Chapman families,

Our first week of school has been a tremendous success! The energy has been contagious, and we have been busy getting to know one another, practicing our new routines and establishing a positive learning environment.

Highlights of the Week:

• New Beginnings: Students engaged in fun icebreaker activities that allowed them to connect and build friendships.
• Classroom and School Routines: We introduced daily routines and expectations, ensuring everyone feels comfortable, safe and ready to learn.
• Exploring Our Curriculum: Students started talking about what they will be learning, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for the subjects ahead.

We encourage you to check in with your child about their experiences and what they are most excited about this year. Together, we can support their journey and foster a love for learning.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make this a fantastic school year!

Please see new information first followed by repeated items. We hope to see you at our first "Get to Know You" PTA Meeting of the school year on Thursday, August 29 @ 7:00 pm!

Warm regards,
Mrs. Harrell

Main Line: (440) 572-7140

Attendance Line: (440) 572-7140 *choose #2*

Bus Transportation: (440) 572-7060

Clinic: (440) 268-5677

August 23 -

• Full day kindergarten teacher assignments sent home with students

• Full day kindergarten Meet the Teacher & Supply Drop Off 2-3pm

August 29 -

• Get to Know You PTA Meeting 7:00 pm @ Chapman

Our PTA Fall Fundraiser kicked off today! Students are bringing home information in their folders. Thank you for your continued support!

Students who are bus riders should always have a book with them in their bookbag. While waiting for busses to be called, all students are encouraged to read during this time.

Today we completed our first fire (evaculation) drill for the school year. We practice this safety drill within the first ten days of the school year and a total of six times throughout the year. Students did a wonderful job following directions. More information regarding various safety drills practiced will be in an upcoming newsletter in September.

Arrival Time for Students:

• Elementary students who walk to school or use transportation other than the school bus cannot arrive before 8:50 AM, as there is no supervision available.
• The official arrival window is 8:50 AM to 9:05 AM.
• All arrival doors will close promptly at 9:05 AM. If you arrive after this time, please check in at the main office with the secretary.

AM Car Drop-Off:

• Students being dropped off should enter through the main entrance, Door G.
• Please park your vehicle and walk your student(s) to the sidewalk.
• IMPORTANT: Student(s) are not allowed to walk in the parking lot without an adult.

AM Walkers:

• Walkers must use the sidewalk for safety.
• Depending on their starting point, students may enter through Door G (North) or Door B (South).
• Students walking from south of Chapman must enter through Door B due to traffic and the lack of a sidewalk leading to the front of the building.
• Students arriving after 9:05 AM must enter through Door G and should be accompanied by an adult.

**Please reference map below**

PM Car Pick-Ups:

• All car pick-ups will begin at 3:30 PM at Door G.
• Adults must exit their vehicles and walk towards Door G to pick up their child.
• IMPORTANT: Please do not stand in front of Door A, as that is the exit for our bus riders.
• Students will be dismissed by grade level, starting with kindergarten students.
• Note: Students will not be released to walk to the parking lot alone to meet their adult.

PM Walkers:

• All walkers will be dismissed at 3:30 PM from either Door G or Door B.
• We kindly ask that an adult or older sibling accompanies kindergarten and first grade students while walking home.
• If you are walking home with your student(s), please be at the designated door you've selected at this time.

**Please reference map below**

After picking up your student, please proceed to your vehicles and refrain from playing on the front lawn. This is to ensure the safety of all students and families. Thank you for your cooperation!

Calling Our Main Office During Dismissal:

• Our office staff will be unavailable to answer phones starting at 3:15 PM due to dismissal support.
• For transportation changes, please call the office before 2:45 PM. Calls after 3:15 PM will go to voicemail.

Change in Student Dismissal Plans:

• To communicate a change in your student's dismissal, please send a note or call the Main Office.
• If notifying after the school day begins, do not email or use Remind to inform your student's teacher, as they may not see it before dismissal.
• Important: Changes must be communicated by a parent or guardian; we cannot accept a student's word for dismissal changes.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and organized arrival and dismissal for all students!

If your student is in full day kindergarten, we invite you to meet your child’s kindergarten teacher and drop off supplies on Sunday, August 25 from 2:00-3:00 pm at Chapman Elementary School. If you’re unable to attend, supplies can be sent with students on August 26 and 27.

As a reminder, all school fees that have not been paid are now considered past due. To check the balance and pay outstanding school fees, go to Pay Schools Central by clicking HERE. In addition to Pay Schools Central, school fees can be paid by cash/check to your student’s building secretary or with the Treasurer's Office. If you have questions related to this, please contact the building secretary or Melissa LePage (mlepage@scsmustangs.org) within the Treasurer's Department. As we are approaching a new school year, as well as the start of fall sports, per Board of Education policy, the consequences for outstanding prior year school fees will prohibit students from participating in any school extracurricular activities (i.e., athletics, student council, school clubs, etc.), field trips, and school sanctioned dances / events that require a purchased ticket. For additional information on District Fee Collection Procedures and Consequences CLICK HERE.

The district expanded our partnership with Blocksi to include student content filtering and alerts. CLICK HERE to view an informational flier about joining the Blocksi Parent Portal to gain insights on your student’s online behavior with their scsmustangs account and set parental controls beyond the school. If you have any questions, contact Dave Binkley, Director of Instructional Technology at dbinkley@scsmustangs.org.

In order to avoid disruption of the educational environment and protect students' right of privacy, student use of cell phones are prohibited, in school classrooms and on field trips, excluding use as approved by the classroom teacher or the Principal. Cell phones may be prohibited in any other areas within the school building as deemed necessary by the Principal. Possession of a cell phone by a student at school during school hours is a privilege that may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the terms of this policy, or otherwise abuses this privilege. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or confiscation of the cell phone. The Principal will also refer the matter to law enforcement or child services if the violation involves an illegal activity (e.g., child pornography, sexting).

In practice, here is what this will mean for our students.

• PreK-5. Cell phones and airpods / earbuds are not permitted during any time of the school day. Students that have these devices should keep them stowed in their book bag and locker (if applicable).
• SMS. Cell phones and airpods / earbuds are not permitted during any class or in the hallways. During class, cell phones will be stored in the classroom caddy / storage system or kept in a locker. During class changes, cell phones should be in a student’s pocket or purse. SMS students may use their cell phone in an academic lab or at lunch.
• SHS. Cell phones and airpods / earbuds are not permitted during any class. During class, cell phones will be stored in the classroom caddy / storage system or kept in a book bag, purse, or locker. SHS students may use their cell phone at lunch, in study hall or in the hallways during class changes.

Smartwatches & Other Devices

Although there is not a global policy on Smartwatches at this time, we recognize that more and more students are wearing smartwatches that have the same functionality as cell phones (i.e. text message, apps, etc.) Currently, students are permitted to wear them, but while they are at school they need to be used as a watch and not a cell phone for the reasons listed above. Therefore, we will follow these guidelines for devices in the classroom:

It is recommended that you have your child place any smartwatch or device into Airplane or School mode while at school. This decreases the functionality and limits what is possible on the watch while at school.

If, for any reason, a staff member believes that your child is using their watch for reasons that align with the cell phone policy or their watch is becoming a distraction in the classroom to their learning, they will be asked to remove the watch and place it in their backpack.

If a cell phone, smartwatch, or other device needs to be addressed for any reason we will utilize this protocol:

1. First Offense - The staff member will ask your child to place the device in their backpack or a safe location. If they don't feel that their backpack or locker is safe, they can turn it into the teacher.

2. Second Offense - The staff member will ask that the device be turned into them, they will store it safely, and return it to your child at the end of class. You will receive communication from the staff member.

3. Third Offense - The staff member will ask the device be turned in, they will give it to the administrative team, who will address the issue with the student, including a phone call to parents, and return the device to the student at the end of the school day.

4. Any Additional Offense - We will follow the same protocol as above and require the parent/guardian pick up the device in order to hold a meeting.

It is important to note that you can always call our building to get immediate support if necessary.

Please join us for our first informal PTA meeting where we will share all of the wonderful things the PTA does for Chapman and ways you can get involved! We would love to see some new faces, even if you can’t make any other meetings - this is the one to be at!

• Breakfast/lunch information and prices
• Manage student accounts via Pay Schools Central
• Free/reduced lunch application and information (Apply via Pay Schools Central). Free and reduced lunch applications need updated annually.

The District adheres to guidelines for shared food and snacks so that we can promote safety, consistency, and equal access for the growing number of children who have life-threatening food allergies.

Right At School provides care for our students before and after school here at Chapman. For more information for the 2024-2025 school year, CLICK HERE.

To download medication administration forms and action plans for the 24-25 school year, visit: https://www.strongnet.org/departments/student-services/health-services