August 16, 2010

Dear Smallwood Families,

It is hard to believe that school is just around the corner and that I am writing my Welcome Back Letter!  I hope that all of you have had a great summer and enjoyed some time relaxing and having fun with your families.  It is my privilege to greet all of you as we prepare to embark on the 2010-2011 school year.  A very special welcome goes to all of the new children and families of Smallwood Drive Elementary School. We are very pleased to have all of our new students become part of our special community!

As we begin the new year, I am hopeful that the following highlights will prove helpful:

• School Supply Drop Off will be on Tuesday, September 07.  Teachers will be available in their classrooms from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.  This provides a perfect opportunity for you and your children to meet their teacher and for them to get settled into their classrooms before Opening Day.

• The first day of school will be on Wednesday, September 08.  After review by the Transportation and Business Departments, it was determined that our official school day will remain at 7:45 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.  Students may arrive beginning at 7:30 a.m. when supervision will be provided in the main hallway. The school day begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. when we begin morning announcements followed by Project ACES.  Please have your children in school so they will be in their classrooms ready to begin at this time.  Dismissal will begin at 1:45 p.m. with our walkers and “After-School Program” students followed by those who take the bus.

• A packet of very important information will be sent home with your child/children on the first day of school.  Please take the time to read through this packet and complete and return any forms to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.  In the past, several forms were sent home to be completed.  To make this task easier for parents, many were condensed into one single form.  We hope this is helpful!

• Go to School Night will be held on Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. for Kindergarten through 2^nd grades and on Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. for grades 3^rd through 5^th.  On these nights, classroom and special area teachers will provide an overview of curricula as well as review expectations, procedures, etc.

This night is highly informative and will answer many of the questions you may have.

• The Smallwood Parent Teacher Association is exceptional!  This dynamic group is extremely active and provides many wonderful programs and opportunities for all of our students and families throughout the entire year.  I encourage all of our families to become involved with our PTA and with our school!  Smallwood truly is a “neighborhood school” and it is very easy to become connected in a variety of meaningful ways.  Membership information will be included in the packets referred to above.  Additionally, you can find a volunteer sign-up form on the SDS PTA website at www.amherstschools.org

By filling out and sending in the form you will be added to the PTA list-serve and will receive important PTA-related information throughout the school year.

• I recently met with our PTA President, Janice Zapfel and Grants Chair, Becky Krawiec to discuss funding and classroom grants for this year.  The fundraising initiatives undertaken by our PTA provide several thousands of dollars of support to students in all grade levels in the form of classroom materials, equipment, special programs and field trips.  With the tight school budget this year, these grants are even more crucial.  If possible, please support this year’s fundraising efforts.  Any profits from these sales will directly benefit our students.

• Please take the time to read the morning Drop-Off Procedures (enclosed).  Following these will greatly assist with traffic flow in the morning and more importantly, help ensure the safety of our students.

• If you will be picking up your child at the end of the school day, please read the Sign-Out Procedures (also enclosed).  

In conclusion, I am very excited to begin another school year at Smallwood!  I am eager to see all of you and your children in a very short while.  Please always remember to never hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I will do my very best to help out in any way that I am able.

Enjoy these last couple of weeks!

Sincerely,

Daniel R. Lewis

Principal