August 23, 2010
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to the new school year! After a summer full of planning, cleaning, and registering a large number of new students, we have opened the doors to 2010-11, with our annual Summer Visitation Week. Beginning today, and extending through Thursday, August 26th, Schuyler Colfax will be open to all students and parents who wish to stop by, follow their new schedules, and tour the building. The Visitation Hours each day begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 2:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to arrive no later than 1:15 p.m in order to allow sufficient time to walk around the building prior to the 2:00 closing time. The administration, office, and guidance staff will be available each day to answer your questions, so please make it a point to stop by and say “hello.”
As you all know by now, student schedules and an opening packet of information were mailed home on August 17th. We have received several calls from parents expressing concern over their child’s lunch room assignment. School policy is that all students must remain where they have been scheduled through the first two weeks of school. After that, any requests for change must be submitted in writing by a parent to the guidance department, stating a compelling reason why a change of lunch rooms must be made. All requests will be reviewed by the administration prior to any changes. Please know, however that students eat lunch during the first half of the lunch period and are then allowed to go outside for recess for the second half of the period (weather permitting, of course). At that point in time students may meet with their friends from the other lunch room. Of greater importance, please be reminded that student schedules for academic classes are tentative and subject to minor tweaking before the opening day of classes.
Included in the summer mailing are a number of important forms which parents are asked to review and complete with their child. The Emergency Card, the Emergency Release Form, and the Board Policy Review Sheets must all be completed, signed and returned to your Homeroom Teacher on the first day of classes. It is so important that we have this information on file from the very get-go of the school year, so that we may assist you and your child in the event of any emergency.
Prior to the opening of school, those children who qualify for bus transportation to and from school will receive a bus pass, indicating the bus number, the animal picture located on the bus, approximate location, pick-up and drop-off times, and reminders to keep this bus pass on you, and to arrive at your morning bus stop 15-20 minutes in advance for the first several days of school until the bus routes get settled in.
Our school website has been updated throughout the summer and includes pretty much every conceivable bit of information that you might be interested in including: the school calendar, testing dates, PTO information, and of course, this weekly message from yours truly.
Lastly, please note that there continues to be a tremendous amount of disruptive road construction on both Hamburg Tpk. and Jackson Avenue. Parents who are driving need to allow plenty of extra time each morning in order to ensure that your child arrives to school in time for the opening of the doors at 7:50 a.m. Car pooling is greatly encouraged. As we all know, last year was a difficult one for those who drove to school, and the opening of the 2010 year, may well be even worse. Again, please plan accordingly.
One final reminder that school opens on Tuesday, September 7th at 7:50 a.m. Be sure to report directly to your homeroom upon arrival. In addition, please make note of the fact that we will have a rather unusual opening schedule of classes for the first week or so in that there will be school on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 7-8, followed by a closing of school on Thursday and Friday for Rosh Hashanah. School will then reopen on Monday, September 13.
On behalf of our entire staff, I look forward to seeing everyone this week, and on September 7th for the first day of classes!
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Sincerely,
Frank Mobilio, Principal
Home
