Arrival

Now that we have completed the first days of school, it’s a good time to review our drop off and pick up procedures.  Students may be dropped off between 8:10-8:30  each morning.  There will not be supervision before that time. Doors will open at 8:15.  Breakfast begins serving at 8:15.  When dropping off students, please pull forward to the stop sign.  It really keeps the traffic flowing. If you need more time with your child(ren) at drop off, please park in our lot to allow the flow of traffic to keep moving.  We ask that adults do not leave their car.

In the morning students will enter through their assigned door.   Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 5th grade will enter through the front door (Door 1).  Students in grades 2nd, 3rd, and 4th will enter the double door near the marquee (Door 10).   Doors will open at 8:15.  Students will go to their classroom or get breakfast. Instruction will begin at 8:30. Students entering after 8:30 need to be escorted by their parent to the office to sign in.  If you are dropping off after 8:30, a parent needs to walk the student to the door and sign them into the office.

Dismissal

Students are dismissed at 3:30 every day except Wednesdays.  Wednesdays are a 2:30 dismissal.   We ask that adults do not leave their car.  Instead, please pull up to the curb and we will send your child out to you.  Pull forward as cars leave and do not turn in front of cars waiting at the curbside.   If you come in advance of dismissal time, please pull all the way up and not leave gaps between cars.  If you car is not in the line of sight of the dismissal door, we will direct your student to the car.

Dismissal Cautions

• Piedmont drive can be confusing as it is only a one way street after our cross walk. Please do not park along the roadside west of our cross walk. It is not a one way street there. I am afraid cars that are passing those waiting to move to our lot, may not see by on-coming traffic going west on Piedmont Drive.   

• If you are waiting for a safety patrol student, please park in our lot so the curbside flow can continue. 

• Use the established crosswalks.  Do not have your child cross between cars.

• When leaving the parking lot, it is a right turn only. (Piedmont Drive is a one way during arrival and dismissal)

Your safety is our first priority. Thank you in advance for following these guidelines. If you have any questions about these procedures, please contact any of our staff members and they would gladly answer your questions.

Just a reminder that Cottonwood has  a“no food” birthday treat practice  to celebrate a student’s birthday.  

The school and classroom teachers will continue to recognize children on their birthday in special ways.   Students who have summer birthdays will be recognized on their ½ birthday.  It is still optional if you choose to bring birthday items.  We ask that birthday invitations are not distributed at school as it can be distracting to the learning environment, this include whole class invitations.  Special deliveries such as flowers or balloons will remain in the office until the end of the day.  They will not be delivered to classrooms. Below are some suggestions to alternative food treats for your child’s birthday at school.  Please check with your child’s teacher first to see what works for his/her classroom.
                        •Birthday pencils                                           •Stickers                    

                           •Donate a book to the library                    •Bookmarks        •Erasers                

                          •Donate/Purchase something for the classroom   

Thank you in advance for your support of this practice of “no food birthday treats” and for helping promote wellness at our school. 

The Parent Pride, a parent volunteer group,  is an integral part of the Cottonwood community.  Each year this group of volunteers help to organize and fund raise for the events and activities that take place at Cottonwood. There are no membership dues so we depend on donations or participation of our fund-raising events.  We hope that you will consider volunteering your time to support one of these events.  Please remember to check our weekly newsletter for other volunteer opportunities.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gina  Rudloff at 402-715-1390 or gkrudloff@mpsomaha.org.  If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up below.

Sign up for Communities will be coming out soon.

Thank you

Gina Rudloff

My name is Nancy Cole.  I am the Community Counselor at your child’s school.  As a member of the building support team, I am available to assist students and their families.  There are a number of opportunities available for me to assist both your child as well as your family and I would like to invite you to take the time to call me if you feel that I may be able to support your family in any or all of the ways listed below:

School Community Counselors Help Students:

• Understand themselves and others

• Cope with stress

• Develop social skills or self-control

• Work to improve student attendance

• Identify mentoring and recreational resources

School Community Counselors Help Parents:

• Participate effectively in their child’s education

• Better understand and meet their child’s social and emotional needs

• Provide referrals and resources as available for families experiencing various challenges (homelessness, medical and mental health needs, etc.)

School Community Counselors Help Schools:

• Identify community resources for families

• Coordinate support for students with school staff and community agencies

• Home visits to establish and expand home and school connection

• Attend student support meetings to assist in the development of student goals and family support

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. 

You can reach me by phone at (402) 715-8773 or e-mail me anytime at nscole@mpsomaha.org.

Have a great school year,

Nancy Cole