The Patton Post
Friday, December 5th
I hope everyone had a wonderful break last week and enjoyed the time off with your families and friends. For those that travelled, I hope the snow didn't impact your plans too much!
Winter weather has arrived and it looks like we will be in for chilly temperatures and snow flurries right up until winter break! Please send your children dressed appropriately with coats, hats, gloves, and snow pants if they want to play in the snow. I have included the "Cold Weather Recess" guidelines below. Please familiarize yourself with them. As you can see from the photos below, the students truly do have "snow" much fun at outdoor recess during the winter months!
I hope many of you are able to attend the "Patton Spreads Joy" event this evening! It is always such a wonderful evening and will certainly get you in the mood for the holidays!
Have a lovely weekend!
Ellie Chin
Winter has descended upon us and recess has been a fun, snowy and cold affair! Please be mindful that students go out for recess every day as long as the wind chill is above zero and it is not raining. Please ensure your Panthers come to school dressed for the weather. If there is snow on the ground, students will not be able to play on the field or the playground unless they are wearing snow pants, boots, a coat and gloves/mittens. They must remain on the blacktop if they do not have all their snow gear. Gloves and hats are important when the weather is cold even if students choose not to bring boots and snow pants. Many students are shivering and asking how many more minutes are left when they are not dressed appropriately.
Students are encouraged to bring in a bag of snow gear each day "just in case" - which helps minimize classroom disruptions with items being dropped off after school has started. Please ensure all items are labeled clearly so we can reunite any lost winter gear with their owners. You would be surprised how many stray items are found.
Snow gear bags should go home especially over the weekend so everything can be washed and dried and "refreshed" for the following week! Snow gear does not fully dry when left in the bag.
When it comes to snow gear bags, please watch your child pack the bag at home. When a parent packs it, everything is folded nicely and fits in a compact bag. When kids try to put their snow gear back into the small bag, they often find it challenging. Sometimes, a slightly larger reusable shopping bag with a large opening works best.
We appreciate your help with all the cold weather gear!
We can't believe how much snow we've already seen this early in the season!
When you're dropping your kids off at Patton, please make sure they're packed up and ready to get out of your car. The car line has been backed up this week and we'd love to see it running smoother for everyone, and help get all of our kids in their seats by 9:05 every morning! We know mornings are tough, but please also consider allowing a little extra time when the weather is bad as the roads do tend to run a bit slower.
Some additional traffic line tips:
- Our traffic volunteers will open the door and help get everyone out in the mornings, but we also know that some kids don't need the help anymore! Kids are welcome to get out by themselves in the drop-off zone, if you feel safe (and the car line is stopped!)
- If the pick-up line is backed up, make sure you're not blocking crosswalks, driveways or intersections. Be extra careful not to block the entrance to Patton before the car line starts moving!
- Keep an eye out for "No Parking" signs on Patton Ave and Maude, and respect those to keep the pickup and drop-off running smoothly!
- Our volunteers are doing their best, and we know caregivers are too, so please be kind.
- We can use more help! Some of our members are working morning and afternoon shifts multiple days per week to keep things going! Email pattontrafficteam@gmail.com if you, grandma, grandpa, or any other adult caregiver could be a substitute or take on a shift or two each week.
Thanks, from your traffic team chairs Chris Fries and Tracy Boyd
As we approach the holiday season and wish lists and gifts are being discussed, we wanted to share an excerpt from the Parent Handbook for your reference.
If your child receives (or already has) a smart watch or cell phone, please discuss and establish expectations with them prior to sending them to school. All devices should be turned off and left in backpacks during the school day (see AHSD25 Parent Student Handbook, Page 39 also included below).
We have been made aware of students receiving or sending messages during the school day from their watches. Please explain to your child/ren that they should reach out to their teacher, the front office, or Mrs. Klancnik, our school nurse, if they need to reach you during the day. We care about all of our students and will support them as needed while they are here at school. We also hope that any parent or guardian who needs to communicate a message to their child during the school day will call the office. Please know that your message will be passed on to your child.
We know many of our students ride their bikes and/or walk to and from school and we completely understand that having a way to communicate with your child provides you with peace of mind during these times and helps you to connect with them. Please only reach out to your child outside of school hours and please do ensure that they know how to silence or turn their device off during the school day.
Each year, following the holiday season, we have students coming in with new devices uncertain of how to silence them when they ding with alerts, alarms, and other notifications. Thank you for partnering with us on this front - it really does help minimize disruptions and ensures that students stay focused and connected with their teachers and peers throughout the day.
Recently, in addition to students communicating with parents, watches have been used to assist in solving math problems, and to communicate with peers during the school day. We have been more lenient with watches and have allowed students to wear them as long as they are not a distraction. Moving forward, we will adhere to the expectations listed in the handbook below if students are using their watches inappropriately during the school day, as this is a disruption to the learning environment. Please have a conversation with your child to ensure they are clear about the expectations. If students are using them inappropriately, they will need to remain in their backpacks throughout the day. Students should be clear with their friends, because whether they are initiating a text or receiving a text, both are considered disruptions to the learning environment and will result in watches being stored in backpacks.
From District 25 Parent Student Handbook (Page 39
The possession and use of cell phones and other electronic devices, including wearables, are subject to the following rules:
• Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.
• Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.
• A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
• They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
MAP Testing started this week for all of our students in grades K-5. Classroom teachers will have shared specific testing schedules for both reading and math. We appreciate your cooperation in limiting appointments during identified testing times.
PATTON ELEMENTARY
Main Line: (847) 398-4288
Fax #: (847) 394-6681
Absence Procedure
Twitter: @AHSD25Patton