Julian Curtiss Welcome Back News!
Back to School Edition- August 15th, 2025
Dear Parents and Families ,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year at JC, my incredible Eagles! I am excited to kick off my second year as your principal - it feels like we're just getting started on this incredible journey together! This year is bursting with new opportunities, fresh possibilities, and so many chances for our scholars to discover just how high they can fly. I can't wait to see all the ways you'll spread your wings, chase your dreams, and absolutely soar like eagles this year - let's make some unforgettable memories together! 🦅
This Newsletter is designed to help you navigate all of the information you need for the start to an excellent new school year!
Please join me in welcoming new staff members:
Karina Fernandez - Administrative Assistant (Main Office)
Doreen Zahn - ESL French Teacher
Theresa Hidalgo - ESL Spanish Teacher
Renay Williams - School Psychologist
Rebecca Cadotte - Speech-Language Pathologist
Barbara Feeney - PA
Adriana Heredia Arias - PA
Iolanda Covello - PA
John Walsh - PA
Fernanda Alves - PA
Rebecca Dempsey - PA PreK
Please be sure to read all of the information in this newsletter. Included is important information about New Student Orientation, the Back to School Picnic, the First Day of School as well as all of the forms and documents you need for your child.
Class lists are being sent out electronically August 15th. Please call the main office if you do not receive the email by 2:00 PM today.
Please be on the look out for an email from School Dismissal Manager with instructions for activating and setting up your account for this year. This is the program that is used at Julian Curtiss to determine your child’s dismissal plans each day.
The CT Free Lunch For All Program is now over. Please submit an application at https://www.greenwichschools.org/departments/food-services/free-and-reduced-priced-meals if you believe your family will qualify. The 25-26 school year applications will be available starting August 18th. The cost for elementary school lunch is $4.35. Pleases access this video: "How to Fill Out the Application for Free and Reduced Priced Meals or Free Milk" for assistance with completing the form. Use the link in the Back to School Documents section to locate the School Lunch Account Form on the Back to School Page of our website. You can use a form and submit a check to the cafeteria or set up and manage your child's lunch account on MySchoolBucks at http://www.myschoolbucks.com/.
Please don't hesitate to reach out at any time with any questions or concerns.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you very soon!
Soaring like Eagles,
Eduardo Calderón
Principal
Welcome New Students & Families 🤗
Attention PreK Families
All families with Pre-Schoolers are invited to join our PreK orientation on
Wednesday, August 27th at 8:45AM.
Attention Kindergarten and NEW Families
All families with Kindergarteners and new students to JC this year,
are invited to our New Student Orientation on
Thursday, August 28th at 10:30AM.
Our JC staff will be ready to meet you at the front door to help guide you to
your child's classroom for a brief visit.
Back to School Picnic 🍉
Please join us on Thursday, August 28th for our Annual Back to School Picnic at 11:00am on the field, directly following our Kindergarten Orientation. We can't wait to see all of our families there! Feel free to pack a picnic lunch or buy lunch from one of the food trucks.
The First Day of School is Friday, August 29th and is a full day for grades 1-5.
All students in grades 1-5 will be directed to the blacktop by the playground where staff and classroom teachers will be available to greet and direct our students starting at 8:15am. Parents are welcome to join us on the blacktop! We will walk into school together as a community of learners!
For the first day of school ONLY, all Kindergarten and Pre-K students
will have a Special Welcome at 9:30am on the blacktop.
Arrival Times for the rest of the year are:
8:30am for K-5
8:45am for PreK
🥣 🥯 🥐 🍳
Breakfast is offered between the hours of 7:45am and 8:15am for children in K-5. Children being dropped off for breakfast should be dropped off at 7:45am in order to leave enough time to eat their breakfast prior to going to their classroom. Remember that instruction begins at 8:30am. Families are required to sign up in advance for this program. Please complete this 25-26 JC Breakfast Opt-in Form to sign your child up for breakfast.
The breakfast cost is $3.00 unless families qualify for free/reduced lunch.
School Dismissal Manager is used at Julian Curtiss School to ensure the safe dismissal of your child each day. For your child’s safety, the classroom teacher and office staff will abide by the dismissal instructions that you have listed in SDM so this is a mandatory procedure. (SDM will not be used for absences or early dismissal notifications).Office staff is available to assist you with any questions that you may have when setting up your account after receipt of the Introduction email you will receive on Monday, August 26th.
Safety is a priority!
Please follow the procedures outlined in this document for the safety and security of all of our students. We greatly appreciate your assistance in following them throughout the year. Be sure to read the information carefully and completely.
School Hours-Grades K-5:
Arrival 8:30am
Dismissal: 3:00pm
School hours-Pre-K ONLY:
Arrival 8:45am
Dismissal 1:45pm
Morning arrival:
Staff will meet and supervise all arrivals outside of the building for grades K- 5 at 8:10am Preschool will be met at 8:40am
Classrooms are open and teachers are ready to greet students at 8:30am.
8:30am arrivals
Students in grades K-5 arriving to classrooms after 8:30am are tardy.
Students driven to school are to be dropped off along the driveway in front of the school or the driveway on the gym side of the building and walk to the entrance.
Drivers please follow this procedure:
Drive up to the white sign along the gymnasium side of the school or the stop sign in front of the school. Do not stop in front of the door. Pulling up to the top of the driveway will help keep the traffic moving.
Remain in the vehicle while students exit the car independently on the sidewalk side only.
Do not pass the car in front of you at any time. This is an extreme hazard and is strictly prohibited. Please wait in line, proceed around the loop, and exit onto East Elm Street or Milbank driveways.
Please refrain from using cell phones during drop-off.
Once a student has been dropped off, he/she MUST stay on grounds.
Please keep in mind that one of our goals is to maximize instructional time for students, so arriving on time will assist your child with organization and academics throughout the school year. Our goal is to have all students in their classrooms and ready to learn by 8:30am.
Dismissal:
Dismissal for grades K-5 begins at 3:00pm. Bus students, car riders, and walkers will be dismissed separately.
The front circle is restricted to buses from 3:00pm - 3:15pm.
Cars are NOT allowed in the front circle during dismissal/pick-up. Drivers should park outside the school and park or enter the Milbank driveway only.
Car riders in grades 1-5 will be picked up on the gymnasium side of the building. There is no parking or standing. Vehicles must keep moving around the loop until their child is available for pick-up.
Walkers being picked up by parents should be met on the black top by the playground.
Older siblings will be able to meet younger siblings at their classroom with written permission from the parent.
IF there is a planned change in pick-up for your child, you must enter it in the School Dismissal Manager by 2:00pm. Students will NOT be dismissed to an alternate party without written authorization from a parent/guardian.
Parking:
For parents and guests of the school, parking is available in the upper level of the back parking lot, along the east side of the driveway. Please note that cars parked in the 5 spaces immediately in front of the school in the afternoon will not be able to move until buses have departed. There is NO PARKING along the entire north (field side), along the entire south part of the driveway from Milbank to the Teacher’s lot and anywhere there is a NO PARKING sign.
We hope this outline of policies and procedures will assist you throughout your family’s time at Julian Curtiss Elementary School. Please remember to enter your child’s plan in the School Dismissal Manager.
