WELCOME BACK NORTH STAR FAMILIES

Welcome to a new and exciting school year at North Elementary! As the principal of this wonderful school, it is my pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those who are new to our community. Together, we are embarking on a journey of learning, growth, and endless possibilities.

At North Elementary, we believe that every student shines brightly. Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to nurturing each child’s unique talents and abilities, fostering a love of learning, and ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. This year, we are embracing the theme “Together We Shine,” which reflects our commitment to working collaboratively to ensure that every student reaches their fullest potential.

Throughout the year, we will focus on creating a positive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive. We are dedicated to academic excellence, personal growth, and the development of strong character. As we embark on this journey together, we will continue to build a community where kindness, respect, and responsibility are at the heart of everything we do.

Communication and partnership with our families are essential to the success of our students. We encourage you to stay connected with us through our website, social media, and regular newsletters. Your involvement and support play a crucial role in your child’s education, and we look forward to working closely with you throughout the year.

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Open House, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet our amazing staff, explore your child’s classroom, and learn more about the exciting plans we have for the year ahead. We’re also thrilled to introduce new programs and activities designed to engage our students and enrich their learning experiences.

As we move forward into the new school year, I am confident that, together, we will achieve great things. Our North Stars are destined to shine brightly, and I am excited to see the progress and growth that this year will bring.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. Let’s make this a year to remember!

Candy Llewellyn, Ed.D.

Principal

804-524-3430

candy_llewellyn@colonialhts.net

Come meet your teacher, bring your supplies. Please follow the schedule below:

Kindergarten Orientation @10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Open House for students in grades 1-5 @ 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Our PTO will also be on hand to answer questions.

The 2024 - 2025 school day will be 8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Students may enter the building at 8:20 a.m. and proceed straight to their classrooms. Dismissal will start at 3:15 p.m. and be staggered by grade level.

Students who arrive past 8:35 a.m. will be considered tardy.

Monday, August 19 - First Day of School

Tuesday, August 24 - School Board Meeting - 6:30 p.m. CHHS Tech Center

Friday, August 30 - Monday, September 2 - Labor Day Holiday - No School

At North Elementary, we believe that every student deserves the tools they need to succeed. We understand that purchasing school supplies can be a challenge for some families. If your family is experiencing difficulties in obtaining the necessary supplies, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help and will ensure that your child has everything they need to have a successful school year. Your privacy and dignity are our priority, and any assistance provided will be handled with the utmost discretion.

Please contact the school office or your child’s teacher if you need assistance with school supplies. We are committed to supporting all our students and families.

Good attendance is important for elementary students because it helps them establish a routine, build a strong foundation for learning, and develop good habits. Regular attendance ensures they don't miss out on essential lessons and social interactions, contributing to their academic progress and overall growth.

Attending school regularly allows students to receive consistent instruction and engage with lessons. Missing school can result in gaps in their learning, making it harder for them to keep up with the curriculum.

Elementary school lays the foundation for essential skills like reading, writing, and math. Regular attendance ensures students have ample opportunities to practice and refine these skills.

School provides a vital social environment where students interact with peers, develop friendships, and learn to work in groups. Regular attendance helps children build social skills and develop emotional intelligence.

Attending school regularly helps children establish a routine and understand the importance of punctuality. This discipline can carry over to other aspects of their lives and set them up or success in the future.

Good attendance allows students to form stronger relationships with teachers. Teachers can better understand individual learning styles and provide tailored support when students are consistently preset.

Attending school teaches children responsibility and accountability. They learn that commitments are important and that they need to fulfill their obligations.

Developing good attendance habits at an early age can lead to lower absenteeism in later years of education. This can have a positive impact on long-term educational outcomes.

Consistent attendance facilitates better communication between families and teachers. Families can stay informed about their child's progress and any challenges they might be facing.

Obviously, families should keep children home if they are sick as it is crucial to their well-being and the well-being of others. This helps prevent the spread of illness and ensures that they have the necessary time to recover and rest before returning to school. It is important to speak to Nurse Kelly if you have questions about your child returning after an illness.

It is important for students to be in school every day. However, if your child is ill, please keep them home. We do require a doctor or parent note following any absence - even if you called the school office. We want all of our Stars to be successful and in order for that to happen we need them at school each and every day. If possible, please do not schedule vacations during the school year.

Remember if a child misses more than 2 days of school per month (even for excused absences) that equates to 18-20 days over the course of the school year - making them chronically absent.

1- Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

2 - Be honest.

3 - Be respectful to others.

Please review these rules with your child. If we adhere to these rules we will have a great year!

Breakfast and lunch will be served daily to all students at no cost.

If your child will be bringing his/her lunch to school, please help them so they are able to open juice boxes or other containers they bring in their lunch. We have adults on hand to help but if the students can open things themselves, it makes lunch go smoother!

North Elementary will be served by the same buses as last year - Bus 1, Bus 3, Bus 7, and Bus 11. Specific routes and pick-up/drop-off times will be sent out closer to the first day of school.

Please remind your child(ren) of proper bus behavior. Students are not to be up moving around at any time while on the bus. They should sit with their back against the seat and their feet in front of them - free from the aisle. Riding the bus is a privilege and can be revoked if inappropriate behavior is exhibited.

Students who will be car riders will be dropped off at the front of the building - signage will be placed to indicate drop-off places. In the afternoon all students who are car riders will be picked up at the cafeteria entrance just past the main campus entrance. Car tags will be handed out during Open House on August 15.

In addition, the safety of our North Stars is extremely important so we are suggesting that students only get out of cars or enter cars on the passenger sides so they are close to the sidewalk and out of the way of parking lot traffic/movement. If you must get out of the car to assist your child, we ask that you kindly park to do so, in order to keep the line moving as quickly as possible.

Please make sure that students are dressed appropriately for the weather and for play. Students have recess every day and they should wear shoes that are comfortable and safe (sneakers are preferred).

Student Dress Code

Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance. Our guiding principles for the student dress code are similar to those experienced and expected in the workplace: attire that furthers health and safety of students and staff, enables the educational process, and facilitates the operations of the school. Parents are asked to partner with the school division to monitor student attire to help adhere to the guiding principles set forth in the policy.

To promote these goals, students may not wear or carry clothing, jewelry, book bags, or other personal articles that:

1. Depict profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, or violence, alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs

2. Threaten the health or safety of staff or students

3. Are reasonably likely to create a disruption of the educational environment or operations of the school

Specifically:

a) Students must wear clothing that covers their skin from chest to upper-thigh with opaque (non-see-through) fabric in front, back, and on the sides. Clothing must cover undergarments. Chest, genitals and buttocks must be covered with opaque (non-see-through) fabric.

b) Students must wear shoes at all times except when changing for physical education or athletic practices or events or when specifically directed otherwise by a teacher or administrator.

c) Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, CTE classrooms and other activities where unique hazards exist.

d) Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

e) Hats and other headwear (including hoodies, bonnets, beanies, bandanas, etc.) are not allowed unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reasons by school administration.

Enforcement:

Any school dress code enforcement actions should minimize the potential loss of educational time. When a school staff member or school administrator discusses a dress code violation with a student, the adult should be the same gender as the student if practicable. Staff concerns about student attire should be discussed discreetly and out of earshot of other students to the extent practicable. Teachers or staff discussing a dress code violation with a student should present options for obtaining appropriate clothing (e.g., school clothing closet) or otherwise complying with this dress code (e.g., removing a problematic item). School-directed changes to a student’s attire should be the least restrictive and disruptive to the student’s school day.

Applicability: This policy is to be applied fairly and consistently without regard to race, gender, or other inherent traits or characteristics. Principals or their designees shall make reasonable accommodations for religious, educational, medical, or disability-related reasons and for cultural celebrations.

This policy applies at all times when students are present on school property or in attendance at official, school-sponsored events.