Principal's Message

Dear Thacher Families,

We're off to a great start with grades 1 through 4! But we're not quite whole yet as we look forward to our Kindergarteners joining us next week. As an early heads up for families who are new to Thacher, arrival and dismissal will be significantly impacted as both Kindergarten and the ELC become a part of the process. Please be patient as our procedures have been set up with student safety at the forefront. We recognize it can be frustrating to wait longer for buses or have to wait in the arrival/dismissal carline, but we want to make sure every child gets to and from school safely.

In consideration of the new families who may have missed the important beginning of year information, we have left most of the newsletter the same to make sure everyone has a chance to see it. However, we have added a few important items so please make sure you still scan the entire thing to make sure you see it.

Lastly, although staff have been in the building all week working on the issues associated with the new phone system, not every wrinkle has been ironed out yet. If you have tried to contact a staff member and not heard back, please try emailing them for the time being to make sure they know you're trying to reach them.

We're looking forward to seeing all of our Kindergarten families next week!

Warm regards,

Frank Rich, Principal

Sarah Desautel, Asst. Principal

Attleboro High School

Attleboro Families:

Attleboro High School greatly appreciates the support of families at all AHS sporting events. While most students are there to watch the games and enjoy the event, a number of students have been left/dropped off unsupervised. This has created safety concerns and disruptions for other fans in attendance.

ALL middle school aged students and younger MUST be accompanied by an adult at all high school events. We appreciate your support keeping all in attendance supervised while allowing an enjoyable environment for all.

Please know this expectation is currently in place for AHS events moving forward.

We look forward to seeing you all soon.

GO BLUE

Mark Houle - AHS Athletic Director

Craig Levis- AHS Principal

Breakfast & Lunch

Similar to last year, breakfast and lunch is provided free of charge to ALL students. You can find food menus on the website at: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/#Attleboro.

Breakfast:

For those students who need to eat breakfast, we ask that you drop them off at 8:30AM. We try to get them back to class for the start of school at 8:45AM. This helps them start the day on time with all their classmates.

Lunch:

Please review lunch choices with your child, and make sure there is something they will like. For younger students, talk to them about which choice they want, so making the choice in the classroom is easier for them.

Breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students. Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it remains essential for families who believe they might qualify to complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2025-2026 school year. We strongly encourage ALL families to submit this form as it allows us to determine eligibility for P-EBT benefits and waive or reduce transportation, athletics, and other fees. Documenting qualifying families also significantly impacts state funding for our district, so completing the form is a direct way to support our schools.

Arrival Process

Walkers/Car Drop-off

The James Street doors open at 8:30 am.

Families can either choose to go through the active drop-off loop or park in the main lot and walk their children to the door. We strongly encourage families who live close by to walk to school and families who transport their children to utilize the active drop-off loop.

We understand it can feel like an eternity waiting in the active drop-off line, especially if you have to get to work or some other appointment, but we have timed it and on an average day, it only takes 5-10 minutes from entering the line to pulling away from the school.

Active drop-off loop: (see image below)

The first car in line should always be at the “drop-off” sign.
All of the other cars should be lined up along the curb by the sidewalk in front of the school.
Make sure you DO NOT block the crosswalks.
Make sure your child has all of their belongings and is ready to exit the car when you reach the sidewalk.
Students MUST exit the car on the right-hand side.
Parents MUST stay in their car.
Please do not pass cars in line in front of you. Wait for them to complete their drop-off and pull away when they do.
Once it is safe to do so, pull forward and exit the parking lot.
There will be no parents/visitors entering the building at Car Line Drop-Off.

Walkers

Students who walk should use the sidewalks to arrive at the main door (same door as car riders - see above). Doors open for students at 8:30. Please note that families are responsible for supervising students who arrive before this time.

Afternoon Pickup Procedures

Our goal is to ensure a safe, orderly, and efficient car rider pickup process. Following the procedures at all times will help us achieve our goal. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

CAR PICKUP:

Cars should remain in a single file line while waiting in the pick-up line.
Dismissal begins at 3:25. The first car in line should be at the “drop off” sign.
Guardians MUST STAY IN THEIR CAR
Display your family car sign clearly on your dashboard or passenger side window so staff can read your child’s name.
If you are carpooling, please display BOTH students’ names on the car sign. You may add the additional child’s/children’s name(s) on a separate piece of paper, but please write large enough for the staff members to see it.
Stop your car at the curb behind the car in front of you.
Students will be called out to the cars as they pull up to the front of the line.
Children MUST be loaded on the right side of the car.
A staff member will assist your child into the car if needed.
Children will be responsible for buckling themselves in.
Please safely exit the line when the child(ren) is buckled in. Wait for the car in front of you to go.

WALKERS:

Walker dismissal will start at 3:20, and end at approximately 3:30 pm
Staff will be at the door, checking/asking parents for students’ names; students will be called out of line and sent out the door with their parent(s)/guardian. Students will not be released to others without permission.
- Parents/Guardians will meet their children at Door 3 near the gym.

Late Arrivals/Early Dismissals

Tardy

If you are running late (arriving after 8:45), you will need to park in the main lot, walk to the main office doors, ring the buzzer to be let into the building and sign your child in. The main office is located at the set of doors on the bus loop.

Dismissing Your Student

If you need to change your student's dismissal routine (e.g. change from taking the bus to getting picked up, dismissing early for a doctor's appointment, etc.), you must send in a note. We recognize that much of our world now communicates digitally, and it's tempting and logical that you would think to email your student's teacher. However, we run into issues when either the teacher is out that day and unable to alert the office, or if the email comes in while the teacher is in front of the class and isn't able to check their email. With all of that in mind, please send in a paper copy of the dismissal note.

Bus stops/times will be posted on the district website soon. Most answers to questions about transportation including bus stops, the fee for service program, or routes can be found on the APS Transportation Home Page. Should you have a specific question that you cannot find the answer to, please contact the transportation office at 508-222-0012. A reminder that for the first 2 weeks of school, times may be off by 5-15 minutes as everyone adjusts to more traffic on the roads when school begins as well as those families who take that extra minute to give a goodbye hug or words of encouragement. Please be at your stop at least 10 minutes before the estimated time of pick up/drop off. Once two full weeks have gone by, you will have a more realistic, regular time that the bus or van arrives/drops off at the designated bus stop. Thank you for your patience at the beginning of the year.

Communication

This digital newsletter, The Panda Press, is our primary method of communication for schoolwide information. It will be posted in our Attleboro Public Schools app at the end of each week. We strongly encourage everyone to download the Attleboro Public Schools app. This mobile app is the go-to place for district and school events, alerts, documents, and staff directories. Through this app, families can also access Rooms to communicate with your child's teacher. please visit the Rooms Support page for more detailed information and a link to download the app on both Android and Apple devices.

We also frequently post to our school website & Facebook page as well, so make sure to visit it and click “Follow.”

Please remember our staff are working with your children throughout the day. This means we may take up to 24 hours to respond to emails and you may need an appointment to have a meeting. Our clerks, Mrs. Cornetta and Mrs. Alves, are often able to answer your questions. We maintain student confidentiality as required by law and frequently we cannot give out student information over the phone.

Medication Administration

All public/non-public school systems in the Commonwealth are required to comply with regulations 105 CMR 210.000: The Administration of Prescription Medications in Public and Private Schools.

• All medication must be transported to and from school by a parent/guardian or other responsible adult and delivered directly to the school nurse or designee.

• Prescription medication must be in its original pharmacy container, clearly labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dose, and frequency of dispensation.

• Both the physician’s order for prescription medication and written parental consent for the school to dispense any medication must accompany the medication. No medication can be dispensed without both these forms in place.

State Mandated Screenings

All health screenings conducted in school are required by Massachusetts State Law. Screenings are ongoing throughout the school year. If you do not wish your child to participate, you must write a letter to the school nurse declining your child’s participation. This letter must be written each year and be specific to which screenings you do not wish your child to participate.

Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Service (CMOHS) - School Dental Program