8-5-25 PAW'S PRESS

Dear Cherokee Families,

I hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer! I am looking forward to continuing to work with such an amazing community again this year.

Cherokee has always been a positive environment for students to learn and grow. It is my strongest desire to use my 23+ years of teaching and administrative experience to fuel the love of learning and promote success for all Cherokee students. I am eager to continue getting to know the many spectacular students and families at Cherokee.

I hope to see all of our students and families at our Sneak Peak and Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 26th. See below for more information. This event will give students and families a chance to meet their child's teacher(s), tour the school and hear about all of the wonderful things they can look forward to learning. A special thank you to our PTO for setting up selfie stations and providing a popsicle treat. I will be near the main entrance of the school during this event. I hope to have the chance to say hello to you then!

As in the past, the Paw's Press newsletters will include key information and typically will be sent at the end of each week. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help make the school year a success for you and your child! See you soon!

Sincerely,

Heather Batko

Cherokee Principal

hbatko@cvs.k12.mi.us

Click here for suggested supply lists.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Save the date for our Sneak Peek & Curriculum Night during the evening of August 26th.
Our theme for this school year is WE ARE A SEA OF LEADERS!
Class placements will be sent out via email prior to this event. Please be patient as last minute enrollment and staffing changes often require us to send the placements out quite close to this deadline. Welcome back letters with back to school information from staff will also be sent.
Sneak Peek is a chance for students and families to explore the school, meet staff and take pictures at the PTO selfie stations. Doors will open at 5:30 PM.
Each teacher will be hosting Curriculum Night presentations during this event as well. Students and their families will visit their teacher's classroom for the presentation. Each teacher will hold two sessions of their presentation in order to accommodate the needs of our families. It is only necessary to attend 1 session for each child/student. The teacher will share the same information in both sessions. Resources will be available after the presentations for families who are unable to attend or who have more than two children.
Curriculum Night Session 1 will be from 5:45 PM - 6:15 PM.
Curriculum Night Session 2 will be from 6:20 PM - 6:50 PM. Families with multiple children will attend this Curriculum Night Session if needed. Additionally, if a family is unable to attend the first session, they are welcome to attend the second session.
Students can join PTO and their friends upon exiting the building after the curriculum presentations for a popsicle treat. Popsicles will be served outside near the main entrance from approximately 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM.
NOTE: Our health aide will be available for medication drop off at Sneak Peek/Curriculum Night. See below for more information.

HEALTH AIDE AVAILABLE FOR DROP OFF AT SNEAK PEEK

Our District Medication Dispensation Policy requires all medications to have a Medication Administration Authorization Form filled out with a physician’s order and parent’s signature each school year for both prescription and over the counter medications. The medication must be in a new/original container and/or prescription bottle with the child’s name on it.

The Medication Administration Authorization Form and other health related forms can be found on our district website (click here).

Our Health Aide, Mrs. Roberts, will be available for medication drop off at Sneak Peek and once school starts in September. Please do not drop off medications prior to the first day of school (other than Sneak Peek) as they will not be accepted. Parents must hand deliver medications with completed forms to the Health Aide in the main office to be checked for full accuracy. No medications will be administered at school without accurately completed forms. Also please check the expiration date on medications as we cannot accept expired medications.

Even though lunch is free for all students, we still need parents to complete the digital online ordering form so that we have an accurate count and enough food for all students. This form will be available once we are given the September lunch menu from the district. Stay tuned.
Ordering deadlines: Please note that we have received communication from food services that families need to order lunch by 9:30 AM the school day prior. For example, when ordering lunch for pizza on Monday, please order by 9:30 AM on Friday. This helps with the accuracy of our lunch count. We of course always order extra but this helps with accuracy.
There is a charge of $1.50 for ordering doubles.
Click here for the Food Services website.
Also, please view the document below for allergy information for parents and well as other important information from Food Services.

Students DO NOT need to arrive early for breakfast at the elementary level. Breakfast will be served in classrooms once the school day has started.
Breakfast is free for all students. Our goal is to improve student success by providing a nutritious meal at the start of the day.
Families DO NOT need to order breakfast ahead of time.

We have many students at Cherokee with severe peanut/tree nut allergies. Therefore peanut/tree nut products and products contaminated in a facility that processes peanuts/tree nuts may not be consumed in classrooms.
A designated area/table in the cafeteria will be available for students with peanut/tree nut allergies. Peanut/tree nut products may not be consumed in this designated area/table. The area/table will be labeled as a peanut/tree nut alert zone.
Your child's teacher will review guidelines and answer any specific questions.
Click here for the Snack Safely Guide. This guide has many great many recommendations for foods that do not have peanuts, tree nuts and are not processed in facility with these items. This guide updates regularly so it is best to check the link below rather than printing.

IMPORTANT - FROM TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:

PHONE: (586) 723-2160
FAX: (586) 723-2161
EMAIL: transportation1@cvs.k12.mi.us

WEBSITE: https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/departments/transportation/requestforms/

STAY CONNECTED WITH STOPFINDER

Families are urged to check bus stop information prior to the start of school. Updates are sometimes made even the day before school starts. We understand the importance of keeping you informed about route changes and delays. That's why we utilize Stopfinder, a communication app that brings convenience and real-time updates right to your fingertips. With the Stopfinder App, you can stay connected and stay ahead.

Here's what you can expect with Stopfinder:

Know Your Child's Bus Schedule:
Stopfinder allows you to access and stay informed about the schedule of your child's bus. Say goodbye to uncertainty and stay on top of pick-up and drop-off times effortlessly.

Receive Push Notifications:
Never miss an important update again! Stopfinder delivers push notifications directly to your device, keeping you informed about any changes to your child's bus schedule. You'll stay in the loop and be prepared for any adjustments that may occur.

Real-Time Bus Location:
With Stopfinder's GeoAlerts feature, you can create your own personalized alert zones. Receive real-time information about the location of your child's bus, ensuring you're always aware of its progress. It's an added layer of reassurance and peace of mind.

To Get Connected:
The transportation department will send an invitation to the email addresses on file for the student's contacts directly from Stopfinder. This invitation will provide you with instructions on how to get started and connect with the app. If you haven't received an invitation or need any assistance, please reach out to us by sending an email to transportation1@cvs.k12.mi.us. We're here to help and ensure you have a seamless experience with Stopfinder. To watch a quick video detailing the StopFinder features and a step-by-step guide visit: https ://www.mytransfinder.com/mytf/videos/StopfinderApp.mp4

*Please note, if a driver is briefly on a substitute bus, you will NOT be able to track the bus that day. Feel free to call the transportation department with any question (586) 723-2160.

Download the free app

APP STORE (IPHONE)

GOOGLE PLAY(ANDROID)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE

Busses may run slightly late (or early) picking up students the first few days of school as our drivers and students learn their new routes. It is still recommended that students arrive at their bus stop 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time.
More information from the transportation department will be coming soon.

BUS TAG WITH ROUTE NUMBER/SIGNS - Students in grades K-2 will be given a tag with their bus route number/color on it. Please leave this tag on your child's backpack until they are confident about their bus number. If the tag falls off before they are confident about their bus number, please write their number on their backpack or provide another tag. Staff will be guiding students to their busses and holding signs to match the bus tag route number. A sample backpack with tag and corresponding bus sign are below.

LABELING ITEMS WITH STUDENT'S FULL NAME - Many students have difficulty repeating their first and last name to unknown adults. It is often a good idea to write your child's FULL name on their backpack so adults can get them to the appropriate class/bus if they can't repeat their first and last name. It is also a good idea to label other items so they don't get lost (jackets, lunchboxes, etc.).

Walkers/Riders:

Walkers/Riders should line up and be dismissed from their grade level/ classroom entrance doors. Teachers will pick-up their students from their entrance at 8:48 AM when the morning music begins.
An updated map of grade level/classroom entrances is coming soon.

Parking Lot:

Please review the parking lot procedures map below.
Refrain from parking on Rivergate near the school including the bus loop or in the bus loop.
Staff will be present in the parking lot, bus loop and building entrances to help ensure a safe and smooth arrival and dismissal process.
We ask for your patience and support as our new families learn the process and our returning families get back-in-the-swing-of-things :)

Updated Arrival/Dismissal Map for 2025-2026 coming soon. It is similar to last year.

Click here for the district calendar.

SACC registration for the 25/26 school year will open on August 18th at 7:00 am.

For families looking to register for SACC:

SACC registration is first come first served.
Due to limited staff and capacity limits some registrations may not be approved at this time until more staff are available.
As staffing levels increase, so will our ability to enroll more students. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Once your registration application is submitted you must receive a registration approval email before your child can attend.
Registrations will remain pending in the system and will be approved as openings become available.

We appreciate your understanding at this time and anticipate more staff to be available soon. Until then we must adhere to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers and stay within the required student to staff ratios. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

NOTE: SACC will continue to remain peanut/tree nut fee.

Ashley Geddes

Cherokee SACC Director

(586) 723-4860