Welcome Letter 2024/25 School Year

Seward Elementary Families,

We hope your summer break was filled with fun, rest and a lifetime of memories. The faculty and staff of Seward Elementary would like to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year. If you are a returning family – welcome back! If you are new to the Seward Elementary family – we are so glad you will be joining us. We believe this year will be the absolute best year for your student.

I have just a few housekeeping items to bring to your attention:

SCHOOLWIDE OPEN HOUSE – Wednesday September 4th from 5:30-6:30. You are welcome to come to the school, say hi to the teacher and let your student show off their classroom. We will also have an informal Meet and Greet Tuesday, August 20 from 4:00-5:00.

From Aug 21st-23rd you may drop your student off at the classroom. We ask for quick “good-byes” so teachers can begin the day with their students. Beginning Aug 26th, if you would like to walk your child to the building, you must drop them off at the front doors.

For the safety of our staff and students, all exterior doors are locked during the school day.

Please fill out the Free and Reduced lunch application, even if you are not sure if you meet the requirements. These forms/applications help us obtain Title 1 status. Title 1 status provides funding for additional academic support to support our students. The forms can be located on the KPBSD website or contact the school office.

If you have any bus related questions, please contact our bus coordinator at 907-224-3559.

Morning and afternoon routines:

Before school:

Breakfast will be served between 7:40 and 7:55. If your student will eat breakfast at school, please make sure they are here in time.

If your student is not eating breakfast and arrives between 7:40-7:55, they will go outside for morning recess. Please have your student geared up and ready to head outside.
If a student arrives between 7:55 and 8:00 they will go directly to their class.

After school:

Bus riders – Students will be walked to the bus

Pick up – Please park and walk to the sidewalk to pick up your student from their teacher.

School starts at 8:00. We ask that you please do everything possible to have your student to school on time. When students are late, they miss out on quality instruction. Additionally, arriving late causes distractions to the other students and teachers that are already engaged in learning. Thank you for your support with this!

As the Seward Elementary team, we want to express our eagerness to work with and get to know the families and students of Seward. We understand that each and every child that walks through our doors is special to you; our goal is to provide each of them with the highest quality educational experiences in the safest environment possible.

We want to thank you on the front end for your support of the staff at Seward Elementary. We know that a successful school and successful students are a direct result of teamwork between the school staff and parents.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 907-224-3356.

We look forward to seeing you on the 21st!
Matt Cook and the Seward Elementary team

Drop off and pick up:

With three schools in such close proximity all having the same start/stop times, it causes some additional hurdles we need to overcome.

Morning drop off routine:

Buses:
All buses will drop off the students at the front door. Buses should be out of the parking lot at or near 7:40.

Car riders:

There are 2 options for car riders: 1) walk up 2) drop off

Walk up – If you choose to walk your student to the front doors, please park in a designated parking spot, use the crosswalk and walk your student to the covered area at the front of the school. Please DO NOT allow your student to cross the parking lot by themselves.

Drop off – Please drive around the complete parking lot (near the soccer fields), proceed to the “drop-off zone.” The drop-off zone is at the beginning of the main sidewalk to the end of the front garden area. We will have cones set at the beginning and end of the drop-off zone as well as staff to assist. Please drive as far into the drop-off zone as you can before your student exits the vehicle. Please DO NOT allow your student to exit the vehicle outside of the drop-off zone and DO NOT leave your vehicle. In order to provide an efficient and safe drop off we must keep the vehicles proceeding through the line.

In the event buses are delayed and still in the drop-off zone; park and walk your student to the front sidewalk, drop your child off at the beginning of the drop off zone, turn left and exit the parking lot the way you came in, or wait patiently in the drop-off line until the bus departs. Please DO NOT enter the bus zone when buses are present.

Doors open at 7:40.

If you arrive after 8:00, please park in a designated parking spot and walk your student to the school doors.

Afternoon pick up (school ends at 2:30):

Buses:
Buses load immediately at the end of school and depart as soon as all bus riders are loaded.

Pick up:
If you choose to pick up your child from school, please park in a designated parking spot, walk to the front sidewalk to meet your student. There are many cars and buses in the area at the same time. For each student’s safety, please walk with your student back to your vehicle.