Everybody Ready? (If your answer is "not exactly," that's OK---I've got some work to do too :) )
Welcome back to a new school year! I'll be doing my best to keep us all updated on the goings-on via this blog. I'll try to do at least one weekly update to give us all an idea of what our children's week will look like.
This Week:
Meet and Greet at the creek in Green Mountain Falls, Wednesday, August 15 from 10-1. For those of you who are unfamiliar with GMF, the event will be at the creek/picnic area by the GMF pool NOT the playpark with the gazebo. Take the GMF exit from hwy 24 and follow the road until it makes a sharp left turn, just after the pool (about 1/2 mile from hwy). There is parking on the left just after the sharp left turn. You'll see a large picnic area right next to the creek.
I LOVE this event :) This area of the creek is "bordered" by two tunnels and is plenty shallow enough for the kids to play safely, yet deep enough for the kids to have tons-o-fun! Bring some snacks/lunch, a blanket or lawn chairs, sunscreen, towels, clothes/shoes for the kiddos that you're OK with getting wet (a change of clothes might be a good idea too) and plenty of sand/water toys. While we'll miss some old familiar faces, we look forward to meeting all of our new families! If you need further directions, please e-mail me at bigsnowymountain@gmail.com.
Also, the pool will be open if you'd like to swim, although I'm not sure of the pricing.
Next Week:
School starts! Yay!
Cottage 1 (K-2) will meet Tuesday, August 21, and Wednesday, August 22.
Cottage 2 (3-5) will meet Thursday, August 23. There wil be NO SCHOOL on Friday the 24th, due to Hwy 24 being closed for the Procycling Tour.
I am unsure of the schedule for Specials yet, but I will let you know---it helps to know if your child has PE that day :)
Hours for both classes are 11:10-2:55. Please bring your children to the front entrance at Gateway by 11:05 to line up at the white fence in front of the school. You may park in either of the 2 parking lots in the front, or you may park at the curb alongside the yellow painted areas. If you have prearranged to enter the building, please park in the parking area so we don't block the drop-off lane. Mrs. Struble will come out to pick up the whole class at 11:10 and escort them to their classroom.
Please do not enter the building early unless you have already worked something out with Sandy. If you do need to enter the building, you must first stop by the office to sign in. If you don't have a volunteer pass, then you will need your ID. Volunteer applications can be filled out at the front office---a background check is required, but we are very fortunate that our school pays for them (some schools require that the volunteers buy their own background checks).
There are several options for pick-up. If you use the flow lane, instruct your child to watch for your vehicle. As you pull up to the school, you will need to pull up as far as possible, which isn't always directly in the front. Parents are not allowed to exit their vehicle, so if your child doesn't see you right away, you may need to ask a crossing attendant to assist your child in getting to you.
Another option is that you park in one of the lots and walk to the front door to meet your child and take them back to your vehicle.
A third option is that you park in the parallel parking on Baldwin, right in front of the playground. There is a gate that the children can come through if you instruct them to come through the playground. You may also park there and use the gate to walk up to the front entrance to greet your child.
Whichever option you choose, it is recommended that you arrive early, as the flow lane gets very full and parking spaces get harder to find at 2:55.
Supply list:
Please send these items with your child on the first day of school. Mrs. Struble likes to get started right away on fun projects that will require many of these supplies :)
1 plastic pocket folder
1 Dozen #2 pencils (sharpened)
1 set washable markers (fat or skinny)
1 box crayons or colored pencils (sharpened)
1 pencil box (8"x2"x5") (not bigger than 11"x7"x2")
1 Ruler (metric and English)
1 Glue Stick
1 bottle white school glue
1 Fiskars children's scissors
1 large box facial tissues (and a second brought in after Holiday break)
1 box Ziploc bags (sandwich or gallon)
1 Spiral Notebook
2 boxes of Snacks per semester (can be crackers, cookies, granola bars, fruit snacks, pretzels, etc)
(May bring in backpack as needed: non-marking soles on clean shoes for gym but please do not leave at school)
Snacks:
There is a snack time everyday @1:15. Please pack plenty of snacks or a lunch for your child, including water or another drink (clear drinks only please). We do have extra snacks (that you all donate at the beginning) for children who do not have one, but please instruct your child to eat the snack you sent. In the past, we have had some cute little kiddos (including my own at times) eating the emergency snacks even though they do have their own. Surely they just forgot that they had one packed for them ;)
If you have ANY questions about how the Cottage scheduling works, please contact me, Heather Kriegshauser, at bigsnowymountain@gmail.com or Pippi Howard at phoward@wpsdk12.org
Can't wait! Its going to be a great year!
See you soon,
Heather Kriegshauser (Gracie and Jacob's mama).
