Welcome Back Letter
Dear SOES Parents,
We hope you had a great summer, and we look forward to working with you and your children this year! All signs point to another incredible and productive school year. We are proud of the progress our students are showing each year both academically and socially. This year, we will continue to work hard to reach our academic goals while maintaining a safe and caring learning environment. All of our staff – secretaries, cafeteria staff, custodians, instructional assistants, and teachers — are committed to providing our children with an exciting and enriching educational experience! We are excited to catch students following our school expectations and award them with “Eagle Bucks” for use in the S.O.A.R. Store!
We believe that parents are the first and most important teachers and we value your input and partnership with us in the education of your children. It is important that you offer your children words of encouragement, hugs, show an interest in their work, and be present at school events. We encourage you to get connected with our PTA or SAC to help make a difference!
I feel privileged to serve as the principal of this fine school that is filled with great children and great staff! I know that the time you and your children spend at Seven Oaks Elementary School will be rewarding.
Proud Principal,
Shauntte Butcher
After and Before School Supervision
Before School Supervision will start at 9:20 a.m. Students are to remain in their cars until the bell rings at 9:20. Walkers and bikers must remain behind the gate until 9:20. Parents of walkers and bikers it is strongly recommended that parents escort them to school and that the students do NOT arrive onto campus until 9:20. Dismissal begins at 3:50 p.m. each day and usually ends at 4:05 p.m.
At home learning
Each SOES Eagle has access to ZEARN (math) and Lexia (reading) through their MyStudent account in Pascoconnect. Students can practice their skills at home each night! Also, students can access their core curriculum materials through MyStudent if they are absent or want to do enrichment activities. Additionally, our ESOL students have access to their Imagine Learning account in MyStudent.
Bikers
A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, final rule, 16 C.F.R. part 1203.
Birthdays
To maintain instructional focus, birthday celebrations are not permitted at school. On an Eagle students’ birthday, the child will be sent to the main office to receive a special token.
Car Line
All parents must use the car line to drop-off and pick-up their students during arrival and dismissal. Parents of students in our Sensory Behavior Program or Pre-K program must get a lanyard from their child’s teacher to park and walk past the gate.
Checkouts
Students are TARDY if they are not in their classroom by 9:40am. Please ensure your child arrives to school on time to get a full day of learning.
Of course, there will be times when a child will have to miss school, such as illness or family emergencies. The link to report an absence via MACH form is https://soes.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=18126.
Please note excessive absences and tardies will be reviewed by the Truancy Committee to problem-solve supports and interventions.
Florida Law 1003.26(1)(b) provides that if a student has at least five (5) unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a calendar month or ten (10) unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a ninety (90) calendar day period, the school must take action. Pre-planned extended absences must be approved by the principal with one-week’s notice.
The school may require documented medical and legal excuses for a pattern of non-attendance.
Tardiness and Early Checkout Students need to arrive on time and stay through dismissal so they will receive important directions, class instruction and avoid disrupting other students. Parents can set a good example by encouraging students to follow the school’s time schedule and to follow the procedures found in the school handbook.
Please note, if you arrive for checkout during recess time, you will need to wait until the students return back to the classroom for the main office to call the classroom. Recess is 20 minutes long.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are allowed to be brought to school by students. Please understand that they must be out of view and may NOT be turned on at all during school hours. School hours are 9:20am to 3:50pm. Please understand that we do have telephones in every classroom should an emergency arise, and that we are not responsible for lost or damaged phones. If you would like to get a message to your child during the school day, please contact the main office.
Concerns and Conferences
Parents are encouraged to contact us with any questions or concerns throughout the year. The first point of contact is your child’s teacher. All staff emails are listed on the school website. If assistance is still needed, parents may contact the school to contact administration or the school counselor.
Homeroom Parents
At least one homeroom parents is needed for each classroom. Being a homeroom is fun, easy, and requires a minimal time commitment
Independence
It is amazing to see our students grow into independent and self-reliant individuals! Parents, you can help your child work toward being more responsible and independent in many ways. For example, you can make sure your child is in charge of returning homework back to school or remembering to pack their water bottle each day. Please note that calling students out of class to retrieve materials that were left at home cause a disruption to the learning environment for your child and their classmates. Therefore, classroom disruptions will be kept to a minimum and students will be called down to the main office during non-instructional time (lunch/recess) to get the materials. We ask that you help your child with this process by fostering responsibility and independence. Your child will benefit in the end!
Lunch
Parents are welcomed to visit their child for lunch after the first Two Weeks of School. Parents must sign-in the main office. Parents may eat outside at the tables with their child only. Siblings will not be pulled from class to eat lunch during a lunch that is not their assigned lunch. Non-school aged siblings must be supervised by the parent. Persons who cause disruption to the campus environment will be asked to leave the campus. If a child forgets their lunch at home, a parent may bring a lunch to the child for that emergency situation. Repeat offenses will be addressed by the principal. Lunch deliveries from companies will NOT be accepted or delivered to the student. **Lunch Visits will be not be permitted during end of the year testing season.**
Seven Oaks PTA Information
The Seven Oaks Elementary PTA plays an essential role in the SOES Community. Many of the events that SOES conducts would not happen without our amazing PTA. Please stop by the PTA table at Meet the Teacher Day to join PTA and order school spirit wear. Joining PTA does NOT require you to commit any specific amount of time, but it does provide the following benefits:
- Increased PTA membership for the school
- Discounts throughout the year on merchandise and events
- Communication about different activities and events
Family Membership: $12
Recognition
Our Eagles are excelling in every area, and we LOVE celebrating them.
Each month:
Our top students in Lexia, Zearn, and Beanstack are celebrated and rewarded with Treasure Box items.
Our Primary and Intermediate Class of the Month are selected and rewarded with a class treat for meeting the S.O.A.R. expectations as a class all around campus!
Each Day:
Students are able to earn Eagle Bucks and purchase items from the school store.
Be selected as an V.I.E., Very Important Eagle, in the cafeteria and eat on the Stage Boutique with a friend!
Earn a Golden Ticket for the Golden Raffle.
Earn class dollars/points/tickets from their classroom teacher.
Each Quarter:
Our Students of the Quarter are celebrated with a ceremony in front of their parents/family members.
Our students who have consistently followed the S.O.A.R. expectations attend the S.O.A.R celebration.
Parents, you can encourage your Eagle student by talking with about goal-setting and reviewing the S.O.A.R. expectations with your child!
Severe Weather (Rainy Day) Dismissal
Rainy day dismissal is called when severe weather is presented to affect dismissal.
Severe weather is defined as lightning, thunder, heavy rain or wind.
When rainy day dismissal is called the rainy-day flag is displayed at the front of the school and a text message is sent to parents.
Parents of bikers or walkers
1) Be sure your child has an umbrella and/or raincoat in their bookbag.
2) Be sure your child and their teacher know how the student should be dismissed on rainy day dismissal: parent will enter the car line, parent will do walker pick-up, or child will remain a biker or walker to be dismissed when the severe weather passes.
As Florida weather is sporadic and ever-changing, it is important for parents to discuss rainy day dismissal with their child and the teacher in advance.
We appreciate your cooperation with this matter.
Volunteer Information
Florida Law requires all school volunteers to undergo a new background check each year. To volunteer on campus or attend field trips, an application must be approved.
http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/comm/page/volunteer
