Dear Families,

Even though it feels like summer just began, the start of a new school year is fast approaching. At GME, we are prepared and enthusiastic about the promising year ahead for our students and their families!

Our Open House has officially been set for Wednesday, August 7. All FCPS elementary schools will have their Open House on the same evening. Please refer to our Open House schedule below.

• 4:00-5:00 Kindergarten and New-To-GME Family Orientation (classrooms will not be open)
• 5:00-6:30 All classrooms will be open

All students in grades 1-5 will receive a letter from their teacher for this school year sometime early next week. If your child has not received a letter by August 6, please call the school at 859-422-0013.

We know that the start of a new school year can be scary and overwhelming for children, whether they are five or fifteen. For that reason, if there are special circumstances we need to be aware of, please do not hesitate to contact our school counselor, Devin Coats. Her email address is devin.coats@fayette.kyschools.us.

Respectfully,

Sarah Woodford

Principal

Garrett Morgan

https://bit.ly/gmekindergarten

https://bit.ly/gmefirstgrade

https://bit.ly/gmesecondgrade

https://bit.ly/gmethirdgrade

https://bit.ly/gmefourthgrade

https://bit.ly/gmefifthgrade

August 14: Doors open at 7:15 a.m.. Parents may walk their child to class but then need to leave immediately after (we promise we'll take good care of him/her)! School dismisses at 2:35 p.m.

August 15: Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Students must enter the building without their parents, but we will have plenty of staff on hand to help escort little ones to their classrooms and make sure all students begin their day safely.

August 16: Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Students must enter the building without their parents, but we will have plenty of staff on hand to help escort little ones to their classrooms and make sure all students begin their day safely.

If you have questions or have a need, please call our office or make an appointment.

School lunch menus can be found via the link below.

https://fayette.nutrislice.com/

Here are the prices of breakfast and lunch in FCPS:

Breakfast
Students: $2
Milk: $.60
Adults: $3.50

Lunch
PreK-5: $2.75
Grades 6-12: $3
Milk: $.60
Adults: $5

Students who qualify for reduced-price meals can eat at no cost. Please visit the School Cafeteria table at Open House for more information.

We do allow adults who are on students’ approved contact list to visit during lunch. Visitors will sit with their students only at our special guest tables.

Lunch is a critical time of the day for students to learn the routine, make new friends, and build lasting relationships with their peers. Lunch time is a time for being social and building a positive and inclusive classroom community. Because of this, we do not allow visitors to our cafeteria the first few weeks of school. The first day we will welcome visitors to GME for lunch will be 9/9. Due to the size of our grade levels and limited space in the cafeteria, parents and grandparents must make a reservation to visit for lunch. That link will be sent soon.

FCPS officials have collaborated with LFUCG Traffic Engineering and the Lexington Police Bureau of Special Operations to discuss solutions to help maximize safety and increase traffic efficiency during morning arrival. On the first day of school, there will be additional support at the intersection of Passage Mound and Polo Club. A few things to consider as you pull into campus:

• There WILL be a long line. Garrett Morgan has more students dropped off and picked up each day than any other elementary school in the district. We are also unique in that we have one entrance and exits.

• To ensure the safety of walkers, please drive with caution and follow instructions from school crossing guards who guide children at the busy intersection of Polo Club Blvd and Passage Mound Way.
• You will not be permitted to park along Polo Club Blvd. (south of Passage Mound Way) between the hours of 7-8 a.m. to assist with the flow of traffic.
• Additionally, PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON PASSAGE MOUND WAY and walk your child to the door or send them on their own. THIS IS DANGEROUS.
• There is rarely, if ever, a lengthy line between 7:15 and 7:30. We have had staff members time this for the benefit of our planning team. Don't wait to wait in a long line? Consider dropping your child off closer to 7:15.
• Fayette County Public Schools is required to provide transportation to all students who live outside a 1-mile radius of the school. We highly encourage you to take advantage of this service. The more students who ride the bus, the faster we're able to get all of them in the door. In the eight years of our school's existence, not one bus rider has ever has been marked tardy.

We recognize that our traffic line may be an inconvenience to some, however, the safety of our students, families, faculty, and staff is a priority. Thank you for your partnership and support as we work to maintain a safe environment on and around our campus.

• Each morning staff will be available to assist students who need help exiting their vehicles, however, we do expect that our older students (grades 2-5) open their car doors independently.
• It will dramatically speed up the drop-off process if students ride on the passenger side of the vehicle.
• We are not able to unbuckle or buckle students. If your child requires assistance with that, you may need to park your car.
• Please do not use your cell phone in our car line.
• We want each of our students to have a great start to their day! Before your child exits the vehicle, make sure to send them into school with a positive word!

On the first day of school, parents are welcome to park and walk their student(s) into the building. Beginning the second day of school, August 15, parents will not be permitted to enter the building in the morning unless they have an appointment. This decision has been made to ensure our car line runs as efficiently as possible.

With the first day of school quickly approaching, we are working hard on transportation. If you have not already done so, please let us know how your student will be getting to and from school on the following form: bit.ly/gmetransportation

You can also view additional information regarding setting up and changing your student’s transportation using the link above.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s transportation please feel free to email lisa.bailey@fayette.kyschools.us or call 859-422-0013. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS FORM HAS BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO AUGUST 6.

bit.ly/gmetransportation

Arrival and dismissal always take longer the first week of school. Please remember that we have more students dropped off and picked up each day than any other elementary school in FCPS. We also only have one entrance and exit. Expect delays and long car lines. Our team is doing the best we can to get your child (and every other student) home correctly and safely.

If your child takes any medication at school (including over the counter drugs) please be sure to visit the medication table at Open House. We are now allowed to administer any medication to students without a form and parent signature. If you are unable to join us for Open House, please be sure to stop by the office on the first day of school.

Fayette County Schools' instructional calendar can be accessed via the link below. It is frequently updated to reflect changes in response to inclement weather days and other school cancellations.

https://www.fcps.net/calendar

We are required by law to conduct regular fire, earthquake, severe weather and lockdown drills. While we do not publicize the dates of those drills, we understand that they can induce anxiety in some students.

We will have a fire, earthquake, severe weather and lockdown drill during the week of August 21. You certainly do not need to feel obligated to discuss these drills with your children (we assure you we will do so in a safe and appropriate manner), but if you prefer to have those conversations with your child at home before he/she comes to school, feel free to do so. Please contact your child's teacher and/or our school counselor, Devin Coats, if you have any additional questions or feel your child needs extra support.

Wednesday, 8.7 - GME OPEN HOUSE

4:00-5:00 Kindergarten & New-to-GME Family Orientation, GME Gym (classrooms not open)

5:00-6:30 Open House

Wednesday, 8/14 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Doors open at 7:15 a.m. You may walk your child to class.

Thursday, 8/15 - Second day of school!

Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Parents may not walk students to class (we'll make sure they make it safely, promise!)

Friday, 8/16 - Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Students continue to walk to class independently.

Friday, 8/16 - GME Spirit Day (wear your new GME t-shirt OR red, yellow, or green)

Wednesday, 8/21 - Initial fire, earthquake, tornado and lockdown drills

Friday, 8/22 - No School

Tuesday, 8/27 - SBDM Meeting, 4:00