Important Safety Procedures!
January 21, 2024
Dear Parents,
Please remember our important arrival and dismissal procedures below. Also, be sure to share these expectations with child care providers and anyone who picks your kids up from school.
These procedures are put in place for safety and efficiency. If you need to help your child out of the car, give them extra hugs or get them ready for the day we ask that you pull to the field side of the building and take the extra time you need. The front circle is for a quick exit from the car.
It is also important that children cross at the crosswalks and not run across the grassy middle and then cross in the middle of the drop off line. This is so dangerous! We want to keep our little ones safe.
I would also like to remind parents that we do not allow students to keep cell phones or Smart Watches on during the day. Students will be asked to turn off Smart watches and cell phones and they will be put in backpacks until the child is dismissed from school. Students should not be texting from school. If parents need to get in touch with their children they can call the office and we will have the child call you back.
Thank you for helping us keep your children safe at school.
Sincerely,
Trish McGuire
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Below are the arrival and dismissal procedures for the 2023-2024 school year. Your understanding and cooperation in following these policies and procedures is greatly appreciated. We know your lives are busy and you want arrival and dismissal to happen quickly but it is of great importance that our school campus is safe for our students. Drive slowly and be patient when you enter the campus.
School Hours:
Arrival 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal 2:45 p.m.
Pre-School hours:
Arrival 8:30 a.m
Dismissal 1:30 p.m
Morning arrival:
Staff will meet and supervise all arrivals outside of the building for grades K- 5 at 7:55 a.m. Preschool will be met at 8:25 a.m.
Classrooms are open and teachers are ready to greet students at 8:00am.
We encourage 8:00 am arrivals.
Students in grades K-5 arriving to classrooms after 8:15 are tardy.
Students driven to school are to be dropped off along the driveway in front of the school or the driveway on the gym side of the building and walk to the entrance.
Drivers please follow this procedure:
Drive up to the white sign along the gymnasium side of the school or the stop sign in front of the school. Do not stop in front of the door. Pulling up to the top of the driveway will help keep the traffic moving.
Remain in the vehicle while students exit the car independently on the sidewalk side only.
Do not pass the car in front of you at any time. This is an extreme hazard and is strictly prohibited. Please wait in line, proceed around the loop, and exit onto East Elm Street or Milbank driveways.
Please refrain from using cell phones during drop-off.
Once a student has been dropped off, he/she MUST stay on grounds.
Please keep in mind that one of our goals is to maximize instructional time for students, so arriving on time will assist your child with organization and academics throughout the school year. Our goal is to have all students in their classrooms at their seats by 8:15 a.m.
Dismissal:
Dismissal for grades K-5 begins at 2:45. Bus students, car riders, and walkers will be dismissed separately.
The front circle is restricted to buses from 2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cars are NOT allowed in the front circle during dismissal/pick-up. Drivers should park outside the school and park or enter the Milbank driveway only.
Car riders in grades 1-5 will be picked up on the gymnasium side of the building. There is no parking or standing. Vehicles must keep moving around the loop until their child is available for pick-up.
Walkers being picked up by parents should be met on the black top by the playground.
Older siblings will be able to meet younger siblings at their classroom with written permission from the parent.
IF there is a planned change in pick-up for your child, you must enter it in the School Dismissal Manager by 1:45 pm. Students will not be dismissed to an alternate party without written authorization from a parent/guardian.
Parking:
For parents and guests of the school, parking is available in the upper level of the back parking lot, along the east side of the driveway. Please note that cars parked in the 5 spaces immediately in front of the school in the afternoon will not be able to move until buses have departed. There is NO PARKING along the entire north (field side), along the entire south part of the driveway from Milbank to the Teacher’s lot and anywhere there is a NO PARKING sign.
We hope this outline of policies and procedures will assist you throughout your family’s time at Julian Curtiss Elementary School. Please remember to enter your child’s plan in the School Dismissal Manager.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with these very important matters.
Trish McGuire
Principal
PJ DAY FOR A CAUSE FEBRUARY 9TH!
PJ Day is on Friday Feb 9th (the day before February break) and in exchange for wearing PJs to school, participants are asked to donate $1 or more to give to Connecticut Children's Hospital. As an alternative to bringing money to school, the students (and parents) can also donate online via this link give.connecticutchildrens.org/team/550789. Also, even if kids cannot make a financial donation they can still wear their PJs in solidarity and support of other kids with cancer.
Donate using this link!
Mark Your Calendar
January
January 22 - Magnet Open House 6 pm @ JulianCurtiss Media Center
January 24 - Magnet Open House 9:15 am @ Julian Curtiss Media Center
January 26 - Annual Parent Social at Millbrook 6:30-10:30 pm
January 28 - Hot Cocoa Stand Greenwich Avenue 12-4 pm. See flyer
February
February 12-16 Winter Recess /School Closed
February 19 - Presidents Day /School Closed
February 20 - Return to School