WEEKLY WONDERS
Week of August 12, 2024
Important Dates
August 14- School Council Meeting
August 21- Picture Day
August 28- PTA Meeting
August 29- Donation Dress Down Day
August 30- SCCPSS e-Learning Half Day
August 31- Deadline to Purchase Family Protection Plan (FPP)- See below
View the SCCPSS Academic calendar at this link.
View the SCCPSS Assessment calendar at this link.
Student Device Loan Forms
More information is on the Ellis website.
If you have any questions, reach out to Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com)
School Council Meeting
The first school council meeting of the 2024/2025 school year is scheduled for Wednesday, August 14th at 3:30pm in the Ellis Media Center.
School Council meetings are open to anyone in the Ellis community to attend.
School Pictures
School picture day is Wednesday, August 21st.
Please make every effort to ensure that your student(s) attend school on this day. School photos are used for identification in PowerSchool/Destiny, student IDs, and the yearbook. It is also very important that we have an updated photo of your student on file for emergency purposes.
This is a FREE dress down day. Students should abide by the "​​​​​​Dress Down Guidelines" listed in the SCCPSS Student Code of Conduct. ​
Weekly Wonders Newsletter
Please read these newsletters thoroughly every week so that you are aware of that latest news and information from our school.
You must have a current email address and/or phone number on file in PowerSchool in order to receive the newsletters directly.
If you would like to opt in to receive the newsletter (and other school communication) via text, text "Yes" to the number 87569.
Ellis Family Handbook
PowerSchool Parent Access
Stay in the know through Parent Access
- Attendance, Report Cards, Assignments, Grades, Forms and more to come!
Two Ways to Get Access:
1. Online Applications:
Families Tab
Student & Parent Tools
PowerSchool Parent Access
New parents can sign up and/or recover a previous account if you forgot your password within minutes
2. Paper Applications:
Available at the school site (and attached below)
New accounts or recover a previous account within 24hrs.
Uniforms
If you have questions, contact your student's teacher.
Arrival/Dismissal Information
7:55am- Doors open for student arrival
8:15am- Doors close and classes begin (If you arrive after this time, you MUST walk your student up to the front door and sign them in)
2:55pm- Dismissal process begins
If your student was at Ellis last year, your family dismissal number is the SAME.
Even if you have an Upper El (4th-6th grade) or Erdkinder (7th-8th grade) walker, you should know your family dismissal number in case of a severe weather dismissal. During a severe weather dismissal, NO student will be dismissed from school without an adult.
Arrival/Dismissal for car riders:
Front 49th St. Ramp:
- Primary (Pre-K and Kindergarten) students along with their older siblings, if applicable
- Lower El (1st-3rd grades) students along with their Primary siblings, if applicable
Back 48th St. Ramp:
- Upper El (4th-6th grades) students along with their Lower El siblings, if applicable
- Erdkinder (7th-8th grades) students along with their Lower El and Upper El siblings, if applicable
Arrival/Dismissal for walkers:
- Primary and Lower El (Pre-K through 3rd grade) can enter/dismiss from the McGillicuddy St. door/gate (see map below). A parent/guardian must walk them to the door and pick them up from this location. Please know your family's dismissal number.
- Upper El and Erdkinder students (4th-8th grades) MUST have digital/written permission on file with their teacher before they will be dismissed as a walker (without an adult) home or to McCauley Park.
- Lower El (1st-3rd grades) students can be dismissed as a walker to McCauley Park IF they have an older sibling to escort them AND they have digital/written permission from a parent/guardian on file with their teacher.
Please communicate any daily dismissal changes to your child's teacher(s) as soon as possible, but no later than 12pm so that we can ensure your child goes to the correct dismissal point.
The first few days of carpool always takes longer at the beginning of a new school year. Please have patience as we work to make the process as quick and smooth as possible over the first week or two of school.
Nutrition
Breakfast is FREE for all students. Breakfast closes at 8:15am, so if your child wants school breakfast please ensure that they arrive on time.
To add money to your student's lunch account, visit myschoolbucks.com.
To apply for free/reduced lunch, visit https://www.myschoolapps.com/
School Counseling
We're honored to be here for your students in the 24-25 school year! As a reminder about attendance expectations, we wanted to highlight our school's attendance policy, per the Charles Ellis Montessori Academy Family Handbook.
Regular full-day school attendance is critical to the academic success of students. Parents are asked to follow the State & SCCPSS policies for attendance. It is expected that students will be punctual and prepared for a full day of learning. Administration views tardiness and early dismissals as a disruption to the learning environment and will act according to SCCPSS policy and procedure.
A written excuse is required for every student's absence. NEW THIS YEAR- FAMILIES CAN NOW UPLOAD ATTENDANCE EXCUSES DIRECTLY VIA PARENT POWERSCHOOL.
Please visit our school's Family Handbook for more information on attendance and other important protocols.
Resources:
We partner with The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle to provide the Backpack Buddies food program. If your child is on the free/reduced lunch program and could benefit from a bag of food for the weekends, let us know. In addition, we have some school supplies should there be a need.
We and our incredible school social worker are here to help! Here's to a fantastic 24-25!
August 2024 School Counseling Newsletter
Ms. Rebecca
912-395-5470 x71201
Ms. Ava
912-395-5470 x71243
Grace & Courtesy Focus
Throughout the school year, Ellis has a school-wide focus on certain positive character traits. Each teacher may choose to highlight these "Grace & Courtesy" emphases differently, but as a school we follow a general common curriculum.
From August 1st-23rd, our school-wide Grace & Courtesy emphasis is RESPONSIBILITY.
The language of identifying Responsibility from "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff
When I do what I say I am going to do, I am being responsible.
When I make a mistake and tell the truth about what I did, I am taking responsibility for what I do and say.
When I do something that helps everyone and hurts no one, I am acting responsibly.
When I tell the truth about my sad, scary or angry feelings and I ask someone to help me feel better, I am taking responsibility for my feelings.
PTA
The PTA is a vital part of our school community. Anyone (grandparents, community members, etc.) who wants to support our students, staff, and school is encouraged to join the PTA.
Membership must be renewed yearly at this link. It only costs $7 to join.
If you are interested in becoming the lead on a PTA committee, contact one of our PTA co-presidents Lacey Wyland (lswyland14@gmail.com) or Diana McGaw (dianagurley@gmail.com).
Questions?
- Your student's teacher
- SCCPSS website
- Ellis website
- Fellow school community members (via "Charles Ellis Montessori Academy PTA" Facebook group- search for it and join!)
Contact Information
Principal
Ms. Amanda
amanda.zito@sccpss.comVice Principal
Ms. Patrice
Ms. Cara
cara.bunkley@sccpss.comLibrary Media Technology Specialist
PTA Teacher Liaison
Ms. Lisa
Website: https://spwww.sccpss.com/schools/ellis/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 220 East 49th Street, Savannah, GA, USA
Phone: (912) 395-5470