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JANUARY 4, 2012 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4
The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be
held in our Cafeteria. Please come and join us
on that evening.
CAR CIRCLE
I hope that everyone is getting used to the car
circle being in its new/old location. We now
have the Scarborough Road cul-de-sac that
allows more cars to get off of Lanier Road and
open that up for traffic.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Our newest concern is that we have cars that
We begin again after the winter break on
are parked in the circle very early in the
January 3rd. Teachers are refreshing their
afternoon. We tend to see cars lined up in the
students with rituals and routines and getting
circle by 1:15 p.m. each day, which is far too
them back into school mode. It is good to have
early for dismissal. We also see that some cars
a break but it can be hard to get started again
are without a driver and are just parked in the
and remember some of the things in place in
car rider circle. There is no parking in the car
the classroom.
circle at any time, so if you must leave your
We are getting started refreshing some of our vehicle and you are the driver, you must park
information so that parents can get into the your car in a parking space in the parking area.
rituals and routines of the school as well. We
We are requesting that parents begin to line up
need to ensure that the school is moving along
for the dismissal no earlier than 2:15 p.m. on
smoothly and that can occur if our parents take
regular school days, and 1:15 p.m. only on Early
the lead and help children understand how to
Dismissal days. Our regular day dismissal begins
follow procedures. Then in your conversations
about 2:40 – 2:45 p.m. Early Release dismissal
with children you can help them understand
begins at 1:45 p.m. This allows 30 minutes at all
why these procedures are put into place.
times for parents to get in place and prepare to
TOWN HALL MEETING receive their children.
On Thursday, January 12, 2012 there will be a We begin with getting our kindergarteners in
town Hall Meeting at Louis Sheffield certain kindergarten classrooms depending on
elementary. The meeting will be led by The how they go home or whether they are in
Honorable Becki Couch, our School Board Extended Day.
Representative and Kenneth Sutton, Director of
Once they are in place, we call for one bus load
the Exceptional Education Department for
so that that bus can rotate to another school.
Duval Schools.
We then call for our car riders to enter the
cafeteria and get ready to listen for their car
rider number.
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JANUARY 4, 2012 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4
It has already been established that parents do I can remember when I was a very little girl my
not enter the car circle walking up to pick up car mother telling me, “Never talk to strangers!” In
riders. They are also not to walk into the this day and age, it is definitely true. This is why
cafeteria to pick up car riders. Duval County and Sheffield Elementary have
volunteer and visitor policies to keep our
If your child or children are car riders and you children safe from strangers and harm at
want them to go home differently, call Mrs. school. Chapter 9.00 in the school board’s
Tilley before dismissal and tell her how they are policy states that ALL volunteers/visitors who
going home. She will contact the classroom have or will have any contact with students
teacher and change the dismissal procedures other than his or her own children must meet
for that day. If a permanent change is to occur, specific requirements. These requirements are:
then send a note to the classroom teacher so
they can adjust how the child goes home A. Complete a volunteer application;
regularly. B. Be subject to a check against the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Our ultimate goal for all children is to be ready sexual predator database.
and available for you when you are at the circle C. Meet minimum criteria
stopping point. We want them quietly waiting D. Attend a volunteer orientation
in the cafeteria, knowing their number and E. Sign In at the main school office; and
getting right up to exit and enter your vehicle. F. Wear an identifying name tag provided by
We are teachers and want children also to the school.
understand that in life there will always be rules Here at Sheffield, we always welcome visits by
to follow. We want your support in helping our parents and guardians. If you wish to speak to
children develop these understandings. Your your child’s teacher, a teacher/parent
children look to you and to us to learn, so we conference must be scheduled during a
want to help them get that good start. It is also
nonstudent contact time, like before or after
about safety and ensuring that every little child school, never in the hallways. Visitors who wish
in the school is safe and they leave each day. to enter during instruction must have approval
With your help we can ensure the best arrival in advanced by the principal or myself and
and dismissal each and every day, and our understand that this is not a time to speak to
children will learn from us that there is a right the teacher about your child or any concerns.
way to do things as they move through life. Section 4 of this policy also states that loitering
in and around the school premises is
Thank you for your help with this concern. prohibited. Please check in with Mrs. Tilley in
the front office to sign-in and receive a visitor’s
pass. Visitors should also walk in through the
Safe Schools front door near the office. If anyone is loitering
outside or inside the building during school
By Star Connor hours, they will be asked politely to leave. The
reason is because staff and students should feel
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JANUARY 4, 2012 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4
safe in this establishment. It is our job as January 25th Early Release
faculty, staff, and administrators to keep your
children safe from harm during the school day. January 26th Math Night at Food Lion
Another safety concern that we have January 30th Reading Projects due
here at Sheffield is the number of parents that
walk their children inside the school building
each morning. By this time of year, ALL
students are able to walk directly to their
classroom in the morning, sit down, and read a
book. If parents prefer to walk their children in
and stay until their child enters the classroom,
we would prefer that you help us out and
volunteer monitoring the hallways each
morning. This would involve walking one part of
the hallway making sure that students are
sitting against the wall and reading a book
silently. Parents will be encouraged not to talk
to other parents or adults during this time to
model what silence is for the students. All you
have to do is meet the requirements that are
stated on the left side of this sheet and sign in
the front office each morning. The more
volunteers we have, the safer our school will
be!
DATES TO REMEMBER
January 5th 6:00 p.m. Chik-fil-A Night
January 9th SAC Meeting – Mid Year
Stakeholders
January 11th Early Release
January 12th 6:00 p.m. Town Hall Meeting
January 16th School Closed – Martin Luther
King Holiday
January 19th 6:30 p.m. – Grade 4 Program
January 20th Teacher Planning Day