August 19, 2024
Dear WIS Families,
As we begin this new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you. We are so excited to welcome your child to WIS on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 27. Our teachers and staff have been busy preparing for the new school year, and can’t wait to start. Our dedicated staff is here to support you and your child and to help them have a successful and rewarding school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
As you prepare for the start of school, here are a few updates and reminders:
Arrival
School begins at 8:30am. We encourage all of our students to take the bus. If you are dropping off your child, our doors open for car riders at 8:15am. Upon entering the school access road, make a right into the car loop and follow it around to the sidewalk in front of the school. After letting your child out of the car, please turn left back to the main entrance. Please be aware that buses enter the school grounds through the same access road, so please look for buses as you make the left turn onto the access road. Children should exit their cars on the sidewalk side.
Dismissal
We use an online program called School Dismissal Manager for you to set your child’s dismissal plans. This program is now active, and you should have received credentials by email. All dismissal plans must be sent into School Dismissal Manager by 1:00pm each day. Teachers follow the dismissal plans that are in School Dismissal Manager. They cannot take changes by email. Dismissal begins at 3:15pm. Please note that students may only ride on their assigned bus until September 27, after that time students may ride home on a different bus with a friend. This information must also be entered into School Dismissal Manager.
Third Grade Students:
On Monday, August 26th, we have a Meet the Teacher event for third grade students and their family. This is an open house style event and you do not need to stay for the entire time. It is an opportunity for you and your child to come see their classroom, drop off supplies and meet their teacher. The visit is between 1:30pm-2:15pm.
You should be receiving a package from us soon with a letter from your child’s teacher, in addition, there is a backpack tag with the name of your child’s classroom teacher listed. Please attach the tag to their backpacks before the first day. We will have lots of staff greeting the students as they arrive and the tags will help us make sure they arrive in the correct classroom. We have also color coordinated the tags with balloons that are attached outside each classroom to help make it easier for the students to find their classroom on the first days of school.
Attendance
Regular on-time attendance to school sets children up for success. If your child is going to be absent or late, please call our attendance line at 203-221-6331. If you are driving to school to drop off your child, please plan to arrive at campus by 8:15am to allow ample time to move through the process. Students who are tardy to class miss out on valuable time preparing for the school day.
Snack/Lunch
Students can bring their own lunch or can buy lunch in our cafeteria. All students should bring a snack from home that they can have during the day. All of our classrooms are peanut and tree nut free, so please do not send in peanut or tree nut items for snack. We have allergy alert tables in the cafeteria for students with allergies.
The students order lunch through their classroom teacher. If your child will be ordering school lunch, please review the menu with your child and set expectations with your child about what they should order. Here is a link for the Lunch menus. Each day they will have a hot lunch option along with options for sandwiches as well as a salad bar. If you have a child with allergies, we encourage you to reach out to our Culinary Director, Andrea Santelli, at foodservices@westonps.org.
All students should bring a reusable water bottle. We have bottle filling stations in the building for students to refill their water bottles throughout the day. They should bring the water bottles home daily for cleaning.
Cell phones and Smartwatches
Students should not bring cell phones or smart watches to school as they will not be allowed in school this year, and students are not to use these devices on the bus as well. Our goal is to ensure that, while at school, children are able to focus, work hard, and have fun. Our district and school administrative team listened to feedback from parents, spoke to staff, and read research on this topic and made this decision about cell phone use. Our students’ social-emotional well being is important to their success in school.
Website
Our website has many resources and information for you. We encourage you to visit it throughout the year. Please also take time to familiarize yourself with our handbook which is located on the website.
Security
All exterior doors are locked throughout the day. If you have an appointment at school, please come to the main entrance. Our security specialist monitors and grants entrance to verified visitors. Please bring photo identification with you when you have an appointment at school. For safety reasons, families cannot walk children to their classes. Our school staff will help children from their cars to their teachers.
We look forward to a great year of learning!
Sincerely,
Patricia Falber
Principal
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
