Welcome back to those of you who have been Vine Street and welcome to our new families! Vine Street is the absolute BEST school and we are thrilled to start a new school year with your family! You should be receiving a letter from your child's classroom teacher over the next few days with information about their classroom and teacher. 💌

We have a wonderful new Blue Playground that is here and will be installed, however, instillation will be happening just as school is starting. Therefore, our normal arrival and dismissal will be slightly different for the first few weeks of school. All parent drop-offs will still be at the Larkin Street gate. Parents will say goodbye to their child at the gate. Due to safety, parents are not allowed on the playground. Teachers and staff will greet students at the gate and direct them to either go inside for breakfast or to where they will drop off their backpacks and lunch boxes so they can go and play on our Red Playground.

At dismissal, Kindergarten students who are parent pick ups, will be picked up by parents at the cafeteria doors (where grades 2 & 3 are dismissed). For the first two weeks, Kindergarten will be dismissed at 2:45 pm, before grades 2 & 3 students are dismissed at 3:00 pm. That way Kindergarten teachers and staff will have the ability to get to know parents better, and our K students are not as overwhelmed with the older students the first couple of weeks. The third week of school, Kindergarten students will be dismissed at regular time. There is no change to Kindergarten bus students. Please reach out if you have any questions!

Teachers and staff have been preparing for the brand new year. I hope your child is getting excited! Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help make the school year start smoothly:

• Start that early bedtime and routine the week before. 🕢
• Have your child pack their backpack the night before, so morning are not as crazy. 🤪
• A full size backpack works best for all students. It gives them room to pack a snack, their classroom folder (they will get the first day), their water bottle, and shove their coat, sweater or sweatshirt that they wore that morning when it was chilly, and now it's afternoon and 80 degrees so they don't want to wear it home. 🎒
• Your child will need a snack and water bottle every day. 🥫🥤
• Please let the school know if you need help getting a backpack and water bottle. We do have some on hand for students.
• Make sure your child's teacher knows how they are getting home every day. If there is a change in the typical way your child get's home, you will need to call the school before 2:00 pm. If we do not hear from you, we will have your child go home in their normal fashion. 🚌🚗

Our 21st Century After School Programs will be starting Monday, September....

Make sure you find the 21st Century table at Open House so you can fill out the necessary forms for the year!

1. Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.

2. Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.

3. Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.

4. Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.

5. Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Who to contact if your child doesn't want to come to school: Mrs. Moring, Mrs. Small, or Mrs. Swett at 941-6300.

Wednesday, August 28th - Open House 4:00-5:00 pm

Tuesday, September 3rd - First Day of School

Wednesday, September 11th - PTO Meeting and Title I Parent Compact Meeting - 5:30 pm

Reach out to Mrs. Swett if you have any questions! (941-6300 or dswett@bangorschools.net)

Vine Street students need your support, so please join us for the first meeting of the PTO! We will discuss how we can support Vine Street students and families this year.