South Elementary School News

Dear South School Families,

I hope you all enjoyed some relaxing time over the winter break. I would like to welcome you back to school. Please take the time to read through this newsletter as it will have many reminders as well as updates that will help us have a smooth return to school. I look forward to seeing all of you very soon.

Tracie Murphy, Principal

South Elementary School

If your child has a South School “Where the Adventure Begins” shirt, we will have several days throughout the school year that we will wear these shirts. (This is optional.) Let’s show our Dover South School pride on the following dates:

January 10, 2025

February 7, 2025

March 28,2025

April 4, 2025

May 2, 2025

The colder weather has arrived. It is time to get those hats and gloves out. We try to go outside as long as it is dry. Please check the weather each day to be sure your child is dressed warm enough for waiting for the bus and for outside recess.

Reminder: Fee Payment

Prompt payment of workbook and supply fees is greatly appreciated. The fee for K-5th grade is $25.00. As always, thank you for your cooperation. Report cards for the second nine weeks will be held until fees are paid.

Pre-School Tuition Reminder

Pre-school tuition must also be paid by the first of each month. Our preschool tuition is currently $130.00 per month. Failure to pay your preschool tuition will forfeit your spot in our program.

Get ready for a fun-filled night of fitness and family bonding! Due to inclement weather, we had to cancel our Family Fitness Night on December 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are currently working on rescheduling the event. As soon as we have a new date, we will be sure to share it with you.

Join us for a variety of interactive activities, including karate, yoga, and hip-hop dance. We'll also have a station for creating delicious and healthy snacks. This is a fantastic opportunity to stay active and have a blast with your loved ones. Don't miss out on this exciting event!

Preschool tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $130.00 per month. To secure your child's spot, please ensure timely payments at the beginning of each month.

We are currently planning our preschool classes for the upcoming year. Please note that we are phasing out the process of keeping a waiting list. However, we will still be contacting families who are already on the list to inform them of available spots. Priority will be given to children who will be 3 years old by August 1st, and we will follow the order of the current waiting list.

For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact South School.

January 20th: School will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Parents or Guardians are required to call the school office to report his/her child absent. If no call is made, the school will attempt to call you. Parents are responsible for informing the school of his/her child's absence and the reason for the absence. Please call the school office between 8:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. Upon returning to school, a written note is required explaining the reason for the absence. Please refer to our Elementary Handbook for our entire attendance policies and procedures.

For your planning, Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day will be April 25th, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

To ensure the safety of your child, we have a strict procedure for student check-in and check-out. When picking up your child during school hours, please proceed to the school office. Your child must be signed out before leaving the building. Please provide a reason for early pick-up on the sign-out sheet. Similarly, if your child arrives late to school, they must be signed in at the office. Please do not drop them off at the door; escort them to the office for check-in.

To maintain a secure environment, all school doors remain locked throughout the day. Visitors must enter through the office door and activate the monitoring device. Once identified, office personnel will unlock the door. If you need to visit any other part of the building, you must present a photo ID, which will be scanned to issue a visitor badge. Your cooperation in following these safety protocols is greatly appreciated.

To ensure timely communication, especially in case of inclement weather, Dover City Schools utilizes a phone notification system. Should school be canceled or delayed, you will receive a notification. Please note that in the event of a 2-hour delay, there will be no morning preschool or breakfast service.

It's crucial to keep your contact information up-to-date. Please inform the school of any address or phone number changes. This ensures we can reach you promptly, especially in emergencies. If you move during the school year, please update your address and provide proof of residency.

As the cold and flu season approaches, we want to remind you of a few important guidelines to help keep our school community healthy.

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing a fever or other signs of illness. Students may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

Pink eye has been prevalent this year. If you suspect your child has pink eye, please keep them home and consult with your doctor for appropriate treatment. They may return to school after 24 hours of treatment.

Practicing good hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of germs. Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently, cover their coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching their face.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our school nurse, Mrs. Patterson.

• Children who will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the upcoming school year.

Enrollment Process:

• Online Enrollment: Starting January 21, 2025, you can begin the online enrollment process by visiting the Dover City Schools website (www.dovertornadoes.com) and following the instructions under the "Parents" tab.
• Required Documents: A packet of required documents will be sent to you for completion. Once all documents have been received, you will be scheduled for a kindergarten screening appointment. Kindergarten Screening will be held at South School May 27th , 28th , and 29th.

Throughout the school year, we conduct several safety drills. These drills are required and also help

our students and staff know what to do in the event of an unlikely emergency. The following drills

are conducted throughout the school year; Fire drills, evacuation drills, intruder drills, reverse evacuation drills and tornado drills. Teachers review these with students before they are conducted. Our local Police department and first responders are also involved with conducting drills. If you have any questions regarding these required drills, please feel free to contact the school for more information.

Thank you for your cooperation with our drop-off and pick-up procedures. Your efforts have made a noticeable difference in ensuring a safer and smoother process for everyone.

To maintain this positive momentum, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Drop-off: Please wait until 8:40 AM for staff to be on duty before letting your child out of the car.
• Pick-up: Please use the designated pick-up lane. This is the most efficient way to ensure a quick and safe pick-up.
• Parking: Please refrain from parking in handicap spaces unless you have a valid permit.
• Pick-up Lane Etiquette:
  • Do not exit your vehicle to retrieve your child. Staff will bring your child to you.
  • Avoid turning left from Prospect Street to enter the pick-up lane. This can create traffic congestion and safety hazards.
  • Do not wave your child to cross between cars. Use the designated pick-up lane for a safer and more organized process.
  • Pull up as far as possible to allow for smoother traffic flow.

By following these guidelines, we can continue to improve the efficiency and safety of our arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

This is a friendly reminder that pets, including dogs, are not permitted on school grounds during school hours, as outlined in our Elementary Handbook.

This policy applies to all times of day, including arrival and dismissal. These are busy times with increased foot traffic, and the presence of animals can create unpredictable situations.

• Safety Concerns:
  • Nervous or scared animals may behave unpredictably, potentially causing harm to students or staff.
  • Some children may be scared of dogs or have allergies, creating a distressing environment.
  • Animals can also be a distraction, potentially interfering with student safety and the smooth flow of arrival and dismissal.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all students.

Good habits start early, and being punctual is a valuable life skill. Arriving at school on time is essential for academic success. When students are late, they miss crucial instruction and may feel rushed and embarrassed, negatively impacting their day. To ensure a positive start, students should aim to arrive at school by 8:40 AM and be in their seats by 8:55 AM when the tardy bell rings. To avoid unexpected delays, it's important to plan ahead and account for factors like traffic or last-minute preparations. By prioritizing punctuality, students can set themselves up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Communication between home and school is very important. In order to keep you up-to-date with what is happening, we have several methods of communication.

1. Email Newsletters: Be sure to check your email for monthly newsletters and occasional updates.

Should your email address change, please let us know.

2. Phone Notification System: In the event of any emergency or to share important information, Dover Schools has a phone notification system. Please be sure to notify us if you change your phone number.

3. Staff Email: Each staff member has an email where they can be reached.

4. Voicemail: Each staff member has voice mail where you can leave a message if needed. Simply call the office and ask for the staff member you need. Mrs. Polce can transfer you to the proper voice mail box to leave your message.

5. Facebook: Check us out on Facebook to see what all is happening at Dover City Schools.

January 6th: Classes Resume

January 10th: End of 2nd grading period

January 16th: PTG meeting 6:00 PM at East School

January 17th: Report Cards sent home

January 20th: No School in observance of Martin Luther King Day