News from the Castle

This week was MAP testing and our Knights shined! They have worked very hard this year and their growth is obvious. Whether they got to their goal or got close, we are very proud of each student. This week was also Assistant Principal Appreciation Week! Mrs. Burns is outstanding and we are blessed to have her at the Castle!

This Friday is Field Day. Thank you to the folks who have become approved volunteers to cover different activities. It will be a good time!

Virtual Art Show- Please see the art info. below to view our Virtual Art Show and see possible items for purchase from Artsonia for your student!

STUDENT LAPTOPS- student laptops will not be sent home for 3rd-5th grade students after April 16th. We will start with SCReady testing almost immediately after Spring Break.

Morning Car Line- Please do not park and drop students off. Remain in line. DO NOT CROSS TRAFFIC. Mr. Brimmer or another staff member will direct you across at the crosswalk at the end of the carline.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

If you'd like to recognize an employee please complete this form and we will recognize their efforts! EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION FORM

Sincerely,

Aaron Clark

Principal

Mt. Gallant Elementary

Dear Mount Gallant Elementary School Parents and Guardians,

Friday April 18, 2025 is our Field Day! In the next few weeks there will be more information coming out about our field day including a sign up. Rock Hill Schools requires a form and background check to volunteer in our school. It is a process that takes a few weeks to complete. Please take a few minutes and get the process started.

Rock Hill Schools Volunteer Form

If you will be a certified volunteer by April 18th, please sign up for a Field Day station using the signup genius below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D45AEA92BA1F94-55753257-mount

I hope we can count on your continued support to help us make field day a special day for our students.

During the week of April 14th, I will be working with our K-2 students on Monday the 14th and Tuesday through Thursday I will be working with grades 3-5.

Fifth Grade Families-

All fifth graders are getting ready for their next steps towards middle school. This is an exciting time! Letters were sent home on Monday the 7th of April with the QR code that can be scanned in order to sign up for elective classes. Below is a link that can be used in order to complete this task as well. All electives need to be chosen by Friday, April 18th.

https://sites.google.com/rhschools.org/rising6thgrade

Hey Families! Here are a couple of highlights regarding PTA events and activities!

1. Birthday grams - just a reminder that parents can still turn in the forms to sign their kids up to get them! Forms are located at the front desk if they need them.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, you are missing the fun! Our VIRTUAL ART SHOW is up and running. Every MGES student is represented, so please take a moment and visit our gallery of artwork created during the 2024-25 school year. You can find the link on our school web page. Please note, THE ART SHOW IS TOTALLY FREE, and all original art will be coming home very soon! However, in connection with the art show, I am also running a small fundraiser. There is absolutely no obligation to participate in the fundraiser. Your child should have brought home an individualized flier promoting Artsonia and products that can be purchased with their self-portrait art on it. Use the link on the flier or scan this QR code to access Artsonia. Any money raised will go specifically toward the purchase of art materials for next school year.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h59BxwKrYT5LsBzhXprIlkQYN_CUn7q7tkKvW7dL-gA/present?usp=sharing

TBD

Beta parents, please make sure your child is working on their volunteer hours. There will be volunteer opportunities later this month, but service hours can be earned outside of school hours too.

What Does Self-Care Mean When You're a Parent?

Parenting is demanding—self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Taking time to recharge helps you be more patient, present, and connected with your kids.

Modeling self-care teaches your children balance. When they see you setting boundaries and prioritizing well-being, they learn to do the same.

You're probably saying "yeah, yeah, I don't have time for that..." We know your schedule is grueling most weeks. Your days fill with work meetings, kid appointments, practice schedules or other obligations that take priority over you and what you need. We're here to help. We encourage you to try at least one of these tips every day for the rest of the month (or even week) and see if it helps.

Tip 1. Schedule a break today. You put everything else in your calendar, so try adding a break for you. It can be a 10 minute meditation break or a 20 minute walk (get those endorphins).

Tip 2. Text or call a friend or family member you haven't talked to in awhile and share three positive things that have happened to you since the last time you talked to them—then ask to hear three from them.

Tip 3. Try journaling. Write down something you are grateful for each day and share with your family at dinner.

Tip 4. Laugh! Find a funny video or look up jokes to share with your kids and see if you can make them laugh! Laughter reduces stress and improves moods.

Tip 5. End your day with a relaxing routine. After the kids are in bed, take time away from screens to read, take a bath, or practice 5 minutes of breathing.

You don’t have to be a perfect parent to be a great one. Give yourself grace, take breaks, and remember that self-care makes you stronger for your family. A regulated parent helps create a regulated child. Taking time to manage your stress leads to a more peaceful and emotionally healthy home.

April

School Phone: 803-981-1360

School Webpage: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Domain/16

Twitter: @MtGallantElem

Facebook: Mt. Gallant PTA

Instagram: MountGallantKnights

School start time- Thank you for turning in your signed attendance policies. As a reminder, students need to be in their classrooms and seated by 7:45AM to be on time. If they are just stepping on the sidewalk or coming in the front door at 7:45AM, they won't be to class on time and will be marked tardy.

Lunch Visitor Schedule:

Monday- Kindergarten, McMahon (5th)

Tuesday- First Grade, May (5th)

Wednesday - 2nd Grade, Gaulden (5th)

Thursday- 3rd Grade, Ghent (5th)

Friday- 4th Grade, Powers (5th)

Car Rider Safety

• Dismissal starts at 2:10PM.
• We are wrapping up around 2:30-2:35PM each day, please be sure you arrive by 2:45PM at the lastest to pick up your student. Encouraging them to listen during dismissal will help speed up the process too.
• Have students exit the vehicle on the same side of the car as the Safety Patrol. Do not allow students to exit vehicles in between the car lines
• Please don't change lanes. If you turn left out of the drive way, please be in the left lane, if you turn right, please be in the right lane.
• Please watch the STOP sign. We have had several instances where vehicles have run the sign.
• Please be "Phone free" when we start loading students. Also, leaving the yellow car tag in the window until your child is in the car helps us get the student to the right car as you pull up.

Doors open at 7:00AM, no earlier. Arrival is 7:00AM-7:45AM. After 7:45AM, parents MUST walk their student in to sign in.

Dismissal is 2:10PM. Please pick up by 2:45PM at the latest.

Early checkout deadline is 1:45PM.

CAR RIDERS - There has been some confusion about car riders. If your student is going home a different way or with a different adult/person we must have a WRITTEN NOTE with PARENT SIGNATURE in the office each day by 1:45PM. In addition, the person picking up the child must have the YELLOW CARD for the child. The receiving parent must also provide the note confirming the change in transportation.

We cannot allow a child to get into a car with someone else without BOTH of these items.

BUS RIDERS - If your child is usually a bus rider and is going to be a car rider, we must have a WRITTEN NOTE in the office by 1:45 pm for each day and the person picking up your child must have the YELLOW CARD for the child.

We cannot allow the child to get into a car with someone without BOTH of these items.

Reading Time - Continuing to read with your children and asking them questions about their books is transformational and leads to great outcomes both academically and socially for students. For more information and resources on this, you can visit The Reading Foundation website.