Lower School Back-to-School 2023-24

Welcome to the 2023-24 School Year!

To-Do Before School Begins

VERACROSS HOUSEHOLD CALENDAR:
Logging into the Veracross Parent Portal will allow you access to the Veracross Calendars. Your Household calendar will display important events and dates that specifically affect members of your household. The School Calendar will display everything that’s on the school’s public calendar (aside from athletics) and the Athletic calendar will display all Bruin games. You have the ability to subscribe to different calendar feeds, and have the dates feed directly into your online calendar system (Google, iCal or Outlook). For information on how to subscribe, click here.

GRADE LEVEL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST:
Click HERE to download the list.

MEDICAL FORMS AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Complete your child’s online medical forms to Magnus Health Student Medical Record (SMR). A fully completed SMR must be on file for your child to participate in gym, athletic activities, and on field trips. To check the status of your child’s forms, log in to your Magnus Health portal. DO NOT send health forms to the school. All forms must be scanned, uploaded, and sent to Magnus Health. If you do not have a scanner, all forms can be sent to Magnus Health by fax.  (You must include a cover sheet from Magnus Health if you are mailing or faxing the form. Instructions for obtaining a cover sheet can be found on the Magnus Health website.) Please remember to complete all required information as soon as possible, as it needs to be reviewed before school starts. Your credentials to log in to the Magnus Health portal are the same as your Veracross login. If you do not remember your password, you may reset it using the “Can’t access your account?” link from the Veracross portals login page here. If you have questions or need help with logging in to your account, please read Magnus Health Frequently Asked Questions.

THE PARK SCHOOL DIRECTORY:
The Park School Directory will be accessible through the Veracross portal. In order to ensure we have the most up-to-date information for the directory, please update your information in the Veracross portal by Monday, August 21

PARENT HANDBOOK AND LOWER SCHOOL HANDBOOK:
The Parent Handbook and Lower School Handbook will be available through the Veracross portal.  Please feel free to reach out to the Lower School office (lsoffice@parkschool.net) if you have questions.

GRANDPARENTS:
The Veracross portal includes a section in the “Family Update Form” called “Grandparents.” By updating contact information for grandparents, you will enable Park to share community news periodically, and invite grandparents to future events and other community activities.

The First Three Days:

• August 28, 29, 30: “Get to Know You” Virtual Conferences for Parents
• August 29: Grades 2–5 New Student Orientation (In Person!) for Parents and Students (10-11:30 a.m.)
• August 30 (First Day of School): Early dismissal at 11:30 a.m. for ALL Lower School students.
*Bus transportation or extended day is not available on August 30.

“Get to Know You” Virtual Conferences for Parents

All Lower School parents will have an opportunity to connect with their child’s teacher before or on the first day of school. The purpose of these conferences is to establish the foundation for a strong, year-long partnership between teachers and parents. Lower School Administrative Assistant Kara Leonard will send out conference sign up information during the week of August 14.

The conference schedule is as follows:

MONDAY, AUGUST 28

Virtual Parent Conferences

9 a.m.–noon

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29

Virtual Parent Conferences

8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30

Virtual Parent Conferences

1–4 p.m.

(Lower School dismissal: 11:30 a.m. – No Extended Day)

In-person Orientation for Parents and Students New to Grades 2-5!

On Tuesday, August 29, students new to Grades 2-5 and parents are invited to campus for an in-person orientation from 10-11:30 a.m.

Reminders, Opportunities & General Information

Reminders

Technology:

To support both in-school and at-home academic programming and to minimize the risk associated with sharing devices, Park is requiring that each student have access to the following technology:

Pre-Kindergarten – 3rd Grade

4th – 12th Grade

The table below applies to students in Grades 4-12

Personal laptop with a built-in webcam Macintosh or Windows PC$550 – 1,200
Minimum laptop specifications13″ screen
i5 processor
8 GB RAM
128 GB minimum hard drive
Lightweight headset (headphones and built-in microphone)Stereo plugs or USB connection to connect to student’s device

Example brands: Cyber Acoustics Stereo PlugHeadset, Logitech USB Headset		$15 – 80
Extended warranty (AppleCare or equivalent for PC)Recommended for laptops, but NOT required$119 – 379(for 2-3 years, depending on device cost and coverage)

Lower School Extended Day 

Our Extended Day program offers care for Lower School children who require supervision beyond the  end of the school day. Our warm and nurturing staff organizes a wide array of activities each  afternoon. These include crafts, board and card games, outdoor play, as well as quiet space to tackle  homework in the upper grades. A daily snack is served.  

During your child’s time with us, Extended Day fosters a sense of community while reinforcing  Park School’s ideals of fair play and respectful discourse with peers and adults. Look for familiar faces  as well as some new staff this fall. Our staff will facilitate a smooth transition between the school day  and the student’s time in our Extended Day program.

Signing In and Out of Extended Day 

In an effort to improve safety and security of the children attending extended day, and to ensure more accurate billing, all students will be signed in when they arrive, and signed out by a parent/guardian when they are picked up at each site at the end of the day. Click here for Extended Day information and registration.

Opportunities

After-school Classes

After-school classes will begin at 3:15 p.m. and end at 4:15 p.m. We will be offering three sessions of after-school classes. The fall session, which runs for six weeks, begins the week of September 11 and ends at the end of October. The winter session (November-early February) and the spring session (late March-the end of May) will each run for up to 10 sessions. 

If for any reason days need to be made up due to cancellations (we will not reschedule classes due to inclement weather), they will be added at the end of the session and you will be notified.  

Classes are not filled on a first come/first served basis. We will randomly fill the classes after that date. You will be notified with a confirmation or regret email by September 1. Late registrants will be added only if space is available 

Please remember that registration is not a confirmation of acceptance into the class. Confirmations/regrets will be emailed home by Friday, September 1. We limit the number of  children who can participate so that the activity itself is both fun and manageable. If an activity is oversubscribed, we compile a “first refusal list” and offer a space in the next session if the activity is offered. There will be no refunds for an after school class following the first week of the class. 

Look out for more information soon on class offerings and registration for the fall session.

4th & 5th Grade Problem Solving Teams – Destination Imagination

In Destination Imagination, teams of students solve open-ended, STEAM-focused challenges and present their solutions at a state tournament. Destination Imagination teams are open to students in 4th and 5th Grade and meet weekly for approximately six months, beginning in early September until the state competition on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Students interested in joining problem solving teams should understand that the level of responsibility and work can be significantly higher than other after-school classes. Due to the nature of teamwork, attendance is extremely important. Occasionally, problem-solving teams add extra practice sessions during lunch time or on weekends to prepare for competitions.

Please contact Kara Leonard by email (kleonard@parkschool.net) or phone (410-339-4195) with any questions you might have. 

After-School Music Program

A variety of music lessons are offered after the school day for an additional fee. Weekly instruction is offered in piano, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, drum set, clarinet, saxophone, flute, violin, and viola. These lessons are in addition to the student’s regular participation in music class.

For more information, contact Chris Peterson at afterschoolmusic@parkschool.net.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Musical Activities

5TH GRADE CHORUS
Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays from 2:15-3:10 p.m. in Room 424, led by Bruce Bryant.

5TH GRADE CONCERT BAND
Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays from 2:15-3:10 p.m. in Room 128, led by Maeve Royce.

5TH GRADE STRING ENSEMBLE
Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays from 2:15-3:10 p.m. in Room 123, led by Doug Jameson.

SOUNDWAVES (open to Fourth and Fifth Graders)
Rehearsals take place after school on Thursdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Room 424 (Bruce Bryant’s room).

GRADE 5 JAZZ BAND
Grade 5 Jazz Band led by Chris Peterson, is on Mondays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Room 128 starting in September. Students can play classroom instruments like xylophones and drums or their own personal instruments (guitar, bass, wind, and string instruments) if they are currently enrolled in private lessons or are playing those instruments in Concert Band or String Ensemble. 

For more information regarding Lower School musical opportunities, please contact Bruce Bryant (bbryant@parkschool.net) or Deborah Hull (dhull@parkschool.net).

If you would like information about private music lessons through our After School Music Academy (ASM), please contact Chris Peterson directly at cpeterson@parkschool.net.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Sports Activities

Welcome to Park School Athletics! Below, we would like to introduce the Lower School Athletic offerings for the 2023-24 school year. 

Philosophy
Fourth and fifth grade students have the opportunity to learn/develop skills as a rostered member of our Lower School teams and to compete, (depending on the sport) against other area schools/programs. The goal of our Lower School Athletic Program is for all students to have the opportunity to develop teamwork, skill sets, and to be introduced to the basics of their chosen sport.  Coaches strive to have all students receive balanced participation in games; however, those students who attend practice consistently will earn more playing time than others. 

Practices
Practices (3:15-4:30 p.m.) will be used to teach fundamentals of the sport as well as the strategies needed to be successful in scrimmage play. Students will be encouraged to participate as good teammates in a supportive and positive manner to ensure a positive team culture, and so that there is excitement about continued participation in Park Athletics when they reach our Middle School.  

Join Us!
We are one of the very few local schools who offer a team sport experience at the Lower School level and are fortunate to be able to introduce team sport and school spirit to our younger students. Our parents have been tremendous supporters of this program and our kids’ participation has been outstanding. We hope that your child will join our teams and be a part of “Bruin Pride.” 

Lower School sports have been a tradition at Park and we are excited to have your child take part. We have merged this athletic experience with our Lower School activity offerings to allow families to make educated choices throughout the year. 

There is no charge for our program (the cost will be subsidized by Athletics). We are thrilled to offer this to families; however, in return we are asking for a commitment to our program. Please do not put your child in a weekly direct conflict by signing up for multiple activities on the same day. Athletics is a two-day commitment (Monday and Wednesday) and we encourage full engagement.  Please feel free to contact Robin Cardin Lowe, rlowe@parkschool.net, or Dia Clark, dclark@parkschool.net, should you have any questions. 

LOWER SCHOOL FALL PRESEASON INFORMATION

Schedules (when complete) are at the Park School website: http://www.parkschool.net/athletics/teams-and-schedules/, and on the Veracross Athletics Calendar.

Changes in the weekly practice and game schedule will be emailed to the parents of players using the Veracross system as well as from the Lower School office.

REMINDER REGARDING HEALTH FORMS: See INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE 

All Practices will run from 3:15-4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays during the season.

 Fall — Soccer – Grades 4-5 (September 11-October 30)

            Field Hockey – Grades 4-5 (September 11-October 30)

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Practice/Game Pickup and Drop-off: Practice will run from 3:15-4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning Monday, September 11. Students will meet coaches at the entrance to the Athletic Center and travel to one of the three West Fields on our Main Campus (Boys’ Varsity Field, Girls’ Varsity Field or Rosenberg Field). All three of the fields are in the rear of the Athletic Center and are easily accessible from one another. If for some reason the practice location should change, we will communicate the change via email. At 4:30 p.m., coaches will walk the students to Carpool (main entrance of the school) for pick up and those who are not picked up by 4:40 p.m., will be accompanied to Lower School Extended Day. 

Games: We hope to schedule 1-2 games with another school in addition to 1-2 Brown & White (intrasquad) games this season. The games will fall within the normal practice days of Mondays and Wednesdays, but will require a larger time commitment than a normal practice. Most likely a game-day will occupy the hours of 3:15-5 p.m. on your child’s schedule. If we are able to travel to play another school, that will also add to the time commitment for that day. We will communicate additional game day information once the game dates are finalized.

Absences: If your child misses school or will miss practice or a game for any reason, please communicate that with the Lower School office so we are able to account for all students. We will get that information to the coaches.

Equipment Required for Soccer: Soccer cleats, shin guards, and water bottle. Gym shorts and T-shirt will be acceptable for practice. Game jerseys will be provided by the school.  

Coach: Blair Northcott

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Practice/Game Pickup and Drop-off: Practice will run from 3:15-4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning Wednesday, September 11. Students will meet coaches in Blaustein Gym II (pick up equipment) and travel to practice as a group (indoors in Blaustein Gyms, Kelly turf field, or Tompkins field). If for some reason the practice location should change, we will communicate the change via email.  At 4:30 p.m., coaches will walk the students to Carpool (main entrance of the school) for pick up and those who are not picked up by 4:40 p.m., will be accompanied to Lower School Extended Day. 

Games: There will be no interscholastic competition this fall, but we hope if our numbers allow we will play 1-2 Brown & White (intrasquad) games this season. The games will fall within the normal practice days of Mondays and Wednesdays, but will require a larger time commitment than a normal practice. Most likely a game-day will occupy the hours of 3:15-5 p.m. on your child’s schedule. More to come on that as the season continues…

Absences: If your child misses school or will miss practice or a game for any reason, please communicate that with the Lower School office so we are able to account for all students. We will get that information to the coaches.

Equipment Required: Stick, goggles, mouthguard, and water bottle. Shorts and T-shirt will be acceptable for practice. Game jerseys will be provided by the school. If you don’t own a stick, you may borrow a stick on a daily basis and return at the end of every practice. Questions? Contact Stradine Harris at 410-339-7070 ext. 4519 or sharris@parkschool.net.

Coaches: Stradine Harris and Michele Shirah

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Practice Begins: Monday, March 4 (weather permitting) from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. on Tompkins Fields. Please note that all practices this spring for Lower School will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Home games will be played on Tompkins or Boys’ Varsity fields. 

Coach: TBD

Equipment Required: Stick, helmet, gloves, athletic supporter, shoulder pads, elbow/arm pads and mouthguard and water bottle. Shorts and T-shirt will be acceptable for practice. Game jerseys will be provided by the school. Please contact Dia Clark if you need assistance attaining equipment

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Practice Begins: Monday, March 4 (weather permitting) from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. on Rosenberg Field. Please note that all practices this spring for Lower School will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m.. All home games will be played on Rosenberg Field. We will usually meet on Rosenberg Field, but if the weather is questionable players should check the whiteboard in the LS office for our indoor meeting place. There will be practice regardless of weather, so you should bring gym shoes in case practice is moved indoors. Please bring your stick, mouth guard, a water bottle, and dress for outdoor play. If you don’t own a stick, you may borrow a stick on a daily basis and return at the end of every practice. No Park School uniforms are needed — the school will provide game/scrimmage vests when needed. Questions? Contact Stradine Harris at 410-339-7070 ext. 4519 or sharris@parkschool.net.

Coach: Stradine Harris

Equipment Required: Stick, goggles, mouthguard, and water bottle. Shorts and T-shirt will be acceptable for practice. Game jerseys will be provided by the school.  

General Information

Student Support: Counseling and Wellness

Park’s Counseling and Wellness Department includes a full-time counselor for the Lower School and a part-time Human Sexuality teacher. The role of our school counselor is to promote student mental health wellness while working with students, families, and faculty to address the social and emotional needs of students in order to support their overall academic success at school. Counselors are a confidential resource available to students and families via email, phone, or in person. Human sexuality education in Park‘s Lower School is holistic in nature and comprehensive in scope. As trained health educators, we focus on healthy social and emotional development as well as community health and well-being. 

Park’s counselors and human sexuality teachers also lead the Park Connects Parent Education Workshops for parents at each grade level throughout the school year. Refer to their calendar for education workshop dates specific to your child’s grade.

For more information, contact Lower School Counselor Amy Ancona at aancona@parkschool.net.

Lunch/Cafeteria Limits Requests

Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 eat lunch in their classrooms, are not able to order lunch, and must pack a lunch daily. Students in Grades 3-5 eat lunch in the cafeteria, and can order one meal and one drink. Cafeteria charges are billed monthly in arrears. 

Parents may set a monthly limit on the amount a Lower School student may charge in the cafeteria. If you want to set a limit, you may request a monthly limit on the amount your child may charge in the Cafeteria (the limit amount you choose resets the first of every month). Please note that limits set the previous school year will remain in the system. If you would like to set a limit, please submit your request by filling out the form found here. We recommend that if you do place a limit on your child’s account, please discuss this with your child ahead of time so there is no confusion or misunderstanding at checkout time.

Save the Date

Back-to-School Night for Grades PK-5 ● Thursday, September 14, 6:45-8:45 p.m. 

Virtual Lower School Parent Coffee with Matt Doyle
● Monday, October 2, 9-10 a.m.
● Monday, December 4, 9-10 a.m.
● Monday, February 5, 9-10 a.m.
● Monday, April 8, 9-10 a.m.

*Please refer to the Lower School Calendar section below for more important dates.

Lower School Calendar

August

Monday, 8/28 (9 a.m.-noon): Virtual “Get to Know You” Conferences

Tuesday, 8/29 (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.): Virtual “Get to Know You” Conferences

Tuesday, 8/29 (10-11:30 a.m.): In-person Orientation for Students and Parents New to Grades 2-5 – On campus!

Wednesday, 8/30 (8:30-11:30 a.m.): Lower School Half Day – No Extended Day or PM Bus Service

Wednesday, 8/30 (1-4 p.m.): Virtual “Get to Know You” Parent Conferences

September

Monday, 9/4 (ALL DAY EVENT): SCHOOL CLOSED – Labor Day

Friday, 9/8 (8:15-9:30 a.m.): New Parent Breakfast

Thursday, 9/14 (6:45-8:45 p.m.): Back-to-School Night for Grades Pre-K-5

Saturday, 9/23 (1-2 p.m.): Partners’ Kickoff Celebration @ Lower School Playground

Monday, 9/25 (ALL DAY EVENT): SCHOOL CLOSED – Yom Kippur

Thursday, 9/28 (6:30-7:45 p.m.): Parents’ Association Grade Rep Kick-Off & Opening Meeting

October

Monday, 10/2 (9-10 a.m.): Virtual Parent Coffee with Matt Doyle

Saturday, 10/7: Saturday in the Park

Tuesday, 10/10: School Picture Day

Tuesday, 10/10 (6-8:30 p.m.): Park Connects – Kindergarten

Friday, 10/13 (10:30 a.m.): Kindergarten Butterfly Celebration (Rain Date Monday, 10/16)

Saturday, 10/14: Rivalry Day @ Friends School

Monday, 10/16 (6-8:30 p.m.): Park Connects Grades 4-6 Parent Sexuality Workshop

Wednesday, 10/18: In-Person Tour for Grandparents of New Students

Thursday, 10/19 (1:30 p.m.): Autumn Harvest Festival

Friday, 10/20: SCHOOL CLOSED for Students – Professional Development Day

Monday, 10/23 (6:30-7:30 p.m.): Park Connects – 1st Grade

Tuesday, 10/31 (9 a.m.): Halloween Parade

November

Friday, 11/3: Lower School CLOSED – In-Person Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thursday, 11/9: Lower School CLOSED – In-Person Parent-Teacher Conferences

Tuesday, 11/14: School Picture Make-Up Day

Monday, 11/20 (6-7:30 p.m.): Partners’ Program Thanksgiving Dinner

Tuesday, 11/21 (morning program – details to come): Lower School Grandparents’ and Friends’ Visiting Day

Wednesday, 11/22-Friday, 11/24: SCHOOL CLOSED – Thanksgiving Break

Monday, 11/27: Classes Resume

December

Monday, 12/4 (9-10 a.m.): Virtual Parent Coffee with Matt Doyle

Friday, 12/8 (7:30-10 a.m.): Kindergarten Holiday Breakfast

Wednesday, 12/13 (8:30-9:30 a.m.): Lower School In-Person Grade Rep Meeting with Matt Doyle

Thursday, 12/14 (1-3 p.m.): Grade 5 Winter Solstice Celebration

Friday, 12/15: All-School Assembly @ Athletic Center

Monday, 12/18: SCHOOL CLOSED – Winter Break Begins

January

Monday, 1/1: SCHOOL CLOSED – Last Day of Winter Break

Tuesday, 1/2: CLASSES RESUME

Monday, 1/8 (6-7:30 p.m.): Park Connects Human Sexuality Workshop for K-3rd Grade Parents

Monday, 1/15: SCHOOL CLOSED – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thursday, 1/25 (6:30-7:30 p.m.): Park Connects Pre-K and Kindergarten

February

Monday, 2/5 (9-10 a.m.): Virtual Parent Coffee with Matt Doyle

Tuesday, 2/6-Thursday, 2/8: 3rd-5th Grade ERB Testing

Friday, 2/16: SCHOOL CLOSED for Students – Professional Day

Monday, 2/19: SCHOOL CLOSED – Presidents’ Day

Friday, 2/23 (3:30 p.m.): All-School Lunar New Year Celebration

Monday, 2/26 (6-8:30 p.m.): Park Connects 1st-3rd Grade

Wednesday, 2/28 (8:30-9:30 a.m.): Lower School Grade Rep Meeting with Matt Doyle

March

Friday, 3/1: Lower School CLOSED – In-person Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thursday, 3/7: Lower School CLOSED – In-person Parent-Teacher Conferences

Monday, 3/11: SPRING BREAK BEGINS

Tuesday, 3/19: SCHOOL CLOSED – For Professional Development

Wednesday, 3/20: CLASSES RESUME

Wednesday, 3/27 (6-8 p.m.): Park Connects 4th and 5th Grade

Friday, 3/29: SCHOOL CLOSED – Good Friday

April

Monday, 4/1: SCHOOL CLOSED – Easter Monday (possible snow make-up day)

Saturday, 4/6 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.): Holi Color Run

Monday, 4/8 (9-10 a.m.): Virtual Parent Coffee with Matt Doyle

Thursday, 4/25 (12:50-3 p.m.): 5th Grade Middle School Mini Day

May

Wednesday, 5/1 (9-10:15 a.m.): Transition Meeting for Parents of Students New to Grades 2-5

Friday, 5/10 (11 a.m.): May Day (No Extended Day or PM Bus Service)

Thursday, 5/16 (8:30–9:30 a.m.): Lower School Grade Rep Meeting with Matt Doyle

Thursday, 5/16 (7:15-8:30 p.m.): Transition Meeting for Parents of Students New to Kindergarten-Grade 1

Monday, 5/27: SCHOOL CLOSED – Memorial Day

Friday, 5/31 (3 p.m.): Partner’s Program Pool Party

June

Friday, 6/7: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!