Whitefield Elementary School

This is a reminder that we will be having a 3 bus run this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon.

Soccer sign-ups are here. If your child in grades 5-8 is interested in playing school league soccer, sign ups are in the hallway across from the library. Practice/ tryouts will be after school on Thursday, September 17th.

Good news! We were able to find another sub bus driver. Starting Monday morning we will be back to having a 4 bus run. Please see the new times for the bus runs ( this closely follows the same bus runs as last year) Remember that these times are only an approximate. Please give some leeway as our drivers get these routes down. It is best to be waiting for the bus about 10 minutes before the pick up and drop off times for the first few days. There will be times when we will still need to follow the 3 bus run ( this is the run times you have had these first two weeks of school) on occasion. It is looking like every Thursday afternoon will be a 3 bus run. We will try to give you a 24 hour notice when this happens and a reminder call that day. There will be a 3 bus run on the afternoons of 09/17 and 09/18. Again we will send out reminders.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the Summer Food Service Program through December 2020. What does this mean to RSU 12 students and families? Free School Meals (breakfast and lunch) for all students until the end of December, 2020. FREE MEALS will be available to all in-school students. FREE MEALS will be available to all remote learning students for parent/guardian pick-up. If your child is a remote learner and you would like to pick up meals for them, please contact their school next week.

Here we are on day two of the 2020/2021 school year. Thank you all for being patient with us as we get into a routine. One thing that was noticed yesterday was that dismissal was a little chaotic. To help move things along and make it a little smoother, we are asking that if you plan on picking your student(s) up everyday after school, please send in a one time note or email aperkins@svrsu.org. They will be put on a daily pickup list and automatically called down for dismissal. If you have sent a note stating you will always pick them up, you will NOT need to text us daily to let us know you are here. You will however need to let us know by 1pm if that plan changes. Students not picked up by parents by the time the buses are about to depart ( even those with a note) will have to go on the bus as we do not offer after school care for students. Please call the school if you have any questions. Also please note that the number to text is for texting only. Do not call that number as we do not answer it on the iPad.

This is an updated letter from Nurse Kendra...there was a typo in the last letter.

September breakfast and lunch menus.

For parents who will be picking their students up at the end of the school day, the number that you need to text to let the school know you are here has changed. The new number is 1-978-489-6017. Please remember to text your name and the name of the student you are picking up. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays we will begin dismissing as students who are being picked up at 1:45pm. On Wednesdays it will be 1:30pm.

Important message from Ms. Kendra, the school nurse:

Due to some last minute and unforeseen bus driver staffing changes, we have had to make some very last minute adjustments to our bus routes. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause. Please be patient with us and understand that the new times are approximate times. Until we get our bus routes down pack and in a routine, please give us a 10 minute leeway before and after the listed times. We will be running a three bus run on most days for the next few months. Unfortunately there will be times when we will be running with just two buses. We will do everything in our power to let parents know a day or more ahead of time when we will be running only 2 buses. Again we thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these unfamiliar times.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS FOR WHES PARENTS Good Afternoon, Our plans are being finalized and we are ready for seeing WHES students on Wednesday, September 2nd. Following are some reminders that have been published in previous emails as well as some new information that everyone needs to be aware of. Please let us know if you have any questions. Masks are required of all students & staff. Staff will provide several times during the day for safe mask-break times. A quick health screening will be conducted by WHES staff before students either board their bus (for those who ride the bus) or enter the school building (for those being transported by parents). If possible, please stay with you child while this screening is conducted in case there is an issue that might require the child remaining home.This will be greatly appreciated. Students must be dropped off at school no earlier than 7:50 a.m. There will be no Early Bird Program at WHES this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Parents of students doing remote learning must turn their contracts into the WHES Office by Thursday, September 3rd. Afternoon pick up of students will begin at 1:50 p.m. and all students must be picked up by 2:05 p.m. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, students cannot be left at school after that time unless they are a part of a prearranged appointment with a staff member or they are a participant in a school-sponsored activity. Students not picked up by 2:05 pm.m. will be placed on the bus that would typically drop them off at either their home or day care provider. The WHES Office will contact parents should this occur. When picking up your child in the afternoon, parents can text Amy Perkins at 207 832-1568 to indicate you are here at school and who you are picking up. The child will then be sent out (you may want to meet them at the door). If you cannot text Amy, simply come to the door and you can use the exterior button to let Amy now you're here and who you are here for. Thanks and we look forward to a great 2020-2021 SY! Mark Mark Deblois, Principal Whitefield Elementary School 164 Grand Army Road Whitefield, ME 04353-3503 (207) 549-7691 Email: mdeblois@svrsu.org "At Whitefield Elementary School We Have PRIDE INSIDE"

Welcome Back Students!!! Looking forward to seeing everyone next week. For those students who participated in the Reading Challenges this summer: Maine Read to Ride and Scholastic Read-A-Palooza - PLEASE bring your completed forms in for your teacher and they will return them to Mrs. Howard. For our Remote Learners - you can mail your forms to the school or if you have the ability to scan or take a picture of your completed form - email to choward@svrsu.org.

For Parents who have chosen to participate in the remote/ distance learning option: Beginning of the school year packets will be going out. Please fill out ALL forms and return to the school, including the free/ reduced meal forms. You may sign up to receive meals. They will be packed up in 2-3 day supplies at a time. You will need to sign up for them and pick up at the school. The cost of these meals is at full price, reduced price or free, depending on what your family is eligible for according to the free/ reduced meal form. If you have any questions, please call the school or email vdill@svrsu.org

To parents who chose the remote/ distance learning option: Please be on the look out for a mailing concerning remote/ distance learning. You should be receiving it in the mail within the next few days.

If you are are former student or had a former student who participated in making the terracotta tiles that hung in the school lobby, you have an opportunity to claim them. These tiles where made and hung in the school lobby around 1989. They have been removed from the lobby and currently in storage . If you would like to have this bit of memory from your time at Whitefield School, please contact the office and set up a time to pick out and pick up your tile. We have limit storage space and will not be able to hold on to them for long. The photos are examples of what we have not the entire collection.

First Grade Supply List: 12 pencils (I have found #2 Ticonderoga pencils to be the best quality) Please have them sharpened. This is a huge time saver! Box of 16 crayons Box of 8 markers Colored pencils 2 large glue sticks 1 Fiskar pointed scissors Plastic pencil box with cover or zippered pouch to hold supplies 1 durable plastic folder with pockets 3 spiral notebooks Small tissue pack to keep at their desk Backpack Water Bottle Daily Snack Needed Classroom Items: Paper towels Lysol or Clorox wipes Please do not send binders, mechanical pencils or toys of any kind. If you are unable to purchase school supplies for your child, please let Mrs. Lamothe know. We will work together to make sure all students have the necessary supplies.

3rd Grade School Supply List crayons (24 pack) colored pencils (24 pack) mechanical pencils (1 package) scissors (1 pair) glue sticks (2) pencil case/box for desk (1) plastic take home folder (1) headphones or earbuds (1) box of tissues for desk WATER BOTTLE (A MUST HAVE) NO BINDERS/NOTEBOOKS

4th grade supply list for 2020/2021

If you are struggling with finding daycare for your school age chid, please consider signing up for the for the Boys and Girls Club of Gardiner. We are still looking at options and trying very hard to bring this program to our school. One option would to possibly be busing our student to another school in the district for this after school program. We need numbers to make this work. The more people who sign up, the more options we have. If you would like to sign your child up for care please visit https://www.bgckv.org/signupforchildcare.html and complete the registration packet. Specific questions about the child care program can be directed to the Boys & Girls Club at 207-582-8458. You can register for this program at

Updated and correct 2020/2021 Bus Schedule. First day of school is Wednesday, September 2nd. No School on Friday, September 4th and Monday, September 6th. Dismissal times will be 2:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will continue to have a dismissal time of 1:30pm.