Good Evening Families!
We are feeling good about the classroom assignments in Infinite Campus, so you are invited to check out the parent portal and look for communication from your classroom teacher if you haven’t already.
We look forward to seeing all of our Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary families this Friday for our meet-the-teacher event! Stop by between 8 and 9:30AM to say hello and check out the classroom. Please consider walking or biking if you live nearby as parking will be a challenge.
All things transportation–morning arrival and afternoon dismissal:
Our first priority is always student safety, and morning arrival and afternoon dismissal are a critical component of student safety! I would ask that you take a few minutes to carefully review this next session in order to do your part! During the first couple of weeks, we ask for a lot of grace & courtesy, and especially patience, as everyone learns our routines and processes.
Being on time and ready to learn is essential for our students and classrooms. We begin instruction daily at 7:45, so it is important for your student to arrive on-time. The car rider circle and walker/biker doors will close promptly at 7:45 each morning. If you arrive after the doors are closed, a parent will need to bring the child in and sign them in at the front office.
Bus Transportation: DPS has worked diligently over the summer to make this year’s bus transportation kick-off the best yet! We know the first couple of weeks come with delays and shifts in bus stop times as our drivers and families adjust to their stops and routes–please be patient and know that it gets better.
Bus stop locations and times can be found in Edulog. Edulog is also how you will receive the most up-to-date notifications and daily updates, as well as track the bus while en route. During the first few weeks of school, bus stop times change frequently, so make sure to check often. If you need assistance signing up for a bus, please email Christine Bertson. New bus stops can take up to 2 weeks once school starts.
Meet your child at the bus stop–be ready 15 minutes before the stop time! Students in preK through grade 3 must have an adult at the stop to be dropped off, unless it is a group stop (such as an apartment complex). If no one is at the stop, the student will be returned to the school and need to be picked up.
Our school office closes daily at 3:15PM. Save the contact information for transportation in your phone, now, in case you need after-hours information in an urgent situation: 919-560-BUSS(2877). Our team at transportation will have the ability to contact drivers directly while on the road with emergency radios.
Car riders, walkers, and bikers: please see THIS GRAPHIC of our traffic flow–maintaining a clear traffic flow ensures safety for those walking and crossing at the intersections. Our doors open for car, foot, and bike arrivals at 7:25AM.
Walker specifics:
Walkers will enter through the door off Urban Ave, adjacent to the playground.
Please utilize crosswalks–crossing Urban Ave. without a crosswalk has caused significant safety concerns.
In the afternoon, please line up towards Urban Ave. in order for our staff to take student names.
Car rider specifics:
Please be alert to directions from our crossing attendant, Mr. Charles. He will provide clear signals to ensure students and families can cross safely while maintaining the flow of traffic for car riders.
During afternoon pickup, please do not get in line before 2:10PM. Our line can cause traffic congestion since our line is on local streets.
Please write your child’s name clearly on the provided card (available during meet-the-teacher) and display in windshield to support a quick pick-up process.
Bike rider specifics:
Bike riders will enter through the door facing Watts St. next to the bike racks.
Please walk your bikes when going through carpool or the bus side walk.
Please lock your bike up during the school day–we have had instances of bike theft in the past.
Self-Dismissal: many of our students arrive and depart school independently. In order for a student to be dismissed without an adult, we must have a “self-dismissed form” on file. A new form is required each year. Forms can be printed HERE or a paper copy is available in the main office (as well as from the teacher during meet-the-teacher). Students should return completed forms to their teacher.
Breakfast at School–all students can eat breakfast at school for FREE! Durham Public Schools participates in the community eligibility program which means both breakfast and lunch are FREE for all students. Please make note of our new breakfast hours at George Watts Montessori–our cafeteria line will be open until 7:40AM daily. This will ensure students can eat quickly and arrive in class by 7:45AM. In order for a student to receive breakfast at school, they need to arrive by 7:35AM to get in line before the cafeteria closes.
Live nearby and have an older student at Lakewood Middle? Join the “bike bus” If you live near Watts or Burch Avenue and have a child going to Lakewood Middle School this year, please let Erik Landfried, father of Ellie Ru (4th grade at Watts) and Soren (7th grade at Lakewood), know if you are interested in your child joining the Lakewood bike bus by email: erik.landfried@gmail.com or text: 919.257.9782. What is the Lakewood bike bus? It's a group of middle schoolers who meet at Watts most days and bike together to school. Biking together is both safer and a lot more fun! This year, there will be an additional stop in the Burch Avenue neighborhood as well. Please note that this is not a DPS-sponsored activity.
We are so excited to see you!
Principal Jenn