Indian Hills Connection - Back to School Letter from Mrs. Gardner

Hello Indian Hills Students and Families!
If you’re new to our school, welcome! We are excited to meet our new students and their families. You will love Indian Hills as much as we do. If you’re returning to us, welcome back! We can’t wait to get started.

Daily Schedule: Monday (early release): 7:55am – 1:15pm; Tues-Fri: 7:55am - 2:15pm

Breakfast: Breakfast will be served between 7:25 – 7:50 am. Breakfast is $2.25
Lunch: Lunch is $3.10
Please fill out the Free and Reduced Online Application if needed.

Before School: Students may be dropped off after 7:25am to play on the playground or line up for breakfast.
All students line up to enter the building through their grade level doors.

Tardy Protocol: If your child arrives after the second bell rings (8:00 am), he/she will need to enter the school through the front door and check in with the secretary. The student will be marked “Tardy.” Checking out early will also count as a tardy.

After School: Make sure your child knows how he/she is getting home after school before the school day starts. If an unexpected emergency arises and your child needs a message during the school day, the office staff will pass the message along. Please call by 1:00pm to ensure your child gets the message. If students need to call home during the day, he/she will come to office and use the phone. Students will not be given permission to call home to make after school plans.

Absences: Please call the school if your child is absent. This is important to confirm that your child is safely in your care if not at school. If available, provide medical documentation for absences/tardies. Excessive absences/tardies may result in a referral to law enforcement.

Electronic Devices: Personal electronic devices (phones, watches, earbuds, tablets) should be kept at home. We cannot guarantee their safety at school. The devices should be kept in the students backpacks all day. Watches should be turned off or in “school mode”. If a student has a device out (other than a watch) during the school day (including recess and lunch), the device will be taken and held by the office until the end of the day. Repeated violations could result in disciplinary measures.

Parent Involvement: Indian Hills is a school wide Title I school. Participation in this program stresses family involvement and partnerships between home and school. The school and family representatives have developed a policy to guide involvement in the school. If you need to talk to your child’s teacher, please make an appointment with them ahead of time.

Parent Visitors and Volunteers: When you visit the school, please buzz in at the front entrance, show identification, sign in at the office, and wear a “Visitor” sticker during your time in the building. The safety of your children is our primary concern! If you would like to volunteer in your child’s classroom, please contact the teacher. Volunteers need to fill out an application via the district website (https://www.sd25.us/families-
learners/volunteers).

PTA: Joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a great way to get involved in our school!

Here is a message from PTA President:
Hello Parents and Guardians,
My name is Lacey Wuthrich, PTA president. The goal of our PTA is to have our parents involved in the fun activities that will happen this school year. At our first meeting we will answer any questions concerning what the Parent Teacher Association is all about and discuss the activities that we have scheduled.
Our first meeting will be:
September 17th, 2:30pm at the school library.
If you have questions please email me.

Communication: Email is vital for communicating with teachers and the school. Many teachers use email to regularly communicate with their students’ families. You may reach out to staff via email; addresses are the first six letters of the teacher’s last name and the first two of their first name followed by @sd25.us.

Infinite Campus: Be sure you have your account set up. If you need help, call the office.

Emergency Contact Information: Please make sure we have updated emergency contact information at the school.

Check In/Check Out: If you must check your children out during the school day, you will need to buzz in at the front door and show identification. We only allow students to leave the school with people you have identified as a contact on their registration. If you have questions about this or need to update it, call the office.

Safety in the Parking Lot: The parking lot in front of the school can be very busy and congested. Please be cautious when bringing your children to school as well as picking them up. The two lanes closest to the school are for drop off/pick up only, but only the first two cars nearest the front doors can allow their child out of their cars. Staff members will be available during pick up/drop off to direct cars and help your child get to the school safely. If you need to stop and get out of your car, please pull into a parking space and use the crosswalks to approach the building. Additionally, students may be dropped off or picked up at the Edson
Fichter parking lot.

Bus: Students must ride their assigned bus unless they have a notes signed by a parent and the principal.

Birthdays: Birthday treats must be store bought and can be dropped off at the office. Please no balloons, flowers, toys, or excessive treats for students. If it doesn’t fit in a backpack or could be carried to the classroom in one trip, by one staff member, it’s too much. We will celebrate so many amazing things that make your child unique, but we are not the place for birthday parties.

Thank you so much for your help and support!

Sincerely,

Gina Gardner, Principal