Parsons Pirate Update

Dear Parsons Families,

Thank you for a wonderful first week of school. I am sure you will have some very tired kiddos this weekend! Getting back into a routine is tough after the lazy days of summer.

We saw lots of smiles and positive engagement in classes this week. We had our first Campfire (Town Hall) where we shared our school PBIS expectations and rules.

Also, we had amazing attendance for the first week of school! Keep it up!

Sincerely,

Sarah Aherne

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports...

1. Creates and maintains a safe and effective learning environment

2. Ensures all students have social skills needed for success at school and beyond.

3. Provides a proactive system-wide framework for implementation

The purpose of PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behaviors are the norm.

The first PTO meeting of the year is Monday, September 8th at 6:00 in the library. Please come and see what this important organization does and how you can participate!

Our school hours are from 8:38am-3:33 pm. Our school doors will open at 8:33 am and close at 8:43 am. Our half day hours are 8:38 am-11:55 am. The first day of school is a half day and dismissal will be 11:55. School dismissal is staggered so younger grades will come out first. Please read information from your child’s teacher regarding grade level dismissal.

Marked Tardy: 8:43 am or after

Marked Absent for AM: Arrive at school later than 9:30 am

Marked Absent for PM: Leave school prior to 2:30 pm

We have a wonderful crossing guard, Ms Tammy, and a fabulous parent, Ms Brandy, who help us keep our students safe in the parking lot. Please ensure that when you are dropping off or picking up in the driveline that you pull all the way up. Do not park by the blacktop/recess area. This must be kept clear so the driveline can keep moving. Please do not block the crosswalk. If you are not in the driveline, you must park. If you are parking in the front lot or the side lot, please walk your child up to school or walk up to the front doors to collect your child. We don’t want a child hit from running in the parking lot. Do not enter from Fryer Road. It is one way!

We encourage kindergarten families to utilize the gravel parking lot on Fryer Road for additional parking. Children will only be released to parents or guardians after the teacher has made contact.

As much as we love your dogs, please do not bring your dog (unless it’s a service animal) to arrival and dismissal. We do not want a child to be bitten. Also, we have several students who are allergic to dogs and have epipens in the office. Please help us keep kids safe!

Arrival Areas

All students who are dropped off by a family member enter through the Main Front Doors.

Students arriving by bus enter through the K/1 door by the bus loop.

Dismissal Areas

Kindergarten (Mrs. Pendergast and Mrs. Przepiora)-Parking Lot Doors by Mrs. Przepiora’s room near Fryer Street

Kindergarten (Mrs. Bannon)-Main Front Doors

First Grade-Third Grade-Main Front Doors

Fourth Grade-Fifth Grade-Champions Doors by Flag Pole

Buses-Bus loop by K/1 Grade Doors

Kindergarten: 11:45 am-12:10 pm

1st grade: 11:55 am-12:20 pm

2nd grade: 12:05 pm-12:30 pm

3rd grade: 12:15 pm-12:40 pm

4th grade: 12:25 pm-12:50 pm

5th grade: 12:35 pm-1:00 pm

Just a reminder that it is water only in the classroom. For lunch, students may have juice but please no caffeinated beverages or pop at school.

Although we love to have visitors, we remain committed to your children’s safety. Kindergarten parents are allowed to walk their children to class on the first day of school. After the first day, kindergarten students will walk themselves to class. We will have many staff to help. All other parents, grades 1-5, must hug their child at the door and let them walk in by themselves. We do not allow visitors or parents in the building without prior permission.

All doors are locked during the school day. If you come to school, you will be buzzed into the foyer area. You will be asked to show identification before your child is released. All visitors/volunteers in the building must report and sign in at the office. Visitors must wear a badge in the school building. All volunteers in the classroom and for field trips must have a background check on file each year. If you have a felony, you may not volunteer for WatchDogs, field trips, or volunteer in the classroom.

Download the Parent Square App today! Use your email and phone number you used when you registered to log in.

We use ParentSquare at the District, school and classroom level to communicate with families.

What is ParentSquare?

ParentSquare is a simple-to-use platform that provides a safe way for everyone at a school to connect. With ParentSquare, you'll be able to:

• Receive messages from the district and school via email, text or app notification
• Communicate in your preferred language
• Comment on school postings to engage in your school community
• Direct message teachers, staff and other parents
• Participate in group messages
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
• Sign forms & permission slips
• And more all from your phone or web portal!

Last year we changed to a new company that allows families to order Parsons and Marauder spirt wear all year long! We have some new designs this year. Check them out at this link.

If your child needs medication to be administered at school or requires a medical plan, please call the school secretary, Ms. Brittany, at 734-379-7050, and set up an appointment ASAP. We want to make sure we are ready to take care of your child, on the very first day of school. In your call with her, she will reference paperwork that needs to be completed by your child’s physician. Parson's nursing services documents can be found AT THIS LINK.

As we begin the new school year, we want to take a moment to remind you about an important safety measure in place across the Gibraltar School District: the SmartBoot System.

This system was installed last year using bond funds and state grant sources, and it provides both physical and technological protection for our students and staff. It allows for quick classroom lockdowns, instant communication across the building, and direct connection with law enforcement in the event of an emergency. Color-coded room signage has also been added to help staff and first responders quickly locate individuals if needed. Last spring, staff and students were trained in the system, and age-appropriate assemblies will continue to reinforce its purpose.

A Serious Reminder About Tampering

We want to be very clear: any tampering with or false activation of the SmartBoot System—or any other safety system, such as a fire alarm—is strictly prohibited.

• Pulling a false alarm or misusing the system is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
  
  

• Consequences may include suspension or expulsion.
  
  

• These actions may also result in legal consequences, as interfering with a safety device is against state law.
  
  

Our partnership with you is vital. Please take time to speak with your child about the importance of respecting these emergency systems and using them only when absolutely necessary. Everyone has a role to play in keeping our schools safe.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to protect the safety and well-being of our school community.

Welcome back to a new school year! As we get ready to begin, we want to share some important updates regarding district-issued technology devices to help ensure a smooth start and responsible use throughout the year.

Beginning in August 2025, any fines from the Technology Department will be posted in MiStar and can be viewed and paid in the Parent Portal. For significant fines, or fines that result from an office referral, you will also receive communication from your child’s school explaining the situation. You can view a list of the most common fines, explanations, and fees here.

We encourage you to review Chromebook care with your child. This care guide can help you start the conversation:

Nightly Downtime (Grades K–8)
To promote healthy technology habits and allow devices to rest, all district-issued Chromebooks for students up through K–8 will automatically power down and be unusable each night from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

Technology Agreement & Acceptable Use
Whenever a district-issued Chromebook is in use, students are expected to follow our Technology Agreement and Acceptable Use Policy. Our filtering system monitors browsing and search activity to help ensure safety. Misuse will result in follow-up from district staff and may lead to discipline and/or restrictions on Chromebook use.

Examples of misuse include (but are not limited to):

• Intentional tampering with the device

• Attempting to bypass filters

• Using proxies or VPNs

• Intentional or attempted damage to the device

• Using the device to violate the Student Code of Conduct outlined in each school’s handbook

We appreciate your partnership in helping students use technology responsibly, safely, and productively.

We are looking forward to a great school year, with students in classes and ready to learn every day. Last year, a student in Gibraltar School District who missed one day in the first ten days of school was 48% more likely to be chronically absent.

We have learned that students who miss even a few days of school each month are at a far greater risk of academic failure and dropping out than students who attend regularly. We have set a goal that every student in our school attends regularly. Regular attendance means 9 days or less days missed per school year.

Because attendance is so important, please send your child to school every day unless he or she has a contagious illness or is running a fever of 100 or higher.

We have included a chart that will help you keep track of your student’s absences. If your child is at risk of missing too much school, please feel free to contact me at ahernes@gibdist.net or 734-379-7050 for assistance. We will also continue to monitor each student’s attendance across the year so we can work together with families when the number of absences puts a student at risk. We will be happy to work with you to help your student attend regularly and have greater opportunities for success.

Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session. Here are some dates to think about as good dates to schedule appointments:

Half Days (Dismissal 11:55 am):

Tuesday, 9/2 (first day of school)

Wednesday, 9/24

Friday, 10/31

Thursday, 11/6 (Parent Teacher Conferences)

Friday, 11/7 (Parent Teacher Conferences)

Friday, 1/30

Friday, 4/10

Wednesday, 4/22

Thursday, 6/11 (last day of school)

No School:

Monday, 10/20 and Tuesday, 10/21

Tuesday, 11/4

Wednesday, 11/26 through Friday, 11/28

Monday, 12/22 through Friday, 1/2

Friday, 1/16

Monday, 1/19

Friday, 2/13

Monday, 2/16

Monday, 3/30 through Monday, 4/6

Monday, 5/25

Our school code of conduct serves as a foundational agreement and set of expectations for the entire school community, outlining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, promoting a positive learning environment, and ensuring safety by defining the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and staff. The District Elementary Code of Conduct can be found at this link. I have also attached the document below.

Gibraltar School District is required to provide families with certain notifications, as required by law, which can be accessed at the link below. Please take a moment to review these notifications.

GSD Annual Notifications 2025-2026

September 8th: Parson PTO meeting 6:00 pm in the library

September 24th: Half Day 11:55 am dismissal

October 8th: Picture Day

October 10th: Fun Run

October 20th-21st: No School Autumn Break

October 28th: Parsons Trunk or Treat 6:00-7:30 pm

October 31st: Half day 11:55 am dismissal