Back to School
2024 - 2025
Welcome to 2024-2025 School Year!
Volume 1: July 15th - 19th
The Sea King Weekly is our school’s newsletter, which includes all information and news for Pass Road Elementary (PRE). Every Friday, this newsletter will be sent to you through a text message, which the school calls SchoolStatus; it can also be accessed on our school Facebook page. We urge all parents to keep an updated phone number through our office so that you get our weekly newsletter and remain current on upcoming news and events. We're looking forward to a GREAT school year! PRE is the place to be!
Welcome our New Administrators!
Dr. Bressler, Principal
Dr. Gresham, Assistant Principal
Kindergarten Camp 2024
We had a great week hosting our new kindergartners! Students were able to meet their teachers while engaging in new, hands-on lessons to prepare them for their first year of school as the newest Sea Kings on campus!
First Day of School Procedures
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Arrival: This year, students may arrive at 7:00 a.m. Parents must enter the line from the west end of Maples Drive. There is no right turn into the car rider line. PRE is not responsible for students on campus prior to 7:00 a.m.
Dismissal: PRE dismisses car riders at 2:25 p.m. Students riding a bus will be dismissed as buses arrive beginning at 2:15 p.m. Walkers will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m. Students who are not picked up within the allotted time will be escorted to the cafeteria for After-school care.
Transportation Protocol
Bus Guidelines:
In order for kindergarten and first grade students to be dropped off the at the bus stop, there must have an adult at the bus stop or have an older sibling get off the bus with them. If you wish to have your kindergarten or first grade student dropped off at the bus stop without an adult or older sibling, please contact the school to get a waiver and they can be cleared to get dropped off alone.
Students will SIT two to a seat. Failure to remain seated on a school bus will result in the loss of the privilege to ride a school bus.
Walker Guidelines:
In order for kindergarten and first grade students to walk home, there must have an adult at the walker "drop off" or have an older sibling walk with them. If you wish to have your kindergarten or first grade student walk without an adult or older sibling, please contact the school to get a waiver and they can walk alone.
Checkouts
We do not allow student checkouts after 2:00 p.m. Please understand that parents who enter the office after 2:00 p.m. requesting to check out their child or children will be asked to get back into the carline for student pick-up. We also do not take checkouts over the phone to have students waiting for the parent to arrive in the office. Students will only be called to the office for checkouts only if an approved adult is present in the office before 2:00 p.m. We thank you for your cooperation in helping us protect instructional time.
PARENTS PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A CHANGE OF CLOTHES AT SCHOOL. Bathroom accidents aren’t the only spills that happen here at school. Although we do have a clothes closet, with gently used clothes, it is for emergencies. In the event that your child’s clothes get soiled here at school and he/she does not have a change of clothes, we will let them borrow clothes from the closet (if available). If you do not wish for your child to borrow clothes from the closet, please have a change of clothes at school and send a note to your child’s teacher stating that you do not wish for your child to borrow clothes from the closet.
After-school Care
If you are in need of after-school care, then you are in luck. PRE has after-school care that runs until 5:45 everyday. In after-school care, there is homework time and snacks are provided. After a $20 registration fee, the cost is just $40 per week for the first child and $30 for each additional child. If you are interested or need more information, please come to the office and pick up an application.
Lunch
The nationwide waiver allowing all students to eat free school meals has expired. For 2024-2025, across the country, students must qualify for free or reduced lunch based on household income eligibility.
PLEASE NOTE: In past years, free and reduced lunch applications from prior years covered the first 30 days of the new school year. Because many families did not complete the application last year when meals were automatically free for all students, there will be no carryover period for these students. Families need to complete the application as soon as possible to be approved or be prepared to pay on the first day of school. Please apply now by picking up an application at PRE. We also will be sending applications home during the first days of school.
Parents are able to deposit money into their child's account through the Child Nutrition web page, under e-funds, if the child has an MSIS number. On this same page (https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/56099/login), parents that have forgotten their Username and/or Password, can reset it here.
The only children that cannot put funds on their accounts are the children that do NOT have an MSIS number. These same children will not have an MSIS number until the Chalkable to PowerSchools transition is complete. All children without an MSIS number can eat free until the transition is complete and verification can be made.
Child Nutrition will be able to put Free/Reduced applications into our system, which will determine their eligibility and parents will then be able to apply funds to their accounts, if needed.
Please contact Child Nutrition at 228-865-4680, if you have any further questions or concerns!
Badges
In continued partnership with our transportation provider, First Student, Gulfport School District is piloting, FirstView, a bus tracking and parent communications app for your smartphone or desktop.
∙ Live Tracking
The FirstView map screen shows you the location and direction of your student’s bus, for both morning and afternoon trips. FirstView also provides caregivers with confirmation when the trip is complete.
∙ Customizable Bus Proximity Notifications
With FirstView, you set up a geofence around your location and are alerted when the bus enters the geofence. The geofence size and alert times are customizable, so parents are in control of their notifications. Students should still be at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time.
∙ Custom Alerts and Messages
Set up push or email notifications alerting you when your student's bus enters the geofence. Connect up to three additional email accounts (including your own) to receive email alerts. This is a great feature for grandparents or caregivers!
∙ Multi-Stop View
Buses for all your students can be tracked with FirstView. Using individual colors for each student, the bus assigned to each student’s route appears on the map in the same color as the student for easy viewing.
∙ Secure and Easy Access
FirstView requires a password-protected account for app set-up. This way, only you can view your student’s stop! These codes are provided by your district/school.
∙ Dedicated Customer Support
We are here to help you. Whether you are having trouble getting started with FirstView, not seeing correct data or have an idea to make FirstView better, we want to hear from you! Contact FirstView Monday – Friday (Support provided in English only):
o Calling the toll-free phone number 888-889-8920 from 7:00 a.m. EST to 5:00 p.m. EST
o Emailing Customer Support at support@firstviewapp.com
o Using the in-app “✉” button to provide feedback
For more information and to download the app, please go to www.firstviewapp.com.