South Elementary School News

Hello South School Families,

Spring is almost here, and we're so excited for the warmer weather! Thank you for your incredible support throughout this school year. We've already seen so much growth and learning in our students, and we're incredibly proud of their progress.

We still have a lot of learning and fun ahead of us this year, and your continued partnership is essential to our students' success. Please encourage your child to give their best effort every day. Consistent school attendance is crucial for a strong educational foundation. Being on time and prepared for school also makes a big difference. When students arrive late, they miss valuable instruction and can feel disrupted. Unless your child is ill, please ensure they are in school, ready to learn, each and every day. Our doors open at 8:40 am, and students should be in their classrooms and ready to learn by 8:55 am. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us here at school if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to support your family.

There are many exciting things happening at South School this spring! Please read the rest of this newsletter to stay informed about upcoming events and important information.

Tracie Murphy, Principal

South Elementary School

If your child has a South School “Where the Adventure Begins” shirt, we will have several days throughout the school year that we will wear these shirts. (This is optional.) Let’s show our Dover South School pride on the following dates:

March 28,2025

April 4, 2025

May 2, 2025

Looking ahead to the next school year, we'll soon begin working on class assignments. Our top priority is the success of every student, and we carefully consider many factors to ensure each child is placed in a classroom where they can grow, learn, and thrive. These factors include academic, social, and emotional needs, personalities, areas of interest, and valuable input from our teachers. If you have any information about your child that you believe is important for us to consider when making class assignments, please share it with us in writing by March 28, 2025. Please note that we cannot accommodate requests for specific teachers. Given the number of students in our elementary schools, it's simply not possible to honor all such requests. The three elementary principals will collaborate to ensure every child is placed in a classroom where they can have a successful and positive school experience.

Spring Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, March 5th. If you need a picture order form, please let your child’s teacher know and we will send one home. Please have the forms completed and send it in with your child.

Reminder: Fee Payment

Prompt payment of workbook and supply fees is greatly appreciated. The fee for K-5th grade is $25.00. As always, thank you for your cooperation. Report cards for the third nine weeks will be held until fees are paid.

Pre-School Tuition Reminder

Pre-school tuition must also be paid by the first of each month. Our preschool tuition is currently $130.00 per month. Failure to pay your preschool tuition will forfeit your spot in our program.

Dover Elementary Schools are teaming up to support the Rainbow Connection! This wonderful organization has been a valuable partner to Dover City Schools for years, helping us provide important equipment and services for our students and families. Now, we'd like to give back!

Students can participate in two fun dress-up days to raise money for the Rainbow Connection. Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 6th, and Friday, March 7th. We're encouraging students to bring 50¢ each day to participate, with all donations going directly to the Rainbow Connection.

• Thursday, March 6th: Hat Day! Donate 50¢ and wear your favorite hat.
• Friday, March 7th: Pajama Day! Donate 50¢ and wear your PJs.

Get ready for a break! Spring Break is just around the corner, running from March 17th through March 21st. Enjoy this time to relax and recharge with your family. Classes will resume on Monday, March 24th. We look forward to welcoming students back after the break!

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, March 5th, and Thursday, March 13th. Your child's teacher has sent home information regarding your scheduled conference time. If you did not receive an appointment but would like to speak with your child's teacher, please contact them directly.

Mark your calendars! Family Fitness Night has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 6th!

Join us for a fun and active evening—wear your sneakers and bring your energy!

We're excited to offer interactive presentations led by local community businesses:

• Karate with McFeeder's & Olympic Tae Kwon Do Academies
• Yoga with the Tuscarawas County YMCA
• Hip Hop Dance with Lacey Pac

A representative from our Dover City Schools Food Services Department will also be on hand to help kids make a yummy "Tornado Trail Mix"!

Plus, we'll have activity stations for parents and children to explore.

We hope to see you there!

Parents or Guardians are required to call the school office to report his/her child absent. There is an answering machine in the event that you call outside of school hours or we are on the phone with another parent. Please leave your child's first and last name, the teacher's name and the reason for your child's absence. If no call is made, the school will attempt to call you. Parents are responsible for informing the school of his/her child's absence and the reason for the absence. Please call the school office between 8:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. Upon returning to school, a written note is required explaining the reason for the absence. Please refer to our Elementary Handbook for our entire attendance policies and procedures.

For your planning, Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day will be April 25th, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

To ensure the safety of your child, we have a strict procedure for student check-in and check-out. When picking up your child during school hours, please proceed to the school office. Your child must be signed out before leaving the building. Please provide a reason for early pick-up on the sign-out sheet. Similarly, if your child arrives late to school, they must be signed in at the office. Please do not drop them off at the door; escort them to the office for check-in.

To maintain a secure environment, all school doors remain locked throughout the day. Visitors must enter through the office door and activate the monitoring device. Once identified, office personnel will unlock the door. If you need to visit any other part of the building, you must present a photo ID, which will be scanned to issue a visitor badge. Your cooperation in following these safety protocols is greatly appreciated.

To ensure timely communication, especially in case of inclement weather, Dover City Schools utilizes a phone notification system. Should school be canceled or delayed, you will receive a notification. Please note that in the event of a 2-hour delay, there will be no morning preschool or breakfast service.

It's crucial to keep your contact information up-to-date. Please inform the school of any address or phone number changes. This ensures we can reach you promptly, especially in emergencies. If you move during the school year, please update your address and provide proof of residency.

As the cold and flu season continues, we want to remind you of a few important guidelines to help keep our school community healthy.

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing a fever or other signs of illness. Students may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

Pink eye has been prevalent this year. If you suspect your child has pink eye, please keep them home and consult with your doctor for appropriate treatment. They may return to school after 24 hours of treatment.

Practicing good hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of germs. Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently, cover their coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching their face.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our school nurse, Mrs. Patterson.

• Children who will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the upcoming school year.

Enrollment Process:

• Online Enrollment: Starting January 21, 2025, you can begin the online enrollment process by visiting the Dover City Schools website (www.dovertornadoes.com) and following the instructions under the "Parents" tab.
• Required Documents: A packet of required documents will be sent to you for completion. Once all documents have been received, you will be scheduled for a kindergarten screening appointment. Kindergarten Screening will be held at South School May 27th , 28th , and 29th.

Yearbook order forms have been sent home with your child. To ensure your child receives a yearbook, please return the completed order form by February 28th. The cost of a yearbook is $20.00. While there may be a limited number of extra yearbooks available for purchase after the deadline, we cannot guarantee availability.

Thank you for your cooperation with our drop-off and pick-up procedures. Your efforts have made a noticeable difference in ensuring a safer and smoother process for everyone.

To maintain this positive momentum, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Drop-off: Please wait until 8:40 AM for staff to be on duty before letting your child out of the car.
• Pick-up: Please use the designated pick-up lane. This is the most efficient way to ensure a quick and safe pick-up.
• Parking: Please refrain from parking in handicap spaces unless you have a valid permit.
• Pick-up Lane Etiquette:
  • Do not exit your vehicle to retrieve your child. Staff will bring your child to you.
  • Avoid turning left from Prospect Street to enter the pick-up lane. This can create traffic congestion and safety hazards.
  • Do not wave your child to cross between cars. Use the designated pick-up lane for a safer and more organized process.
  • Pull up as far as possible to allow for smoother traffic flow.

By following these guidelines, we can continue to improve the efficiency and safety of our arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

This is a friendly reminder that pets, including dogs, are not permitted on school grounds during school hours, as outlined in our Elementary Handbook.

This policy applies to all times of day, including arrival and dismissal. These are busy times with increased foot traffic, and the presence of animals can create unpredictable situations.

• Safety Concerns:
  • Nervous or scared animals may behave unpredictably, potentially causing harm to students or staff.
  • Some children may be scared of dogs or have allergies, creating a distressing environment.
  • Animals can also be a distraction, potentially interfering with student safety and the smooth flow of arrival and dismissal.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all students.

Good habits start early, and being punctual is a valuable life skill. Arriving at school on time is essential for academic success. When students are late, they miss crucial instruction and may feel rushed and embarrassed, negatively impacting their day. To ensure a positive start, students should aim to arrive at school by 8:40 AM and be in their seats by 8:55 AM when the tardy bell rings. To avoid unexpected delays, it's important to plan ahead and account for factors like traffic or last-minute preparations. By prioritizing punctuality, students can set themselves up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Communication between home and school is very important. In order to keep you up-to-date with what is happening, we have several methods of communication.

1. Email Newsletters: Be sure to check your email for monthly newsletters and occasional updates.

Should your email address change, please let us know.

2. Phone Notification System: In the event of any emergency or to share important information, Dover Schools has a phone notification system. Please be sure to notify us if you change your phone number.

3. Staff Email: Each staff member has an email where they can be reached.

4. Voicemail: Each staff member has voice mail where you can leave a message if needed. Simply call the office and ask for the staff member you need. Mrs. Polce can transfer you to the proper voice mail box to leave your message.

5. Facebook: Check us out on Facebook to see what all is happening at Dover City Schools.

March 5th: Picture Day; Parent-Teacher conferences 4:15-7:45

(By appointment)

March 6th & 7th: Rainbow Connection Dress-up days

March 6th: Family Fitness night 6:00-7:30 PM

March 13th: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:15-7:45 (By appointment)

March 14th: End of 3rd grading period

March 17th-21st: No School: Spring Break

March 24th: Classes resume

March 27th: Kindergarten Visitation

March 28th: Report Cards