Matoaka Monday Memo

Matoaka Elementary Family Newsletter- June 5, 2023

A Few Notes from Mrs. Gryszko

Matoaka Families,

We are so grateful to our PE staff, centers staff, and PTA for coordinating a fun filled Matoaka Field day! The students had such a wonderful day! We appreciate all of our parent volunteers for helping students throughout the day.

We have two more weeks of end of year activities as wind down our school year. Please review information classroom teachers send regarding specific details for each grade.

Our students are finished with end of year assessments with just a small group of make up testing and retake testing to close out our testing window.

Please remember, this Friday, June 9th is a student holiday for staff PD/work day and high school graduations.

We also need your help with morning arrival. Please do not let students out of cars until 9:25 when staff are present on the sidewalk. There are no staff members outside prior to 9:25 to supervise. Cars should also stay in the single drop off line for safety of all getting out of cars. Do not go around other cars in line.

Thank you all for your support of Matoaka Elementary School!

A Note from Nurse Leanne

Attendance Registration Secretary Information CHANGE

Please send attendance notes and emails to Colleen Calhoun using the email colleen.calhoun@wjccschools.org

Our attendance secretary, Ms. Terri Shannon, had to leave Matoaka unexpectedly due to family needs. We will miss having her in our office!

Thank you!

Rising 6th Grade James Blair Parents

Are you the parent of an incoming sixth grader at James Blair Middle School? Consider learning about the Parent-Teacher-Student Association! We are a growing organization and have lots of opportunities to participate, from minimal efforts to more involved positions. Please consider attending our next meeting, Wednesday, June 7th at 4:15 pm in the JBMS Front office conference room, or via zoom at

https://wjccschools.org.zoom.us/j/3296532035. Please visit our website at https://jbms-ptsa.memberhub.com for more information, or email JBMS.PTSA@gmail.com to let us know you are interested!

Students' Personal Cell Phones and Smart Watches Must Be Off at School

WJCC policy for elementary students indicates personal cell phones and smart watches must be off and in backpacks during the school day and during dismissal. Teachers will have students put phones and watches in backpacks if they are out during the school day and at dismissal.

Parents should call the office at 757-564-4001 for questions, dismissal information, etc. Messages will be given to the teachers/students as appropriate.

We can NOT change a students' dismissal procedure via text/call from parent to students' personal device.

A few reminders...

Parent Pick Up Car Line

Our car line can begin lining up out front of the school at 3:55. This process is moving along smoothly and is finished by approximately 4:10. Please be on time pick up your car rider student. Thank you!

No Glass Containers Please

We have had some glass containers sent in lunches break, causing safety concerns. Please avoid glass containers for water and food. Thank you!

Smart Phones and Smart Watches

WJCC policy indicates that students' smart phones and smart watches are off and put away during the school day. Thank you for supporting this effort!

Communication with Teachers

There is a lot of information that has been shared with parents. Contact your child's teacher if you have questions about classroom routines. Email is the best way to get in touch with your child's teacher, and you can call the school at 757-564-4001 to leave a message with one of our secretaries to share with the teacher.

Our teachers' first responsibility is supervision and instruction of students in their class. They will not respond immediately. Please contact the office for immediate assistance.

Partnering WITH our teachers is one of the best ways to have a great year! Our teachers are appreciative of your support with helping to uphold school and classroom expectations.

Parent Pick Up Car Tags

If you need a car tag, please come to the office with your ID, AFTER 10:00 am.

In person Pick Ups in Office

Early Releases must be completed PRIOR to 3:30 with ID in the office by an approved parent, guardian, or emergency contact. Please send in a note or email Linda Jacot at linda.jacot@wjccschools.org to indicate an early release.

Transportation Changes

Changes must be received in the office PRIOR to 3:00 pm each day. This is to ensure communication to teachers and accurate dismissal processes.

Questions about Transportation?

Transportation Dispatch:
(757) 565-0808

Option 2 is for Normal School Day
Hours of Operation: 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m

Email Matoaka's receptionist, Linda Jacot, at linda.jacot@wjccschools.org for Matoaka-specific transportation information.

WJCC Child Nutrition Services and Meals Information

Information about student meals through WJCC can be found on the WJCC Child Nutrition Services page.

Families are invited to complete the free and reduced lunch application. Matoaka no longer qualifies for providing free meals to all students this year. Other schools in WJCC do qualify for all students receiving free/reduced meals.

Meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are:

Elementary: $1.65 for breakfast and $3.10 for lunch
Middle: $1.75 for breakfast and $3.20 for lunch.
High: $1.85 for breakfast and $3.40-$4.15 for lunch
Milk only: $.75

WJCC Student Meals Information Page

Click here for menus, lunch prices, free/reduced lunch application, and more!

Lunch Visitors

Lunch visitors are permitted while following the guidelines below:

Lunch visitors MUST be parents/guardians/ER contacts listed in Parent/Student Vue.
Visitors MUST come to the office to sign in on the Ident A Kid system with ID and receive a visitor sticker.
Lunch visitors are for their child only.
Lunch visitors should sign out in the office after their child's lunch time. Lunch visitors are not permitted at recess or back in the classroom unless they are scheduled as volunteer (with completed WJCC online volunteer application on file) with the teacher.