Evergreen Express "Summer Edition"

Hello Evergreen Families,

The first day is almost here! Everyone has been busy getting classrooms ready for the start of the school year. We are very much looking forward to seeing students at Kindergarten Orientation, New Student Orientation and/or the Pop-In Event next week.

During the summer we've had several maintenance projects--some of which have a few more days before completion. As you visit the building, please keep in mind that we will still be putting the final touches on classrooms and hallways!

This newsletter has important information about:

• PVSD Back to School Webpage
• Important Upcoming Dates
• Supporting Our Local Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
• Homeroom Parent Volunteers Needed
• 2023-24 PV Instructional Calendar
• Bus Transportation Information
• 8/21: Kindergarten Orientation/Meet the Teacher
• 8/24: Evergreen "Pop-In" Event
• 8/25: New Student (Grades 1-5) Meet & Greet
• School Visitor Information--ID Required
• Parent Drop-Off Process for AM Arrival
• Parent Pick Up at 3:10 Dismissal Procedure

• Transportation Request Form
• 23-24 Elementary Handbook
• School Supply List
• Apply for Free & Reduced Meal Program
• Dismissal Change Information
• How to Resolve Tech Issues
• Evergreen Attendance Line
• Volunteer Clearances
• PV Food Service Webpage
• Community Bulletin Board Page

"One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."--Malala Yousafzai

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sharon Franciosa

Principal, Evergreen Elementary School

• August 21st: Kindergarten Orientation/Meet the Teacher (see details below)
• August 24th: K-5 "Pop-In" Event (see details below)
  
• August 25th: Evergreen Grades 1-5 New Student Meet & Greet (see details below)
• August 28th: 1st day of school for all students (A Day)
• September 1st & 4th: Holiday--Schools Closed (Labor Day)
• September 15th: Evergreen Popsicle Social sponsored by Home & School at 5pm (more info to come)
• September 21st: Grades 1-5 Meet the Teacher Night (more info to come)
• September 25th: Holiday--Schools Closed (Yom Kippur)
• October 5th: Evergreen Picture Day

We have recently learned that our local food pantry, the Daily Bread Community Food Pantry in Collegeville, is in critical need of several non-perishable items. As a way to support our local food pantry and our community, we are asking any family who is interested to bring one (or more) of the following items to our Pop-In Event on August 24th. Drop-off bins will be available in the lobby. Thank you for considering!

• Tomato products
• Spaghetti sauce
• Adult soups
• Broth stuffing
• Skillet Dinners
• Pretzels
• Spaghetti
• Macaroni and cheese
• Gravy
• Pancake syrup
• Shelf stable meat
• Shelf stable milk
• Oatmeal
• Canned potatoes
• Drinks
• Condiments

As the new school year kicks off, we are excited to invite you to become an essential part of our Homeroom Parent team! Your involvement is crucial in creating a vibrant and engaging classroom experience for our students. Being a Homeroom Parent is a rewarding opportunity to actively participate in your child's education and contribute to a positive classroom atmosphere. You'll work closely with the teacher to coordinate exciting activities, events, student contact coordination and initiatives throughout the year.

If you're excited to join our Homeroom Parent team, please fill out the attached Google Form to be a part of the selection process. We look forward to an exciting and fun school year!

Link to Form:

https://forms.gle/vQPRntnFJStiWYTVA

All families should be sure to check ParentVUE the night before the first day of school and routinely during the first month of school as bus stop time changes and bus numbers may occur.

All students are expected to be at their bus stop and visible 5 minutes prior to the estimated bus stop time.

To contact STA, please call 610-489-9110.

Parents/guardians and Kindergarten students are invited to join us on Monday, August 21, 2023 for our Kindergarten Orientation/Meet the Teacher. This is a combined orientation/meet the teacher event. The Meet the Teacher Night event in September will be for parents/guardians of students in grades 1 through 5.

• AM Kindergarten Orientation/Meet the Teacher: 9:30-10:15 AM
• PM Kindergarten Orientation/Meet the Teacher: 10:15-11:00 AM

Please click HERE for a "Welcome to Kindergarten" slideshow. It will provide you and your child with details in "kid-friendly" language about what to expect while you are visiting Evergreen. It is our hope that this slideshow will help ease some worries or jitters that your child might be experiencing.

You may park in the side parking lot and enter through the main entrance of the building which faces Campus Drive.

Prior to orientation, please check ParentVUE to see your child's teacher assignment and bus stop/time information.

The "Pop-In" event is an opportunity for all K-5 students to come to school for a few minutes to find their classrooms and say hello to their teachers. Students are also invited to drop off any and all supplies, if they wish. This is an informal "meet and greet" for staff, students, and parents/guardians.

To allow for parking and ease of movement through the building and classrooms, we ask that families adhere to the times below to the best of their ability:

• Group 1: Students with last names beginning A-H: 9:00-9:20
• Group 2: Students with last names beginning I-P: 9:20-9:40
• Group 3: Students with last names beginning Q-Z: 9:40-10:00

All children must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

Parking will be in the side lot and/or on the back playground. The access road to the back playground is located on the side of Evergreen closest to Perkiomen Valley High School.

Many students are eager to say hello to their former teachers. Please remember that this is a very short event intended for teachers and staff to meet their new students.

All visitors must enter through the front entrance.

Hope to see you then!

All families with NEW students in grades 1-5 are invited to attend a Meet & Greet on Friday, August 25th from 10am-10:45am.

We will gather in the cafeteria at 10am for a brief introduction to Evergreen. Families will then have the opportunity to tour the building on their own from 10:15am-10:45am.

Students must be accompanied by an adult. Younger and older siblings are invited as well.

We look forward to seeing you!

​Safety is always our top priority. We have upgraded our visitor management system by installing a Raptor System in all Perkiomen Valley schools. Visitors will need to scan their ID (driver's license) prior to being granted admittance into Evergreen Elementary and any of our schools in the Perkiomen Valley School District. Visit our webpage for more information.

Safety is our number one priority. The steps below allow for efficiency in the drop-off process, but most importantly it allows for all students, staff, and drivers to be safe each morning.

• All students need to remain in their cars until the bell rings. Sometimes staff will come out a few minutes early, but students need to remain in their cars until the 8:30 bell rings.
• Please pull all the way forward before stopping to let children exit the car. The beginning of the line extends past the front entrance of the building.
• There is only one line of traffic during drop-off. Please do not pass any cars.
• Students MUST exit from the passenger side of the car.
• Children should be able to unbuckle their safety seats and gather their items on their own as parents need to remain in their cars. If for some reason a parent needs to get out of the car, the car should be parked in our lot and the child should be walked to the building. In these rare occurrences, students must remain in their car until 8:30.
• Staff will direct cars when to move and when students should come out of their cars as the line progresses.
• Children will either enter Evergreen through the main entrance of the building or through the Kindergarten hallway. This is all dependent upon which entrance their car is closest to each morning.

If you plan to utilize parent pick up at dismissal this year, please park in the side parking lot (please do not park in the front of the building) and come to the front of the building no earlier than 3pm. Beginning at 3:10 there will be a staff member to check your ID and then you will be asked to sign out your child.

Once have you signed out your child, please look for your child/children as they exit from the gym. Students will connect with their parents near the main office entrance.

If you will have someone else picking up your child, please be sure to write a note and/or contact the main office. The person picking up your child must present ID.

Anyone picking up their child MUST have their ID with them.

If you are planning to have your child transported to or from a location other than your child's primary residence within the school's bussing zone, you will need to complete the Transportation Request Form: https://aftercare.pvsd.org/new-request

Please complete this form ONLY for requesting transportation to or from a location other than your child's primary residence within the school's bussing zone. If you have any questions, please call our main office at 610-409-9751.

Please consider reviewing the 23-24 Elementary Handbook. The information enclosed in the handbook will be helpful to learn our district procedures and policies.

*Please note the updated information for electronic devices/personal equipment, as this refers to cell phone and smartwatch usage.

Below is linked a general 23-24 Elementary School Supply List.

Classroom teachers may suggest other and/or additional items in their Welcome Letters.

Please be sure to label all items with your child's name on them. Students may bring these supplies with them to the "Pop-In" Event on August 24th and/or on the first day of school.

If purchasing these items pose a financial hardship for your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to Sharon Franciosa or either of our school counselors, Laura Shearer and Michele Turner.

• Sharon Franciosa: sfranciosa@pvsd.org
• Laura Shearer: lshearer@pvsd.org
• Michele Turner: mturner@pvsd.org

23-24 General Elementary School Supply List

Financial situations have changed for many families and you may qualify for our Free & Reduced Meal Program.

If you've already received a Letter of Direct Certification and all children are listed in the letter, you're all set and you do not need to apply.

Click HERE to view the Income Eligibility Guidelines for the 2023/2024 school year.

If you think you may qualify, please click HERE to apply online or call the Food Service Office for assistance: 610-489-8506 ext 1109.

If you need to make an unexpected dismissal change during the day, please contact the main office via telephone (610-409-9751) by 2:30pm, if possible.

Please do not only email your child's teacher as teachers often are unable to check their emails until dismissal has concluded.

Here are a few friendly reminders from the Technology Department about where to go if you are having issues with any of the following:

• Chromebook malfunctions/damages: Email the helpdesk@pvsd.org
• Forgotten student passwords: Go to https://accounts.pvsd.org
• FAQs about Chromebooks can be found on our website

If your child is going to be absent please be sure to call or email the Evergreen attendance line. It may be helpful to save the phone number and email address in your cell phone.

Call: 610-409-9751 and press #1

Email: EVAttendance@pvsd.org

Twitter: @Evergreen_ES

Facebook: Evergreen Elementary School

Email: sfranciosa@pvsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/evergreen-elementary-school/
Location: 98 Kagey Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426
Phone: 610-409-9751