Attica Elem. Newsletter - Aug 25

Dear Families,

On behalf of myself and all of the Attica Elementary School family, I would like to officially welcome you to the 2025-26 school year! We are excited to open our doors and begin another year of learning, growth, and joyful experiences together. While you’ve been away, our Elementary School has been a hub of activity - You’ll return to fresh, clean classrooms and a building that’s ready for another exciting year of learning. Our staff has been busy preparing classrooms, lessons, and activities that will inspire curiosity and help every student shine. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some information with each of our families.

Morning drop off can be a hectic time, so following the procedures that are in place is important to ensure everyone arrives at school safely. The drop off line in the front of the school, near the crosswalk, is designed as a “drop and go”. Please use this lane if you intend to let your child out of the car and have them walk to the front door of the school. We have a staff member that will be at the sidewalk to ensure students walk safely to the school. If you would like to walk your child to school, or need to see someone in the school, please pull into the parking lot and park.

Students may enter the building at 8:00 am each morning. Our morning bell rings at 8:20am. At this time students that are at breakfast or at their lockers will be directed to their classroom and announcements for the day will begin. Classroom instruction begins when announcements are completed, which makes being on time to school very important. Being late to school and missing information can be very stressful for students and can have a negative impact on their daily routine.

The afternoon dismissal is a time that we work very hard at to ensure it runs smoothly and safely. To assist us with this, it is imperative that the school secretary, Mrs. Barrett, receives any changes in the dismissal process for your child PRIOR TO 11:00 am. Each of these changes must go through several channels to ensure it is handled appropriately and we need time to make this happen. We also ask that you do your best to limit these changes to emergency situations. A consistent arrival and dismissal plan helps both the students and the staff.

Please remember, if your child has an alternate dismissal plan (rides to an address other than home, or is picked up by someone other than the parent) please make sure their new teacher is aware of these plans! These changes will not automatically carry over to the 25-26 school year.

While I know the cafeteria staff has shared this great information, I wanted to remind everyone that breakfast and lunch are free for ALL students once again this year. This is a wonderful opportunity and one that will benefit so many families in our district.

I also wanted to share the following dates for the Elementary School:

• October 3rd, Elementary Picture Day
• October 10th, Superintendent’s Conference Day, No school for students
• October 13th, Columbus Day, No school for students

We can’t thank you enough for all of your support - you are an important part of our Attica Elementary team! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school

Sincerely,

Sherry Bennett, Elementary Principal

Beginning in the Fall 2025, Attica Central School District will enforce a ban on all cell phones during the instructional day from bell to bell. This includes cell phones and any other devices capable of two-way messaging or communication. School-issued devices and devices used to monitor specific health conditions are exempt.

The ban only covers the instructional day:

• 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. for grades PK-4

• 8:20 a.m.–3:10 p.m. for grades 5-12

Students in grades PK-4 will leave their devices in their backpacks turned off and stored in their locker or cubbies.

Students in grades 5-12 may:

• Leave their cell phones at home,

• Leave their cell phones in their vehicle if they drive to school, or

• Lock their cell phones in a school provided locker.

To get an important message to their children:

• A parent/guardian can call the school's main office. Office personnel will relay the message to the student. If the message is personal/private, staff will call the student to the office to speak directly with the parent/guardian.

For more information:

• Superintendent's message announcing policy

• Frequently Asked Questions-Cell Phone Policy Document

• Policy #7317-Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day-BOE Adpoted July 10, 2025

• June 26, 2025-Cell Phone Ban Informational Meeting Presentation

New teachers, classmates, routines and expectations -- a new school year almost always means change for both kids and their caregivers. And that can be nerve-wracking for everyone.

To help families ease into the transition, teachers, pediatricians and child development experts were asked for their best back-to-school advice.

• Adjust your child's summer sleep schedule to a school schedule. At least one or two weeks before school starts, move bedtime and wake-up time up by 15-minute increments every few days until the desired schedule is reached.
• Gradually reintroduce structure into a child’s daily routine to help them prepare for school. Add a 15-minute block of educational content to your kid’s routine, such as a read-aloud, math puzzle or a science experiment.
• Remind kids that almost everyone feels a little nervous on the first day of school. Naming and describing an emotion and letting children know you understand how they feel can help them feel more in control over their feelings instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.
• To ease a child’s anxiety about going back to school, help them understand what to expect. As Daniel Tiger sings, “When we do something new, let’s talk about what we’ll do.” Remind them that “grown-ups come back” [at the end of the school day] — and they can share their new experiences at school with their loved ones.
• Talk to your child about how they might handle challenging situations, even if they are not likely to happen. For example, if your son is worried about getting lost in a new school, help him problem solve by creating a plan about what he would do if that did happen so he feels more prepared and confident.
• Make up a special goodbye ritual together. Morning goodbyes can be challenging. But you can create daily memories your child will cherish for years to come. Say, “See you later, alligator! In a while, crocodile!”, do a special handshake or enjoy an extra-long hug. You can also kiss your child’s palm and then hold each other’s hands tightly to “seal it in.” Tell your child to remember they’ll carry your kiss with them all day long, and they can do the same for you!
• Fill their connection cup before and after school. Even if you're tired in the morning, set that alarm for 15 minutes earlier so you can have a snuggle session with your child. Read a book together. Have breakfast together. When you pick them up from school, be aware they will need another connection cup top-up. Sometimes they will present with this after-school meltdown because they're so depleted.
• Make sure your child knows how to navigate their world in tech-free ways. Even if your child has a smartphone, make sure they know what to do if they’re approached by a stranger, how to get help for an injury and other street smarts. Help isn’t always a button away.
• Discuss family or classroom conflicts with your child. Have a daily conversation topic such as, “What’s been a good or hard part about your day?” or “What rules do we need to help everyone feel loved and respected?” Then have a weekly discussion to keep things on track and make kids part of problem-solving.
• Pour positive words of affirmation into your children on a daily basis. For example, “I love you. I’m proud of you. It’s going to be a great day. It's OK to make mistakes.” Parents can leave notes inside their child's lunch boxes. Or I've had parents ask me to write a sticky note on their child's desk for them. These messages allow a kid to feel powerful and confident throughout the day.

Link to full article: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/12/g-s1-15473/snuggles-pep-talks-and-love-notes-10-ways-to-calm-your-kids-back-to-school-jitters

Get ready to rep Attica Blue Devils in style! Our PTG apparel fundraiser is now live with a mix of Attica Blue Devils and Attica Elementary Gear. Show off your school spirit with fun and comfy gear. Perfect for back to school, sports, or just lounging around! Order now and support our amazing school community. The store will be open through September 8th!

Nurse’s Office reminders for health-related paperwork for the 2025-26 school year:

• New York State requires an updated Health Exam for PreK/Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades. Your doctor can fax a physical (dated 09/01/24 to present) to 585-591-4497.

• Vaccinations for PreK, Kindergarten, and students new to the district: NYS Public Health Law §2164 applies to children attending any public, private or parochial child-caring center, day care agency, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, or secondary school. Public Health Law §2164 prohibits a school from permitting any child to be admitted to such school, or to attend such school in excess of 14 days without sufficient evidence that the child has received all age-appropriate required vaccinations.

• Students who have a food allergy/intolerance will need a medical note from the child’s physician stating the allergy and what foods the child can/cannot eat. For example, “milk allergy/lactose intolerance, may have juice in place of milk, okay to have pizza and ice cream”.

• Students who need medication on a regular basis during the 25-26 school year (i.e. inhalers, nebulizers, ADHD meds) will need a doctor order from their physician.

• PreK thru 4th graders: Over The Counter Forms allow the Nurse’s Office to administer Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, cough drops, Tums, and Chloraseptic Spray on an “as needed” basis. Your child’s physician must sign the form to validate it.

*Please note* Medication Orders, Food Allergy Notes, and Phys. Ed. Notes don’t carry over from one school year to the next!

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s health for the 25-26 school year, please call Nurse Dispenza at 585-591-0400 extension 2238 or email at MDispenza@AtticaCSD.org

We can't wait to get students back into our cafeteria! It's been quiet without you! Just a quick reminder that breakfast and lunch will be free to ALL students for the 2025-2026 school year, with the support of federal funding out district has received. Students with money on their lunch accounts will need a note on file to be able to spend their money on ala carte items. You are welcome to use the form below.

Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Elementary Cook:

Mrs. Kayla George

Elementary Cook

585-591-0400 ext. 2239

“Feeding Kids is a Work of Heart!”