Dear Parents,
This was a week filled with rain and excitement. Thank you all for your support in my decision to lock down the school on Thursday for the safety of our students; that will always be our #1 concern! It was hard on the kids being stuck inside all day, but I commend my fabulous staff for keeping the kids engaged throughout the day.
I have had several requests with regard to birthday celebrations at school. In the past pre COVID we allowed families to bring fruit based snacks from home. I know it has been upsetting to stop this but it is one way that we can keep our kids healthy. I have come up with a solution that you may consider. If you wish to host a birthday celebration for your child's class, you can order pizzas and have them sent to the school. This way we are not allowing food prepared in homes, but I think it is safe to bring in pizza from a pizza place. If you wish to do this, please let us know a few days in advance so that we can let the kitchen know to hold back the main course but also let you know how many slices will be needed for the class.
Our food guidelines require that our 1-3 year olds have at least 1 slice and our 4-7 year old have 2 slices. The slices will be paired with our fruits and vegetable as well as milk for the day. If ordering, please make sure it arrives at the school by 11:30 and cheese only please. Remember, if you wish to do this, you must let us know in advance. Other options for birthday celebrations include sending in goodie bags for the class. Those bags can have pre packaged fruit snacks, goldfish, little cookies, and small age appropriate trinkets, Play-Doh, bubbles, pencils for older kids, or stickers. Please no candy in the bags. Goodie bags will be passed out as students are going home. I am in the process of revising our parent handbook and these revisions will be included.
Next week is a short week. We will be closed on Monday for Labor Day. We will be open on Tuesday, but it will be a non-instructional day. This means that as Miami Dade Schools is closed, attendance for VPK and K-2 are not required. If you need us, we will be here for a camp day. Please if you have not already done so, let me know through email or Brightwheel if you will be keeping your VPK or K-2 child home on Tuesday, September 7th so that we can plan our meals accordingly.
A few spaces still remain in the Karate class for VPK, and K-2. If you are interested call the Karate teacher, Mrs. Conde- Dragons United Martial Arts Academy (786)-357-0386.
Finally, each day I have noticed more and more kids getting picked up after 5:30. As we only have a handful of extended day kids who pay a fee to be here from 5:30-6:00 we only have one staff member here for those kids. Kids picked up after 5:30 will need to be picked up in my office as our ratios do no support those kids being in the extended day class.
That said, as mentioned earlier in the week, the September 1 update in Brightwheel APP will automatically bill students picked up after 5:30 a late fee. Our fee has always been $5 for every 15 minutes late. The timeclock in Brightwheel will automatically bill the overtime charges at $0.35 per minute. Also as stated earlier in the week, I have been taking out those fees, but will stop doing so after today. Starting Monday, any kids scheduled to be picked up at 5:30 who are still on site will be moved to my office for pick up as we cannot put them in Rainbow as it will cause an over ratio situation. All overtime fees will remain in Brightwheel once they are billed. If you need to pick up after 5:30, please sign up for our extended day program. It is only $10 a week and your child can stay until 6:00. If there is a demand, I will hire additional staff for this. Thanks for your understanding.
Have a fabulous long weekend with your family!
Beth Rosenthal Davis, Ed.S, NBCT
