Hello Willowgrove School Families!! August 26, 2014

Welcome to the start of the school year. As you all know the new building is still under construction and won’t be ready for several months. At this point, with the information I have, we are still planning for a January opening. There is no guarantee that January is the start date for sure, but that is what we are planning for. We want to send out this letter to review plans for the first few days of school so everyone knows exactly what is planned.

School Day Schedule

Forest Grove School Day (K – Grade 3 students)
8:40 a.m. / Classes Begin
10:25-10:40 a.m. / Morning Recess
11:33-12:23 p.m. / Lunch
12:23 p.m. / Classes Begin
2:07-2:22 p.m. / Afternoon Recess
3:15 p.m. / School Dismisses
Dr. J.G Egnatoff School Day (Grade 4 – 8 students)
9:05 a.m. / Classes Begin
10:50-11:05 a.m. / Morning Recess
11:58-12:48 p.m. / Lunch
12:48 p.m. / Classes Begin
2:32-2:47 p.m. / Afternoon Recess
3:40 p.m. / School Dismisses

** Both schools dismiss 15 minutes earlier every Thursday

Registration Day – Tuesday, September 2nd

Kindergarten students will attend a “come and go” drop in with a parent or adult from 9am – 10am. There is no busing for Kindergarten students on the first day.

Grade 1- 8 students will attend for the morning. Busing will be available for all grade 1 – 8 students who have received a phone call with their busing information.

Willowgrove students at both Forest Grove and Egnatoff will be directed to the small gym in each building when they arrive. Tables will be set up for new registrations. Staff will walk students to the rooms where they will spend the morning. ** Students will spend the morning in grade alike groups, not in set classes.

On the afternoon of September 2nd, staff will review total number of registrations and set up class groupings.

Wednesday, September 3rd

Kindergarten students begin their “staggered start” days, and busing begins for Kindergarten students who have received a phone call with their busing information.

This is the first full day of classes.

Class lists for grade 1 – 3 students will be posted at Forest Grove, and grade 4 – 8 students at Egnatoff. We still haven’t finalized where the lists will be, but staff will help direct students where they need to go, as well as help students get to their classes.

* Class groupings could change this fall if there are significant increases or decreases in enrolment.

Notes About Parking

There will be 14 school buses serving Forest Grove, and 13 buses at Dr. J.G. Egnatoff. We have worked with the city and the bus loading zones will be expanded at both schools. We know parking will be a challenge at both buildings.

Please be aware of all traffic signs and bus loading zones, and only stop your vehicle or park where permitted.

NOTE: The staff parking lots at both schools are not available for parent parking, or pick up or drop offs at any time during the day.

Notes About Busing

To receive busing families must complete a bus registration form and submit it to the main office of Willowgrove School (located at Dr. J.G. Egnatoff). We then send the form to First Student. It takes several days for First Student to add students onto the routes. First Student will contact families with the pick up and drop off times, as well as location of bus stop. Students can’t start riding the bus until a phone call comes from First Student.

If you have already registered for the bus, you should receive a call before Friday, August 29th from First Student with information about pick up and drop off time and bus stop location. If you haven’t heard from them by Friday morning, their numbers are 306-343-2125 for bus route information and 306-343-3300 for late bus information/weather delay information.Please follow up with them directly.

If you still haven’t registered for the bus it will take a few days before your child can begin riding to and from school.

Knowing that there will be so many buses at Forest Grove and Egnatoff, please ensure your son or daughter knows the color of the sign on the side of their bus (eg: red and white sign, blue and green sign etc).

Wednesday, September 10th

Welcome back BBQ at Forest Grove for Willowgrove k – 3 students, families and staff and all Forest Grove students, families and staff.

Thursday, September 11th

Welcome back BBQ at Egnatofffor Willowgrove Grade 4 - 8 students, families and staff and all Egnatoff students, families and staff.

Allergy Alert

There are students at both Forest Grove and Egnatoff with severe, life threatening allergies to nuts and eggs. Please do not send any nuts or nut products, or eggs with your child to school. We thank you for your help ensuring both schools are safe for all students. If your child has allergies or other medical concerns please ensure their teacher and the office staff are aware, and have documented the information.

Permission Forms and Handbook

On Friday, September 5th we will be sending home a package of permission forms that need to be completed and return to classroom teachers ASAP. Please be on the look-out for these forms from your child.We will also be sending home a paper copy of the parent handbook with all Kindergarten and grade 1 students. Grade 2 – 8 students will receive a paper dayplanner that includes the parent handbook. The handbook is also available on the Willowgrove School web site.

Attendance and Other Calls to the Office

Our Admin Assistant is Rita Wall and our Secretary is Melinda Bulin-Anderson. The number for our main office located at Dr. J.G. Egnatoff is 306-683-7970. The direct phone number to our office at Forest Grove is 306-683-7977. Please ensure you call if you know your child will be absent or late from school.

We look forward to a great start to the school year with your children. Please keep in contact if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Shane Armstrong - Principal