August 16, 2023

Welcome to Eli Whitney Intermediate School!!!

On behalf of the entire staff, we would like to welcome all our families, both new and returning to the Whitney Wolf Pack! We have been busy planning and preparing for the upcoming school year. We are looking forward to building a collaborative relationship between home and school with each of you.

We would like to begin by introducing ourselves. I have been the principal at Eli Whitney since 2020. I have worked for Enfield Public Schools for 21 years in a variety of roles and buildings including classroom teacher at Crandall and Barnard; academic coach at Whitney and HMS; Assistant Principal at Barnard, and Principal of Eli Whitney. Assistant Principal Nick Flynn has worked for Enfield Public Schools for 2 years. He began his career as a 6th-8th special education teacher in Hartford, taught in Manchester at the K-5 level, and transitioned to Enfield as the Assistant Principal of Hazardville Memorial (K-2) before taking on his current role. We are excited to be working together to achieve the academic and social goals set for our students.

As we begin a new year, we want to stress the importance of communication between home and school. Newsletters are sent home weekly through email. Please look for our SMORES logo to access all important information. We encourage you to maintain an open and ongoing dialogue with your child’s teacher. Please be sure to keep the office updated on your current contact information, including your email, to be sure that you receive our newsletter which is emailed home weekly outlining upcoming events and highlighting what is happening in our school. Students will continue to be assigned an iPad. Teachers will be working with students throughout the year on using this technology effectively to enhance their learning. At home, students may need technical support with accessing features of their learning environment. A fully detailed technology guide is available online at Enfieldschools.org along with information on applying for technology insurance, which we highly recommend.

This summer, our custodial staff has been working hard to prepare for our students’ arrival. All classrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Please familiarize yourself with our protocols when coming to school including having a photo ID to enter the building, or to pick-up your child, as we strive to maintain a safe environment for all. We eagerly await your arrival in our learning community. We look forward to an amazing year together!

Sincerely,

Kate Flanaghan, Principal

Nick Flynn, Assistant Principal

Breakfast- $ 0.00 for all students, 8:25-8:40am in the cafeteria

Lunch- $1.75 classroom/grade-level schedule

Milk- $0.50

Arrival:

Attendance will be collected and monitored daily by teachers and school safety officer. Upon returning to school from an absence, a note must be provided to the school office.

Walker/Parent Drop-Off: (Exceptions must be pre-approved by building principal) 8:25-8:40

Students should not arrive before 8:25. Staff will not be available for supervision before this time. Please do your best to arrive prior to the bell ringing. This will support your child’s engagement in morning activities.

Students arriving late must enter the building through the front door. An adult must accompany and remain with the student at the front door until the student is let into the building by a staff member. The parent must sign the student into the attendance book provided outside the front door.

Dismissal:

Walker/Parent Pick-Up (Exceptions must be pre-approved by building principal)-3:06, Busses: 3:10

If your student needs to be dismissed early or the method of dismissal changes, a parent/guardian must contact the office with a letter or a phone call prior to 2:30. To limit exposure, students will be picked up at the front door after parent signs the dismissal book and shows identification. If no notification is received, student will be dismissed their usual way.

Transportation & Drop-Off/Dismissal Procedures

Options

1. Walker 2. Pick-Up/Drop-off 3. Bus

Bus Transportation: All students will go home unless a different drop-off is necessary (in-district daycare). Office must be notified in writing prior to changes.

Drop-Off

• Drive into the pick-up/drop-off parking area (do not park) and have your child quickly exit out of the passenger side of the vehicle.

• Pull away from the area as soon as your child leaves your car.

• There is always a teacher on duty to watch the students as they exit your car and walk to the school.

***NO drop-off of students at the main door to ensure safety for all.

Dismissal Procedure

• At 3:06 walkers and pick-ups are called to the back of the building. Staff facilitate the pick-up process.

• Children being picked up wait in the designated area until staff directs them to enter the car. No children will be allowed to enter the parking lot by themselves.

Bus Dismissal Procedures

• Bus students exit out the front doors.

• Students waiting for their bus to be called remain in their classrooms until called to a bus station.

• Students are released from their classrooms by their teachers when their bus number is called.

Visitors- for safety, limited to essential staff only (unless authorized by principal)

To support health and safety protocols...outside station and logbooks

• All visitors must contact the office prior to arrival.

• All must sign-in and show a photo ID.

• All must wear a visitor’s badge

First Week of School

• We encourage parents to take photos at home.

• Staff will be available outside the building to help.

• Staff will be available to assist your child and answer any questions.

• Students will have limitedaccess to a water fountain to refill waterbottles. You may want to send a water bottle for your child’s use. The school does not supply waterbottles or cups for drinking purposes.

• Please limit backpacks to lunch bags, water bottles, and iPad only. Toys and all other items should be left at home. Electronics, including a phone and iWatch, must be given to teacher for safe-keeping. These items are only used for emergancies and under the direct supervision of a staff member.

• If your child attends daycare or an afterschool program, please make arrangements with the programs to house toys and extra clothing. We do not have the space to house these items and they often become a distraction to our learning environment.

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and lunch will be available to all students. More information will be coming.

School-Family Communication

Whitney Wolves Newsletters, via SMORES, will be sent home weekly via email and on the Eli Whitney Facebook page. Please complete all student informational forms online and be sure to include your email to ensure that you receive school communication in a timely manner. Important information and community flyers will be included in each newsletter.

Your child's progress and report cards will be sent home through email according to our district scheduled timelines.

STAFF

Security:

Mr. Donahue

Grade Level Teachers

3rd: Mrs. Silva, Mrs. Muggleton, Ms. Stauble, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Sorenson, and Mrs. Harmon, and Mrs. Chenevert

4th: Mrs. Linehan, Mrs. Stolar, Ms. Flanagan, Ms. Suleski, Ms. Ricci, Ms. Friedman, and Mrs. Wagner

5th: Mrs. Zenzick, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Horton, Mrs. Lindeland, Mrs. Foy, Ms. Polmatier, and Mrs. Perez

3rd-5th: Mrs. Ziba

Please note the change in our PTO website name.

PTO Executive Board:

• Cindy Kinney- President

All families are encouraged to join the Eli Whitney PTO. Meetings will be held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Times will be announced

We look forward to collaborating with our Whitney community.

• 1st Day- August 29th
• NO SCHOOL- September 4th, Labor Day
• Open House- September 6th, 6:00-7:30PM
• Early Release- September 27th