Viking families,
Welcome back! I can't believe it's week one already! My hope is for each child, family and staff member to have a safe and successful school year and that starts with teamwork. Please know that you, the family, are an important member of our team and our goal is to walk alongside you all year long if you'll let us. Please communicate any questions or concerns to your child's teacher, the office or me. Let's make the 2023/2024 school year a fantastic one!
Please note that for security purposes, all visitors must enter at our main elementary entrance and should buzz in to the office where you'll be asked to show your ID. Families may walk students to class if necessary on the first day of school (Monday for 1st-4th & Tuesday for Y5-K) only. We have many extra members of our staff on hand to assist students with entering the building and getting to class smoothly.
Our staff begins supervising students at 8:15 am and may be dropped off any time from 8:15 to 8:35 which is when the school day begins. Students who get dropped off and are not eating breakfast will enter the building and head to our playground area for a ten minute recess before they are able to enter their classrooms at 8:25 with the bus students. If you are dropping your child off and prefer to get out of your vehicle, please find a parking space and walk them up to the building. If you do not wish to exit your vehicle, please drive through the drop off line and a member of our staff will assist your child with exiting the vehicle and getting into the building. Please have your children sit on the passenger side of the vehicle so that we can get them out quickly and safely. Please do not allow your child to exit the vehicle on the south side of the street and walk through traffic. We do have a crossing guard at the corner of Adams and Ypsilanti streets for your child's safety.
Remember that all DES students are eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch this school year. Even if you don't normally qualify, please fill out the free/reduced meals form on our website. Breakfast will be provided for students to take and eat in their classrooms again this year and lunch will be served in our All Purpose Room.
Dismissal is officially at 3:40, but our lower elementary classes dismiss a few minutes before this to avoid the congestion. At the end of the day, we do not currently have a pick up drive through. Please park and come to the building. All Y5-1st graders will exit the building at the main entrance with their teacher. The teacher must see the adult picking up the student before they will release them. 2nd through 4th graders will exit the building at the west "gym" doors. These doors are still on the front of the building on Adams St, but are the west set. If you have children at both exits, please pick up your younger child first and instruct your older child to wait with their teacher. This should help break up the congestion at our main entrance.
This week at a glance:
Monday, August 28th: 1st-4th Grade First Day of School, Y5-K Open House by appointment
Tuesday, August 29th: Y5-K First Day of School
Friday, September 1st: No School-Labor Day Observance
Monday, September 4th: No School-Labor Day Observance
This year let's ROW Like Vikings: Respect, Ownership & Wise Choices
Have a great week! Go Vikings!
