Greetings Potter-Burns Family,

March has finally arrived and with it hopefully some spring weather. The first official day of spring is March 20th. A reminder, change your clocks on Sunday, March 14th as we spring forward.

Our second trimester ends on March 11th and report cards will go home on March 18th.

The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10th at 6:00 PM in the school library. The Mother / Son bowling event will be held on Saturday, March 27th and more information will go home with the students regarding this event.

Happy Spring!

Sincerely,
Mrs. McWilliams

Additional Notes:

We are now part of the Stop and Shop A+ Program. You can register for this program which supports our school. Register at http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus. If you have any problems you can send a copy of your Stop and Shop Card, and the first three letters of your last name and we will register your card.

VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS:

All visitors/volunteers must enter the school through the main entrance and check in at the main office. Also, any volunteers who come to help or attend a field trip must have a BCI check done by the Police Department. We must have a copy on file and they are valid for a two year period.

During Winter Months:

Please stay tuned to radio stations, WPRO, WHJJ, LITE 105, B101, and TV channels 6, 10, 12 for school cancellations. Additionally, please make sure you child(ren) do not come to school too early. The school day starts at 8:30 AM and the breakfast program starts at 8:15 AM. The students who arrive for breakfast will come into the school at 8:15 AM. If not coming for breakfast, students shouldn’t be arriving before the school day begins and they are not considered late until 8:45 AM. In extreme cold, rain and/or snow, the students will line up inside the building. Grades K-2 will line up in the first floor corridor. Grades 3- 6 will line up in the cafeteria. For safety and security reasons, no parents are allowed to accompany their children to the classroom or cafeteria. Also, please remind your child(ren) to dress warm if walking to/from school. Thank you for your cooperation.

To secure safety for all our students: please do not park on both sides of Pullen and Carter Avenue when picking up students and refrain from parking where the buses pull in on Carter Avenue. This is crucial to the safety of all our students. Thank you so much for your attention to these matters.

Parents/Guardians please review the Potter-Burns Notes below.

POTTER-BURNS NOTES

ONE WAY STREETS

JUST A REMINDER THAT PULLEN AVENUE IS A ONE-WAY STREET FROM 8:00AM through 9:00AM, AND FROM 2:00PM UNTIL 3:00PM. CARTER AVENUE IS A ONE-WAY STREET FROM 8:30AM UNTIL 3:00pm. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN HELPING TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS!!

CITY ORDINANCES

There have been some complaints in the past from parents regarding dogs brought to school. There is a city ordinance that indicates that dogs are not allowed on school property. For the safety of our children, please refrain from bringing your dogs to school. Thank you for your cooperation. Regarding the parking outside our school for ice cream vendors, the city ordinance indicates that ice cream vendors are to to at least 1000 feet from the school. When necessary, the vendors will be reminded of this ordinance.

SCHOOL SECURITY

Just a reminder that the Superintendent has issued a directive that all visitors and parents must report to the office upon arrival to ensure the safety and security for the entire school community. If you need to speak to a teacher or other staff member, you must come to the office where we will check on the availability of the staff member. It may be necessary for you to make an appointment with the staff member. I will do my best to be of assistance to you regarding your need or concern. Thank you for your cooperation.

INAPPROPRIATE TOYS/ITEMS

Please be advised that students should not bring any toys or items that resemble a weapon to school. THESE INCLUDE ANY EXPLODING CAPS OR POPPERS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A STORE NEARBY THAT SELLS THESE ITEMS. THE BOX CLEARLY STATES THAT THESE ARE FIREWORKS AND SHOULD BE USED ONLY WITH ADULT SUPERVISION. Bringing these items to school will result in a suspension from school. Thanks for your cooperation.

TRUANCY COURT

There is a Truancy Court in operation for the elementary schools. Any child who is excessively absent will have a referral form completed and sent to the court. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE IN SCHOOL ON TIME AND EVERY DAY EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS. Thanks for your cooperation.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS. If you would like to help, I encourage you to come to the office to apply as a volunteer. We could use help to manage traffic outside in the morning before school and at dismissal time. There may also be other areas of need as well. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. All volunteers who come to the school or attend a field trip must have a BCI (background check) done by the Pawtucket Police Department. You can pick up an application for the BCI check in the school main office. We must have a copy on file and they are valid for a two year period.

SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

Children must be supervised to play on the equipment.
To ensure their safety: NO CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO PLAY ON THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE SCHOOL OR UNTIL 3:10PM IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER SCHOOL. YOUR COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE CHILDREN. When children are dismissed, they must remain with the teacher outside to ensure that a parent has picked them up. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST

The Universal Breakfast program is continuing this year. All students in grades K-6 can receive breakfast free of charge. Breakfast begins at 8:15 AM.

EARLY DISMISSALS

You must follow the district policy regarding early dismissals if you are dismissing your child before the school day ends. This policy states that you must send a note to the school with your child and follow up with a phone call. This practice is for the safety of your child. Additionally, when you come to sign your child out for early dismissal, you may be asked for a driver's license or another form of picture ID. Thank you for your cooperation!

In the event of an emergency early dismissal due to inclement weather, please listen to the area radio and television stations for information. The school department will try its best to give parents as much notice as possible. Please check with your after school provider, (YMCA, Boys/Girls Club, etc.) as to their policy if school is canceled. Due to the large number of Potter-Burns students, phone calls to parents cannot be made. Thanks for your understanding.

TARDIES

Any student who arrives to school after 8:45 AM is considered late. The Student Handbook indicates that each unexcused tardy will result in a day of detention. Please do your best to have your child on time and in school every day so he/she does not miss important instructional time. Tardies often occur when children oversleep. It is important for your child to retire at an appropriate time in the evening that will result in a good night's sleep. The recommendation for elementary children is at least eight hours. There is data to support that sleep deprivation negatively impacts student performance. To this end, it is vital that students receive plenty of sleep and arise at an appropriate time so that he/she will be on time for school. In the event that your child is late for school, he/she must have a note with a reasonable excuse explaining the tardiness. The Department of Education looks closely at attendance and tardies in all public schools.

ABSENCES

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN A CHILD IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, YOU MUST CALL THAT MORNING AND ALSO SEND A NOTE TO SCHOOL WHEN YOUR CHILD RETURNS. ATTENDANCE IS LINKED TO SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. WE MUST MAINTAIN A 90% DAILY ATTENDANCE RATE. EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO TAKE FAMILY VACATIONS DURING DESIGNATED SCHOOL VACATIONS OR DAYS OFF AS DETERMINED BY OUR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND INDICATED ON THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. TEN(10) CONSECUTIVE ABSENCES WILL RESULT IN THE STUDENT BEING DROPPED. STUDENTS MUST THEN RE-ENROLL UPON RETURNING. ADDITIONALLY, WE CANNOT HOLD ANY SPOTS. IF THE CLASSROOM OR GRADE BECOMES OVERCROWDED DURING YOUR CHILD'S ABSENCE, HE/SHE MAY HAVE TO ATTEND ANOTHER SCHOOL.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CELL PHONES

ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE LEFT AT HOME. THIS INCLUDES i-PODS, NINTENDO, PLAY STATIONS, ETC. THE SCHOOL CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ITEMS IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE LOST OR STOLEN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY CAN BE A DISTRACTION TO THE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. ADDITIONALLY, SOME STUDENTS CARRY CELL PHONES FOR THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY WHEN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. IN THIS CASE, THE CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF UPON ENTERING THE SCHOOL, REMAIN OFF, AND IN THE STUDENT'S BACKPACK DURING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DAY. ANY CELL PHONE IN USE DURING SCHOOL HOURS WILL BE CONFISCATED AND RETURNED WHEN A PARENT COMES IN TO PICK IT UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

MORNING DROP OFF:

Children should arrive to school no earlier than 8:30 AM unless they are coming for breakfast which starts at 8:15am. ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF. ALL PARENTS AND VISITORS ENTERING THE BUILDING MUST COME IN FROM THE FRONT DOOR AND REPORT TO THE OFFICE. THE SIDE CAFETERIA DOOR ENTRANCE WILL BE CLOSED AT 8:30 AM. ALL STUDENTS ARRIVING AFTER THAT TIME WILL HAVE TO ENTER FROM THE FRONT DOOR.

THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION!
TOGETHER WE MAKE OUR SCHOOL A SUCCESS!

Mrs. McWilliams