South Elementary School News
November 15th, 2023
Class list Information
We know how eagerly our students are waiting to find out who their new teacher will be! Back-to-school letters for our preschool students will be mailed out during the first week of August. For our kindergarten and first-grade families, please keep an eye on your mailbox during the second week of August. These letters will contain your child's official teacher assignment, along with other essential details to help you prepare for the new year. Please note that by the time these letters are sent, our class rosters are completely finalized, so we are unable to accommodate any changes or specific placement requests. For those wondering about transportation, all busing schedules and route details will be posted directly on our district webpage as soon as they are ready.
"Meet the Teacher"
Meet the teacher night will be held on Tuesday, August 18th from 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. for Preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade students. Preschool families can also meet their teacher on Wednesday, August 19th from 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. This is an opportunity for you and your child to meet their teacher and drop off your school supplies. Teachers will have information about the school year to hand out as well. Meeting the staff can help with those first day “jitters”. Knowing what to expect can make the transition back to school a little easier for everyone. Please plan to attend this evening and meet the South School Staff.
Stopfinder
Parents and guardians who are not yet registered on the StopFinder app will receive an email invitation on August 11th. These invites will be sent out as soon as the upcoming school year's bus routes are finalized, allowing you to track arrival times in real time.
Free Meals for All Students in 2026-27
This school year, all students are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch at school. Per federal requirements, this applies to full meals only. There is a charge if students purchase "extra" or "independent" items. Examples of this might include extra milk, a bottle of water or extra entrees. Please contact Angie Welch, Food Service Director, at 330-364-7103 with any questions.
Morning Arrival
We're excited to partner with you for a successful school year! To ensure the safety and smooth operation of our drop-off and pick-up routines, we've implemented some important changes. Please take a moment to review these procedures, as they are crucial for everyone's well-being.
Morning Drop-Off:
For the safety of all students, the drop-off lane will located at the Prospect Street side of the building. If you plan to drive your child to school, please use this designated lane.
Important Reminders for Drop-Off:
Drop-Off Only: This is a DROP OFF ONLY LANE. Please do not park your car in this lane.
Traffic Pattern: You'll receive a detailed "Traffic Pattern" map at "Meet the Teacher" night or you can access it on the webpage. Following this map will help keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Staff Assistance: Staff members will be on duty to direct students.
Remain in Your Car: For safety and efficiency, we kindly ask that parents remain in their vehicle if you are using the drop-off lane.
Building Entry Time: Students cannot enter the building until 8:40 A.M. They will report directly to their classrooms.
No Early Drop-Offs: Please do not drop your child off early as there will be no supervision until 8:40 A.M. We want to avoid students waiting unattended in front of the school.
Preschool Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Morning Session: Morning preschool begins at 9:00 A.M.
Afternoon Session: The afternoon preschool session begins at 12:30 P.M.
Location: Parents of preschool students will use the preschool side of the building (Prospect Street) for drop-off and pick-up.
Staff Assistance: A staff member will come out to greet and assist preschool students.
We believe a strong parent-support partnership is vital for a child's success in school. To foster independence and minimize the number of non-school staff in the building, parents and other family members will not be permitted to escort students to their classrooms, including on the first day of school. At our "Meet the Teacher" night, students will learn where to enter the building and how to find their classroom. This is also a fantastic opportunity to take those cherished "first day of school" photos! Rest assured, there will be plenty of staff members throughout the building to help students get to their classrooms safely and efficiently.
For students who ride the bus, buses will drop off and pick up students in front of the building on Shafer Avenue.
Dismissal Procedure
To ensure a safe and organized dismissal for all students, we're sharing some key procedures. Your cooperation is vital in making this busy time of day as smooth as possible.
Changes to Transportation:
If your child will be going home a different way than usual, please send a note to school with them in the morning. Should you need to change your child's dismissal plan during the school day, please call the office by 2:30 PM. The end of the day is very busy, and this helps us ensure no child is missed. It's truly best if students know how they are getting home in the morning, as uncertainty can cause unnecessary stress for children and confusion for everyone. Thank you for your understanding and help with this!
Parent Pick-Up Lane:
For parents providing transportation, the pick-up lane will be on the Prospect side of the building. Please remember this is a drop-off and pick-up only lane; do not park your car here.
In unique circumstances, if you need to wait outside for your child, please park your car elsewhere and wait on the sidewalk. Gathering at the doors makes it difficult for staff to ensure each child leaves with the appropriate adult. Staff will be on duty to help direct students to their cars, and all students will be dismissed and supervised by staff members.
Patience and Safety First:
Dismissal is a very busy time, and we appreciate your patience as you wait for your child. Please do not call your child to you until their teacher has given them permission to go. Our staff members need to visually confirm the person taking each child to ensure their safety. Our team is working diligently to make sure all students get home safely, and following these procedures will greatly assist us in keeping every child secure.
Attendance
Parents or Guardians are required to call the school office to report his/her child absent. If no call is made, the school will attempt to call you. Parents are responsible for informing the school of his/her child's absence and the reason for the absence. Please call the school office between 8:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. Upon returning to school, a written note is required explaining the reason for the absence. Please refer to our Elementary Handbook for our entire attendance policies and procedures as they have changed.
Delays and Early Dismissals
Dover City Schools has both two-hour delay and early dismissal schedules to ensure the student safety during inclement weather or other emergencies. While we hope for a school year without disruptions, it's critical to be prepared for the possibility of these schedule changes as early as the start of the school year! We know these are not always ideal for families and work to minimize them. However, delays and early dismissals allow us to still connect and provide students access to services and meals on days that we might otherwise be closed.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with both schedules, which can be found in our handbooks. Please take time now to make a plan with your family for how you will handle a two-hour delay OR an early dismissal. Having a plan in place ahead of time will help ensure the safest situation for all and reduce stress for everyone.
Safety For All Children
In order to protect your child, we have a procedure that asks you to come into the school office to pick up your child while school is in session. Students must be signed out before being able to leave. Please be sure to state the reason for early pick up when signing them out. Students arriving late to school must be signed in at the office as well. Please do not simply drop your child off at the door. You will need to escort them to the office to sign them in.
All doors will remain locked throughout the day. All visitors must use the office door when visiting our school. A monitoring device has been installed on the office door. Please activate it by pushing the button. Office personnel will unlock the door once you have been identified. If you will need to go anywhere in the building other than the office, you will need to provide a photo I.D. This I.D.
will be scanned and a visitor badge will be issued. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone in the building safe.
Football Game Expectations
Students are expected to display proper behavior during home football games. Students are not permitted to play football anywhere in the stadium. The only football in the stadium should be the one on the field. Do not use other items such as water bottles and other items to "play football in the stadium. Many concerns have been raised regarding the safety of children as well as other spectators that are trying to watch the game on the field. Students MUST sit with their parents or guardians during the game. No rough play will be tolerated. Please be sure that your children are properly supervised at all times.
As a friendly reminder, please help guide your children to remain quiet and respectful during the Presentation of the Colors and the playing of our National Anthem. We want everyone to be safe and to enjoy the game. Go Dover!
All tickets for Crimson Tornado home athletic events can be purchased online or with cash at the gate. Reserved-seat season football passes, adult fall all-sports passes, and student (grades 1-12) year-long passes are now available for purchase online through Hometown Tickets via the Dover City Schools webpage: https://www.dovertornadoes.com/Athletics.aspx
Pets and Animals on School Property
As we work together to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone at South Elementary, we want to remind all families that pets and other animals are not permitted on school grounds. This policy includes all exterior areas, such as the sidewalks immediately surrounding the school building, particularly during busy drop-off and pick-up times. We love our furry friends, but this rule is strictly enforced for the safety of everyone, as well as out of respect for the severe allergies and health issues of many of our students. Please do not bring pets to drop off or pick up your children—even if they are on a leash—and refrain from walking them on school property at any point during the school day. Thank you so much for your cooperation and for helping us keep our students safe and healthy!
Crossing Guards
To ensure the safety of our entire South Elementary community, we ask that all students and families utilize the designated crosswalk at the 4-way stop when crossing the street during drop-off and dismissal. Our wonderful crossing guard is there to safely guide you across the road, and crossing with them is the best way to prevent accidents during these busy times of day. Furthermore, as adults, we want to model the correct and safe way to navigate traffic for our youngest students, who are constantly watching and learning from our examples. Please take those few extra steps to cross at the 4-way stop with our guards—thank you for your commitment to keeping all of our children safe!
Fees
Prompt payment of workbook and supply fees is greatly appreciated. The fee for K-1 st grades is $25.00. As always, thank you for your cooperation. Pre-school tuition must also be paid by the first of each month. Our preschool tuition is currently $150.00 per month. Failure to pay your preschool tuition will forfeit your spot in our program.
Just a Reminder
Students can enter the building at 8:40 A.M. The first bell rings at 8:40 A.M. Students must be in their seats ready to work at 8:55 A.M. when the bell rings in order to be considered on time for school. Good habits begin early so it is important that children are on time and ready to begin their day. Dismissal
begins at 3:25 P.M.
Stay Informed
Communication between home and school is very important. In order to keep you up-to-date with what is happening, we have several methods of communication.
1. Email Newsletters: Be sure to check your email for monthly newsletters and occasional updates.
Should your email address change, please let us know.
2. Phone Notification System: In the event of any emergency or to share important information, Dover Schools has a phone notification system. Please be sure to notify us if you change your phone number.
3. Staff Email: Each staff member has an email where they can be reached.
4. Voicemail: Each staff member has voice mail where you can leave a message if needed. Simply call the office and ask for the staff member you need. Mrs. Polce can transfer you to the proper voice mail box to leave your message.
5. Facebook: Check us out on Facebook to see what all is happening at Dover City Schools.
Upcoming Events
August 18th: PreK-1st Meet the Teacher 4:00-6:00
August 19th: K/1 First Day: (Kindergarten students
should only attend on their phase-in
day.)
August 19th: Preschool Meet the Teacher: 10-11
August 25th: Preschool: First Day of Phase-in
September 9th: Fall Picture Day
September 10th: PTG meeting 6:00 PM East School
September 28th: No School-Teacher In-service Day