Thank YOU!

WOW! What a great surprise and show of appreciation! On behalf of Split Rock Elementary, THANK YOU! Our parents and families ROCK! 

ROCK'in through September

We are becoming more comfortable and accustomed to our "new" and "temporary" normal. The students have done a fantastic job and seemed to really be enjoying themselves. It is truly amazing to be able to walk through the halls, visit classrooms, and engage with students to see the amazing things that are happening on a daily basis!   

Arrival/Dismissal

We will continue to make sure that we are as safe and efficient as possible. Yes, there will be some slight changes in the near future, but until then please be sure to:

Arrival

• For those waiting and parked in the loop, please have your child unbuckled and ready to exit the vehicle at 8:40am. 
• Pull up as far as possible prior to stopping and dropping off your child.
• Please do not pass on the left unless directed to do so.
• All students should exit the vehicle on the passenger side.
• Consider using the entire allotted time for drop off (8:40-8:55). 
• We encourage right-hand turns only exiting the loop. 

Dismissal

• Buses will not be dismissed before 2:25. 
• Please be cautious of your speed pulling into the loop. 
• Continue to pull forward if there is room in front of you. We will be sure to bring the student to you after you come to a stop, wherever that may be. 
• We encourage right-hand turns only exiting the loop.

*All early dismissals must occur prior to 2:00pm.

Positivity Project

Next week's character strength focus is TEAMWORK and CITIZENSHIP! Teamwork is described as working well as a member of a group or team. You are loyal and sacrifice your individual desires for the greater good! Click here to find more information on the character strength of teamwork. 

Breakfast and Lunch

Please pre-order school breakfast and lunch on the NutriSlice system. Use this link to access a description of the app and how to use it.

Updates From The PTO

PTO Membership:

Just a reminder that you still have time to join!

Our annual membership is $10.00 and it doesn’t commit you to any volunteer time (although we always welcome helpers). Your membership helps to fund activities and support our children. 

Join today at https://split-rock-pto-membership.cheddarup.com.

PTO Meeting for October:

Our first PTO meeting of the academic year will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m. Please join us to learn about this year’s activities and fundraising events. 

In order to attend, please R.S.V.P. to wgsrpto@westgenesee.org no later than Monday, October 5. The meeting web link will be sent out to those who have replied on the day of the event. We ask that you direct anyone interested in attending the meeting to email the PTO directly, and please do not share the web link. 

Split Rock T-Shirt Sale

Have a new or growing Split-Rocker? We have a limited quantity of short-sleeved Split Rock t-shirts available for sale. Shirts are $10 each and for this year, we can accept only checks (made out to Split Rock PTO).

Would you like to purchase a shirt? Please email wgsrpto@westgenesee.org include your child’s name, teacher, shirt size, and shirt style (navy or heather). We will let you know if that size is still available. If we confirm it’s available, you can send a check-in with your child (attn: PTO) and they will bring their shirt home. 

There will be an online spirit wear sale and free shipping promotion coming soon! Be on the lookout!

Yearbook Update

We have fantastic news! Our yearbooks have shipped! Once they arrive, we ask for just a bit more
patience as we sort and organize everything. 

We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we have worked to get these books to you. 

Up and Running at "The ROCK"

Face Masks 

Students are doing a wonderful job throughout the day with this procedure. It is important that we continue to be responsible and make sure that we have a mask with us on a daily basis. This is also a friendly reminder to wash all masks routinely. 

School Lunches

Please be sure to review the following information below that was posted within the latest West Genesee District e-Newsletter regarding our food service program.

On August 31, 2020, the USDA announced that they would be extending the free meal program for all students through December 31, 2020, OR until funding runs out. Since we do not know when this funding will run out, we are recommending that for September you fund your Child's MYSchoolBucks account as you normally would. Please be assured that we will not charge your child's account for reimbursable meals that they purchase as long as the funding continues, hopefully through December 31, 2020. We will continue to keep you posted on this as things develop.

For the most up-to-date Food Service information on the website click here.

School Picture Day Is Coming!

School picture day for In-Person students is scheduled for this coming Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Paper order forms have been sent home, but we HIGHLY recommend ordering online at mylifetouch.com using the picture day ID: EVTRTCKST. Once you make your online purchase, all you need to do on picture day is send your student looking their best!


We will be offering school portraits for Remote Students. This will be scheduled on portrait retake day, Wednesday, November 4, 2020. Specific times and details will be communicated as the date approaches. Remote students are also encouraged to order online using the same picture day ID: EVTRTCKST.

Order your pictures online today!
mylifetouch.com
Picture day ID: EVTRTCKST

Join the Split Rock PTO! 

This year, the Split Rock PTO has gone virtual! Please visit: https://split-rock-pto-membership.cheddarup.com to become a member today!

Your membership fee will give you access to PTO emails, school reminders, meeting minutes, and most importantly, it will help us to provide for our students, both during school and after hours. A membership doesn’t commit you to any volunteer time (although we always welcome helpers), a membership helps to find activities for our children. Our activities and events may look different this year, but we need your support more than ever.

The membership fee for the school year is $10.00. Additional donations to support our students are always welcome. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for any PTO committees, please email wgstpto@westgenesee.org.

Join today!
https://split-rock-pto-membership.cheddarup.com

FYI: The PTO is still working very hard on getting our yearbooks and are in constant contact with the company. We will keep you posted as soon as they arrive. We appreciate your patience. 

"ROCK"in' Back to School!

 Job well done! We could not have asked for a better two days, given our current situation! We ask for your continued support and patience as we take what we have learned over the last two days and work to make adjustments to be more efficient and effective! 

Here is a sneak peek on what has gone on in the building over the last two days!

Curriculum/Title 1 Night

What: Live Zoom Presentation (Curriculum Night)
Time: (Grades K-2) 6:00-6:30    (Grades 3-4) 6:30-7:00
Objective: A time where you will be able to meet your child's classroom teacher/team and be informed on; classroom procedures, expectations, means of communication, and grade-level curriculum.

When: Thursday, September 17, 2020

*You will receive a notification and an invite to the Zoom by your child's teacher early next week.

Yearbook Update From PTO:

The yearbook situation has been frustrating, to say the least. We have been in frequent contact with Lifetouch, who is the elementary school yearbook vendor. As we’ve shared before, their facility has been hit with multiple COVID breakouts, which has resulted in frequent shutdowns. The latest update we received is that our books are close to final production, but this could take anywhere from two days to four weeks. Once we have our yearbooks, we will figure out a distribution plan which will be communicated through Facebook and Mr. Kimpland’s blog. We are just as frustrated as many of our students and parents but are trying to understand that they, like many others, are doing the best they can under the circumstances.

 

Last Minute Reminders!

Ready to "ROCK"!

"The Rock" is ready to go! It was great to have the staff back over the last two days, as we have two more days together before we welcome our WILDCATS on September 10th! I would like to commend all staff members at Split Rock Elementary as there has been an incredible amount of time and energy spent on making sure we are prepared and ready! I would also like to thank the Split Rock community for their patience and understanding. There will be moving parts that will require adjustments all year. Please know that we will work hard to iron out any issues that might come our way! The safety and well-being of our Split Rockers will be our number one priority and we will do our best to make sure all students feel safe and comfortable within the building!

Remote Students

Just a friendly reminder to be sure you come to Split Rock on Wednesday, September 9, between the hours of 12:00-3:00 to retrieve your Chromebook and instructional supplies. We ask that you enter through the gymnasium doors, which are located in the front of the building and will be clearly labeled.

*Please note remote learning begins on Monday, September 14.

Don't Forget! STUDENT DAILY HOME SCREENING SHEETS!

Parent responsibilities regarding the Screening Sheet are invaluable as we work collaboratively between home and school to ensure the safety of your child and the entire school community!  On occasion, you may forget to send your child's Screening Sheet, which is understandable. For that reason, we will have temperature checks at each entrance. Your attention to detail regarding this matter would help us expedite this process and allow us to start our daily routines in a timely manner. 

Self-Transportation (Arrival and Dismissal)

Again, we cannot stress the importance of parents following arrival and dismissal procedures for Split Rock and the times that coincide with those. This is for the safety of all staff, students and families.

Arrival Times:

8:40-8:55 Parent/Guardian Drop Off

9:00 Bus Drop Off

*For any parents/guardians late dropping students off, you must wait until all buses have departed before entering the parking lot.

Departure Times:

2:15-2:20 Bus Dismissal

2:25 Student Pick-Up (Please do not enter the parking lot until all buses have departed).

Do you plan on carpooling?

If your child is getting picked up by anybody other than who is in SchoolTool, you must send a note the morning of the pick-up indicating who has the permission to pick your child up. This individual must have your car tag and a form of identification! Upon arrival, we will ask for identification and verify we have a note before dismissing the student. 

Example:

If an individual is picking up two students (besides their own), they must have all three car tags (their child's and the other two) and identification with them.

When Should I request a car tag?

If you plan on picking your child up more than twice a month, please contact the office so we can issue a car tag.

What if I need to pick up my child early on a given day?

This must occur before 2:05. Please plan ahead and send a note in with your child. Parents/guardians will be asked to check-in at the main office and show identification to sign any child out. 

School Bus Transportation

Information about the district mobile app called Traversa Ride 360 is also included in your back to school packet.  If you opted for school bus transportation, you will need to use the app to find details specific to your child's bus route.  Here is a guide to using the Traversa Ride 360 mobile. Bus tags will be passed out by your child's homeroom teacher on the first day of school. 

Preparing for School Meals

If you choose to have school meals, breakfast and lunch will be delivered to the classrooms. Lunches can and should be pre-ordered through our new Nutri-Slice online system. A description of the app and how to use it is included in the back to school packet you will receive in the mail, or you can click here to find it directly on the school website.

Rockin' into September!

We're BACK!

Today marks Opening Day for all staff members. It was great to see everyone and begin working as a unit in continued preparation for the 2020-2021 school year. I can tell you that everyone is very excited to welcome back our students on Thursday, September 10! 

Back to School Video

Please be sure to click here to check out the Back To School Video!

Remote Students

Students/families of remote learners will be asked to retrieve their Chromebook and instructional supplies on Wednesday, September 9, between the hours of 12:00-3:00. We ask that you enter through the gymnasium doors which is located in the front of the building near the nurse's office. This will be clearly labeled. 

Medication, Physical Examinations, and Immunization Requirements

Mrs. Balcourt is contacting and scheduling times with those families that would need to drop off
any medication(s) for their child. Students are not allowed to bring their own medicine to school. If you have not been contacted or have any questions regarding this procedure please contact Mrs. Balcourt at 315-487-4656. For information regarding necessary physical exams and immunization requirements, please refer to this recent Notes from West Genesee Nurses to Families. 

Arrival and Dismissal

We can't stress enough the importance of parents following the arrival and dismissal procedures for Split Rock.  For arrival, students can be dropped off from 8:40 - 8:55. No cars will then be allowed into the parking lot until all of the buses have arrived and unloaded. For dismissal, no cars will be allowed into the parking lot until all of the buses have been loaded, roughly 2:25 to 2:30.If at all possible, please try not to pick your child up early unless it is absolutely unavoidable. All early pick-ups must occur by 2:05. Car tags and bus tags along with the procedures for arrival and dismissal will be sent home by the end of the week. Please check your bus tag for accuracy and let us know if anything needs to be changed.

End of August Update from "The Rock"

We are excited to get the year started and are eager to welcome our Wildcats back on Thursday, September 10. As you begin to receive more information, procedures and protocols please know you can always contact the office at 315 487-4646 or email me at mkimpland@westgenesee.org with any further questions or concerns. 

Class Placements

Our summer mailing will be going out no later than Tuesday, September 1. We want to make sure we get this right and not have to make too many adjustments after releasing all pertinent information. Thank you for your patience. 

The summer mailing will include:

• Class placement
• School Meal Program information
• Student Emergency Data Forms (2 sided)
• Student Daily Home Screening Sheet
• Student pick-up and drop-off procedures (2 sided)
• School bus transportation information

* Class Supply Lists are located under the Split Rock links on the website www.westgenesee.org. 

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures  

REMINDER: All students should have their Daily Home Screening Sheets with them upon entering the building! If not, students will have their temperatures checked by a staff member prior to going to class. 

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

8:40-8:55 Parent/Guardian Drop Off 

• Please pull up as close to the “drop off” zone (see map) as possible to eliminate as much traffic as possible on Split Rock Road. 

• Please do not drop off prior to 8:40 as there will be no supervision. 

• If you arrive after 8:55 you must wait until all buses are gone before entering the parking lot.

• Parents are asked to stay in their cars. For those needing to assist their child with a car seat, you may do so. We ask that you stay as close to your car as possible.

• We will utilize two entrances K-2 & 3-4 (see map). 

LATE ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

After 9:15 and the doors have been locked with no supervision outside,

• We ask that the parent/guardian check-in at the main office and sign their child in. 

• Students will need the Daily Home Screening Sheets, if not their temperature will be taken prior to going to class. 

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

• 2:15-2:20 Bus Dismissal 

• Parents picking up students from school must wait until all buses have departed prior to pulling into the parking lot.  

• 2:25 Student Pick-up

• All student pick-ups will take place at the curb and within the bus loop.

• Parents are asked not to enter the building as students will be escorted to their cars.

• Families will receive a car number tag which will correspond to their child’s number tag.  These will be sent home in a separate mailing with more details.

• Considerations will be made for families who carpool.

• Several staff members will be outside ensuring a safe process.

EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

***This must occur before 2:05 *** 

Please plan ahead and send a note in with your child. Parents or guardians will be asked to check-in at the main office and show id in order to sign any child out. 

We ask for your continued support and patience as both arrival and dismissal will be very different than in the past!

Student Daily Home Screening Sheets   

West Genesee Central School District is following guidelines from the NY State Education Department, the Center for Disease Control, and the Onondaga County Health Department to take every precaution necessary in keeping your child and family as safe and healthy as possible.  

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all students and all staff are required to monitor their own health and fill in a Daily Home Screening Sheet daily before entering the building. Please see the attachment.
Daily Protocol:  

• Complete the Daily Home Screening Slip for each child and send it to school with the child every day.  

• The child will hand the Screening Slip to a designated staff member greeting him/her at the door and proceed to class. 

• If the Screening Slip indicates any symptom(s) the child will be sent to the nurse for parent contact.

• If the child does not have a screening sheet, his/her temperature will be taken at the school entrance.  Any child whose temperature reads 100 degrees or more will be sent to the nurse, and contact will be made to have the child picked up from school.  Any child whose temperature is within the normal range will proceed to class.

Please note:  Parent responsibilities regarding the Screening Sheet are invaluable as we work collaboratively between home and school to ensure the safety of your child and the entire school community!  On occasion, you may forget to send your child’s Screening Sheet, which is understandable. For that reason, we will have temperature checks at each entrance. Your attention to detail regarding this matter would help us expedite this process and allow us to start our daily routines in a timely manner. 

Please go to the West Genesee Central School District Website at westgenesee.org and become familiar with our Reopening Plan by clicking the link.  If you click on the link for the Printable Version of the plan, you will find a helpful Table of Contents. The health information is found on pages 8-9.

Practice At Home

Now would be a great time to start practicing the safety tips below! The staff at Split Rock will review and practice these procedures daily over the first couple weeks of the school ensuring we are doing our best to keep everyone safe and healthy. Feel free to visit our Health Services Page for more informational links and other health resources.