Barrington Weekly Update

*Having trouble viewing links? Please be sure to click the gray box above to open this newsletter in a new browser to ensure you have the best viewing experience and ensure access to all links. Some links and the layout of this newsletter may be missing if viewing on a phone.

We have just wrapped up our first full week of school, and I am thrilled to share how successful it has been! The energy and enthusiasm from our students have made the start of the year truly special.

This week, we also had our first Bobcat Day of the year, and it was amazing! Our students embraced the spirit of the day with excitement and teamwork, reminding us all of the wonderful community we have here. It was a joy to see everyone come together and celebrate what it means to be a Bobcat.

Thank you for your continued support. We are off to a fantastic start, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

With appreciation,

Nichole Cooper and Heather Markward

We are excited to share that our first Bobcat assembly and learning day was a huge success! It was such a wonderful experience watching our students come together for this special event, showing their Bobcat pride, and engaging in meaningful learning activities throughout the day.

The assembly was filled with excitement, and the learning day provided our students with opportunities to grow both academically and as part of our school community. The energy was contagious, and we are so proud of the way our students embraced the day.

Thank you to our Bobcat Committee for such a wonderfully planned day and for creating enriching experiences for our Bobcats. We look forward to many more days of learning and growth!

To ensure the safety and comfort of all our students, families, and staff, we kindly ask that dogs remain on the public sidewalks during drop-off and pick-up times. We define public sidewalks as those closest to the streets on Barrington and Andover. Please do not walk them up into the school sidewalks or grass areas during the school day or during drop off/pick up. By keeping our furry friends on the public sidewalks, we can maintain a safe environment for everyone and make sure that all members of our school community feel comfortable. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

At Barrington Elementary, we value every child's special day and strive to make their birthday a memorable occasion. To maintain a safe and healthy environment for all of our students, we have implemented the following guidelines regarding birthday celebrations in the classroom.

Birthday Treat Guidelines:

While we understand that sharing treats is a common way to celebrate birthdays, we have decided to focus on non-food items for classroom celebrations. As such, we kindly request that you do not send in edible treats or snacks for your child's birthday.

Instead, we encourage you to consider alternative ways to celebrate your child's special day, such as:

• Small items like pencils, stickers, or bookmarks

• A book donation to the classroom library in your child's name

• A special activity (coordinated with the teacher) that your child can lead or participate in

• Birthday cards or notes from home that can be shared with the class

Important: Please communicate with your child’s teacher in advance if you plan to send any non-food items for their birthday. This will allow the teacher to ensure the items are appropriate and to plan the celebration in a way that does not disrupt the learning environment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us promote a healthy and inclusive environment for all of our students. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or the school office.

We look forward to celebrating your child’s special day in a fun and meaningful way!

Students may arrive anytime between 8:00-8:15am.Students in grades 1-5 will go outside to the big playground on Barrington Road. Kindergarten students will go to the internal courtyard. All students will enter the building at 8:10am. For the safety of all our students please READ AND FOLLOW the information listed and linked below:

1. Pick Up and Drop Off Locations.

2. Stop, Drop, and GO Map and Procedures

3. Please talk with your student before school and have a PLAN for daily drop off and pick up. Teachers do not consistently check email during the day, and changing pick up plans is very stressful for our children. To the best of your ability (we know things happen) please create a plan and be as consistent as possible. Please be sure to also communicate that plan with your child's teacher and our office by filling out THIS form.

We are excited to share some updates to our lunch procedures that we believe will make lunchtime smoother and more comfortable for all of our students. Soon, we will be receiving new café tables for our cafeteria! These will help improve transitions and enhance our students' overall lunch experience.

To help ease any anxiety about where to sit during lunch, we are introducing a building-wide practice where students will eat with their classmates at assigned classroom tables. This approach will provide consistency for our students, giving them a familiar spot each day. Additionally, it will help our staff easily locate students when they need to be picked up for mid-day appointments or other needs.

We appreciate your support as we work to create a positive and organized lunch environment for all of our students. This practice will be in place while we learn and become more familiar with the lunch room routines. We will work towards opportunities for students to have more flexibility for seating as the year progresses.

The Elementary Explorations program will begin September 4th and September 11th here at Barrington. We can't wait to begin working with your amazing students. Here is a link to the first issue of the Elementary Explorations newsletter.

We wanted to share a link to the video message from Superintendent Bob Hunt played during our open house event. Captions can be displayed by clicking on the closed captioning (CC) box. The captions can also be translated into a language of your choice by clicking on settings, selecting "subtitles" and then "auto-translate."

iPad Parent Control Information

The UACS Technology department provides 2 ways for caregivers to manage screen time, review web history, manage apps and internet access after school hours. The typical built-in Apple ScreenTime and Parental controls do not work because the district manages iPads for school use at a district level - the typical consumer level settings are not available. Caregivers can review web activity and disable internet access through the Lightspeed Relay Parent Portal. Additionally, caregivers can control app access and set rules through the JAMF Parent app. Questions may be directed to FamilyTechHelp@uaschools.org.

JAMF Parental Controls Manual

JAMF Parental Setup and Guide Videos

Lightspeed Parent Portal

Tuesday August 27th: Positive T-Shirt Tuesday

Sunday September 1: Golden Bear Bash, 6-10 p.m., Amelito Mirolo Barn

Monday September 2nd: Labor Day, No School

Wednesday September 18th: Early Release, 1:00pm

Thursday September 26th: Picture Day

Friday October 4th: Making Tracks for Bobcats

SAVE THE DATE for Barrington's 2024 Making Tracks for Bobcats happening Friday, October 4th at the Jones Middle School Track. Planning is underway and more information will be coming soon on sponsorships, volunteer opportunities & more. If you would like to get involved or have questions about this annual fall fundraiser, please contact our MTFB Chairs, Katie Wilkinson at katiekelso21@gmail.com and Maria Piersall at taskerme@hotmail.com.