Doe Run Parent Newsletter

Hello Doe Run Families,

School years can feel like a race at times. Our race has just begun and we have "come out of the gate" in great form. As we are rounding the bend of the first month and entering the second, it is great to see so many wonderful things already in place for a great school year. As in any race, it is important not only to start strong, but to find a strong pace and maintain it for the entire duration. This is where our attention and focus need to remain as we support our children through the year. Try to do things like creating routines for home reading or other learning, finding ways to be physically active, and ensuring each day they are ready for the day ahead. This is a special race that we are in together and success will come to our learners through our collective efforts.

Have a great month,

Art Paynter, Principal

~ OCTOBER 26TH IS NOT AN EARLY DISMISSAL AS NOTED ON THE DATES TO REMEMBER SHEET.

~ The October 5th early dismissal that is on the district calendar is ONLY for High School students.

~ All absence/appointment excuses are due within 3 days of the absence. Otherwise it will be considered illegal.

~ Bus notes - please remember to put the student's first AND last name, and parent name on the bus or car rider notes. We have many children with the same first names and it is often difficult to determine the last name.

~ Birthday invitations can be brought in to school ONLY if it is for all the girls or boys in the class, or for the whole class. We cannot hand out to individual children.

~ Birthday treats in the classrooms may only be NON-FOOD items - i.e. pencils, goodie bags, etc. Pinterest does have some good ideas for non-food treats.

~ We are using our bus lanes at lunch time for additional recess space. We block off the lanes starting around 9:45 so if you come before that and plan to stay later than 9:45, please park down in the parking lot.

~ Drop off/Pick up - please use the car rider line for arrival and dismissal pick ups - we request that you do not park and walk across the traffic. This creates a dangerous situation for all involved.

~ Picture Retake Day is Thursday, November 9th.

10/2 - Pajama Day!!

10/11 - Baron Breakfast 6:45-7:30am

10/16 - 4th Grade Circus Club starts - 2:15-3:15

10/17 - 3rd Grade Circus Club starts - 2:15-3:15

10/19 - Fall Fund Run 12:30

10/19 - 4th Grade G.Y.M. starts - 2:15-3:15

10/20 - Fund Run rain date

10/26 - 3rd Grade G.Y.M 2:15-3:15

10/26 - Trunk or Treat - Baron Elementary parking lot 6-8 pm

The Learner of the Month for September is Jared Pack. Jared is a 4th grader in Miss Lewis's class and was chosen by the Specialist team to represent Doe Run.

Congratulations Jared!

We know our school can feel very big at times. In an attempt to build more connections across the building and across grade levels, we will have family time once a month where your child will participate in get to know you activities, fun games, and character trait lessons. The 4 houses are Courage, Curiosity, Creativity, or Compassion. Each house has number of "families" each learner was assigned to. Family time will occur once a month and your child will stick with their family throughout their time at Doe Run.

Here is a song that was created by Steven Courtney about our 4 Houses, 1 School:

Four Houses One School (MP3).mp3

This year we will once again return to Parents to Lunch. We are asking the parents to follow 2 options:

1. Pack a lunch to eat with their child. We respectfully ask that you not bring in meals for your kids and limit fast food (subs, sandwiches, etc are good!). We understand that many will be coming from work and this may be the only option.

2. Just come in, shop the Book Fair and sit with them while they enjoy their lunch.

• In order to try to be able to accommodate everyone, we have assigned days for each class (days and times are listed on the back of the blue flyer you received).
• When you come in to eat with your child, you will sign in at the lobby and get a visitor sticker. When the class comes down for recess, you will meet them in the hallway so you can shop with them at the Book Fair.
• When it is time for their lunch, they will go through the cafeteria line and meet you at specially designated tables around the perimeter of the cafeteria to eat. We will be setting up extra tables around the perimeter of the cafeteria for those coming to lunch to be able to fit everyone in. Please sit at tables designated "Parents to Lunch".
• Those who do not have parents coming will continue to sit at their regular table - they will not be mixed in with the adults.

Please realize that our lunch schedule runs on a very tight timeframe. We ask that when a 5 minute warning is announced that you clean up your spot so our support staff can clean the table and get it ready for the next waiting group.

If you would like to view what books your child is signing out from the library please click this link.

Once we have received your request you will receive instructions via the email address you entered.

Occasionally we put pictures on our website, Facebook, etc. If you DO NOT want your child's picture to be published, please call the office at 717-665-8811 or fill in this FORM to let us know your preferences.

October 11th - will be our first early dismissal. For all planned early dismissals (on the calendar) learners will be dismissed 3 hours early (11:15). No lunch will be served. Buses will arrive at the stop 3 hours earlier than normal (i.e. normal time 2:30, early dismissal time 11:30).

October 12th and 13th - NO SCHOOL for learners.

We can earn money for our school by signing up at Weis (scan the barcode on the attachment below once you have put in your Weis card) or use the link below to enter your Weis Card number directly into the site. Our school code is 87242. You may also share the bar code or school code number with friends and relatives. Last year we received $640 in rewards!! We will use this money to stock our Inchy Book machine!

Weis Rewards link: https://weis4school.com/index.php?vica=ctl_schools&vicb=showLoyaltySchoolLinkForm&vicc=p

As we head into class party season and field trips - anyone who is coming in to the building to help must have all their clearances submitted. All 4 clearances must be submitted.

• Child Abuse Clearance
  

• PA Criminal History Check

• Affidavit

• Act 24

• FBI Fingerprinting - if you have NOT lived in PA for 10 years (be sure it is from the Dept. of Education - not Human Services)

The car rider line has been moving much faster now that we have the system down.

Please practice with your child buckling themselves in so the line can keep moving.

Fall Scholastic Book Fair and Parents to Lunch will be 9/29-10/6. Please reference the handout sent home for your time to enjoy lunch with your student. Please also take a look at the sign up genius link provided below to see if you can help with this event. We are still in need of helpers to make this event possible

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Doe Run Fall Book Fair & Parents to Lunch Sign Up

Our Fall Fund Run fundraiser (Formerly known as the Race for Education) is officially off and running! This is our ONLY big fundraiser for the school year (no need to sell any chocolates or wrapping paper!) and its success directly impacts our ability to continue to provide so many wonderful activities for our Doe Run Family! Our students enjoyed a fun assembly on Monday the 25th to learn how they can help make this event successful. Please make sure you check your student's take home folder for their information packet. This packet will explain the importance of the funds raised as well as how to go about collecting donations. Our online platform this year should help streamline the donation process for your friends and family. If you have any questions about this fundraiser after reading your packet, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the PTO directly. The 99 pledges link is below and from there you should be able to access your learner's direct donation page by searching their name. Share this individual link with family and friends. If each student is able to raise $40, we will hit our goal of $25,000. There is no donation too small!

Fall Fund Run Donation Link

Our students will celebrate this fundraiser by running as many laps as they can on Thursday, October 19th, and spectators are welcome! Please see your student's packet for additional details.

Thank you to all who were willing to be a room parent for your child's classroom this year! Please let us know if you have not yet received any communication from your students’ room parent.

Our next Public PTO meeting will be held on Monday, November 6th and will be held both in person in room A101 and virtually via zoom. All are welcome to join!

If your child is absent, you will receive an automated call, even if you have called in ahead of time. Please remember to send a signed excuse within 3 days of their return to school.

Also - if you are planning a trip - the Educational Trip Form must be submitted a week PRIOR to going on the trip. Learners may take 5 educational days/year.

As the weather starts getting colder, please remember to put names in coats/sweatshirts/hats so we can return them if they are found. We already have several sweatshirts in the lost and found and no names in them.

Also - when lunches and backpacks are left on the bus, our courier brings them to us around 10:15. If names are in them it is much easier to get it to your child in a timely manner.

In the event we need to use a Flexible Instruction Day (FID), below is an infographic with some important reminders.

Menus are not being printed and sent home this year. We will post them in the newsletters (see below), and you can also go to Manheimcentral.org then click on the Parent tab, and then Menus.

Please remember - If you have a 3rd grade student, a Dental Exam is due!!! I can accept any exam dated a year prior to 8/30/2023 for a 3rd grade dental.

The cold and flu season is upon us. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Please keep your child at home if he or she has any of the symptoms below and call your family physician for guidance:

· Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth and your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours WITHOUT fever-reducing medications)

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Chills

· General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches

· Frequent congested cough or croupy cough

· Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose

To help prevent the flu and other colds, please reinforce the following with your children:

· Wash hands frequently

· Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

· Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever free" for a minimum of 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on the medication for at least 24 hours before being considered non-contagious and no green, yellow, tan/brown or thick nasal drainage should be present for your child to be able to return to school. Your child should be physically able to participate at their baseline in all school activities upon return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom. Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible. Our custodial staff continues to work hard at cleaning and disinfecting the school building.

Thank you!!!

Nurse Stewart

Website: ManheimCentral.org
Location: 281 Doe Run Road, Manheim, PA, USA
Phone: (717) 665-8800
Twitter: @DoeRunSchool