Pembroke Press

Over the last week we have been busy here at Pembroke getting ready to launch the year. Staff have been working hard in their classrooms and partaking in professional learning. Our custodian has been busy cleaning and organizing the building ensuring that we have clean and safe spaces for all of our students.

Again, this newsletter is lengthy, as it contains important back to school information. Below you will find details about important policies and procedures. You will also see information about the Noon Aide, positions we have available, please reach out if you might be interested.

I look forward to meeting many of you this week at our Playground Pop In. See you soon!

Mrs. Hoyne

We are looking for several new people to join our Pride as Noon Aides. This is a great opportunity to interact with students and staff. Noon aides work part time to help supervise lunch and recess. If you are interested in learning more about this amazing opportunity please reach out to Tracy Longe, administrative assitant at tlonge@birmingham.k12.wi.us or 248-203-3888.

Families should have received the email below from the district regarding the new registration process.

We are excited to announce a new and improved process for registering returning students for the upcoming school year. These forms will open on Monday, August 5th. This Online Annual Registration is required for every student returning to BPS and offers an opportunity to update and verify important information such as contact details, medical information, and more. Students who are brand new to the district this year do not need this process completed on their behalf.

Key Points:

- Deadline: The registration process opens August 5th and must be completed by August 23rd.

- Multiple Students: If you have more than one child, you must complete the registration for each student individually.

- New Student: This does not need be completed for student who are brand new to the district and just completed the new student enrollment process.

- Instructions: Please follow this link to view the detailed directions on how to complete the registration.

• Please Register students for transportation by August 23rd, 2024, using the Transportation Opt-In Form located on the BPS website. (The Transportation Opt-In Form is not required for students utilizing Special Needs buses)
• Student Bus Schedules will be available on Power Schools by End of Day on Monday, August, 26th, 2024.

• Bus Passes are not accepted. Only students that are assigned to transportation can ride the buses to & from school.

Welcome back! We all want our kids to have the best possible education, and the Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) is gearing up to, once again, fund over $100,000 in grants for BPS teachers. Last year, the BEF granted over $130,000 towards projects that enriched and enhanced education for our students. Below is a list of grants which directly impacted Pembroke Elementary students last year, totaling over $16,000. With your help, we know we can give even greater support this year. If every family in our district gave just $25, we would start the year with more than $125,000 to grant, allowing teachers to provide opportunities that go above and beyond for our kids.

Grants Awarded Districtwide 2023-24

Bookbreak Author Talks, $7,520

4th grade DSO Trip, $6,691

5th grade Fun Run, $750

Spanish Manipulatives, $825

Baldwin Library Collaboration, $419

To donate, visit: https://www.supportbef.org/make-a-gift.html

School supplies are out in stores and for those students that like to pick out their own supplies here is a link to the suggested school supply lists by grades.

https://resources.finalsite.net/.../Pembroke24... #PembrokePRIDE #schoolsupplylist #BeBirmingham

If families would like to drop off their school supplies prior to the first day of school, they may drop them off in a clearly labeled bag/box (first/last name, grade, and teacher) in the vestibule outside the main office on Wednesday, August 28th between 9:30 and 3:00 pm. We will have labeled spots for each teacher. Please make sure all of your student's supplies are in one bag or box. Staff will not be available at this time and families will not be able to visit classrooms. Office staff will deliver your supplies to classrooms.

If you ordered a school supply kit, it will be delivered directly to your child's classroom.

All kindergarten families are invited to join us for a chance to meet your teacher, hear important Pembroke information, and even ride the bus!

Our Kindergarten students will have a half day, 11:50 AM dismissal, all week as our teachers will be using the afternoon time to assess our students.

Morning and midday busses are available K-5 on Tuesday, September 3rd and Wednesday, September 4th as the whole school has a half day.

On Thursday, September 5th and Friday, September 6th busses are not available for Kindergarten. Please make arrangements to pick your child up at the 11:50 AM dismissal time. Only on Thursday and Friday, all Kindergarten students will be dismissed out of the front door. You will need to park your car and walk up to meet your child.

Arrival and Dismissal procedures will be the same as during last school year. Details and a map of procedures will be sent the week before school starts.

• Arrival between 8:35-8:40 am
• Pick-Up between 3:45-3:50 pm

Absences

If your child will be absent for any reason, please call the school before 9:00 a.m. at 248 203-3888, then press #2 for absence reporting and leave the following information:

• child’s name
• grade & teacher’s name
• brief reason for absence

The office records absences from the call-in messages and checks them against the teacher attendance lists. If a child is not in school and the parent has not called, the school will need to call your home or place of work. Please be sure to call, otherwise, the school office must follow-up on absences not reported.

Tardiness

All students arriving at school after 8:49 a.m. are to report to the school office before going to their classroom. They must take a green tardy pass to their class. It is very important that students maintain good attendance and arrive at school on time. Excessive absenteeism and tardiness are detrimental to a student’s ability to achieve his/her very best.

Breakfast is served beginning at 8:35. Students who wish to take breakfast enter the building through their assigned entrance. Breakfast is picked up in the cafeteria and taken back to their classroom to eat.

Our lunch schedule is dependent on your child's grade level. Specific lunch times will be shared at the start of the school year. Lunches will be provided to any student who like to order lunch. Students will place their lunch order with their classroom teachers each day. Any student who doesn't want a hot lunch can bring their own to enjoy during their lunch period.

Free meals for 2024 -2025 school year will continue. It is also important to note school lunch is free for the first serving. If students choose to take a 2nd serving that will be charged to their lunch account.

Families can manage their lunch accounts through Chartwells. If you need your child's student number please call the main office.

This application is intended for families who would normally qualify for free/reduced meals. This is an income based application and based on your household income, your child may qualify for other programs such as:

• Summer EBT
• Pay to Play or Pay to Participate
• Blessings in a Backpack
• Potential household support for cable and internet
• Test Fees

What do I need to do? For more information, please visit www.birmingham.k12.mi.us, select menus, then select Application for Summer EBT and Education Benefits for more information.

If you have questions, please reach out to the Director of Dining, Pattie Guck, at 248-228-7172.

Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit in the classrooms of their children. However, in order for the class routine and instructional time to not be disturbed, please use the following guidelines for observations and visits:

• Make arrangements for classroom visits with the teacher at least 24 hours in advance.
• Limit your visit to no more than 1 hour in duration unless otherwise arranged by the teacher.

For the protection of the children, the school must identify all adults visiting the school. All visitors, volunteers, and parents are required to sign in at the school office and wear a visitor’s badge before visiting our school. Please do not go directly to your child’s classroom without an appointment or your assigned work area without checking in at the school office. Visitations by older or younger children as well as houseguests will not be honored. Such visitations interrupt the effectiveness of the school instructional program.

I-Chat forms are required to volunteer in your child's classroom and for building/classroom events. These forms will be available at curriculum night and in the main office. Parents or guardians must fill a new I-Chat form every year. Please reach out to Tracy Longe in the main office if you have any questions.

We Love Celebrating Birthdays at Pembroke … Several years ago, Pembroke transitioned to FOOD-LESS birthday celebrations within all classrooms across the building. This policy is focused not only on the health and wellness of our children, but also on the value of instructional time. Food-less birthday treats decrease the frequency of sugary treats served during the school day, decrease the opportunities for allergic reactions that can be life-threatening to many of our children and decrease the amount of time spent out of the classroom delivering treats to past teachers, office staff, etc.

Each classroom will still celebrate your child on his/her birthday. Each teacher, &/or Grade Level Team, will provide a “Birthday Celebration Menu” with celebration options. You and your child will select how she/he wishes to celebrate their birthday, and communicate your selection with the teacher a few days prior to the celebration so that they can plan accordingly.

• Thursday, August 29th - Kindergarten Meet & Greet - 3:00 - 4:00 pm

• Tuesday, September 3rd - 1st Day of School - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:50 am

• Tuesday, September 3rd - Welcome Back Coffee (PTA) - 8:45 - cafeteria

• Wednesday, September 4th - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:50 am
  

• Wednesday, September 4th - K/1st Curriculum Night - Details to follow!

• Thursday, September 5th and Friday, September 6th - Kindergarten Dismissal at 11:50 am

• Friday, September 6th - Back to School Picnic - 6:00 - 7:30 pm

• Wednesday, September 11th - 2nd - 5th Curriculum Night - Details to follow!

• Monday, September 30th - School Pictures