Manton Elementary Newsletter

Important dates to remember:

• February 15th: Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00
• February 16th: Half day (Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-3:00)
  
• February 19th: No School (Teacher PD)

News for You:

• Parent/Guardian Verified Pick-up Form: We will mail home any verification pick-up forms we have yet to receive. We only need a FEW more before we can start our dismissal process!
• End of the day changes: Please refrain from contacting your child's teacher through Seesaw about any end of the day changes for your child. Please get in touch with the elementary office about these changes. We are in the process of creating an elementary office Seesaw page!
• Other helpful reminders about new dismissal procedures:
• Walkers will walk out with their class and proceed to the appropriate crossing guard.
  
• Students who walk to their parent's vehicles in the parking lot: Parents/guardians MUST pick up their child at the parent pick-up location. Again, this ensures your child's safety.
  
• Staggered release times: Once we start our new dismissal procedure, the release times are listed below. Again, this will start when we begin our new dismissal procedures, and we will let you know when that will begin. Thanks!
• Kindergarten: 2:58
  
• 1st grade: 3:01
  
• 2nd grade: 3:04
  
• 3rd grade: 3:07
  
• 4th grade 3:10
  
• Sick season: It's that time of the year when sickness occurs often. To combat the spread of any illnesses, please remember that to return to school, your student must be fever, vomit, and diarrhea-free for 24 hours.
• Popcorn Fridays: Parent/Guardians, popcorn Fridays are back! Students will get a bag of popcorn one Friday of the month (usually the last Friday). We are asking students to bring in $.25 per month to help offset the cost of the popcorn. This is not mandatory, and we thank you for your help! *Our next Popcorn Friday will be on Friday, January 26th!
• Family Engagement Nights: The dates for our family engagement nights/events are below. More information will come out leading up to the event. Thank you!
• Family Math Night
  
• Family Reading Night
  
• VIP Days (bring in someone special to have breakfast with)
  
• April 5th (4th grade)
  
• April 12th (3rd grade)
  
• April 19th (2nd grade)
  
• April 26th (1st grade)
  
• May 3rd (Kindergarten)
  
• 100th day of school: The 100th day of school is coming soon! We are around 13 days away, so it will be during the week of February 5th (we will confirm the date soon).
• Manton Wrestling Club: See the information below about signing up your child for Manton's wrestling club. This begins on January 23rd!
• Maple Street Drop-off: Parents/guardians, you will see a change with Maple Street starting on Monday. Please use your best judgment on dropping off your child. More permanent changes will occur in the future.

We still need many student pick-up forms returned. Please send this in with your child as soon as possible. Please continue to be patient, and we hope to start the new process soon. Thank you!

Student pick-up form: Parents will complete a form that verifies who can pick up their child. This form will be sent home in your child's Friday folder. All forms must be returned so we can move forward with the new dismissal plan! Thanks! (You can see the verified pick-up form below)

Orderly, single file classroom lines: Teachers will lead their class to the busses and then the parent pickup location in an orderly, single file line.

Student pickup location: Students will be dropped off by their teacher to the verified person on the west side of the buses by the 5th St. Gym Entrance. This means no parents can pick up their student on Maple St. or in front of the elementary office. Families are encouraged to park in the 5th St. Gym parking lot.

Staggered dismissal times:

• Kdg: 2:58
  
• 1st: 3:01
  
• 2nd: 3:04
  
• 3rd: 3:07
  
• 4th: 3:10

Pickup changes: If you need to change who is picking up your student and they are not on the verified list. You will need to call the elementary office by noon that day. Any calls after that, the student will be dropped off in the office. The person picking up the student must have a driver's license to verify they are who they are.

If you want to be a part of the PTO, we meet approximately once a month for about an hour. We aim for parents and teachers to collaborate to supplement and enrich your student's educational experience! Our next meeting will be on February 1, at 6:00 p.m. in the elementary staff lounge. Thanks!

• Most Improved Attendance
• Students who were absent a lot at the beginning of the year and show improved attendance by the end of the year will receive an award.
• 95% or higher Award
• Students who were present 95% or higher will receive an attendance award at the end of the year.
• Classroom goals
• We aim to have a 90% or higher attendance rate in each classroom for ten days in January. Classrooms will receive an incentive for achieving this!