Lancer Summer '23 Update #1

Join us on 9/5 From 2:00-3:00 PM for a block party and a chance to meet your teachers!

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram: @helendaleprimary (or download the East Irondequoit App!)

• Helendale Primary School - East Irondequoit CSD | Rochester NY | Facebook
  
  
• Helen Dale (@helendaleprimary) • Instagram photos and videos

Photo album from last year: 2022-2023 - East Irondequoit Central School Photo Galleries (smugmug.com)

Dear Families,

I hope you are enjoying summer!

This is my third year at Helendale, and am blown away by the amazing community we have here. Growing up in Irondequoit myself, I have a love for this town that dates back to childhood. I take the job of educating and keeping your children safe very seriously, but I hope you will find that at Helendale we include fun, joy and a bit of silliness each day!

This year will be special for me, as my eldest son is headed to school for the first time. So, for all you first-time school parents, I'm 'in it' with you during the day and when I head home!

During the school year, you will get a communication from me every other week.

This summer newsletter is MUCH longer than normal. It has all the relevant information and reminders you and your student(s) will need to have a successful school year, and some FAQ's from that came up last year. You may also wish to view our full family handbook at the link below.

Please reach out with any additional questions or concerns. We make it our practice to reply to e-mails, phone calls and talking points messages within 24 hours, but usually a lot faster.

Teacher letters will be mailed next week - 8/10 - You should find out by the weekend! Each teacher is assigned a 'learning pod' with a special color for the year. When you find out your child's teacher - you may want to grab some pod colors during back to school shopping! HINT: These teams might give you a clue on our 'theme' for the school year!

This year, East Irondequoit has provided your student(s) with schools supplies free of charge.

At some schools, pick up and drop off is harder to do than getting tickets for a Taylor Swift Concert! We aim to make it a quick and safe experience for everyone. Please follow the directions below and help us out!

• Students may be dropped off beginning at 9:00 A.M. There is no supervision before 9:00 AM. If a student is dropped off before then, we will contact you and invite you back to pick them up. Thanks for your help with this!
  
  

• Please stay in your car if you use the drop off loop. We are happy to help your student get out and into the building. Do not get out of your car, nor should students open the car doors.
  
  
• Do not park on Westchester Avenue by the school (other part of Westchester is ok!)

• PRE-K - 2nd Graders: We begin the dismissal pick up process at 3:20. Last year, we had the whole pick-up process complete by 3:26. We have a few additional students this year, but the line should still move quickly.
  
  

• Due to student safety and supervision, pickups between 2:45 and 3:20 are difficult and would only be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  

Please see the map below, our process is:

1. Start on the West Part of Westchester Ave

2. You will pull up to the front loop

3. Show your ID

4. Pull forward

5. Your child will be walked to your car.

6. Pull through the exit area

****cars not lined up on Westchester who attempt to move to the front of the line will be asked to circle around back to the end of Westchester line. ****

PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR - it is the biggest thing you can do to help the process. If you need to buckle your student in, you may pull up to the "buckle up zone"

PLEASE Stay in the coned off "LANE" - We are asking cars not pull out in front of each other or cross the paths as that may lead to accidents.

You will receive 2 car rider tags to place in your car on the first day. Please contact the main office for additional tags.

Please let the Office know of early pick-ups with a note or a call in the morning of the pick-up. You may also e-mail hr_attendance@eastiron.monroe.edu

Messaging teachers on talking points or e-mail is great, but because teachers are usually teaching or may have substitutes, a note, phone call, or direct e-mail to the attendance line is much appreciated so we don't miss anything!

Please always have your ID when visiting Helendale. I ask our staff to check everyone's ID, every day - regardless of how well we know you. Please don't take it personally or think it's excessive, I believe this routine is important for consistency and safety.

All Helendale Students will get their devices during the first few weeks of school, no need to attend the device pick up dates.

iPads will remain in school.

Buying Lunch & Breakfast

Information about school nutrition, including menus and free and reduced lunch applications can be found on our school nutrition website. https://www.eastiron.org/page/school-nutrition

Please discuss with your child if they are buying lunch or breakfast each day.

Students are not turned away by the café staff if they ask for lunch or breakfast, and you may be charged, even if you haven’t set up an account.

If you would prefer your student not to buy breakfast/ lunch or only buy on certain days – please call the food service office, so they may put a note on your child’s account. You can always change this later or contact the school office for exceptions on special days.

585-339-1577 Breakfast: $1.65 Lunch: $2.80

Please keep toys, trading cards and electronics from home at home. They often get lost, stolen or more often than not traded - and then wanted back! There will be special days to bring these in if you choose to do so, but as a general rule, we ask that they stay at home.

Students are not permitted to have cellphones or electronic devices during the school day. If you would prefer your student have a cellphone/smartwatch etc.. it will need to stay in their backpack for the duration of the day.

There are many chances to be involved at Helendale! The level of commitment is completely up to you! To get started, you may want to join our PTA Facebook page, or reach out to our PTA: helendale.pta18@gmail.com

East Irondequoit Helendale Road PTA | Facebook

We love visitors! All classroom visitors must first be approved by their student’s teacher and sign in at the Main Office with their ID.

You are welcome to have lunch with your student on Fridays beginning 9/29. Please see your child's teacher for lunch schedule.

If you’d like to come on a day other than Friday, we are happy to accommodate, we just try to stick to the Friday routine. Please connect with Mr. D’Abreu if this is the case, no worries 😊

At HR we participate in non-food celebrations for most events. Our school does not support bringing in food-related items for classroom celebrations, with occasional exceptions.

Please keep the following suggestions in mind when offering to contribute to a holiday or birthday celebration in your child’s classroom:

· A craft activity

· Reading with your child’s class

· A book donation in your child’s name for the classroom library

· Colorful pencils or markers

· Stickers or other age-appropriate surprises

We expect all those on school property to adhere to our code of conduct and values - including visitors and volunteers.

Our Code of Conduct Values and expectations are:

· H - Honesty

· E – Empathetic

· A – Acting Safely

· R – Responsible

· T - Thinkers

Violations to the Code of Conduct and Character are addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Email: sdabreu@eastiron.monroe.edu
Website: https://www.eastiron.org/Domain/10
Location: 220 Helendale Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 5853391330
Facebook: facebook.com/helendaleprimary
Twitter: @helendaleschool