Elementary News and Updates (08/02/24)

Dear STEM Families and Community, 

Welcome back STEM Spartans! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer. As we prepare to embark on another exciting academic year, I am thrilled to welcome both returning families and those new to our community. Below you will find important information to help a smooth transition into the school year. 

Communication: Effective communication between school and home is crucial for the success of our students. Please ensure that we have your current contact information. Teachers will be sending weekly newsletters to communicate the happenings inside of the classroom and I will be sending biweekly newsletters to communicate larger schoolwide and community updates.  

Parent Involvement: We encourage all parents to get involved in our school community. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer, join the PTO, and participate in school events. Your involvement makes a significant difference in our students’ education and overall school environment. This year each classroom will have a classroom parent volunteer to help assist with various tasks inside the classroom. Please be on the lookout for more information during Back to School Night. 

Driveline: Every year we must teach new staff, students and parents on all the procedures of driveline plus work out all hiccups with the system. It takes about 2-3 weeks for the driveline to be running efficiently. There are things you can do as parents to help us with driveline especially after secondary releases at 2:55pm. 

1. If you do not have a secondary student you need to pick up prior to 2:55pm. This will reduce the wait time for all families when you pick up at your designated time. 
2. If you do have secondary students, please communicate that they need to be watching for your car. Reinforce with your elementary student that they need to stay at the class stone. Secondary students, they are to wait by the south side doors of the middle school cafeteria, not in the wood chips with the elementary students. This helps us locate all of your students. 
3. We use the thumbs up/down system to signify that you have all of your students. Please only give us a thumbs up if you have all of your students. 
4. Elementary students 3rd grade and above may walk off campus to meet their car. If you would like your elementary student to walk off campus please fill out our Dismissal Authorization Form. This form needs to be completed every year. 

As the weeks go on, driveline will be finished most days by 3:10pm. Thank you in advance  for your patience and support as we familiarize everyone with the process.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Teacher Meet -n- Greet

• • Monday, Aug. 5th from 3-5 pm
  • This is an informal open house to meet the teacher and drop off supplies.

• Kindergarten Spartan Launch (All Incoming Kindergarteners) 

• • August 5th-7th
    • Must sign-up for ONE spot only 
  • Class Assignments will be released on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug 7
  • Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9 – soft start – 8:30 am – 1 pm.
  • Monday, Aug. 12 – 1st full day of school 7:30 am – 2:25 pm

• Back to School Night 

• • Mark your calendars for Thursday, Aug. 15; More details to follow.

I look forward to working with you and your student(s) this school year.  Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. 

In Partnership, 

Amie McElroy, Elementary Director

Monday, Aug. 5, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

During the week of August 5th, the kindergarten teachers will be holding assessment days for incoming kindergarten students to help us create classes. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know your students and form trusting relationships! During this time your student will meet each teacher and be asked to demonstrate their level of understanding around current concepts (i.e., letters, numbers, colors, etc.), along with observing social-emotional skills.

During your student’s designated assessment day and time, parents will drop their student(s) off at the main entrance to the school. After the testing is complete, the teachers will walk the students out to the main entrance where they will be released to their parent/guardian. Please be on time for pick up and drop off.

Click the button below to sign-up for a time slot. More information below on next steps for Kindergarten students.

Monday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m. – Elementary School Classrooms

Please join us to meet your teacher for the 2024-25 school year on Monday, Aug. 5, from 3-5 p.m. This is an opportunity for 1st – 5th grade students and families to meet their teacher, see the classroom, and drop off school supplies. Kindergarten families are welcome to come to the teacher meet -n- greet to drop off supplies and meet all the teachers, however kindergarten class lists will not be distributed until after Kindergarten Spartan Launch on Thursday August 8th. Please email any questions to Elementary Director Amie McElroy at amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org.

Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Half Days)

Students will attend school from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. both days. Our half days are designed to ease the transition to a new classroom environment. During this time, your students will learn about the classroom/school rules and expectations. They will get a tour of the school, play fun games, have lunch (school lunch or packed lunch from home), and get to know the friends they will be playing with this year!

Monday, Aug. 12, from 7:30 a.m.-2:25 p.m. (First Full Day)

We are excited about the upcoming school year and cannot wait to meet our new friends. Please feel free to contact our Elementary Director, Amie McElroy (amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org), if you have further questions about testing or the half-day roll-out.

Thursday, Aug. 8, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. – Elementary Cafeteria

We will also host a Tissues and Tears Event for parents on Thursday, Aug. 8, after students are dropped off with their teacher. This is a time for parents to connect with other kindergarten families and meet the administration. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Following the Kindergarten Spartan Launch,

students will be placed with their prospective teacher. On Wednesday evening

(August 7th) you will receive an email from the school with information about who your student’s teacher will be for the 2024-25 school year!

Thursday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 9 will be a half day.  Students will attend school from 8:30 a.m. –1 p.m. both days. Our half days are designed to ease the transition to a new classroom environment. During this time, your students will learn about the classroom/school rules and expectations. They will get a tour of the school, play fun games, have lunch (school lunch or packed lunch from home), and get to know the friends they will be playing with this year!

We will also host a Tissues and Tears Event for parents on Thursday, Aug. 8, after students are dropped off with their teacher. This is a time for parents to connect with other kindergarten families and meet the administration. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Monday, Aug. 12, will be the first full school day (7:30 a.m.-2:25 p.m.). We are excited about the upcoming school year and cannot wait to meet our new friends. Please feel free to contact our Elementary Director, Amie McElroy (amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org), if you have further questions about testing or the half-day roll-out.

Student Safety is the Primary Concern and Goal During our morning drop-off and our afternoon pick-up. Click the button below to check out our Driveline page that outlines important information that each family must know for the drivers of our Elementary (West) and the Secondary (East) Drivelines, as well as for walkers. Please review this information before the start of school to assist us with a smooth drop off and pick up.

PLEASE NOTE: All families will need a driveline placard for afternoon pick-up. Please see our Placard Pick-Up Dates above.

Our Elementary School Driveline will use the PikMyKid App for dismissal this school year. PikMyKid is a dismissal program that provides an additional layer of safety and security to ensure that our students are dismissed to the appropriate parent/guardian on the correct day. Click the button below to find out more about PikMyKid.

The Free and reduced benefits expire in June and every family must apply for FRL benefits every year. VERY IMPORTANT: Families must elect to share their information with STEM, otherwise the school will not be able to see that you have been approved for waivers.

Here are the directions to apply:

• Log onto DCSD MySchoolApps FRL Application.
• Select Begin Application Process
• Complete all information required
• Once approved they will receive a letter confirming the date and student name, ID, and School year (one letter per student)
• Forward all letters to Ashley.westfall@stemk12.org (not required if you checked yes to share your information)

Class assignments for first through fifth graders are available in Infinite Campus. If you have questions about your class assignment, please email amie.mcelroy@stemk12.org or jessica.manzaneras@stemk12.org.

This just in! Student fees should now be in every family’s MySchoolBucks account. Please log in to review and pay your student’s fees. Please reach out to ashley.westfall@stemk12.org with any questions.

We are very excited to welcome back our students to STEM for the 2024-24 school year. We want to make sure all students with medication needs have the proper forms on file at the beginning of the school year. Please review the DCSD medication policies for Elementary students and for Secondary students if your child requires medication while at school, their physician will need to fill out the following forms before the first day of school. These forms can be returned to our K-12 school nurse, Mallory Jimenez, at nurse@stemk12.org or turned in to one of the health offices along with the medication starting on August 1.

Elementary Students (K-5)

1. The use of medication at school is discouraged in most instances. Most medications are available in long acting form and parents are encouraged to administer such medication at home.
2. Medication to be given at school (prescription medication and over-the-counter) must have a completed Student Medication Request and Release Agreement and Provider Authorization form on file.
3. All prescription medication must be furnished in the original pharmacy-labeled container, with the student’s name, medication, dosage, and physician on the label. Over-the-counter medications must be in an original container (these requirements are state regulations). Medication in baggies will not be accepted.

Middle School Students (6-8)

Middle school students may assume responsibility for bringing to school and administering their own medication, provided they carry only enough for one day and have the “Permission to Self-Carry and Self-Admin Medication” form on file in the school office. Students using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel, and parents or guardians will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of the medication. Any parent or guardian who chooses not to sign the permission to carry medication form may request that a structured plan be devised for his or her student.

High School Students (9-12)

High school students may assume the responsibility of bringing to school and administering their own medication, provided they carry only enough for one day. Students who appear to be using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel, and parents or guardians will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of medication. Any parent may also request that a structured plan be devised for their student. On an overnight field trip, students may bring enough medication for the duration of the field trip.

Want to connect with other families in your student’s grade? Join your student’s class page on Facebook to connect with other parents, get class-specific info, and more. Click the button below to visit our Get Connected back on the website that lists all of the Community Facebook pages. Be sure to answer all required questions in order join. Email info@stemk12.org with any questions.