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Teller Elementary School

Teller Upcoming Dates + Friendly Reminders

08/16/23, 8:20 AM

Hello All! 

 

We are just days away from the first day of school! In order to be prepared for the rest of this week and next, we ask that all families read the newsletter in its entirety. We want our first week of school to be a success for everyone, so we encourage families to reach out with any questions and/or concerns. 

 

  1. New to Teller Family BBQ

As a reminder, we will be hosting a new to Teller family BBQ this Thursday, August 17th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Teller staff parking lot. All new to Teller families are encouraged to come!

 

  1. Teller Meet & Greet

Don’t forget to join us this Thursday, August 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Teller’s Meet & Greet. This event is an opportunity for all Teller families to reconnect with friends and meet the 2023-2024 Teller staff. All teachers (ECE - 5th grade) will be on the blacktop, eagerly waiting to meet their students. 

We are trying something new this year! All Teller students will obtain a “Teller Passport” from their classroom teacher. The purpose of this passport is to encourage students to tour different parts of the school prior to the first day. The last destination will be the Kona Ice truck which will be providing FREE snow cones for all Teller students. A breakdown of passport stops is listed below:

Stop # 1 - All students and families will meet their child’s  teacher(s) on the blacktop and receive a “Teller Passport.” 

Stop # 2 - After your child meets their teacher, they will head into the gym where our specials teachers (art, music, and P.E.) teachers will be stationed. In addition to our specials teachers, many of our afterschool enrichment providers will be in the gym greeting students and answering any questions parents/guardians may have about after school enrichment classes. 

Stop # 3 - From the gym, students will head into the cafeteria to obtain their “lunch number” (also known as their student ID number). It is an expectation that all of our Kindergarten - 5th grade students memorize their student ID number because they will be utilizing this number on a daily basis. 

Stop # 4 - Teller families are encouraged to stop by our newly renovated food pantry and learn more about Teller's Backpack Friends program. 

Stop # 5 - Once your family has visited the four stops listed above, the final stop will be the Kona Ice truck which will be located in the staff parking lot. 

  1. New & Improved Food Pantry

We have some exciting news to share with our amazing community! The Teller Backpack Friends underwent some incredible changes this summer and we can’t wait to show everyone our new and improved space. The food pantry has been relocated  to a new, larger space (Teller cafeteria) and has undergone a complete renovation. The goal of this renovation was to ensure we expanded food options and ensure we were offering as many fresh produce items as possible. 

 

Everything in the pantry is FREE to any Teller family  in need, no questions asked. The program will continue to offer weekly food bags, however, our focus will be on having an open pantry hours every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., as well as every Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The first open pantry day will be Friday, August 25th from 7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

 

To help us with pantry planning, we are asking families who are either interested in weekly food bags, shopping the pantry during open pantry hours, or a combination of the two to fill out this form.  

 

If you are interested in volunteering with The Teller Backpack Friends, you can complete this interest form. Please note that we are still ironing some things out, but we will reach out soon.  

 

Don't forget to come to our Grand Opening this Thursday, August 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the Teller Meet & Greet. The pantry will be open for shopping!  

 

  1. Deadline Approaching - Order School Supplies Now!

If you have not yet ordered school supplies for the 2023-2024 school year, the deadline is quickly approaching. Teller’s PTA has school supply kits on sale until Friday, August 18th.

All supply kits (ECE - 5th grade) are $50 and can be purchased here. 

Please note the following items are not included in the school supply kits and will need to be purchased before the first day of school:

  • ECE - Crib Sheet

  • ECE - 5th Grade: Backpack, Reusable Water Bottle, Lunchbox

  • Kindergarten - 5th Grade: Headphones (Wireless Headphones Prohibited)

  1. Assessment Days

As a reminder, Monday, August 21st and Tuesday, August 2nd are Assessment days. All Kindergarten - 5th grade students will participate in assessment days. Your child will attend the assessment day and time that corresponds to the first letter of their last name. 

 

    Monday, August 21st

Tuesday, August 22nd

8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

First Letter of Last Name: A-F

First Letter of Last Name: Q-U

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

First Letter of Last Name: G-K

First Letter of Last Name: V-Z

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

First Letter of Last Name: L-P

X

It is imperative that you drop off and pick up your child on time. Drop off and pick up procedures are listed below:  

 Here is an aerial view map of drop off and pick up locations.  

Kindergarten Drop Off - Parents/guardians will check their child in at Door 14 (south side of the building), walk them to their classroom, and exit the building through the designated classroom exit door.

Kindergarten Pick Up - When our Kindergarten students finish their assessments, they will go outside to play on the south playground. Parents/guardians can pick their child up from the south playground at their designated pick-up time (listed above). Please note, all parents/guardians will need to sign their child out. 

1st & 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Drop Off - All 1st through 5th grade students will enter the building through the main entrance (Garfield St.). There will be separate tables for each grade-level located outside the main entrance. Parents/guardians will check their child in at their designated grade-level table. Once in the building, all 1st and 2nd graders will go directly to the library to meet their teachers, and 3rd-5th graders will go directly to their teacher’s classroom. 

1st & 2nd Grade Pick Up - When our 1st and 2nd grade students are finished with their assessments, students will return to the library. Parents/guardians will pick up their child at Door 2 ( Auditorium) at their designated pick-up time. Please note, all parents/guardians will need to sign their child out.

3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Pick Up - When our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade have completed their assessments, they will go outside to play on the north playground and field. Parents/guardians of 3rd grade students can pick up their child at the large gate near the baseball backstop. Parents/guardians of 4th or 5th grade students at the gate near the basketball court. Please note, all parents/guardians will need to sign their child out. 

Discovery Link - If your child is registered for Discovery Link on Monday, August 21st and/or Tuesday, August 22nd, a Teller staff member will pick them up for their assessment  and bring them back to the cafeteria once they are done testing.

  1. ECE (Preschool) Students: Required Assessment Day & Parent/Guardian Orientation 

There is no school for ECE students on Monday, August 21st as this is a district-wide training day for all ECE staff members.

ECE families will be required to attend an ECE orientation on Tuesday, August 22nd. Orientation will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. and end at 9:30 a.m. During this time, families will learn the ins and outs of ECE, complete necessary paperwork, and tour our ECE classrooms. It is imperative that you bring your child with you as they will be participating in various activities to prepare them for the first day of school. After orientation (9:30 a.m.), ECE parents/guardians will leave the school. ECE students will stay with their teachers until 3:00 p.m. to complete individual assessments. 

On Tuesday, August 22nd, ECE families (and children) will gather on the ECE playground (corner of 11th Ave. and Garfield St.). At 3:00 p.m., ECE students will be picked up by their parents/guardians on the ECE playground.    

  1. First Day of School: Wednesday, August 23rd

Our first full day of school for all ECE - 5th grade students will be on Wednesday, August 23rd. As a reminder, school starts at 7:40 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m. 

Our doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for a “soft start.” From 7:30 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. students will have the opportunity to eat FREE breakfast in their classrooms. At 7:40 a.m. our doors will close and instruction will begin. Any child who arrives after 7:40 a.m. will need to enter the building via the main entrance and obtain a tardy slip before heading to class.

School ends at 2:40 p.m. Teachers will dismiss students at 2:40 p.m. from their designated lineup spots on the blacktop. Teachers will stay outside with students until 2:50 p.m. If a child is not picked up by 2:50 p.m. they will be brought to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick them up. 

Please note, if parents/guardians need to pick their child(ren) up early from school, the main office will release students up until 2:20 p.m. If parents/guardians come in after 2:20 p.m., the main office will not release the child or children until the dismissal bell rings at 2:40 p.m. Please plan accordingly. 

Below is an outline of drop off and pick up procedures for the first day of school (and every day following). 

Drop Off Procedures

  1. To maximize student and staff safety, families should use Teller’s drop off map to familiarize themselves with morning traffic flow.

  2. There is no parking in the no parking zones.

  3. Do not encourage, ask, or demand that your student run across traffic to get to school. It is an expectation that all members of the Teller community use designated crosswalks.

  4. Teller’s Kiss-n-Go lane, located on Jackson St. will be available Monday through Friday from 7:20 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. for all Kindergarten through 5th grade students.

  5. We encourage all families who drive to school to utilize our Kiss-n-Go lane as this will limit the number of cars needing parking.

  6. All traffic on Jackson St. is ONE WAY (south) during morning drop off (7:20 a.m. to 7:40 a.m.). Barricades will be used to prohibit north-bound traffic on Jackson St.

If you are planning to use the Kiss-n-Go Plan, we ask that you adhere to the following: 

  • Please ensure your student is ready to exit the vehicle immediately upon reaching the double gate.

  • Do not turn around, back up, or pass cars while in the Kiss-n-Go lane.

  • Do not allow your student to exit the vehicle until you reach the double gate.

  • All students must exit the car on the curb-side only. Do not allow your student to get out of the vehicle on the street side. 

  • Please do not exit your vehicle to help your child. Teller staff members will be available to assist if needed.

  • Kiss-n-Go lane users are not permitted to turn right (west) on 11th Ave. Vehicles will need to proceed south on Jackson St. to 10th Ave., or turn left (east) on 11th Ave. 

  • At 7:40 a.m. the Kiss-n-Go lane will close. Parents/guardians must park in one of the designated parking zones and escort their student to the main entrance (Garfield St.)

  1. ECE parents/guardians are required to sign their student in and out every day. This means ECE families will not be able to utilize our Kiss-n-Go lane and will need to park in a designated parking zone and walk your student to the ECE playground.

  2. The east side of Garfield St. is our bus lane. Please do not park in our bus lane.

  3. The staff parking lot is for staff parking only and is not to be used to drop off students. Barricades will be used to prohibit entry into the staff parking lot.

  4. If you are not using the Kiss-n-Go lane, please note that parking is extremely limited. We ask all families to arrive at least 10 minutes early to ensure you have plenty of time to find parking and walk your student (using designated crosswalks) to the blacktop.

Pick-Up Procedures

  1. All 1st - 5th grade classroom teachers will dismiss all students from their designated dismissal spots on the blacktop at 2:40 p.m. 

  2. Kindergarten teachers will dismiss their students from their classroom doors at 2:40 p.m. 

  3. ECE teachers will dismiss their students from the ECE playground at 2:40 p.m.

  4. Students who are not picked up by 2:50 p.m. will be taken to the main office. Parents/guardians will need to come to the main entrance (Garfield St.) to pick up their student. 

  5. Our Kiss-n-Go Lane will not operate at dismissal.

  6. The only afternoon parking restrictions are the bus lane and staff parking lot. Please do not park in the bus lane or staff parking lot. 

8. Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast is free of charge for all students. Breakfast will be delivered to individual classrooms every morning. If your child would like to eat breakfast they will need to know their “lunch number” (student ID number). Breakfast will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. 

Lunch is free of charge for all students this year. ECE through 5th grade students will eat lunch in the cafeteria. Students who want a school lunch will be required to know their “lunch number” (student ID number) and be able to enter this number on the keypad in the cafeteria. 

Students can practice entering their lunch numbers using this pin pad.   

9. Back to School Night

Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, August 24th. Our teachers will host two identical back to school night information sessions. The first session will be virtual starting at 5:00 p.m. ending at 5:45 p.m. and the second session will be from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. 

That was A LOT of information, and we hope you find it helpful in preparing for the days ahead. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.

 

Best,

 

Sabrina Bates, Principal

Jason Smartt, Assistant Principal

Cheryl Ruiz, Dean of Operations

 

 

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