Hello CenDen Family:
Welcome Back!
We hope that your summer has been fun-filled and relaxing. As we prepare for the start of the new school year, we thought it would be helpful to share some brief insights into the day to day operations and procedures of our building.
FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM –
BREAKFAST WILL BE FREE THIS YEAR!
Breakfast = Free
Lunch= $2.65
We encourage you to complete the “Application for Free
and Reduced Lunch” form that can be accessed by contacting the CenDen Office. Forms will also be available at our Open House event on August 29th.
BREAKFAST - If your child is planning to eat breakfast this year, they should go directly to the lunchroom upon entering the school. They should NOT go to their classroom first. All breakfast items will be served in a “Grab and Go” fashion. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will eat in the cafeteria. The 2nd and 3rd grade students will follow the guidelines of their teacher. Some will eat in the lunchroom, while others will be asked to bring it to their classrooms for a soft start to the school day. Please check with your classroom teacher for clarification.
MORNING HALLWAY EXPECTATIONS – As students enter the building, they will either go to breakfast in the cafeteria or should go directly to their classrooms. The expectation is that they will unpack and hang up their backpacks, use the bathroom, fill their water bottles, and talk quietly with their friends while they prepare to meet their teacher at the classroom door. This is a chance for them to develop and model responsible and respectful behavior expectations. It is also a great way for them to start their day!
CAR RIDERS – Pick-up and Drop-Off Procedures – We do have a large number of families who choose to pick up and drop off at school each day. As you enter the lines on Cook Street and Madison Street, please DO NOT cut into the line and be alert as you move up through the lines. Please be patient as the lines may be long and our littlest learners may struggle a bit getting in and out of the cars. If everyone follows the line, moves up as far as
possible behind the next car, and is patient, it really does flow smoothly. An important side note, please be kind to our staff as they are working hard to help all of our students arrive and depart safely.
MORNING DROP-OFF – 8:30 am - 8:45 am – As always, our 4K-1st grade car riders should be dropped off on Cook Street. The second and third graders can be dropped off on Madison Street. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD POSITIONED TO EXIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. This allows your child to safely exit the car without crossing through the traffic pathways. Also, if you choose to park your car and walk your child to the door, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS. This is a safety must! The streets are narrow, the traffic is heavy, and our children are little and often hard to see. We spend a lot of time teaching our students these safety rules. We really appreciate it when our parents can model them. Please DO NOT drop off your student before 8:30 as there is no supervision available until then.
END OF THE DAY PICK-UP – Our walkers and car riders will be dismissed at 3:45 each day. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed once all of the buses have arrived so they may walk safely through the parking lot. If you have students who ride the transfer bus from Eastview, you are welcome to wait and pick them up at CenDen, but it may be quicker for you to pick up at Eastview and then join the pickup line at CenDen. Again, PLEASE CROSS AT
THE CROSSWALKS to help keep everyone safe.
VISITORS – We really do love to see our families at school, but it is important to keep our focus on a happy and successful school day. During the first week of school, parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom, if necessary. We do understand that coming to school after the summer or as a first time student can bring some emotional challenges, for both children and adults. After that first week of school, we will operate with a “Kiss and
Go” model. Please leave your child at the door with a kiss and some happy words of encouragement and pride as they start their day. If you need help with separation, Mr. Nugent, myself, or any of the CenDen staff, will be happy to gently guide your child to their classroom.
If you need to bring something to school, please bring it directly to the office and we can happily deliver it to your child. Other visits to your child’s classroom should be arranged in advance with your child’s teacher. There may be opportunities for a parent to chaperone a field trip or volunteer to help with a project at school. A background check is required for these situations. This is a simple process and forms can be obtained at the CenDen Office or
on the Lake Geneva Schools website under the “Parents” tab. Please plan in advance and complete this process soon so you are ready when the opportunity arises. These background checks are good for two years. Another way to help around school is to volunteer your services with our PTO activities.
SNACKS AND WATER BOTTLES – We are once again asking that children bring their own, individual snacks and water bottles. Students are welcome to bring birthday treats and special event snacks. We do have fill stations at the drinking fountains throughout the building so students can refill their water bottles. No worries if your child does not have a water bottle, as the drinking fountains will be accessible as needed.
DOORS AND SCHOOL SAFETY - All of the outside doors to the building are locked throughout the day. The door in the back alley is monitored and is used only for our 3K Buzzing Bees and as an entrance for the before and after daycare program. All other needs should be addressed through the front office doors located by the bell planter on the playground side of the building.
Our building conducts regular monthly drills to allow our students to practice fire, tornado, and lockdown procedures. Please know that we are conscious of the age of our students and take steps to introduce these drills gently and without panic. Teachers are careful to watch for students who may struggle with anxiety due to these drills so that we can find the best way to provide support.
Our building is an amazing place to learn and play. Our custodial staff has worked hard to buff and shine the building. Our staff is kind, collaborative, and very dedicated to our students. We are looking forward to the start of a new year. Thank you for being a part of it and sharing your children with us. Please don’t hesitate to call or stop in the office to see us if you have a concern, question, or just want to celebrate the new school year.
TOGETHER WE CAN!
Mrs. Buhler and Mr. Nugent
