Parent Newsletter

Dear Andersen Families,

Boosterthon is PTO's main fundraiser for the year. The fun run is Friday during PE time. If you haven't submitted a pledge yet, I encourage you to do so now. There is a tight race between a few of the grade levels and a bit of fun competition.

Then the following day, Saturday, Oct 5 is the "Rock"tober 5K by the City of Rockledge. Please join our community to raise funds for our PE/recreation program. If you are a runner / walker please sign up to support Rockledge and our school. Spread the word to those that you know. Thanks for promoting our school! Information is below.

On Wednesday, Oct 16th we will have BINGO night in conjunction with our Title 1 annual meeting. Come out to learn about our Title 1 program, have some fun, and win some prizes during BINGO!

Report cards will come home on Friday, October 18th. Then we have parent conferences on Tuesday, October 29th. The teachers may contact you for a conference, but if they don't and you want a conference, please let your teacher know. They will gladly meet with you. Just email them requesting a conference.

Mrs. Harris

Proud Principal of Hans Christian Andersen Elementary

Friday 10/4

Boosterthon Fun Run- during activity

Saturday 10/5

Rocktober 5K- Rockledge City Hub- pre-register. see photo below.

Wednesday 10/9/24

Walk-Bike-Roll to school - Info to come!

Fall Picture Day

RPD Chief Crawford Police & Fire presentation

Thursday 10/10

PTO meeting 5:30-6:30 Room 400D

Monday 10/14

Student holiday/Teacher workday

Wednesday 10/16

Annual Title 1 Night/BINGO Night

Thursday 10/17

SAC 6pm

Friday 10/18

Report Cards Published and sent home

Thursday 10/24

Ogglie Booglie Music Concert featuring 2nd Graders

Monday 10/28

Award Ceremony K-2 9:00-9:45 Invite only

Award Ceremony Grade 3 9:50-10:30 Invite only

Tuesday 10/29

Award Ceremony Grade 6 9:00-9:45 Invite only

Award Ceremony Grades 4 & 5 1:00-1:45 Invite only

Parent/Teacher Conference Night

Art is in need of the following donations:

Lysol Wipes

Play-doh

Fiscar scissors

Liquid Elmers Glue

Thank you for donating if you can!

Andersen Families!!

Wow this first quarter is just flying by! Can you believe that the holidays are going to start hitting us and then we will be at the end of 2024. But before that happens the PTO has a lot going on this month for you guys.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, The Boosterthon ending with the Andersen Fun Run is going on right now. The Fun Run will be held on Friday, October 4th. We are raising money for our Fall Fest, End of School Year Dance as well as classroom needs. Help us reach our goal of $15,000. We are almost halfway to that goal. If we reach it the TOP 3 GRADES will have a LIP SYNC BATTLE CONCERT. For those that saw it last year it was epic and we can't wait to see who will be up on that stage. I may have heard some 4th grade teachers, an activity teacher, and some 2nd grade teachers may be signing in our future. Let's hit that goal. We are looking for REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS to help on the day of the run. Click on the signup genius below to help us out.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449A9A923A2FE3-51832937-andersen

Our next PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, October 10th from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM in the PTO office. Please come out to help us finalize plans for Fall Fest.

October's PTO Spirit Night will be held at Timeout Sport Bar and Grill in Cocoa Village, on Tuesday, October 15th from 5 PM - 9 PM. We will receive 10% of sales for the night. Make sure to mention Andersen Elementary when ordering.

Our 2nd Annual Fall Fest this year will be on Friday, October 18th from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Andersen Field behind the school. Last year was a huge hit and we can't wait for another great year. There will be a trunk or treat, a maze, hay rides, face painting, games and food trucks. Come out and have a great time with our Andersen Community. This is a FREE event for our school so you won't want to miss out. We are also looking for volunteers to help during the event. Please click on the signup genius below to assist.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449A9A923A2FE3-51847653-fall

Thanks for everything so far this year families and lets kick off this Fall Season with a bang.

Go Eagles!!

Anastasia Trueblood

Andersen PTO President

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Hans-Christian-Andersen-Elementary-PTO-149345531760536/

Website: www.andersenpto.org

All visitors to Andersen must come through the front office and check in with a photo ID. If you are not a registered volunteer you must be escorted by a school board employee when you are on campus. While on campus, visitors are required to display the yellow vistor sticker on your shirt. At some events we will pre- register you by asking for RSVPs prior to the event.

All gates to the school campus remain locked. Entry for all visitors is at the front office, unless otherwise told for certain events.

To check out your child from school during the day, you will need a photo ID. Only those listed in Focus will be allowed to check out a student. Please come to the front office. You will show your ID to the office staff and they will check your name against the allowed pick up people in FOCUS.

School hours are 8:30-3:00pm. We open the gates for breakfast at 8:00 and instruction starts at 8:30. Be on time. Every minute counts!

We dismiss at 3pm. The car line takes a little longer at the beginning of the year, but it will get faster day by day. If you are late picking your child up, your child may be sent to aftercare and you will be charged the registration fee + the daily rate. The car line is typically done by 3:20-3:25, so please be in the car line on time to pick up your child.

Office hours are 7:30-3:30.

Car Drop off: Please use the South Car loop to drop off your child in the mornings if you are arriving by car. Please stay in your car. Noone is allowed to cross the car line or walk their child to the gate. We will have adults and safety patrols there to assist your child opening the door. Pull all the way forward until the traffic line stops. When it stops you may allow your child to exit the vehicle on the PASSENGER side of the car. Parents should not get out of their cars or have the child exit from the rear drivers side. Only use the Right lane of traffic in the mornings.

Morning Walkers:Walkers will enter through the gate located on the North side of campus closest to the traffic light on Fiske. The gate does not open until 8am. Do not allow your child to arrive earlier than 8:00am. We do not have supervision. This is too close to Fiske for the students to be waiting by themselves or play around before 8:00am. Time your child leaving your home so they arrive between 8:00am-8:25am. Thank you in advance for helping to keep your child safe.

Car Pick up: Car pick up is on the South side of campus weaving through the side parking lot. You will enter using one lane and then split into two lanes right before the last turn. An adult will be at the last turn calling names using your car tag. Have you car tag hanging from your rear view mirror, clearly displayed so it can be read. Your child will be called to a numbered pick up location. You will move your car forward to that numbered gate. You don't need to hear the number , just pull up until the car line stops. Watch the teachers and they will direct you. The lane closest to the building will be lined up first, then the left lane will be lined up. Both lanes will wait until all students are loaded before being released. Upon release, both lanes of traffic will go, arranging yourselves either to turn left or turn right out of the parking lot.

Crossing Guards: The City of Rockledge employs crossing guards to direct traffic and keep drivers and pedestrians safe. Please follow their lead. They have entry and exits timed and coordinated so traffic can move smoothly in and out of the school. Slow down when you are in the school zone, stay off phones, and be kind. We love and care for our crossing guards and appreciate them taking care of our students.

Walker/Biker Release: Walkers & bikers will be released at 3:00pm. They exit campus through the North gate closest to the traffic light on Fiske. The intent of walkers is for them to walk off campus. If you use a car to pick up your child, I encourage you to use the car line. Parking is limited on the side streets next to the school. It is a public road, but it is a residential street. Be mindful not to block driveways, park in the grass, or block the street. Please show all the neighbors our kindness and be respectful of their property. Parking across the street is also limited. Do not park in the business parking lots as those are reserved for their customers.

*You may not park in the school parking lots to walk to the gate to pick up your child. This includes kindergarten parents. Cars may not enter the front parking lot or park in the front grass area for dismissal purposes. Only daycare vans and buses are to use the front parking lot. Walkers must walk off campus. This is for the safety of our students loading buses.

Daycare and Bus Pick up: Daycare and Bus riders will be released also at 3:00pm to load in the front parking lot. If your child is absent from school- please notify the day care. It saves us and them time locating your child who is not at school.

Rainy Day Dismissal: Rainy day dismissal will be called if the rain is more than a sprinkle where the students would get significantly wet were they to walk home OR if we hold students due to lightening in the vicinity. If we hold students due to lightning in the vicinity, we will release them when it is safe according to their rainy-day plans. Please communicate with your teacher how your child will be going home if rainy day dismissal is called. The office will send out a text notification if we hold students due to lightning or if we will be dismissing according to their rainy-day plans. Please discuss with your child what they should do now, so they know.

Rainy day plans choices would be:

1. My walker/biker will be picked up in the car line. or

2. My walker/biker can ride/walk home in the rain (or after threat of lightening is over)

https://www.brevardschools.org/o/bps/page/code-of-student-conduct

Please click the link to become familiar with the student code of conduct. Administration will be reviewing the Student Code of Conduct with all the classes and sharing the student responsibilities. We will continue to follow BPS discipline plans, included here for your review.

All students should follow the code of conduct so that there is an atmosphere of learning at school. We look forward to pushing all students to be successful. Please review the student responsibilities and the Code of Conduct as a family, so your child is set up for success.

Breakfast is free in all BPS schools. Lunch is free for all students here at Andersen. You are encouraged to set up a mypaymentsplus account to add funds so that your child can purchase a la cart items or snacks, if you allow.

Family members can eat with your students on Thursdays beginning August 22. You must first come to the front office and check in. Then you may drive your car around to park in the side parking lot. You will use the gate closest to the cafeteria. You may only eat with your child. The picnic tables outside are there for you to eat together. When the student's assigned lunch time is over, he/she will go to their teacher's line as they come out from the cafeteria. They must be released to the teacher at the end of their lunch period. Family will then exit out the same gate. Families may not accompany their student to the playground, class, or have them stay longer at table.

All birthday treats need to be prearranged with the teacher. For student safety, all treats must be store-bought. Did you know you can order class/birthday treats from our cafeteria and have delivered to the class? See the order form below. Orders must be submitted 10 days in advance.

The City of Rockledge is hosting the Third Annual Rocktober 5K on October 5th. We encourage all Andersen families to register to walk/run in this fun event. Proceeds are going to Andersen this year!! Spread the word to your friends and family! If you would like to volunteer let Mrs. Harris know.

The FortifyFL app is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows anyone to instantly relay information to law enforcement and school officials. Students, staff, families, and members of the community can use the app to report school safety concerns anonymously and easily. Click the photo for more information.

The SpeakOut Hotline (800) 423-TIPS is designed to help you anonymously report any threatening behavior or situation that endangers you, your friends, family, community, or your school campus. Reporting isn't "snitching,” reporting is when you need to keep yourself or someone you know safe from threats, harmful behaviors, or dangerous situations. By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity, SpeakOut allows the caller to give information without the fear of retribution.

Thank you to the follow businesses/groups for your generous donations of school supplies:

1. Faith Baptist Church

2. Pirtek

3. City of Rockledge

If your family is still in need of school supplies please come by or call the front office.

Please be sure to like and follow us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/AndersenElementarySchool