Vine Shine Report #2

Volunteer Training - Wednesday, September 10 at 5:30 pm

Title I Parent Compact Meeting - Wednesday, September 10 at 5:45 pm

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

Picture Day - Tuesday, September 16

Early Release Day - Wednesday, September 17 (student dismissal at 12:00 pm)

It has been a great first week at Vine Street School! It has been wonderful seeing the many smiling faces. Some of these faces are brand new to Vine Street, and some are returning after some time away at other schools. All of our students have settled quickly thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teachers. I have enjoyed walking around the school and seeing all of our students confident and ready to learn!

There are many times throughout the school year that volunteers can help at school or school events. If you would like to support the students and staff at Vine Street this year, you will need to be Volunteer Trained before you are able to volunteer. The training only takes a few minutes, but it does take a week or two to complete the background check. So if you think you would like to come help at PTO events, PBIS celebrations, field day, etc. at some point this year, it would be a good idea to get trained now so you can join us when you are ready. Our first volunteer training will be at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, September 10, right before the first Vine Street PTO Meeting. If you were trained last year as a volunteer, you do not need to be trained again this year. If you are new to our school or did not complete the training last year, then you will need to complete the training.

If you are not able to come on Wednesday, September 10 at 5:30 pm, please reach out to the school and we can set up another time.

Please try to return all of the important beginning of the year paperwork to school on Monday. Once filled out and completed, this paperwork can be placed back in your child's red folder and returned to school. If you have any questions about how to fill something out, please contact the school at 941-6300.

Please join us on Wednesday, September 10 at 5:45 pm, after the Volunteer training at 5:30 and right before the PTO meeting at 6:00 for Vine Street's annual Title I Parent Compact Meeting. Title I staff and myself will explain our Title I programming, how it supports your child, and how you can help support your child at home. Mrs. Curtis, Mrs. Schneider, and myself look forward chatting with you!

The first PTO meeting will be Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 pm. There will be a volunteer training at 5:30 pm. If you would like to volunteer this year at Vine Street School and you were not trained last year, then please arrive at 5:30 pm and I will hold the training prior to the PTO Meeting at 6:00 pm.

If your child is going to be absent from school, please contact our school office at (207)941-6300. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For your convenience, voicemail is available. If you do not leave a message, and your child is absent, we will try to contact you early in the day. There is a natural concern for children who may have left home for school and, for whatever reason, did not arrive. Your call will eliminate considerable worry and unnecessary effort.

A written excuse for any absence should be brought to the teacher upon return to school. A parent needs to sign in any student who is tardy. We encourage you to schedule doctor and dentist appointments for before or after school. If this is not possible, and you need an early dismissal, please come to the office first and check your child out of school.

School attendance is mandatory. The State of Maine has mandates regarding attendance. Under the law a student is defined as an habitual truant if he/she is at least 5 years of age, has not completed grade 6, and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during the school year. Maine law is very clear about what absences schools may excuse. The Maine Education and School Statues state:

A person may be excused from attendance at a public day school pursuant to section §5001-A.

Excusable absence. A person’s absence is excused when the absence is for the following reasons.

1. Personal illness;

2. An appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day;

3. Observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day;

4. A family emergency; or

5. A planned absence for a personal or educational purpose which has been approved. (Please contact the school secretary to request a Planned Absence Request Form)

If any student accumulates 15 absences during the school year (excused or unexcused), parents may be asked to provide excusal notices from a physician.

The school is required to report attendance to the state quarterly. Any school whose attendance falls below the state’s targeted benchmark is subject to sanctions. Please help us to meet our attendance goals. Ensure that your child comes to school every day except when he/she is ill.

For more information about compulsory attendance, please refer to BSD policy JEA.