Gardner Elementary School Update

• While there's still some work to do, the staff have been working hard setting up the space to welcome students to this beautiful school! For your convenience, I've hyperlinked the school web-site, Facebook page, and also attached our back-to-school letter. This information is at the bottom of this newsletter. I have also attached the updated school calendar which will be voted on during the next school committee meeting. While I know many families are anxious to see the inside of the new school, there is still work happening which prevents us from holding an event prior to September 12th, as we'd hoped. GES families will, though, be able to see the inside of our school during our open house on October 13th from 6 - 7:30.
  
• Speaking of meeting your child's teacher, I know staff have attempted to reach parents through the communication app they'll be using this year - Class Dojo. There are, however, some families who still have not been reached. Our tech folks are working hard to enable us to send this information to families soon. Those who have not received information regarding their child's teacher by the end of Thursday (9/8), can reach out to the main office at our new number, 978-991-0900.
  

Our doors will open for the students to enter at 8:30 a.m. but the school day officially begins at 8:45 a.m. We ask that you do not drop your child off before 8:30 a.m. as staff are not available to monitor and escort children to their rooms before that time. Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m.

• Here is the list of school bus stops and times on our district web-site: https://www.gardnerk12.org/914/Transportation . I'll attach a copy of the document on the bottom of this newsletter as well.
• While all children are entitled to busing during their Kindergarten year, only 1st through 4th graders who live beyond 1 mile from the school are eligible per school committee policy.
• The right side of the web-page also contains downloadable directions for a "Where's My Kid" app which enables you to see where your child is on their bus route. Our code is Gardner10. You'll also need to have your child's identification number (SASID). *PLEASE NOTE: There's a chance you will not be able to use this app the first week as all the SASID numbers for students are not yet available for the teachers and front office staff to share. Thank you for your patience with all of our new database glitches!
• Please account for buses arriving early or late (allow for 15 minutes on both ends) as the routes are nailed down and regular riders are established.

For those planning to pick up and drop off your child each day, here are some directions (I've included a map picture below and also attached it as a PDF file):

- Enter through the Pearl St. entrance across from Dunn Pond. Please stay to the right as far as you can (particularly when you get close to the school) to allow buses to enter. Staff will be there to direct you through the car line. This entry road will be ONE WAY during arrival and dismissal to allow buses and visitors to enter in the left lane).

- Preschool drop off: Preschool families will enter through the same line. However, as you enter the drop off loop by the school, you will veer left into the preschool parking lot. Preschoolers can then walk up with you to the preschool entrance. If you are also transporting an older child, they can walk up to the entrance with you as well.

- After you drop your child off or pick them up, you will then exit through the access road towards Gardner High School and then onto Catherine St. and out onto Pearl St.

- The first morning, cars will also be given a sign to place in your car's rearview mirror for when you pick up your child. Please write your child's name in BIG, dark letters (See picture below).

*Please Note: Unlike in past years at Waterford and Elm where some K-4 families would park and walk up to the school, parents cannot do this at GES. We are asking that EVERYONE hoping to bring their child to and from the school use the car queuing line and NOT park to drop off or pick up your child (Preschool being the exception). If your child is planning to WALK to and from home, please let the front office know. Kids walking from their home to their school can enter through the main entrance. They will leave through the A-wing exit (exit closest to the access road). We will have crossing guards available to help.

While we certainly hope to avoid a situation featured in the meme above, please expect and account for delays this first week, particularly given it will be the first time through this process at our new and much larger school.

FOLLOW THE ORANGE LINE. Preschool will enter the same way from Pearl St. but park in the preschool lot, and walk their child to the Preschool entry.

• If possible, please set up car seats on the right side of your vehicle and let your child out through the right side. Please wait until a staff member directs you to let your child out before allowing them to exit the car. This will enable students to enter school safely and efficiently.
• While I know it's tough, particularly for our Kindergarten families, please say your goodbyes in the car before we let your child out to keep the line moving.
• Please have an I.D. ready to show dismissal staff if you do not have a rearview mirror tag when picking up your child.
• Please let your teacher and/or the front office know if your child is walking to and from home.
• If you are late (after 8:45 a.m. for drop off/after 3:15 for pick-up), please park and walk to the main/center entrance for grades 1-4, and the entrance on the right side of the building (when facing it) for grades PreK and Kindergarten.
• We will not be changing the dismissal arrangement AFTER 1:00 p.m. (example: switching from bus to parent pick up or vice versa). This will enable us to dismiss the kids safely to their appropriate spot at the end of the day, which is an elaborate process.
• There will be no early dismissals after 2:15. After 2:15, students will only be dismissed through the car pick up line.
• Please do not enter the parent drop-off/pick-up line through the access road (the road that connects to GHS and GMS). This will be a "do not enter" area during arrival and dismissal.
• There will be police officers at the school directing traffic during this first week to aid the process.
• If the child drop-off or pick-up line extends on to Pearl St., please stay to the right in the break down lane and put your hazards on. This will enable through traffic on Pearl St. to continue. Please also DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS.

We are a brand new elementary school that opened in the fall of 2022 and combined the old Waterford Street School and Elm Street School. We serve all of the city's approximately 950 elementary students in grades PreK - 4.

Website: https://www.gardner-ma.gov/861/Gardner-Elementary-School-Pre-K-4
Location: 278 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA, USA
Phone: 978-991-0900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardnerES