Dear Parents:

Welcome to the 2011-12 school year at Washington Elementary.  The staff and I look forward to the opportunity of working with you and your child during the coming months.

Your child’s success at school is dependent on the combined efforts of the students, their teachers and you.  Your involvement must include encouraging good  school attendance, talking with your child about his/her day, monitoring and assisting with homework, provide daily reading time, conferencing often with the classroom teacher and participating in school activities.  This sounds like a big responsibility and it is.  However, your child’s success depends on it.

I would like to remind you about two online resources available to parents.  PowerSchool (online student information management system) and the Washington Elementary website (www.miami.k12.ok.us, then click on Washington) are designed to help parents stay informed about grades, attendance, lunch account information and up-coming events.  Please contact the school to gain your child’s individual password for PowerSchool.

In addition to PowerSchool two other forms of parent communication will be available during the school year.  Every Monday classroom teachers will be sending home Classroom News in your child’s Monday folder.  Also at the first of each month you will receive the Washington Elementary Newsletter and a calendar of events for the month.

Please note the following schedule at Washington Elementary for the 2010-2011 school year.

Breakfast will start at 7:45 and end at 8:05 a.m.  Children who eat breakfast will put their backpacks on the ledge outside their door and enter through the front doors for breakfast. The tardy bell will ring at 8:10 a.m. Do not bring your child(ren) to school before 7:45 a.m.  There will be no supervision before 7:45 a.m.

11:00   Kindergarten lunch

11:30   Recess

12:00 1^st & 2^nd lunch

12:15   3^rd & 4^th lunch

12:30   5^th lunch

Dismissal is at 3:10

Please refer to the Miami Public Schools Elementary Handbook (which is on the MPS website) for additional information on attendance, absenteeism/tardiness guidelines, behavior/discipline policies, dress code, etc.  The last page of the handbook will need to be signed and returned to your child’s teacher.

Just a reminder …..You have several forms that require a parent signature and will need to be returned to your child’s teacher.  It is very important that you complete these forms and return them as quickly as possible.

Our goal at Washington is to serve all students.  We will set high expectations for them and then work cooperatively to reach those expectations.  The staff and I look forward to this challenge.  Activities will be provided to encourage learning as well as help develop a strong sense of self-worth in each child.  It is our belief that a positive self-image is an important component of learning and developing into a responsible individual. 

If you have any questions about your child’s school work, progress, or activities, please call or come by the school.  Together we will make this an important year for your child.

Sincerely     Mrs. Lewis, Principal