The Paradise Press

If you have seen Mrs. Rittle around the schools, our assistant principal who supports all three buildings, you may have noticed that she is expecting. She will be on leave from November to March once baby arrives. During her absence, Mrs. Janusz will be the contact for you to reach out.

It is important when dropping off students during morning arrival that you wait in line and DO NOT go around other cars, buses, or vans in the drop off line. This is for the safety of our students as well as our parents/guardians. Thank you for your cooperation.

At Paradise Elementary School, we are committed to providing the highest quality of education for every student. As part of that commitment, all students are screened three times per year (fall, winter, and spring) to measure their progress and to determine if they are meeting grade-level expectations. Using that information we identify students who may need support to meet those expectations.

This letter is to notify you that your child may receive intervention in the area of reading and/or math during the 2025-2026 school year. These groups are flexible and will change throughout the year depending on the needs of the students.

Together we will strive to help your child be successful. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher at Paradise Elementary at (717) 225 – 4731, extension 1560 . We are looking forward to working with you and your child this school year.

Sincerely,

Paradise Elementary Faculty and Staff

Click the button below to view the calendar for October. Information for the Daily Specials Schedule for Grades 1 through 4 is listed further down the page.

Highlights:

• 10/01/2025 - PTO R & K Fundraiser starts
• 10/02/2025 - Lifetouch Picture Day - see below for picture day info
• 10/03/2025 - Project Team Day - wear t-shirts & First Grade Field Trip
  
• 10/08/2025 - Student council meeting - 8 am (student council students only)
• 10/08/2025 - Fire Prevention Day
• 10/09/2025 - PTO Meeting - 6 pm in library
• 10/13/2025 - Teacher In-Service/NO SCHOOL for students
• 10/14/2025 - PTO Skate Night - 6-8 pm @ Magic Elm Skate Land
• 10/14/2025 - PTO R & K Fundraiser ends - forms and money due
• 10/20-10/24/2025 - Spirit Week - see Counselor's Corner below for information
• 10/23/2025 - PTO fundraiser pick up: Door 6 - pick up between 4-6 pm
• 10/24/2025 - Early Dismissal for students AM/Teacher In-Service PM

Parent Teacher Conferences can be requested at any time throughout the year. However, we are holding Monday, November 3 and Thursday, November 6 for our evening conferences. More information and a sign-up link will be shared in mid-October.

Click the button below to see the lunch menu for October. This will take you to the district website to see all menus.

Our 4th grade students have been recording the morning announcements each day. If you would like to watch the morning announcements, please click the button below. You just may see a future news person!

Late Arrival Procedure

1. Students arriving late must be signed in by a parent/guardian at the Paradise Elementary office.
2. If late due to a doctor’s appointment, submit the absence excuse via Sapphire. No physical note is needed. Without a valid physician's note, the tardy may be considered unexcused.

Early Dismissal Procedure

1. Please email Officepes@sgasd.org or send a note if your child is leaving early or being picked up instead of riding the bus. The office will inform the teacher.
2. Students must be signed out by a parent/guardian. Only those listed on the emergency card may pick up a student unless otherwise noted.
3. Submit a doctor’s note and excuse form in Sapphire for the absence to be excused within 3 days.

Paradise Elementary Attendance % Report for September 2025

Kindergarten: 95.2%

First Grade: 95%

Second Grade: 94.9%

Third Grade: 94.9%

Fourth Grade: 93.7%

Building: 94.7%

It is important that we have the correct emergency contact information for your child's Sapphire portal. Please look at your child's information to ensure that all information is correct. If you have any additional contacts to add that your child can be released to, please send this information to the school office to include the contact's name, relationship, and phone number.

For any changes to your email or phone number, those changes can be made by you in your child's Sapphire portal.

October is a fun month with leaves changing colors and Fall weather getting cooler! We celebrate all things Fall in the games and activities we do in Fitness class. October brings the return of “Spooky Gym” when we turn the lights down and dial up a lot of fun “spooky” stations!

We will meet once during the six-day cycle for Wellness. Our school district follows the Know Your Body materials to meet the Pennsylvania State Standards for Health & Physical Education. Topics incude self-esteem, communication skills, decision making, goal setting & stress management to start the school year. The curriculum also includes safety topics, nutrition, conflict resolution, body systems, tobacco & alcohol education as well as other topics.

Day 1 & 3: Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Frymyer, Mrs. Huppman, Mrs. Tanczos, Mrs. Clark & Miss Gault

Day 2 & 4: Mrs. Frey, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Kern, Mrs. Crouthamel, Miss Martin, & Mr. Wertz

Please remind students to wear their sneakers on these days!

Your child will have P.E. classes twice a cycle (see the schedule above). Sneakers must be worn for class in order to keep your child safe while they are moving and playing in class. Crocs, sandals, boots and slides are not safe for Physical Education activities. Depending on the types of movements we are doing in class, students who forget to wear their sneakers, may not be able to participate in all of the activities.

Watches, rings, necklaces and other jewelry the teacher deems unsafe will need to be removed in order for your child to actively participate in class. We will go outside for some classes, depending on the activity & the weather.

Notes from a parent/guardian are required when a student is physically restricted from class due to illness or injury. Extended restrictions for P.E. will require a doctor's note. Students will practice locomotor movements, moving safely within their person space, balance, & strengthening activities throughout the year. Students will develop throwing, catching, striking & kicking skills as well as offensive/defensive strategies through a wide variety of games and activities!

Students will begin talking about the definition of bullying, how bullying affects all of us, and what we can do to stop it through classroom discussions and classroom counseling lessons with Miss Tice! Join us this week by participating in theme days along with fun challenges, as we work hard to make a difference by stopping bullying behaviors, helping others, and being kind!

• Monday, October 20th- Mismatch Clothes Day- Wear MISMATCHED clothing today! It's time to celebrate our differences! *Challenge: Give someone a compliment today!
• Tuesday, October 21st- Camo, Tye Dye, or Neon Day- Understand others' perspectives today! Since we all love different things, dress in what you like the most and see what others like too...camo, neon, or tye dye clothing! *Challenge: Make a new friend today!
• Wednesday, October 22nd- Wear Your Orange Day- Orange is the color used to represent bullying prevention. At PES, we are sharing a visible message of kindness and acceptance of others to prevent bullying! *Challenge: Write a short thank you note and give it to someone for being kind.
• Thursday, October 23rd- Project Team Day- Wear your Project Team shirts! Here at PES we practice all qualities of our Project Team characters! Are you in the House? *Challenge: Can you find all the project team student characters in the school?
• Friday, October 24th- "Tuck Bullying to Bed Day"- Wear Your Pajamas- We are "Tucking Bullying Away" and focusing on positive actions with one another! Dress in your school appropriate pajamas and get comfy! No slippers please! *Challenge: Do something nice for someone today!

Lifetouch picture day envelopes were sent home with students within the last few weeks. There are two ways to order pictures.

1. Online Order - click the button below to login/sign in. Use Picture Day ID: EVT9VCP29
2. Paper Order - complete the picture day form and return on picture day with payment.

• Rocket Rider - a student who is picked up on a permanent basis. Parent/guardian must have a rocket rider sign to pick child up from school. If you have not requested rocket rider signs, please contact the school to arrange pick up.
• Car rider - a student who is getting picked up randomly. Parent/guardian must send a note or call the school by 2 pm to put child on car rider list. Please alert the office the name of the individual picking your child up from school. Driver's license must be shown to pick up your child.

Please note that you may not send party invitations in to school. Please click the link to go directly to the student handbook on the district website. Below is the wording from the handbook.

Students or parent-initiated parties are not permitted. In the interest of security, parents/guardians may not send party invitations and/or other notices to the school for distribution to students.

Day 1 - Fitness or Art/String Lessons

Day 2 - Art or Fitness

Day 3 - Fitness or Library

Day 4 - Library or Fitness/Instrumental Lessons

Day 5 - Wellness or Music

Day 6 - Music or Wellness

Please note that students in grades 1 through 4 will have two days of Fitness this year. It is important that they wear sneakers on the days they have Fitness.