Somerset Academy Oaks

August 27th, 2023

Attendance Matters. All Day. All Students. Every day.

Key Information to Remember

Earliest Time Students Can be Dropped off

7:00 am
Staff are on duty outside, in the cafeteria, and in the gym starting at 7am.
Students who want breakfast exit their vehicles and go to the cafeteria.
Students who do not want breakfast exit their vehicles and go to the gym.

Breakfast Schedule

7:00am-8:00am

Instruction Starts

7:45am
Students who arrive after 7:45am are missing key Math or key Reading instruction

Tardy Time

8:10am
We ask for safety purposes that parents escort their child(ren) inside the building AND sign their children in the binder located on Mrs. Dodd's desk.
Staff are not on duty outside after 8:00am as we are inside the building starting the day.
While you are signing in your children at Ms. Dodd's desk, we ask that the students go to their class immediately so that they can get their learning started.

Attendance Time

Taken daily at 10:00am
Students who arrive after 10:00am are counted absent.
State of Texas Attendance Policy

Chronic Absences, Tardies, Early Pick-Ups

Our attendance committee will schedule conferences with parents /guardians to address chronic:

absences
tardies
early pick ups

What does chronic mean?

Chronic absence, tardies, and early pick up is defined as missing 10 percent or greater of the total number of days enrolled during the school year for any reason. It includes both excused, unexcused, out-of-school suspensions, and in-school suspensions that last more than one-half of the school day.

After School Care Program

3:00pm-6:00pm
A late fee will be added to Procare accounts of children who are picked up after 6:00pm.

Early Release Dates for the 2023-2024 School Year

Dismissal time: 12:15pm
September 13
October 11
January 24
February 14
April 10

ASCP will be open for students who are already enrolled.

Lunch Times

Early Pick Up Policy

What if my child has an appointment?

Students who have a appointments are to be checked out before 2:30pm.

September 2023 Events

September 15 Background Check Deadline

Mark Your Calendars!

August 28 After School Clubs

🦉 "Little Owls" Choir

Grades: 1st-3rd
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Music Classroom
Questions: Please contact karen.feazel@somersetacademytx.org

🎨 Art Club

Grades: 5th & 6th
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Art Classroom
Questions: Please contact roxanne.briones@somersetacademytx.org or laura.dodd@somersetacademytx.org

August 28-September 1st

BOY iReady Diagnostics Testing Window for Math & Reading
Grades: Kinder
What is iReady? Please click the link.
https://i-readycentral.com/familycenter/

September 4

Student & Staff Holiday-Labor Day

September 5

Classes resume---Campus Opens at 7:00am
Parent Information Session via zoom from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Zoom Meeting Room ID: https://ave.zoom.us/j/6326321292

September 5-September 8

BOY DIBELS Diagnostic Testing Window
Grades: Kinder-2nd
What is DIBELS: Please click the link below.
https://dibels.uoregon.edu/sites/dibels1.uoregon.edu/files/2021-06/dibelsparentguide.pdf

September 10

Grandparent's Day

September 13

Early Release
Time: 12:15pm
The After School Care Program (ASCP) will be open for students already enrolled.

September 15

Background Check Deadline

International Dot Day

Students are able to wear dots to make their mark! See the flyer below for more details.
What is International Dot Day? Please click the link below.
https://www.internationaldotday.org/

Uniform Swap Meet

Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Who: Parents who want to swap uniforms with other parents
Location: Gym

September 15-October 15

National Hispanic Heritage Month
The 2023 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is 'Prosperity, Power, and Progress', recognizing the significant achievements of the Hispanic community in the economic and political industries.
Details coming soon on project ideas for students to complete at home and earn Oaks Swag!

See the excerpt below from Deputy Superintendent Oliver.

Please remember that our deadline to fill out the background check this year is September 15th.
This will ensure that you have the ability to volunteer, visit with your students during special lunch opportunities, and attend field trips.
There is a small 5-dollar fee associated as these checks cost the schools money.
We are going to continue to look for opportunities this year to bring families back into the buildings.
Background check forms can be filled out between 9:00am and 2:00pm in the main office.
Please remember, that a cleared background check is required to participate in campus events.
Questions? Please contact cory.oliver@somersetacademytx.org or laura.dodd@somersetacademytx.org.

Uniform Expectations

Monday-Thursday Tops

Students who do not have the French Toast embroidered polo can wear the following tops.

Single color navy blue polo
Single color green polo
Single color yellow polo
We added yellow for the plaid uniform pieces :)
Single color white polo
Returning students can wear the previous uniform polos with the Brooks Oaks Academy logo

Monday-Thursday Bottoms

All students should be in khaki bottoms-pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, etc.

Please ensure that girls wear shorts under their dresses/skirts.

Spirit Day Fridays

Students are able to wear jeans (pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, etc.) with the following tops.

College theme
Career theme
Military theme
Sports theme
Oaks Spirit tshirt
Disney theme
Marvel theme
NEHS tshirt
Millionaire tshirt
Polos or tshirts with school colors---navy blue, green, white
Students can also wear their uniforms on Fridays as well.

SA- Oaks Spirit Shirts

We have some spirit shirts-limited sizes (no smalls) on sale for $15 (cash only) Contact Ms. Dodd if you would like to see if we have the size(s) you need.
Families will have the opportunity to place an order for our new 2023 spirit shirt in September. We are collaborating with our vendor on the design. Details coming soon! :)

2023 Spirit Weeks

We will have spirit weeks sprinkled throughout the year. Details coming soon! :)

HEALTH NOTE: Students are asked to take off all sweaters, hoodies, or jackets during recess and P.E activities.

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact our front office team. We will more than happy to assist you.

Safety & Health

Medication

Students may not bring any medications to school in their backpacks, including over-the-counter medications such as cough drops and creams? Parents wishing to send those in for the child must: send the medication in the original package/container, label it with the child’s name, fill out the appropriate paperwork with the nurse, and hand the medication to a faculty/staff member.

Immunizations

It is important that we have on file an updated immunization records for students. We have reached out to parents and have asked them to please partner with us to get this taken care. If your child does not have an updated immunization record, we will have to unfortunately withdraw them. Please know this something that we do not want to do but have as per state guidelines.

Questions? Contact Nurse Barletta as soon as possible if you received a letter, a phone call, and/or a face-to-face conversation with Nurse Barletta, Mrs. Dodd, Ms. Jessica, or Ms. Wilson. Nurse Barletta's email is donna.barletta@somersetacademytx.org.

Fever Free Policy

Our fever policy is a child must be fever free for 24 hours without the help of fever reducers before they can return to school.

Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact Nurse Barletta, RN by calling the front office. Your call will be transferred to her office. You are welcome to email donna.barletta@somersetacademytx.org.

Restroom and Clinic Visits

Teachers have been instructed to send students to the restroom when they ask and to the clinic when they are not feeling good. Please note that classrooms also have a first aid kit in the event it is a minor incident like needing a band aid.

We have also informed teachers that anytime they provide a student assistance using the classroom first aid kit to communciate this to the parent via parent square. In the event a student is sent to the clinic, Nurse Barletta will contact the parent.

Safety Drills

Campus safety drills (example fire drills, lockdown drills, etc.) will happen each month. We will send out notification via Parent Square to inform parents/guardians when we are about to conduct a drill. A second message will be sent out informing parents/guardians when the drill is complete. Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact talisa.wilson@somersetacademytx.org.

Authorization to Pick Up and Orange Pick Up Card

Safety is our #1 priority!

We ask that parents please make sure they have the individuals listed to pick up their child(ren) on the authorized pick up form.
You can come into the front office to complete/update the form. You can also request a form to be scanned/emailed to you.
However, the completed form must be returned to Ms. Dodd within 24 hours or receipt.
Inform the authorized individuals that they will need to have the orange pick up card.
If they do not have the orange pick up card, they will need to provide their ID/license for verification to the front office.
During dismissal, we ask that the orange pick up card is visible on the dashboard or passenger side window.
Staff move around during dismissal and may not know all families.

From our Campus Counseling Department

Message from Mrs. Batten-Our After School Care Program (ASCP) Director

ProCare Accounts

Effective Monday, September 4, 2023, students will not be able be able to stay for the ASCP if their ProCare account not paid on time.

Parents/Guardians: If your child(ren) will be out a week, please contact Mrs. Batten as soon as possible so that she can credit your account.

Questions? Please contact abigail.batten@somersetacademytx.org.

News from Our Cafeteria

Don't forget to fill out the lunch application! A new one is required yearly.

The link is www.linqconnect.com.

Families who have not applied yet, will be charged until status of Free, Reduced, or Full Price is established.

Students who have a 10.00 meal balance will be served an alternate meal. We ask that you please continue to check your students balance and load more money into their account when the balance becomes low.

Questions: Please contact arturo.guzman@somersetacademytx.org, our cafeteria manager. You are also welcome to contact our Child Nutrition Director Mike Jones at mike.jones@somersetacademytx.org.

Snacks & Refillable Water Bottles

Brain Boost!

Snacks! Snacks! Snacks!

Snacks give our students that extra boost they need while learning.
Each class has embedded in their schedule a snack time.
We ask parents to please send their child with a snack if at all possible.
Contact your child's teacher for their respective snack time.

Classroom Party Snack Donations

Parents are not required to send snacks for the entire class for daily snack time.
We will have classroom parties throughout the school year.
Flyers will be sent home to ask for donations for the classroom parties.

Refillable Water Bottles

We ask that students bring a refillable water bottle with their name on it.
We have a contract with Artesia Springs and each classroom has a 5 gallon water bottle for students to refill their bottles and stay hydrated.
This helps to cut down on them leaving the classroom (missing instruction) to go to the water fountain to get water.
Teachers contact our facilities team when they need another 5 gallon water bottle.

Student cell phones are to be off during the school day. We understand that some students have smart watches. However, students are not allowed to use their smart watches in the same manner as their cell phone in the form of texting, playing games, etc.. We do know that the smart watches can help them keep track of time.

7am-3pm for non-after schoolers.
3pm-6pm for students enrolled in the After School Care Program.

Below is Somerst Academy of Texas' Electronic Communciation Policy from our Code of Conduct handbook. Please review so that you understand the steps that administration will implement in the event an electronic device is confiscated and the parent/guardian is contacted.

Parents can call the front office to check on their child. We will be more than happy to go to the classroom, check on them, and provide you an update.