WILLIAMS REMINDERS:

Recess is outdoors daily even in cold weather. Please have your child come prepared to be outdoors daily. We only stay in if the temperature with wind chill is less that 20 degrees. However, if the day is sunny and no wind we will consider any temp. above 15 degrees as acceptable.

2013 Arrival Plans:

Walkers: Students should enter through the Main Entrance, unless they are reporting to the café for breakfast.

Breakfast: Students will enter through the locked double doors at the top of the stairs and report directly to the café. There will be an adult to open the door as you enter. This is for students, faculty, and staff only. Parents or other adults must enter through the front main entrance.

Car Drop-offs: Morning car drop-offs are on the side of the building near the café. Please pull close to the orange cones to stop and drop off your child/children. Under NO circumstance should you ever pass around another vehicle while in this line. Children may be exiting their vehicle from both sides. Please keep in mind that the morning bell rings at 8:30. All students need to be in their classroom BY 8:45. Please be aware of the times of your drop offs.

Tardy: The PPS policy is for parents to sign their child into the office when Tardy. We will be enforcing this policy.

Bus Arrivals: All bus students exit the buses and report to the designated areas. Once the bell rings at 8:35 all students must enter through the Main Entrance.

During rain or extreme cold: All students will line up inside.

Dismissal Plans:

Walkers: Walker students are dismissed first from the Main Entrance. If you have parked your car and are waiting for your child on the sidewalk, then Walker Line is for you. This will decrease the amount of congestion at the Main Entrance. However, I have witnessed too often cars pulling in and backing out as families are moving to their cars. This is a HUGE concern.

Bus dismissals: Bus students load the buses in order from grades 5 to kindergarten and first grades. They are dismissed from 3 points of the building including the Main Entrance. If your child is a bus student they must adhere to the safety bus rules to stay in their seat and wait until the bus stops before standing.

Car Pick-ups: Car pick-ups are the last to be dismissed from the Main Entrance. If you are driving to the front of the building to pick up your child curbside, than Car Pick up is for you. Please display your child’s name in the front window for easy identification. Your child’s name is called to alert them that you are there. Under no circumstance should you ever pass around another vehicle while in this line. If you need to secure your child in their seat then pull as far up to the parking lot to do so.

Again, if you find that you park and walk to the entrance area, then your child should be dismissed as Walker not a Car Pick-up

All Visitors and Volunteers must report to the office, sign in, and use hand wipes. There is a sign-in sheet for Dismissals, Tardies, and Visitors.

If you are dismissing from the Health office (Nurse Carey has called you) we will first alert Nurse Carey that you are here to dismiss your child.

If your child is Tardy (unless your child is in their classroom by 8:45: they will be marked tardy), you must come to the office and sign them in. Parking is available in the front side lot.

We will not be allowing families to go to classrooms to deliver or dismiss their child from class. Depending on their age, children will be escorted to class. Classrooms will be called to alert them of your child’s arrival. For dismissals, they will be called to the office.

We will NO longer be calling home for forgotten sneakers, or homework. We need to reduce the interruptions to classroom learning. Appointments can be made (in advance) if you request to meet with your child’s teacher.

Until and unless Williams’ staff and faculty identify you, please be prepared to show ID when signing in. If you have made alternate dismissal plans for your child, the office must have a note or a phone call with the details.

We discourage calling for a dismissal. The office is extremely busy and the classrooms are as well. Written notes are the most effective communication for this. If there is an emergency dismissal, Make all calls to the office prior to 2:45.

Supervised Breakfast opens at 8:15.

General Supervision begins at 8:30.

Bell rings to enter at 8:35.

Tardy is marked at 8:45.

Dismissal is 3:15 full days and 11:35 half days.

YMCA arrival and dismissals.

Please call the Williams YMCA cell phone: 841-6271 for entrance into the building.

All doors will remain locked.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR NAME TAG FOR CAR DISMISSALS. Each month there is new staff supervising and we don’t know your cars! If you need another sign, please let us know.

Also as a safety precaution, we ask that you do NOT drive to the front of the school from the second parking lot, when late in dropping off students for arrival.

We have noticed an increase in early dismissals from school. Dismissals and tardies are part of your child’s attendance record as well as the school report card. Also, the office is extremely busy and we cannot take phone calls for early dismissals or any other alternate plans for dismissals (unless an emergency) after 2:45.
There has also been an increase in bus reports due to students standing and shouting on the bus. Please review bus safety conduct with your child.
I appreciate your help.
Lastly, if your child needs to have a cell phone at school, for after-school purposes only, please send me a note indicating that you are requesting this. I understand the need can be there, but I have a responsibility to make sure you as parent are aware. Thank you.

Please use this link to contact the school lunch menu website

CONTACT INFO:

ADDRESS: 50 Bushey Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Main Office: 413-448-9680

Principal: Lisa C. Buchinski

Click here to email Principal Buchinski

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

VISION/MISSION STATEMENT

Williams Elementary students will be ready to succeed in middle school. In reaching their potential, students will develop the necessary skills, learn the appropriate values, and acquire the habits vital to become responsible academic achievers, and well- rounded decision makers. Williams’ students will be respectful, safe, and prepared as they enter secondary education.