July, 2009
Dear parents/guardians:
We hope that this letter finds you well and rested and that you are getting ready for and excited about another successful school year for your child. School starts on Wednesday, August 5th for students in grades 1 to 5 and on August 12th for students in Kindergarten. At Elkhart we are proud of our diversity. We have students and faculty from many different countries in the world and speaking at least 18 different home languages. This year we will begin our journey towards becoming an International Baccalaureate – Primary Years Program. As an IB World School we will be joining a continuum of high-quality education that promotes international mindedness and a positive attitude to learning.
Our Vision
At Elkhart we believe that all our students have the potential to go to college and prepare for a career. In order to do this we must get all students to achieve proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics while they are still in elementary school. We promise to do our very best to give them a rigorous and excellent education so that we can set them up for success at the middle school, high school and college, but we also need your help. Students who come to school ready to learn are more successful. Here are some tips and information that will help us all work together for the success of all our students.
Attendance
We have a strict attendance policy for all students. Any students missing three or more days in the year are subject to the district’s truancy referral process. Students that miss 4 days of instruction in a month or 10 in a year are subject to a court referral. Please don’t let your student miss any school days because it is very difficult to catch up on any missed instruction.
School hours
The bell hours for next year are from 7:45 to 2:15. Classroom doors will open at 7:40. Any students arriving after 7:45 will be considered late for school and sent to the office for a Tardy Slip. Students leaving school before 2:15 will need prior approval from the Principals. Please schedule appointments after 2:15 so that they don’t interfere with school hours and so that your child doesn’t miss any instruction.
Before and after school care
The YMCA provides before and after school child care on-site for students from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. every day. They also provide child care on holidays, vacation days and teacher work days. Their price is very reasonable and they have a sliding scale for families that need financial help. If you need more information about the YMCA please ask at the main office.
School uniforms
Students that are well dressed for school tend to focus more on their school work and less on fashion. Elkhart Elementary School has a dress code. Students wear shirts (collared and sleeved) that are solid white, light blue or dark blue. Students may wear dress pants, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers that are navy blue or khaki. Jeans or sweatpants are not allowed. Sweaters and sweatshirts must be solid white or blue. No logos or designs are allowed except the Elkhart logo. The Elkhart logo is not required, however, we do have an outside vendor that sells these in the building a couple of days per week. To find out when they are coming, please check at the main office. Students that don’t wear the dress code are subject to disciplinary measures equivalent to breaking any other school rule. Thank you for your support with our dress code.
Address changes
Roughly half of our students move out and in of our school in any given year. Students that are not stable tend to fall behind academically because they lose instruction during the transition periods. Please inquire at the office for “open enrollment”: If you will be moving throughout the year, we will approve that your child stays at Elkhart provided that you transport him to and from the school and that his attendance doesn’t suffer.
Back to School Night
Your family is invited to come to the school between 5 and 7 p.m. the night of August 6th to meet your child’s teacher and look around his or her classroom. As always, we are here to serve you and to ensure the best education for your child.
Sincerely,
María Elena Thomas Katie Hartenbach
Principal Assistant Principal
