The Jayhawk Journal

The first week of school is already over. I cannot express how proud I am of our students for coming in and adjusting so well to the building. To our parents, know that your kids are amazing! So many smiles and eagerness to begin the year. I am most proud of how great the students were during all of our SOAR Assemblies this week. Students came in, listened, followed directions, and asked some helpful questions during our first assembly. I would like everyone to please note that our Open House will take place on September 18th from 5:30 to 6:30. I will send out more specific details in the coming weeks, but please mark that on your calendars. For those of you who are new, we always do a PJ Spirit Day to "Roll Into" every new month, so please wear PJs to school on Tuesday when we return. Thank you to everyone who has shared any questions or compliments during the first week, my door is always open! Looking forward to a great year ahead!

-Mr. Traub

Johnson Upper Elementary School is committed to providing a safe, respectful environment that supports the academic and socio-emotional needs of every student as they develop the necessary skills to become capable, confident, life-long learners.

This week we held our first SOAR Assembly. Each month, we bring students in to look over both positive and discipline data to look at what we are doing right, and what are some areas that we could use some work on. This first assembly was all about going over rules and procedures. The next few weeks, this will be a heavy focus from the classrooms. We want to set students up for success and we want all students to understand the expectations of the building. Please see the attached matrix to go over SOARing expectations for all aspects of the building. We look forward to celebrating positive behavior with SOAR Bucks and Clubs in the upcoming year!

Thank you for all of your patience with the parking lot as many new families learned the way during the first week. We are glad to report that we have dropped more than 5 minutes in the line since the first day. We would like to continue to work and get the car line wait down even further this week. Here a few reminders that will help us all get there.

1) Please pull up as far as you can during the pick up side, it will allow more cars to load.

2) We keep the second lane open. Once you have your student, you may pull to the left side to begin to exit the parking lot.

3) When you are leaving the loading zone, please turn left only. The right side of the loop is only for busses. You will be able to turn right or left onto Hix from the left (south) side of the loop.

4) Please do not park in the lot after 3:25. Just stay in the car lane. This will make it faster for all, we promise!

5) The closer you come to 3:30, the better it is for everyone. Many try to come early and begin to clog up lanes and eventually Hix Road. The line moves quickly, once it is going. The first group will leave around 3:30, meaning the line will not move until then. We will have everyone out in a timely manner, please do not come too early, as this can add to the jam.

6) If you are crossing the walkways to meet someone or drop something off, please make sure you use the sidewalk and the crosswalk in our parking lot at the corner. For safety reasons, we do not want parents walking through the parking lot or in between cars.

Thank you for acknowledging our commitment to the safety of the students, staff, and community members as our number one priority! We will get the timing down, and we will continue to send updates as we get there.

Monday 9/1 No School (Labor Day)

Tuesday 9/2 "Roll Into September" PJ Spirit Day

Wednesday 9/3

Thursday 9/4

Friday 9/5

9/1 - No School Labor Day Weekend

9/2 - Spirit PJ Day "Roll Into" September

9/4 - 6th Grade Camp Parent Information Meeting 6 p.m.

9/9 - PTA Meeting @ 6 p.m.

9/11 - Picture Day

9/18 - Open House and Curriculum Night 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

9/29 - No School (District PD)

Planning to volunteer this year? Fill out the iChat form now and you'll be all set for the year! Just enter today's date (or a day next week) for when you plan to begin volunteering. Then, you'll be all set when it comes time to help with Holiday Shop, Field Day, and other events.

It is required that each family review the emergency contact information that is on file at Johnson. You can view this information in parent connect. Why? in the event of an emergency, sick child, severe weather, we may need to reach you. The process to verify your emergency contact information is correct is simple. Simply log into Parent Connect and follow the prompts.

Students cannot be dropped off for school in the morning prior to 8:15am. This is when the doors open for breakfast and when staff is available to supervise students. Prior to this time, all school doors are locked. Students are not to be left unattended, arrangements must be made. Also, dismissal is at 3:30pm daily and at 11:45am on half days. It is required that all students who are picked up in the car loop be picked up no later than 3:45pm. Staff is not available to supervise students beyond that time. The district offers a SACC program for those students that cannot be picked up by 3:45pm. Please contact SACC at (734)744-2966 to make arrangements.

Oftentimes a student will come to the office with a medical need. The office staff is able to dispense medication as needed as long as the medication is: 1) Delivered to school by a parent in the original unopened package or prescription container, {NO MEDICATION can be brought to school by students} 2) As long as there is an individual, signed medical authorization on file for each medication {form available in the office and online} Medication includes but is not limited to cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, prescription drugs, creams, lotions, vitamins, inhalers, EpiPens, etc.… We cannot administer any medication that is not listed on file in the office. Please reach out to Jill Jablonski or Amy Dimmer in the office to set up a time to bring in medications and to review your student’s medical needs when they are in the building.

“You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” - Zig Ziglar