Dear Helendale Road families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope you and your family have had a restful and enjoyable summer break. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I wanted to share some important information and extend a warm welcome to both our returning students and those who are new to our school community.

Communication- We encourage open communication between home and school. We are happy to schedule appointments for face-to-face, virtual meetings or phone calls.

Weekly emails from the Principal –Most communication from me will be electronic. Please make sure we have your updated email address on file so that you receive the Friday weekly update. If you are not receiving them, please contact the main office.
Phone numbers –Our office staff and school nurse MUST have a working number on file for you.
Talking Points –We will continue to use talking points, which sends a text to a cell phone or the app (if downloaded). Talking Points is a two-way communication tool.
Facebook and Instagram (@HelendalePrimary)–Be sure to “like” Helendale Road Primary School’s Facebook and Instagram pages. It is a fun way to see things happening within the building.

School Day – Helendale’s school day is 9:00-3:30. Students are marked absent after 9:15. Students who are picked up will be dismissed at 3:20.

Visitors –We love visitors at Helendale! Please coordinate with your child’s teacher to make sure it is an appropriate time to visit or volunteer. Families are welcome to come for lunch with your student(s) on Fridays, lunch visitors must stay in the cafeteria.

Early Pick-Ups – Students will not be dismissed between 2:45 and 3:20. If you need to pick your child up early for an appointment, it needs to be before 2:45. Please let the office know of early pick-ups with a note or a call on the morning of the pick-up.

Dismissal Pick-Ups –If your child will be picked up from school, the main office needs to know. Students are added to the pick-up list and classroom teachers are notified. Our office needs this information by 1:30 to make necessary arrangements.

Arrival for drop offs –All drop off students enter the building at the main entrance. Please pull up to the pull-off and wait for a staff member to get your child out. Please do not get out of your car, we will help your child. This will keep our line moving. If you want to get your child out and walk them to the entrance, please park on a side street.

Dismissal –PreK students are dismissed from the back of the building. Please pull into the parking lot off Westchester, pull towards the front of the lot, and stay in your car. A staff member will greet you, get your name and then bring your child out to you.

Kindergarten-second graders will be released through the front door. We will have a table set up for you to sign them out. PLEASE HAVE ID OUT AND READY.

Free Breakfast/Lunch -Both breakfast and lunch are provided free to all Helendale students. Please take advantage of this opportunity.

As we begin this new school year, let’s work together to make it a year of growth, learning, and joy for all our students. I am looking forward to seeing the amazing things our students will achieve this year!

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in Helendale Road Primary School. Let’s make this school year the best one yet!

Warm Regards,

Jessica Legere, Principal

Drop Off and Pick Up Concerns -Please take time to review

When picking up PreK students at the end of the day, please remember you must turn left out of the parking lot onto Westchester Ave. We have many cars turning right and passing buses with lights on, that are loading students. The new county bus patrol cameras can now take pictures of cars passing busses and issue citations. Please make sure you are turning left so you do not receive a citation. They can be avoided!

Also, please note that when the small parking lot by the playground is full, you may not create spots next to the sidewalk and on the grass. It blocks our small bus from dropping off students. Please follow the line of cars on Westchester to pull into the drop off zone, or park on a side street if you would like to walk your child to the front door! Thank you for helping us keep all students safe!

Please remain in your car for the entirety of drop-off. If you would like to park your cart and walk your student up to the front doors, you may do so on Harwick Rd or any other side street besides Westchester Ave.

1. Pre-Dismissal: Cars will line up in the back parking lot next to the sidewalk (Loading Zone). Cars will continue to line up on Laurelton Road, being sure to stay to the right as buses will also be arriving. 2. Dismissal Start: At 3:20pm, a Helendale Road staff member will come to your car to ask the name of the student you are picking up and check your ID. An ID must be presented daily to pick up your student as per East Irondequoit CSD policy. 3. Loading Zone: Adults stay in cars; students will be escorted down the sidewalk to your car and a Helendale Road Staff Member will help them get into the car. 4. Buckle Zone: After your student is in your vehicle, you will pull up into the Buckle Zone if you need to help them with their seatbelt. 5. Exiting: All cars must turn LEFT onto Laurelton Road when exiting.

1. Pre-Dismissal: Please park your car on a side street or in an open parking spot. Cars may not be parked on either side of Helendale Road or next to the school on Westchester Ave as this is where buses load. 2. Line Up: Adults will line up on the sidewalk under our entryway. Students are split for dismissal by last name, so there will be two lines – • Last names beginning with A-L will be to the left. • Last names beginning with M-Z will be to the right. 3. Dismissal Start: At 3:20pm, a Helendale Road staff member will ask for the name of the student(s) you are picking up and check your ID. An ID must be presented daily to pick up your student as per East Irondequoit CSD policy. 4. Exiting: Students will exit through the front doors of Helendale Road Primary School once dismissed. We understand emergencies happen. Please call the school as soon as you can if you are going to be late picking up your student. Students not picked up by 3:30pm will be taken to the Main Office. You will have to park, and enter with ID, to pick them up; or they will be put on their assigned bus if we have not received communication from you.

Picture Day is next week -Sept. 24!

Fall Picutre Day is Here: Tuesday September 24 Order online: Inter-State.com/Order Code: 89241DB

Hey Helendale School Community!

We're off to a great start to a new school year and an important part of Helendale Road Primary is our PTA.

Helendale’s PTA has a mission to build a stronger, more inclusive school community. We invite you to join and PTA For Your Child at our first monthly meeting (see attached).

Each monthly meeting provides you the opportunity to sit down with school admin and faculty, a school board member, and other parents, all with the aim to grow a thriving school community for our children.

Please follow our Facebook Page for updates and upcoming events!

Hope to see you there!

All the best,

Antwon, Meghan, Allison, and Sarah

Helendale's 2024-25 PTA Board

Please submit the CEP Household Income Form (via Parent Portal or Download Form) to get free school supplies for your child this year, regardless of income. Plus, they become eligible for benefits like free device protection, instrument rental, test waivers, dual enrollment tuition waivers, and more! You will find the form in the Portal located under your oldest child’s profile and you only need to complete it once a year for the entire household. If you need assistance logging into the Parent Portal, please contact your child’s school main office. Thank you.

You DO NOT need to disclose your income if it is higher than the amounts listed in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal guidelines for your household. Your student(s) will still qualify for free school supplies and services, once you complete the form, no matter your income level.

Staff Spotlight

This week we are introducing Helendale's new School Psychologist, Nick Sanders. Nick has been in education for six years. He has been a Substitute, Summer Aide and Classroom Counselor. Nick is so excited to be joining the HR staff, he is excited to join the Mental Health team and begin working with staff and families! Outside of school Nick enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling and spending time with his family. Nick shares that he has a large family back in Olean, NY. He is living in Rochester with his partner and two cats. Something that Nick is proud of is that he is an uncle to 2 nieces, 2 nephews. a great niece and soon a great nephew! Please say hello to Nick when you see him around Helendale!

Helendale is becoming a Community School!

Open House/Back to School Picnic

Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 24 from 6:00-7:30. During that time you can see your child's classroom, stop into special area classrooms and visit with the PTA. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Back to School Night: Flyer Correction $5 get you 1 PTA membership and pizza for your family!

Book Fair is coming!

We're having a book fair!
Where: Helendale Road Primary School in the Library
Dates: Sep. 23rd-26th
Sep. 23rd-Preview day for all students (no shopping)
24th-26th-Shopping days
When: 9am-3pm (during the school day for students to shop)
September 24th: 6:00-7:30 (open house: located in the Cafe)

Book Fair website:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/helendaleroadprimaryschool

*Please do not forget about NYS tax
*Please understand that teachers will shop with their students on different days next week.
*Please send in a note if you want your child buying a specific item from the book fair.

*You can put money on your child's ewallet account using the book fair website.

Reminder: October 10, 2024 All students are dismissed 15 minutes early

Reminder: State regulations mandate that all school districts administer an annual test of its Early Dismissal Plan. Students will be released 15 minutes earlier than normally scheduled on Thursday, 10/10. Please make appropriate arrangements. As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday, 10/11 for School Improvement Day and schools are closed Monday, 10/14 for Columbus Day. Thank you!

We Need You!

Helendale is in need of lunch monitors. If you are interested in helping out in the cafeteria with our youngest Lancers, please call the Main Office for more information.

HR PTA Dates: 9/17, 10/08, 11/12, 01/23, 02/13, 03/18, 04/24, 05/06

A Look At Our Learning

PreK: Pre-K had a great first full week of school! We read lots of books about going to school and how to make good choices to keep us safe and happy. We have also been enjoying the beautiful weather this week out on our playground!

Kindergarten: This week in Kindergarten we started learning about letters & sounds in our Heggerty lessons, we began to explore colors and numbers and iPads were introduced in each classroom. We welcomed new students and continued to learn classroom routines! Off to a great start in K!

First Grade: First grade is settling into our routines. We are reviewing rules and expectations for the classroom, playground, hallway, etc. We are starting our first units in ELA and Math. We are spending time reviewing letters and sounds. We are also practicing writing our letters correctly. Our first math unit will focus on addition and subtraction.

Second Grade: Second graders are off to a wonderful start to the school year! This week in math, students have been working on place value; hundreds, tens, and ones. In ELA, our focusing question is How does change help us grow? We are reading the story, Chester’s Way and sharing our ideas using Think, Pair, Shares and reflecting on our notices and wonders. Students are enjoying the sunshine while playing and seeing friends on the playground during recess.

Building school community- Mrs. Caricati’s Kindergarten class and Ms. Makohon’s 2nd grade reading buddies.

Specials: Students have enjoyed learning routines and procedures in P.E. this last week. Some classes played Hungry Hippos. They take turns on a scooter going and getting one piece of hippo food and bring it back. They work together to build a house.

Regular attendance helps students develop strong social skills. Interacting with peers and teachers daily fosters communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

COVID 19 Updates

Infinite Campus parent portal