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Principal's Principles

Gayton Elementary Family News and Updates

Principal'sPrinciplesGayton Elementary Family News and Updates

April 7-11, 2025

Dear Gayton Families:


We hope you all have a happy spring break! We have accomplished so much during the third nine weeks, and now we look forward to our final quarter of the 2024-25 school year. We have much more to do!


Below are some important items for your review.


Report Cards

Third quarter report cards will come home Friday, April 11.


HVAC

HCPS and subcontractors have been busy installing our new chiller. We are told it should be up and running after spring break!


Parent Requests

As we plan for the 25-26 school year, we value your input. We do not take specific teacher requests; however, if your child has specific needs you want us to consider for classroom placement, including requests to be separated from other students (sometimes needed), please email Dr. Eggleston.


SOL Testing

April begins SOL testing for grades 3, 4, 5! Please refer to your children's classroom newsletter for dates, times, and how you can help to prepare your child to be most successful.


CARNIVAL!

Wristband sales are on sale! See Gator Bites for more details! See flyer below.


GATOR RUNNING CLUB

Running Club will continue after Spring Bring on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:20 am - 8:00 am.


FIELD DAY is April 18th!

Grades PK-2: 8:30-10:30.

Lunch and Teacher Competitions (All School, 10:30-12:00)

Grades 3-5: 12:00-2:00

We look forward to this annual tradition of friendly play and competition. To ensure fun and safety of all students and visitors, we will require the following this year.

  • Parent volunteers should check in at 8:10. If you would like to be a parent volunteer, please sign up! We especially need more volunteers in grades 3-5. Sign up here. https://forms.gle/ubpbcNgrMnCv3fQG7
  • Parents who would like to observe and accompany your children during outside field day stations and/or have lunch with the class outside should complete this form. https://forms.gle/NmYp7REsf5EL5r478
  • For safety and accountability reasons, we cannot allow a large number of attending adults inside the building during field day. There are 5 inside stations (approximately 40 minutes) during which attending adults must remain outside and wait to join their child's class. We will provide you with your child's class rotation schedule. While waiting, we will have coffee and adult social time at our "Parent Island" inside the car loop. TOM'S COFFEE TRUCK WILL BE THERE. See flyer below.
  • For safety rand accountabilty reasons, all attending adults will be required to check in at the front of the building and pass through a weapons scanner. We will provide you with a wristband to note that you have been cleared. We will also require that you either have a volunteer form on file or check into the office with your photo ID. Volunteer forms must be completed annually, so here is the link. https://www.henricoschools.us/page/volunteers


HCPS Summer Academy Enrichment Program

Registration for Summer Academy Enrichment is open. Gayton students will be at Greenwood Elementary. https://www.henricoschools.us/page/summer-academy

  • Elementary Enrichment Classes - SESSION 1
  • June 9 - June 26, 2025 (Monday-Thursday), 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No classes on June 19, 2025.
  • Elementary Enrichment Classes - SESSION 2
  • June 30 - July 17, 2025 (Monday-Thursday), 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No classes on July 3, 2025.
  • Rising 6th Graders! There is a study skills offered for new middle schoolers.



KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION!

Please share this information with your neighbors who have rising kindergarteners. Thanks so much!

We are excited to announce that the registration process has begun online. Please complete the online registration for your child before attending our in-person enrollment event.

In-Person Enrollment Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, April 10th
  • Time: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM or 4:30PM - 6:30 PM (No appointment necessary)
  • Location: Gayton ES Gym'
  • Who: This is just an enrollent event (not a sneak peek for children). You are welcome to bring your children but they will need to be in your care.
  • KG Screening: At the event you can sign up for a time to have your rising kindergartener screened (basic 15 minute ssessment done by one of our kindergarten teachers). We have Three days to choose from: April 23rd, 30th or May 14th. Sign-up will be available at the event.

What to Bring:

Other Documents Requried Before School Starts/Over the Summer:

UNABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENT? NO PROBLEM!

  • You can register your child completely online. Our registrar, Ruth Wicks, will then reach out to schedule an appointment to complete the enrollment process and set up a kindergarten screening date.
WHEN CAN MY CHILD BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE SCHOOL?

Gayton will host an Open House in August, where parents and students will have the opportunity to meet their kindergarten teacher and explore the classroom. (day/time TBD).

We also plan to have a summer PTA event on the playground for parents to connect and children to make new friends.

We look forward to seeing you at the Kindergarten Enrollment Kick-off Event and welcoming you into our community! If you have any questions about the school, please feel free to contact Dr. Eggleston (principal) or Mrs. Reeves (associate principal) at 804-360-0820.

ON THE HORIZON

April 1-5 Spring Break

April 11 Senior Walk at Gayton

April 18 Field Day

April 21 Student Teacher Holiday

April 24 All County Chorus

April 25 Field Day rain date

May 2 Carnival!

May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week

May 26 Memorial Day. No School

May 27 End of year parties, PK-2

May 28 End of year parties 3-4

May 29 Fifth grade graduation 9am, and celebration

May 30 Last day of school. Half day dismissal 11:35. Report cards go home.

ALERT! New Traffic Pattern

We no longer allow left turns out of the parking lot onto Church Road during morning and afternoon drop offs. For safety reasons and to speed up our line, we will require all families to turn right out of Gayton's parking lot onto Church Road. You will be allowed to turn left all other times during the day outside the drop off and pick up times. For your safety, please do not move the cones form the turning lane. Our School Safety Officers will move cones.

PTA Gayton Spirit Rock

RESERVATIONS FOR January-July 2025.

Click on the link below for more information!

https://gaytonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/spiritrock

The GES Rock is a Gayton Community Builder, a tool to promote PTA or school/SCA events, and a PTA fundraiser. The Gayton Spirit Rock is for current Gayton families only.

**Please note: the PTA has blocked off dates to use the Spirit Rock to support Gayton & PTA Programs and Events. Thank you in advance for your understanding and for being flexible! We can't wait to see your SPIRIT ROCK designs!

HENRICO CARES

Families have a new mental health resource!

HCPS and Henrico County have partnered with Care Solace to help families find the mental health care and substance-use treatment services they need. The free confidential mental health care coordination service is part of the Henrico CARES initiative. Care Solace has a network of more than 425,000 providers. Visit the Care Solace website to learn more or call 1-888-515-0595 24/7.

Volunteer Form

All volunteers must complete this form and watch the video above.

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED FAMILY APP

PowerSchool Parent Portal

PowerSchool gives families with students in pre-K through grade 12 easy access to class grades, attendance information and student schedules. The portal also gives you “single sign-on” access to other online services without having to create accounts specifically for those sites. The online student information tool comes in two versions: one for students and one for parents and guardians. While students get their accounts automatically, parents and guardians need to create an account.

GODWIN HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS!

Gayton is a feeder school to Godwin High School. Let's cheer on our team! Please see this link for Godwin events, such as football games, plays, and other performances.


https://godwin.henricoschools.us/o/godwin/events

Safety is Priority One!

We have shared the items below with you previously, and they are permanently linked below for your continued reference. At this time, we ask that you review/reference them (again) to have safety at the forefront in our partnership with you.


Crisis Preparedness Handbook


Gayton Family Handbook


Another area that is very important to fostering a culture of safety at Gayton is student discipline. Please also see the following links for your review/reference.


Student Discipline at Gayton


HCPS Student Code of Conduct.


Should you have any questions or concerns about student safety, crisis preparedness/protocols, or student discipline, please give Mrs. Reeves or Dr. Eggleston a call at 804-360-0820.


Walkers

  • Only those students who are not assigned a bus are allowed to walk alone to/from school.
  • Students assigned buses may walk to school if accompanied by a parent to/from.
  • If you are picking up your child at the walker door, please do not arrive before 2:35. Students may still be on the playground at that time. Walkers will be dismissed at 2:40.
  • Please do not park behind the school in Pine Run to pick up your child. You must use the carpool lane.

Car Riders

  • If you drive your child to school in the morning, please seat him/her in the rear right seat. Do not exit the car; a staff member will assist your child from the car if needed.
  • Please do not drop off your child before 7:50 or after 8:10.
  • Please have your number posted prominently in your front window for PM dismissal only.
  • Please be patient; the line may be long. It will go faster with each day.
  • We encourage you to have your children ride the school bus.

Bus Riders

  • Buses are safe. This year most of our buses will have A/C and seatbelts.
  • Please be patient; the first few days of school our buses will likely be late in the afternoon.
  • Kindergarten bus riders-- please see information below.

Daycare

  • Make sure you inform your child's teacher which daycare he/she goes to after school..
  • Daycare vans will take attendance before leaving Gayton.
  • If your child is ever absent, please alert the daycare provider and the school.


WEAPON SCANNERS AND CAMERAS

HCPS will phase in the daily use of weapon scanners at all elementary schools during the first few weeks of school. When students arrive at school, they will pass through the scanners. They only need to open their backpacks to remove laptop computers or tablets (4th and 5th grades only). As shared previously, these scanners are similar to those at theme parks or sports venues. Our students had the opportunity to practice walking through the scanners last spring during PE class.

Walkers and carpool riders will enter each morning through the first grade door this year as we have just one scanner on that end of the building. Walkers will leave the building in the afternoon from the back door as usual.

HCPS has also installed additional video cameras in our building this summer.

Student IDs

Every HCPS student across the school division will receive a student ID on a lanyard for use throughout the school year. The white cards will include the student’s name and student number, but they will not include a photo. Students will scan their ID cards when getting on and off the bus, checking out books from the library and purchasing meals in the cafeteria. The new student IDs are part of a multi-layered safety plan and efforts to streamline operational processes at the school.

These will be provided to students on the first day of school.


Cell Phone and Smartwatch Use

As in years past, students may not have cell phones out during school. To further reduce distractions in the classroom, students must keep their cell phones, smartwatches, and other Wi-Fi-connected devices out of sight and silenced or in airplane mode during class. Devices may only be used for learning purposes with the teacher’s permission. If your child has a documented medical condition requiring a monitoring device, please contact the school nurse.

During class, students should keep their cell phones out of sight in their backpacks, bags, or safe storage containers provided by the school in each classroom. If a student leaves class to visit the restroom, clinic, etc., their cell phone must remain in the classroom. If a student fails to follow these guidelines, the following steps will be taken in alignment with the 2024-2025 Code of Student Conduct (insert link to Code when posted).

Consequences of Cell Phone Use Infractions*

First Offense

A verbal warning will be given to the student, and the parent or guardian will be contacted.

Second Offense

The device will be confiscated until the end of the day, and the student’s parent or guardian will be contacted.

Third Offense

The device will be confiscated until the end of the day, and the student’s parent or guardian must retrieve it from the school.

Fourth Offense

The device will be confiscated until the end of the day, and the student’s parent or guardian must retrieve it. Other student disciplinary consequences will apply.

Fifth Offense

The student must turn in the device to the teacher daily until further notice.

*School administrators may check for cell phones following the established HCPS Search and Seizure policy.


Student Medication

Written parental permission on the appropriate form is required before any medication may be administered. The school nurse or clinic attendant must administer all prescription and over-the-counter medications (including cough drops, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and cold and cough preparations) in the school clinic.


Daily Attendance

Daily learning and following established routines are essential for students, especially our youngest learners. Research shows that students who attend school regularly read better, are more proficient in math, and are more likely to graduate from high school and college. Students in every grade, including preschool and kindergarten, learn and develop new skills daily. Missing even one day of learning can cause a setback. Please take a minute to review the HCPS attendance policy and these family resources from Attendance Works.


IMPORTANT LINKS

Below you will find our Parent/Student handbook, school website, and other important links.

Kirk Eggleston
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