Dear Roosevelt Families,

Welcome to the 2015-16 school year! Here’s hoping you and your family had a great summer together. My family spent a lot of time on bicycles, enjoying those beautiful mornings before it got hot, hot, hot!

At Eleanor Roosevelt we are busy getting our school spic and span for all of our students to arrive. We have a number of other staff changes this year, as you’ll see on the included staff roster.

Here’s some information you’ll need:

Back-to-School Night, September 1, 4:00 – 5:00 PM Come learn who your student’s teacher will be, see the classroom, and say hi to friends and families. Please enter at the cafeteria; this is where class lists will be posted (newcomers: the cafeteria entrance is to the right of the main entrance). Proceed from there to your child’s classroom; maps will be on hand. Our wonderful PTA will provide a tasty treat on your way out.

Classroom Placements If you attend Back-to-School Night (above) you will know your child’s placement. Otherwise, the first day of school, look for a large whiteboard at the school entrance for class lists. Please note that classroom assignments are tentative at this time as they are based on enrollment projections made last spring. Typically, these are fairly accurate, but families move over the summer, so a truly accurate count has to wait until school begins. Sometimes it becomes necessary to change a student’s classroom assignment. If that happens you will be informed as soon as possible.

School Begins September 2 An earlier bed time and get-up time for your child a week or more before school starts is recommended to help create an easier transition back to school. We also recommend that if your child will be a bus rider, riding the first day is a good way to get into the routine. Be sure your child knows where s/he will get off at the end of the day.

Everyday Hours/Procedures…IMPORTANT Students enter classrooms at 8:20, the tardy bell rings at 8:30, dismissal is at 2:50. Bus riders will arrive around 8:00; we ask that walkers and those being dropped off arrive at or after that time as well. DO NOT have your children arrive before 8:00; there is no supervision before that time. Please read the following carefully – these procedures have all been designed with safety in mind:

  • Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. At this time breakfast begins in the cafeteria. Students in grades K – 5 not eating breakfast are supervised outside from 8:00 until the doors open at 8:20. During these 20 minutes, Kindergarten through 2nd graders play on the first playground (Yellow Wing) to the left of the front doors. NOTE: If you drive or walk your K – 2nd grade student to Roosevelt, he or she will get to the playground by walking around the front of the building. (Those eating breakfast can walk right into the cafeteria, to the right of the entrance.)  3rd through 5th graders play on the second playground, around back (Red Wing). Students walk around the building to get to the red wing playground. **Remember rain gear for wet days.
  • For those who will be picked up by car after school Please follow the traffic arrows through our parking lot and continue to pull forward along the curb until your student is in sight. DO NOT leave your car in this area as it is a fire lane. We will help your students watch for you. If you need to come into the building please park in the parking lot.
  • Meeting up with your student Be sure your student knows who s/he will be walking to and from school with (older sibling, friend, etc.). If you walk together, pick up all Kindergarteners along the front sidewalk in front of the Yellow Wing (they will be supervised by Kindergarten teachers, even those from the other side of the hall), 1st graders near the cafeteria, 2nd graders near the front entrance, and 3rd – 5th grade in front of the cafeteria. Grades 1-5 Challenge students will be released at the turn-around on the south side of our school.
  • For bus riders Refer to the bus schedule in this letter for route information. IMPORTANT: Practice now to be sure your child can recognize the bus stop from a car on the road – we want him/her to know when to get off! Also, have your address in a small pocket of the backpack so your child can show the driver if unsure.

Thank you for your time in reading this important information. Be sure to chat with your student about what you’ve learned concerning the start of school. It’ll get them excited, and they’ll no doubt be impressed and pleased that you know about their world!

On behalf of the entire Roosevelt staff, here’s to a year filled with learning! As we continue with our campaign on the importance of daily school attendance, I’ll close with an encouragement that we see your student ALL DAY, EVERY DAY!

Sincerely,
Karrie Yank
Eleanor Roosevelt Principal