Orientation Letter

September 15, 2021

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the beginning of the Pre-K 3 school year 2021! It was great seeing so many of you at our zoom introduction meeting. Your child’s safety, health and happiness are our main concerns.

Below you will find an organized outline of the information shared with you at the introduction meeting:

Allergies- If your child has any allergies, be sure you let me know as soon as possible.

Arrival to School- Please have your child arrive at St. Margaret’s School for drop-off at 7:45 A.M. All students will enter through the back (front) doors on Summit Ave. (North Magnolia St.) The students should wear their gym uniforms. Temperatures will be taken before entry and the children will proceed to our classroom. We are the last classroom of the left. Any child who has a temperature above 100° will not be allowed entry into the school. Parents should take temperatures before school each morning. Please see the letter from the Archdiocese of NY regarding Daily Health Checks, sign the form and then return to school. Please see Mrs. Maldonado email sent.

Birthdays- SMS will ensure your child’s birthday is recognized by a birthday surprise, announcement and dress-down card. At this time no parties or treats will take place.

Breathing breaks- The children will have breathing breaks during the day when needed.

Class Parents- If you would be interested in being the Class Parent for our class this year, please email me as soon as possible. I would like to have 2 parents share this role. Please let me know by Friday, September 17th. Thank you in advance for volunteering. (Mrs. Ficarra-Leo's mom & Mrs. McKiernan- Nora's mom)

Class Website- After the first few weeks of school, I will be updating our class website. The webpage will give you a general idea of class and school information

Cleanliness- A touch free sanitizing dispenser can be found in each room and free standing dispensers have been placed throughout the building. There will be a custodial staff to clean the bathrooms after they are used by each class. They will also be cleaning high touch points throughout the day and disinfecting at the end of the school day. Bathroom breaks will be scheduled but, of course, if a child needs to use the bathroom at a separate time he/she will be allowed to do so.

Dismissal- If there are any changes to your child’s normal dismissal, please send in a note. If there is a change in who is picking up your child from school that too should be noted. We will prepare for dismissal at 2:30 and make our way to the back (front) doors on Summit Ave. (North Magnolia St.)

*Drop off and pick up is at the same location, Summit Ave. (North Magnolia St.)

Dress Down Day- Throughout the course of the year we will have “Dress Down Days”. The money sent to school on these days will be donated to a charity or an organization. We ask for $1, but you may give more. Money should be put in an envelope with your child’s name and the words “Dress Down Day” on it.

Email- Please feel free to email me at any time and I will get back to you as soon as possible. My email address is kmercurio@saintmargaretschool.com. Contact me with any questions or concerns you might have. Emergency messages (dismissal changes) that require my immediate attention should be called into the main office.

Folders- A blue school folder was provided to each child. All notes or other correspondence should be sent through the folder. If your child will have a change in dismissal, please send a note the morning of letting me know. If you don’t have a chance to send a note, you can send me an email. Though some days I do not have a chance to check my emails, so if I don’t respond by letting you know that I received your message, please call the office.

Forms- When you receive forms (data privacy consent, parent/student handbook packet, daily health check, emergency card) please fill out and return to school as soon as possible.

Illness/Accidents- There is a designated room in the school for those children who are sick. If a child arrives feeling well, but gets sick during the day, he/she will remain supervised in the room until a parent/adult arrives to pick up the child. In the event your child has an accident we will call home. Please have an additional emergency contact available.

Label- All items (backpack, lunchbox,snack bag, water bottles, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets etc.) are to be labeled with your child’s name. Please note your child's snacks should be sent in separately from their lunch.

Lunch- Lunch should be sent from home each day.

Masks- Solid colored masks are to be worn during the school day. Please send at least 2 extra masks to school each day in a ziploc bag. We will be changing masks one time throughout the day. At that time disposable masks will be thrown away and used cloth masks should be put in a separate ziploc bag to go home to be washed. The children do not have to wear masks outside during recess or if outside during gym class.

Morning Procedures- Backpacks will be emptied and placed in the closet. Folders, snacks and lunches will be put into designated places in the classroom. We will say prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, look at the weather, read the calendar and sing songs about the days of the week and months of the year.

Parent Teacher Conferences- Scheduled for Monday, November 15th via zoom.

Scholastic Books- Every month I will send home a Scholastic Book order form(s) so you can purchase books. It is up to you if you would like to purchase books or not. Purchases can be sent back to school or completed online. If you do order, please do not send cash. Checks should be made out to Scholastic Book Club.

Signage and Social Distancing- There will be signage throughout the school about social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in addition to signage outdoors.

Snacks- We have snack every day, even on half days. Snacks should be sent to school in a bag (preferably in a brown paper bag) separate from your child’s lunch bag with his/her name on it.

Specials- We will have 5 specials each week

Monday: Computers

Wednesday: Spanish & Music

Thursday: PE & Art

Friday: Music (every other week )

Water breaks- The children should bring 1 reusable water to school each day. We will have water breaks throughout the day. If a child is thirsty at another point during the day, he/she can have a drink.

Please read through and if you have any questions or concerns, let me know. Back to School Night is tomorrow Thursday, September 16th from 6:00-6:30 or 6:30-7:00. For our class this will not be a formal presentation on zoom, but a question and answer session. I look forward to getting to know your children and seeing them play, learn and grow together this year. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to care for and guide them.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mercurio

kmercurio@saintmargaretschool.com