Mrs. Danielle Colterman
315-389-5131 ext. 29300
dcolterman@bfcsd.org

I would like to share some information that I hope you find helpful.

Home and School Communication

We recognize that communication between home and school is a key element in our partnership in your child's education. Our district has an app, which can be installed on your phone. Search the app store for "Brasher Falls Central School District" to download our app and stay informed. SLC Elementary will also be using Class Dojo as a means of communication again. This is another app which can be downloaded for access to direct messaging with your child's teacher and other school staff. More information on this will be sent home with your child during the first week of school.

If your child is going to be absent, please be sure to communicate with Mrs. Tuper, our school nurse, as she handles excused/unexcused absences. Good communication regarding your child's attendance/absences is imperative for a successful school year.

Back to School Event

Save the Date! We will be hosting this annual event once again, on Tuesday, September 5. We will have free haircuts and school supplies available, as well as many other local agencies to connect with. Please note that this event takes place at the middle/high school building. The elementary building will not be accessible, but this event is for all SLC students, UPK-Grade 12. Be on the lookout for more information soon.

School Supply Lists

Click here to access our supply lists for all grade levels, K-4. UPK students will not need to purchase supplies, as they will be provided through the UPK grant funding.

The First Day of School

This year school will begin on September 7. We will have many staff members on hand to help our students find their classrooms. It is very helpful if your child knows their teacher's name. For our youngest learners, it is a good idea to begin practicing their teacher's name in the weeks leading up to the first day. If your child is having trouble remembering their teacher's name, I suggest writing it on a tag attached to their bookbag, or even on an index card they can carry with them.

Personal Belongings

As a parent, I know how frustrating it can be when my child goes to school with their coat, bookbag, gym sneakers, and lunch bag, only to return home without one of these items. I suggest writing your child's name inside any item that could be easily left behind. This will help our staff to identify the owner of any items found, minimizing our collection of lost and found items.

Parent Drop Off

Students can be dropped off between 8:30 and 8:55, though we recommend dropping them off between 8:45 and 8:55. Please refer to the map above, and follow the blue arrows.

• Please use Deer River Road (County Route 50) to enter George Street.

• Turn left into the first driveway (entrance) to the school and pull up in front of the cafeteria, along the sidewalk. There will be a staff member waiting to greet your child on the front sidewalk.

• You will then exit through the second driveway (exit).

• As you exit, please turn left to proceed on George Street, then turning right by the bus garage to head back to State Route 11C.

Parent Pick Up

Please do not arrive for parent pick up any earlier than 3:10. The traffic pattern will be the same as the drop off pattern explained above):

• If you will be picking your child up every day, we ask that you send a signed note stating so on the first day.

• If your child rides the bus, but you need to pick them up on occasion, please send a note in with them. If it is a last minute change, you can call the office to let Mrs. Dishaw know you will be picking them up (315-389-5131 ext. 29300). Once you make this call, the student will be added to our list and you can join the parent pick up car line to pick your child up. There is no need to park your car.

We encourage you to arrive for parent pick up by 3:20. Any child not picked up by 3:30 will be put on a bus.

Playground Safety

Please be sure that your child has sneakers to wear for PE class and outside on the playground. It is fine to wear other footwear to school, but they should always bring their sneakers too, for these purposes.

Cafeteria Information

This year all student meals (breakfast and lunch) will be covered by grant funding. If your child needs to purchase anything extra, the costs are as follows:

Breakfast - main course $1.00. milk .65, Fruit 1.00, or Juice .50

Lunch - main course $1.75, Milk .65, Fruit 1.00, Vegetable 1.00

Though everyone will receive free meals this year, we still need everyone to complete the free and reduced meal application. This application impacts our funding through other grants and some academic programming. We kindly ask that you complete this application when it is sent home. It can also be completed at our Back to School Event on September 5.

Lastly, if you have questions which have not been answered here, please refer to our Student Handbook. Another good resource is our "At a Glance" document, which will be sent home as well. It would be a good idea to keep this document handy. As always, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher with any additional questions you may have. I am more than happy to connect with parents/guardians, but I do ask that you always consider your child's teacher to be your first point of contact.

We very much look forward to the return of our Little Larries, and we appreciate your patience as we settle into our routine for the new school year. Once again, thank you for entrusting us with your child's education.