Welcome back everyone! If you are new to Olympia then welcome, I believe you will soon love this school and community as much as I do. I am entering my sixth year as principal of Olympia and am proud to serve the amazing staff, community, and most importantly the children of the Fine Arts Academy of Olympia. Below I have posted some important information to make note of including some upcoming calendar dates, PTO information, arrival and dismissal procedures, restorative practices with a brief talk about some additions this year, and some other important links that you might be looking to find.

Please Note*** Every week I send out a weekly newsletter and share upcoming events, important info from the PTO, and pictures and events from the week in case you missed it. This will be sent to the enrolling parents email, but can always be found on our facebook page which usually has more pictures of our events as well so it might be a good idea to follow

https://www.facebook.com/olympiaelementary

8/11 Meet the Teacher 4pm-6pm

8/13 First day of school!

8/25 Beginning of the Year testing

9/1 Staff and Student Holiday

9/21 Science Camp Info Mtg for 5th grade parents

9/25 Open House 4:30-6pm

9/29 Student Holiday

9/30 Bike Rodeo

School starts at 7:30am with a free breakfast for students served in the classroom from 6:45am to 7:30pm. Once students enter the school in the morning they are constantly monitored by staff.

Car Riders Arrival (the back gate opens at 6:45am)

• Have all school materials ready before your child exits the vehicle.
• Have Students on the passenger side of the vehicle to unload.
• Staff will not unbuckle students. Parents must release students from their car.
• Parents if you need to get out of your car to unbuckle your students move to the middle. Please do not hold up the line. Staff will come to you to get students safely from the middle.
• Once your child is unloaded, please drive through and exit by turning right onto Universal City Blvd.

Walkers Arrival

• Buses only allowed in the front this will be blocked off, please park in the street, side lots, and/or swimming pool lot
• Walk with your child up the sidewalks and hand them off to our staff at the front doors of the school
• If you have a student in Lifeskills or our early childhood unit you can drop them off at the side door
• Note** Do not drop students off before 6:45 a.m. Please understand, there is no supervision before this time.

School gets out at 2:50pm (10 minutes earlier than last year). The first few days expect longer dismissal times especially in the car rider line as new parents learn the procedures. However, we will have one of the fastest dismissals soon with the car line finishing by 3:20 on most days. Having said that please understand after 230pm we do not allow dismissals from the front office, all staff are being utilized to ensure a safe dismissal process. This is a district wide procedure and will be followed the first week of school. Parents who come to the front office after this time will be told to pick up their student at the normal pick up location or they can wait until students are brought to the front office when extra staff are free usually not until after 3:15pm.

Car Rider Dismissal

• An Olympia car rider name tag must be displayed in your window at dismissal. If you do not have the name tag, you will need to show a photo ID to Olympia personnel so they can verify that you are authorized to pick up the student.
• Parents will be directed by staff where to park to wait for their student(s).
• The driver must remain in the vehicle while in the drive through lane.
• Students will be escorted by staff to their cars once they arrive at the gym.
• If students cannot buckle their seat belt theirselves, parents will be instructed to pull into the center to buckle their child in.

Walkers Dismissal

• Walkers and bike riders will be dismissed from the side gate, on Universal City Blvd and walked across the crosswalk at Universal City Blvd and Athenian. Walkers must be in 3rd grade or older -or- be a sibling to a 3rd grader or older (no exceptions).

PreK, early childhood, and Lifeskills dismissal (including siblings)

• These students will exit from the side door in front of school (near right parking lot if facing school) Parents will be handed off their students by staff and must show car tag or be prepared to show ID and have it verified (a more lengthy process).

Adventure Club (Afterschool Program-tuition based) for more info

https://www.judsonisd.org/departments/adventure-club-after-school-program/adventure-club-after-school-program

• Pick up is in front of school after 3:10pm to 6pm. Please park and call Adventure Club there will be a sign in front of school with the number. You will be met at front door to verify ID and dismiss your child.

Below you will find a calendar of upcoming topics being covered in PK-2nd grade classes during morning meetings. Check back in the weekly newsletters, there will be an opportunity if you would like to reinforce these at home some resources to use and insight into what is being taught.

Have a question, concern, or suggestion? Please submit it below, if you have the question others might also we frequently will put answers up for everyone to clear up any concerns or confusion.

https://forms.gle/bFoMPUGDMgZg1n327

Question asked? "How can we get involved to support Olympia?"

We welcome volunteers at Olympia!

• To volunteer at Olympia, please read the volunteer handbook at https://www.judsonisd.org/Page/16591, then bring your photo ID to the front office so we can scan your ID in our Raptor System. All volunteers have to complete this process first.

• To volunteer with the PTO, please email olympiaelem.pto@gmail.com
• Dads, if you'd like to join Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students), please contact our counselor, Mrs. Hadas, at ahadas@judsonisd.org.
• If you'd like to volunteer in your child's classroom, please contact the teacher through email or Class Dojo to find out if there are any opportunities available.