This Week at Peterson - September 03, 2024

Week of September 3rd:

Principal's Message: Please review the following updates for events happening at Peterson and throughout HBCSD:  Dear Peterson Families, Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!  This is a very lengthy newsletter, but please take the time to review this in full detail as it will ensure we all get off to a great start!  REMINDER: the first day of school is a MINIMUM DAY! Parking Lot / Drop-off / Pick-up Safety: One of the most important things we do each day, is ensure safe arrival and departure of our students.  This requires the cooperation and participation of every single member of the Peterson community.  The manner in which families drive and walk through our campus lots plays a significant role in this daily task.  Please review the following brief reminders: -Students are only to exit curbside and only in the yellow cone zone -Do not park in either of the drop-off lanes -The left drop-off lane is for 'through' traffic only, do not EVER allow students to exit cars -The right drop-off lane is for immediate drop-off/pick-up.  Drivers are not to exit their cars -Please observe all staff members and volunteers who are assisting in our parking lots. -All T.K. and Kinder families must walk their students directly to their teachers through Gate 1 -Ms. Serafano's students enter through Gate 4 (next to the office) -Mr. Guenther's students enter through Gate 5 -All other 1st - 5th students enter through Gate 7 Please note that If you are dropping off TK/K and upper grade children, you must drop your TK/K child off in the Kinder yard, exit back through Gate 1 at the Kinder yard and then walk your upper grade student to their appropriate gate.  Parents are not allowed to walk through campus during morning drop-off.  Students are not to be dropped off prior to 8:30.  All gates are locked at 8:45 and any students arriving late must check in through the front office at that time.  1st through 5th grade families are welcome to walk their students directly to their classrooms for the first day of school.  Beginning on Wednesday, September 4th, all students will walk themselves to their classrooms.  Please review the attachment titled 'Peterson Map with Teacher's Gates'.  All gates on campus are clearly marked with their assigned numbers.   School Communications: You will receive a weekly communication each Sunday afternoon at 5:00p.m. in addition to weekly classroom updates and a weekly PTA update.  Please be sure to check these newsletters as well as our school marquee and and our school website to ensure you have the most up to date information.  Throughout the school year we will continue to use the Parent Square platform.  Please note that you will receive these newsletters at your 'Contact 1' and 'Contact 2' email addresses you entered when you completed your students' online registration.  We strongly encourage you to also download the ParentSquare app for your phone/device and to allow push notifications in order to receive all updates as soon as they are published.   Breakfast & Lunch for 2024-2025: School breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered free of charge throughout the 2024-2025 school year.  Please refer to the HBCSD Food Services website for additional information, including current menus and featured items, throughout the year.  HBCSD Food Services Website E-Bikes & Elementary Schools: This is a reminder that as per Board policy, no e-bikes are allowed on our elementary campuses.  Students are welcome to ride their traditional bikes to school.  Bikes on campus must be walked from the sidewalk all the way to the bike rack where they must be locked. Students must obey all traffic laws at all times.   Attendance / Daily Bell Schedule: Please review the Peterson Bell Schedule included in the attachments and posted on our website.  Attendance is important to all students, regardless of grade, and plays a significant factor in our Dolphins' high-quality learning experiences and high student achievement.  We strongly encourage you to plan your family trips over the scheduled breaks we have in place.  If your child is truly sick, please keep them home to recover.  Students must be fever, vomit and diarrhea free for 24-hours before returning to school.   In order to maximize learning time and avoid classroom interruptions, please be sure your child arrives to school on time each and every day.  The state continues to strongly encourage all of us to improve attendance for students and as such, many school awards and accolades include attendance rates as part of the criteria.  For the 2024-2025 school year, we are able to assign Independent Studies for students who will be absent for four days or more.  Please note that this requires a two-week notice through the front office.   As a reminder, students who were on attendance contracts during the 2023-2024 school year will continue to be on attendance contracts through Trimester 2 during the 2024-2025 school year.   With Dolphin Pride, Dr. Smith-Johnson Principal P.S. Don't forget that the first day of school will follow an 'Early Release' bell schedule.  The Peterson bell schedule is attached as a pdf to this posting and is also available via the school website.   NOTE:  At this time, the TK program at Peterson has reached capacity.  All new Peterson/Smith/Seacliff TK families will be welcomed to enroll in the Hawes TK program or we are happy to place you on the Peterson waitlist.

School News

 
Counselor's Corder:  A Message from Ms. Pauw:

Hello Families,

My name is Ms. Mei Pauw and I am excited to be starting my second year as Peterson Elementary's School Counselor.  Similar to last year, I will be going into classrooms during the school year to teach social-emotional lessons on various topics to all Peterson students.  ​Please reach out if you have any questions at mpauw@hbcsd.us  I look forward to an amazing year with our Dolphins!

Sincerely,

Ms. Pauw

School Meals at No Cost to Families:
As a reminder, in the 2024-25 school year, meals are free to all students regardless of family income level. Please encourage your students to enjoy our delicious and nutritious meals! Breakfast, also free, will be available during morning recess, daily.  For additional information, including menus, etc, please visit:  HBCSD Food Services

As a reminder, if you plan on participating/volunteering in any of our special activities in our classrooms or on campus during school hours, please be sure you have the appropriate documents on file, including: our Volunteer Agreement, a negative TB test, and a profile set up in our Raptor system as this will ensure a speedy check-in through the front office upon arrival. ALL visitors must always check in and out through the front office.  

PTA News

Please note: marquee birthday announcements will not be available over summer until school resumes in September, and require a two-week notice.   Click here for the Peterson PTA website. District Updates

Click here to access the HBCSD Food Services Elementary Menus

Upcoming Events

As a reminder, if you plan on participating/volunteering in any of our special activities in our classrooms or on campus, please be sure you have the appropriate documents on file, including: our Volunteer Agreement, a negative TB test, and a profile set up in our Raptor system as this will ensure a speedy check-in through the front office upon arrival.   09/03 Tuesday, First Day of School, Planning Day - Early Release 09/03 PTA's Welcome Coffee (9:00a.m., Learning Commons) 9/10 H.B.C.S.D. Board Meeting (6:00p.m., H.B.C.S.D. Board Room) 09/17 Fall School Pictures 09/19 HBCSD Elementary School - Back-to-School Night (T.K. 5:00-6:00p.m., K-5th 6:00-7:00p.m.) 09/20 Volunteer Orientation & Coffee (9:00a.m., Learning Commons) 09/26 HBCSD Middle School - Back-to-School Night 09/27 Peterson PTA's Outdoor Movie Night 10/03 Peterson PTA Association Meeting (6:00p.m., Learning Commons)

Quick Links Click here for the Peterson Elementary website. Click here for the Peterson PTA website. Click here for the HBCSD District website.   Click here for the HBCSD Food Services website.   Click here to access the HBCSD 2024-2025 School Calendar.  peterson.hbcsd.us @petersonelementaryhb