Matunuck Elementary School
380 Matunuck Beach Road
Wakefield, RI 02879
Principal: Debra Zepp
401-360-1234
Dear Families:
Welcome back to school! We are prepared for an exciting learning year and hope you and your children have had a restful and exciting summer break.
Important dates:
September 7Â Â Â Â School begins
September 20     Welcome Back Picnic   5:30 -7:00 (see attached list)
September 21Â Â Â Â PTO meeting in the Cafeteria at 7:00
September 22 Â Â Grades 1 - 4 Â Â Open House & Report Out - parents only. Please make arrangements for your children. This is an important night for you to meet your child's teacher, learn about your child's program, and hear Matunuck's Classification Report from the Rhode Island Department of Education. Punctuality is appreciated as it is a tight schedule:
                6:00 - 6:30     Grades 2/3 & 3 -4    classrooms open
                6:30 - 7:00     Report Out to parents
                7:00 - 7:30     Grades K, 1 and 2 classrooms open
September 24Â Â Â Â First "Popcorn Friday" 25 cents per bag for each child
September 24Â Â Â Â School Picture Day
Here is some helpful information for you regarding the start of school:
The first day: K-1-2 students meet in cafeteria and sit where their teacher sign is located.
Adults will be there to help.
                  3-4 students meet in the gym. Sit where your teacher sign is posted.
·       Students must be in the building no later that 8:44 so they are in their classrooms for the 8:49 start of day. If dropping off children, continue to the back of the school, wait your turn to get to the supervisor, and then let children out of the car by the door closest to the sidewalk if possible. Be mindful that there is traffic behind you and long good-byes create traffic problems. Â
·       If you choose to walk your child into the building, park your car in front of the school and use the cross-walk to enter the building.
·       Dismissal is 3:17 pm.  Parents who pick up students after school, are to meet and sign out their child in the rear cafeteria.  Follow the "Pick-up" signs leading to a door on the left side of entrance and exit the same way you came in.  Please: always send a note to your child's teacher when you will be picking up your child.  Identification will be requested when students are released and be sure to have listed anyone you wish to pick up your child on the Emergency Card.  We strictly enforce policy related to releasing students.  When picking up your child, do block the main foyer at dismissal as all students will need to pass through this area to reach the buses. Do not loiter
in the main lobby or in front of the building. Classes are proceeding to busses at this time.
·       Students who arrive after 8:49 are marked tardy. If your child arrives after the bus duty front or back-of-school assistants have entered the building, an adult must escort the student into the building and check him/her in at the office.  Whenever possible, please make doctor/dentist appointments outside of school hours to avoid early dismissal and schedule family vacations during school vacations.
·       Emergency Cards Please complete these with care and return immediately. It is very important for the school to know who can (or cannot) pick up your child. We will not release any child without notification in writing from a parent/guardian or unless the name and phone number is written on the emergency card. In the event of illness or early release, it is important to know who can pick up your child quickly.
·       Chartwells food service: If you wish to pay money in advance and make an account, please go to www.skschools.net and click on Lunch Menu. Chartwells has provided the NEW provider for setting up accounts. Any funds left over from last year will be transferred to your child's new account. Checks payable to: SK School Dept.   Lunch is $2.45 and milk is $.50    Reduced lunch is $.40 and student
breakfast is $1.25. Breakfast can be purchased daily beginning at 8:25 AM. Â Forms to apply for free and reduced lunch will come home the first week of school.
·       Manager Karen Orabona at 360-1055 can answer any questions regarding food service. Â
· Ocean State Transit Bus Company is our transportation provider this year.  Please watch the local newspapers for routes and times of pick-ups. You may also find information at www.skschools.net at the end of August. Phone: 284-3920 Lynn Buckley
·       If you are interested in before/after school daycare, please call Jen Martin at the YMCA, 783-3900.
·       School will begin promptly at 8:49 am.  Students may arrive no earlier than 8:25. Students having breakfast may enter the cafeteria at 8:25 and see Mrs. Alfred.  On the first day of school K - 1-2 students are to go directly to the cafeteria to meet their teachers. Grades 3 -4 will meet teachers in the gym (unless they plan to have breakfast first.)
·       For safety reasons, we require that all pedestrians use the crosswalk when walking to and from vehicles during school hours.  Students and adults are not to walk between buses or cars.  Always drive slowly in the school parking lot. Passing a school bus will be reported to SK Police.
·       What to wear: Sneakers on Physical Education day. Clothing -make certain the bottom of the tops touch the top of the bottoms. No teeny tops or short shorts. This helps avoid embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions.
·       Common Planning Time - Every Monday, teachers will have Common Planning Time from 2:28 to 3:08 pm.  Assemblies and special activities are planned for students supervised by the principal and teacher assistants each Monday.  Our focus this year along with community will be math and PBIS.  However, the school day will technically end on Mondays at 2:28, and children may be picked up at this time. Please send a note for 2:28 pick-up on Mondays and your child will be in the office ready for you.
·       October is state assessment month for all children in grades three through five. Please make every effort to have your child present on assessment days. Specific dates will be published in September.
Teachers also have individual voice mail. Â Phone numbers for voice mail will be sent home by the teachers and will be published on the school website at mt.skschools.net
Listserve - If you would like to receive school and district news electronically please send an email to knoon@skschools.net to be added to our listserve.
An electronic copy of the Matunuck School Handbook will soon be available on our website mt.skschools.net. Please read and discuss it with your children. If you need a hard copy, please contact the office: 360-1234.
WANTED:
·       If you have access to tennis balls, please drop off in the office. We use these on chairs to protect our floors.
·       Weeders for our front gardens
We look forward to a wonderful year with our children and their families!
Mrs. Zepp
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