The 2017-18 school year will open with students seeing only minor changes at the Allen County Primary Center.
“Our numbers will be about the same,” noted principal Tim Wilson, “We will start with somewhere around 1,000 kids. Anyone who is new to the county and hasn’t registered needs to do so as soon as possible.”
Wilson points out that students will see one change in the cafeteria at lunchtime.
“Half of our kindergarten students and half of our third graders will be eating together for lunch at the same time with the other halves of kindergarten and third grade also eating together,” Wilson explained. “Second grade will be going to lunch first, then first grade, then half of kindergarten and third and then the other halves. This will give us third graders in there that can help with their leadership skills and help with managing the kindergarten kids. We are excited about that change.”
In terms of policy, the school’s dress code has not seen any major revisions. Parents all also reminded that class rosters and supply lists have been posted at the school’s main door.
“Our dress code has pretty much stayed the same,” Wilson said. “We encourage closed-toed shoes, we encourage tennis shoes for P.E. and recess. Our supply lists are also still out so parents can pick them up to get the supplies they need.”
A change has occurred in the Open House schedule at the school. Kindergarten students and parents will have two nights of Open House---the schedule determined by which class their child is in.
“On Monday, July 31, the kindergarten classrooms of Cindy Keen, Heather Mitchell, Karen Stinson, Rachel Gammons, and Daphne Mitchell will have open house from 4 until 6 p.m. in a come-and-go format,” Wilson explained. “On Tuesday, August 1, the classrooms of Sarah Reynolds, Freda Risgby, Lisa Kirby, and Jean Anne Williams will have Open House.
Each night will have the same format for kindergarten students and their parents,
“Parents can come in and go to the classrooms and meet the teachers,” Wilson noted. “They can also go to the related arts classrooms and the classrooms. The administrators will also have a time at 4:30, 5:00. 5:30, and 6:00 when parents can come together for about 10 minutes and receive information about the school, pick up and drop off, buses, dress code, visiting the school, parties, and visiting the school. Transportation department and food services will also be here.”
Preschool, first, second, and third grade Open House will be on Thursday, August 3 from 4 until 6 at the school. The evening will be much the same format but administration will not be meeting with parents.
This year’s new staff at include teachers Cassie Lloyd in preschool and Leah Eardensohn in third grade.
Wilson is excited about the learning underway at the school.
“We feel like we are going in the right direction,” Wilson added. “We brought the two programs in the last two years---Being a Writer and Being a Reader---and I really want to work to get full implementation of those before we do more. I want us to continue to develop our PLC work and home in on our teaching skills, I also want to create a positive learning environment for our students to come to school in.”
Classes begin Thursday, August 10.