The Talbot Sunday Update
January 7, 2024
Safety Concern-The Bus Loop is for Buses Only
We continue to have families driving into the bus loop to drop off and/or pick up students. It is important that families follow school procedures. The bus loop is restricted to buses so children can enter or exit the bus safely. We have had several complaints from parents and bus drivers. Thank you for not driving into the bus loop!
Reminder-Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES Arrival: PRE-K: School ends for PRE-K at 2:00 p.m. PRE-K pick-up is at the PRE-K doors between 2:00-2:10 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Pick up on Wednesday is at 1:00 p.m. TRAFFIC SAFETY The movement of children on the school grounds and sidewalks can be unpredictable. Drivers are reminded to be alert at all times. For the safety of our children and staff, please observe all traffic and parking rules. A speed limit of 15 miles per hour is in effect during school opening and dismissal times. Signs clearly mark bus zones and car zones. Cars should approach all areas slowly and with caution. Just a reminder – it is illegal to pass a bus with flashing red lights, whether on or off school grounds. NO CARS ARE PERMITTED IN THE BUS CIRCLE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. PLEASE TAKE CARE NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE CROSS WALKS OR WHEELCHAIR RAMPS WITH YOUR CAR. The Police Department would also like to remind us that parking is not allowed on either side of the main entrance road from Forest Avenue down to the crosswalk, nor is it permitted on the streets adjacent to the school. The smaller automobile loop is reserved for short duration parking and for dropping off of Bridge and PK students. When parking, please respect the crosswalk and the spaces that are reserved for vehicles bearing "handicapped” plates. Employees and long-term visitors are to park in the large lot below the building. Parking behind the school is not permitted; this is a fire lane. The access road next to the gym is for “Authorized Vehicles Only” and is NOT to be used. We invite you to please review our Talbot Families Handbook for additional information and operating procedures.
School starts for PRE-K at 7:40 a.m. Please note: PRE-K student drop-off is at the PRE-K doors between 7:25-7:40 a.m.
School starts for K-5 students at 7:40 a.m. Please note: K-5 student drop-off begins at 7:25 a.m. and is in the designated area next to the playground area, at the south end of the building.
Dismissal:
K-5: Student pick-up on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays is at 2:10 p.m. On Wednesdays, K-5 student pick-up is at 1:10 p.m. Students are to be picked up in the playground area, at the south end of the building. Please wait by your vehicle until you see your student(s), then come to greet them at the sidewalk and escort them back to your vehicle.
If there is a change in your child’s regular dismissal plan (for example, if your child normally rides the bus home, but will be picked up instead), please either send a note to school with your child, or call the school office early in the day to let us know. All calls to the office requesting a change in the regular dismissal plan must be made before 1:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays) Please be advised that if we do not receive a note from home or a phone call before the above deadline, your child’s normal dismissal routine will be followed.
Early Dismissal:
For the safety and security of our students, all early dismissals must be made by the parent/guardian. If you are sending someone else (a friend, relative, or sibling) to pick up your child, you must call the office ahead of time to let our staff know exactly who will be coming in to pick up your child. If the office staff is not familiar with the person picking up your child, that person will be asked to provide ID. If they cannot provide ID, the office staff will not release your child until we can confirm ID with the parent/guardian. Please note: If we have not received prior notice from the parent/guardian granting permission for someone else to pick up their child, we will not release the student, until or unless we are able to communicate directly with the parent/guardian.
Please note that early dismissals end at 1:45 p.m. (12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays). Any early dismissals after that time will have to wait until students are dismissed at their usual time. If you need to dismiss your student early, please come to the school BEFORE 1:45 p.m. (12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays.)
Pre K Registration
The Portland Public Schools offers high quality pre-kindergarten programming in both Portland Public Schools' buildings and at partnership sites. Children are eligible if they turn 4 years old on or before October 15, 2024. Children are placed in Pre-K slots in their neighborhood schools or at partner sites, based on our Pre-K lottery process.
The online Pre-K lottery application for pre-kindergarten slots for the 2024-2025 school year opens Jan. 8, 2024 and closes on Jan. 26, 2024. Applications received after Jan. 26 will go on a waitlist.
Parent University 4th Grade Health Curriculum Overview
This upcoming Parent University session will offer an overview of the three-lesson fourth-grade health curriculum, which outlines the physical, social, and emotional changes that come in puberty. Also discussed will be why teaching this material is important, and what we can do together to partner to ensure a successful experience for your child. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Talbot Community School!
Portland Public Schools-Snow Day Plans 2023-2024
Dec 4 2023
It's the time of year in Maine to expect snow storms and other types of inclement weather events. In advance of the changes in the weather, Superintendent Ryan Scallon presented the Portland Public Schools' snow day plans for the 2023-2024 school year to the Board of Public Education meeting at its Nov. 14 meeting.
Here are the details:
Overview
In cases of inclement weather, the Portland Public Schools will use up to three traditional snow days. Our schools will be closed on those days and students will not be expected to go to school in person or learn remotely. No school meals will be provided on snow days. Those days would be made up in June.
This would mean that the last possible day of school for students would be Monday June 17th, and the last possible day for teachers would be Tuesday June 18th.
If there are more than three days of inclement weather, we will have remote learning days in lieu of a snow day. On remote learning days, students will stay home and will be expected to complete academic assignments. Remote learning days will not need to be made up at the end of the year. If an inclement weather remote day is called, the district will make school meals available for families to pick up (see below).
Remote Learning Expectations
● Elementary (grades PK-5)–Students will be provided with hard copy materials to be completed at home and returned to school the next day.
Food Service Plans for Remote Learning Days
Meals available for pick up at eight school locations, typically from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m:
● Lincoln Middle Schools - Leland Street, back parking lot delivery door
● King Middle School – Front Door, drive-up service available
● Lyman Moore Middle School – Front Door, drive-up service available
● Peaks Island Elementary School
● Portland High School – Delivery door next to garage on Chestnut Street side
● Presumpscot Elementary School – Front Door, drive up service available
● Reiche Community School – Current building entrance on Clark Street side
● Talbot Community School – Front Door, drive-up service available Families may pick up meals at any location most convenient to them.
Communication
Final decisions regarding snow days and remote learning days will be communicated by School Messenger and through various media outlets no later than 5 a.m.
Important Dates to Remember
January 15th-No School-MLK Day
Talbot Community School Principal