eNews

Tamarac Elementary Families,

We look forward to our students returning to school on September 8th!  Please review the information below as you prepare for your child's first day of school.

Handbook 
An Elementary Parent/Student Handbook has been posted on the elementary school webpage.  Please review this important resource throughout the year for information on day-to-day operations, policies, procedures, and other important information and resources for elementary parents and caregivers.

Before and After Care
Before and after care is available for students in grades K-5 in the elementary building by Healthy Kids Programs. Before care is available from 7:00AM - 8:45 AM. After care is available until 6:00 PM.  For questions, please contact the program director Renee Morin at renee@healthykidsprograms.com or 845-307-4177 ext 1025. 

Arrival and Dismissal for Drop-Off/Pick-Up Students
Arrival and dismissal procedures for students will be the same as last year. Instruction begins at 8:45 AM. Children entering the school building after 8:55 AM are considered tardy and must be signed in with Mrs. Sargood at the main office by an adult.

Arrival - Student drop off will be in the front of the building in the inner loop (or main parking lot for parents wishing to park and cross their child to the building themselves). Students who are dropped off in the inner loop will be met by an adult crossing guard and crossed safely to the building entrance area. The inner loop drop-off area is a no standing zone from 8:30-9:00 AM daily. No cars are permitted in the bus loop in front of the elementary building from 8:30-9:00 AM while buses are arriving and unloading students.  

Dismissal - For students picked up by a parent or caregiver, dismissal will occur alphabetically between 3:10 and 3:25 PM with students exiting through the same doors as last year (A-F through cafeteria doors, G-O through center doors, P-Z through PK/K wing doors).  A brief form notifying us of the child's regular pick-up routine will be provided and should be completed by parents/caregivers within the first days of school.  As the school year continues, a permission note must be provided by a parent/caregiver if the child is to be picked up by someone other than the individual indicated on the child's routine pick-up form. 

Transportation
The transportation department has been sending letters home to families notifying them of bus routes and approximate pick-up and drop-off times.  Please be advised that these times are approximate as we work to fine-tune bus runs during the first week of school.  On the first day of school, students (especially PK and kindergarten students) will be provided with time for pictures and extra hugs before they have their very first bus ride.  We thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility!

Morning kickball
We are planning on offering Coach Pryde's morning kickball program again for the 2022-23 school year beginning on September 12th. Please stay tuned for additional updates and announcements. The morning kickball program is for students in grades 3-5, only.  The kickball program starts at 7:30 AM, and no formal registration is needed. Students may be dropped off by a parent on days that they wish to participate.  Supervision is not available for students attending kickball prior to 7:30 AM, so parents should not be dropping their child off for kickball before 7:30 AM (except for students who are also registered in the elementary school before care program). If kickball is canceled, families are notified as soon as possible via the district website/app/social media.  This was a very popular program last year that benefited students socially, physically, and emotionally. We are excited to be bringing it back!

Supply drop-off
Parents and students are encouraged to drop off school supplies to their child's classroom on September 7 from 4:30-6:00 PM.  

I am eager to have the children back in the building, but for now, enjoy these last days of summer!

Sincerely,

Kelly Onorato
Tamarac Elementary Principal