Pack Parent Newsletter

Hello Pack families! Happy October. Please read the newsletter carefully. It's packed with information for you. First, a quick message for families:

We are changing our procedures when it comes to parents accessing the building and their student during instructionl hours. Parents will now be limited to the office if they need to speak with their student during the school day. We can provide a space in the office for you.

Thank you for you cooperation and understanding that we want to limit the disruptions to our day.

For years we at Woodward have tried to host events for our families that were free of charge. We have used grant money to support, state budgets to support, and our staff to volunteer all in order to host events at no or minimal cost to our fmilies. This school year we face state and federal budget cuts as well as the end of a grant that was used the last 3 years to support our students with field trip experiences.

Due to all of those reasons, Woodward and our PTO, has decided that we will be charging families for our events. We will use these events as fundraisers in order to generate funding for our students to have field trip experiences in and out of school.

Our Spooktacular event in a few weeks will be the first event we host where there will be a cost per family. We thank you for understanding.

Parents/guardians are required by law to make sure their children attend school on a daily basis. Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) expects all students to attend school.

Students need to be on time for instruction. Our instructional day is from 8:04 am until 3:10 pm. At the elementary level, a tardy is coming to school within the first 90 minutes of the school day. Arriving after the first 90 minutes is considered absent for the morning. Likewise, a student leaving within 90 minutes of the end of the school day will be marked, “Signed out early at end of day”. If the student is signed out with more than 90 minutes left of the school day, they will be marked absent for the afternoon. Leaving early is equivalent to being tardy. On the fifth tardy, school personnel will make contact with the parent/guardian to problem solve in an effort to eliminate tardiness.

Attendance Expectations

When students have the following number of unexcused absences in a trimester, you should expect to receive the following notifications and support.

3 days of unexcused absences in a trimester

💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian

📞 Robo text or phone call

5 days of unexcused absences in a trimester

💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian

📅 In person, virtual or phone conference

10 days of unexcused absences in a trimester

💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian

🏫 School attendance committee creates an individualized plan of support

15 days of unexcused absences in a trimester

💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian

🏢 Referral to central office. The central office attendance team will make further recommendations that may include:

• wrap around services

• referrals to community support organizations

• academic interventions

• summer school attendance

• possible recommendations for grade level retention

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Responsibility:

• It is the responsibility of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) to notify the student’s school as early as possible on the day of an absence and explain the reasons for the absence.

• Student absences are considered unexcused if documentation supporting an excused absence is not provided.

• After 3 consecutive absences, a medical note from a physician may be required.

What is an excused absence?

• Student illness and/or appointment verified by the parent/guardian or medical professional

• Medically verified extended illness or hospitalization

• Attending a funeral

• Religious holiday

• Absence due to a subpoenaed court appearance

• Any time missed due to KPS school transportation issues

Chronic Absenteeism

The state defines 'chronic absenteeism’ as attending school less than or equal to 90% of the time. This includes all absences (excused, unexcused, suspensions, etc.). A student who misses more than half the day is considered absent for the day. Chronic absenteeism not only impacts the absent student, it disrupts learning for an entire classroom when teachers have to repeat lessons for students returning to class. When students are out of school, for any reason, they are missing valuable instructional time.

Tuesday, October 21st from 530-7 pm we will host our annual Spooktacular.

We hope to see you there!!

Kalamazoo Public Schools is moving to a new communication tool for parents and schools. It is called MyPowerHub and can be found through the Power School App. It is important for all parents to download the app in order to receive information from the district and school as well as update important information for the school. Here are the directions for downloading the app:

Here is the QR code for the Family Handbook.

Students may bring cell phones to school. Cell phones are not allowed to be out at any point during the school day. Students are to check their phone in with their teacher, where they will be locked in a secure place for the day. Then they will be given back at the end of the day.

As soon as students enter the building phones are to be turned off and put away until given to their teacher.

Any misuse of a cell phone will result in it being taken away until a parent picks it up.

We have phones in every classroom if a student needs to reach you during the day. There are no exceptions to the district policy.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

10/10 1st grade Library Visits-Central Library 930 am

10/21 Spooktakular 530-7

10/22 PD Day- No school for students-Professional Development for staff

10/27 Mobile Library Visit-Kindergarten-1 PM

10/31 Halloween 🎃 1/2 Day for students-Records day for teachers

Contact and Follow us!

We use our Instagram and Facebook page to deliver a lot of information to families. Please be sure to follow us!

Instagram: @wstarkzoo

Email: roccofa@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Location: 606 Stuart Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Phone: 2693370810
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSTaR