Windermere Weekly Update

Wow - our staff had an amazing week last week! Thank you to each of you for making our teachers feel loved and cared for. A GIANT shoutout to PTO and particularly Nikki Dickerson for coordinating and being here everyday last week to make sure everything went smoothly. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We realize that there are only 11.5 days of school left this year, but I want to give you some information about what's been going on in the morning. For years (including this year), we have let you know the procedures for drop off and pick up. Most of you do as we ask all of the time and we appreciate that. When we're receiving and dismissing 720 students every morning and every afternoon, it's super helpful when everyone follows directions.

Our unique building allows us to have arrival and dismissal in two locations - the Grand Ave. side (PK-2nd and siblings) and the Picadilly side (3rd-5th and siblings). Having two places is great, however, that also means we need twice as many people in both locations to staff it. Also, you can add that we don't have crossing guards for the Picadilly side, so that takes two additional staff members. What you don't see inside in the morning is every single person that works here getting ready to receive students whether that's monitoring hallways or breakfast duty.

Last week, we got a call from transportation that buses can't always get through the bus loop because parents are dropping students off there in the morning and sometimes park there to walk their child up to the building. I understand that it can be an inconvenience to have to drive around to one side of the building or the other, but I promise, our lines move QUICKLY. Ms. Greene and I were out there together one day and then Ms. Greene stayed the rest of the week last week. We were yelled at, threatened, cussed at and people were generally unhappy about us blocking them from entering the bus loop. Again, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but no one should be using the bus loop for drop off unless they have pre-arranged it with the teacher. Currently, there are a few students who get dropped off and picked up by parents in the bus loop and these are some of our special needs students with limited mobility and some that are medically fragile.

On top of the bus loop, there are some parents that are still dropping students off in the parking lot on the Grand Ave. side to walk in on their own. Please stop doing this. It is not safe and this has also been a policy since the beginning of the year. You can either go through the line or you can park and walk your student up.

Ultimately, it would be awesome if we had enough staff to monitor the parking lot, monitor the bus loop, be crossing guards and all of the other areas needed in the mornings and afternoons, but we don't currently and we're doing the best we can. I am open to ALL suggestions and feedback as we plan for next year. Any parents want to volunteer to monitor these areas? Anyone with suggestions for improvement? Email me at jennifer.macallister@pfisd.net. We appreciate your support!

More information will come home in the next day or two for 2nd-5th grade students who wish to purchase their assigned Chromebook. Students will only be able to purchase the device that has been assigned to them all year. Chromebooks will be $20 and parents can purchase them online. We will send out all necessary information ASAP.

Way to go Ms. Hagenow, Mr. Lee and Ms. Hurst! Ms. Hagenow, Speech & Language Pathologist, received an $1800 grant for communication accessibility needs on the playground. Mr. Lee & Ms. Hurst, 4th/5th Grade ASCEND teachers received a $5,000 grant for innovative seating for their classrooms. These grants were made possible by the Pflugerville Education Foundation. Way to go WES Staff!

Cell phones and smartwatches are not essential to students learning in classrooms. Therefore they are not needed at school. These devices have become huge distractions in our building.

Please remind your child to adhere to the following:

• Cell phones and smartwatches may be used outside of the building before school starts.
• Cell phones and smartwatches MAY NOT be used at any time while in the building unless an adult has specifically said it is ok.
• Cell phones and smartwatches should be turned OFF and placed in the child's backpack once they enter the building. These devices should remain off until they leave school at the end of the day.

If your child chooses to use a cell phone or smartwatch while in the building without permission, the following will occur:

1. 1st time the device is confiscated by a staff member, an adult from the student's Skyward account will have to come pick it up in the front office.
2. Every additional time that the device is confiscated by a staff member, an adult from the student's Skyward account will have to come pick it up in the front office and pay $15.

May

16th - 5:00 PM - 5th Grade Dinner

23rd - 1:30 PM - ASCEND Awards

24th -

• 8:00 - 3rd Grade Awards
• 9:00 - 4th Grade Awards
• 1:45 - PK Awards

27th - No School - Memorial Day

28th -

• 8:00 - Kinder Awards
• 9:00 - 1st Grade Awards
• 10:00 - 2nd Grade Awards

29th -

• 8:00 - 5th Grade Completion Ceremony
• Last Day of School - Early Release @ 12:00 PM

Families must reapply each school year. It is very important to complete this application even if you don't think your child will qualify.

Part of the funding for our campus is determined from the results of the submitted applications. Click the link below to complete the application. Call our front office at 512-594-4800 if you need any assistance. All students will receive free breakfast this year.

Email: jennifer.macallister@pfisd.net
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=841
Location: 429 Grand Avenue Parkway, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512-594-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindermereES/