Shaner Shark Bites

Welcome to the Joseph C. Shaner Elementary School. This newsletter has been designed to provide important information for families and keep them informed of events taking place throughout the school year. On our educational journey together, we will focus on building foundational academic skills with following key principles of being responsible, respectful, safe and kind in mind. These key principles will help create a positive and supportive learning environment for everyone. By working together, we will strive to make this school year a memorable and enriching experience for all. Please review this information. We hope all of your experiences in our school are both enjoyable and meaningful for you and your child(ren).

I would like to take a moment to share with you my past experiences in education which have prepared me to be the principal of the Shaner School. I have been a public school educator for 33 years. I began my career as a teacher in the Vineland Public School system, working at both the elementary and middle school levels. In 2001, I became an assistant principal at the Hess Complex. In 2006, I transitioned to the position of grade 6 assistant principal at the William Davies Middle School, where I remained until 2013. That year, I became the principal of Hess. After 11 rewarding years as the principal of George Hess Elementary School, I am excited to have transitioned to the Shaner Primary School.

Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with children of all ages, from preschool through eighth grade. Each position has been both diverse and rewarding, and I consider myself very fortunate to be working with our primary-level students. This is where it all begins!

While all stages of a child’s education are important, the primary age is one of the most critical developmental times in a student’s life. It is during these years that we lay the foundation for their future success, both academically, socially, and emotionally. The skills developed during this time are the essential building blocks for all future learning.

Together with you, I look forward to ensuring our students acquire a strong educational foundation from which to build. Thank you for being a part of our community, and I am excited to embark on this journey with you and your children.

Wednesday, August 28th - District Q and A for students new to district (more information below)

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 - Orientation (see information below)

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - Opening Day All Students

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - Back to School Night (see information below)

Next month . . .

Wednesday, October 9th - 7am All Pro Dad Breakfast (more information to follow)

*Thursday, October 10th - Early Dismissal - Staff PD

Friday, October 11th - School Closed - Staff PD

Monday, October 14th - School Closed (Columbus Day Observed)

Tuesday, October 15th - Youth Alliance Family Night - 6:00 pm (Hess-more information to follow)

Wednesday, October 16th - 7am iMom Breakfast (more information to follow)

Thursday, October 17th - Chuck E. Cheese Event (more information to follow)

Saturday, October 19th - Trunk or Treat (see information below)

Tuesday, October 29th - Black and Orange Day (District Wide)

*On abbreviated (early dismissal) days students should arrive home approximately 2 hours earlier than their usual schedule.

Additional dates will be added as new events are organized! Check back often!

November

Monday, Nov. 4th - Friday, Nov. 8th - Schools are CLOSED

Tuesday, Nov. 11th Veteran's Day - Student Activities held on the 12th.

*Wednesday, Nov. 27- Early Dismissal - NO PM Kid's Corner

Thursday, Nov. 28th & Fri. Nov. 29th - School Closed - Happy Thanksgiving!

*On abbreviated (early dismissal) days students should arrive home approximately 2 hours earlier than their usual schedule.

Date: Wednesday, August 28th

Time: 4:30 pm

Location: William Davies Middle School - Media Center

Orientation for Preschool and Kindergarten will be held on as follows:

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Location: Shaner School - Student’s Classrooms (Enter through the Main Lobby)

Pre-K Time: 10:00-10:40

Kindergarten Time: 11:00-11:40

Students and parents/guardians will have the opportunity to meet their child's teachers and visit the classroom prior to the official start of the school year.

Location: Shaner Elementary School

Time: 5:30-7:30 pm

Purpose: Meet your child(ren)'s teachers to learn more about the programs and curriculum (learning goals) your child will be working towards during their Preschool and Kindergarten experience at Shaner. Each teacher will hold 2 - 40 minute sessions for parents/guardians. This way you can choose which session to attend; or have the time to visit more than one teacher/guidance/Child Study Team staff if you have more than one child in the school.

*Stop by the Gym to visit with Related Arts Teachers and Community Vendors any time during the evening when not in the session with your child(ren)'s teachers.

Plan to attend one of the following sessions with your child(ren)'s teacher.

Doors open at 5:30

Parent/Student Session 1 - 5:45 pm - 6:25 pm

Parent/Student Session 2 - 6:35 pm - 7:15 pm (same information as session 1 repeated)

When a concern arises, please follow the proper chain of communication:

1. Request a meeting first with the teacher.

2. If the teacher is unable to resolve the concern, you may request a meeting with your child's guidance counselor.

3. If the concern is still not resolved to your satisfaction, you may request a meeting with the Building Principal.

4. If the concern is not resolved at the building level, a meeting with the Superintendent of Schools should be held.

5. Only after attempting to resolve the concern in this manner should the Board of Education be consulted.

In addition to phone calls and email, teachers and transportation will utilize the Remind Application to connect directly with parents/guardians.

For additional information, you can also visit www.hamiltonschools.org and district social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.

School Messenger will be used as one mode of communication with parents. District and school wide information information will be shared via school messenger. Please make sure your contact information is updated on the Genesis Parent Portal and you are allowing the content to be sent to you. You have the option to receive texts and/or emails.

SHANER SCHOOL ARRIVAL

Courtesy busing is provided for all students. We encourage you to use this means of transportation for your child each day.

If you need to transport your child to school, please adhere to the procedures detailed below:

The school doors will not open before 7:45 am; therefore, you may not drop off your child early. After parking in one of the designated areas (designated parking spaces and street parking are available) walk your child to the walk-up entrance (door #14). Use the crosswalk and sidewalks to safely escort your child to the walk-up entrance where a staff member will greet him or her at the door as he or she enters the building.

If you need to conduct business at the visitor desk, please park in a designated guest parking space. You will be asked to ring the doorbell at the visitor entrance to enter the visitor lobby. Please always drive slowly and cautiously around our school building. Traffic is one-way through the Shaner drive. All visitors to campus must comply with directives from school personnel.

Please have your child to school on time each day. Doors will close promptly at 8:00 am. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive at 8:00 am or later. If your child arrives late to school, an adult must accompany your child to the visitor door where you will ring the doorbell for assistance. Parents/guardians must sign your child into school. The tardy will be counted against his/her attendance.

SHANER SCHOOL DISMISSAL

Bus

When your child rides the bus home from school, a parent or designated adult must be waiting outside at the bus stop for him/her. Drivers are required to return children to school when no one is present at the designated stop to greet them. If a child is returned to school, he or she will be placed in the aftercare program where a returned student fee will be assessed. If your child is repeatedly returned to school, bus privileges may be suspended.

Early Parent Pickup (prior to end of school day – before 1:45)

*We encourage you to have your child remain in school for the full legal attendance day; and not pick your child up early from school. If you need to pick-up your child early from school, please understand that all class time that is missed will be counted against his/her attendance and will be indicated as a tardy. Each tardy will accrue to absences on his/her report card. This includes being picked up from school prior to dismissal.

If you do need to pick-up your child early, you must do so before 1:45 pm (11:45 on abbreviated days). The office closes promptly at 1:45 (11:45 on abbreviated days) to parents and visitors for the purpose of safe and efficient facilitation of the dismissal process. Parents/guardians do not need to notify the school or complete the parent pickup form in Genesis if you are picking up your child early (anytime before 1:45 on regular days or 11:45 on abbreviated days). Please be sure that the person picking up is indicated in your emergency contacts to help expedite the process. Anyone picking up children after 1:45 pm (11:45 on abbreviated days) must use the Genesis Parent Pick Up process (see next section). If the process detailed below is not followed, your child will be sent home on the bus and you will be directed to meet him or her at the bus stop.

Parent Pickup (end of school day)

Parent pickup opens at about 2:00 pm each day (12:00 on abbreviated days).

The procedures outlined below must be followed in order to use our parent pickup service. For your family’s safety we will not accept messages to a student’s teacher, phone calls, or notes as means to have a child sent to parent pickup at the end of the day. Genesis Parent Portal must be used and completed before 11:40 to add your child to the end of the day parent pickup list.

Information regarding using the parent pickup feature of Parent Portal is emailed to parents prior to the start of the school year. It is also available below.

For assistance with Parent Portal email genesishelp@hamiltonschools.org

Please be prepared to show a photo I.D. every day.

Students must be picked up by 2:30 pm (12:30 on abbreviated days). Parent Pickup will close at 2:30 pm (12:30 on abbreviated days). Students not picked up on time will be taken to Kids Corner where a fee will be assessed.

Please do not remain on campus upon receiving your child from Parent Pickup staff. Additional directions for use of parent pickup may be given by our parent pickup staff and security team.

Parents will form two lines outside of Door #14. Each line will be served concurrently.

GENESIS PARENT PORTAL

Genesis is your portal to all information pertaining to your student. We ask that you maintain updated contact information at all times. Accounts are auto created for you. If you experience difficulties in logging into your account contact: genesishelp@hamiltonschools.org

Genesis Parent Portal is the way in which you arrange for your child to go to parent pickup. It must be done in the portal no later than 11:40 am

*After you register your child for parent pick up on the Genesis Parent Portal and upon arriving at the school; you use the, "Pick My Kid" app to inform the school you are here. This is used to save time in looking up your information and expedite the prearranged parent pick-up.

*To be considered, students must have good attendance with no more than two absences in the month and must have been in school for the full day throughout the month (students who are dropped off late/picked up early more than twice in the month are not eligible). Kindergarten students must have completed reading logs with at least three days of reading indicated for each week in the month.

Please considering Joining the PTA. They do so many wonderful things for our students!

https://hamiltontownshippta.memberhub.com/store

Kids’ Corner services are available at a reasonable cost before and after school daily. For more information about Kids’ Corner contact Mr. Cliff Melder at 476-6311 or visit the school website to view more information: Link: www.hamiltonschools.org

Printable Copy Below

$10.90 of 500.00 (Goal) - as of: July 23, 2024!

The official spirit wear supplier for Hamilton Township Schools is Showcase Sports.

https://josephcshanerschoolapparel.itemorder.com/shop/home/