Welcome Back

~From the Desk of Mrs. Ferri~

Principal at Northwood Elementary School

*Be Safe* Be Kind* Be Ready to Learn*

August/September 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome Back, Shining Stars! On behalf of the staff at Northwood Elementary School, I am excited to welcome you and your child/children to the 2024-2025 school year. As a school community, we will focus on bolstering our academic achievement, improving our school attendance rate, and parent/guardian volunteerism. In doing so, we ask that families prioritize school attendance and maintain daily routines to ensure our students attend school on time every day.

We will also continue to support our students through our PBIS model of instruction (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), which is a schoolwide “systems approach” aimed at establishing a positive student/school culture to create a safe and effective learning environment for all students. This includes consistent “morning meetings” to address the social-emotional needs of our students.

Save the Date:

Our Back to School Open House/Supply Drop-Off, K-5, will take place on Tuesday, September 3rd, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. During this time, you and your child may drop off supplies to the classroom, meet the teacher, and walk around the building. Supply lists are posted on our website. A school bus will be parked in the lot so your child can practice getting safely on and off the bus.

Students attending UPK at Northwood will participate in small group orientations. You will receive a separate correspondence with this information.

Mark your calendars! Our Fall Fest will be on Friday, September 27th, 5-7 PM.

Parent Portal:

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is an online portal accessible anywhere on the web. Parents/guardians can log in to view their child's information regarding teacher assignments, grades, attendance, transportation, etc. Teacher and busing information will be available on August 29th after 4 PM. Each parent may have one account, including multiple children/students. You must know your child's PowerSchool Access ID and Password to create an account. Please call our main office if you need help to retrieve this information.

Breakfast/Lunch Programming:

We are pleased to inform you that all students at Northwood Elementary will receive a free breakfast and lunch each day, should they wish to participate. Meals will be served in the cafeteria. Please contact Sue Whalen, our food service manager, at (716) 677-3810 if you have any questions.

Safety Protocols:

Safety and security are a top priority at Northwood Elementary School. To ensure the well-being of our students, staff, and visitors, the following protocols will be enforced:

1. You will be asked to show your ID to the outside camera and will need to state your reason for requesting entry into the building.

2. A staff member will buzz you into the main vestibule through the first set of glass doors. At this time, you will need to present your identification to a staff member at the sliding window. If you are dropping off your child, you will “sign in” your child at the window. After you sign in your child, he or she will be permitted through the second set of doors to enter the building.

3. Parents, visitors, and guardians who must enter the building will be buzzed through the second set of glass doors. Otherwise, we kindly ask that you wait patiently in the vestibule.

4. We will continue to require building visitors to sign in and wear a “visitor’s pass,” which must be worn and visible.

Transportation, Arrival, and Dismissal Procedures:

TRANSPORTATION:

All children are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school daily to promote independence and ease separation anxiety. Your child’s busing information can be found in the parent portal. If you have questions regarding your child’s busing, call (716) 677-3820. Please be patient with transportation services during the first two weeks of school, as drivers learn their routes.

ARRIVAL (grades K-5): SEE ATTACHED LETTER AND MAP

Arrival time is from 8:30 - 8:35 AM. Students must be in their classrooms by 8:40 AM.

Please use the designated car lane near the main entrance to drop off your child. Please remain in your car when you do so. You may not park in the fire lane. Students arriving after 8:40 AM must have a parent or guardian with them to check in with the Main Office. Your ID must be presented to the camera before entering the building.

DISMISSAL (grades K-5): SEE ATTACHED LETTER AND MAP

Afternoon pick-up will begin at 2:55 PM. Parents/Guardians will utilize our car lane system.

Car tags will be distributed at our Open House/Supply Drop-Off on September 3rd from 4-6 PM. Bus Dismissal begins at 3:05 PM. Buses are called in the order in which they arrive. Notes are also required if you are allowing your child to walk home from school. All notes are kept on file in the Main Office.

Health Office and Absences:

If calling in an absence, please call the Attendance Office at (716) 677-3642. If you have questions regarding your child’s illness or health records/forms, call Nurse Pisto at (716) 677-3644.

Thank you for your continued support.

In partnership,

Mrs. Ferri

Dear Northwood Families,

Morning Procedures

Student drop-off in the morning will occur in the designated car lane near the main entrance of the building. We are asking parents to remain in their cars throughout the entire process. Staff will be available to direct students into the building and to their classrooms. Please remember to stay in the car lane and do not go around the car in front of you.

Buses will continue to arrive and unload in the bus loop.

Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

• Each family will receive two car tags with one designated number for their family. We understand the need for multiple drivers to pick up, so we will issue two car tags per family. Please share your car tags as a family. Car tags will be distributed at our Open House/Supply Drop-Off on Tuesday, September 3rd (4-6 PM).

• Your car tag must be displayed on your dashboard. You must also provide photo identification.

• Each child will receive a bus/designated number tag from their teacher. They must wear this tag on their school bag daily so we can safely and efficiently exit them from the building. Please do not remove this tag from your child’s school bag.

• If the person picking up your child does not have a car tag when they come to pick up your child(ren), they will be asked to pull out of line into a designated space in the parking lot (you must remain in your car). After the pick-up lane is cleared, staff will verify their identity. We will check a photo ID and confirm your information in the Parent Portal so that authorized people can pick up your child(ren).

Student pick-up will begin promptly at 2:55 PM. Please do not arrive prior to the designated pick-up time so that we can keep traffic to a minimum.

Please follow the directions of the staff members supervising your child(ren) as they walk to your vehicles. Your child will ONLY be able to get into your vehicle when you are in the “loading zone.”

The initial weeks of school will be a learning experience for all of us, and we anticipate making changes as needed. Please be considerate and patient as you enter and exit our parking lot. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility as we navigate our return to school.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ferri

West Seneca Central Schools Mission

"We are an educational community that encourages kindness, inspires confidence, and instills the belief that together we can achieve anything."