Tamarack Elementary

Hello Tamarack families,

I hope you are all have had a wonderful and restful weekend. This time of year can be busy and getting back into routine can be tough. Our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal are getting smoother every day as we also build our routines here at school.

Just a few things to make it even better. A reminder that school starts at 7:35. At exactly 7:35 the Pledge begins, followed by our STAR Salute, and then our 1 minute moment of silence. It is a law that all students must stop and be silent during the moment of silence. Students that arrive right before 7:35 are late getting to the classroom due to this and have to get caught up when the rest of the class is ready to move on. They also miss out on breakfast. We use each minute of the day and we are ready to start instruction as soon as the day begins. We all run late occassionally, but please try to have your student on time for school.

-Mrs. Morris

• August 24th- 3:00 SBDM meeting
• August 26th- 11:00 Advisory Council Meeting
• August 28th: STAR Show/Student of the Month Recognition
• August 28th: Kona Ice
• September 4th- No School
• September 7th- No School (Labor Day)
• September 16th- 6:00 Cub Scouts Sign up at Tamarack
• September 18th- No School
• September 23rd- Picture Day

Tamarack will be having our first Kona Ice Day on this Friday, August 28th. Attached is a pre-pay option if you would like to purchase online instead of sending cash. Tamarack has partnered with Kona Ice this year and recieves a percentage of the sales to use for student rewards.

Students chosen for August Student of the Month will recieve a free Kona Ice on Friday. Mrs. Morris will be calling guardians of these students on Monday, so that they will know not to purchase a Kona Ice. Students of the Month will not be announced until Friday, so please try to keep it a secret.

As part of House Bill 611, Kentucky’s School Attendance Law (KRS 159.150) is now in effect. This

new legislation requires the Director of Pupil Personnel to notify the County Attorney’s office if a student accumulates 15 or more unexcused absences during the academic year.

We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable. ANYTIME your child will NOT be at school, please call the office at (270)852-7550. DCPS policy allows families to have up to 8 sick call in days per year. If a child has not been called in sick or does not have doctor’s note upon return or faxed to the school within 3 days, the absence is counted as unexcused. After 3 unexcused absences, a child is considered habitually truant.

Procedures:

• Phone the school the morning of the day your child is absent.

• Failure to call and report your child’s absence will result in an unexcused absence

• If your child sees a physician, please ask for a doctor’s statement and return it to school with your child on his/her first day back.

• After eight (8) days absent, a doctor’s statement is required for absences. 3 unexcused absence will result in contact from Daviess County Public Schools.

• 4 unexcused absences will result in further communication from DCPS regarding “chronic absenteeism”. Family resource will also be making a contact.

• 5 unexcused absences will result in a letter mailed from central office with attendance policy reminders and notifications regarding next steps, and 6 or more unexcused absences will lead to truancy court proceedings.

More Information to Come.

Tamarack uses PikMyKid for End of the Day Transportation. I have included a link to the PikMyKid Parent guide. If your child's transportation is going to change for the day, please use the app to change his/her calendar. If you are having trouble with PikMyKid please contact our office at (270)852-7550.

PikMyKid

🚌The school day begins at 7:35 and ends at 2:20.

🚌The car rider line doors open at 6:50.

🚌We serve breakfast from 6:50-7:25 in the cafeteria. If you want your student to eat breakfast please have them here by 7:25.

🚌 In the morning walkers enter through the cafeteria door and that door opens at 7:00.

🚌Any changes to End of the Day transportation need to be made on the PikMyKid app.

Here are some important links that you might need:

• Family/School Handbook

• Attendance Policy

• 26-27 School Calendar

• Tamarack Website

• PBIS Handbook/STAR Reward System