imagine believe achieve
August 2, 2010
Dear Peabody Community,
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! Again this year our school wide theme will be Imagine,Believe, Achieve with an emphasis on Believe. You will see this theme throughout the school yearfrom our staff
development to our celebration assemblies and many school wide activities. This will be a year of believing that we can meet the needs of all the children at Peabody Elementary during some of the most challenging times in education in Colorado! By imaginingthe possibilities, believing in what we do and what our kids can do, we will all achieve at exceptional levels.
Through this letter I want to update you on staff positions and remind you of up-coming community events as well as address some procedural issues that I need your assistance with to make the school year start off safely for children and families.
Staff Update: I am pleased to announce two staff changes at Peabody in our Special Education program. Christine Anderson, formerly one of our resource teachers has transferred into the SCIL teacher position and will lead that center based program. Megan Souther, formerly a paraprofessional in the resource program, has completed her Master’s in Special Education and has accepted the resource position. We are pleased to have Megan in this capacity as she already has established relationships with kids and staff.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up: Our school community needs the assistance of every family in this area. To those of you following our parking lot expectations – THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
Most importantly please abide by the signs posted in the parking lot related to parking, pick up and drop off. There is no parking in the center of the parking lot during the day. This is staff parking only, even if slots are available. DO NOT PARK IN THE STAFF PARKING LOT AND WALK THROUGH THE LOT OR BECKON YOUR CHILD THROUGH THE LOT! There is no cross walk at the front door of the building and with cars and buses in this area we cannot allow crossing at this location. The lot is designed for you to park on the west side along the wall/fence and utilize the side walk in front of the cars to proceed to the cross walk and a staff member will cross you and your child safely. You may cue up in the turn around area directly south of the entrance to the building, but you must stay in your car. Please do not pull up in the bus lane to pick up your child. We need this lane free between 8:20 – 8:40 a.m. and 3:00 - 3:20 p.m. for buses. There is also no parking allowed behind the building. This is staff parking only.
Additional parking and pick up is on Steele Street. From the gate to the south you may park your car and come on to school grounds. From the gate to the north you may short-term park, but must stay near your vehicle.
We redesigned the parking lot last school year and feel it keeps student safety at the forefront. This year I am asking that you set an example for your children by following these safety rules and keeping the parking lot safe for everyone! Your child will be practicing these parking lot safety rules with their classroom teacher. Please do not ask your child to do something that is out of compliance with a school expectation.
Caley Corridor Project: The South Suburban Recreation Board along with the City of Centennial and Littleton Public Schools are working together as the construction begins this late fall or winter on the Caley Corridor immediately south of Peabody Elementary. In preparation for this work by South Suburban, LPS is constructing a new design to the existing entry to the school yard off of the alleyway. This improvement will include concrete steps that go from the alley to the side walk in front of the cars to the west of the building. This will allow for children using this entrance to safely get through the parking lot and cross at the supervised crosswalk in the parking lot area. We hope this phase of the construction is done before school starts on August 16th.
King Soopers Cards: As we face on-going funding issues for public education, our school fundraising will be critical again this year. If you do nothing else to support Peabody financially this year, please purchase a reloadable King Soopers card. The card is available through our PTO and 5% of your total purchase comes directly back to our school every time you use it!
Café Conversations: Once each month, starting in September and throughout this school year, I invite you to come together as a community to dialogue around the question, “Who Are We?” As we continue to be faced with cuts in funding, this question becomes critical. Together, we can be proactive and have an on-going dialogue around the most important aspects of your child’s education. Please watch for more info in the school newsletter and on the Peabody webpage.
Beginning of the year events of interest to your family:
Thursday, August 12th - Kindergarten Screening Day: Times:
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by appointment only
This screening is for kindergarten children only and by appointment with their classroom teacher. If you do not have an appointment, please call Shelly at 303-347-4625 as soon as possible. We need every child entering kindergarten to be screened on this day only.
Thursday, August 12th – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Peabody Family Picnic on the east side of the building – black top and
fields. Please join our entire Peabody community by bringing your picnic dinner and eating on our lawn.
· Picnic Dinner – 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
· Classroom Activities 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (on the field by individual classroom and teacher)
K-1 on the north field
2-3 on the east field
4/5 Community on the intermediate blacktop
· 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PTO sponsored Ice Cream Social
· 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Peabody Summer Choir
First Day of School:
Monday, August 16th – 8:31 a.m. to 11:43 a.m.
All staff, children and parents present will start the day outside, weather permitting at 8:30 a.m. Children should line up in the appropriate grade level location to meet their teacher. ALL children, family members attending and staff will start the first day of school outside with the raising of the flag, pledge of allegiance, whole school picture and side walk chalk! Students walking alone or riding buses will be directed to the appropriate place including kindergarteners. Preschool students will not be attending these activities due to an open house from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. the same day in the preschool classroom. We ask that all children who have a Peabody t-shirt wear it on the first day as we will be taking a whole school picture from the roof of the school as part of the opening day activities. School colors are blue and yellow for those without a t-shirt.
School dismisses at 11:43 a.m. – no lunch is served.
Wilson AM kindergarteners attend from 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
PM attend 10:30 a.m. – 11:43 a.m.
Flood KED kindergarteners attend 8:31 a.m. – 11:43 a.m.
Kindergarten Back to School Night 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in classrooms
Tuesday, August 17th is our first full day of school
from 8:31 a.m. to 3:13 p.m.
Playground supervision begins at 8:20 a.m. and all students leave the school grounds unless accompanied by an adult by 3:25 p.m. each day. On this day staff will practice entering and exiting the building with our children according to how they come to school or leave – walkers, riders, car pick up, or Panther Pride. All staff members will eat with their children in the cafeteria for the first week – all in an effort to model for children our Peabody Community Expectations.
Other Important Dates:
· Western Welcome Week Parade – Saturday, August 21st at
9:30 a.m. Come join the Peabody community and walk together in this historic Littleton event. Starts at the Educational Services Center on Crocker.
· Tuesday, August 24th – Back to School Night for 1-3 grades:
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. 4/5 Community: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Both sessions begin in the Cafeteria. This is an adult only evening.
· Wednesday, September 1st –
1st Late Start Day – school begins at 10:31 a.m.
· Friday, October 1st – 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
50th Anniversary Celebration of Peabody Elementary
Thank you in advance for what I know will be an awesome start to the 2010-2011 school year! I look forward to seeing you on August 12th at
our community picnic starting at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy the remaining days of vacation!
And yes - I believe,
Kristin
Kristin Ryan
Principal
303.347.4625
kryan@lps.k12.co.us