Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 13, 2025

STUDENT DROP-OFF:  If you drop your child off in the morning, please have them ready to exit your vehicle.  We ask that you drop your child off between the two raised sidewalks.  A staff member will be there to guide cars and pedestrians.  The general rule is to pull as far ahead between the raised walks so we can fit as many cars as possible and drop off students.   While students are unloading from vehicles, we will cross kids and parents at the walks.  If we all follow this procedure, things will flow pretty smooth and quick.  For the safety of all, cars should not pass other cars in the drop off lane.  

STUDENT PICK-UP:  The drop off lane will be closed and we ask that parents park in the parking lot and walk up to the building to pick up your child. Students are not allowed to walk into the parking lot unassisted without an adult or older sibling.  It helps to stand in the same spot every day so your child knows were to find you.  Please talk with your child to establish a designated spot to meet.  Just as a reminder,  dogs are not allowed at school during pick-up time. 

Boot Policy for 1st – 5th Grade Students

Students are expected to bring boots to school all winter from the first snow to the start of spring break or when conditions warrant. This keeps dirt, mud and wet snow from being tracked into the classrooms. It also helps preserve student’s shoes. Boots must be worn on the wet field or on the wood chip area. If the blacktop is clear, shoes can be worn on the sidewalk and blacktop. This will be decided on a daily basis.

Snow Pants Policy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students

1st – 3rd grade students are required to wear snow pants during winter months. It will be the recess staff’s discretion (due to weather and playground conditions) when students do not have to wear their snow pants.  Students who do not have boots or snow pants must stand or walk back and forth on the on the sidewalk by the doors during recess.  If the blacktop is clear, shoes can be worn on the sidewalk and blacktop. This will be decided on a daily basis. (4th and 5th Grade students are required to wear boots and winter coat, but snow pants are optional.) However, they may not be able to call home or change if they are uncomfortably wet throughout the day because they decided not to wear them at recess.

We are thrilled to announce our students will have the opportunity to witness a rare and exciting event: a solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This extraordinary phenomenon will take place in the afternoon, providing a unique learning experience for our students. 

Looking directly into the Sun and a solar eclipse for any amount of time can be damaging to the human eye, so the top priority is to prepare for eye safety! Please talk to your child(ren) about the importance of being safe and not looking directly into the solar eclipse. 

• We have made these plans to ensure the safety of our students and staff:
• We purchased solar eclipse glasses for all students and staff.
• No recess will take place during the afternoon of April 8 and gym classes will remain inside.
• Teachers have been provided information to share with their students about the eclipse, including how to observe the sun safely and how often total eclipses happen.
• Classes may go outside during the eclipse with glasses on to observe this rare event.
• Students will have the glasses in their hands at dismissal, in case they want to stop and look up at the Solar Eclipse. However, they will not be able to wear them as they are walking around, as they are dark and the students will not be able to see.
• Students will dismiss as usual, but families need to be aware it will be dark at dismissal.

During the eclipse, which will occur between 1:55 p.m. and 4:23 p.m., students will be outside with their classes to observe this awe-inspiring event. Montague will experience a partial eclipse with 90.75% coverage and the maximum eclipse will occur at 3:10 p.m. 

We believe witnessing the solar eclipse firsthand will spark curiosity and wonder in our students, providing them with a memorable learning experience. 

To learn more about the eclipse visit the National Science Teaching Association website:

 https://bit.ly/3xjlZLD

or visit the Time and Date website https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@5002372?iso=20240408

to see the eclipse path for Montague.

As a reminder, it is NEVER safe to look directly at the Sun. Regular sunglasses, swimming goggles, and most camera filters are NOT safe for looking directly at the Sun. Many local libraries and local retail locations have solar eclipse glasses available for families.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing this remarkable event with our school community.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.