Dear Scott School Families,

Welcome to Scott School!  A new school year always brings positive energy and an exciting outlook, especially this year with all the building construction updates that our community supported through the passing of our last bond (thank you!).  I hope you and your family have had plenty of fun in the sun, memory making, and are ready to get back into a school schedule which will start a new journey of learning and enjoyment throughout the 2024-25 school year.  I'm over the moon about partnering with you and am looking forward to all that's ahead.  Enjoy these final weeks of summer, and then let's get started!

Here are some important points to help you prepare for a successful year:

• Class placements will be available to view beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14th. You can find out your child’s class placement through Infinite Campus by following these steps:

  • Log into Infinite Campus

    • If you do not have a login/password, you may contact our technology department at:  helpdesk@dewittschools.net.or 517-668-3590

    • If you have not accessed Infinite Campus in the past, please check out this video that details how to utilize the features within IC. 

    • Click on the “Schedule” tab OR you can also click on the “Reports” tab and download a PDF of your child’s schedule. 

• Many hours of special consideration went into balanced classroom placements.  Our goal is that all students have a successful school year.  Conversations that foster and model positive outlooks for a fruitful year help children transition back to school and have a valuable learning year despite disappointment when students aren't placed with a teacher they hoped for or peers they wished to be in class with.  Unfortunately, requests for classroom moves will not be honored, but if you have a concern that warrants a discussion about an extenuating circumstance, please contact me.  I highly encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher to discuss your worries too.  You are a valuable source of information to us, and we are grateful to know important details to help foster a beneficial learning environment for your child.  Thank you for supporting and honoring that balanced classroom numbers and needs are essential to all students' success.  Open and positive communication with your child's teacher will help foster a healthy and prosperous school year.

• You can expect to hear from your child’s classroom teacher with additional classroom information after class placement are accessible to families in Infinite Camus.  Please be patient!  Teachers don't report back to work until Tuesday, August 20th, even though most reach out to families before then.  Also, please give our staff grace this year since we are moving back into our building after completely packing everything up and placing belongings in storage last spring.  In addition, please understand that when teachers report back to work on the 20th, they are attending professional development training all day for two days to prepare for a dynamic school year.

• Our Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st from 5-6 p.m.  We hope you and your child are able to attend.  Thank you for understanding that we have just gained occupancy of our school so things may not be as situated and set up as we would like.  We are doing are best, but your grace as we get settled is appreciated!

• Families are also welcome to come to Scott School for a self-guided tour on Thursday, August 22nd between the hours of 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. or Friday, August 23rd between the hours of 8 a.m. -12 p.m.  This is a chance for you and your child to become more familiar with the layout of Scott School and see the common spaces throughout the building.  Thank you for understanding and respecting that Scott School teachers and staff will not be available for face to face interactions and classrooms will not be accessible for touring.  Staff will be feverishly working to move back into the building and get their classrooms and learning spaces set up for the first day of school.

• Our office staff were back in the building on Monday, August 12th and can be reached by phone before school starts M-F from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 517-668-3400.   Our office will be closed on Tuesday, August 20th so our office team can attend professional development.

• The first day  of school is Monday, August 26th, and it is a half day, so school will dismiss at 11:42 a.m.  Please prepare your child ahead of time for transportation or after school care if either will be different than typical.  All half days (ie. for Records Days) and early release days (ie. for teacher professional development) this year will dismiss at 11:42 a.m.  This is different than past years when we had two different dismissal times depending on what "type" of day it was.  We're hoping this change helps streamline transportation and after school care since dismissal on those days will be consistent all year long.

• On regular full days, our start time is 8:30 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:20 p.m.  If you drop your child off, please do so at 8:10 a.m. or later.  This is extremely important because we do not have outside supervision before 8:10 a.m., and we care about your child's safety.

Thank you for choosing Scott for your child’s school and trusting us with your child's care and education. We are looking forward to building a strong team with you through positive communication and collaboration.  I wholeheartedly believe that together we are better, and I look forward to our partnership this year!

Warm Regards,

Linda Reha

Scott School Principal

To learn more specific details about Scott School, check out these informative links:

• Scott School Family Information Presentation 

• Scott School Suggested General Supplies List 

• DPS Volunteer I-CHAT Form - Volunteers must complete this process and be cleared every year before being approved to volunteer.

Our Scott School Open House is scheduled on Wednesday, 8/21 from 5-6 p.m.  There are also family self-guided tour opportunities on Thursday, 8/22 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday, 8/23 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.  Teachers and staff won't be available during this time, but walking the building may be just what your child needs before school starts.

Below are the dates for Collaborative Learning Time (CLT) and professional development this year.  Thank you in advance for supporting these days which allow our teachers to participate in training and be continuous lifelong learners to support student success.

• August 20 & 21 - Full Days for Professional Development (before school starts)

• August 26 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:42 a.m.)

• September 27 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)

• October 16 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:42 a.m.)

• November 5 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)

• February 14 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:42 a.m.)

• March 19 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:42 a.m.)

• May 14 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:42 a.m.)

Have you considered working in a school before?  Do you enjoy working on a team?  Does working with children interest you?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, please consider applying for our open non-instructional assistant postion, or pass this information along to others who may be interested.  We are looking to fill a 1.5 hour/day lunch assistant position and would love to have you join our amazing Scott School team!  Please contact our main office at 517-668-3400 during school hours to learn more about this position and how to apply.

Thank you to the many families who have reached out and asked what donations they can make to Scott School.  Here is a list of things that we're always in need of:

• Yard games (Cornhole, Ladder Balls, Yahtzee)

• Balls (basketballs, kickballs, soccer balls, and footballs)

• Disinfectant wipes

• Hand sanitizer

• Paper towels

Drop Off & Pick Up:

• To help promote a safe and productive start to your child’s day, please be sure to drop your child off no earlier than 8:10 a.m. because students are not allowed to enter the building until that time, and there is no adult supervision outside prior to then.

• Students dropped off will walk to the front of the building using the sidewalk, enter the vestibule through the main doors, and go to the cafeteria where there will be adult supervision until the first bell rings at 8:25 a.m.  Students who arrive after the tardy bell (8:30 a.m.) must enter the building through the main entrance accompanied by a parent or guardian and be signed in at the office. 

• Please drop your child off using the car loop and drive up as far as possible. Anywhere there is a painted blue line on the curb to the sidewalk area is where students should get in and out of vehicles otherwise our loop does not run efficiently.  Everyone is happiest when we have an efficient and effective procedure that's followed. 

• Please do not drop your child off or pick your child up in the front of the building unless you are parking and entering the building with your child or to pick your child up.

• Please do not drop your child off or pick your child up in the road.  This is extremely dangerous and our local law enforcement patrols our street frequently to support school procedures and enforce the law for student safety.

• Please do not park your car to drop your child off or pick your child up unless you are entering the building.  Parking is limited at Scott School, and this creates challenges for staff to get to work on time and creates more sight line barriers for pedestrians and drivers after school. 

• Students who are picked up after school are to wait on the sidewalk area located on the south side of the building where the parent driving loop is.  Adult supervision will be at the loop after school daily to supervise students and assist with safety.

• Please post a sign in a visual area in your vehicle window with your child's first and last name printed in large legible font.  This is extremely important and helps staff at the loop call students on a speaker system for efficient boarding.

• Although our students quickly learn the procedures for being dropped off and picked up, your help in following our guidelines will help ensure and model safety for our students. 

Parking Lot & Other Safety Requests:

• Please avoid parking in the parking lot to drop off or pick up your child.  Use the loop - that's what it's designed for.  Parking should only occur when a parent/guardian must enter the building.

• Please resist the urge to drop your child off or pick your child up on Logan Street (across the bridge on our playground).  Drop off and pick up locations other than the area that is designated (car loop) for this creates safety concerns.  We care about your child!

• Please drive the speed limit (25 mph) and come to a complete stop before the crosswalk where there is also a stop sign on Wilson St.  Our second and third grade walkers and bikers often cross here and trust that you are watching for them.

• Please follow the right turn only sign out of the pick up loop for student and driver safety and to increase the time efficiency of the loop.  It is extremely frustrating and dangerous when our families do not follow this expectation.

It's normal for students to experience some anxiety at the start of the school year, and our school staff will be visible and eager to help all students find their classroom and get settled into a school routine.  However, please communicate with us if your child experiences significant anxiety and stress about transitioning to school after the first week.  To increase safety for our students and staff, as well as to help your child with a successful transition into the school year, please drop your child off outside of the building instead of walking him/her inside.  Our staff will be visible, available, and happy to help! 

Some Examples of Car Signs for the Pick Up Loop:

Please help keep our students (and all pedestrians) who walk or bike to and from school safe by following driver safety laws.  Although most students use the crosswalk at the stop sign on Wilson St. to cross the road, it is important to be alert for students crossing anywhere near school grounds.  You have an important role in keeping our students safe by following these law tips.

• Drivers must come to a complete stop at stop signs.

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk, so drivers must yield.

• Drivers cannot park within 20 feet of a crosswalk.  This means if you pick your child up and are in the car line near the crosswalk, you are obligated to leave this much space.

• Drivers cannot park within an intersection.  Again, if you pick up your child, wait patiently until cars move forward to avoid getting caught in the intersection.

Our local law enforcement partner with our school to assist with safety and will ticket if necessary to protect our students.  Modeling expected driver safety is essential and contagious!  Be a role model for our children and other drivers.  Accidents at this crosswalk can be prevented by following crosswalk laws and being an attentive driver, especially when our students are walking or bike riding to and from school each day.

Scott is a neighborhood school, and we have many wonderful neighbors who support our school.  However, a community concern is vehicles blocking driveways at the beginning and end of the day when drop off and pick up occurs.  Please be respectful of our neighbors by refraining from idling (or parking) your car in front of any driveway while waiting in the car loop line.   Allowing space for driveway access for all property owners is important and helps us maintain positive relations with our friendly neighbors and demonstrates respectful driver etiquette.   Also, vehicles cannot stop in the intersection where the stop sign is located south of your building.  We are fortunate to have support from our local law enforcement to keep our students, community, and school safe, so please know these traffic violations could result in police issuing tickets. In addition, please follow road rules by parking in legal spots when needing to enter the building.  Using other areas besides the drop off and pick up loop is strongly discouraged.  Please follow our driving guidelines so pick up and drop off times are safe for everyone by preventing an unfortunate accident from occurring and helping us keep good relations with our neighborhood community members.  Be sure to follow the turn sign when exiting the loop.  Vehicles must make a righthand turn only to keep traffic flow steady and to avoid an accident.  Lastly, please keep in mind that our staff need to be on time to work to teach and support your child, so please allow staff access to the staff parking lot when they arrive to work each day. Thank you for your attention to these concern areas. 

We're hoping to have the Walking School Bus again at Scott School.  We hope you consider this opportunity for your child to walk to school and get some fresh air, exercise, and make new friends by walking with a trusted adult.  This will also benefit families by avoiding wait time in the parent loop line.  Stay tuned for more information.

Student safety is a priority.  Please bring proper identification each time your child is picked up from school.  Here are some ways adults picking up students can be identified:

• Physical ID (ie. driver's license)

• Personal ID by office staff

• Other identification proof such as utility bills or other statements, credit card, etc., AND answer personal information that we have in Infinite Campus (ie. phone number, child's birthdate, etc.)

There are some Scott students who have health-threatening nut allergies in our building.  Scott School is a 'No Nut' building.  Pack items that do not contain nuts for your child's lunch and snack.  It is critically important that we provide a safe learning environment for all students, and your help with this is needed and appreciated.  Please always contact your child's teacher if you have a concern about an allergy or other health condition related to your child that they should be aware of.  Also, if your child has a medical need, including food or other allergies, don't forget to update your child's Medical Management Plan by completing and submitting the district forms to the office before school starts so we can follow protocols to keep your child safe.

School breakfast and lunch are available and free to all students.  Additional information will be provided to families soon about how to sign up for this opportunity with additional information about our food service program.  Menus can be found here and will be updated soon.

In order for Scott School personnel to administer medication to your child when we return to in person instruction, you must:

• Submit a completed district medication form to our office. 

• Be sure all medications are brought to and stored in our office. 

• Be sure prescription medication is in its original container accompanied with a physician’s signature. 

• Be sure non-prescription medication is in its original container accompanied by a parent’s signature. 

• Please communicate with your child's teacher if he/she takes medication daily at school. 

• If your child has a medical condition, please be sure to complete a Medical Management Plan for your child and turn it in at the office.

Medication and other medical forms can be found on our DeWitt Public Schools website.

Our school social worker, Mrs. Schwarz, is always willing to assist students and families in any way possible.  In addition to working closely with your child's teacher, consider reaching out to her if you have questions or need support.  She is truly amazing at what she does!  She can be reached at 517-668-3446 or schwarzdea@dewittschools.net.