Early Childhood 2020-2021
Back To School Newsletter
Early Childhood Preschool Families,

Welcome back! We are so excited to begin the 2020-2021 school year and want to make sure our families are informed of all the back to school dates, procedures, and information as we kick off the year.

"The Adventure Begins at Republic Early Childhood"

In this newsletter you will find information about:
  • Online Back to School Forms
  • Student Handbook and Policy Acknowledgement Page
  • Open House
  • First Day of School
  • Traffic Maps
  • Pick-Up and Drop Off Times
  • School Supply List
  • Attendance
  • Tiger PALS
  • Communication
  • Transportation
  • Student Meal Information
  • Free/Reduced Meal Application
  • Upcoming Dates

I am so excited for the school year and cannot wait to see our little ones back and have the opportunity to see them laugh, smile, learn, and love!
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do for you.
Working together,
Miss Misty
Online Back to School Forms
Nearly all back to school forms will need to be completed online through the SISK12 Parent Portal by August 12. This tool makes the back to school form process as easy and smooth as possible for our families. Please login to the Parent Portal and complete the needed forms by August 12. ALL students (preschool through 12th grade) must have a parent/guardian complete these required forms. Take note that specific forms must be completed for students to participate in various activities, including technology usage.
To find the Parent Portal CLICK HERE or simply visit republicschools.org and click on the "Parent Portal" icon. This can also be accessed through the district's free mobile app. As a reminder, to login use the email address you have provided to the district and enter the password you have created. If you’ve forgotten it, simply click on the “forgot password” button and follow the prompts.
Student Handbook and Policy Acknowledgement Page
The student handbook provides a summary of the practices, policies and procedures our district follows. Please review the document at https://www.republicschools.org/studenthandbook. The handbook will remain on the website throughout the entire school year, and printed copies can be requested by contacting our building office. Digitally signing the online Policy and Procedure Acknowledgment form indicates approval of this document.
Preschool Open House
This year will be a bit different than in years past as we work to ensure we are practicing appropriate distancing and safety precautions.

Republic Preschool open houses will be in person, divided by the alphabet to ensure social distancing guidelines are being met. Only one parent may attend and he/she must be masked. We will also provide a virtual open house option.
 
McCulloch Full-Day 
August 19th 
A-M: 5:30-6:15 p.m.
N-Z: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Families will enter the first set of doors (far west set) in the front of McCulloch. One parent can attend with their student and must be masked. You will be able to come in, go through a few stations and meet the teacher.

Sweeny Full-Day and Half-Day
August 20th 
There will be three sessions on that night that will be split by alphabet:
A-G: 5-5:45 p.m.
H-O: 6-6:45 p.m.
P-Z: 7-7:45 p.m.
Families will enter the classroom outside doors on the South Side of Sweeny. One parent can attend with their student and must be masked. You will be able to come in, go through a few stations and meet the teacher.

McCulloch and Sweeny Preschool Families: We ask that you bring in your plastic supply box (all classes) and your beach towel for rest time (full-day only) to open house so we can set up for the first day of classes.

If you desire additional meeting times you are more than welcome to reach out to your child's teacher.
First Attendance Day of School
This year, preschool students will be dropped off/picked up using a car line.

In an effort to limit the number of visitors in our facilities, we are asking only new preschool students be walked into school if they choose not to use car line. Preschool students can have one adult escort them to class, but these adults must be masked and symptom free. Preschool families wanting to participate should arrive at 8:40 a.m. on the first day (for full-day and AM half-day) and 12:30 (for PM half-day) as this will allow all other students to be in classroom. This will only be permitted on the first attendance day of school.
Traffic Flow Information
Please refer to the map on our building website for pick-up and drop off procedures. The pick-up process for students is typically completed within 15 minutes from dismissal. It is important parents do not begin to join the car line for dismissal prior to 3:10 p.m. as to avoid traffic congestion.
Pick-Up and Drop Off Times
Full-Day Classes
  • Monday-Thursday, the building will be open for students to enter beginning at 8:10 a.m. with the school day beginning at 8:30 a.m. Students will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m.
  • Each Friday is an early release day. Students may still arrive beginning at 8:10 a.m. for those students eating breakfast with the school day starting at 8:30a.m. with dismissal occurring at 2:25 p.m.

Half-Day Classes
  • Monday-Thursday mornings, the building will be open at 8:25am, with class starting at 8:35am. Students will be dismissed at 11:25am
  • Monday-Friday afternoons, the building will be open at 12:15pm, with class starting at 12:25pm. Students will be dismissed at 3:25pm. We do not have early release on Fridays.
School Supply List
Republic School District is pleased to partner with Teacher Lists to make your school supply shopping easy. By visiting https://www.republicschools.org/schoolsupplies you now have the option to use one click online ordering or to print supply lists and go to the store directly for purchasing. Local vendors will also have these lists available, just as in the past.
Attendance
Attendance is an important factor in your student's academic success. Traditionally, our building sets an attendance goal of 95% of students having 90% or higher attendance for the year. However, we want to focus our efforts on the importance of healthy habits and encourage students who are not feeling well to stay home as appropriate. While our goal is never to encourage students to attend school while feeling under the weather, we want to place a particular focus on self-monitoring and healthy habits during this unprecedented time.
Tiger PALS
The Republic R-III School District is proud to offer wrap around care during the 2020-2021 school year for preschoolers enrolled in full-day preschool classes. The main focus of the Republic R-III Tiger PALS program is to promote the intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth of the students through creating a safe, supervised program. Tiger PALS will have a balance of child-centered activities and enrichment programming combined with choices for free time.

Visit the STRIPES 360 webpage under “Quick Links” at www.republicschools.org and click on “Online Registration” on the right side of the page. 
*Complete the online registration form and pay the $30.00 registration fee. 

For more information please contact the STRIPES 360 office at: 
Phone: 417-735-3778 

*Please note that Winter Escape will not be available for this program and Cub Care will only be available on teacher work days and school improvement days. 
Communication
The Early Childhood Center utilizes many communication tools to keep in contact with your family throughout the school year. Because of this it is very important we have up to date contact information for your student in our system. Should you have a change of address, phone number, or any other important information regarding your child, please contact the office at 417-735-3736. If you need to reach your child's teacher, building administrator, nurse, or other staff member, they are available via phone or e-mail. In addition to phone and e-mail communication, the district also utilizes the following communication tools:
  • Website: https://www.republicschools.org (District) or https://www.republicschools.org/ec
  • District Twitter: @republicschools
  • District Facebook: Republic School District
  • Buidling Facebook: Republic Early Childhood
  • Building Administrator: Misty Kinsey, misty.kinsey@republicschools.org 417-735-3736
  • Peachjar E-Flyer Service: Weekly optional email with school related and approved e-flyers to keep families informed of district and community information.
  • Tiger Talk e-newsletter: Sent on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month during the school year. Parents who have provided an email account are automatically signed up. Others can sign up on our website.
  • Republic School District mobile app
  • Voice calls and text messages at the building and district level (All numbers provided will receive notifications, there is no longer a need to opt-in as in the past. However, families may choose to opt out).
Transportation
Preschool parents are required to provide their own transportation for their child. Families will receive 2 car tags to provide to approved caregivers for pick up. If someone, including parents, do not have a car tag, they will be asked to go to the main office and provide a government approved picture identification in order to pick up a student.
Student Meal Information
Full-Day Only:
The district Food Service Department offers daily breakfast and lunch options. Meals may be prepaid by submitting cash/check to the school office in a sealed envelope with the student(s) name and the amount enclosed on the outside of the envelope. Another option for payment can be done through the Parent Portal. For meal prices and additional details visit https://www.republicschools.org/foodservice . Please be sure to apply funds to your child's account prior to purchasing meals.
Free/Reduced Meal Applications
Please complete the Free and Reduced Meal application found HERE. Please complete this form even if you do not plan to use this program. The form and more information can be found at https://www.republicschools.org/Page/185 . A new meal application needs to be completed annually. For our 5 day per week preschool programs, this application is required to determine if your family is eligible for tuition funding. The form is due by August 12th as we will not retroactively adjust your account after August 14th. If we receive the form after August 12th, any funding will be applied to September's tuition. For our morning half-day classes, we require a copy of your 2019 tax form showing your gross income to determine if you are eligible for a reduced tuition cost. The deadlines are the same as listed above.
Upcoming Dates
Below you will find a list of important upcoming dates. For a full calendar of events, please visit https://www.republicschools.org or visit the mobile app.

August 12: Online registration due; Free/Reduced Meal applications due
August 14: August tuition due
August 14: Class lists posted by 4:00 p.m., class assignments can also be found on the Parent Portal
August 19: McCulloch preschool open house
August 20: Sweeny preschool open house
August 24: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for full-day, half-day afternoon, and Mon/Wed morning classes
August 25: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for Tues/Thurs morning classes
September 7: Labor Day, District Closed
Republic Early Childhood Center 636 North Main Ave Republic, MO 417-735-3736