Oconee County Primary School

The 2018-19 school year is days away, and we are excited about beginning another year at Oconee County Primary School. You, as parents, are an integral part of our success! Please take the time to read the important information in this newsletter. It includes details about the beginning of the year and how you can partner with us to continue our journey. It's going to be a great year!!

Upon arrival, go to the gym. There you will find class lists posted by grade level. Once you locate your child's name, you may go to the classroom to meet the teacher. OCPS staff members will be available to help you find your way around the building. Information about bus transportation, lunch accounts, the YWCO After-School Program, and more will be available in the cafeteria. Feel free to bring in school supplies during Meet the Teacher.

The doors will open at 7:10 am. You are welcome to walk your child to class on the first day. It’s an exciting day, and we encourage you to join your child for this milestone.

Beginning August 2, we encourage parents to drop their child off in the car rider line or have them ride the bus. Parents wishing to walk their child to the classroom must sign in before proceeding to the classroom.

On Monday, August 6, we kindly ask that you drop your child off at the front entrance of the school rather than walking to the classroom. This begins to teach morning routines and promotes independence. Our Counselor, Randi Boykin, will be available to assist any students having difficulty entering the school building or separating from a parent.

OCPS is seeking parent volunteers to greet our Little Chiefs in the car rider line the first 8 days of school. This will allow teachers and parapros to be in classrooms and stationed throughout the building to help students find their classrooms and ensure a smooth start to the day.

Five volunteers are needed each day from 7:15-7:45 a.m. to open car doors and greet students. Volunteers will need to complete the online volunteer training and volunteer paperwork prior to serving as a volunteer. Volunteer forms can be turned in to the office before the first day of school. Sign Up HERE!

Parent Volunteer Training Slideshow

Volunteer Form

Kindergarten is an exciting time for students and parents. If you're the parent of a Kindergartener, join us on the first day of school at 7:45 a.m. for a cup of coffee and a donut. We will meet in the Cafeteria. This is a great way to meet other parents, school administrators, and hear from PTO.

During Meet the Teacher, you will pick up your PowerSchool account login. PowerSchool is our student management database. In order to get your account login, you will need to show photo identification. Once you have this login, you will be able to access your child's enrollment information, see bus route numbers, get estimated bus pick-up and drop-off times, and make any updates needed. You can also access your child's lunch number which will be needed to make online transportation changes.

We are excited to announce our new online transportation form! No need for a phone call or a handwritten note! Simply complete the online form at https://www.oconeeschools.org/ocps, and submit it before 2:00 p.m. The system will generate emails to the office staff, your child’s homeroom teacher, and you (so you can make sure you didn’t make an error). As soon as the office staff sees the change, we will send you a confirmation email. The system also generates a bus note with all of the information the bus driver or daycare driver needs. All you need is a computer or smartphone and your child’s lunch number, which is located in PowerSchool. Please note, no online transportation changes will be confirmed if the student’s lunch number is missing or incorrect.

1. Go to the OCPS website (https://www.oconeeschools.org/ocps)

2. Click on “Parents” at the top of the page

3. Select “Transportation Change” to open the form
   
   

We would love for you try out our online system for transportation changes. After using it a couple of times, if you find that you prefer to send a handwritten note, we will gladly accept that form of communication. If you are making a permanent change, please call the OCPS office staff at 706-769-7941 to update your child’s PowerSchool account.

Student Arrival: Doors open each day at 7:10 a.m. Students arriving before 7:30 a.m. will report to the the gym where a staff member will be supervising students. Breakfast service begins at 7:15 a.m.

Safety for Entry: Car riders may only be dropped off in the front drive. If an adult needs to park and walk in for any reason, the vehicle should be parked, and the student escorted all the way into the building. All visitors MUST sign in and show a photo ID for admittance past the front office.

Car Riders - Car riders may enter either off HWY 53 or the Oconee Connector. Adults will be stationed at the front entrance of the school to open car doors from 7:15-7:45 a.m. Car rider signs will be sent home the first week of school. Anyone picking up a child in the car rider line must have a school issued car rider sign. If no sign is present, the adult will be asked to park, visit the office, and show ID before a child will be released for the day.

Bus Schedule: Currently Bus Routes and Road Lists have been published by the Transportation department. Staff members from the Transportation department will be in the cafeteria during Meet the Teacher to answer any questions you may have about the bus and provide information on pick-up and drop-off times.

Medication: If your child needs to take medication while at school, please bring it to the office in the original container. You will need to complete a form giving your permission and directions for medication management. Please make sure we have a record of any health needs your child has. Our School Nurse, Jill Whitesell, will be happy to help you! If your child has food allergies, please be sure to alert the teacher, the cafeteria manager, and Nurse Jill.

Thursday, July 26 6:00 p.m.

Friday, August 10 8:00 a.m.

Monday, August 27 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 11 8:00 a.m.

Tuesday, October 2 7:45 a.m.

Thursday, January 3 6:00 p.m.

Friday, January 11 8:00 a.m.

To ensure the safety of our students, we require photo identification when signing in at the front office or when checking a student out.

August 1
First Day of School

August 10

No Sell Fundraiser Kick-off
Volunteer Training (8:00 a.m.)

August 14
PTO Meeting (8:30 a.m.)

August 16
Title I Parent Meeting (7:45 a.m. or 7:00 p.m.)

Curriculum Night (6:00 p.m.)

August 23
Picture Day

August 27
Volunteer Training (6:00 p.m.)
PTO Meeting (6:30 p.m.)