Dear Odyssey Families,

Welcome Back to School!! It is hard to believe summer is coming to an end. However, I always enjoy the start of the school year seeing all of the smiling faces walk through the door as we start another year. 

This year school starts on MONDAY, August 27^th at 8:00am for grades 1-8. For kindergarteners, you will receive a call in the next few weeks to schedule a time slot to come in for an assessment for your child. Assessments will be on either August 27^th, 28^th  or 29^th. The first full day of kindergarten will be on THURSDAY, AUGUST 30^th, at 8:00am.

Here is some information that will assist you to begin the school year.

School Hours

School begins each morning at 8:00AM and the day ends at 2:15PM for grades K-5 and at 2:30PM for 6-7-8. We will send home a school calendar in the beginning of the year in the back-to-school packet to remind you of holidays, conference schedules, and school events.

Beginning the School Day

We like to keep the school and the hallways quiet in the morning before the first bell

(7:55 AM) for the benefit of our teachers, who are using this time to prepare for the day. We ask that all students (and all accompanying parents) go to the auditorium when they get to the school in the morning.  Students may socialize and wait to be dismissed to their classrooms. Supervision will be provided from 7:45-7:55AM.

Entering the School

Although our school has many doors to get in and out, our policy is to keep all doors locked from the outside, except for the main doors in the front of the building. Please enter and exit the building only through the front doors. Staff have a card key to enter and exit all doors during the day, so there is no need to ever prop a door open. 

Bringing Your Child in the Morning

If you are bringing your child to school and simply dropping them off, please drive (slowly) through the parking lot and be ready to have your child exit the car once you reach the end of the driveway. Please avoid idling your car outside. The front of the school is not a park and drop off point, last year we had many near accidents as folks opened car doors while others where zipping down the road.

If you are going to accompany your child inside the school, please park in the parking lot and come inside. Other parking options are on the side streets or in the neighborhood. Please do not park in front of driveways!! 

A visual map is hanging in the front hallway to show you the parking lot loop and drop off location.

Picking Your Child Up at Dismissal Time

At the end of the day, please park your car in the parking lot or the neighborhood and walk into the building. K12 parents will pick up their child from their homeroom at 2:15pm. 345 students will meet their parent in the front hallway or the grassy area in the front of the school at 2:15pm. The 678 students will be dismissed at 2:30pm and must have a set location to meet parents for pickup (front hallway, parking lot, curb). If your child is enrolled in Atlas or the PJA after school care program, the students will meet in Mrs. Howard’s room

(room 19) and be escorted out to the bus once it arrives.

Upcoming Events

Dinner with the Principal, August 23^rd from 5:30-7:30pm on the blacktop outside the cafeteria area (or in the cafeteria if it is raining). The whole family is welcome to attend. We will provide the food (gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available), and you get to see old friends, meet new ones, and ease your way back into the school year. This is always a fun evening!

Community Care Day is on Saturday, August 25^th from 9-12 at the school. Come help clean up and beautify our grounds, and work on some school projects inside and out. Bring the whole family and enjoy working together to improve our school.

Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, September 13^th from 6:00-7:30pm. Please save the date for a parent-only night with teachers. You will get to meet your child’s teacher, learn about the classroom expectations, and hear about the upcoming year.

School Code and Dress Code

Here is the dress code for all Portland Public schools. You may not have much problem with your student along these lines but it is important for everyone to know what is not acceptable, especially before school shopping.  “Appropriate dress contributes to a positive learning environment. The responsibility for the dress and grooming of a student rest primarily with the student and his or her parents. Students may be directed to change dress or grooming if it interferes with the learning process or school climate, is unclean, or threatens the health or safety of the students or others, is sexually suggestive (examples include bare midriffs, visible undergarments, plunging necklines, see-through materials, or sagging pants), is alcohol or drug-related (including advertising or advocating the use of such products), is vulgar, lewd, obscene, or plainly offensive, is insulting and/or demeaning to a particular person or group, or is indicative of gang activity or membership (Reference: 4:30.012-P). When you are shopping for your child, it is important that you follow these guidelines.

Other school expectations:

·       No wheels-on-heels shoes.

·       No cell phones or watch phones during school hours. If seen, we will take them for the day. Students need to keep them in their backpack during school hours.

·       No electronics. Again, if seen we will take them for the day, unless classroom teachers specify.

·       If your child uses a skateboard, scooter, or bicycle anywhere, not just here at school, please get them a suitable helmet. If this is a financial problem, let the principal know. We can help.

·       If your child rides a bike to school, make sure they lock their bike up in the rack in front of the school.

·       The warm weather will continue for the next month or so. Please dress your child in summer clothing. 

·       Please have them bring a water bottle to school each day.

Staff

I am still in the process of hiring a school counselor and a PE teacher to join the team. Everyone else is returning from last year.

K-1-2

Edie Howard

Sue Gregoire

Kate Wilebski

3-4-5

Dede Marron

Heather Mankowski

Angela LeVan

6-7-8

Alan Damon

Kristina Rothwell

Harmony Brinks-Detzer

Jack Rainey –

   8th grade Spanish