Newsletter: August 7, 2024
Principal's Message
Thomas Families,
It’s crunch time! The back-to-school to-do list is upon us. The first half of this newsletter captures all the “action needed” items for families. The second half has information about school procedures. There’s a lot to digest– this is meant to be helpful, and not overwhelming. So if you find your heart rate quickening, take a break and come back to it later!
It’s also about that time to start pushing bedtime up gradually, and practicing waking up a bit earlier. That alarm clock can be a rude awakening when school starts up again!
Go Tigers,
Melissa Garris
PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES
If you ordered a school supply kit, it will be delivered to your child’s homeroom. If you did not order a kit, please bring the items for your grade level in on Meet the Teacher or the first day of school.
APPLY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH
Your child may qualify for free or reduced lunch. Go to this link to fill out the online application, or print off an application in another language. This must be done every year, so even if your child qualified last year, you will need to reapply.
ATTEND MEET THE TEACHER
Families and students are invited to come to Thomas Elementary to meet their new teacher on Wednesday, August 14. We can help look up bus times, fill out lunch applications, sort school supplies, and more at Meet the Teacher. To manage the crowd (and parking!), we’ve split up the school population as listed below:
Last names A - L 1:30 - 2:15
Last names M - Z 2:15 - 3:00
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Students may arrive at school by bus, car, daycare van, or walking. The doors open at 9:00, and the school day officially begins at 9:10. If your child arrives after 9:10, a family member must check them in at the office to be marked present.
Our school buses line up in the lane at the front of the school. No cars or vans are allowed in the front lane from 8:55 - 9:10. Car riders and daycare vans will line up at the side of the school, where the parking lot is located. Staff members will direct cars to pull all the way to the front of the line, and will indicate when students can unload from the car. Students in cars at the back of the line must stay safely in their cars until directed to unload. When students unload from cars, please exit on the passenger side of the car (the side closest to the school).
The process is repeated in the afternoon for dismissal. Students begin to exit the building at 3:40, and typically there is already a line of cars at the side of the building waiting to load their children. If there is a change in your child’s dismissal plan, please call or email (thomas_info@dublinschools.net) the office before 1:00. You might choose to add your classroom teacher to the email, but please do not only email the teacher. If they are not able to check email in time, or have a substitute that day, it might be missed.
ATTENDANCE
If your child will be absent or late to school, please always email our attendance office at gtes_attendance@dublinschools.net
Include your child's name, grade, and reason for the absence. Without written notification of an absence, the absence will be unexcused.
If you are unable to send an email, you may call our attendance line at (614) 718-8875 to leave a voicemail-please spell your child's first and last name. If you call our attendance line and leave a message, the absence will be unexcused until written notification is received.
NOTE: If you have not reported the absence, you will receive a robo call and texts from Dublin City Schools.
LUNCH
Students go to the Commons, our lunchroom, with students in the same grade as them. Students will stay in the Commons for 15 minutes, and then will be dismissed for recess. If a student needs more time to finish their lunch, they may stay in the Commons as they finish.
Students can choose to purchase a school lunch or bring a packed lunch from home. If students choose a school lunch, they will go through the lunch line, select their items, and enter their student ID number on a keypad. Students in grades 1 and 2 will have a card to help them enter this number. Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be expected to learn their lunch number and enter it from memory. We will be able to provide them with that number at the start of the year.
The Lunch Menu is updated each month and can be found here.
RECESS
HOW TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL
Classroom teachers are available via email, and will respond within 24 hours. They are very busy actively delivering instruction to your children, and do not check their email constantly throughout the day.
For that reason, if there is something urgent you need to communicate to the school, please call Mrs. Neely and Mrs. Ollanketo in the front office (614-764-5970), and they can deliver the message or support you through a situation.
STUDENT DEVICES
Students are not allowed to use cellphones in elementary schools in Dublin. If your child must have a phone due to after school plans or other outside of school reasons, it must stay turned off in their backpack during the school day. Any type of smart watch should only be used to tell time during the school day.
It’s true that we live in a time where cellphones, tablets, and more are all around us. But just like adults have a hard time resisting the pull of devices, children are even more susceptible to the distraction of technology. Thank you for your support with this.
August 10: PTO All-School Playground Date
August 14: Meet the Teacher (A - L ,1:30) (M - Z, 2:15)
August 15: First day of school (grades 1 - 5) (kindergarteners last names A - L)
August 16: Grades 1 - 5, Kindergarteners last names M - Z
August 19: All students attend
August 21: Curriculum Night (adults only)
August 23: Picture Day
