SWS NEWS
AUGUST '23 NEWSLETTER!!!
THE MEANIX MINUTES...for another great video, click my face : )
๐๐ Bus Info & Teacher Info๐ฉโ๐ซ๐จโ๐ผ
Families will be notified when busing information (bus number, location, times) are ready to be viewed in the Parent Portal.
- If you are in need of an alternate bus stop due to childcare, please use the form below!
Families will also be notified that the student classroom assignments are ready to be viewed in Parent Portal.
- KEEP IN MIND THAT FAMILIES ARE STILL REGISTERING AND/OR MOVING AWAY, SO CLASS ASSIGNMENTS CAN CHANGE AS THINGS PROGRESS!!!
๐UPCOMING DATES๐๏ธ
Tuesday, August 22-- Grades 3-4-5 Family Open House--6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 23--Grades K -1-2 Family Open House--6:00 pm
Monday August 28 - First Day of School for Students
Friday, Sept 1 & Monday Sept 4 - Schools and Offices Closed (Labor Day)
Thursday, Sept 21-- Ice Cream Social (more details to come)
Monday, September 25 - No School for Students
FAMILY OPEN HOUSE
SWS will be piloting something new this year for the district. FAMILY OPEN HOUSE will be a fun and laid-back way to have students and parents meet the teacher, get information, and connect with other families.
Kids will come with parents to be able to meet their teacher, check out the classroom, and meet the other kids while parents will be getting some information from the teacher as well. Kids should stay with their parents during this event--this is not a run around the school sort of thing that sneak-peek ended up turning into years ago.
Each of the two nights will start at 6:00 and will wrap up outside with a free cool treat, a chance to buy a t-shirt, and if kids want to play on the playground, go for it!
We are doing this, intentionally, before school officially starts so that the kids will have an idea as to where the classrooms are and so that the school year can get off to a smooth start. Keep in mind that classrooms will not be completely finished, but that is completely fine, too! :)
The dates for elementary Open House from the district does not apply to SWS--we are piloting both the structure of the events and also the dates used.
We are excited to give this a try--it has been used successfully for years in neighboring elementary schools in other districts. Thanks!
PTO Volunteers Needed -Get involved and make a difference! ๐๐โโ๏ธ
Open PTO Positions
If interested, please reach out to swspto.president@gmail.com to learn more! Thank you!
There are always ways that parents can volunteer to help out. Thanks!
PTO Dues 2023-24 ๐บ
This year, we are collecting $30 per child with a cap of $100 per family. To make it easy, we offer several ways to pay dues for you to help support Starkweather:
- Online payment will be available through Venmo by sending to @StarkweatherPTO or click our VenmoQR to scan with your phone. Our logo is the wolf; no need to confirm with phone number.
- You can log into our SWSMembershipSite and pay online. *This is also how families can add themselves to our school directory to receive emails, class lists and parent contacts (more information on this in a section below).
- Checks or cash can be sent in with your child once school is in session. Checks should be made out to Starkweather PTO.
๐ฅฏ Breakfast and Lunch in 2023-24 ๐ฅช
This year, breakfast will be free for all students. Lunches will be paid for.
Students can practice inputting their number on a calculator if you get really bored on a rainy day...check out the picture of the key pad they will use in the cafeteria.
New families and Kindergarten families, your student's ID number is on the letter you got when your registration was finalized. To find your student's number and or to add money to your student's account, check out the Families & Students tab on the website. There, you can find the Parent Portal link and also the PaySchoolsCentral (PayForIt) link. Students can use cash, but it is MUCH easier to add money to his or her account through PaySchoolsCentral.
This ID number does not change from year to year!
๐ Staffing Updates ๐
We have some staff that are returning this year, some that are being shifted around a bit, and some that are just starting with us this year.
Kindergarten--Mrs. Betsy Lane will join Mrs. Jen D'Antonio, Mrs. Kristen Brown, and Mrs. Michel Comstock. [Mrs. Saraceni will be on maternity leave this year.]
1st Grade--Ms. Emily Lyons will join Mrs. Dashira Ramirez, Ms. Nicole Faggiola, Mrs. Kelly Duffey and Mrs. Kristine Culp (Bengel) [Ms. Nikish is on maternity leave this year.]
2nd Grade-- Ms. Allison Morris, Ms. Stacy Zelinski, Mrs. Sue Atwell, and Mrs. Melissa Dailey.
3rd Grade--Mrs. Erin Melanson, Mrs. Amy Robinson, Ms. Amber Keys, and Ms. Susie Jackson
4th Grade--Mrs. Jordan Fleming, Mrs. Alyssa Buckley, Mrs. Jessie Barbato, Mrs. Carolyn McGaughey
5th Grade--Mr. Tony Ambrosino will be joining Ms. Bevin Sullivan, Mrs. Amy Doran, and Mrs. Erika O'Neill
Special Education--Mrs. Marie Mullarkey is joining our Learning Support team with Mrs. Anne Svelling, Ms. Jess Johanson, and Mrs. Amanda Renauro.
Music-- Ms. Christina Flores will now join our team of Specials teachers to teach K - 5 Music. [Mr. Morrison retired.]
Therapists-- Ms. Ashley Anderson will be our Speech Therapist [Mrs. Condon retired.] and Ms. Adriana Demarco will be our Occupational Therapist [Mrs. Klanica is now working with adults.]
FROM MRS. PARKINSON IN THE HEALTH OFFICE
We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Christine Parkinson back to SWS. For years, Mrs. Parkinson was an active member of our PTO as her own children attended Starkweather. Mrs. Parkinson is taking over for Mrs. Doyle who retired at the end of last school year, and she will be a great addition to our staff. Mrs. Parkinson's email is cparkinson@wcasd.net should you want to send her any of the information you have described below, but keep in mind she isn't working over the summer.
PA State school health mandated immunization, physical & dental requirements for 22-23 school year:
1. All students are required to be up to date with PA state mandated immunizations within the first 5 days of school in order to avoid being excluded from school.
2. All kindergarten students and any student registering for the first time to FHE must submit updated physical and dental examination report to the school nurse within the first 60 days of school in order to avoid being excluded from school. Reports can be dated on/after September 2021.
3. Rising 3rd Graders- Your child is required to have a dental exam in his/her 3rd grade school year (2022-2023). This is not a new requirement, but WCASD now has a provisional period of 60 days from the start of school. This means your childโs dental exam report is due on or before November 1, 2022. This deadline is a long time off, but the nurse can accept upcoming or recent dental reports any time and update your childโs health record now. Exams must have been after 8/30/2021.
If you have questions about these requirements, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Christine Parkinson via email-- cparkinson@wcasd.net
If you registered your child(ren) through WCASD portal and did not upload all or part of the above PA state school health mandates, please send the information to Mrs. Christine Parkinson at the above email address as soon as possible.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure we have your child's most up-to-date medical records on file.
WCASD Mental Health / Counseling Website
This is in an effort to increase and improve parent familiarity with our counselors and their services. The current site is being updated by our communications team so that it can be translated.
NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION
Looking to register a Kindergarten student for this year? It is not too late to do so. Use the NEW STUDENT LINK and follow the steps to register. MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT SCHOOL YEAR!! For a student for next year, 2022-23, choose the school year carefully, otherwise you may need to start over. Any questions, reach out to Ms. Christine Savage in the office. csavage@wcasd.net or 484-266-2202.
Looking to Volunteer??
If you would like to volunteer to help out here at Starkweather, and especially if you think that you will want to be a chaperone for a field trip, please make sure your CLEARANCES are on file. This process is kind of a pain in the neck, to be honest, but the forms do last for 5 years.
Check out VOLUNTEER FORMS to get the process started. Mrs. MacLeod manages our clearances--you can reach her at dmacleod@wcasd.net with any questions.
Thanks for helping out!
PickUp Patrol for absenses, late, and early dismissal changes
Starkweather uses PickUp Patrol for ALL plan changes, including late and early dismissals and absences. Please do not send notes, emails or call the school for changes, except in an emergency.
If you are a new family, Mrs. Donna MacLeod dmacleod@wcasd.net (office assistant & attendance secretary) will email you a link at the end of August during teacher in-service week. It is quick and easy to use, and saves a lot of time and hassle!
๐ DROP OFF & PICK UP ๐
- DROP OFF is from 8:30 - 9:00.
- Please notice the green line on the map to use the CAR LOOP to drop off kids for regular arrival.
- ALL STUDENTS WILL ENTER THE BUILDING THROUGH THE MAIN ENTRANCE DOORS.
- Parents who are using ACP for Before School Care should notice the RED dashes on the map and drive around the side of the building. ACP uses the cafeteria and the back playground.
- If you are later than 9:00, please park your car and walk your child to the door to sign them in, too.
- If it is later than 9:00 but the buses are also still emptying, you are able to drop them off on the curb as we will still have staff out front.
- YIELD to BUSES--we usually do not have too much congestion in the mornings, but if needed, buses will pass the cars on the way up the hill.
- The best way to cut down on car-line congestion is to have your child use the bus!!
- PICK UP for afternoon dismissal is from 3:30 to 3:50.
- Any student โleft overโ after 3:50 will need to be picked up from the office.
- As a parent pulls in to the car line, a staff member will use the Pick Up Patrol app to notify the classroom that the parent is here. The student will leave from the classroom and meet the parent in the carline.
- We will have staff members out front making note of the cars as they arrive into the CAR LOOP and helping students get into the cars (notice the green line on the map)
- As youโre waiting in the Car Line on the hill, be aware that buses will pass you on the way up the hill. It is ok, we have done this for years...LOOK BOTH WAYS as you enter and exit the Car Loop.
- YIELD TO THE BUSES!! Look at the RED ARROWS on the map above--those are spots where parents need to be careful when pulling into and out of the car loop. YIELD TO THE BUSES!!
- The best way to cut down on car-line congestion is to have your child use the bus!!