2024-2025 School Year:

• 9/13- Welcome Back Picnic
• 9/19- Back to School Night (Kinder 5:30-6:15 pm; Grades 1-4: 6:15-7:00 pm)
• 9/23- HSA meeting- 6:30 pm in Ferderbar library
• 9/25- Picture Day
• 10/3 & 10/4- No School- Rosh Hashanah
• 10/11- No School- Yom Kippur
• 10/19- Fallfest
• 11/1- No School- Diwali
• 11/5- No School- Election Day
• 11/11- District Closed- No School- Veteran's Day
• 11/27-11/29- No School- Thanksgiving Break
• 12/24-1/1- No School- Winter Break
• 4/21-4/25- PSSAs- English Language Arts
• 4/28-5/2- PSSAs- Math & Science

Ferderbar is holding an online spirit wear clothing sale. Please check out the link below to view the options, which includes t-shirts, pajama pants, and sweatpants.

Orders are due 9/19. Orders will arrive the week of October 21st.

Click the link below to order!

INSTRUMENTAL DISCOVERY NIGHT

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

NESHAMINY HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

• 5:30 PM - “Try- It” Session I
• 6:30 PM - Parent Q&A
• 7:00 PM - “Try- It” Session II

NESHAMINY SCHOOL DISTRICT Parents and Students are encouraged to attend one Try-It session and the Q&A if your child is interested in learning to play a musical instrument* The “Try-It” sessions will offer students a hands-on opportunity to play each instrument! The staff from our Nationally recognized Instrumental Music Department will be available for information about how to get started with lessons and how to become the newest members of our instrumental music program. The program will feature live performances from our talented Neshaminy High School student musicians. Our representative from Music and Arts will provide information about student instrument rentals. Questions? Please contact the instrumental music teacher at your child’ s school or Alexis Cassidy, lead teacher of music (acassidy@neshaminy.org) *Students 3rd grade and older can begin a string instrument; 4th grade and older can begin a band instrument. Students wishing to begin drums must have taken and passed the drum test last year.

Vocal Music Notes

♪ Pictures needed! We have a “Wall of Fame” in our music room. I would love to fill it up with examples of Ferderbar’s shining stars participating in musical endeavors outside of school. Does your child take piano lessons? Send pictures from their recital. Is he/she a dancer, involved in musical theatre, a children’s choir, etc.? Bring in pictures and programs from their shows! Let’s fill this wall up with our talented students!

Save-the-Date

ATTENTION 4th GRADE PARENTS:

♪ ALL 4th grade students are a part of the chorus and will be performing in BOTH concerts this year.

♪ Chorus meets during 4th grade music class. There are no before or after school rehearsals for 4th grade chorus.

♪ There may be some other choral opportunities available this year on a volunteer basis – more information will be sent home as those details are confirmed.

♪ Concert dates: Thursday, December 12th & Thursday, April 10th

♫ In-school concert – 9:30 AM in Poquessing auditorium

♫ Evening concert – 7:00 PM in Poquessing auditorium

♪ Winter Concert Performers: 4th Grade Chorus & 4th Grade orchestra

♪ Spring Concert Performers: 4th Grade Chorus & Full Orchestra, &

4th Grade Band

♪ More detailed information regarding these concerts will be sent home from the directors as the dates approach.

A message from the library:

As the school year begins, I wanted to share information with all families about our library policies. Students will borrow books weekly beginning the third library class for grades 1-4 and a few weeks later for Kindergarten. Library books are due back one week later, on the day of the students’ next library class. We do not have late fees, however students cannot check out a new book until the previous book(s) are returned. Please help your children remember to bring their books back to school on their library days! We also talk a lot over the first few library classes about proper book care. As I tell the students, the most frequent causes of library book damage are younger siblings, pets, and water bottles. Please help reinforce the importance of taking good care of books at home! While we do not have late fees, lost or damaged books must be paid for. Please do not try to repair books at home, but have your child bring the book back to the library for repair! We use specialized tools and tape/glue to have the greatest chance of a lasting repair. I look forward to another great year helping students build their love of reading and learning!

The link for our Universal Elementary Student/Family Handbook is below. In preparation for the upcoming school year, all families should review the information.

The attachment below lists several quick reference points about our school.

Please review the attachment below for helpful tips and ideas from our counselor, Mrs. Parker.

Student arrival begins at 8:50 a.m.

Any student who reports to school after 9:10 am will need an adult to sign them in at the main office. Adult will need to present their personal ID or driver’s license.

Student dismissal begins at 3:35 pm.

Important Reminder- No adults should be getting out of their car at the car drop off line. The staff will help students exit and enter cars. This process will help the line move efficiently.

Please see the attachment below for specific information on our arrival and dismissal procedures.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT CARRY MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS

This is a reminder to parents with a child or children attending school in our School District that we do not carry medical insurance on students, but do provide parents with the opportunity to select a primary excess group insurance plan for students. Student accident insurance can help you eliminate the possibility of out-of-pocket expenses, since many group insurance policies no longer pay full hospital and medical expenses and may require a deductible or coinsurance. The information below provides details on three plans that are available.

Who needs to obtain volunteer clearances?

Any adult applying for or holding a volunteer position who is responsible for a child's welfare or has direct contact with children during curricular or co-curricular activities needs to obtain volunteer clearances. Examples include classroom volunteers, Home & School activity volunteers, or field trip chaperones.

If you have any questions as to whether a clearance is needed for a particular volunteer role or activity, please contact our main office, 215-809-6370.

Don't Wait!

Act 34 - the Pennsylvania State Police Clearance - can take 2 to 4 weeks to process and Act 151 - the Child Abuse History Clearance - can also take 2 to 4 weeks.

You will NOT be allowed to volunteer or chaperone a school trip unless all appropriate volunteer paperwork is complete and submitted.

Click the link below to access additional information and links for each clearance.

https://www.neshaminy.org/Domain/2376

Breakfast is free for the 24-25 school year. Students can purchase a second breakfast.

Neshaminy uses School Café for payment. You will need to register at https://schoolcafe.com You can check balances, set balance alerts, set recurring payments etc. A 5% convenience fee will be charged on all online payments.

Food Service Website

Please visit the Food Service webpage for additional information:

https://www.neshaminy.org/domain/18

To apply for the Free & Reduced Meal Program:

Read the letter to Neshaminy families for information about the 2024-2025 Free & Reduced Meal Program

Visit https://www.schoolcafe.com/ or use the free School Cafe app to apply quickly and easily online.

Though we encourage our families to apply online, paper applications are still available and can be found below. They are also available at the Main Offices of each of our schools and can be filled out and returned there.

Pennsylvania Free Reduced Application (English)

Aplicación reducida gratuita de Pennsylvania (Español)

If you need help or want to fill out an application in person, the Main Office staff at each school can assist you during their normal business hours.

Do you have questions about this application or the Free & Reduced program at Neshaminy? Call 215-809-6542.

Do you have questions about this application or the Free & Reduced program at Neshaminy? Call 215-809-6542.

Please Note:

• Families must complete a new Free & Reduced application each school year.
• Paper applications are no longer distributed at school.

Did you know...

• Free and Reduced Meal applications are available in 48 languages (call for information)
• If you qualify for free meals, you may be eligible for affordable internet from Comcast (see below) and the chance to purchase lower priced laptops or computers
• You can go to any local library within your community and use their computers to apply for Free and Reduced Meals

Additional Programs

If you receive Free & Reduced benefits, your children may qualify for other programs as well. To make it easier to find out about these, we can share your information with these other programs but need your permission to do so. Completing the forms below will not change whether your children get free or reduced price meals:

Elementary information sharing permission form (fillable PDF form)

Important Dates:

• August 28th- First day for K, 5 & 9
• August 29th- All grades report to school
• September 2nd- District closed for Labor Day

Important Reminders:

• Students need to come to school with a charged laptop everyday.

• All cellphones and smartwatches will be placed in student bookbags at the start of the day and will remain powered off during the school day.
• No stickers can be placed on the district device.
• Students need to have headphones.

Please see the following attachments for additional information and expectations.

Every Student, Every Day

Families, as we transition from summer to the 2024-2025 school year, we want to remind you that every student's attendance, every day, is crucial to their academic success. We need your support to instill the habit of regular school attendance. It's important to understand that students who miss school frequently are at risk of lower academic achievement, failure, and even dropping out.

Regular school attendance not only contributes to academic success but also plays a significant role in boosting a child's self-esteem. By establishing this habit early on, children learn that attending and arriving on time to school daily is crucial. Good attendance not only helps children perform well in school but also prepares them for future work, fostering a sense of confidence and well-being.

“Every Student, Every Day” is our slogan to champion school attendance in our schools.

Below are some suggestions you may wish to consider supporting your child's attendance:

• Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session. They may be considered unexcused absences.
• Establishing regular bedtime and morning routines can significantly improve your child's attendance. This will ensure your child is well-rested and prepared for the school day, reducing the likelihood of absences.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Talk about the importance of regular attendance and how your child feels about school.
• Only permit missing school if your child is genuinely sick. Use a thermometer to check for a fever. Remember that stomach aches and headaches may be signs of anxiety.

• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to help your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

• Avoid medical appointments when school is in session. A link to the District Calendar is HERE.

https://www.attendanceworks.org/

Annually, handbooks outline various school policies that impact families and students. The District is taking extra steps to educate you on Policy 204: Attendance.

District Policy 204: Attendance outlines the steps the District shall take regarding unexcused absences to support you and your child in improving attendance. Our actions follow compulsory attendance and truancy laws in Pennsylvania, as amended via Act 138 of 2016 (Act 138), Act 39 of 2018 (Act 39), and Act 16 of 2019 (Act 16).

Please note that absences shall be treated as unexcused until the District receives a written excuse explaining the absence, to be submitted within three (3) days of the absence.

To ensure that you are fully informed and aware of the consequences, below is a summary of steps the District is required to take by law for unexcused absences:

1) Within ten days of the third (3rd) unexcused absence in any one year, the District will notify you that your child is truant and that a Student Improvement Conference (SAIC) may be scheduled if the unexcused absences continue.

2) Following the third (3rd) unexcused absence (in any one school year), you will be contacted by the District to convene a Student Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC.) Every effort will be made to ensure your attendance at this meeting; however, Pennsylvania Attendance Laws require the meeting to occur whether or not you can attend. A Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) will be developed at the SAIC, which will include positive, proactive strategies and non-exclusionary consequences.

a) Examples of positive, proactive strategies could include the support of school counselors, school social workers/home and school visitors, and community agencies.

b) Examples of non-exclusionary consequences could include exclusion from non-academic social events and/or co-curricular activities (e.g., attending and /or participating in after-school events).

3) Following the sixth (6th) unexcused absence (in any one school year), a student is considered habitually truant. The District needs to follow additional requirements based on the student's age:

a) For students younger than 15, the District must refer them to Children and Youth Services or a community-based school attendance program or file a citation with the District Magistrate.

b) For students between ages 15 and 18, the District must either refer the student to a community-based school attendance program or file a citation with the District Magistrate.

Ferderbar Elementary is a Title 1 school, which means we receive additional Federal funding to support our students. Please review the attachment below, which are the Rights of Families whose child attends a Title 1 school. Please check out the flyer as well, and consider joining us for our first Title 1 meeting of the year on 9/19 at 5:00 pm.

President- Dina Mangione: mangionedina67@gmail.com

Vice President- Amy Schnauffer: amyschnauffer5@gmail.com

Treasurer: Noelle Grebe: Noellegrebe@gmail.com

Secetary: Jill Langhorne: Jill.langhorne@gmail.com

Check out the HSA's webpage to learn more about the events and activities throughout the year.

https://www.neshaminy.org/domain/997

Upcoming Dates:

• 9/13: Welcome Back Picnic- 5:00-7:00 pm- Ferderbar playground/blacktop area
• 9/23- HSA General Meeting- 6:30 pm

The school store will run every Friday from 8:50-9:10 in the back of the cafeteria. One grade level goes per week.

School Store Schedule:

• 9/20- Kindergarten
• 9/27- Frist Grade
• 10/18- Second Grade
• 10/25- Third Grade
• 11/8- Fourth Grade
• 11/15- Kindergarten

Check out the flyers below for information on events and programs in our community.