Star Elementary Newsletter
8/2/23
A Note from the Principal
I am excited to welcome you and your student back to school very soon! I hope you are having a wonderful summer and are ready to return to school. It is exhilarating to start a new school year, and I am looking forward to working with you to make sure we are Building the Foundation for Responsible Life-Long Learners.
My goal at Star is to provide your children the same, high quality learning environment and experience that I want and expect for my children – we are here to Build the Foundation for Responsible Life-Long Learners. If at any time you have a question, concern, or just want to talk, please feel free to call or come by the office.
Thank you for everything you do for your child, their education, and their school.
Todd Adams
Meet & Greet
We will have our Meet and Greet on Monday, August 14th from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Please plan to attend. While at the meet and greet you and your child will be able to:
- meet classroom teachers and other staff members
- drop off school supplies and pick up important paperwork
- check out the classroom and school
The Meet and Greet is very important because this is your opportunity to see your student’s classroom, meet their teacher, and get any questions you may have answered. Due to how busy the first day of school is, parents/guardians will not have the opportunity to come into the building and visit with the teacher on the first day of school. You will need to drop off and say your goodbyes to your students in the front grassy area.
Meet & Greet
Monday, Aug 14, 2023, 04:00 PM
Star Elementary School, North Star Road, Star, ID, USA
Parents & Teachers - United
First Day of School
Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 16th for all grades PreK-5. This day is a late start school day with lunch being served to K – 5th grade. Grades PK-5 first bell to enter class rings at 9:20 am. Please arrive on time but not prior to 9:00 am. Students in grades K – 5th will be released at 3:55 p.m. Please visit our website at www.westada.org and on the right side click “Menu” then under Parents & Students click “Bell Schedules” to view the bell schedules for the first day of school and beyond.
On the first day of school parents and students will need to say their goodbyes outside in front of the school. The opportunity to visit the classroom and to see the class and school will be during our Meet and Greet on Monday, August 14th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
On our second day of school, Thursday, August 17th, school will start at the regular time. Please arrive at school no earlier than 8:45 a.m. The first bell will ring at 9:05 a.m. and class starts at 9:10 a.m.
PreSchool
Preschool students will attend school on a half day schedule. On Wednesday late start, those who attend the morning (AM) session will have the first bell ring at 9:20 am and class will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. Preschool students who attend the afternoon (PM) session will start class at 1:00 p.m. Please be here by 12:55 p.m. so we may start on time. The afternoon session will be dismissed at 3:55 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Preschool students who attend the AM session will have the first bell ring at 9:05 a.m. and will be dismissed at 12:05 p.m. Preschool students who attend the PM session will start class at 1:00 p.m. and be dismissed at 3:55 p.m. The bell schedule can be found on our district web page.
School Day - Attendance
Our first bell rings at 9:05 a.m. (9:20 a.m. on Wednesday Late Start). To ensure as much learning as possible occurs during the school day, students need to arrive at school on time and be in attendance for the entire school day. We know and understand some absences cannot be avoided. In those situations, we ask that you call the school office by 9:00 a.m. If you must pick-up your student from school early, please call ahead so we can inform the teacher. Students will stay in class until the authorized person has arrived to pick them up.
Morning Drop-off and Afternoon Pick-up
When dropping off your student in the morning, please use the drop-off lane in front of the school (in front of the new addition). Please pull all the way forward to drop your child off between the asphalt drive and the front of the drop-off lane. If students are dropped off as we enter the parking lot, it is a safety concern. Please have everything ready to go and say your goodbyes quickly, otherwise our drop off lane will get backed up onto Star Road. If you want to walk your child up to the school doors, you will need to park in a parking space or across the street in the park. Please use crosswalks when walking your child across the street and parking lot. All goodbyes will need to be said outside.
When picking up your student at the end of the day, if you would like to walk up to meet them, please park in a parking space in the school parking lot or in the park across the street. Students and parents should have a prearranged and agreed upon location to meet. For the safety of our students the city of Star, ACHD, Ada County Sheriff’s Department and the school ask that we do not park on Star Road in front of the school or between the school and the new subdivision immediately to our north. If you use the pick-up lane (same as the drop-off lane) you must pull all the way forward and remain with your car and meet your student at your car between the asphalt drive and the front of the pick-up lane. Traffic can get backed up all the way to State Street, so we must be diligent in following our procedures.
School Nutrition
Student Transportation
WELCOME!
We strive to provide safe, reliable bus service for the students at West Ada School District. We currently contract and partner with Cascade Student Transportation C(ST) for this service. We work closely with them to make sure students arrive ready to learn and home safely at the end of the day.
For the 2023-24 school year, we have made several improvements that we believe help us better serve the students of the district:
- Drivers now have turn-by-turn electronic navigation.
- Parents have access to an APP that will allow them to know when the bus will be arriving
- Beginning this fall, elementary students will have bus passes that will enhance safety and allow parents to know when and where their children boarded and departed a bus.
- Enhanced customer service. Additional trained staff will be able to answer your questions at 208-350-4747.
- Help Desk ticket system will allow you to request bus service, address concerns, or pass along information. You will always receive a response to your request. Go to our transportation page or click the link for access. Transportation | West Ada School District
During the first two weeks of school, we ask that you please provide transportation systems a grace period of +/- 15 minutes as students, families and drivers work to navigate routes, drop-offs, pick-ups and neighborhood traffic. Please also keep in mind that during the first two weeks of school, drivers maintain bus manifests to document the number of students on each route. Based on these manifests, transportation works to adjust routes for efficiency which may adjust bus stop times.
Please let us know how we may be of service to you. We believe riding a school bus can be a great experience.
Your partners in transportation,
RD Huntley, Transportation Liaison and Dr. David Reinhart, Director of Education Services
For the West Ada School District Transportation site, please visit: https://www.westada.org/o/wasd...
Community Clean-up
Students, families, staff and community members are all invited! Head to any West Ada school on to show your support of West Ada and help our schools shine with pride for the start of school year.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 FROM 9:00AM-1:00PM
- Bring your own equipment... garden tools, lawnmowers, shovels, rakes, etc.
- Plan on... weeding, planting, mowing, making friends, having fun and supporting your school community.
No need to RSVP! Simply stop by any local West Ada school site - come and go as you please. Any and all assistance is welcomed and appreciated.
Check out the flyer - HERE!