Elms Elementary

Dear Elms Family,

We at Elms Elementary are so excited to welcome you back to school and to the 2026-2027 school year. We want to extend a Tiger’s Paw and warm welcome to our new and returning students, their families, and dedicated staff. We can't wait to fill this year with big smiles, new discoveries, and moments that make us all proud. Thank you for sharing your incredible kids with us - Let's make this the best year yet!

The first day of school for all students will be Tuesday, September 8th. It is important for ALL students to wear their STUDENT ID every day, including the first day of school. Please make sure that your child(ren) has their student ID card with them.

Arrival & Dismissal

The official school day will begin at 8:05 am and dismissal will take place at 2:15 pm. Please read carefully to review dismissal procedures for signing out students at the end of the day.

Arrival

As in the past, if students are being driven to school, parents/guardians may drop off their children in the carloop at the north end of the building. [Stay to the right.] The loop door will open promptly at 7:55 am and close at 8:05 am. Staff members will be available to escort arriving students into the building and to their classroom as needed. To support a safe transition, we ask that all students exit their cars on the curbside only. Parents are NOT permitted to enter the building at the loop door.

Dismissal

Please note that the car loop is NOT used for parent pick up/ sign-out in the afternoon. In the afternoon, parents/guardians will need to park in the parking lot and report to the main entrance to pick up their child[ren]. Please be aware that dismissal starts at 2:15pm. Between the dismissal times of 2:15 pm and 2:25 pm, parents will be stopped at the fence to ensure student safety during bus dismissal. Please note that for safety reasons, students are not allowed to be signed out between 2:00pm and 2:15pm. When granted access to the building, parents will be buzzed into the vestibule and wait until the receptionist facilitates school sign-out procedures. Proper identification is always required and will be requested by the receptionist as part of our safety protocols and district policy. Additionally, we kindly ask that all changes to your child’s regular dismissal routine be communicated to the homeroom teacher and main office as early as possible to ensure a smooth transition. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation with our dismissal protocols.

Early Dismissal

If it is necessary to sign your students out prior to regular dismissal, please do so by 2:00 pm to ensure a safe and efficient dismissal for all students.

Please send in a note if early dismissal is needed. In addition to the note, it is best to call ahead and also let us know that you are coming to school.

If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up students, a written note must be submitted with the name of the person picking up the student, or they must be on the EMERGENCY LIST in Genesis prior to pick-up/dismissal in order to sign the child out with the receptionist. All emergency contacts listed must be 18 or older as per district policy. Proper identification is always necessary.

Food Services

Information regarding school lunch and food services can be found on the JSD webpage. Students in Grades K-4 are reminded to bring their student ID cards for lunch/snack purchases. More information will be in the Student Handbook and on the district and school web page. Please complete and return the Free and Reduced Lunch forms, if applicable. THESE FORMS NEED TO BE COMPLETED EACH YEAR. Submitting this form provides opportunities for other reduced or free opportunities for our families. These forms are posted on our school website. Please click this link to the Jackson Food Service Department to complete your Free and Reduced Lunch forms and to set up a student account to purchase items from the cafeteria.

Schedules and Bus Pass Release Dates

Elementary teacher assignments and bus information will be available on the Parent Portal after 9 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Please assist your child in learning their bus number (route number) and have them bring their bus pass to school for the first few weeks. Children in Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade should wear their bus pass for the first few weeks of school as well.

Continue to monitor the Portal Information Page for important dates and instructions on how to view and print your schedule and bus pass. NOTE: If your Portal login does not work, please try the "Forgot My Password' link on the Portal Login page BEFORE contacting support. Please note that the "Forgot Password'' link will work only with parents who have an email as their login ID.

For questions or problems with your login IDs or password (or if you do not have them), please send an email to portalsupport@jacksonsd.org.

Please include your name and phone number, as well as your child's name, school, grade, student ID number and the problem you are experiencing.

On behalf of the entire Elms Staff, we welcome you to the new school year and look forward to working together to help your child achieve their hopes and dreams. Please contact the school directly if you have any questions. We will be glad to help you.

Sincerely,

Michael Burgos, Principal

Christopher Nye, Assistant Principal

September 3rd: Kindergarten Orientation - 9:30am-11:00am

September 3rd: New Student Orientation - 11:30am-12:30pm

September 3rd: Pre-K Orientation - 1:30pm-2:30pm

September 9th: Back to School Night Grades 2-4 - 6:00pm

September 10th: Back to School Night Grades Pre-K-1 - 6:00pm

September 11th: Patriot's Day - Wear Red, White, and Blue Day.

September 16th: PTN Welcome Breakfast and General Meeting. 9:00am-10:00am. All parents/guardians are welcome!

September 17th: Tiger Trading Post

September 18th: Childhood Cancer Awareness - Wear Gold/Yellow to help us raise awareness.

September 25th: School Spirit Day

As the school year begins, please be sure to check your teacher's class page. Some teachers have already posted a Wish List of supplies. These items are not required but are greatly appreciated and help ensure classrooms have the materials needed for a productive school year. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Just as the universe is filled with endless possibilities, we want every student to feel empowered to explore, imagine, and strive toward new heights. Our goal is to create learning experiences that spark wonder, build confidence, and help each child discover their unique strengths.