NSE Back-to-School Information
Welcome Back, New Salem Families! School is just around the corner, and we wanted to pass along important information as you prepare for the start of school.
Homeroom teacher placements and transportation information will be uploaded in early August to Sapphire. This information will be found in your Sapphire Community Portal. Below are instructions to create a Sapphire profile if you do not already have one.
Sapphire Community Portal Information
As you may be aware, the Spring Grove Area School District uses Sapphire as our Student Information System. The Sapphire portals are available to all of our families. Through Sapphire, you will have access to basic information about your child, which will include electronic trimester report cards.
For our families in grades K-4, Sapphire will not house student grades during the grading period, as it does for students in grades 5-12.
How do I Sign up for a Parent Portal Account?
To create an account, navigate to the district website sgasd.org. Under the families tab, select the link for Sapphire. On the Community Portal login page, you will select “Create a Sapphire Community Portal account”, follow the instructions listed to help you create an account, or add children to your existing account if you made an account last year.
Please note that your account approval may take up to five (5) business days. This time is needed to ensure accuracy in confirming parent accounts associated with the correct student(s).
We encourage all parents to create individual accounts. If you have any problems submitting your application, please email sapphireportals@sgasd.org, and we will respond as quickly as possible. You may also contact your child’s school for general questions about Sapphire.
I Don’t Have Internet Access; What Should I Do?
Families who do not have access to a computer or the internet should contact their child’s school to make arrangements to receive a paper copy of the academic documents and forms as has been issued in the past.
Welcome from Mr. Seelye
We would like to welcome everyone to the 2022-2023 school year. A new school year is upon us, and we hope you view this as an opportunity for a positive and successful year for your child!
The student handbook can be found on the district website. Please read the handbook for reference as needed during the school year. The handbook outlines the rules and regulations conducive to a positive school environment. Your cooperation in reading and following school guidelines is greatly appreciated. If you do not have access to a digital version, you may obtain a copy of the handbook from the school office.
Forms to return by Friday, August 26, 2022, but no later than September 6, 2022
- Student Emergency Form-review/add corrections/sign
- Appendix A, Appendix F
- iPad Protection Plan (Complete online)
The arrival time for students this year is 8:35 AM to 8:55 AM. This is a change from previous years. Please be aware students are NOT permitted to enter the building before 8:35. All AM car riders are to pull into the playground parking lot as indicated by the picture below. The flow of traffic shown is important to keep you out of the flow of our bus traffic. Please follow the cars into the playground area as this provides room for you to move your vehicle off New Salem Road. A staff member will direct you to the front of the building once the buses have exited. Please form a line around the perimeter of the playground area. Car riders and bus and van riders will enter the building through the main doors at the front of the building.
The first car stops by the playground gate (designated by the blue star). After the buses dismiss, cars proceed from the playground area to the front door.
Dismissal:
Dismissal time starts at 3:15 PM this year. Buses will be staged at the front of the building, waiting to load.
Occasional Car Rider
If you choose to pick up your child at dismissal on any given day, it is extremely important you notify the school office by email (tawneym@sgasd.org), send a note to the school with your child, OR by calling the office by 2:00 PM (717) 225-4731 ext. 1060. Please try to avoid calling the school office after 2:00 PM for car rider purposes. The occasional car rider will be dismissed from the cafeteria and exit door #3 by the side parking lot. (Please see attached map) When writing notes, please be sure to include child’s first and last name, date, and teacher. Please notify the District Transportation Office at extension 3024 with any transportation changes.
Regular/Everyday Car Riders
If you plan on transporting your child at dismissal each day, please contact the school office to arrange a time prior to the start of the year to pick up your child’s car window tags before the start of school. Please show the 2022-2023 tag when you pick up your child at door #3.
For everyone’s safety, please do not permit children to run freely to the parking lot.
Late Arrival/Early Departure
If a child is arriving at school late or leaving early due to a doctor or dental appointment, please be sure to get a note from the physician. The time may be considered unexcused if a note is not provided. You will find further information on this subject in the student handbook. If your child is arriving late, we ask you to check the child in at the school office. Please press the intercom button located on the school wall by the blue footprints on the sidewalk. Ms. Tawney or Mrs. Lanning will greet you at the door after ringing the intercom bell.
Please avoid dropping a student off and leaving without accompanying your child to the office.
Visitors
Please remember all visitors must sign in at the office upon arrival. Every person that enters NSE will be asked to sign in using our RAPTOR security system if you are assisting in the building. You will need to have your driver’s license/identification scanned at least one time to be in our system. We kindly ask that you always have your identification with you when visiting a district building. ALL volunteers must complete the volunteer registration process before volunteering in any district school. Additional information regarding SGASD’s volunteer process is available by visiting the district website at sgasd.org.
The doors to all district buildings are locked. To enter a building, you must use the main entrance (Door #1). At the entrance, you will find a doorbell which you must ring and wait for the secretary to acknowledge you. You will not be able to enter the buildings until you are “buzzed” in. Due to security reasons, all buildings have a 2nd doorbell to enter the office. You must ring the 2nd doorbell and wait to be buzzed in before entering. Again, when visiting the school, you should always have your identification with you. For safety purposes, if you do not have your identification, we will not release a child during school hours. Please do not hold the door to admit people that are approaching the building after you.
NSE Communications
NSE communicates mostly by email or by posting information on the NSE webpage. Please be sure to include your email address on the student emergency form. For split households, please include both parent email addresses. We want to make certain all parents/guardians are aware of NSE news! If you do not have email access, please make note of such on the emergency forms.
For security reasons, we do not allow students to have pencil sharpeners in school. This includes the pencil sharpeners that come in many back-to-school kits. Each classroom has pencil sharpeners for the students to use when needed.
The staff anticipates a very successful year and is eager to guide your child's continued growth and progress. Your interest, involvement, and encouragement throughout the year will certainly enhance your child's school experience and development.
Thank you for your cooperation. Please call the school at any time when you have questions or concerns. We look forward to a pleasant year of home-to-school connection for the best interest of your child.
Important Dates
- Tuesday, August 16, 2022 - Kindergarten Orientation beginning at 5:30 pm. Please see the link below for more details: Kindergarten Orientation
- Thursday, August 18, 2022 - Back-to-School Night for grades 1 through 4 beginning at 6:00 pm.
- Monday, August 22, 2022 - First day of school for Kindergarten students only
- Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - First day of school for all students
Original source can be found here.
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