Thank you for a wonderful first 7 days of school!
It's wonderful to see so many students excited to be back to school to continue their learning journey! This year, we are focusing on supporting students as they #designtheirdestiny by setting goals, identifying strategies they can use to help them reach those goals, and celebrating their hard work! Watching the Olympics these last two weeks with so many inspirational stories has been a great reminder to us all that the process is just as important as the finish! While all of these amazing athletes have natural talent, none of them would be competing on the world's biggest stage if not for setting goals, putting in the time and effort to train, and the willingness to work collaboratively with teammates, coaches, and families toward a common purpose. Each and every one of our students is capable of doing amazing things with personal effort and the support of their teachers and families!
A few reminders as we head into our 3rd week of school:
Car Riders
- Please utilize both right lanes in the morning and use the same zipper model that is used in the afternoon to prevent a backup onto Valley Street. If the car line is backed up past where the 2nd lane begins, please utilize both lanes. If someone is using the left lane, please kindly allow them to zipper into the side lot.
- If your child has difficulty exiting the vehicle independently, please pull down to the rock so that a staff member can assist them. Please do not get out of your car in the car rider lane. If your child needs help getting buckled in the afternoon, please pull into the parking lot to secure them.
- All car riders should remain in the car rider lane for drop off. We still have many parents parking or pulling up in the middle of the parking lot to walk students across the crosswalk. This slows down the car rider flow and increases the chances that an accident will happen. We are fortunate to have the assistance of Ball Ground City Chief Gianfala and School Police Officer Mendel, but cannot guarantee that they will be there every morning to monitor the crosswalk. This leaves the responsibility to our staff whose number one priority between 7-7:35am is monitoring students exiting cars and moving safely into the building. Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep everyone safe!
Lunch
- It was decided at the district level to not allow lunch visitors until AUGUST 19th. This allows schools and students to practice procedures and get into a good routine for the year.
- As stated in the CCSD Student Parent Handbook - Food purchased from outside “fast food” restaurants including food deliveries (i.e., Door Dash, Grub Hub, etc.) and remaining in original packaging (i.e., bags and wrappers), are not permitted on the school campus. This has always been the case, but requires our front office staff to have to be the "bad guy" in telling parents/visitors they cannot take this food to the cafeteria and they prefer not to be the "bad guy" if at all possible. Please share this information with grandparents or other family members who may be planning to visit. Also remember that all visitors must be listed as a contact in Synergy or accompanied by someone who is.
- Visitor Table - We understand that many of you value the opportunity to sit with your child and their classmates during lunch, and we appreciate your involvement in our school community. However, after careful consideration, we have made the decision to establish a designated visitor table in the cafeteria. The reason for this change is primarily motivated by two important factors:
- 1. **Space Constraints:** Our cafeteria has limited space, and seating all visitors at the same table with students and their classmates can be challenging. By creating a dedicated visitor table, we can ensure that all students have sufficient space to enjoy their lunch comfortably.
- 2. **Student Privacy and Confidentiality:** We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all our students. In some cases, visitors may engage in conversations with students who are not their child, which can unintentionally lead to the sharing of personal information. To protect the privacy of all students, it is important that we limit these interactions.
- The visitor table allows you to enjoy lunch with your child in a more focused and personal setting. While we understand that this change may require some adjustment, it is designed to prioritize the well-being and comfort of all our students. We hope you understand the reasoning behind this decision and appreciate your cooperation in making our cafeteria a positive and respectful space for everyone.
Please reach out with questions, concerns, or celebrations any time!
Melinda Roulier, Principal
Lauren Roach, Assistant Principal
