Welcome to Orchard Farms Elementary School
				July 23, 2010   Dear Parents & Students of Orchard Farms:   I hope that you have been enjoying a safe and restful summer. This is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends taking part in the summer fun that our area offers to adults and children. There is a considerable amount of time left for those summer activities but it is time to start thinking about returning to school for the 2010-2011 academic year.   The first day of school is Tuesday, August 31st. While this seems like a long time away, it is very close. Work has been underway all summer to clean and ready our school for your return. Mr. Antonio and his crew have been busy and the school looks great. The teachers have been hard at work posting new bulletin boards and readying their lessons. The staff has spent many hours planning the instructional program in the classroom as well as field trips and exciting activities.   The student bus arrival and student drop off procedures are slightly changed from last year. The buses will drop off at the main entrance and the circle is off limits to private vehicles from 8:30-9:10. Students will gather in the cafetorium before being dismissed to their classrooms. Private vehicles must drop students at the west-side, cafeteria entrance. From that location students will walk to the cafeteria. The school day officially begins at 9:00 and ends at 3:00 but parents should plan for some delay in the first few days and begin dropping off no earlier than 8:40. You will notice by the diagram on the reverse of this letter that the road behind the school is for “Emergency Vehicles Only” and is off limits to private vehicles.   For afternoon dismissal, buses will pick up students in the circle and again the circle and the road in the back of the school will be off limits to private vehicles from 2:40-3:20. Students designated as walkers can be dismissed from the side cafeteria exit…the same door as drop off. The west-side & back roads are closed to vehicles in the afternoon for the students` safety. To dismiss a student, an adult must park their vehicle in the parking lot and come to the side entrance. Teacher assistants will have a dismissal sheet with a list of who can dismiss the student. This list is compiled from parent permissions. Permission notes/letters must be sent to the school for each child being dismissed from the “walker” line. Please have your picture ID (license) ready for identification every day as the teacher assistants or their substitutes may not know you.   When dismissing a student from the office; 1.) You must be listed on the Emergency Care Card and 2.) You must show a picture ID (license). This policy will be adhered to at all times per state regulations and for your child`s safety. Please remember to bring your license or other picture ID inside with you to save a return trip to your car. Please refrain from dismissals from the main office between 2:45 and 3:00 except for emergencies.   See you on August 31st for the beginning of a great school year.   Dennis Charpentier                     Principal
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