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Summer Office Hours

The office is open August 7^th through August 14^th from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM 

The office will be closed August 15^th. 

Beginning August 16^th, the office hours will be 8:15 AM – 3:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursdays, office hours will be 8:15 AM – 1:45 PM.

Enrollment 

All enrollment is online. Please go to the PUSD website to access the enrollment information and application.

School Hours

Transitional Kindergarten: 8:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Kindergarten: 8:45 AM - 1:25 PM through September 22^nd (Kindergarten Introduction Days); First full day of kindergarten will be September 25, 2023 with dismissal at 3:05 PM.

Grades 1 – 5: M, T, W, F – 8:45 AM – 3:05 PM, Thursdays 8:45 AM – 1:25 PM 

Classroom Assignments

Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten

August 14^th- Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Teachers send Teacher Greeting to their classes via Connect Ed. at 4:00 PM. 

August 15^th- Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten “Meet & Greet” in classrooms from 1:15-1:30 PM. Ice Cream Social for TK and K students at main playground from 1:30 – 2:00 PM hosted by PTA.

Grades 1^st – 5^th

August 15^th- First through Fifth Grade Teachers send Teacher Greeting to their classes via Connect Ed. at 4:00 PM.

Arrival and Before School Supervision

Students will enter school through the front double gates or the side gate with the ramp leading up to it.  Morning Playground supervision begins at 8:25 a.m. To ensure safety, your child should not arrive before 8:25 a.m., as there is no adult supervision on either playground or in front of the school until that time.

Students in grades 1-5 should enter the school through the front double gates or the side gate with the ramp leading up to it, put their backpack by their classroom, and walk to the large playground. Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students should enter the school through the kindergarten playground gate, put their backpack by their classroom, and play until the bell rings to line up. At 8:40 a.m., students will line up at their designated classroom number spot or area and proceed to their classroom with their teacher.

School begins promptly at 8:45 a.m. Students are expected to be in their seats ready to learn by that time. After the 8:45 a.m. bell, students will need to come to the front office for a late slip before going to class.

Dismissal

At dismissal time, teachers will walk their students through the following gates where parents will meet their children:

• 1^st graders will be released from the front gate.
• 2^nd graders will be released from the main entrance of the school.
• 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders will be released from the large playground gate.
• TK and Kindergarten teachers will communicate with parents where their children will be released.

We ask parents to wait by the large cement area away from the gates, as there is greater space and visibility there. Please do not meet your children inside the school or by the classroom.

Parking Lot Drop Off & Pick Up

Parents driving students to and from school should follow the procedures of state law. Below are additional procedures to follow:

1. Enter the parking lot to drop off your child by making a right hand turn off Via Azul in the turn lane only, and exit left or right onto Via Inez. 
2. Please drive all the way forward in the drop off/pick up zone. 
3. Do not let your child out of the car until you have stopped at the edge of the curb. 
4. Cars in the traffic circle should never be left unattended at any time.
5. Do not enter the bus drop off circle to drop off your child.
6. Do not block the entrance of the bus circle at any time.
7. If you need to enter the school campus for any reason, please park your car in a designated space in the lot or on the street.
8. Double parking in the school parking lot is not permitted. This includes sitting in your car and waiting for your child anywhere other than a parking spot or the designated drive through line.
9. Always use the crosswalk to enter the school campus.
10. Students should enter and exit their car on the curbside to avoid the flow of traffic in the parking lot.

Please abide by the directions and requests of our wonderful staff. They are working hard to ensure the safety of our children.

Pedestrians should cooperate with our Student Safety Patrol, located by the crosswalk of Via Inez and Via Fiesta, and demonstrate good citizenship and safety practices for our students. 

Only students in grades 3, 4, and 5 may ride a bicycle to school. Children must wear a helmet, provide a lock for their bicycle, and follow safety rules/laws. Bikes must be walked once on school grounds. No rollerblades, scooters of any kind, or skateboards are allowed on campus.

Volunteers

PUSD Board Policy 4.415 prohibits volunteers on campus unless they have completed a background check, provided the Office with a negative TB Skin Test, and any other health requirements required by the California Department of Public Health. All visitors and cleared volunteers must report to the office, sign-in, and wear a visitor's pass. The PTA keeps track of volunteer hours and reports them to the Palomar Council.

Gates and School Safety

During school hours from 8:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., all school visitors and volunteers must enter and exit through the school office.  You must check in at the school office, obtain and wear a visitor’s sticker or badge where it is visible to others, and check out at the school office when you leave the school. All gates to our school will remain closed during school hours for the safety of our students and staff. Only enter and exit through the school office during school hours.

We cannot take chances with student safety. Please remind your child that NO student may leave the school grounds during the school day without being checked out through the front office.

School Breakfast and Lunch at No Cost

All students are eligible for breakfast and lunch at no cost. 

Breakfast is available from 8:20 - 8:40 a.m.  If students come for breakfast anytime between 8:20 and 8:25, they will need to enter the school through the office hallway.  At 8:25, that door is locked, and students will enter through the front gates. Only students accessing breakfast may come on campus from 8:20-8:25. During these 5 minutes, there is only supervision in the breakfast area, not on the playground. 

Students have twenty minutes to play and twenty minutes to eat their lunch each day. 

Willow Grove PTA and Educational Foundation

Our PTA and Educational Foundation are two very important organizations that support our school. They provide many activities, programs, and specialized teachers that directly impact student learning and contribute to our positive school environment. I urge you to join me in becoming a member of our PTA and supporting our Educational Foundation. Your participation in these two organizations will help families find the most appropriate way to lend their support to our school that fits their lifestyle. Many parents want to help in classrooms or with special events. Others want to contribute financially to enhance programs for our children. Look for additional information from our PTA and Educational Foundation on our website, their websites, and in the first day packet of information that your child will bring home. In advance, thank you so much for your support of these outstanding organizations!

Extended Student Services (ESS)

Willow Grove offers an Extended Student Services Program located on campus. ESS is a before and after school childcare program that extends the learning day for students. For information, contact Cameron Shepherd at [email protected].

Preschool

For preschool enrollment, please call the district at 858-521-2800, ext. 2847.

Attendance

It is important that you keep us informed about your child when they are not in school. When your child is absent, please call or e-mail the school to inform us of the reason for the absence each day they are not in attendance. In addition, if they will be tardy more than 30 minutes, please call. If your child will be absent from school due to anything other than illness for 3 days or more, contact the school for a study contract

*Our attendance hotline number is 858-674-6300. Press option #2 to report a student’s absence. You can also excuse your child’s absence by emailing [email protected].  

Medication

Students who are required to take medication during school hours must be assisted by school personnel. No medication may be given at school without a Medication Authorization form completed by the physician detailing instructions for administration. This form may be picked up from the school office. For safety reasons, an adult must bring the medication to the school office in the original container that the medication is dispensed. Children may never have medication in their possession at school. This includes aspirin, inhalers, cough drops, etc. 

Communication

Weekly communication will be shared via email in the Connect Ed which will go out on Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. Please make sure to read through the Connect Ed to stay in the know of what’s happening on campus.

Be sure to follow us on social media:

Instagram: @willowgrovegrizzlies

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WillowGroveElementary

I would appreciate you also reviewing this important information with your child. Please enjoy the rest of summer. The staff and I look forward to working with you and your wonderful child this year!

In partnership,

Katie (Masterson) Lynn

Principal