I hope this letter finds you and your family enjoying the final week of the summer holiday. Included in this letter are some items of interest pertaining to the upcoming school year.
Please find links below covering information regarding grade-specific letters and class lists:
Class Lists
(not included in this web version)
Throughout the spring and summer, the faculty and administration have worked very diligently to build successful class groupings at every level. The distribution of these lists can bring some anxiety, excitement and disappointment on the part of parents and children. It has been my experience, however, that each child quickly develops a sense of "group identity" with his/her class, and late-summer nervousness quickly fades as the year gets underway. I encourage everyone to come to the Lower School Ice Cream Social on August 20 to meet your child(ren)'s new teachers and classmates.
Carpool
Lower-schoolers who go home by car are picked up on the west side of the building (near the lower school entrance) through an organized carpool procedure. For logical safety reasons, children may not be picked up in front of the Middle School (next to Academy Hall) where buses wait. Teachers will help children to the proper waiting area for buses or carpool. Carpool tags will be available at the Meet-Your-Teachers Ice Cream Social on August 20. Any carpool tags not picked up on the 20th will be sent home with students on the first day of school.
Meet-Your-Teachers Ice Cream Social on Monday, August 20
Classrooms in the Lower School will be open from 4:00-5:00 p.m. for children to get a "sneak peek" at their new classrooms and meet their teachers before heading out to the Ice Cream Social at the bus circle beside Academy Hall. This event ends at 6:00 p.m.
First Day of School
Classes begin at 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, and end at 3:20 p.m. Many of our students will arrive by bus and some by carpool in the morning. If you are new to Columbus Academy this year, you may want to bring your child to school on the first day and walk him/her to the classroom, but it is not necessary. Faculty will be available to help you find your particular classroom the first week of school.
Guidelines to Help Ensure a Smooth School Year
- Children must be signed in/out by an adult if they arrive late/leave early or return from/leave for an appointment.
- Please let your child's teacher know in written form of changes from the standard transportation plan. If you choose to email the classroom teacher regarding a transportation change, please also copy Michelle Saling (salingm@columbusacademy.org) who can ensure that the message is received. Without written indication from a parent, faculty will have children follow their routine plans for getting home.
- If there is a change of transportation plans that occurs during the school day, the lower school office needs to know by 2:30 p.m. Please call 614-509-2258.
- Please let us know in writing about any special arrangements for athletic play, swimming, diet or medication. No medication will be given without written instruction. Mrs. Hoagland and Mrs. Fireman, the school nurses, will take care of these needs and may be contacted directly by dialing 614-509-2234.
- As a general rule, students do not need and should not have money at school.
- Please mark clothing and personal property with names.
- No toys or electronic games are allowed in the Lower School. If your child has a cell phone, it must be turned off and stored in his/her locker while inside the building during school hours.
- While most of the school communication is sent electronically, it is important to check your child's backpack each day for additional messages and information from the teacher or the school.
If you have any questions about the information provided, please do not hesitate to call Michelle Saling at 614-509-2258. We are looking forward to an exciting 2018-19 school year, and I am eager to welcome you back during the Ice Cream Social on August 20!
