Cheetah Prints

Dear Thurston Families,

As we return from spring break and step into April, we find ourselves in the final trimester of the school year, a perfect time for a fresh start. Spring brings a renewed sense of energy, growth, and possibility, and we are excited to carry that momentum into the weeks ahead.

Classrooms are buzzing once again as students reconnect, refocus, and continue building on the strong foundation they’ve developed throughout the year. This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to set new goals, revisit routines, and approach learning with a refreshed mindset. We are so proud of the effort, resilience, and enthusiasm our students and staff bring each day.

There are also many fun and engaging activities on the horizon. From special projects to school events, this season is filled with opportunities that enrich learning and strengthen our school community.

As we move forward, we encourage our students to embrace this fresh start, showing kindness, staying focused, and taking pride in their growth. Families, thank you for your continued support and partnership.

We’re looking forward to a positive and productive spring together!

Warmly,

Ms. Mitchell

We will be holding our Spring Safety Week April 6th - 10th. During this time, we will review and practice important safety procedures with students in a calm and supportive way.

Throughout the year, we are required to conduct regular fire, earthquake, lockdown, and lockout drills. Safety Week gives us an opportunity to revisit each of these, helping students understand what to expect and why they are important.

Our key message in any situation is simple: listen to your teacher. Each day, we will focus on one type of drill, keeping practices as low stress and student friendly as possible.

We are already preparing for next year's kindergarteners! If you have or know of a student who lives in our attendance area and will be 5 on or before September 1st, they will be able to attend kindergarten here. Please contact our office (541-744-6411) and we'll put him/her on our pre-enrollment list. We plan to have our kindergarten orientation on May 12th at 5:30 pm.

Congratulations to our March Cheetah of the Month recipients! We are proud of the example they set for others!

Team Reading Rekkers proudly represented Thurston Elementary at the regional OBOB battle held on March 14th at Thurston High School. They demonstrated great effort, teamwork, and perseverance throughout the competition, and we are so proud of how hard they worked!

Looking ahead, the 2026–2027 OBOB book list has officially been released. If your student is excited about OBOB and wants to get a head start, now is a great time to begin exploring next year’s titles and building that reading momentum! Students in grades 3-5 have the opportunity to participate in OBOB every year at TES.

None of our families will be surprised to hear that everything is going around....and around. We want to make sure you're informed about what symptoms should keep kids home and for how long. Visit our "When to Keep Your Student Home" webpage for a list of symptoms and a handy downloadable guide.

Please remember to tuck an extra set of clothes into your child’s backpack. Accidents happen, puddles are irresistible, and messy moments are part of learning and play! Having a spare outfit on hand helps us keep your child comfortable and ready for the rest of their day. Thank you for helping us be prepared!

Please note that there is no student supervision before 8:00 a.m. at Thurston Elementary.

For your child’s safety, do not drop students off before 8:00 a.m.

Students who arrive early and wish to wait for breakfast must be accompanied by an adult until supervision begins.

If your student walks or bikes to school, please help them plan their departure so that they arrive between 8:00 and 8:35 a.m.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep all students safe!

Springfield Public Schools is participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2025-26 school year. This means that all enrolled students of Springfield Public Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge each day of the 2025-26 school year!

⏰ School Hours & Arrival Information

• School Hours: 8:35 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. daily

• Classroom Doors Open: 8:25 a.m.

• Breakfast Doors Open: 8:00 a.m.

• Attendance Taken: 9:00 a.m.

Late Arrivals:
If your child arrives after 8:35 a.m., please have them check in at the office before going to class.

To help keep everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly, please follow these guidelines:

• Pull Forward: Always pull all the way forward before letting your child exit the vehicle.

• Keep Moving: As cars ahead move forward, please follow.

• Quick Goodbyes: Have your child ready to exit or enter quickly and safely.

• Stay in Your Vehicle: Staff will assist with loading, unloading, and directing students.

• If You Need to Exit: Park in a designated parking spot first.

• Be Patient: The first weeks are busiest—expect extra time in the drop-off/pick-up line.

• No Passing: Cones will be in place to prevent passing in the loading zone.

• Stay Alert: Watch for students walking or biking to and from school.

Teachers will work with families to establish a “transportation home routine” for each student.

Important reminders:

• If your student’s transportation routine changes, please communicate these changes in writing or by phone.

• Do not send transportation changes through Seesaw, as teachers may not see messages in time.

• Without a note or phone call, your child will go home using their regular form of transportation.

• Student safety is our top priority. Clear communication helps ensure children arrive home safely.

District policies:

• Students not assigned to a bus are not allowed to ride a bus.

• Students may only ride the bus and route assigned by the district.

Thurston Elementary has an organized Parent Teacher Group (PTG) and all are welcome to join – no dues!

Please join our Thurston Elementary School Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already! We will be posting announcements and events on this page; this is a great and easy way to stay connected.