The Scott Spotlight
August 25, 2023
Principal: Linda Reha
School Address: 804 Wilson St. DeWitt, MI 48820
Office Phone Number: 517-668-3400
Attendance Phone Number: 517-668-3458
Website: https://scott.dewittschools.net/
Start Time: 8:30 a.m. (First bell rings at 8:25 a.m.)
Students may be dropped of at 8:10 a.m. or later. Supervision is not available before 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal Time: 3:20 p.m.
School Events
Aug. 28: First Day of School
Sept. 1 & Sept. 4: No School - Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 15: No School - Full Day of Professional Development for Certified Staff
Reha's Report
Dear Scott School Families,
In just a few days the 2023-24 school year will be underway --- hip hip hooray! We are ready and want to help you prepare your child for the first day so here are a few tips:
If you are dropping and/or picking your child up from school, please follow our procedures, which are outlined further down in this newsletter. Also, please, please, please come prepared with a large, legible sign that has your child's first and last name printed on it for your window if you or another trusted adult picks your child up from school throughout the year. This helps us facilitate an efficient pick up routine at the end of the day.
There will be many school staff members to help bus riders, walkers, and drop off students transition into the building and navigate the hallways to their classroom. To ensure a safe school environment and support students with developing independence and self-advocacy skills, guests will not be allowed into the building. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Walkers and bikers coming from the south should follow the sidewalk that wraps around the bus loop near the playground instead of walking in front of the staff parking lot and crossing the car loop entrance/exit drive. This is a much safer way for students and all pedestrians to safely arrive to school.
Please remember that we are a No Nut building which means nut products and those made in nut factories are not allowed in the building. This ensures a safe school environment for our students with nut allergies.
A water bottle is strongly encouraged to help your child stay hydrated. Dressing appropriate for the weather and outdoor temperature is also strongly encouraged, including sandals with heel straps to avoid turned ankles at recess and during P.E.
With excitement and appreciation,
Linda Reha
Scott School Principal
School Breakfast & Lunch
School breakfast and lunch is available to all students and this year, both are free to all students due to a State initiative.
Lunch Menus: https://dewittschools.nutrislice.com
Sign Up for Free Breakfast: The link shared with our families to sign up their students for breakfast has not been working properly. Please email Marcy Updike at updikemar@dewittschools.net to ensure your student is signed up for the breakfast program at Scott and Schavey because these two buildings will serve breakfast in the classroom as a more efficient way to feed students and reduce time out of class. Once you sign up your student, it is a standing order unless you cancel. When you email to sign up, please include:
Student's first and last name
Teacher's name
Building student attends
Guidelines for Free Meals: The guidelines to receive free breakfast and/or lunch require a students to take items that meet the guidelines for a complete meal.
Option to Purchase Ala Carte Items: In addition to free complete meals, extra entrees and ala carte items like milk at .55 will be available for purchase if your student brings a meal from home. Students will need money in their accounts to do this. There is a charge of $1.95 fee per $100, and .50 fee for multiple students with no transaction amt. cap to families who choose to use the online payment system. Also, you can pay by E-Check for $1 fee per transaction with a $750 transaction cap. Also, there are deposit boxes located in all school buildings.
Federal & State Funding Help: DeWitt Public School District is excited to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students starting this new school year thanks to the Michigan Healthy School Meals Program! Even though meals will be provided for free, it's important for families to continue sharing household income information in order for our schools to receive full access to federal and state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to. Paper applications are available upon request. Please contact Sandy Leach at leachsand@dewittschools.net or Marcy Updike at updikemar@dewittschools.net. Online applications can be completed at: https://dewitt.familyportal.cloud.
Photo Op Pictures Needed
Scott School is looking for photo op pictures taken in front of the "I Matter" canvas backdrop on Open House night to share with our families and community via social media and our website. If you're willing to share a photo op picture of your child that was taken in front of this prop that Joann West, a parent, community member, and artist, made, we'd be grateful. Please email your child's photo op picture to: Scott@dewittschools.net before Friday, September 1st. Thank you!
Learn More About Scott School & DPS
To learn more specific details about Scott School, check out these informative links:
DPS Volunteer I-CHAT Form - Volunteers must complete this process and be cleared every year before being approved to volunteer.
CLT and Professional Development Calendar
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.
September 15 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)
October 18 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)
November 1 - Full Day Professional Development (no school)
January 17 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)
February 21 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)
May 15 - Early Release for CLT (dismissal at 11:57 a.m.)
District Parent Resources & Events
Parent Guidance Series
Calendar of Events
Your Child's Anxiety
Tues., Sept. 5th
Donations Appreciated
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, and Parking Lot Procedures
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 drive up as far as possible in the loop to drop off or pick up your child. Anywhere there is a painted blue line on the sidewalk area is where students should get in and out of vehicles.
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 (driving loop) for this creates safety concerns. We care about your child!
Please drive the speed limit (25 mph) and come to a complete stop at the 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'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:
IMPORTANT - Crosswalk Safety
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.
Neighborhood Niceties
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 parent 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 excited that the Walking School Bus (see information below) is planning to start up at Scott School. Please 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.
ID Requirement for Students to be Picked Up
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.)
Allergy Awareness
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.
Medical Forms
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.
Looking for Additional Support?
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.
Attendance Line
When your child is absent, please call the Scott School Attendance line: 517-668-3458. Substitute Teachers cannot access a teacher's email, so please call the office when your child is going to be absent, will be dropped off or picked up outside of regular school hours, or has a transportation switch. Please call before 3:00 pm, for all after school changes.