Central Elementary Bits and Bites

Parents and families, we are so happy to welcome you back to Central Elementary for another great school year filled with learning, growth, and tons of fun! Our teachers and staff have been preparing for a successful school year! This newsletter is to update you on some handbook changes, highlight important events and dates coming up and to help you prepare for a successful start of the year! If you have any questions or needs, please don't hesitate to call the CES office at 438-3195 or email me at llittrell@usd462.org. We hope your summer was filled with opportunities, family time and lots of summer fun!

If you have not yet paid your enrollment and/or technology fees, please send money to the office. If you have questions about these fees, please call Nurse Stephanie at 438-3195 or email soneil@usd462.org

Be sure your children are up to date on their immunizations. For last year's students, Nurse Stephanie sent home letters this summer to help families prepare.

If your child takes medication at school, we will need a new medication form from the doctor. Here are the two needed forms if you wish to print them out and send them in:

Form 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z1YVfJc5n4vyPOGPWNJM7F9u7sO4f7I-/view?usp=sharing

Form 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MlmYqSxHsRzNjno4-wHaWmAdTrFOxCc8/view?usp=sharing

USD 462 provides bus transportation to students who live more than 2.5 miles from the school. To provide a safe commute for students living south of Highway 160 in Burden, transportation will be provided. Bussing will not be available for in town students who live north of the highway. Drivers will be contacting families soon to review transportation plans and pickup and drop off times soon!

PreK 3 Classes are Monday-Thursdays 7:50am-11:00am

PreK 4 Classes are Monday-Thursdays 12:00pm-3:45pm

Morning sessions will eat breakfast and lunch and afternoon sessions will eat lunch and a snack.

Transportation end of day drop off will be limited to one address. If in the case of a custody agreement, students needing transportation to a secondary address on pre-determined days will be accepted. Please see Form M in the student handbook.

Improper conduct on the bus will result in disciplinary action and could result in denial of bus service, depending on the severity of the situation. A student who receives 2 bus conduct sheets will, in most cases, be suspended from bus services 1-5 days. Parents are encouraged to visit with their child about proper conduct and safety both on and off the bus. Please remember animals, balloons, dangerous objects, glass items and/or live creatures are not permitted on the bus. (When in doubt, please contact your driver and ask!)

Students are responsible to be on time at bus loading. The student who misses the bus will be responsible for his/her own transportation. If possible, students on rural routes should attempt to notify the bus driver if they would not be riding and/or contact the bus manager at 438-2220.

In some cases, students may ride a bus other than their own. However, the office must be informed via phone call or note. School staff discretion will be used in debatable cases. No changes will be made without prior notice OR after 2:30 PM. Changes are made at your risk and are your responsibility.

If you have a change in plans which necessitates a change in transportation, the office must be informed before 2:30 PM. NO CHANGES will be made after that time.

The state attendance laws are explicit in the definition of valid excuses for absence from school. A student is expected to be punctual and regular in attendance to school. The parent is charged with the duty of keeping the student’s attendance regular. Students absent during all or a major part of the day, are not permitted to participate in extracurricular activities scheduled for that date. If your student is to be absent, parents should telephone the office by 9:00 a.m. each morning they are absent. Parents are required to contact the office to request excused absences within 72 hours of the absence. Failure to contact the attendance office within 72 hours will result in the absence remaining unexcused. If a phone is not available for parents to call, we will accept a note upon their return. Students are to bring notes to the office. Administration shall be responsible for determining if an absence is excused or unexcused. It is important for all students and parents to know that calling in an absence does not mean the absence will be excused. 9 Students missing more than two hours will be considered absent for that portion of the day. Example: Arrival at 9:50 AM will result in half day absence. Departure at 1:45 PM will result in half day absence. Any arrival after 7:50 am is tardy and the arrival time is documented. Any departure prior to 3:45pm is an early exit and the departure time is documented. If the reason for early exit falls within the excused absence categories, early departure will be recorded as excused.

Excused Absences

Absences will only be excused for the following reasons: 1. Illness 2. Doctor’s or dentist’s appointments (a note is required if the absence is more than ½ day) 3. A family death or serious illness 4. Court/judicial duty (a note is required if the absence is more than ½ day) 5. Participation in school sponsored activities

Off-campus field trips provide students with an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect curriculum content with real-world experiences. The purpose of field trips is to expand students’ experiences beyond the classroom. Parent/Guardian permission to attend field trips is granted through documentation at Enrollment. Information about Field Trips will also be posted in our weekly communication newsletter, CES Bits and Bites, and from teachers using Talking Points.

At teacher discretion, parents/community members may be asked to attend field trips. Not all field trips will accommodate parents/guests/volunteers. In the case parent/community volunteers are needed, volunteers must fill out a volunteer form and background check before doing so. Volunteers will be limited to an as needed basis. Volunteers are not to bring other students/children while in attendance on field trips. Transportation and any entry fees will be the volunteer’s responsibility. If you would like more information - please contact the school office.

Treats for special events: Please bring only pre-packaged treats and food to classroom parties and special events.

Class: If bringing treats to class., you must contact your child’s teacher at least one week in advance. Treats can be brought to the office and dropped off where your child’s teacher will make arrangements for pickup.

Personal/Private: Invitations to private parties MAY NOT be distributed at school, unless every student in a child’s class is invited. If select students are invited to private, off-campus parties the invitations must be sent via US mail.

If you have religious beliefs, which prohibit the celebration of birthdays or other types of cultural activities or celebrations, please notify the teacher.

If your child has special dietary restrictions, please send an appropriate snack for your child that can be consumed during times of treats/special activities involving food.

**If your students has a restricted diet, please bring a snack/treat that can be easily stored for your child to enjoy during special events/activities that involve food.**

It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up assignments from teachers following an excused or unexcused absence. In general, two days are given to complete daily work missed due to each day of excused absence. For extended illness, the student will be limited to five school days following their return to make up work missed. Exceptions to this rule can be made through special arrangements with the teacher or administration. Make-up work from unexcused absences will be allowed per teacher approval.

If you have any needs, concerns, or information you would like the school to know, please use the link below to communicate with us. The appropriate staff member will get back to you based off of your concerns. Thank you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYMEBvN-XAgK8phV0yIoF2n17CwYg-0PwwZalTjjnlhY0ZUA/viewform?usp=pp_url

Check out our app! Access documents, news updates, emergency notifications- but most importantly- the Breakfast and Lunch Menu right from your pocket.

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3dI3SFm

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3TkaZnS

Sunday, August 3rd

Monday, August 4th

• Teacher and CES Aide Work Day

Tuesday, August 5th

• Staff Professional Development

Wednesday, August 6th

• Staff Professional Development

• CES Prek-6th Grade Open House 4:30pm-6pm

Thursday, August 7th

• JH/HS Band Camp

Friday, August 8th

• JH/HS Band Camp

Saturday, August 9th

• JH/HS Band Camp and Family Cookout

Sunday, August 10th

Monday, August 11th

• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL PREK-12TH GRADES
• BOE Meeting 6pm

Tuesday, August 12th

• Fall Sports Parent Meeting @ CJSHS 6pm

Wednesday, August 13th

Thursday, August 14th

• Kindergarten-6th Grade Swim Day

• Sports Physicals @ CJSHS 5:30pm

Friday, August 15th

Saturday, August 16th

Sunday, August 17th

Monday, August 18th

• 1st Day of Fall Sports Practices

Tuesday, August 19th

Wednesday, August 20th

Thursday, August 21st

Friday, August 22nd

Saturday, August 23rd

Sunday, August 24th

Monday, August 25th

Tuesday, August 26th

Wednesday, August 27th

Thursday, August 28th

Friday, August 29th

• HS Football Jamboree @ Home 6pm

Saturday, August 30th

• HS Volleyball @ Peabody