Vine Shine Report #1

Welcome Back to those of you who have been Vine Street families and if you are new to Vine Street School -- a BIG Welcome to you! Vine Street is the absolute BEST school and we are so excited to start a new school year with you all. We have been working hard this summer getting our wonderful school ready for students to return. There has been some construction and lots of cleaning happening, but it will all be complete before school starts! We cannot wait for you all to arrive and get our 2025-2026 School Year started!!

See you in a couple of weeks!

Mrs. Swett

Vine Street's Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27 from 4:30-5:30 pm. Come in to meet your child(ren)'s teacher and see their classroom! Make sure you let your child(ren)'s teacher know how they will be getting home from school that first day, week, and their regular schedule if it is different from the first day/week of school. Also be sure to visit the cafeteria for some important paperwork, the 21st Century Program table, and if your child will be riding the bus, please see Mrs. Robertson in the office to confirm which bus your child will be taking. We can't wait to see you all again!!

Bangor School Department has been awarded a grant for Kindergarten students and parents. This year Vine Street will be hosting a Kick-Start to Kindergarten evening! On Tuesday, August 26th, Kindergarten families are invited to come to Vine Street School to meet the Kindergarten teachers, some of the staff, principal, and see the classrooms, playground, cafeteria and gym. This will give K parents and students a bit of a quieter atmosphere to visit the school because Open House can be very busy!

Teachers and staff have been working hard preparing for the 2025-2026 school year. I hope your child is getting excited! Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help make the school year and your mornings start smoothly:

• Start that early bedtime and routine the week before school starts. Getting up earlier is hard for everyone. ⏰
• Have your child pack thier backpack the night before, start giving them that reponsibility. Mornings are not as crazy if the backpack is ready to go. 🎒
• A full size backpack works best for all students. It gives them room to pack a snak, thier classroom folder (they will get one the first day of school), their water bottle, and shove thier coat, sweater or sweatshirt that they wore that noring when it was chilly and now it's afternoon and 80 degrees so they don't want to wear it home! 😂🌞
• Your child will need a snack and water bottle every day. Please only fill the bottle with water only! We cannot allow any other drinks in the classrooms. 🥤🍎
• Please let the school know if you need a backpack or water bottle for your child. We do have some on hand for students.
• Make sure your child's teacher knows how they are getting home everyday from school. If there is a a change in the typical way your child get's home, you will need to let the school know by writing a note that morning or calling the school BEFORE 2:00 pm. If we do not hear from you, we will have your child go home in thier normal fashion. 🚌🚗🚜🚲🛸

1. School will start at 9:00. There will be a short morning recess/breakfast starting at 8:40. Parents should help children time their arrival for 8:40-8:55. Please note: parents who bring their children to school will drop the students off at the gate. Due to safety, we cannot have parents on the playground with children. Please say your goodbyes at the gate. Also, there should be no parents or students on school grounds prior to the 8:40 am bell.

2. Breakfast will be available to all students free of charge again this year. Breakfast will be in the cafeteria from 8:40-8:55 am. If your child arrives before 8:55 am and need breakfast, they need to go in and eat before playing on the playground. A bag breakfast is available for any late arrivals.

3. For the safety of all children, bats, skateboards, sleds, hockey sticks, and similar sporting equipment are not allowed at school unless they are part of a teacher’s lesson.

4. Students will enter the school building in a quiet and orderly manner.

5. Children may distribute birthday party invitations at school ONLY if all children in the classroom are being invited. Family privacy laws prohibit distribution of home addresses without parental permission.

6. No iPods, smart watches, electronic devices, toys, radios, cell phones, or pagers may be used at school unless requested by a teacher for a special project. See Bangor School Department Policy JICJ, Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices for more information.

Our 21st Century Grant provides Before & After School Programs for Vine Street Students. Our Morning Club will begin the first day of school and is open to all Vine Street students. Our After School Programs will begin Monday, September 15th. Be sure to find the 21st Century table at Open House so you can fill out the necessary forms for your child to participate this year!

Arrival

School begins at 8:55 am. For their own safety, students should not arrive at the school before 8:40 am as there is no supervision. Students may not wait in the lobby for the school day to begin. The 21st Century Program does offer a before school club that begins at 8:00 am. Space is limited, so prior registration is strongly encouraged. The Vine Street bus loop will be accessible only to buses. Private vehicles do not have access to this loop. Walkers and parent drop offs should use the Larkin St. gate as the primary entrance. Staff will meet children at the gate, monitor them during the morning recess, and then help them to the entrance to start the school day. Family members are not permitted on school grounds in the morning.

Dismissal

Bus students are dismissed beginning at 3:00 pm. Bus students will board their respective buses from the lobby near the main office. Parents picking up their child must wait outside. In the Spring and Fall, teachers will dismiss kindergarten and PreK students from their classroom doors at the end of the school day. Please do not knock on the door to have your child dismissed early. Parents who occasionally need their child dismissed early should contact the school office and office staff will dismiss your student from the lobby when you arrive. During the winter months, kindergarten students will be dismissed through the cafeteria doors on the Larkin Street Side. First Grade teachers will dismiss their classes through the first grade exit. All other walkers/parent pick ups will be dismissed through the cafeteria doors. Your child’s safety is of paramount concern to us. We will not release a child to anyone other than a parent without written permission and that person needs to provide ID. We also require notification from the parent for any deviation from a child’s established after school dismissal plans. If there is a need to change a dismissal routine, please talk to the school secretary before 2:00 pm. Do not leave a voicemail. Be advised that students will follow their normal dismissal routine unless parents have notified the school. Please note that school staff will not release a child to anyone they do not know. Be prepared to present proper identification if you plan to pick up a child at school.The Vine Street School dismissal procedures are designed to keep all children safe.

Students will have a snack time every day in their classroom. Please make sure your child comes to school with something small/simple and (relatively healthy) everyday for snack.

Special Treats/Occasions: From time to time, parents ask to bring in a special treat to share with their child’s class. Generally this is on a birthday or similar occasion. Due to various allergies students have, we cannot allow homemade foods. Special snacks need to be brought to school in their original containers so school staff can read ingredients to ensure that a child will not be inadvertently exposed to a known allergen. To minimize disruption to students’ learning, please contact your child’s teacher in advance if you would like to bring a special treat to school.

Step Up to Kindergarten evening event - Tuesday, August 26 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm (incoming Kindergarten students only)

Vine Street Open House - Wednesday, August 27 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm

First Day of School - Tuesday, September 2 for all students

PTO Meeting - Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 pm

1. Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.

2. Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.

3. Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.

4. Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.

5. Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Who to contact if your child doesn't want to come to school: Mrs. Moring, Mrs. Small, or Mrs. Swett at 941-6300.