Welcome Back to school from Angie Richeson, elementary principal at Gothenburg Public Schools with some important information about the first day of school.
When arriving on campus Thursday morning, all parents should use the grade level assigned drop off zones, and students should use their assigned building entrances. These drop off zones and building entrances are the same as what has been utilized in previous years and will allow for a successful staggered entry of our students. A map illustrating grade level drop off zones can be found on the school’s website at www.gothenburgswedes.org, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
On the first day of school, we will have students enter through their appropriate building entrances just as soon as they arrive on campus (beginning at 7:45 a.m.) Students will NOT line up outside on the first day like we have done in previous years. Once your student arrives on campus, staff members will be present to direct students to the correct doors and then to their classrooms.
Please note that students will exit out these same assigned doors at the end of the day. All students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. on the first day of school and will dismiss at regular time (3:30 p.m.) on Friday.
It may be helpful to prepare your child for a non-contact temperature check upon entering and please note that parents will not be allowed into the building. If students are bringing a mask from home to wear, we ask that all students put on their required mask as soon as they step onto the school campus as it may be difficult for students to social distance the first day once they see their friends and classmates. We will have a disposable mask for all students who do not bring one from home and the only exception will be those individuals with a documented medical exemption.
We ask that all students who have a school-owned Chromebook at home to please return it on the first day of school. A safe way to do this would be to put the charger in your child’s backpack and then have your child carry his or her Chromebook like a hug. Students know how to do this as they have been taught this carrying method both when carrying their Chromebooks in the classroom and in the hallway... and also when carrying their library books. Due to students needing to bring their Chromebooks to school on Thursday, students may need to bring some of their school supplies (that do not fit into their backpacks) on Friday.
While we are in the orange level of our tiered Return to School Plan, some food options may be limited at lunchtime. Again, please prepare your child for this change as they are used to having 5 or 6 options to choose from each day. Students are always welcome to bring a lunch from home if they prefer. In addition, all drinking fountains will be disabled so we encourage students to bring their own refillable water bottle to be filled at our water bottle filling stations.
Students will receive their back to school paperwork on Thursday. Please ask your child for that manilla envelope on the evening of August 13th. Most of the items will need to be signed and returned to school. The school calendar will also be sent home with students on Thursday.
The theme this year at Dudley Elementary is “Better Together… Stronger Than Ever”. We believe this to be true and can’t wait to be together again soon. See you all on Thursday, August 13th!
