Switlik September Update

Dear Families,

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for Back to School Night, Kindergarten and New Student Orientations. Seeing our halls filled with your smiling faces and enthusiastic energy set the perfect tone for a fantastic year ahead.

Our students have been hard at work launching our school wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) initiative, which we proudly call SWITLIK PAWS!

PAWS focuses on four key daily goals: Practice Safety, Act Respectfully, Work Responsibly, and Show Your Panther Pride. When students are "caught" demonstrating these positive behaviors throughout the school day, they earn special "Caught Being Pawsome" coins (generously donated by our PTN!). Classrooms collect their coins each week and dump them into our giant Central Tower in the main lobby. As the tower fills up to key goal lines, our entire school works together toward earning exciting whole-school celebrations. Thank you for supporting our Panthers as they practice leading with positive choices every day!

While we don't want to rush past all the incredible moments September has in store for us, we do want to make sure one major tradition is on your calendar: our Annual Trunk or Treat is on Friday, October 23rd! Last year was a monumental success with over 1,000 attendees, and we can’t wait to bring our community together again for another unforgettable evening.

Strong schools are built on strong partnerships, and we encourage you to get involved in our school community whenever and however you can this year. Whether that’s volunteering, attending events, or simply sharing your ideas.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Here’s to a wonderful September and an extraordinary school year ahead!

At Switlik, student safety, accountability, and smooth daily routines are top priorities. Carrying a student ID badge every day plays a crucial role in keeping our school running safely and efficiently.

Here is how carrying an ID directly benefits your student each day:

• Enhanced School Safety & Accountability: Having an ID visible ensures that staff can quickly identify students and maintain a secure environment across campus.

• Faster Lunch Lines: Swiping an ID at the cafeteria register is significantly faster than typing in a PIN or stating a name. Quick checkouts keep lines moving so every student has ample time to eat.

• Efficient & Safe Bus Rides: Swiping when boarding and exiting the bus verifies that students get on and off at their correct stops. It also speeds up the loading process, helping our buses depart and arrive on schedule.

Please help us build this positive habit by reminding your student to wear or carry their ID badge every morning before heading to school!

Has your child lost or misplaced their badge? Just let their teacher know so we can order a new one! Keep in mind that while the first replacement is free of charge, a $5 fee will apply for any additional replacements.

Morning Arrival

• Drop-Off Time: Please do not drop off students before 9:00 AM, as supervision is not available prior to that time.

• Traffic Safety: Drive slowly through the drop-off loop, watch closely for walking students, and park in designated spots if you need to assist your child out of the car.

Dismissal & Schedule Changes

• Routine Changes: If your child's dismissal routine changes on any given day, please submit a written note in advance.

• Early Sign-Outs: We ask that you avoid signing students out early whenever possible; if necessary, please provide prior written notification.

• Late Afternoon Cut-Off: Early sign-outs after 2:45 PM are strongly discouraged as staff actively prepares for regular dismissal at 3:20 PM. Unannounced late afternoon pick-ups disrupt dismissal routines and delay bus departures.

Student Release & Emergency Contacts

• Photo ID Required: Always bring a photo ID whenever picking up a student. Children will only be released to individuals listed on their emergency contact card.

• Update Your Info: Please ensure your emergency contact information remains current in our portal. If you need assistance, please contact Noreen Lagano.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students safe!

During this time, students and staff will participate in engaging activities and discussions designed to promote kindness, empathy, and inclusion both in and out of the classroom. There will also be spirit days (featured below) to help promote daily themes.

We encourage families to talk at home about what respect means to them and how small acts of everyday consideration can make a big impact. Let's work together to make our school a welcoming, supportive place for everyone!

• Early Dismissal: On all three conference days, students will have a shortened day and will be dismissed early at 1:40 PM.

• Conference Sign-Ups: Additional details and instructions on how to sign up for a conference time through the Parent Portal will be sent out soon.

We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your student's progress and success!

September

CLOSED - September 21st

November

Early Dismissal - November 3rd, 4th & 5th

CLOSED - November 5th & 6th

Early Dismissal - November 25th

CLOSED - November 26th and 27th

District Calendar Linked Below 👇

As we work together to ensure a safe, organized, and smooth school year, we would like to remind everyone of our school’s vital policies regarding student dismissal and the necessity of timely pick-ups.

• Bus Stop Attendance (Grades PreK-2): For the safety of our youngest learners, a parent, guardian, or designated adult must be at the bus stop to receive any student in Grade 2 or younger. If an adult is not present, the bus driver is required to return the child to school.

• On-Time Parent Pick-Up: For students scheduled for parent pick-up, families must collect their children promptly at our standard dismissal time.

• Childcare Fees: For Late Pick-Ups: We understand that emergencies and unexpected delays can happen. However, in repeated instances where a child must be brought back to school by the bus, or if a parent is repeatedly late (15 minutes past dismissal) for pick-up, students will be placed in our on-site childcare program. Parents will be responsible for retrieving their child and will be charged the walk-in childcare rate of $75.00. Please note that childcare hours end promptly at 6:00 p.m..

• Please ensure you have updated all contact information within Genesis. Additionally, please add or update any contacts authorized to pick up your child in an emergency.

On-time dismissal ensures that our students remain safe and our staff can focus on their after-school responsibilities. Thank you so much for your partnership and cooperation in keeping our Panthers safe and secure!