Baker Bits

Hello Baker Elementary Families!

My name is Amanda Nast and I am thrilled to be with you on the beginning of your child’s educational journey. How special that myself and the staff here at Baker get to spend the most crucial time of their educational career together- the one that sets the tone for the rest of their school experience.

As a parent myself, I know just how much you care about your child and their wellbeing! My family is extremely important to me, and I absolutely love spending time with my husband and daughter. If we aren’t outside on the lake, we are watching or playing sports, doing yard work, or visiting our friends or extended family.

Professionally, I have taught first grade for three years, and have been an administrator in a K-12 virtual school for the past two years. My professional experience has not only helped me learn all of the policies and procedures for being a principal, but has helped shape my passion for educating our littlest learners. There’s just something about this age group that makes my heart burst.

Three things you can count on me for during your child’s time at Baker Elementary:

1. Clear communication - You will receive bi-weekly “Baker Bits” newsletters directly to your email with all important information and events.

2. Consistency - Our policies and procedures here at Baker Elementary will be clear, concise and consistent so you are never wondering what is expected of you as the parent/guardian, or of your child as a student.

3. Safety - Here at Baker, our team has your child’s safety in the forefront of our hearts and minds. They are loved and cared for, and we will always implement practices that ensure that they are safe physically and emotionally, and that they know they are.
   
   Here is to a fantastic year at Baker Elementary School!
   

This information will be released on Friday, August 16. You will find this information in your parent portal using the following directions:

- Log into your portal

- Click the menu in the upper left hand corner (three horizontal lines)

- Click "Schedule" (if you don't see "Schedule" on the first menu, click "More" and it will be there!)

• August 19: Baker Open House 5-6pm
• August 21: First Day of School (half day release @ 12)
  
• August 30: No School
  
• September 2: Labor Day - No School
• September 9: WEPA Meeting 6:30 @ Steeby
• September 24: Picture Day
• October 4: Progress Report (Tri 1) published to portal
• October 7 & 9: Parent/Teacher Conferences
• October 11 & 14: No School
• October 18: Walk-a-thon (more info to come)
• October 23: Literacy Night (more info to come)

Parent Drop-Off Loop Instructions (see photo for visual reference)

• Enter our driveway from the west, turning right off of Sycamore
• Drive to the back loop and begin preparing your child for drop-off
• Shoes on, backpack and lunch ready
• Say your good-byes
• When you reach a space near a staff person, your child should get out of the car
• At least 2 adults will be watching to ensure students are safely making it into the school

* Please note: we begin welcoming students into the building at 8:55.

Parent Walk-Up

Feel free to park in the front lot or across the street and walk your child over to the west side doors. Please refrain from walking your child to the front door as that door is reserved for students riding the bus. You may not walk between busses. Please respect this guidance from the bus drivers. Keep in mind the sidewalk in front of the school will be very congested with students getting off the bus.

Bus Drop-Off

For those students who ride the bus to school, our busses use the loop in the front to drop off students. Students who eat breakfast will be released from the bus at 8:55 and all others will exit the bus at 9:00. There will be at least one staff person outside when the busses release students to help ensure everyone makes it safely in the building.

Here at Baker we use a car pick up system which means that parents can stay in their vehicles when picking up their child from school!

Each student will receive (2) nameplates at Open House to help prepare for pick up on the first day of school. We ask that you keep track of them even if your child is a bus rider! Chances are, he or she will end up being a pick up at some point during the year!

The name plates are simply signs that have your child's name (and teacher's name) on them and will be used to identify your vehicle, when you come to pick up your child. Name plates can be attached to your visor with a rubber band or can be put in your window in a spot that is visible from the outside.

Do you have more than one person who will regularly pick up your child? No worries! Each child is issued two but if you need an additional one, or you lose one - just reach out to anguilma@waylandunion.org and Lindsey will be happy to help!

Please see the graphics below for more information and be sure to share this information with whoever will be picking your child up.

Pickup for the first week or two is going to be a SLOW process but rest assured we are simply taking our time to make sure every child gets home safely! Thank you for your patience as we get to know each student!

All changes in routine for your child's end of day need to be communicated to the office by 3pm. This gives us ample time to get the information to the appropriate people and ensures your child will be in the right spot when school releases. We appreciate your help in eliminating any end of day confusion!

Our school is gifted with monies from the casino each year which help immensely. Many of the basic supplies (pencils, crayons, paper) do not have to be purchased by parents.

The following are the items that we do request you provide for your child:

• Backpack
• Water bottle (water only please)
  
• Extra set of clothes to keep at school (accidents or spills happen!)
• Small healthy snack (classrooms have a "snack break" each day)
• Gym Shoes (flip flops or crocs are not the safest choice of footwear in gym!)
• Headphones with a cord (optional, but recommended)

If there is anything on this list that you aren't sure you can provide for your child -- please reach out and let us know! There is no shame; we would love to help.

Every year we wind up with so many things in our lost and found and we would hate for your child's items to end up there too! Our suggestion is to label everything your child brings to school! This includes coats, sweatshirts, hats, water bottles, lunch boxes, even their backpacks!

* Additional note regarding shoes -- please purchase velcro or slip on shoes until your child has mastered the skill of tying!

Just a reminder ... Wayland Union Schools is trying to be as paperless as possible. Information will be posted in your parent portal, email, phone and/or text. We ask that you make sure to keep phone numbers and emails up to date to ensure that you are receiving information from the school.

* Parent Portals should be set up by this time. If you've done your online enrollment for this year and have not set up your parent portal, please do that ASAP! In the portal is where you will access teacher assignments and see progress reports/record cards (among many other things!)

** If you don't remember your password please email helpdesk@waylandunion.org

** Our district also uses Peachjar as a method for sharing information. You will receive emails from them but you can also head right to their website to look up recently shared newsletters from our district.

Using our elementary school handbook as guidance, we want to share our district's policy regarding illnesses:

"Students with a temperature of 100.4 and above need to remain at home and/or will be sent home. Students must be fever-free for twenty-four (24) hours prior to returning to school. It is recommended your child stay home until symptom free (vomiting, diarrhea) for 24 hours."

It's also important to note our guidelines on absences and tardies:

"Students not in class at the designated start time are considered tardy. All students who are tardy to school must report to the Main Office to sign in. Students will be marked absent after fifteen (15) minutes from the start of the school day. Students who leave at day’s end more than 15 minutes, will be marked absent for the half day."

* Also worth noting: if you call to report an absence due to sickness, the absence will go in our system as unexcused. A doctor's note is required in order to mark an absence EXCUSED. While we recognize that not every minor ailment requires a doctor's visit (and we agree), our policy is designed to promote consistent attendance.

If you plan on helping out during classroom parties or field trips, we require an annual background check to be done. Use the button below to access the form online.

Please send this link to anyone in your family or friend group who might want to be involved this year. We would hate to turn away a dedicated grandparent or other relative!

New (and existing) students are not automatically added to a bus route. Parents need to fill out a transportation request form in order to secure bussing which is located on the website linked below.

Our district had previously used an app called Ride 360 to communicate bus information with families however we have made the switch to MyRide K-12. If you plan on using bus services, please download the app today so you are ready when our Transportation Department releases their route information.

Any questions? Visit the webpage below or email transportation@waylandunion.org

* Busing the first week of school is very hectic. Be assured, as routines are established the busing WILL get better. Drivers are trying to verify every student who is put on their bus to make sure they are being delivered to the correct address. Many of our young students have never ridden a bus before and all these routines are new experiences for them. You can expect buses to run about 30-45 minutes slower than anticipated during the first two days of school. Each day will get smoother and faster.

If your child needs to take any kind of medication at school, you will need to complete a medication consent form, which is linked below.

Prescription medications can ONLY be given after the form is completed by a doctor. Over the counter medication can be given after a parent signs the consent form and brings the medication in to the office.

Antibiotics, Inhalers, prescription drugs, cough drops, Tylenol, cold medicine, anti-itch medicine, etc., should never be sent to school with students.

A special dietary form is also available if your child is allergic to specific food/milk, etc.

This also must be signed by a Doctor; no exceptions.

Updated this summer, the Elementary School Handbook is an excellent resource if you have questions regarding any of our policies or procedures.

Teacher or Staff at Baker Elementary - Any and all staff can be reached via email by using the employees last name and first initial. Example - Krista Battenfield, school secretary at battenfieldk@waylandunion.org

Technology - Any and all questions concerning parent portals (log-ins, passwords, changing information, etc) must be directed to the WUS technology department. You will also want to contact technology with any Ipad concerns, including broken Ipads.

• Technology - helpdesk@waylandunion.org OR call 269-792-6611
  
  

Busing - If you need to change a student's assigned busing routine, you must contact the bus garage. Please follow up any answers or changes made by calling/emailing with the Baker office staff and your child's teacher. These changes are not automatically communicated between the two buildings. It is the parent's responsibility to communicate the change.

• Transportation/Busing - transportation@waylandunion.org OR call 269-792-2262

Food Service - All Free/Reduced Hot Lunch Applications are confidential. If you have questions concerning the WUS food service program, please contact the following:

• Food Service Program - mathisc@waylandunion.org OR call 269-792-3150

WEPA is a parent-led organization that helps to promote communication between parents, teachers and staff of both Baker and Steeby Elementary.

They hold fundraisers to supplement activity costs, supply costs and miscellaneous expenses for the staff and students of our elementary schools not covered by our schools' budgets. Their fundraisers also fund community-friendly events such as the Carnival, Family Movie Night, Mom/Son Event and the Daddy Daughter Dance, as well as cover the cost of items such as student t-shirts and Teacher Appreciation lunches. WEPA volunteers also provide additional support for open houses, book fairs and food drives, among other activities.

If you have questions or want to help out, email wepamail@gmail.com.

The meeting schedule for this year is posted below.