Thrill on the Hill

Hello SGE Families,

We hope you’ve had a restful and fun-filled summer making life-time memories. As the start of the new school year quickly approaches, we are filled with excitement and anticipation to welcome your children back to school.

Our building has been cleaned from top to bottom, classrooms are being prepared, and our dedicated staff is eager to greet students with open arms and smiling faces. Class rosters will be shared soon, and we know students are always curious about who their teacher will be and which friends will be in their class. We’ve worked hard to ensure thoughtful placement that supports each child's learning and growth.

Bus routes, arrival and dismissal procedures, and other important back-to-school details will be communicated shortly, through our transportation department, to help ensure a smooth transition. We encourage families to begin preparing by adjusting schedules and building routines to support a smooth transition from summer break to back to school. Having the right mindset will help each student feel prepared and confident on the first day. Please find additional information within this newsletter to support your child and you on a successful start to the school year.

We can’t wait to see the hallways filled with laughter and learning once again. Thank you for your partnership and support as we kick off another great year together!

Letters will be available in your Sapphire parent portals beginning on August 4th. Please see link below on how to set up a Parent Portal in Sapphire.

Kindergarten - Wednesday, August 20th

Grades 1 - 4 - Thursday, August 21st

Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival: 8:25 – 8:45 AM

Arrival time for students is 8:25 AM. Please be aware that students are NOT permitted to enter the building prior to 8:25. All AM car riders are to follow the car line around the back of the school. Students will enter the building through door #3 by the cafeteria. Students arriving by bus/van will enter the building through the main entrance. Students must be in their classroom by 8:45 AM. They are considered “tardy” at 8:46 AM.

Dismissal: 3:25 PM

• Occasional Car Rider - If you choose to pick up your child at dismissal on any given day, it is extremely important that you notify the school office by email (whites@sgasd.org), sending a note to school with your child, OR by calling the office by 2:00 PM. The occasional car rider will be dismissed from the ART ROOM. (Please see attached map) When writing notes, please be sure to include child’s first and last name, date, and teacher. Please notify the district transportation office, ext. 3024, with any transportation changes. ALWAYS use the cross walk when crossing from the parking lot to/from the car rider door. Please DO NOT cross in between the vans/buses, or permit children to run freely to the parking lot.

• Rocket Rider - If you plan on transporting your child at dismissal each and every day, please contact the school office to make arrangements to pick up your “ROCKET RIDER” tags before the start of school. Rocket Riders get dismissed from door #3 by the cafeteria. (See attached map) You must have a NEW Rocket Rider tag in order to pick up through the line. You may not use signs from previous years.

• Bus Transportation – Transportation information can be found in your Sapphire Parent Portal.

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Orientation: Thursday, August 14th 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Grade 2 - 4 Open House: Wednesday, August 20th 5:00 - 7:00 PM

While the district will provide all necessary items for your student to be successful, safe, healthy, and productive, we also understand that many students like to go shopping for their own school supplies. While this is NOT necessary, below is a list of items that students typically use on a daily basis in the classroom and may be a consideration for use to supplement the district-provided supplies:

Find resources for:

• Registering for and using Sapphire, Seesaw, and Schoology
• Logging into accounts
• Student iPads
• Getting tech support

Back-to-School paperwork is available in Sapphire for parents/guardians to complete. When you log in to your Sapphire account, the required forms will be on the home page for each child.

Required Forms – Please complete by September 12th:

• Handbook Acknowledgment
• COPPA/FERPA Acknowledgment
• iPad Protection Plan Choice
• Student Data Card

Hello SGE Families,

As we venture back into school mode illness and injuries are bound to occur. Although we don't want to exclude any student from attending school, here are a few reminders to help guide your thought process on whether or not your child should attend school in the event of an illness or injury. As always please feel free to reach out your us if you have questions. Mrs. Shenberger and Mrs. Hogan...717-225-4731 x2088.

Illness or Injury

Students who have a temperature of 100 degrees or more, a contagious illness, or have had repeated episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours should not attend school. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Parents/guardians will be contacted if your child becomes ill or injured at school. For this reason, the current home, work, and emergency phone numbers must be maintained in the main office. Please inform the school secretary whenever your contact information changes. Please refer to the following if you are unsure if your child should attend school today.

I Need To Keep My Child Home If They Have:

• A temperature of 100.4 or higher
• Vomited within the past 24 hours
• Had diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• A body rash with itching or fever
• An itchy head active with head lice
• An eye infection or presenting redness, itching, and/or crusty drainage from the eye(s)

My Child Is Ready To Go Back To School When They Are:

• Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, i.e., Tylenol, Motrin
• Free from vomiting for at least two solid meals
• Free from diarrhea for the last 24 hours
• Free from rash, itching, or fever/have been evaluated by a doctor if needed
• Treated with the appropriate lice treatment at home, and the proof is provided to the school nurse
• Have been evaluated by a doctor and have a note to return to school

As always please feel free to reach out your us if you have questions. Mrs. Shenberger and Mrs. Hogan...717-225-4731 x2088.

This year our school doors open every morning at 8:25 with homeroom starting at 8:45. If your child arrives after 8:46 they will need to report to the office at which time they will be marked Tardy.

If your child is going to be absent or has been absent, from school please fill out an excuse card in your Sapphire Portal. If you do not have access to a computer please contact our main office for assistance.

If your child arrives between 10:26-12:14 or leaves between 12:15-1:44 they will be considered absent for 1/2 school day. If they arrive after or leave before 12:15 this will be considered a full day absence.

ALL volunteers must complete the volunteer registration process before volunteering in any district school. You may find more information on the volunteer process by visiting Volunteer Services on our district website.

Starting with the 25-26 school year, students will no longer be receiving free breakfast/lunch. A student school breakfast is free for all students, and a school lunch is $2.45. Please go onto the district website & apply for the free/reduced lunch program. You may access your child’s lunch account through myschoolbucks.com.