Now that the weather is mostly nice, despite the winter weather at the beginning of this week, our students are outside for recess often. That means that up until about 3:15, we have students outside on our grounds in the back of the building. Please be mindful and careful as you drive around the back of the building close to dismissal time for car riders. We want our students to be safe as they enjoy the outdoors and travel to and from the building for recess. There may be cones blocking that part of the driveway. You can either enter the car rider line at the auditorium end of the building or wait until the cones are removed after recesses have been completed. Stepping Stones also uses our playground, so the absence of the cones does not always mean there aren’t children on the playground.

 

Third grade parents, next week the PSSA testing begins. Please know that if your child is late to school on a testing day, and the testing session has already started, they will not be permitted into the testing session and will be placed on the make-up list for later in the week.

 

Please know that ANY and ALL electronic devices will be collected and stored outside of the classroom during the testing period. This includes Fitbits, electronic watches that have communication capability, cell phones, etc. If possible, do not send them to school with the kids on testing days. If they need them, please speak to your child ahead of time about them being turned in before tests are distributed. They will be returned to the students when their entire homeroom has turned in their tests and they have been collected.

 

Please promote the following with your students to get them geared up for testing: eating a healthy breakfast, going to bed early for a good night’s sleep, making sure they have a water bottle with them at school, and reminding them of good test-taking strategies. I want this to be as stress-free as possible for our students, perhaps even look at it as more of a celebration of their learning and hard work. No matter what, we are PRoud of our students and all of the growth and progress they make each day. Though this assessment gives us quality data about our students and school in comparison to others across the state, it does not define them as a student. 

 

As always, thank you all for continuing to collaborate with our teachers, staff, and me. I am truly so grateful and proud to be where I am, working with such a wonderful team at RES, your fabulous students, and YOU! Enjoy all that this season offers, both the rainy days and sunshine, as they are both a part of the growth and beauty of spring. 

 

With PRide,

 

Ms. Jenna L. Sloan

Principal