2026 Tooker Ave Welcome Letter

August 2026

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Hello! I hope you are all having an enjoyable, restful, and healthy summer. We are looking forward to a great school year, and we can't wait to see all of our previous and new students on the first day of school. That will take place on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Students are permitted to enter the building each day at 9:00 a.m., but are required to arrive by 9:15 a.m. or they will be marked late. All school announcements will take place at this time. When a child is late, they must be accompanied to the main entrance doors by a parent/guardian to sign into school. Your child will enter the building after you sign them into school with the security guard.

Arrival Procedures

• Grades 1–5 Car Drop-Off: The back of the building will once again be used for the arrival of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who are being driven. Drive through the back driveway and stop at the back doors. Your child will get out to enter, and staff will be available to assist.
• Kindergarten Drop-Off: The kindergarten playground entrance on Cone Street will be used for kindergarten arrival. Please park on the school side of Cone Street to be considerate to neighbors and avoid interfering with bus arrivals. Walk your child to the kindergarten playground entrance where a staff member will assist.
• Bus Arrivals: The front of the building will be used for school buses. Kindergarten students enter through the kindergarten doors, and 1st through 5th grade students enter through the main entrance doors.

Dismissal Procedures

The school day ends at 3:25 p.m., and students will not be dismissed prior to this time. Please expect bus delays during the first several school days. ParentSquare updates will be sent when buses leave the building during the first couple of weeks.

• Walker / Car Pick-Up (3:25 p.m.): Takes place in the front of the building. Drive through the main driveway and stop at the main lobby. Please hold up a sign in your passenger-side window with your child's name(s). If you do not have a sign, roll down your window and state the name.
• Walk-Up Pick-Up: Park on Tooker Avenue or in a designated spot in the lot. Wait underneath the flagpole, and a staff member will assist you.

Early Sign-Out Policy: Students will not be allowed to be signed out between 3:00 p.m. and dismissal. Anyone wishing to sign a child out after 3:00 p.m. must have a valid reason and receive prior approval from the principal.

Important Policies & School Life

• Smart Devices & Cell Phones: State legislation prohibits the use of internet-enabled personal devices (smartphones, smartwatches) during the school day. Devices brought to school must remain powered off inside backpacks in designated classroom areas. Leaving these devices at home is strongly encouraged.
• Lunch Schedules: Lunch takes place in the cafeteria from 11:28 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.

• 3rd & 4th Grade: 11:28 a.m. – 12:17 p.m.
• 1st & 2nd Grade: 12:17 p.m. – 1:06 p.m.
• Kindergarten & 5th Grade: 1:06 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. (Please complete and return the free/reduced lunch application if eligible).

• Recess: Held daily before or after lunch. Outdoor recess occurs when temperatures are above 32°F, so please dress children appropriately for the weather.
• Birthdays: Announced during morning announcements. Outside food/beverages are not permitted. Special treats must be arranged through the cafeteria staff using the form included in the summer mailing at least two weeks in advance.

Class Placements & Supply Drop-Off

• Class Placements: Available on the Parent Portal by the last week of August. Due to the detailed placement process, placement change requests will not be accepted.
• Supply Drop-Off (Tuesday, September 1st):

• Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
• 2nd & 3rd Grade: 1:20 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
• 4th & 5th Grade: 1:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  (This event is solely to see the classroom, drop off supplies, and briefly meet the teacher; teachers will not be giving presentations or holding individual parent meetings).

I would like to wish you all a pleasant conclusion to your summer vacation, and I look forward to seeing you in September.

Sincerely,

Mr. Charles J. Germano

Tooker Principal