Toll Gate Tidbits

March 16th, 2024

A Note from Mrs. Lauri

Greetings Toll Gate Families,

I hope this note finds you well. As the weather starts to warm, and the spring approaches, we will begin our third trimester at Toll Gate. It is hard to believe that we only have a few short months left to the school year. The next several months will be dedicated towards continuing to learn and grow while celebrating student success, and creating memorable experiences for the students. This past week, as a school community, we celebrated National SEL Day. We started the day with a Gator Group Gathering in the Gym. The students engaged in activities on cooperation before rotating through a variety of activities. Once again, thank you to the PTO for providing pretzels for all of our students and staff.

Throughout the month of March, our student council has been creating public service announcements to educate our school community on indivisible disabilities. We have also been learning about prominent women in participation of Women's History Month. Throughout the next week, we will be holding a spirit week in celebration of our school Book Fair. We encourage all of our students to wear animal prints on Monday to show that we are wild about reading.

Next month through Character Strong, the students will be focusing on the importance of courage. In connection with focusing on climate change throughout the month, we will discuss the importance of having the courage to take care of the Earth and how are actions can positively affect climate change. Our students in grades 3-5 will have a chance to participate in the Science Fair Expo while students in 1st grade will participate in an Arbor Day celebration and our Kindergarteners will hold an Earth Day celebration. More information on specific dates will be shared below.

As always, please reach out with any questions.

With Thanks,

Melissa Lauri

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March 18-22 Spirit Week

March 18- We are Wild About Reading. Wear your favorite animal print

March 19- Build your Reading Muscles. Wear exercise clothes!

March 20-Be a Reader and a Leader. Wear TG colors!

March 21-Get Lost in a Book. Wear Travel clothes!

March 22- Snuggle up with a good Book. Pajama Day!

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Toll Gate Evacuation Drill

We will be practicing a school wide evacuation on Friday, March 22nd around 1:30pm. All students and staff will exit the building and move to our evacuation site, which is the Pennington United Methodist Church on Main Street. We will have a police presence as we walk to our evacuation site. Once there, we will seat the students, take attendance, and then we will return to Toll Gate. We anticipate the entire drill to last roughly 30 minutes.

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Student Illnesses

Please remember that a student must be fever free, without medication, for 24 hours, before returning to school from ANY illness that includes fever as a symptom.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must remain home for 5 full days (day 0 is the date that symptoms start). They may return on day 6, if fever free for 24 hours and if their symptoms are improved. Upon return, they will need to wear a mask for the next 5 days.

After an illness involving nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, students should remain home until eating and drinking normally and symptoms have resolved.

Please remember to call the Telsafe line, 609-737-4008, option 2, for any absence and tardiness.

Please reach out to the health office for any questions.

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Telesafe for Daily Attendance & Attendance Letters

It is pertinent that we have accurate daily attendance to ensure the safety of your children. If your child will be absent or will be reporting to school late, please call our Telesafe line at 609-737-4008, option 2. Please refrain from only emailing the classroom teacher and Ms. Smith, the school nurse, to report attendance. In the event a teacher or Ms. Smith is absent for the day, only Telesafe is checked for absences, their emails are not. Ms. Smith will continue to call home to ensure your child's safety, if your child is not in school and we did not receive a phone call through telesafe stating that would be absent.

During the month of February, we shared out letters to families to notify you of how many absences your child/children have. Any student that has accrued has more than 6 absences will be sent a letter. Please know that if you receive a letter, it is just for information purposes. You be not be required to take any action.

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School Safety Reminders

Please be reminded that parents will be required to show photo identification when picking students up from school early or when entering the building. It is also required that all visitors have an appointment prior to arriving to the school to meet with school personnel. All visitors must sign in to the main office and obtain a visitors badge. In the event you need to pick your child up from school early or you have a change in pick up, please email TGMainoffice@hvrsd.org.

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Digital Wellness Initiative at Toll Gate: Spring Parent Series 2024

We are excited to announce Tech Talk at Toll Gate. This will be a four part series educating parents on all the ins and outs of technology use as it pertains to your child. Save the dates! Session 2 will take place at Toll Gate, with a webinar option for those that can not make it live!

Session 2- Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Ms. Melissa Lauri & Ms. Bonnie Lieu- Getting Ready to Give the Device? Device Options and Imperative Conversations to have with your children before they transition to middle school

Session 3- Wednesday, April 17, 2024

High School Student Panel- Popular Apps and Peer Pressure

Session 4- Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Habits & Rules to set for your young children and their devices & device management