Virgil I. Bailey Elementary School

Bailey Families,

We are so excited to welcome all of our new students and returning students this school year!  It's hard to believe that summer is just about over!  This email contains  important information for the start of the school year. Please read the contents carefully. 

First Day Drop Off

I may be the principal, but I am also a mom.  I remember feeling anxious and overwhelmed at the thought of sending my babies into a big school!  I put my trust in the staff to make sure that my kids were safe and knew where to go!  Here at Bailey, we provide an “all hands on deck” experience the first few weeks of school until the students know where to go!  Staff members will be stationed throughout the building to help students as they make their way down the hallways.  

To ensure school safety, we are not allowing any parents to walk their children down to the classrooms.  Our first priority is always the safety of our students and staff.  

The Start of Our School Day   

Car Riders:  Students arriving by car will enter Door I. Students MUST remain in their car until the adult staff members are outside ready to allow them into the building. 

In order to make the line move quickly and not disrupt the neighborhood traffic, we ask that you follow these procedures:

• When entering the drop off lane, please pull all the way up to the first sign. Our goal is to allow 5 or so cars to unload at a time. This will allow for the line to move quicker in the morning.
• Children need to be ready to exit your vehicle when you pull into the drop off lane.
• Parents/Guardians, please remain in your vehicle and do NOT pass the car in front of you.
• All students who are car riders to school MUST utilize the drop off lane. In order to keep EVERYONE SAFE, NO drop offs are allowed across the street.

Walkers:  Students that are walking to school will enter Door A.  Students need to wait to the side of the front doors, parents please remind your child(ren) not to block the doors. 

Doors open at 8:10 for students to go to breakfast. Breakfast is served until 8:30 in our cafeteria. Any students who arrive after 8:30 must enter through our main office at Door A. Classes begin at 8:30 with the tardy bell ringing at 8:40.  Students that arrive after 8:40 will need to be signed in the office by an adult. 

Car Rider Line

A significant number of parents will be bringing their children to school or picking them up from school.  Therefore, I cannot stress enough how important it is that all of our families cooperate with the arrival and dismissal procedures described in the attached documents. Families will be given their assigned car rider number during the first week of school. In order for the line to flow smoothly, it is imperative that the number is displayed where staff can see it and remains in your driver’s side window until your child is loaded and you drive away. 

Car Rider Arrival

Car Rider Dismissal

Identify Your Child (Grades K-5)

The morning of any first day of school can present challenges with students finding where their new classroom is.  It would help our staff tremendously if your child comes into the building holding a paper that has their first and last name and their teacher’s last name, especially for our youngest Eagles!  You can also place this paper in your child's backpack if you prefer. You will see the name of your child’s teacher on Skyward later this morning.  If you do not get a chance to look that up, at least put the grade level on their sign.  This is especially important for kindergarten and 1st grade when students are often too shy to ask for help or even give their name when we try to direct them to the correct classroom. 

Identify How Your Child Is Going Home

Please send a note with your child on the first day letting their teacher know how they are going home. This is especially important for our youngest students. Some parents may choose to put a tag or note on their child's backpack identifying how they go home as well as their bus number if needed. If you need to make changes to dismissal procedures this year, you must call the office prior to 1pm. 

Chromebooks

All students will be issued a Chromebook on the first day of school, which they will bring home for the eLearning days (Tuesday and Thursday). 

Breakfast/Lunch/Snack

Breakfast will be served from 8:10-8:30 in our cafeteria. 

Food Service Information 

Please make sure you are sending a healthy snack with your child each day for snack time in their classroom.  

Label Everything

Things get lost all the time and many students have identical belongings, so make sure to put your child’s first and last name on everything you can, especially backpacks, lunch boxes, and water bottles. If it is properly labeled, it will find its way back to your child.

Sick Students MUST be Picked Up

If your child is exhibiting illness, they must be picked up right away. It is the responsibility of the parent to have arrangements in place in case your child must be sent home without notice. Please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date in Skyward. 

Class Dojo

Teachers will be sending home information to sign up for Class Dojo. This is the primary method of communication used by teachers in grades K-5. Please be sure to sign up!

Save the Dates

Back to School Supply Drop Off will be tomorrow (August 13th) from 5:00-6:00pm.  Please bring in your child’s supplies to help make the first day a little less stressful!  

Open House (K-5 Grades) will be on August 28th from 5:15-6:30pm.  Doors will open at 5pm.

Picture Day will be on Wednesday, September 11th.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in the building on Wednesday!  We are looking forward to an AMAZING school year!!  Please reach out if you have any questions!

Mrs. Hayes