The Bulldog Broadcast

Dear McDonald Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! Whether you are returning to McDonald or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to welcome you to our school community. This marks the beginning of my fourth year as principal, and I continue to be deeply honored and energized by the opportunity to lead such a vibrant and caring school.

We hope your summer has been filled with rest, joy, and meaningful time with loved ones. As we look ahead to the start of school, we are eager to reconnect, build new relationships, and support our students as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

If your child will be attending before/after school care, please remember to complete the Childcare Arrangements Request Form (linked below) and email it to govasu@centennialsd.org before the first day of school.

We are also currently seeking cafeteria/recess monitors for the 2025–2026 school year. If you're interested in being a part of our school day and supporting students in a meaningful way, please see the application details below.

At McDonald, our school values guide everything we do. This year, we will continue to uplift and model our Four Be’s Plus One:

• Be Kind: Treat others with compassion and respect.

• Be Safe: Look out for your own safety and that of others.

• Be Ready: Come prepared and eager to learn.

• Be Your Best: Put forth your full effort in all you do.

• Be Proud to Be a McDonald Bulldog: Celebrate our community and all that makes it great.

📅 Mark Your Calendars!

August 20
Back to School Bash, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
A fun and festive way to kick off the school year!
👉 RSVP here

August 25
New Student Tours, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
🔹 Kindergarten Orientation

• Last names A–L: 4:00 PM

• Last names M–Z: 5:00 PM

August 27
First Day of School
(Kindergarten families, please refer to the kindergarten section of this newsletter for detailed information about your child’s start schedule.)

September 10
Back to School Night

• Last names A–L: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• Last names M–Z: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Once again this year, our bi-monthly newsletter will serve as our primary means of communication. New updates will appear at the top, while key resources—such as Skyward links, attendance information, and FAQs—will remain accessible at the bottom.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children. We are excited to partner with you for a year filled with growth, discovery, and Bulldog pride!

Warm regards,
Dr. Diana Garaitonandia
Principal, McDonald Elementary School

AUGUST:

August 18th : Homeroom Assignments available in Skyward after 4:00 pm

August 20th: McDonald Back to School Bash from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Join us for a fun-filled evening to kick off the school year!

August 25th: New Student Tours from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Kindergarten Orientation (Last names A-L @ 4:00 PM and M-Z @ 5:00 PM)

August 27th: First Day of School! For all Students Grades 1-5 (8:45 am- 3:35pm)

Kindergarten abbreviated schedule for last names A-L only (9:45am-1:30 pm)

August 28th: Second day of school for all Students Grades 1-5 (8:45 am- 3:35pm). Kindergarten abbreviated schedule for last names M-Z only (9:45am-1:30 pm)

August 29th: No School

SEPTEMBER:

September 1- No School (Labor Day)

September 2: All Kindergarten students and all students grades 1-5 attend full day 8:45am-3:35pm.

September 10: Back to School Night (Details to come)

September 17: Chick- Fil-A Night and Home and School Meeting in the Library 7:00 PM

September 23: No School (Rosh Hashanah)

September 30: Picture Day

School Links:

Student Registration

Employment at CSD

CSD Weekly Update Archive

Food & Nutrition (Menus)

District eFolder (Community Flyers)
Student and Staff Wellness

In addition to emails , newletters, and calls you may receive from individual faculty and staff members, McDonald will communicate in a few additional forums:

• Highlights events, important information, and includes student contributions bi-monthly

• Meets monthly at McDonald Elementary School

Social Media

Facebook - McDonald Elementary School- Centennial School District

Arrival:

Arrival begins at 8:45 am.

The school day begins at 9:05 am and dismissal begins at 3:35 pm.

Lunch:

Students will be seated in the cafeteria by homeroom.

Students will have options for lunch. Menus are provided on our awesome website.

Students will need to provide their lunch/ID number when they go through the lunch line.

(K-2 students will use a QR code provided by the teacher, which will be scanned).

Dismissal:

Our students end the day one of four ways: as Car Riders, Bus Riders, Walkers, or in the Afterschool Program, A Child's Place. More information will be forthcoming about each group.

The details regarding your child's daily schedule and specials will be shared by the homeroom teacher.

Attendance Notes can be Submitted Electronically via email at mcattendance@centennialsd.org. Please know you will still receive automated phone calls (to the primary phone listed in Skyward) if you have not submitted an absence note via email on the days your child is absent from school.

**Absence notes must be submitted within 3 days of the student's absence, otherwise, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

E-Mailing Attendance Notes

• McDonald families may email attendance notifications/notes to the following address: mcattendance@centennialsd.org
• E-mail notifications are encouraged on the morning of the absence day. However, e-mailed absence notes may be sent on the day following the absence.
• When sending an absence notification please include the following information:

1. Child's Name
2. Child's Grade
3. Child's Homeroom Teacher
4. Date(s) of Absence
5. Reason for Absence
6. Contact Phone # for Parent/Guardian
7. Other Pertinent Information

• While you may still continue to call the school on the day of absence, a follow-up e-mail or a written note is still required for the absence to be excused.

The Transportation Department would like to thank you in advance for your patience during the start of the new school year. All pickup times will become more consistent after the first two weeks of the school year.

Centennial 2025-2026 Bus Schedule Information
Please click on the below link. Type in your address to access your child's busing information. Addresses with east, west, north, or south use the abbreviation E, W, N, or S with no punctuation. If that does not work, omit using it in your address.

CLICK HERE to access Infofinder i.

As a reminder, please have your child/children be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup. If you have any questions, please contact us at 215-441-6000.

Childcare and Shared Joint Custody Forms
Childcare and shared joint custody forms need to be completed yearly and approved by the school administration prior to the start of school. Please click HERE to access the form. All forms need to be submitted by August 16, 2024.

Download the Free Stopfinder App Today!

The app can be downloaded to any iOS or Android enabled device and is available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.

APPLE APP STORE GOOGLE PLAY

Click here for Stopfinder App Instructions

Forget what you’ve heard about so-called “parent apps.” Stopfinder is redefining the term with its easy-to-use, all-in-one parent engagement app designed by parents for parents. Know in real-time where your child’s bus is, and the ETA, and have the most accurate information about your child’s bus schedule in the palm of your hand.

The pricing for meals for the 2025-2026 school year will be as follows:

Elementary School Breakfast is FREE for all students; Lunch cost is $3.05

Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Priced Meals will not be charged for Breakfast or Lunch.

Please be sure to check your child(ren)’s Food Service Account at schoolcafe.com for the current balance. Payments can be made online at schoolcafe.com or by paying at the register with cash or check. The District is encouraging families to fill out the Free and Reduced Applications as there are many other benefits that come along with it. You can apply online at schoolcafe.com or contact us to receive a paper application.

Please check out the website for more information.

Also, if you are looking for a job that works with your child(ren)’s schedule, please consider a position in the Food and Nutrition Department. Apply here.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact the Manager of Food and Nutrition, Lori Deni, at denilo@centennialsd.org

There are FREE Family Literacy classes for English as a Second Language (ESL) families in the Centennial School District. Registration for these classes will be open in September 2024. The Free Family Literacy classes are held 3 days a week in the Centennial Administration Building located at 48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA 18974. Parents with at least one child from birth to 8 years old, qualify for these classes.

Please call (215)441-6000 Ext. 11085 to leave a message in English, Spanish, Russian, or Ukrainian with your name and phone number.

Click below to download flyers:

English/Spanish
English/Ukrainian

English/Russian

Principal: Dr. Diana Garaitonandia, x16001 - garadi@centennialsd.org

Assistant Principal: Mr. VanBuren, x16002 - vanbmi@centennialsd.org

Email: info@centennialsd.org
Website: https://mces.centennialsd.org/
Location: 666 Reeves Lane, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6157
Facebook: www.facebook.com/McDonaldElementaryCSD