ESS Information

🏫 Regular School Day

🕘 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

🕐 Early Dismissal

🕘 9:00 AM – 1:50 PM

⏰ Delayed Opening

• 2-Hour Delay: 11:00 AM – 3:45 PM

• 3-Hour Delay: 12:00 PM – 3:45 PM

🚪 Morning Arrival

• Doors open 15 minutes before the start of the school day.

  • Regular Day: Doors open at 8:45 AM

  • 2-Hour Delay: Doors open at 10:45 AM

  • 3-Hour Delay: Doors open at 11:45 AM

• Doors close one minute before the school start time.

• Students may NOT be dropped off prior to 8:45 AM—there is no supervision before this time

A quick reminder about our attendance procedures and expectations to help everything run smoothly for your child and their teachers:

📞 Reporting an Absence:
Board of Education policy requires that parents/guardians notify the school any time a student will be absent.
Please call 203-929-1330, ext. 399 to leave a message, or email both of our school secretaries:

• Mrs. Quinlan: dquinlan@sheltonpublicschools.org

• Mrs. Roberto: kroberto@sheltonpublicschools.org

When reporting an absence, please include your child’s name, grade, homeroom teacher, and a specific reason for the absence.

📣 If we do not receive prior notice, an automated call will go out to parents/guardians. Any student marked absent without notification will be recorded as “unexcused.”

🕘 Tardiness:
Students are expected to arrive on time each school day. Any student who arrives after 9:00 AM will be marked tardy, unless they are arriving on a bus. Late arrivals can be disruptive to the learning environment—thank you for helping your child start their day on time!

🗓 Excused vs. Unexcused Absences:
According to Connecticut state regulations, students are allowed 9 excused absences. After that, any additional absences must be supported with a doctor’s note, or they will be marked as unexcused.

✈️ Family Vacations:
Please note that family vacations during the school year count toward your child’s 9 allotted absences. Teachers will not be sending work ahead of time. All missed assignments will be made up when your child returns to school. We strongly encourage families to plan vacations during scheduled school breaks whenever possible

Dear Families,

We know that questions and concerns can come up throughout the school year, and we want to make sure you feel supported every step of the way. To help make communication smooth and effective, here’s the best way to get started when something’s on your mind:

🧑‍🏫 Step 1: Start with Your Child’s Teacher

Teachers know your child best in the classroom and can often answer your questions right away. Whether it’s about academics, classroom behavior, or social interactions, your child’s teacher is your first and most helpful contact.

You can reach out by email, phone, Dojo message or a note—whatever works best for you.

📞 Step 2: Still Have Questions?

If you still need help after talking with the teacher, feel free to reach out to:

• Our school counselor (for emotional, social, or behavioral concerns)

• A grade-level team lead or instructional coach

• The assistant principal or principal for broader concerns

• 
  

🤝 We’re Here to Help

Our goal is to work together as a team to support your child. Starting with the teacher helps us respond quickly and ensures the right people are involved every step of the way.

Thank you for your partnership and for all you do to support your child’s success!

As we head into seasons where weather can change quickly, we want to remind you that there may be days when school is unexpectedly dismissed early due to weather conditions.

In the event of an early dismissal, notifications will be shared through:

• Infinite Campus Messenger (email and phone call)

• The Shelton Public Schools website: www.sheltonpublicschools.org

• Social media platforms

📲 Please be sure your contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus so you receive all alerts in real time.

🚗 Most importantly, make sure your child knows what to do if there’s an unexpected early dismissal. If alternate transportation or supervision is needed, please have plans in place ahead of time and communicate those clearly with your child and their teacher

🚪 Forgotten Items After Dismissal:
Once students are dismissed, they may not reenter the building to retrieve forgotten items. Please help your child remember everything they need before leaving school.

📵 Cell Phones & Smart Watches:
Student cell phones and smart watches must remain off and in backpacks during the school day. These devices are not to be used while at school.
If your child contacts you during the day, please call the main office rather than replying directly.

🧥 Labeling Student Belongings:
Please make sure to label all items your child brings to school—jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, lunch boxes, etc. Our lost and found grows quickly, and any unclaimed items left at the end of the year will be donated

Birthdays are such a special time for our students, and we love celebrating with them! Each child’s birthday will be recognized during the morning announcements to help them feel extra special.

To keep celebrations safe and respectful of everyone’s learning and health needs, please keep the following in mind:

🎈 Please do not send in:

• Food items (including cupcakes or fast food lunches)

• Balloons

• Goodie bags or party favors

We ask that birthday celebrations do not disrupt the school day or put any students with food allergies at risk.

📚 Birthday Books – A Special Way to Celebrate!
Families will have the opportunity to purchase a Birthday Book in honor of their child’s special day. These books will be added to our school library after the birthday student has a chance to take it home and enjoy it first! It’s a wonderful way to celebrate your child and support our school library at the same time.

📬 Stay tuned for more information from Mrs. Bush on how to take part in the Birthday Book program!

🚌 Bus Transportation Reminders

We’re looking forward to another safe and smooth year of student transportation! Here are some important reminders for all families:

📍 Bus Routes & Assignments
Bus transportation is provided for all students. Route information will be posted on the Shelton Public Schools website prior to the start of the school year.
Please note:

• Your child’s bus number may be different from last year.

• Students must ride their assigned bus—routes and assignments are determined by the bus company based on multiple factors.

🧑‍🎓 Behavior Expectations
Students are expected to demonstrate safe and respectful behavior while riding the bus.
Failure to follow bus rules may result in a bus report and, if necessary, a bus suspension.
If there’s an issue on the bus, please report it to the driver first. The driver will complete a report and share it with the office for follow-up as needed.

✏️ Bus Changes
Students are expected to ride their assigned bus daily, with one exception:
✅ Daycare-related changes are allowed with written notice sent in advance to both:

• The homeroom teacher, and

• The main office: dquinlan@sheltonpublicschools.org

No other bus changes will be permitted without prior written consent.

🚫 End-of-Day Dismissal Changes
Please remember: No changes to dismissal plans will be accepted after 2:45 PM—no exceptions.

🔹 If there’s a problem during the bus ride (like behavior concerns or safety issues), kids should let the bus driver know right away. Drivers can often handle things in the moment or submit a formal report if it needs to go to the school.

🔹 The principal can only follow up on behavior issues if a formal report has been filed. Without that report, the school isn’t able to take action—even if they hear about something informally.

🔹 For things like late buses, missed stops, or route changes, the best and fastest first step is to contact the bus company directly:

📞 203-922-1311

The school office is always happy to help too—especially if the issue continues after contacting the bus company.

Hope this helps clarify things a bit for anyone new to bus routines or wondering what to do. Thanks for keeping our kids safe and supported! 💛

To help keep everyone safe and the day running smoothly, please review the following procedures for morning drop-off:

🕗 Drop-Off Time & Location

• The side entrance doors open at 8:45 AM and close promptly at 8:59 AM.

• All cars must enter from Soundview Avenue and exit onto Willoughby Road.
  👉 If you attempt to enter from Willoughby Road, you will be asked to turn around.
  ❌ No cars are allowed in the bus loop or to enter from Willoughby Road during drop-off time.

🚸 Traffic Flow & Safety

• Please yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to buses exiting the drop-off loop.

• Staff will be present to direct traffic—thank you for following their instructions!

🚙 Drop-Off Line Expectations

• The drop-off line is for students who can independently exit the car.

• If you need to help your child unbuckle or walk them across, please park in a designated spot and use the crosswalk.

• For safety, do not exit your vehicle while in the drop-off line.

• Students must exit from the passenger side of the car.

🐶 A Note About Pets
We love our furry friends, but dogs are not allowed out of vehicles on school property at any time.

🏫 Building Entry

• For safety reasons, only students may enter the building during morning drop-off.

• All students are expected to be in their seats by 9:00 AM. If a student arrives after this time and is not on a bus, they will be marked tardy.

🚪 If the Drop-Off Doors Are Closed

• Please drive around to the front of the school. Students can ring the bell and will be let in by staff.

• Parents do not need to escort students to the door or inside—we’ll take care of everything from there!

As we work together to make dismissal as safe and efficient as possible, please take a moment to review our important procedures:

🅿️ Arrival for Pick-Up

• Dismissal begins at 3:45 PM.

• Adults picking up students should enter via Soundview Avenue and park near the top parking lot.

• 🚫 Do not park along the edge of the baseball field, in the fire lane, or block other vehicles at any time.

🐶 Pets Reminder
For safety, dogs must remain in vehicles while on school property—thank you for understanding!

📩 Early Dismissal Requests

• If your child needs to leave before 3:45, that change must be sent in writing.

• If you message the teacher via ClassDojo, you must also notify the main office.

• Phone calls are allowed, but they must be followed by an email to Mrs. Quinlan at dquinlan@sheltonpublicschools.org.

• No dismissal changes will be accepted after 2:45 PM—no exceptions.

⏰ Pick-Up Timing & Locations

• If you're picking up your child before 3:30, please do so at the main office.
  🔔 Important: After 3:15, you may not park in front of the school—this blocks our buses.

• Arriving after 3:30? You'll be asked to pick up at 3:45 from the back of the building.

🚪 Grade-Level Pick-Up Doors

• Kindergarten – Library doors

• Grades 1 & 2 – Doors near the kitchen

• Grades 3 & 4 – Cafeteria doors
  (All doors will be clearly marked.)

🪪 Who Can Pick Up a Student?

• Any adult picking up must have photo ID and be listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact in Infinite Campus.
  📸 A photo of the ID on your phone is acceptable.

• If someone not listed is picking up, we must have prior written permission from the parent/guardian.

👫 Going Home with Another Student?
We need written permission from both families—the one giving permission and the one picking up. This ensures everyone’s safety and avoids confusion.

🚗 Exiting the School Grounds

• All cars must exit onto Willoughby Road, regardless of where you park.

• Please yield to buses and be extra cautious of pedestrians crossing

👟 Dress for Success & Safety at School!

To help students stay comfortable, safe, and ready to learn and play, please keep the following in mind when getting your child dressed for school:

🌡️ Dress for the Weather
Most of our classrooms do not have air conditioning, so it can get warm—especially at the start of the year.
✅ Shorts and short sleeves are perfectly fine—we do not require uniforms.
Please send your child dressed appropriately for the temperature each day.

👟 Footwear Expectations
For safety during recess, PE, and daily movement around school:

• Closed-toe shoes are required every day.

• ❌ No flip flops or slides allowed.

• 👟 If your child wears inappropriate shoes, we will call you to bring a change of footwear. If a change can't be provided, they will sit out at recess for safety.

• Crocs must have the back straps on at all times.

🏃‍♂️ PE Days = Sneaker Days!
On PE days, students must wear sneakers to participate safely.

🌤️ Outdoor Play Every Day
Please make sure your child is dressed for outdoor recess in all types of weather (except rain/snow), all year long. This includes layers for chilly days and sun-safe clothing for warm days

We’re committed to making sure every student has access to a healthy, safe, and stress-free mealtime experience. Here are a few important reminders about breakfast, lunch, and food safety at school:

🥪 Meals Available Daily

• Both breakfast and lunch are available for all students each day.

• In addition to the daily hot lunch choice, students may also select:
  ✅ Chicken nuggets
  ✅ Grilled cheese
  ✅ Bagel
  ✅ Salad

📅 Monthly Menu

• A digital menu will be sent home at the beginning of each month outlining available food choices.

• Please note: menu items may be subject to change based on availability.

🥡 Home Lunches Welcome

• Students are welcome to bring lunch from home.

• However, we cannot accommodate lunch visitors—there is no space in the cafeteria for adults to eat with students.

📋 Free & Reduced Lunch Applications

• If your child received free or reduced lunch last year, you must resubmit a new application for this year.

• The application will be available at the start of the school year.

🥜 We Are a Nut-Free School
To keep all students safe:
🚫 No peanuts or tree nuts, including Nutella.
🚫 This applies to all food—lunches, snacks, and treats.
⚠️ Please double-check packaged items, especially candy included in boxed lunches like “Lunchables.”

🔥 No Microwaves or Food Prep

• We do not have a microwave available for student use.

• Staff will not be able to cut or open student lunches.
  📦 Please make sure your child can independently open their food containers, lunch boxes, and drinks.
  ✨ Now is a great time to practice at home!

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Throughout the school year, we will conduct a variety of safety drills to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.

🚨 Types of Drills Include:

• Fire Drills

• Lockdown Drills

• Shelter-in-Place Drills

• Evacuation Drills

📅 Frequency:
At least one drill will be conducted each month. These drills are carefully planned and practiced in a calm, supportive manner to help students feel prepared—not scared

To keep all students safe and healthy, please follow these important guidelines for any medication that needs to be taken during the school day:

🚫 Students are NOT allowed to carry medication at any time—this includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

✅ All medications must be:

• Brought to school by an adult—never sent in with a student.

• In the original pharmacy-labeled container with:

  • Student’s name

  • Doctor’s name

  • Medication name

  • Exact dosage instructions

📄 Medications must be accompanied by a signed authorization form from both the physician and parent/guardian, including:

• Reason for the medication

• Time to be taken

• Duration of administration

🩹 Over-the-counter medications (like Tylenol or allergy medicine) must follow the same procedure.

📞 Questions?
Please reach out to our school nurse for guidance or help with any forms.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school a safe place for all students!

We’re happy to offer on-site before and after school care, provided by the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

📍 Location:
The program takes place right here at ESS, but it is run entirely by the Boys & Girls Club.
All questions, concerns, registration, and payments must go through their staff.

📞 To Register or Learn More:
Please contact the Boys & Girls Club directly at 203-924-9329.
🗓️ Registration begins August 1st.

👉 Important:
ESS only houses the program. The Boys & Girls Club is responsible for all operations, supervision, and communication related to before/after care

To help keep all of our students safe and healthy—especially those with food allergies—only the snacks listed below are permitted in school.
Please do not send any other food items.

✅ Approved Snacks for the Year:
Attached below

📌 Important Reminders:

• All snacks must be peanut and tree nut free.

• Please check labels carefully to make sure snacks do not contain or have been processed with nuts.

• No homemade snacks or items not on the approved list will be allowed.

Thank you for supporting a safe learning environment for all of our students

We’ve noticed that some online activities happening outside of school are beginning to affect student behavior and interactions within our school community. While these situations may start at home, they can carry over into the classroom and impact the learning environment for everyone.

We truly appreciate your partnership and support in guiding our students to be respectful, kind, and safe—both online and off. 💛

Here are a few ways you can help at home:

• 👀 Monitor Online Activity: Check that your child is using age-appropriate websites and apps. Parental controls and filters can be great tools to help keep things safe.

• 🗣️ Encourage Respectful Communication: Remind your child that kindness and respect should always guide how we treat others—whether in person or behind a screen.

• 📜 Set Clear Expectations: Create family rules about internet use and how to interact with others online. Consistency goes a long way!

• 💬 Stay Informed: Keep conversations open about your child’s online habits and social connections. Being curious and involved helps build trust.

Together, we can continue creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all of our students. 🌟

Thank you for being such an important part of our school family

We are so grateful for the strong, supportive partnership we share with you. 💛 Your involvement means the world to us and plays a big part in helping our school thrive!

To keep our days running smoothly and ensure the safety and focus of all our students, we kindly ask that parents schedule an appointment before coming to school or requesting to meet with staff members. 🏫✨

This small step helps us make sure your questions and concerns get the attention they deserve—while also avoiding interruptions to classroom learning. 🙌

Here’s how to connect:

• Want to meet with a teacher? Please reach out to them directly via email or Class Dojo to find a time that works for both of you. 💬

• Need to speak with Mrs. Weber? Give the school office a call or send her an email to schedule a time that’s convenient. 📞📧

Thank you so much for your kindness, understanding, and teamwork. Together, we’re creating a school environment that’s safe, supportive, and filled with care for every child. 🌟👫

We are so grateful for the strong partnership we share with you and truly appreciate the open, ongoing communication between home and school. Your involvement and support mean the world to us! 🌟

As we continue working together, we want to gently remind everyone that our teachers and staff may not be able to respond to messages sent after school hours right away. Just like our students, they need time to rest and recharge so they can show up each day with the energy, care, and dedication that make ESS so special. 🌈✨

💌 Messages sent after school hours will typically be responded to the next school day.
Please know that your questions and concerns are important to us, and we’ll always do our best to reply as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued kindness, understanding, and support. Together, we make ESS a wonderful place for every student to grow and thrive! 💛

Just a quick reminder that the Facebook page is not officially affiliated with ESS. It’s a parent-run space created to help families share info, ask questions, and support one another.

Please note that Mrs. Weber and staff are not administrators of this page and do not monitor or control what is posted or commented on here.

Any official school information or communication will always come directly from the school through their official channels—such as emails, newsletters, or the school website.

If you have a concern that requires school attention (like student issues, bus concerns, or school policy questions), it’s best to reach out directly to the school office or administration 💬🚌📚

We’re glad that many families enjoy using the playground before and after school—it’s a great place for kids to play and connect.

However, please be aware that there is no staff supervision during these times. For safety reasons, children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times if they are using the playground before or after school.

We appreciate your support in helping us keep our school community safe and happy!