Principal

August 2, 2023

Dear Hayes Community,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year! I hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing summer. We are all very excited to welcome students back to campus for full-time, in person instruction! The first day of school is Wednesday, August 9th. We will be on adjusted schedule through from Wednesday, August 9th to Tuesday, August 15th. Then beginning Wednesday, August 16th we will start our regular daily schedule. Adjusted dismissal for grades 1-6 is always on Tuesdays at 1:25. We will be supplying basic supplies to all students and if individual teachers or grade levels need anything additional they will let you know the first week of school.

2023-2024 Bell Schedule
TK/Kinder: 8:00am-1:20pm
1st, 2nd, 3rd: 8:00am-2:20pm
4th, 5th, 6th: 8:00am-2:25pm
Tuesday Adjusted Schedule: Grades 1-6 dismissed at 1:25pm, TK/Kinder dismissed at 1:20pm

Class Placements
This year class placements will be communicated through ParentSquare by 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 8th with grade level class assignments. On the first day of school parents will not be allowed past the entrance gates so students will be led to their teachers’ line up area by other staff. We will help your children find their classrooms! Each teacher will post a sign with their name on it by their class location. Please keep in mind that all classes are temporary for the first two weeks of school as we finalize enrollment.

Meals
Grab and Go brunch and lunch will be provided for all students at no cost. Outdoor seating will be utilized as much as possible. We have a lovely outdoor eating area!

Drop-Off/Pick-Up
Safety is our number one priority and we need everyone’s help to ensure a safe parking lot. When dropping off or picking up your children in the drive through you should never park or leave your car. Please make sure you don’t need to get out and comb your child’s hair, finish getting them dressed, and feed them their breakfast in the drive through. Students should be ready to get their school items and get out of the car quickly as there are many cars that must move through the drive through. Both lanes may be used to go through the drive through, however cars in the lane closest to the parking lot will turn left onto Obert and cars in the lane closest to the office will turn right going out of the drive through onto Obert. If you use the lane closest to the parking lot, your child will exit the car when you go past the crosswalk in front of the office and then walk to the crosswalk to wait for the adult staff member (most often me!) to take them across the crosswalk. If you use the lane closest to the curb in front of the office, your child can just get out at the curb and proceed to the correct gate.

The parking lot is only for staff parking so if you want to park somewhere you will need to park on the street. The parking lot is also not a drive through. If you live close to the school I always encourage a morning stroll to the school. Please use the crosswalks at the intersection of Poston and Obert and the crosswalk at the end of Tiffin to access the school. Please note however, that the two front gates will be the only access gates. The alleyway at the back of the school will be locked and the gate typically used by Catalyst Kids, further down Poston, will not be open either. All adults walking up to the front of the school will need to have a mask on. I have attached a map of the school with the access gates and a map of teachers’ classrooms as well. Please try to drop off and pick up on time. (Students may be on campus at 7:45) I know this is a long procedural description of drop-off and pick-up, but the sooner we all are able to cooperate in these procedures, the happier and safer we will all be.

Communication
I will send communication through ParentSquare frequently to ensure you have up-to-the-minute information and ample notice of upcoming events. We will also resume our Tuesday Envelope Communication. These will go home with your child on Tuesday to be returned to your child’s teacher. In addition, we encourage all Hayes families to “like” our Facebook Page at  www.facebook.com/hayeshuskies for school events and district news.

We are all very excited to welcome you back to school and are looking forward to a joyful first day! Please feel free to reach out to me through ParentSquare, or send me an email at tcochran@ogsd.net  if you have any questions or need clarification on anything!

Warm wishes for an awesome 2023-2024 school year!

Tracy Cochran
Proud Principal Hayes Elementary
Go Huskies!!