Welcome back to school and a warm welcome to our new students and families! We are so excited about the upcoming school year!
My name is Ms. Klosterman-Lando or “Ms. K-L” and I will be the new principal at Montrose Elementary. I was previously a teacher and administrator for the past 19 years in Hilliard and Dublin City School Districts, respectively. I value building genuine relationships, connecting people to each other, clear communication, supporting each other as we develop to our potential. I am really looking forward to being a part of the Montrose Elementary family!
It has been absolutely wonderful to meet so many of you at our Popsicles in the Park with the Principal events this past week! So many cheerful and eager children ready to connect with each other and to start school. With that also comes some nerves as we head into the school year with getting back to routines and consistencies. Believe me, I totally get it as a mom of two children and a principal of a new school. One of the best things we can do to support each other and our kids is to verbally reassure by saying things like, “We’ve got this!”, “You can do it”, and continue to provide structure of routine (earlier bedtimes and earlier wake ups, routines at night like teeth brushing, reading books, etc.). This really helps us in the long run to set ourselves and our children up for success!
Thanks for coming to our Popsicles in the Park with the Principal! And a very special THANK YOU to our wonderful Montrose PTO for all of their support with these events!!
New Staff at Montrose
We have several new staff members this school year. Please join us in welcoming:
- Olivia Pfund, Intervention Specialist
- Colleen Homoelle, Intervention Specialist
- Catherine Edwards, 3rd gr general education teacher
- Jennifer Cedeno, Spanish teacher
- Scott Richardson, evening custodian
PowerSchool Info (IMPORTANT)
If you have not already done so this school year, please verify your child’s information in PowerSchool. This verification process allows you as parents to update important medical information about your child, provide parent and emergency contact information, and agree to various policies and uses of data. Please sign into your PowerSchool parent account as soon as possible, and complete these forms for our records.
How do I get started?
Sign into your PowerSchool parent account
Select the student you wish to verify along the top
Select “Student Information Verification 2019-20” on the left side of the screen
Agree to the terms and conditions
Click “Begin Forms”
If you have trouble signing in, please contact Pam Moetner at [email protected].
Levy Information
This November, Bexley City Schools will have an operating levy on the ballot. We will have more information and facts available to you throughout the first few weeks of school. If you’re like me, you might have many questions about the levy. For instance, you might be wondering, what is an operating levy? Great question! Please click here to find out: https://www.bexleyschools.org/LevyInformation.aspx
Not registered to vote? Click here to register. https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/Voters/Register-to-Vote
Food Service
Questions about lunch and breakfast information. Visit this link for details. https://www.bexleyschools.org/FoodServicesEZpay.aspx
Clinic Information
If prescription medications need to be given at school, an authorization form should be completed. Non-prescription medications require a signed form or parental consent by phone before medication is administered. Please visit this website for specific questions, forms, and resources regarding your child’s health information: https://www.bexleyschools.org/HealthClinics.aspx
School Hours and Our Students’ Safety
At Montrose, we really want to set our students up for success from the moment they enter our doors. We want children to become confident, competent, and independent learners and some of that starts even as they begin their school day. We encourage our families to drop children off at the front doors and let the students walk to their classrooms with their friends while our staff look out for them and supervise them. Staff will be standing at classroom doors to welcome students and our support staff will be standing at the front doors to greet students. We hope to make entering school a time where students move confidently and securely into their school day.
As a reminder, our school day will begin at 8:05 and the doors will be open. We will promptly begin instruction at 8:15. If a student arrives after 8:15 a.m., please accompany them into the building where you will sign them in to school in the office.
All school doors will lock promptly at 8:15 a.m. and will remain locked until 3:00 p.m. Between the hours of 8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., if you need to access the building or to pick up your child, you will need to come to the main entrance on Main St. and be buzzed into the front door. Please know that you might be asked to identify yourself and the purpose of your visit to Montrose. This is to protect your children and our staff, and to maintain the learning environment. Your child’s safety is our number one priority while they are in our care.
Please know Montrose will always be a place where families are welcome. We encourage you to be an active participant in your child’s education and want you to partner with us in a myriad of ways. Our arrival procedures will both encourage independence and foster a safe and secure school environment. If you do decide to walk your child to his/her classroom, you must stop in the office, sign in, and get a visitor’s badge before entering the classroom hallways. On the first day of school we know many of you will be dropping off supplies so we will allow all families to enter the classrooms without signing in on this day only.
At the end of the day, the dismissal bell will ring at 3:00 p.m. All students, except students attending After Care Program on that specific day, are expected to head immediately to their home or their caretaker’s designated area. Students should be off school grounds by 3:05 p.m. unless they come back to school for an evening event and are supervised by a parent. This is to maintain the safest environment and supervision for our students/children. If you have questions, please contact me and I'll be happy to talk with you. Thank you.
UPCOMING EVENTS at MONTROSE
Wednesday, August 7th -
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. Kindergarten Playdate outside on playground
- 6:00-6:15 p.m. Popsicles with the Principal, Kindergarteners only
- 6:15-7:00 Parents of New Students Orientation inside in our Montrose library/media center
Friday, August 9th after 5:00 p.m. - Families will receive a letter of who their child’s upcoming teacher will be for the new school year as well as a reminder of upcoming school events and information.
Monday, August 12th from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Welcome Back Open House at Montrose Elementary for grades Kdg - 5. The purpose of this time will be for students to come to the building before school starts, walk the halls, meet their new teacher, and drop off supplies. This time is not for a parent-teacher conference but rather an introduction to their new teachers and a time to refamiliarize themselves with the building. It helps to alleviate a little of the nerves that come with the beginning of the school year.
Tuesday, August 13th - First day of school for students in grades 1-5 AND for our staggering kindergarten students who have been assigned their first day as 08/13/19.
Monday, October 7th - Voter registration deadline
Tuesday, October 8th - Early voting begins
Tuesday, November 5th - Election Day
More events to come as we get our school up and running!
Staff Highlight
Our Montrose custodians, Rick Jacoby (left), Scott Richardson (middle), and Christina Milligan (right) have been cleaning, fixing, adjusting, and prepping our building all summer long for our students and staff. We are so grateful! When you see them around the building, please introduce yourself and thank them for their work. Thank you!
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Ms. K-L