Welcome Back 2024-2025
WELCOME BACK!
Are you ready to ROCK into the 2024-2025 school year? As you can see, we plan to have a little fun this year with the theme of “Grace McWayne Rocks!” Students will see music and rock and roll infused into some of our big events and we may even start playing music in the cafeteria and on morning announcements. The Grace McWayne staff and I are working hard to prepare for an awesome start to the year. We hope that our “Grace McWayne Rocks!” theme will help students and families connect to our school and feel welcome.
Of course, along with all of the fun, we plan to work together with you to grow our students both academically and socially. Much of our work will align with the newly adopted BPS101 strategic plan. Our three main priorities will be to (1) Enhance Teaching and Learning Practices, (2) Foster Inclusion and Belonging, and (3) uphold Operational Excellence and Resource Stewardship. I will be sharing in more detail this year how Grace McWayne is making progress with these commitments.
Summer is certainly not yet behind us, but I wish to welcome all of our families and provide you with some important information to get your family ready for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 14th. Tomorrow, August 1st, you will have access to view your child’s teacher. See below for some important dates and introductions to our new staff. A list of save-the-dates has been added to the end of this message. In addition, this Parent Reference Guide can answer many frequently asked questions about Grace McWayne School.
SPECIAL EVENTS
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION – Wednesday, August 7th, 4:00pm and 5:00pm
All kindergarten students and their parents are encouraged to attend a special welcome event just for our newest Grizzlies. Students will visit their classroom and tour the school. Parents will be oriented on the basics of Grace McWayne and have time to ask questions about the school year.
Students in AM classes will attend at 4:00pm, and students in the PM class will attend at 5:00pm.
*All kindergarten parents, please also remember that a physical with proof of immunizations is required before the first day of school. Please bring this on or before kindergarten orientation to be sure your child is fully registered.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION – Wednesday, August 7th, 5:00pm
All 1st -5th grade students who are new to Grace McWayne and their parents are welcome to join us for a brief orientation and time to explore the school. Parents will be oriented on the basics of Grace McWayne and have time to ask questions about the school year.
WELCOME CELEBRATION – Monday, August 12th, 4:00-6:00pm
All students and families are welcome to join us at our annual welcome celebration. Start off by gathering outside on the blacktop and playground in the back of the building. Many teachers will be around to meet students and parents and the building will be open so families can check out the classrooms. Our PTO will be handing out a welcome back gift so be sure to come visit them on the blacktop near the playground.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – Wednesday, August 14th, 8:45am Arrival & 9:00 Start
KINDERGARTEN – All kindergarteners will meet their teacher or enrichment instructor in the front of the building. Students will enter the building as a classroom and begin their school day at 9:00am.
1ST – 5TH GRADE – All students other than kindergarteners will walk to the blacktop area in the back of the school starting at 8:45am. The school day will begin outside at 9:00am with a special presentation before classes enter the building to begin their first day of school. All parents are welcome in the back of the school. Parking will be limited, so please plan ahead.
Protip: If you have a kindergartener and older student, drop off your kindergartener first at 8:45am and then walk with your child to the back to enjoy the opening celebration.
INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW YEAR
Along with welcoming all of you back, we also get to welcome some new teachers to Grace McWayne this year. We are so lucky to have them join our team!
First, our ILP program has expanded to five classrooms this year. Joining Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Baum on the ILP team will be Mrs. Kaminski, Ms. Burgoon and Mrs. Burns. We are excited to have these experienced special education teachers as part of our district program at Grace McWayne.
Mr. Guth is moving back to 3rd grade to join Mrs. Bell (Winkel). We welcome Mrs. Murphy to this team who has previously taught 3rd grade in a different district.
Our 5th grade team has also changed. Mrs. Sitarz has moved back to 5th grade to join Mrs. Allen. We welcome Ms. Peterson to round out this fabulous group of teachers.
Finally, We are excited to bring on Mrs. Rose as our new kindergarten enrichment instructor and Mrs. Gans will be joining the campus monitor team to help support students at lunch and recess.
Would you like to be a part of our team? We still have paraprofessional openings at Grace McWayne. If you love working with children, inquire today. Please contact me directly if you are interested (jeff.modaff@bps101.net).
Everyday, our staff is committed to providing the very best care for each individual student of Grace McWayne. This level of care can only be achieved through a genuine partnership with you, the parents. I welcome you to contact the front office, your child’s teachers or me whenever you need us. Together we can achieve our school mission: Nurturing the whole child to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Welcome back!
Jeff Modaff
Principal
POWERSCHOOL OPENS – CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND FEE PAYMENT
For all GMS students
Thursday, August 1st
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION
For kindergarten students and their parents
Wednesday, August 7th, AM Kindergarten – 4:00pm, PM Kindergarten – 5:00pm
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
For all new students and their parents
Wednesday, August 7th, 5:00pm
WELCOME CELEBRATION
For all students and families
Monday, August 12th, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
For all students (8:45am on blacktop for 1st-5th Grade; 8:45 by flagpole for kindergarten)
Wednesday, August 14th
GMS PTO PANCAKE BREAKFAST
For all GMS families (free breakfast for students and their families)
Saturday, August 17th, 8:00am-10:30am – Cafeteria
LABOR DAY – NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Monday, September 2nd
CURRICULUM NIGHT
For parents only (open house format – virtual presentation sent on September 1st)
Thursday, September 12th, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
PICTURE DAY
For all students
Tuesday, September 24th
PARENT/TEACHER GOAL SETTING CONFERENCES (Virtual and In-Person)
Students, Parents and Teachers (Thursday, October 5th reserved for evening appointments)
September 27th – October 14th by teacher appointment
COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND – NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Friday, October 11th and Monday, October 14th
*Please refer to the district calendar for additional student non-attendance days
