Welcome to Parkside!

Information For Our Students and Families

Students and Families,

Our staff is excited to welcome all of you to the 2023-2024 school year. We are especially looking forward to welcoming our incoming 5th graders to our school community. We strive to be a welcoming and safe community built on respect, excellence and equity where each child’s genius is cultivated on their individual pathway towards college and career readiness. Our first day of school is Tuesday, September 5.

Below, you will find some information about the start of the school year. We would also encourage you to visit our school website, https://parkside.mansd.org, throughout the year to stay informed regarding activities and resources that are available at Parkside. You can also follow us on social media (Facebook: The Middle School at Parkside, Instagram: Parkside_Knights, Twitter/X: @ParksideKnights).

If at any time during the school year you have a concern regarding your child, we encourage you to contact the classroom teacher first. If you still need assistance, please contact the school counselor or an administrator immediately to share your concerns.

Thank you,

The Parkside Staff

Aspen and Schedules

Aspen is an important tool for tracking a student's academic progress in each of their classes.

Parents can sign up for family accounts by clicking on this link.

Schedules will be posted in Aspen on Friday, August 18. Families and students can access their schedule through the Aspen portal after that time. We will also have copies of schedules available for pickup at Parkside following the schedule below for those who can't access them online:

Students with last names beginning with A through L

Monday, August 21 9:00AM to 10:00AM

Tuesday, August 22 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Students with last names beginning with M through Z

Wednesday, August 23 9:00AM to 10:00AM

Thursday, August 24 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Note: Schedules might change before the first day of school. All students will get a final printed schedule during homeroom on the first day of school.

Open House for New Students and Families

The administration will be hosting a brief open house for incoming 5th graders and other new students and families on Tuesday, August 29. Families and students will be able to walk the building to help acclimate them before the first day of school. Please feel free to stop in for a brief visit between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.

When: Tuesday, August 29 4:00PM-5:00PM

Where: Parkside

School Supplies

We have new backpacks filled with school supplies available to students who need them. They can be picked up during schedule pick up times or during the Open House for new students. You can also ask your school counselor or social worker at school once we are back.

We recommend that students wait until they meet their teams and teachers to purchase all of their school supplies. Here is a link to the district website with general school supplies listed for those looking to get started on purchasing some of the basics.

Job Openings at Parkside

We still have several open paraeducator positions available at Parkside. These positions offer full benefits. The minimum education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. If you are interested in more information or working as a paraeducator please email Jenn Harrises jharrises@mansd.org.

Arrival and Departure

Morning Arrival

Our school day starts promptly at 7:25AM and our doors open at 7:20AM. Breakfast service will begin at 7:05AM. Students should arrive by 7:20 to ensure they get to their first class on time. As students arrive at Parkside they will proceed to the following areas:

5th and 6th Grade: Rear addition entrance

7th and 8th Grade: Cafeteria Double Doors (basketball court)

Afternoon Dismissal

Classes end at 2:20. Bus students will be dismissed first followed by walkers and riders. Parents should not use Parkside or Gossler's parking lot to pick up students. Students can't access the basketball court or playground until 3:00PM after Gossler's dismissal. Students picking up siblings at Gossler will be supervised in the Parkside cafeteria until Gossler's dismissal time.

Transportation

Students are eligible for bus transportation if they live 1.4 miles or more from Parkside, or in some cases, if they are required to cross busy or dangerous streets to get to school.

Your bus routes are posted on the district website transportation page by August 25. https://www.mansd.org/o/msd/page/bus-schedules-middle-school Please check the district website transportation page for your child's bus #, stop and time. It is recommended that students be at their stops ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled stop time. Parents please note: bus arrival times may vary slightly due to weather, road conditions, or traffic.