Dear Zervas School Families,
It is amazing to think that we have already completed the first month of school and are entering the fall season. As I visit our classrooms, it is clear that we are off to a great start! The beginning of the year is often spent developing routines and building classroom communities. What I observe in classrooms is purposeful work focused on children participating in activities to respectfully get to know one other, teachers setting clear and reasonable expectations, and students practicing and learning classroom routines and procedures. By focusing on these social and procedural aspects of the classroom during the first few weeks of school, a strong foundation is set for creating vibrant learning communities where students can work together; ensuring for a successful and productive year.
It was terrific to see so many of you at our Curriculum Night on September 19th. This was a wonderful event where parents had a chance to meet their children’s teachers and hear about the goals and expectations for the upcoming school year. The feedback I heard from parents and teachers was positive. Having a strong home-school connection is vital to the success of our students and I look forward to continuing this throughout the year.
As I greet the families in the morning, I have appreciated the fact that everyone is following the protocols for our Blue Zone. It seems, so far, that this is working well. In addition, I would like to thank those of you who are following our new guidelines for dogs. If you missed the notice about this, our guidelines are: dogs should stay off school property, owners should stay with their dogs at all times, and the “T” area outside the front door should be free of dogs. By adhering to these protocols and guidelines all students are able to enter our school efficiently, calmly and safely.
I would like to remind families that the first bell rings at 8:20 am; at this time students can proceed to their classrooms. If you need to drop off before this time, please sign your child up for our Before School Program which is available in the Library starting at 7:30 am. The second bell rings at 8:35. If a student arrives after 8:35, he/she is considered late and must report to the main office to sign in. Our first priority is the safety of your children. You can help by ensuring that your child is aware of his/her dismissal plans each day. While we are certainly available for emergency calls regarding changes in routines, it can be difficult and disruptive to the classes when there are multiple calls during the day that require us to notify students of a change of plans. However, if you are ever running late to pick up your child, please call the office so that we can have your child wait safely inside. In addition, please remind your child that if he/she is waiting outside and is not picked up within a reasonable amount of time, to come to the office for assistance.
Lastly, I hope you will all attend the general meeting of the PTO on Wednesday, October 3rd. This is a chance to hear about the multiple ways that the PTO supports our school, get a better understanding of the PTO budget, and hear from various parents about specific PTO activities that are coming up this year. In addition, I will share an overview of the entry plan I have developed to help guide my work in becoming familiar with the Zervas School community. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Diana Beck
