1. BACKPACK EXPRESS Union Pleasant
Elementary School
The Newsletter of Union Pleasant Elementary School October 2010
Inside this issue:
From the Desk of Mrs. Peffer…
During the school year, I will be sharing some timely “Parent Pointers” from
Change of Plans for Dismissal 2
the Education World website. My hope is that these brief thoughts may address
concerns or questions you may have throughout the year. Helping Hands 2
The following are some good pointers for starting the school year off: Parent-Child Connection 2
Mrs. Jacobs, School Nurse 6
Getting the School Year Off to a Good Start
Set a firm, reasonable bed time. Kids need plenty of rest, especially as
they readjust to the school-year schedule.
Take time for a healthful breakfast each day. Children who eat well before
school have energy to take full advantage of important morning instruction.
Find a place for everything and put everything in its place. The beginning
of the year is the time to set routines that will avoid lost backpacks and ma-
terials.
Copyright EducationWorld.com
Staff News
Emergency Evacuation Early Dismissal Drill
On Friday, October 1, Hamburg Central School District will participate in the annual We welcomed the follow-
Emergency, Evacuation/Early Dismissal Drill in order to fulfill the State Education Com- ing staff members to our
missioner's Regulation that requires an annual drill. building during the month
The students at UPES will be leaving school at 2:10 PM, 15 minutes earlier than of September –
usual. For bus students, their buses may arrive in a different order to our parking lot as • Mrs. Norman, who is
part of the simulation. Teachers and staff members will be at the buses to assist the stu- our new Certified Occu-
dents onto the correct bus. pational Therapy Assis-
Other schools in the district will be leaving 15 minutes earlier than their usual times. tant.
Children attending any after school programs will arrive at them 15 minutes earlier as • Miss Loftus, who is now
well. Please inform any after school care providers for your children of this change in working in our building
time. part-time as a speech
teacher.
Concert Dates for 2010 – 2011 Congratulations to
December 8 - Level 4 Concert – 7:00 PM Mrs. Scranton and her
December 9 - Level 1 Musical – 7:00 PM husband, who are the proud
December 15 - Level 5 Concert – 7:00 PM parents of their new son,
February 16 - Level 2 Musical – 7:00 PM George Lewis Scranton,
March 23 - UPES Musical – 7:00 PM born on September 16!
May 17 - Level 3 Concert – 6:30 PM*
Level 5 Concert – 7:30 PM*
(*change from District
calendar)
May 25 - Level 4 Concert
2. Change of Dismissal Plans
When plans for your children’s dismissal change dur-
ing the school day, you need to notify the office as soon as
possible. If you are picking up your child, you will need to
sign him/her out from the cafeteria at dismissal time. If The Parent-Child Connection
you are sending someone else to pick up your child, you A Volunteer Committee of
must designate them in writing either by listing them on the the Family Support Center of Hamburg
Student Information Form that is sent home in early Sep- Offering Enrichment Opportunities for Parents
tember or by sending the office a note prior to the pick up.
If your child is riding a different bus, we will issue them a ~ In collaboration with ~
bus pass. The Hamburg Central PTSA Special Ed Committee
• Be sure to send in written notes for changes in Western Region PTA Special Ed Committee
dismissal for your child including the name of Invite you to join us for a discussion
who is picking your child up and/or the name, ~ Featuring ~
address and bus number of the bus your child Dr. Mary E. Schuetz, MD
may be riding for that day and/or the name Board Certified in Neurodevelopmental
and address of the location your child will be Disabilities,
walking to that day. Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, and
• Notes are required except for an occasional General Pediatrics
unforeseen change of plans that occur during
the school day. Please do NOT call to change Monday, October 18, 2010
your child’s dismissal plan after 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
after 10:00 AM on early dismissal days; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Armor Elementary School
• If an emergency causes a change in your
5301 Abbott Road, Hamburg NY 14075
child’s dismissal from 2:00 PM on, you will
need to pick up in the cafeteria at 2:25 PM The discussion will be centered on disabilities and com-
instead of the office. mon, co-occurring physical issues. For example, when
a child is diagnosed with a disability such as Downs
Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy,
Autism, and/or Spina Bifida there are common addi-
What is Helping Hands? tional physical and/or behavioral problems that may be
Helping Hands is a PTA sponsored committee that present. Dr. Schuetz will offer ideas for how to best
assists faculty by preparing upcoming materials for manage and advocate for a child in this circumstance so
classroom activities. he/she can have an optimal chance to grow and prosper
Volunteers are welcome to help with cutting out throughout his/her lifetime. * Note: A neurodevelop-
lamination; sorting/separating items; collating; letter- mental pediatrician is a pediatrician who specializes in
ing; stapling; gluing etc. The committee provides the the evaluation and care of infants and children who are
having difficulty doing what other children their age are
supplies and you provide the Helping Hands.
able to do.
Meetings are held in the Pleasant Avenue Cafeteria
on the following Thursdays from 9:00 – 10:30 AM: RSVP is not required but appreciated as
♦ October 7 and 21 helpful for planning purposes.
♦ November 4 and 18 Christine Hoff at 648-7356
♦ December 9 Hoffhofft15@aol.com or
♦ January 6 and 20 www.ParentChildConnection.org
♦ February 3 and 17
Regular attendance is not needed and children are welcome!
♦ March 3 and 17
If you can spare some time please email Carey Gibbons at
♦ April 7 crygibb@yahoo.com or call her at 649-5194.
♦ May 5 and 19 If you would like to be involved in the PTA and are not sure what you
♦ June 9 might like to join, why not try Helping Hands? We would love to have you!
2
6. Union Pleasant Elementary
School
From Mrs. Jacobs, Our School Nurse...
School Phone Numbers:
Welcome back to school! Here is a reminder of Health Office proce-
Main Office 646-3280 dures:
Mrs. Jacqueline Peffer—Principal
Mr. James Martinez —Assistant Principal Reporting an absence or tardiness – Please call our attendance
Mrs. J. Merrill—Secretary office at 646-3288. We have voice mail, so you can call anytime and
Mrs. M.B. Murray—Secretary
leave a message. If we don’t hear from you, our attendance secretary,
Mrs. Hohl, makes every effort to contact you or someone on your
Mrs. M. Rozler—Secretary
emergency contact list, so that we are sure that your child is safe.
Attendance/Health Office 646-3288 An absence or tardiness excuse must accompany your child when
Mrs. J. Jacobs - Nurse 646-3287 they return to school. Any absence will become illegal if a written
Mrs. D. Hohl - Secretary note is not received.
Mrs. J. Tuholski (Social Worker) 646-3295
Illness – Do not send your child to school if he/she has had a fever,
Miss L. Scibetta (Social Worker) 646-3249
was vomiting, or had diarrhea in the past 24 hours, pink-eye (unless
Kitchen 646-3294 they are on medicated eye drops), strep throat (must be on an antibi-
Mrs. Janet Gahr (Cook Manager) otic for at least 24 hours before returning), a cold with a very runny
LMC 646-4091 nose or a bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night,
Ms. Barbara Donovan (LMC Specialist) an undiagnosed rash, chicken pox (unless all the scabs have scabbed
over), impetigo or ringworm (unless treated), head lice/nits.
Website Address: Medication – It is district policy that if the school nurse is to admin-
www.hamburgschools.org
ister any medication, either prescription or over-the-counter, she
must have written permission from both the parent and the
health care provider. The medication must be in its original con-
Editor: Mary Beth Murray tainer, and kept in the Health Office.
Physicals – The New York State Education Department requires
physicals for all 2nd and 4th graders, as well as students entering
Backpack Express Deadline kindergarten, and students new to the district. These physicals may
All articles for the Backpack Express
are due by the third Thursday of each
be done by your own physician anytime within a twelve-month pe-
month. Articles for the November edition riod prior to entering that grade.
are due by Thursday, October 21, You can send in your own physician's form or request a form
2010. from your school nurse. Completed forms may be mailed to me at
Due to page constraints, some articles
150 Pleasant Avenue, sent in to school with your child, or faxed to
may need to be modified. Submissions me at 646-3237.
can be placed in the mailbox located in If there is a hardship, the school can provide a physical for your
the main office. Please include your child, but you must contact me as soon as possible so I can make
name and phone number in case there are those arrangements.
any questions.
Gym excuses – Parent notes excusing a child from gym need to come
to the Health Office first. The note should give the reason for the ex-
cuse. A doctor’s note is necessary if the excuse is for longer than a
week.
Let’s have a safe and healthy school year!
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