We are off to a terrific start of the school year! The students are doing an amazing job of getting into the daily routine and knowing their way around the school. It's wonderful to see our students bringing down the attendance each morning and returning books to the library. Our students come ready to learn each day and are enthusiastic about school, we can't thank our families enough for that. On behalf of the PC staff, I thank you for sharing your children with us and your support in their academic success!

You may have seen your child bring a "Caught Being a Positive Planet" ticket home. Students are learning The Mars Way of making good choices, always be kind, ready to learn, and stay safe while here at the PC in support of our new positive behavior initiative this year. Students may turn in their positive planet tickets they receive from a PC staff member to the office for a small prize. Each day, Mrs. Semler picks tickets at random to be placed on the Principal's 50/100 Clubs. Once a row is filled on the bingo board, those students earn a larger reward. Once a board is filled, the whole school will celebrate with a school-wide reward. The students are doing a great job being "Positive Planets!"

Drop-Off: Parent drop-off will be from 8:35-9:00 behind the school at the cafeteria entrance. Parents will pull up in lane 1 to the drop-off area and your child will exit the car by themselves. Please only use lane 1, this is for the safety of all of our students. Any student arriving after 9:00 will need to report to the front office and will be marked tardy.

AM Kindergarten Pick-up: Dismissal is at 11:40 AM. Please line up along Doc's Way. Please enter Doc's Way off of Three Degree Road or enter through the Primary Center entrance off of Route 228. Proceed down the hill, past the Elementary School and turn around in the Lefcon Field Parking Lot to make your way back in line along Doc's Way for pickup. Please do not cut through and line up in the Mars Elementary School's parking lot or block the Elementary School's intersection while in line.

PM Kindergarten Drop Off is between 12:30-12:45 PM. Please line up along Doc's Way. Please enter Doc's Way off of Three Degree Road or enter through the Primary Center entrance off of Route 228.

Proceed down the hill, past the Elementary School and turn around in the Lefcon Field Parking Lot to make your way back in line along Doc's Way for drop-off. Please do not cut through and line up in the Mars Elementary School's parking lot or block the Elementary School's intersection while in line. Students will enter through the FRONT kindergarten doors located in the front of the building. To ensure the safety of all students, students are to exit all vehicles from the passenger side onto the curb ONLY. Any student arriving after 12:45 PM, will need to enter through the main office accompanied by an adult.

End-Of-Day Parent Pick-up begins at 3:25 PM: If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, you must send a note to school in the morning with your child. Your child will need to give the note to their teacher. Parents MUST have their large district issued window card displayed to have your child released to your vehicle. If you need a window card, please pick one up in the PC office. Parents without a window card must park their vehicle in a designated parking spot, enter the PC office, and sign your child out.

For the safety of our students, please comply with our drop-off/dismissal procedures and follow traffic control communications from our District staff members on duty during these times.

Parents, please always bring your driver's license when entering the Primary Center. The safety of our students is our number one priority.

The use of personal technology, mainly smart watches has become a major distraction in the classroom already this school year. Parents, please refrain from contacting your child throughout the day on their individual smart watch device. Students should also refrain from trying to contact family members using their personal devices. If a parent needs to get a message to their child, please contact the main office. We always permit a child to call a parent using the office phone if needed. If a student is easily distracted by their smart watch and not engaged in instruction, the student will be asked to place the smart watch in their backpack. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

On Wednesday, October 4th, Mars Area Primary Center students will have the opportunity to participate in Mars Area Elementary PTO’s “March for Mars “walk-a-thon.” The events conclude the PTO’s annual “March for Mars” fundraiser, proceeds benefit the organization’s support of educational programs at the District’s elementary schools.

Volunteers serving all District Schools must comply with Mars Area School District Policy 916, which clearly defines roles and requirements for parent /guardians and community members interested in volunteering in our schools. Policy 916 establishes the following three categories for volunteers:

1. Assistive Volunteers

2. Independent Volunteers

3. Volunteer Coaches/Sponsors

To view the definitions of each type of volunteer and the requirements to serve as a volunteer, please consult the PC handbook. All volunteers are based on a need by the classroom teacher, not all classroom teachers require volunteers in their classrooms.

Each year, parents must be board approved to be considered an Independent Volunteer.

Any parent wishing to be considered as a field trip chaperone, must submit their clearances and be school board approved by the December board meeting.

Students buying lunches may pay for them by the day, week, or month for the entire 2023-2024 school year. The cafeteria accepts cash and checks made out to the Mars Area Cafeteria Fund. You may also create an account online for your child. Online payments are available at myschoolbucks.com. You will need your child’s six- digit District ID number that can be provided by your classroom teacher or accessed through your Skyward account. After setting up an account through myschoolbucks.com you have the option to check balances and make payments from your computer or phone. You can also setup email notifications for low balance on your account. There is a fee to prepay using your credit card. There is no fee if you prepay to the school cafeteria.

Cafeteria Prices:

Breakfast with Milk: FREE for K-6 Students

Lunch with Milk: $2.80

Milk Only: $0.65

Today a reader…Tomorrow a leader! Reading Rockets after school program for 1st graders only began on September 25th. Every Monday from September 25th through December 18th when school is in session, Reading Rockets will meet. Students will meet from 3:50-5:00. Information has been sent out and registration has been completed. If any parent decides at any time to register their child, please contact the PC as spaces are still available.

Students missing school due to a vacation must obtain a vacation form from the school office or the district website. Students may not miss more than 10 consecutive school days. Students are not to be excused for more than two vacations/educational trips within a single year. Vacation forms must be submitted to the Primary Center office at least 2 weeks prior to departure. If the proper application is not completed, the absence will be considered an unexcused absence.

Just a reminder that there are no birthday treats of any kind permitted in the Mars Area Primary Center. If you would like to distribute birthday invitations to students in your child’s class, an invitation needs to be provided for ALL students in the class. Students may also donate a book to the PC Library as part of the “Birthday Book Club.” Please contact Mrs. Vandevort for more details.

Parents please be reminded that if your child is absent for any reason, you are required to provide a written excuse for the absence. On the excuse, please provide your child’s first and last name, date of absence, classroom teacher’s name and reason for the absence. A phone call to the school is not required. Please send the note in with your child to give to their teacher.

If you need to pick up your child during the instructional day, please write a note to your child’s teacher letting them know the day and time you will be picking your child up. All AM Kindergarten students need to have an early dismissal no later than 11:00 AM and Grade 1 and PM Kindergarten students may have an early dismissal no later than 3:00 PM.

Any student having to be picked up for an emergency early dismissal or needing to be a car rider for the day of and did not have a note for their teacher, please call the office to let the school know. Our teachers are busy teaching and instructing and may not see their email until the end of the working day. Please call the office and we will relay the message to the classroom teacher.

All kindergarten and new Mars Area School District students in grades K-6 will receive a free #bethekindkid t-shirt through a generous donation from Rhoads Orthodontic Specialists. It is highly encouraged that all students wear their #bethekindkid t-shirts every Wednesday throughout the school year.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Please help the Mars Area Primary Center do our part to help find a cure! On Friday, October 13th students may wish to wear their favorite HAT or dress in PINK to show they have supported this worthy cause. We will be collecting monetary donations the week of October 9-13, 2023. You can also make your donation online using the link provided.https://secure.info-komen.org/site/TR/DIYFundraising/ONE-SEC?px=26498409&pg=personal&fr_id=9961

All donations collected will be added to the District’s total to be sent to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

The Mars Area School District will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week from October 23-27, 2023. Red Ribbon Week is the largest drug-abuse prevention campaign in the nation. Listed below are the spirit days your child can have the opportunity to participate in:

Students may wish to dress in costume on October 31, 2023.

AM Kindergarten: 9:30-10:30

PM Kindergarten & First Grade: 1:15-2:15

Parent Party Helpers who are scheduled to assist, please make other provisions for any younger children. These special parties are ONLY for the students of the Mars Area Primary Center.