Watervliet

South

Elementary

433 Lucinda Ln. Watervliet, MI 49098

(269) 463-0860 phone

(269) 463-7614 fax

Sherry Wheeler - Principal

sherry.wheeler@watervlietps.org

Cat Thomas- Secretary catherine.thomas@watervlietps.org

Welcome to the South Elementary Family News Page

Dear South Panther Students, Parents, and Guardians,

Welcome to the new school year at South Elementary! I am thrilled to see our hallways buzzing with excitement as we begin another wonderful journey of learning, growth, and discovery.

This year promises to be full of exciting opportunities for our students. Our dedicated teachers and staff have been working hard to get prepared to welcome all of our Little Panthers on the first day. Whether you're returning or new to our school, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels welcomed, valued, loved, and supported.

We are also excited to introduce some new faces to our team, including our new paraprofessional, Miss Darby and Miss Hannah. They will be working closely with our students to provide additional support and encouragement, and I know they are going to be a wonderful addition to our school community.

At South our mission is "Joyful Learning". In all that we say and do, it is always our priority to create a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment where every student can thrive. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are key to student success, and we encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Let's work together to make this year the best one yet!

Wishing everyone a fantastic start to the school year!

Warm regards,
Sherry Wheeler
Principal, South Elementary

Kindergarten and Young 5's First Day Information

If you wish to drop off your child on the first day, please park and walk them up to the front door. Please be advised that parents and family members will not be allowed to enter the building during drop off in the morning.
We are asking that an adult from each Kindergarten and Young 5's family attend an informational meeting with your child’s teacher. Please plan to arrive at 10:10 am. The meetings will start promptly at 10:15 am.
Dismissal for you and your Kindergarten/ Young 5 student will be @ 10:45 am.
On the first day you and your child will experience all the fun school has to offer:
- Getting to know the teacher
- Learning classroom routines and procedures
- Exploring the school and playground
- Meeting staff

Daily Schedules:

Full Day: 7:40 am - 2:50 pm (The building opens at 7:20 am and students should be in classrooms ready to start the day before 7:40 am.)

Half Day: 7:40 am - 11:20 am

Early Release Day: 7:40 am - 12:50 pm

Drop Off and Pick Up Lines

Morning Drop Off:

Students may be dropped off in the drive through line located at the back entrance of the school starting at 7:20 am. Staff will be present to greet your child and ensure they enter the building safely. Please make sure that car seats are located on the passenger side of the car and all adults are asked to remain in their vehicle during drop off.
If you would like to drop students off at the front of the building, these doors will be open at 7:20 am as well. When dropping students off at the front entrance, it is required that you park and accompany your child all the way to the front door.
If you arrive after 7:40 am, only the front entrance will be open. An adult will need to accompany your student into the office and sign them in. Students arriving after 7:40 am will be marked tardy.

Car Rider Pick Up Lines:

All students in Kindergarten and 1st grade will be picked up in the car rider line at the back entrance of the school. Please enter from M140 onto SIlver Terrace to enter the pick up line.
All students in Young 5’s and 2nd grade will be picked up in the car rider line at the front entrance of the school. Please enter from Red Arrow Hwy onto S. Pleasant St. to enter the pick up line.

On the first day of school, cars will not be able to start lining up in the front pick up line until 11:00 am due to the Young 5’s and Kindergarten parents that will be parked out front.

If you have students in multiple grades, all of your students will be waiting in the same line. We will assign them to the line that corresponds to the youngest sibling’s grade level.
PLEASE PUT A SIGN IN YOUR FRONT WINDOW WITH ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS’ NAMES TO HELP THE LINES MOVE MORE EFFICIENTLY.
Please make sure that car seats are located on the passenger side of the car and all adults are asked to remain in their vehicle during pick up.

Box Tops for Education are BACK and even easier for families to help South earn funds to support our students.

Supply Lists

Attendance is Critical During Your Child's Foundational Years in School

Student Handbook Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE

Attendance Law: Compulsory School Laws of the State of Michigan provide that every parent, guardian or other person in the State, having control and charge of any child between the ages of six and eighteen years of age, shall be required to send such child to school during the entire school year, and that this attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the district.

Attendance Policy: Per board policy, absence from school is excused for illnesses (principal may require a doctor’s confirmation if he/she deems it is advisable), funerals with documentation, observance of religious holidays, and court appearances (with documentation that the child was required to be in court).

Routine dental, medical appointments, and vacation days should be arranged during non-school hours whenever possible. If it is absolutely necessary to schedule an appointment during school hours, the student must present a doctor’s note upon returning to school.

If your child will not be in school for any reason, please notify the school of the absence before 8:30 a.m. on each day of absence. An answering machine is available 24 hours to leave messages regarding student absences. The office will be open at 7:40 a.m. for calls. If the office is not contacted regarding your child’s absence, you will receive an automated call. In case of contagious disease, please inform the school as soon as possible so that necessary health precautions may be taken.

Arrival to school past 9:00 am is considered an absence for the morning. A student is considered absent for the afternoon if they are picked up from school prior to 2:00 p.m.

Please refrain from picking your child up early to beat the traffic. Students should only be picked up early if they have an appointment or emergency situation. Parents should try to notify the school office by noon of any school day if you plan to pick your child up early. Last minute changes and calls at the end of the day cause confusion during dismissal. Students will not be released from the office after 2:30 p.m. After 2:30 p.m. all students will need to wait to be dismissed through regular dismissal procedures.

Truancy: Truancy is defined by Michigan School Code as 10 or more unexcused absences from school . Truancy may result in a referral to the Berrien County Intermediate School District Truant Officer. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school regardless of excused or unexcused status. Data shows that a 1st grade student with 9 or more absences are two times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers who attend regularly. School attendance is so important!

Tardies/Absences will trigger the following actions from school:

TARDIES:

10: Letter home to parent(s)/guardian(s)
15: Phone call home
20: Meeting w/principal and school counselor to develop an attendance improvement plan

ABSENCES:

5: Letter home to parent(s)/guardian(s)
10: Second letter home to parent(s)/guardian(s)
15: Biweekly attendance update letters will be sent home and a meeting with the principal and school counselor will be scheduled to develop an attendance improvement plan
Any additional unexcused absences will result in a referral to the Berrien County Truancy Officer and/or Child Protective Services

Early On Services Birth to Age 3

Early On is Michigan's system for helping families of infants and toddlers, birth to age 3 who have developmental delay(s) and/or disabilities. Early On supports and partners with families to promote the development of their infants and toddlers in developmental areas, such as:

physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking)
cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems)
communication (talking, listening, understanding, gesturing)
social-emotional (feeling secure, able to calm, playing with others)
self-help (eating, dressing)

Early On partners with families, using their daily routines to work on supporting the growth and development of their babies.

During the first three years of life, a baby's brain grows and changes dramatically. Early On emphasizes early identification and early referral to minimize delays and maximize developmental outcomes. Understanding your child's development may help you recognize if your child needs a referral. Check out the developmental milestones to learn more, and complete the referral form if you have concerns.

Reminders.....

Doors open at 7:20 every morning. It is important for students to be in their classrooms ready to learn at 7:40.

If you have any changes to contact or emergency contact information (emails, phone numbers, address, etc...), please contact our office or send an email to @watervlietps.org so that we can get those updated. This is very important. Thank you.