed to attend school as of August 15, until these are updated.
Please reach out to Nurse Chris with any questions. 480-507-1481 extension 1307
Fastbridge Assessments
We use the "Fastbridge" platform to administer these assessments. In grades K-3, these assessments are given one on one, and in grades 4-6, these are administered all at one time.
The reading assessments satisfy requirements made by Arizona to screen all students for dyslexia. While dyslexia is not something that the school can diagnose, we are able to tell if a student is "at risk" or not for dyslexia.
These screeners will start the week of August 8, and feel free to reach out to your child's homeroom teacher for more information.
SPE Breakfast/Lunch Updates
Student Meal Prices
This year school breakfast will cost $1.75 a day, and a student lunch will be $2.90.
On each of my monthly newsletters, I link the sites to see what is on the menu daily (see below).
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
I have posted a flyer below that gives directions on how to navigate this site.
Putting Money on Student Accounts
Below is a quick flyer for how set up and add money to your child's lunch account.
Safety and Security Information
New Secured Entry
Gilbert Public Schools has added the following device to our front entrance, and it works much like a Ring doorbell. To gain access to the school, you press the button on the bottom, which notifies the front office staff that there's someone there. The front office staff will ask who you are, why you're visiting, and could ask to see your ID before allowing you access to the building.
This system was just installed Friday, and we are asking for your patience/grace as we learn this new software. We are anticipating the most people at the start of the day, lunch, and end of the day, so please plan accordingly, as you might have to come earlier than you had in previous years.
Lockdown Procedures
These magnets allow for our classroom doors to be locked all day, every day. When students are on campus, this magnet is lowered, so that the lock on the door doesn't engage (it's blocked by the magnet).
In the event of a lockdown, teachers/students don't need to search for keys, rather they slide the magnet up, allowing the door lock to engage. This saves a considerable amount of time.
At Settler's Point, we do quarterly lockdown drills. The teachers are made aware of the first one, so that they can review the procedures with the students ahead of time. The rest are unannounced. Once a year is also unannounced to the front office staff, as our GPS Director of Security shows up unannounced, puts the campus in lockdown, and walks the campus to ensure we are doing things efficiently and effectively.
I can assure you that any time we do a lockdown, even just a practice, you can expect an email update from the front office.
Elementary Safety Patrol
These employees will be on campus frequently, walking the building to look at our procedures and ensure the safety of all our students/staff.
What's New at SPE?
New Signage for Front Entrance
New Shade covering for Parent Pick Up
New shade structure for gaga ball
Welcome Mr. Peters!
He comes very highly recommended out of West Virginia and we are excited to have him join the Pride.
Here's a letter of introduction.
Welcome Mrs. Provencio!
She already has some amazing ideas on how to bring new learning experiences to our students. If you're able to help donate any of the following items, we'd really appreciate it.