The Mustang Minute

This is Tony Murray, Principal at Marlow Elementary with some important information about upcoming activities.

I hope the information in this newsletter will answer any questions that you may have about upcoming month. You are always welcome to email me at amurray@effingham.k12.ga.us or call the school at (912)728-3262.

Tony Murray, Principal

Email: amurray@effingham.k12.ga.us
Website: http://mes.effinghamschools.com
Location: 5160 Hwy 17, Guyton, GA, USA
Phone: (912)728 - 3262
Facebook: facebook.com/marlowelementary

MES will be participating in a shoe drive for the month of October and November.

10/1: Marlow PTO Shoe Fundraiser Kickoff

10/2: Pink Out - Students may wear pink shirts and/or socks with uniform bottoms. See flyer below.

10/2 - 10/3: Marlow PTO Spirit Nights at Roma's Pizza & Happy Days Ice Cream

10/3: Good News Club, 2:45 - 4:00

10/4: Student Dress Down for $1 to support GAA class trip to Faith Equestrian

10/5: Fall Family Fun Day for English Language Learners, Rincon ES, 9:00 - Noon

10/7: Dress Down if attended one of Marlow PTO Spirit Nights

10/8: Annual Bus Evacuation Training

10/9: Early Dismissal at 11:35AM. Fall Parent Teacher Conferences, Noon - 6:00PM

-Fall Picture Retakes

10/10 - 10/14: Fall Break, no school for students

10/15: Tutoring, 2:45 - 3:45

10/16: Last Day of 1st 9-Weeks

10/16-10/28: Candy Drive (Candy donations for Literacy Night trick or treating)

10/17: Good News Club, 2:45 - 4:00

10/18: 1st Grade Field Trip - Honey Ridge

10/21-10/25: Math Fact Check #1 (1st-5th Grade teachers choose 1 day this week)

10/22: 3rd Grade Field Trip - Ebenezer Retreat Center - (Kang / Cullinan – Red Shirt; Hadwin / Kennedy – Blue Shirt; Moore / Philbeck – Green Shirt)

- Tutoring, 2:45 - 3:45

10/24: Issue 1st 9-Weeks Report Cards

- Tutoring, 2:45 - 3:45

- Good News Club, 2:45 - 4:00

- PTO Meeting (2nd Grade Performs), 6:30 PM in the GYM

10/28 - 11/1: Red Ribbon Week and MES Book Fair Week

10/29: MES Literacy Night, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, students can wear costumes. No masks, props, or anything gory.

10/30: Kona Ice

10/31: Halloween (Students can wear Orange / black / Halloween shirt with uniform bottoms) OR dress as a friendly movie character for Red Ribbon Week. No masks, hair coloring or inappropriate shirts

Deputy Gary has asked that morning car riders follow the above procedures after dropping your students off. Thank you!

Parents, please see the Parent Guide to "The Mustang Way" for ways we celebrate and reward our students for being Ready, Responsible, and Respectful.

The Remind application that we used frequently last year to communicate with you all has gone through some updates and changes. Everyone will have to rejoin the list to receive messages.

Parents, family, and friends can join either by....

• visiting http://rmd.at/ecsd-mles
• text @ecsd-mles to 81010

The ECSD Parent and Student Handbook is linked here.

VERY INVOLVED PARENTS (VIP’S)

Marlow Elementary encourages volunteerism to assist teachers with various educational tasks. Look for school announcements for training, such as a required Mandated Reporter and Title IX training that must be completed each year prior to volunteering. More information about volunteering opportunities will be sent home. Giving thirty minutes one day a month can make a huge difference.

PTO (PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION)

Marlow Elementary has an amazing PTO! They support our students and staff in many ways throughout the year. Please consider joining - the cost is $5. Information will be provided at Open House.

DRESS CODE

Students in Kindergarten – Grade 5 are expected to wear uniforms that are in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the Effingham County Board of Education. Make sure that student socks meet dress code policy. Mohawk style/extreme haircuts and unusual hair color are not allowed. PreK students are not required to wear school uniforms, but must still follow the General Guidelines outlined in the Student and Parent Handbook. Please review the Student Dress Code information located in the 2024-25 Student & Parent Handbook. Students may wear "Spirit Wear" every Friday with uniform bottoms. For information on how to purchase approved Spirit Wear, see below.

BOOK BAGS AND WATER BOTTLES

Student book bags must be made entirely out of clear plastic or nylon mesh. Using wheeled book bags, travel carts or similar type items that are pushed or pulled are not allowed in school unless a waiver of this rule is documented with the school principal. Clear or mesh bookbags are required for all students. See the Back Pack Guidelines in the Student Parent/Handbook Section. www.effinghamschools.com/ecsd-handbook Drinks brought with sack lunches must not be in glass bottles. Students are not to bring cans or bottles of soda in lunches.

SCHOOL HOURS and TARDINESS

The school day for students begins at 7:45 and ends at 2:35. Students who arrive after 7:45 or leave before 2:35 will be considered tardy. Breakfast ends at 7:40.

Dismissal procedures begin at 2:35, with car riders & LEAP students being dismissed first. Please refer to the student handbook for the late arrival/early departure procedures & the attendance policy. LATE STUDENTS MUST BE SIGNED IN BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN.

MORNING CAR RIDER DROP OFF PROCEDURES

Students who are transported to school by car can only be dropped off in the front circle in the mornings NO EARLIER THAN 7:00. Parents should not put students out of the car unless there is a staff member on duty at the sidewalk. Students are not to be dropped off or picked up in any other area of the school. Walkups from the parking lot are not allowed after August 12th. Students may be escorted to class up until that date. After August 12th, parents will drop them off through the car rider line as outlined above. Do not attempt to pull out of the line of traffic and go around other cars. This can endanger lives. It is recommended that car riders arrive by 7:15 to avoid traffic delays.

AFTERNOON CAR RIDER PICK UP PROCEDURES

To ensure the safety of all students and to make student pick-up as quick as possible, the following procedures will be used for student pick-up:

◆Due to safety concerns we do not have a walk-up pick-up line.

◆Parents of car riders will be given a car rider form to complete. This form will be kept on file at school throughout the school year. Any changes that are necessary in the information must be made through the school office. This form will contain the names of people who will be picking up the student.

◆The School will issue “HANG TAGS” for each person listed on the Car Rider form (up to two). This tag must be displayed on the rearview mirror of the vehicle picking up the student. Additional Hang Tags are available for a fee of $3.00 each.

◆ At no time should a parent get out of the car and leave the car in the pick-up line. If it is necessary to get out of the car, the car must be parked in a parking space, however please note that students being signed out early must be done so prior to 2:15.

◆ Anyone in the pick-up line without the HANG TAG displayed must show proof of ID and may be asked to park in a designated area.

◆The pick-up area gets very congested at pick-up time. Parents are reminded to drive very cautiously in this area. Please do not attempt to pull out of the line of traffic and go around other cars. This can endanger lives.

WALKER PROCEDURES FOR COVERED BRIDGE AND ROYAL OAKS COMMUNITIES

There will be an assigned faculty member on duty in the AM and PM at the gates. Parents of students who live in the connecting communities of Covered Bridge or Royal Oaks can walk his/her child to class up until August 12. After this date, parents will release his/her child to the adult at the gate and parents will no longer walk students from the gate to the outer back doors. The gate will be locked at 7:45AM. If your child reaches the gate and it is locked, you will need to bring them to the front door and sign them in at the front office.

SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION REQUEST

If a student is to be sent home in a manner different than the usual way, a note must be sent to the teacher no later than the morning of the requested change. This note must include: Student’s name (first and last), the date of change, the manner in which the student should be transported (bus, car, walker) and a phone number where the parent/guardian can be reached the day of the request. The school may call to verify the note. Notes for bus changes MUST include the bus route number and the physical address where the student will be released. Notes for car riders MUST include the name of the person picking up the student. Any changes in transportation that arise during the school day are to be called in to the office before 1:30 the day of the change. Text messaging apps and email cannot be accepted.

EARLY DISMISSAL

No student will be allowed to leave the school grounds during the school day unless picked up by a parent, legal guardian or authorized adult. When a student is to be picked up early, the parent should send a note to the teacher explaining the time and reason for the early departure.

The parent or other authorized adult must sign the student out in the front office before 2:15. LEGAL PICTURE IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Participation in P.E. class is required unless a written excuse from the parent or legal guardian is received stating that the student has an illness or condition that prohibits participation. A parent/guardian note may excuse a student from participation for up to two consecutive P.E. days of non-participation. For more than 2 days, a doctor’s note will be required. On days that students have P. E., appropriate dress is important so the students can fully participate in physical activities. Only athletic shoes are allowed on the gym floor. Additionally, to prevent injury, appropriate athletic shoes are recommended for recess activities.

NURSE’S CLINIC

If a student is suspected of having head lice, the school nurse is to be notified. Students will not be allowed to remain in class with nits or live bugs. Parents will be called to pick up the student from school to treat his/her head at home in a proper manner. The school nurse will provide current information on cleaning and prevention. A student who has been sent home with head lice/nits must be escorted to school for clearance through the nurse before returning to class.

Please note that students cannot ride the bus until they are cleared by the nurse. If students have diarrhea/vomit and/or have fever, they must remain home until they are 24 hours symptom free. Please return all medical action plans to school within 2 weeks of school starting. NO medications may be transported by students.

PARTIES and OTHER CELEBRATIONS

◆ Flowers, balloons, toys or any similar items may not be sent or brought to students at school.

◆Parties will be held at Christmas and Easter and will be coordinated by the teacher and room parent. Goody bags will be given to students on Halloween and Valentine’s Day. Our school welcomes parents at school parties, however parents should refrain from bringing siblings or other non-enrolled children to school parties.

◆Each student may have cookies, cupcakes or doughnuts supplied for the class one time during the year. Parents must make arrangements with the teacher in advance. If approved by the teacher, the treats must be delivered to the school office prior to 10AM. In the event that two students in the same class share a birthday, the teacher will make the final decision on which days the treats can be shared with the class. The teacher will get the treats from the office and will give them to the students. All cupcakes or cookies must be in disposable containers and properly covered. Treats will be eaten in the lunchroom. Birthday invitations cannot be handed out to classmates at school unless a student decides to invite his/her entire class.

LUNCH / BREAKFAST

Elementary meal prices are as follows: Breakfast $1.75 daily ($0.30 reduced) and Lunch is $2.75 daily ($0.40 reduced)

The Effingham County School District is requesting all families to complete and submit a Free and Reduced Meal/Benefit Application before the start of school. This application is used not only for reduced pricing on school meals but also for a variety of things including reduced price on testing and funding for the school district. The application for free or reduced price meals is now available. We urge you to take a few minutes to complete the application now so that it can be processed before the start of school and approved statuses can be in place when your student(s) return on August 8th. This is a family application so only one application needs to be submitted with all students and household members listed. Please remember that a new application must be submitted every school year.

You may complete the application online ONLINE MEAL APPLICATION

LUNCH VISITS and PROCEDURES

Parents may have lunch with their child. This must be done through a call to the school office. Due to seating constraints, visitors must call prior to 10AM to ensure seat availability. If buying a school lunch, advance notification is requested so the lunchroom staff will be prepared. Tables are provided in the commons area for you to eat with your child. Parents are only allowed to eat with their own child. It is not allowable for permission to be given for other students to join parents as guests at the lunch table, even with a written note. Student lunches from home must be packed in a lunch box & will be eaten as packed. Home lunches will not be heated at school. No drinks should be in cans or bottles. No carbonated drinks are allowed. Please note that there are occasions when lunch schedules have to be adjusted to accommodate testing and other activities at school and a lunch date with your child may not be possible.

SAFETY

• Student safety is our top priority at Marlow Elementary. We have many safety measures in place, beginning with our Resource Officer - Gary Jarriel. The building and all classroom doors are always locked and all visitors must provide an ID before entering the main building.

• Students will practice good hygiene while at school. Staff members will have students wash hands throughout the school day.

• Hand sanitizer is available throughout the building and in all classes.

• Extra cleaning in our building is a top priority. All bathrooms will be cleaned and high touch areas disinfected throughout the day.

The entire dress code guidelines are listed in the student/parent handbook provided by Effingham County School District. It can be found HERE. Marlow Elementary's "Designated School Color" as mentioned on the document, is maroon/burgundy.

Don't forget to like and follow the @marlowelementary facebook group and join the Remind group!

Parents, family, and friends can join Remind either by....

• visiting http://rmd.at/ecsd-mles
• text @ecsd-mles to 81010