We had a great first day today! It was wonderful to see all of our Bates students excitedly greeting friends and teachers and settling in with classroom scavenger hunts, read alouds and get to know you activities. A few classes started the year with P.E., art, music or library classes and some even received brief tours of the principal’s new office. Very exciting.
I ask your help in attending to our important drop off and pick up procedures. We utilize the front car loop for the dropping off and picking up of students. This is a moving car line and parents are asked to please not get out of their cars. The Bates parking lot is not an option for dropping off or picking up students. Unfortunately, in the past we have experienced a few close calls with moving cars and children crossing the parking lot during the busy hours of arrival and dismissal. In addition, this summer our parking lot was repainted, and new parking spaces were added in the back lot. As a result, there is no longer space for cars to loop around the back lot. I wanted to make you aware of this in the event you need to park in the back at other times of the day. Cars will need to exit this area in reverse. Our staff will make every effort to use these spaces during the day so that spaces are available closer to Elmwood Road for parents and visitors. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with all of our safety procedures.
I would also like to share my plan for communicating with Bates parents this year. I will kick off the year with two “meet the principal” events: one coffee on Friday, September 5 at 9:00 and a second coffee on September 12 at 8:00 (prior to the first PTO meeting). In addition to attending PTO meetings each month, I will host coffees and evening discussion groups throughout the year. It is my hope that these forums will invite rich conversations about your child’s education and experience at the Bates School. I seek your input on topics of interest to you. Finally, I will send a “Bates Buzz” newsletter twice a month as a way to highlight some of our amazing teaching and learning. Look for my first newsletter September 12!
Have a wonderful evening reflecting on the first day of school with your children. We look forward to tomorrow and all of the remaining 179 days of the year with our students and families.
Best,
Toni Jolley