Helendale Road School
Save the Date
September 17 -PTA Meeting 7:00
September 24 -Picture Day
September 24 -Open House & Back to School Picnic (More info to come) 6:00
September 27 -Peace Day Assembly (Students only)
October 10 -Early dismissal -students released 15 min. early
October 11 -School Improvement Day (No Students)
October 14 -Columbus Day (No Students)
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
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.
Starting next week, we will be featuring a staff member of HR. We will share a bit about that person so families can learn all about our Helendale learning community.
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!
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!
PreK: Pre-K is off to a great start! Our friends are learning how our classrooms work, what it’s like to eat in the cafeteria, how to go to specials, and how much fun school is!!
Kindergarten: This week in kindergarten we are meeting new friends and learning new routines. We are exploring tools and getting excited about school!
First Grade: First graders spent the first 3 days readjusting to being back in school. They learned new routines, explored their new classrooms and made new friends! They are ready to jump in and have a fun year of learning!
Second Grade: Second grade is excited to be back at school! We have been reviewing our school and classroom routines and expectations, learning about our new teachers and friends, and having fun! We cannot wait to see what the next 10 months will bring!
Drop Off and Pick Up Concerns
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!
COVID 19 Updates
The CDC and NYDOH has issued new guidance related to isolation after testing positive for COVID 19. Individuals can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true: Symptoms are getting better overall, and they no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Infinite Campus parent portal
For information on how to set up your parent portal account please visit here: https://eastironcsd-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/sdabreu_eastiron_org/EW9Q2VGlRp1Oh_pd2MLeaEkBeP-7CJMPj4yc0sntrML15A?e=vDusF6