SVE Family Newsletter

Welcome Back for the 2023 - 2024 school year!

My name is Monique Lara, PROUD Principal of Sun Valley Elementary!

We are excited to welcome all of our students back for another year of fun and engaging learning! We want to assure you that the safety of ALL of our students is our #1 PRIORITY!

Below you will find information for the following:

• Meet the Teacher
• Instructional Hours
• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
• School Supplies
• Visitor Policy
• Student Early Check Outs
• Transportation Information
• Traffic Flow Map
• First Day of School Information
• Apptegy
• Attendance
• Monthly Events (including a link to our school calendar)
• And more!

Our theme this year is "Adventure Awaits". Learning is always a journey.

PLEASE be sure you review the information provided in this newsletter! This information will be important to ensure we have a smooth and safe school year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (210) 645-7570.

Monique Lara, Principal

slara9716@swisd.net

The Southwest ISD app is available to download free from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. Download it today! 😀

This new mobile app will help students, parents, and community members know what is happening around the District and on campus from their phones.

Most families use their phones as a primary means of communication, so we’ve created an app that is custom-built to our schools for smartphones. On the app, students, parents, and the community can read the latest announcements, locate staff contact information, review upcoming events, find important documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications. Always be in the know, with Southwest ISD on the go!

Download for Android: https://bit.ly/3zBUR82

Download for iPhone: https://apple.co/3zAa5dN

Learn more about the app here: www.swisd.net/mobileapp/

Curbsmart pick up placards (tags) will be given out tonight at Meet the Teacher. If you are unable to attend, we will send them home on the 1st day of school.

Warning Bell 8:05am

Instruction Begins 8:10am

Dismissal Begins 3:40pm

Please be patient! We will have more traffic than usual on the first few days of school, which means drop off and pick up times will take longer. Be sure to plan accordingly!

Walkers: enter and exit through the gate located at Hallie Spirit or off of Sun Valley.

Car riders: will be picked up and dropped off in the front of the building in the carline. Please see the traffic flow map below and stay in the car line and DO NOT exit your vehicle.

The map below is the recommended flow of traffic for drop off and pick up.

Please DO NOT park in the residential areas in the back of the school.

If you do not live within the walker zone, you must come through the carline. We will not release students who live outside the walker boundaries to the walker area.

Students are encouraged to bring a backpack to school to hold school materials and supplies. Backpacks do not need to be transparent or mesh, but they must be appropriate for school and not violate dress code standards. Campus administrators may determine whether a backpack is appropriate or inappropriate and take appropriate steps to address any related concerns. Parents, please speak to your children regarding appropriate and inappropriate items to bring to school in their backpacks.

Begins 9/5/2023

If you have any questions regarding the after school challenge program, please call the Community Ed Department at (210) 622-4345.

The district is providing all registered students with school supplies. There may be some supplies that will be requested by your child's classroom teacher that are specific to their grade level. If this is the case your child's teacher will communicate that with you. Please click on the button below to see a list of school supplies being provided by SWISD.

Visitors to campuses are required to have their picture IDs available at all times. Parents will not be allowed entry past the front offices of each campus, nor will they be allowed to meet with or sign out a student without a picture ID. In case of parent emergencies, when someone other than the parent picks up a student, that individual must be listed on the approved emergency contact list AND have a valid picture ID. Phone or text verifications will not be accepted. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, proper identification and parent permission granted on the emergency contact list are the only ways to prevent unauthorized individuals from picking up students.

To ensure a safe and smooth dismissal daily, the district has designated late afternoon check-out times for all campuses. For elementary campuses, 3:00 p.m. is the latest that a parent may sign out a student before dismissal. Any special circumstances may be discussed with and approved by the campus administration.

Lunch visits will be allowed on the student’s birthday and once a month on a day that the campus principal designates for a special occasion related to district/campus goals, including student achievement, attendance, and customer service. Parents may only bring lunch for their child. Sharing meals and offering lunch to other students is not permitted. (Perfect Attendance/Student of the Month)

We owe it to our children to prioritize attendance: It's what our children NEED and DESERVE! Attendance is the #1 predictor in academic achievement.

Monthly Attendance Incentive...Lunch with your student.

If your child has perfect attendance for the month, you will receive a ticket for you to join your child for lunch.

• Guests MUST bring their ID to be scanned (District Policy)
• ID must clear in our system (if a guest is NOT cleared through the system, they will NOT be able to join the student for lunch)
• Limit 2 guests
• During your child's regular scheduled lunch time (see times below 👇 )
• During the 1st week of the month:
• Tuesday: PK/1st/5th
• Wednesday: Kinder & 3rd
• Thursday: 2nd & 4th
• Outside lunch will be allowed on the day you join your child for lunch
• This will begin in October for September's attendance.

***This incentive is an exception to the NO OUTSIDE food policy***

8/18: Meet the Teacher 4:30-6:30pm

8/21: 1st Day of School (instruction begins at 8:10am)

• Building opens at 7:30am for students
• Walker Gate closes at 7:55 am
• Announcements begin at 8:00am
• Warning bell rings at 8:05am
• Tardy bell rings at 8:10 am
• Students are expected to be in their classroom by 8:10 am
• Students will have breakfast in the classroom. Breakfast ends at 8:00am.
  
• If your child has an appointment in the morning, drop them off after with a doctor's note so they will be marked PRESENT for the day!
• If your child is tardy (8:10am or later), please park in one of the visitor parking spots and walk your child inside the school so you can sign them in...DO NOT PARK in the Emergency Lane AND DO NOT drop your child and go.
• NO student sign-outs after 3:00 pm

In order to maximize instructional time, students must bring their lunch with them from home or eat the free lunch provided by the school cafeteria! No lunch drop offs throughout the school day will be allowed.

Goodie bags are allowed and will be passed out at the end of the day! Students must place them in their backpack until they get home.

• Must contain ONLY pre-packaged, individually wrapped snacks!
• Candy is allowed
• NO gum
• NO toys!

Cupcakes are allowed this year! They must be store bought!

Goodie bags and cupcakes are NOT allowed per Pre-K and Head start guidelines.