Hello families,

We had a WONDERFUL first week back to school! Our students learned routines, built relationships, made new friends, and got started on learning! I am so proud of our students and thank you, our families, for your support with making our first week back such a success!

Friendly reminder that students will walk to class independently tomorrow, Monday, August 19. We will have many staff members at the front doors and throughout the building to assist students to class if they need it. Please utilize our car line for drop off beginning tomorrow if your student is not a bus rider. If you walk your child to school, please give a quick hug at the front door and allow them to enter the building independently. I have been so impressed with the way our littlest Explorers have advocated for themselves already, asking adults for help when they need it. They are showing a high level of confidence and ability! Thank you for following our Visitor and Volunteer Protocol when you visit, providing photo identification when picking up students, and assisting us with ensuring Wellington remains a safe and happy place for all!

Emergency Drill Information

There are several emergency drills that are required during the month of August including fire drill (2), lockdown drill, severe weather, and earthquake drills this month. Safety remains a top priority for our school and we always want to be sure that students have opportunities to practice these drills regularly and understand why it is important to practice in child-friendly language. Our students did a fantastic job with our first fire drill last Thursday! We will have our second drill this Wednesday, August 21st. Our lockdown drill will take place on Tuesday, August 20th, facilitated by FCPS Law Enforcement. This is usually completed within 10-15 minutes with very minimal disruption to the school day. Please note that this does not include any type of simulation or scary scenarios. Although emergency drills are not a favorite activity for students, safety and preparation are of the utmost importance. I wanted you to have these dates so that you can talk with your child ahead of time if you would like to. Our teachers will facilitate earthquake drill in the classroom and severe weather drill will take place between August 26-30.

I am sending information via Family Newsletter more frequently right now because there is so much to know and remember at the beginning of the year. You can expect another newsletter in the next week or so and then the frequency will slow down to a regular 4-6 week schedule.

Remember, Talking Points is our main school communication tool. You can download the free app here: https://bit.ly/3OHpsGO Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher, our Guidance Counselor Ashley Keys, or myself via Talking Points if you have immediate question and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @Wellingtonelem. Let's have another wonderful week at Wellington!

Julie Strange

Principal,

Wellington Elementary School

Our students are working hard, making friends, and being good role models! Ask your child about our school Creed, also known as "The Wellington Way." We recite this each morning and students receive positive behavior points for being great role models. I always remind our students, "All students have the right to feel happy and safe at school; make sure your words and actions are helping others to feel safe and happy each day."

All FCPS students are required to receive an annual Bullying/Harassment presentation in addition to our schoolwide expectations. Our Administrative Team met with our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students as grade levels last Friday in what we refer to as a Fireside Chat or "family meeting" format in the library. Students were informed that our school and district expectations apply in all settings: within the school and on school grounds, at the bus stop, on the bus, walking to/from school, etc. The Intermediate Anti-Bullying & Harassment presentation is accessible via the link below. We appreciate you taking the time to review it at home together!

All students have been made aware that making offensive statements in regard to someone's race, religion, gender, or other personal characteristics is considered harassment and will not be tolerated. Joking and name calling are not allowed and will result in loss of privileges, consequences, and parent notification in accordance with the FCPS Code of Conduct. Additionally threatening statements and gestures will be taken seriously and followed up by a school administrator. Students have been taught ways to be a good friend, help others feel included and valued for who they are and the unique gifts they have. Our students will continue receiving this messaging through Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Guidance lessons with Ms. Ashley and our Counseling team. I appreciate you reiterating these expectations with your children at home as well!

Ms. Ashley will present an early-elementary version of the Anti-Bullying & Harassment presentation with our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students this week to ensure they understand these expectations as well.

Mark Your Calendar!

August 20: Lockdown Drill

August 21: Fire Drill

August 22: PTA meeting and Family Meet & Greet on the playground 6:00 p.m.

August 23: No School for Students

August 26-27: Preschool PM classes only

August 28: SBDM @ 3:30 p.m. - Library

August 28-29: Preschool AM classes only

August 30: No Preschool Classes

September 2: No School - Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed

September 6: PTA Read-a-thon Fundraiser Kickoff

September 6-20: PTA Read-a-thon Fundraiser

FCPS Instructional Calendar

FCPS Preschool Calendar

As mentioned in the Compass Zone Parent Handbook, we will continue dismissing Compass Zone students from the back car rider entrance.

Every Wellington student has received a red car tag with a family-specific number. You will need this tag when picking up your child.

• Pull to the back lot

• Bring your red Wellington car tag with you to the back door

• Show the tag at the door and the desk employee will call for your child

• Wait patiently outside for your child

• Please bring photo ID if you do not have your car tag

The Wellington PTA is a very important part of our school family. We are hoping to exceed our membership goal this year! It is only $6.00 to join and can be done very quickly and easily via the this link. Our Wellington Spirit Wear sales will begin very soon and accessible via the same link as membership!

Our first PTA meeting will be this Thursday, August 22nd at 6:00 p.m. on the playground. Our PTA will be providing ice cream for our kids and is an excellent opportunity for meeting and connecting with other families! The Wellington PTA is always looking for volunteers - please don't hesitate to ask any of our Board Members how to become more involved! We hope to see you there! Follow our PTA on Facebook and Instagram @WellingtonPTA

Our students are so fortunate to have such amazing learning opportunities each week with our Special Area Team! Our students rotate through five specials: Art (Annie Lester), Music (Johnnie Bishop), Technology (Glen Boles), PE (Caryn Ray), and STEM (Emily Hisle). Please review the Special Area Schedule and Daily Rotation Schedule so you know which day to make sure your child wears sneakers for PE and other exciting opportunities!

Friendly reminder that beginning tomorrow, Monday, August 19, students are to transition to classrooms independently. Staff members will be available at the front and back entrances as well as throughout the building to escort students who may need a helping hand to their classrooms. Our littlest Explorers as well as all other students will have excellent supervision and assistance to their classrooms.

We kindly ask that families plan to say goodbye at the front doors beginning Monday, August 19. Wellington will continue providing Superior Customer Service to all families and provide extra support to students each morning. Thank you for helping us keep our building safe and secure.

As previously shared, Wellington Elementary now qualifies for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the USDA’s National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. CEP allows our school’s enrolled students to receive a daily breakfast and lunch meal at no charge, regardless of income or completion of a form. Our district is now serving 58 CEP approved schools for the 2024-25 school year. More details about CEP qualifications and FAQ’s can be found here, on our page: www.fcps.net/food and https://www.fcps.net/fs/resource-manager/view/2b68a396-a5b6-4cbd-8677-f731a88b2d1c . Students who wish to eat breakfast at school should go through the breakfast line then take their breakfast to their classroom as has been our procedure the last several years.

In an effort to save paper and copies, links to important documents such as Wellington's bell schedule, Visitor and Volunteer protocol, and attendance procedures, are linked here. If you would like a paper copy of anything please ask your child's teacher or send me a Talking Points and I will be happy to provide that for you. Including this information electronically allows us to be better stewards of our resources and make information more readily accessible. Thank you for your understanding!

Students may arrive via bus, as a walker, or a car rider. The map below shows the difference in morning arrival location for car riders at the front of the building and afternoon dismissal at the back of the building.

Please begin the car line at the yellow star on the map in the mornings. Staff will be outside to assist with car line beginning at 7:15am. Please do not drop off students before then.

Important Reminders for car riders:

• Staff will supervise students exiting alongside the curb each morning.
• Students should exit the RIGHT side of the vehicle next to the curb.
• Students should make an attempt to open their own car door. Staff may be available to assist, but we ask that students initiate opening the door whenever possible.
• Students must walk along the sidewalk behind the staff member to enter the front doors.
• Please remind your child that they should not run back to the car or into the line of cars to get something they forgot. This is not safe!
• Students may arrive between 7:15-7:45 a.m. The school day officially begins at 7:45 with tardies being counted after the bell rings at 7:45 each morning.

All students at Wellington will get a Car Rider hang tag, regardless of regular afternoon transportation.

Car tags were passed out at Welcome to Wellington Open House last week. Please make sure you have your car tag hanging for that type of dismissal and have your ID if you do not have it.

IMPORTANT: Kindergarten students must be released to an adult with a valid ID.

• Kindergarten students riding the bus must be met at the bus and ID must be shown.
• Families/safe adults of Kindergarten Walkers must come to the front door and show ID before the child will be released.
• Please see the attached letter from transportation for additional information.

Your child can ride the bus home/daycare, can walk home, or be picked up by car in the car rider line.

Your child's transportation was verified by you at our Open House last week. Your child will have a colored tag added to their backpack tomorrow once they arrive at school. Please make sure this tag remains on the backpack each day. We want to make sure we have the correct information for getting students home safely each day, especially the first 3 days!

Students may also sign up for Compass Zone, Wellington’s after school program. We are currently on a wait list, but please contact our Director, Churetah Meaux, for more information: churetah.meaux@fayette.kyschools.us

You will need to send the change in writing to the attention of cathy.collins@fayette.kyschools.us

explaining the change. This may be in the form of a handwritten note, email, or Talking Points. Changes must be received in the front office by 1:00pm. For safety purposes, changes via phone will not be accepted.

Due to safety and supervision concerns, no student can be dismissed to the front office during dismissal. If you wish to pick them up right before or at the bell, they

must be a walker or a car rider.

You will enter the car rider line and follow the line of cars to the back of the building with your car tag displayed. Staff members will enter the car tag number into our Silent Dismissal system which will cue students to come outside to a specific cone color where your car will be.

Important Reminders:

• Stay in line and do not cut around other cars
• Drive slowly through the parking lot
• Pull up to the next cone in front of you
• Have your photo ID ready for staff if you do not have your car tag with you.
• Pull forward past the pink cone to assist children with seat belts.
• Please do not do this at the cone as it holds up the line and causes a safety issue as cars drive around.
• Be kind and patient to other drivers and staff at all times.

Mr. Jordan Bentley (left) Ms. Ashley Keys (center) Ms. Anna Franklin (right)

Fayette County Public Schools Student Code of Conduct

The Fayette County Student Code of Conduct is distributed electronically now and available in several languages. You can access this document in various languages below:

English Spanish Japanese Chinese Nepali Arabic French Swahili

Please visit the FCPS Code of Conduct site for more information including a short video explaining the FCPS Code of Conduct. We appreciate you taking time to watch this short video and develop an understanding of our district's expectations regarding student behavior. We want all students to feel happy and safe at Wellington and across all Fayette County Public Schools. Your help supporting our school and district's expectations at home is very appreciated! You are an important partner in this work!

Assault and Threats of Violence - Annual Notice

KRS 158.1559 requires written notice to all students, parents and guardians of students within

ten (10) days of the first instructional day of the school of the provisions of KRS 508.078

(making it a crime to make the described threats against school-affiliated persons and persons

lawfully on school property or against school operations). Please read the full notice here.

Translated versions: Arabic Nepali Chinese Japanese Spanish

Kendra Esenbock, Administrative Dean (Left) Julie Strange, Principal (Center) Wes Downing, Assistant Principal (Right)

Your help updating your contact information for your children is greatly appreciated! We are no longer able to complete this step at the school level, so it is very important that you take a few minutes to look at each child’s information. You can access the Parent Portal here.