South Lebanon Elementary News
August 2024
Principal's Welcome
Dear South Lebanon Families,
SAME TEAM...SAME DREAM!
Throughout the year we will celebrate student success through our SOAR program while recognizing student difficulties as a stepping stone to success.
Below you will find information related to Open House, our back to school procedures, and ongoing procedures. Please take time to read this information and look for additional information to be sent home with your child on the first day of school. We wish you all the best in these last few weeks of summer. We are excited to begin the 2024-2025 school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brown
Principal
A Message From the Elementary Dean of Students: Mrs. Tori Dissinger
Dear Elementary Parents and Guardians,
I am pleased to introduce myself as the Elementary Dean of Students for the 2024-2025 school year. I am excited to work with the amazing staff, students, families, and community members of each elementary school. In this role, I will assist the elementary principals with a variety of daily tasks, including addressing student discipline issues that arise both in school and on school district bus/van transportation. I have been an educator since 2005 and have been employed with CLSD since 2014, serving as an art teacher at both South Lebanon and Cedar Crest HS. I earned my PK-12 Principal Certification from both McDaniel College in Maryland and the Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro.
I believe communication between school and home is critical for student success and encourage open dialogue and collaboration among parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators. If you ever have any questions, thoughts, or ideas to share, please contact me at tdissinger@clsd.k12.pa.us.
Back To School Information
Skyward
The Skyward portal will open to families on Monday, August 12, 2024 at 4:00 P.M. By accessing the portal you will be able to find out who your child's teacher will be for the 2024-2025 school year. You will also be able to access transportation information. Please check to verify that your transportation information is correct. Even if you intend to drop your child off or pick him/her up on a daily basis, it is important to verify that your transportation information is correct in the event of an emergency or an early dismissal. Students will not be permitted to ride a bus that is different from their assigned bus.
Open House and Kindergarten Bus Ride
On August 20, 2024 we will be hosting a Kindergarten Bus Ride event from 5:30-6:00 PM with an all school open house immediately following from 6:00-7:30. During the kindergarten bus ride, kindergarten students will have the opportunity to ride a school bus with their teacher. While students are riding the bus, parents will have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Brown for a brief presentation and Q&A session. The open house event will be an opportunity for students to visit their new classrooms, meet their teacher, and connect with friends. All students and families are welcome.
If you are arriving before 6:00, please do not park in our bus lane. This area must remain clear of traffic so that our buses can enter and exit freely.
School Hours
Office Hours - 8:00-4:30
Student Day - 8:50-3:40
AM Kindergarten - 9:00-11:45
PM Kindergarten - 1:05-3:40
Busing
Protocols While Riding
Students must follow riding procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.
- Students will be assigned seats and must remain in these seats.
Bus Arrival at School
- Students will be granted entrance to the building at 8:50. They will be greeted by staff members as they exit the bus and enter school.
- Teachers will be in the hallways ready to greet students.
- Extra staff will be at the entrances to escort new or younger students to their classes.
Bus Dismissal From School
- Every student will be given a colored bus tag so that the driver can easily identify if a student is on the correct bus.
- Students will sit in assigned seats and will be expected to follow all bus rules and expectations.
**Please note that transportation delays before and after school may occur during the first week or two of school as our drivers and families adjust to new bus routes. If there is an issue with a bus, families will be contacted by a district representative**
Parent Drop Off and Pickup
Parent Drop Off Procedures
Please note that we anticipate very long lines and an increased wait time for parent drop off until the students and families become familiar with the routine. If you choose to drop your child off in the morning, we encourage car pooling with other families when possible. We are limited by the design of our facility and are unable to modify our procedure.
- Doors will open for students at 8:50. Children will not be supervised prior to 8:50.
- When dropping children off, all families MUST enter the parking lot from the entrance off of Endress road. This allows cars to line up down the driveway by the baseball fields.
- When entering and exiting the parking lot, please be mindful to yield to bus traffic coming off of Route 897. Please leave space between the yield sign and the parking lot entrance so that buses can enter our facility.
- Please follow the direction of our staff as they direct traffic.
- We will have cones set up outside of the office doors. Please drop your child(ren) off at the cones without exiting your vehicle. Our staff will ensure that children get to the correct class. Parents are not allowed to escort children to class.
- Please note that our parking lot is one way. Also, please do not pass cars when in line. This creates a safety hazard for children exiting vehicles.
- P.M. Kindergarten families must wait outside with their child. We will allow P.M. kindergarten students to enter the building at 1:05.
End of Day Parent Pick Up Procedures
- If your child will be picked up from school, you must provide a note so that we are able to dismiss students efficiently.
- If you plan to pick your child up everyday, you may provide a blanket note for the year. (If a daily parent pickup needs to ride the bus home for any reason, please call the front office).
- When dropping children off, all families MUST enter the parking lot from the entrance off of Endress road. This allows cars to line up down the driveway by the baseball fields.
- When entering and exiting the parking lot, please be mindful to yield to bus traffic coming off of Route 897. Please leave space between the yield sign and the parking lot entrance so that buses can enter our facility.
- Parents are not permitted to begin lining up for parent pickup prior to 3:00.
- Parents who will be picking up students on a daily basis will be issued two watermarked cards containing your child's name. These cards can be shared with others if you would like your child to ride home with someone else. If you do not have a card, you will be required to show photo identification prior to the child being released.
- Students will be called to the LGI at 3:40.
- Please remain in your vehicle and follow the direction of our staff. Students will be brought from our LGI to the car.
- While the line looks long, our dismissal process typically takes less than 15 minutes.
- We strongly encourage car pooling for families who intend to pick up children.
- A.M. Kindergarten parents must wait outside using the process described above. Students will be released for pickup beginning at 11:45. Please have I.D.'s ready to show.
Meals and School
School Lunch Prices
Elementary Breakfast - no charge
Elementary Lunch - $2.75
Reduced Lunch Price for Qualifying Students - $.40
Free Breakfast will be available to students in the morning as the enter the school building. Please let your children know whether or not you would like them to get breakfast.
Lunch
- Anyone wishing to apply for free/reduced meals through the federal lunch program may do so by visiting the district website.
- Students may pack if they choose to do so (Please do not send soda or glass containers).
- Students who are purchasing lunch will have a choice of a hot or cold lunch. You may access the school lunch menu on the district website.
- All students will have assigned tables by class.
- Items such as ice cream and additional snacks can be purchased. You may control the extras that your child is permitted to purchase through Skyward. If a child does not have money in his/her account, they will not be permitted to purchase extra items.
Considering Cyber School?
Parents/Guardians if you are considering a transition for your student to an online learning program, please check out Cedar Crest Cyber (C3). This is a Cornwall-Lebanon School District K-12 program that will provide your student with an enriched and dynamic digital learning experience. Please find additional information by clicking either on the image or C3 here.
South Lebanon Elementary School
Mrs. Emerich, Principal's Secretary
Ms. Layser, Building Secretary
Website: www.clsd.k12.pa.us
Location: 1825 South 5th Avenue, Lebanon, PA, USA
Phone: 717-273-4546