Eggert Updates 9/12/25

Dear Families,

Thank you for another wonderful week at Eggert! Our students continue to impress us with their energy, kindness, and eagerness to learn.

This week, we held our Back to School Assemblies, where students learned about our character education acronym, SHINE. They discovered the many ways they can demonstrate great character around Eggert and were excited to learn that they can earn individual SHINE slips for positive behavior, as well as class squares in the cafeteria when they work together as a team.

If you drop off or pick up your child and have not yet reviewed the arrival/dismissal video from Officer Wheeler, you can find it linked below.

A special thank you to our musical team and chaperones for organizing a fun preview of Shrek! Our students had such a great time, and we are excited for the 5th grade musical to come later this year.

We are so proud of the way our students are already showing what it means to SHINE, and we look forward to celebrating their efforts all year long.

Wishing you a restful and enjoyable weekend!

Go Bills!

Dr. Szczesniak and Miss Hall

A few notes regarding arrival and dismissal to help keep the process safe and smooth:

Arrival

Please do not pull into the parking lot until 9:00 a.m. Staff are arriving from other buildings and meetings up until that time, and need access to parking spots.

Dismissal

Please ensure your car tag is visible.
Follow the directions of Officer Wheeler and our staff members directing traffic.
Remain in your car and continue to pull forward as directed—staff will walk students to cars.
For safety, do not pull out of your lane to pass other vehicles. Students and staff are walking to cars, and cars jutting out of lanes pose a serious risk.

Notes & Parent Portal

If your child will be picked up, please make sure this is entered in the parent portal or send a written note with your child.
Pick-up notes from last year do not carry over into this school year.
Pre-K students do not need dismissal notes, as pick-up is mandatory. However, if your older children will be dismissed with a Pre-K sibling, you must still submit a note for your older children.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation to ensure our arrival and dismissal run smoothly and safely!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The 2025–2026 school year is off to a wonderful start. It has been such a joy to see classrooms filled with students who are eager to learn, reconnect with friends, and build positive relationships with their teachers.

As the year begins, we want to take a moment to highlight something that makes a huge difference in your child’s success: consistent school attendance. Every day your child is in school is a day they are learning, practicing important skills, and participating in experiences that prepare them for the future. On the other hand, absences can interrupt learning and make it harder for students to keep up with lessons and activities.

Research shows that regular attendance is one of the best predictors of academic achievement and future success. Students who are absent often may struggle to catch up and, over time, are more likely to face challenges in school and beyond. That is why addressing chronic absenteeism continues to be a priority in our district.

The New York State Education Department considers a student “chronically absent” when they miss 10 percent or more of the school year. That equals about 18 days, or just under two days per month. While illnesses do happen, frequent or recurring absences—even when spread throughout the year—can have lasting academic and social effects.

Why attendance matters:

Builds strong learning routines
Strengthens a child’s connection to school
Prepares students for high school, college, and careers
Encourages responsibility and life skills like punctuality

How families can help:

Schedule vacations and appointments outside of school time when possible
Keep regular bedtime and morning routines
Get ready the night before by laying out clothes, packing backpacks, and reviewing the day’s plans
Talk with your child about the importance of showing up every day and how they feel about school
Keep children home only when they are truly sick
Use the parent portal to report absences and monitor attendance and grades
Contact your school nurse or counselor if your child is experiencing anxiety or challenges about attending
Have a backup transportation plan for unexpected situations
Encourage participation in after-school activities, clubs, and sports to strengthen school connections

Attendance notifications:
To keep families informed, Orchard Park Central School District sends automated notifications whenever a student is marked unexcused for the day. Absences can be reported directly through the parent portal. If attendance becomes a concern, our staff will reach out so we can work together to provide support and address any challenges your child may be facing.

Together, we can ensure every student develops the habits and skills needed to reach their full potential. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to your child’s education.

Event Information

Early Dismissal for Elementary Students

Please note: Due to the number of students picked up on early dismissal days, we will begin our dismissal procedure at 11:10

When?

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025, 11:00 AM

Event Information

Homecoming Parade and Carrnival

When?

Saturday, Sep 27, 2025, 10:00 AM

Event Information

School Picture Day

More information will be sent home regarding ordering school pictures.

When?

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025, 09:00 AM

A Few Notes About Free Breakfast & Lunch

Each student is eligible for one free lunch per day. If your child would like an additional item (for example, a second slice of pizza), it is considered a second lunch and must be purchased. To do so, funds need to be available on their My School Bucks account.
The cafeteria will continue to sell snacks (chips, cookies, ice cream, etc.). These items are not included in the free meal program and also require funds on a My School Bucks account for purchase.

It is essential that anyone who feels they may be eligible for free and reduced meals to fill out the 2025-2026 Free and Reduced lunch application that is available below. Procedures are in place to protect the privacy of students participating in the free and reduced program. Receiving Free and Reduced meals does not solely benefit the student receiving the meal, it also benefits the district community; depending on the amount of need within our district, we will receive/be eligible for additional funding. Completed applications should be sent to J. Schwarz at 4040 Baker Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Link for application.