AGPS Elementary Newsletter

We are excited that you are part of our amazing Bluejay learning community! Mrs. Poell and Mrs. Moon are looking forward to our second year of leading AGPS Elementary buildings together and building relationships with our students and their families. We had positive feedback from our families about our digital monthly newsletters and updates, so we plan to continue to send these monthly and frequently communicate with family emails as well. We hope this is helpful for families and allows you to have access to important information and upcoming events anytime you want. We will have paper copies available at the front office if requested by a family.

Please join us for Back to School Night on Tuesday, August 13th. All teaching staff will be available for you and your student(s) to meet and visit with. You are encouraged to visit your children's classrooms, meet their teachers, drop off supplies and visit specials (art, music, PE and media/library) and support staff.

The Elementary Student Demographic Information form was mailed home recently please ensure that you turn this form in to your child's classroom teacher that evening or prior to the first day of school.

New for the 2024-2025 school year art, guidance, and library specials classes will follow a cycle day rotation rather than a day of the week schedule. This approach ensures that classes meet consistently, even with holidays and special events. A cycle day schedule means that these specials will not occur on the same day each week. Our cycle day schedule rotates through a series of days, labeled Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 instead of following a traditional Monday-Friday routine. An electronic copy of the cycle day calendar is attached below. A paper copy and class specific schedule information will be shared by your child's classroom teacher.

How it works:

• Each day has a specific set of classes and activities.

• The cycle continues in order, regardless of weekends or breaks. For example, if Friday is Day 2, then Monday will be Day 3.

• If there is an unplanned day off (e.g. state tournament or snow day) the cycle day is skipped. For example, if school was cancelled on August 26th for weather we would still plan to have cycle day 4 on August 27th.

Thank you to our AMAZING PTO, we will have yard signs courtesy of Sign Dreamers at both elementary schools on the first day of school. This year, PTO plans to change to having quarterly meetings, rather than monthly. Please plan to join us on these dates:

September 9- Location: Primary School

November 4- Location: Intermediate School

February 3- Location: Primary School

April 7- Location: Intermediate School

Families/students may bring treats or snacks for the classroom. These need to be store-bought or purchased from a restaurant/bakery. Students are allowed to bring water bottles to school. Water bottles may only contain water. Flavored packets, pop, and other non-water drinks are not allowed in bottles or the classroom except for special activities organized by the teacher.

Meal program staff will be available in the cafeteria to assist families in making deposits in your child's meal account as well. The cost for meals is:

• Student breakfast - $2.15
• Student lunch - $3.10

Bus drivers will be available on Back to School Night in the parking lot of each building to visit families that are bus eligible. Bus route times will be provided then as well.

Student safety is of utmost importance. All motorists are asked to follow the procedures below when dropping off and picking up elementary children at school.

Drop-off Procedures: When dropping off students at the school, motorists should approach the school using 17th Avenue and enter the main parking lot. Travel along the roadway and pull your vehicle up near the main entrance. Your child should exit the vehicle directly onto the sidewalk and enter the building through the main entrance doors. Students should not exit vehicles into the roadway. Parents wanting to enter the school may opt to pull into a parking stall, exit their vehicle with their child and enter the main entrance. Parents and visitors should check-in at the main office upon entering the building.

Pick-up Procedures: At dismissal time, students will wait outside the main entrance in grade level groups for parents/designated adults to pick them up. Parents are asked to park along the pick-up lane and identify their child by placing a GREEN name card, supplied by the school, on their passenger side visor or window. Teachers will watch for each student’s parent/designated adult, and students will be released to the first 7-8 cars nearest the main entrance door. Parents are asked to pull their vehicles up as far as they can along the lane before loading their child. Once students are in their vehicle, parents will move into the roadway and exit the parking lot. Parents may also opt to pull into a parking stall, exit their vehicle, and pick up their child from the grade level group. Please use the crosswalk if you choose this option.

When weather conditions are poor, students will be held in the cafeteria. Staff members will be posted outside. They will communicate with teachers in the building, who will then send students outside as parents pull up near the main entrance.

Parking is available for preschool families near the west entrance of the school. Parents will walk their preschooler into the school at drop-off time. At dismissal time, staff will walk the children outside and to their parents/designated vehicle.

Bus Procedures: A designated bus lane along 17th Avenue is used when dropping off and picking up students. Supervisors are available in the morning to assist students in walking from the bus to the school. Supervisors walk students from the school to their assigned buses at dismissal time.

As motorists near the school, they are asked to drive slowly and cautiously.

By following the procedures above, our students can come and go from school safely and drivers will meet with less traffic congestion. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone safe.

DROP-OFF:

1. Approach the elementary school using Clay Street.

2. To the east of the Bus Barn, turn right and travel along the roadway until you are directly south of the elementary building and playground. You will be facing west on Boyd Street.

3. Students should exit the vehicle on the right side and use the sidewalk to walk onto the playground.

4. Motorists who plan to exit their vehicles and remain at school for a period of time will find parking in the east parking lot.

All students should enter the building through the east or west cafeteria doors just off the playground.

Motorists should NOT stop traffic along the roadway or in the parking lot east of the playground to let children out of their vehicles. Using the procedures outlined above will provide a safe way to drop off students and minimize traffic congestion.

Students should not be dropped off in the parking lot west of the school. The west parking lot is designated as a drop-off location for buses only. Also, students should not be dropped off at the Clay Street entrance doors prior to 8:05 a.m. Again, this will minimize traffic congestion.

As motorists near the school, they are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. There is a crosswalk directly across from the school on Clay Street. Many students use this crosswalk to get to and from school.

PICK-UP:

At dismissal time, students will exit the building through the cafeteria doors onto the playground.

School buses will load students in the west parking lot at the end of the school day.

Students who walk or ride a bicycle and need to cross 14th Street (Hwy 63) should use the crosswalk lights between Boyd Street and Clay Street when going home.

Motorists picking up students may park in designated parking stalls along the roadway east of the school building. Boyd Street is a one-way street and motorists may only park on the north side of the street. Traffic moves from Clay Street, to the roadway and then onto Boyd Street. Motorists may also park in the east parking lot.

All students not under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian are to leave the school grounds upon dismissal. Students may not remain on the playground after 3:10 unsupervised.

By following the procedures above, our students can come and go from school safely and drivers will meet with less traffic congestion. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone safe.

Primary School Day: 8:15-3:20

Intermediate School Day: 8:05-3:10

We are looking forward to the first day of school August 15th. The start of school is exciting and requires students to learn morning procedures and how to navigate the school to locate their classrooms. At the Primary, parents are welcome to assist their children in locating their classrooms on the first two days of school. Breakfast is served from 7:40-8:10 AM in the cafeteria at both buildings. At the Intermediate, students will begin to participate in the Jays Walking Program upon arriving at school starting August 16th. Students in odd grades (3rd & 5th) walk on odd days, even grades (4th) walk on even days, and all students walk on Fridays. Students participate in the Jays Reading Program on non-walk days. Walking Program begins at the Primary on August 19th. Teachers will instruct your children in these procedures, and upon arriving at school, students will participate in these activities. Staff will be available to assist students with these new procedures and supervise the children.

Additional details about attendance and school drop-off/pick-up procedures can be found in the Elementary Student-Parent Handbook. This document is attached and linked on our school website.

Aug. 13 - Back to School Night

Aug. 15 - First Day of School

Sept. 2 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

Sept. 9 - PTO Meeting 7:00 @ Primary School

Sept. 16 - Picture Day

Sept. 17 - Constitution Day

Sept. 19 - 5th Grade Instrument Display Night 5:30-7:30

Sept. 23 - NO SCHOOL - Staff In-service

Oct. 8 - Elementary Nature Night 6:00-7:00

Oct. 18 - NO SCHOOL - Staff In-service

Oct. 23 - Early Dismissal (Intermediate @12:50 & Primary @ 1:00) & Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 26 - Halloween Spooktacular

Oct. 31 - Elementary Halloween Parties

Nov. 4 - PTO Meeting 7:00 @ Intermediate

Nov. 7 - PTO Bingo Night

At Ashland-Greenwood Elementary Schools, we focus on proactively teaching students what it means and looks like to be safe, respectful, and responsible in all learning environments. Check out the matrix below that highlights expectations in each area. During the first few days of school, teachers spend a lot of time teaching and reviewing these expectations.

At Ashland-Greenwood Elementary Schools, we focus on proactively teaching students what it means and looks like to be safe, respectful, and responsible in all learning environments. Check out the matrix below that highlights expectations in each area. During the first few days of school, teachers spend a lot of time teaching and reviewing these expectations.

Do you know of a community event that would be something our Ashland Greenwood Elementary students would be able to participate in? Please send us a graphic and we will include each month!