Weekly Guess WHO? Who is the adorable staff member that is pictured from elementary school on the right?

Thank you for all you are doing to support us as we start out the new school year. The well-established arrival and dismissal routines at Dowell were very apparent as early as day 1. Thank you for supporting with these procedures.

I saw so many smiling faces last week. It was so refreshing to know how excited your children are to be coming to school each day with us. Your children were engaged and excited to be learning in their new classrooms. Ms. Harbaugh, Ms. Bauer, and I spent a lot of time in the lunchroom last week. When chatting with your children they share time and time again that it has been a great day, and they love their teachers! The teaching staff is already working hard to build lasting relationships that support powerful growth in the classroom. If you have questions about how your child is adapting to the new school year, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher.

As always please reach out with any questions or concerns you might have.

My Contact Information:

Jamie Smith

smithjal@calvertnet.k12.md.us

443-550-9483

Drop off and Pick up

Important: If someone other than the parent/guardian is planning on picking up your child, authorization must be provided. Please email conklinc@calvertnet.k12.md.us or moweryb@calvertnet.k12.md.us with permission.

EVERYDAY CAR RIDERS

•Drop-Off – In the morning we have a Kiss and Go area at the south entrance to the building which is supervised by school staff at 8:35 a.m. Please do not let children out before staff are on duty. Please line up in your vehicle in the staff parking lot to the right of our building. We recommend arriving by 8:25 a.m. Doors open at 8:35 a.m. We have staff members at drop-off assisting students each morning. Any student arriving after 8:45 a.m. needs to be signed in by an adult in the main office.

Kiss and Go in the Mornings:

Due to safety reasons, please do not let children out of the car before staff are on duty by 8:35. We ask that you slowly enter the parking lot and patiently wait until it is your turn to drop off (we want to get everyone inside the building as quickly and safely as possible). Please know that a left-hand turn onto H.G. Truman Rd is prohibited. Please only make a right-hand turn out of the parking lot due to the traffic pattern and safety. We also ask that you let our buses entering the parking lot take priority and not block their entrance lane. We appreciate everyone adhering to these procedures to keep everyone safe.

•Pick-Up - Please Park in the staff parking lot at the far right of our building, and walk to the main entrance in front of the building. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. We will direct you to the cafeteria to sign out your student. Please have a Photo ID with you. We dismiss car rider students to the cafeteria at 3:25 p.m.

Sign your child out on the Everyday Car Riders sheet in the cafeteria. Your child will meet you in the cafeteria for dismissal. Parking is limited. Please do not block the bus lane in front of the school.

•For the first week or two of school, all students who are picked up at the end of the day are considered Surprise Car Riders.

•After the first week of school, parents who plan to pick up their child every day may request from the office an Everyday Car Rider form. Once completed, this form will be kept on file so that in the event of an emergency we’ll know that your child doesn’t normally ride a school bus.

•PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYDAY CAR RIDER MUST BE SIGNED OUT LIKE ALL OTHER STUDENTS BEING PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY!

SURPRISE CAR RIDERS

If you are picking up your child at the end of the school day, and your child is not an Everyday Car Rider, they will be considered a Surprise Car Rider.

Procedure:

• The parent/guardian should write a note to their child’s teacher and send it to school in the morning indicating that the child will be picked up that afternoon. Include on the note who will be picking up the child. If the teacher/office does not receive a note and the parent has not signed the child out by the time the child’s bus is called, the child must ride the bus.

• Parents should arrive at school by 3:15 pm and go to the cafeteria. In the cafeteria, there is a Surprise Car Rider sheet where parents/guardians can sign their children out. Please wait in the cafeteria for your child.

•At 3:30, after the afternoon announcements, Everyday Car Riders are called, and then Surprise Car Riders are called by name and told to report to the cafeteria for dismissal.

•Parents and students should exit through the front lobby doors.

9/5 4pm PAWS meeting at 4PM (in person or virtual/contact PAWS for virtual link)

deshuskypaws@gmail.com

9/12 Imaginarium with PAWS

September 17: Pre-K-2nd grade 5:30-6:30

September 18: 3rd-5th grade 5:30-6:30

9/17 & 18 BRRRR spirit nights (4-9pm)

9/30 salsas spirit night (5-9)

10/10: 4-7 Tettimer farm Fundraiser

10/23: trunk of treat

Please see the bus locater link below. At this time bus routes are not published or finalized. Transportation should be communicating more information with parents/guardians once they complete bus routes. You can check back with the link at any time.