September Family Newsletter

Happy November, GFE Families! 🍂🦃

As we welcome the month of November, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude, growth, and togetherness! We are incredibly thankful for our amazing students, dedicated staff, and supportive families who continue to make Great Falls Elementary School such a special place to learn and grow.

As we move forward into the second nine weeks, our focus remains on academic excellence, student growth, positive behavior, and consistent attendance. We encourage our families to continue partnering with us by ensuring students arrive at school on time, are ready to learn, and give their very best each day.

November is a season of thankfulness, and we want each of you to know how much we appreciate your continued support and commitment to GFE. Together, we will continue to build on our successes, overcome challenges, and chase greatness!

We Dream Big. We Work Hard. We Chase Greatness! 🐝❤️

Dr. Padraic D. Hampton
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

• Our Grading Policy has been updated for the 2026-2027 school year. Click the grading policy below. One of the biggest changes in the policy is that the minimum grade policy has been removed. For example, if a student receives a score of a 45, the 45 will be recorded in the gradebook and will be calculated in the final grade.

• The district this year is implementing a new retake policy where a student will only be able to take two MAJOR assessments across the grade level per nine weeks.

• If you have a classroom concern it is important for you to contact the "classroom teacher" prior to reaching out to the administration team. If the concern is not resolved, please reach out to the administration team.

• We hope that you are enjoying our new car tags. If your car tag gets lost or damaged, the replacement cost is $5.00 and can be purchased in the main office.

• ALL students are expected to adhere to our GFE dress code. If a student is outside of the dress code, parents will be contacted.

• Stay Connected: Review school and teacher communications regularly and reach out whenever you have questions or concerns. We want to work together with you.

• Academics: Ask your child what they are learning each day, review assignments and grades, and encourage reading and learning at home.

• Behavior & Expectations: Please continue talking with your child about making responsible choices, showing respect, and following classroom, cafeteria, hallway, playground, and bus expectations.

Pajama Policy Reminder

Pajamas are not permitted at Great Falls Elementary School unless it is a designated special occasion approved by the school. Students are expected to arrive at school dressed appropriately and in accordance with the district dress code. If a student arrives wearing pajamas on a non-designated day, a parent or guardian will be contacted to provide a change of clothes. Thank you for your cooperation and support!

Help Us Keep GFE Safe

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priorities. We ask all parents and guardians to regularly check their child's bookbag to ensure that no dangerous or inappropriate items are brought to school. Any student found bringing dangerous items to school will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Chester County School District Code of Conduct. We take these matters seriously and appreciate your partnership in maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive learning environment for everyone.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to make student safety a top priority.

The safety of our students is our highest priority. Riding the school bus is a privilege, and all students are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful environment by following the GFE Bus Expectations.

GFE Bus Expectations

• Be on time at your assigned bus stop and ready when the bus arrives.
• Follow the bus driver's directions the first time they are given.
• Remain seated at all times with your hands, feet, and belongings to yourself.
• Use kind words and respectful behavior toward the driver and other students.
• Keep the bus clean by placing all trash in the appropriate receptacle or taking it with you.
• Speak in quiet voices so the driver can focus on safely transporting students.
• Keep all body parts and objects inside the bus at all times.
• Do not throw objects on the bus or out of the windows.
• Use electronic devices appropriately and only if permitted by district guidelines.
• Exit the bus safely and follow the driver's instructions when getting on and off.

Consequences for Unsafe Behavior

Student safety is non-negotiable. Failure to follow bus expectations may result in disciplinary consequences, including:

• Parent notification and conference
• Assigned seating or other behavior interventions
• Suspension from riding the school bus for a specified number of days
• Permanent removal of bus riding privileges for serious or repeated violations that jeopardize the safety of students or the driver

We ask families to partner with us by discussing these expectations with your child and reinforcing that riding the school bus is a privilege that comes with the responsibility of making safe choices every day.

• Families, we are pleased to share that we have made great progress in improving our afternoon dismissal process and reducing dismissal times!

  Beginning Monday, October 26, students will no longer be picked up from the car rider ramp after 3:00 p.m. Parents arriving after 3:00 p.m. must come inside the main office to pick up and sign out their child.

  As a reminder, our school day ends at 2:30 p.m., and afternoon dismissal concludes by approximately 3:00 p.m. We ask all families to make arrangements to pick up their children during this time.

  We understand that emergencies happen. However, routinely picking up students after 3:00 p.m. is not acceptable. If an emergency prevents you from arriving on time, please contact the front office as soon as possible.

  Thank you for your cooperation and support as we continue making dismissal safer and more efficient for all students and families!

• Parents/or guardians of car riders, please have your car tag number visible at all times while on campus.

• Students will not be able to be dismissed from the front office after 2:00 p.m.

Want to make your child’s birthday extra special? Families may purchase a Birthday Shout-Out to have a special birthday message displayed on our school marquee!

Birthday Shout-Outs may be purchased in the GFE Main Office. $5.00 a message!

Celebrate your child’s special day with a birthday message for our GFE community to see!

At Great Falls Elementary, we believe that our greatest strength is the partnership between our school and our families. We invite you to become a leader by serving on our School Improvement Council (SIC) or our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

These groups play a vital role in supporting our students, strengthening our school community, and helping us continue our mission of Dream Chasers: Turning Dreams into Realities.

School Improvement Council (SIC)

The School Improvement Council works alongside school leadership to:

• Review school goals and student achievement data.
• Provide input on school improvement initiatives.
• Strengthen communication between the school and community.
• Support the long-term success of Great Falls Elementary.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Our PTO partners with the school to:

• Plan family engagement events and school activities.
• Support teachers and students through volunteer opportunities.
• Assist with fundraising efforts that enhance the educational experience.
• Build a strong sense of community and school pride.

At Great Falls Elementary, we believe that every day counts! One of the most important factors in a child's academic success is consistent school attendance. When students are present every day and arrive on time, they build strong learning habits, develop meaningful relationships with their teachers and classmates, and stay on track with classroom instruction.

Missing just a few days of school each month can make it difficult for students to keep up with important lessons and skills. While we understand that illnesses and emergencies happen, we encourage families to schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible and to make school attendance a daily priority.

Together, we can help our Dream Chasers develop the habits that lead to lifelong success. By ensuring your child is at school every day, on time, and ready to learn, you are giving them the best opportunity to reach their full potential.

Thank you for partnering with us as we help our students Dream Big, Work Hard, and Chase Greatness!

Remember: Every Day Matters. Every Student Matters. Every Dream Matters.

Drop-off time for car riders ends in the morning at 7:55 a.m.