As we approach the end of what I hope has been a relaxing summer for your family, I want to inform you of some important back-to-school information as you make final preparations for the start of school. For updates and resources about Darlington School’s plans for the 2020-2021 school year related to COVID-19, please see Pre-K to 8 Wellness Guidelines and Community Wellness Protocols and Procedures.
Faculty Updates
We are excited to announce a few faculty changes for the 2020-2021 school year. Mrs. Jamie Massey will be moving to the Cottages to join Mrs. Molly Jordan and Mrs. Stacy Albers on the second-grade team. Ms. Jordan Walker was named the Pre-K to 8 Music Teacher after serving as a long-term substitute teacher last year. Dr. Michael Natarella will step in and serve as a long-term substitute teacher in fourth grade during Mrs. Lawson’s maternity leave. In addition, I will be teaching eighth-grade English this year. Mrs. Kristen Bell will have the privilege of teaching a single section as well.
Online Registration is OPEN!
Online Registration is open! In order to access online registration, please upload your child’s completed medical form and physical, current immunization record, and proof of medical insurance through the online registration portal. These forms can be accessed by logging into the Darlington website and visiting the Registration Section of the Parent Portal. Final Schedules and Teacher Placement will be available through the Parent Portal on Monday, August 10. If you have questions about the Parent Portal or logging in, please contact Paige Hamil at phamil@darlingtonschool.org.
“New to You” Orientation – NEW FAMILIES
We look forward to welcoming our new students and their families on Tuesday, August 11, as we host an informational session, tour, and introduce faculty and Tiger Pride! Parking will be available in Trippeer Lot, Thatcher Hall, and the gravel lot next to the baseball field. Please enter Thatcher Hall through the front entrance for health monitoring and temperature checks. Face coverings are required for all family members in attendance.
“Meet the Teacher” Night – ALL NEW AND RETURNING FAMILIES
Join us for Pre-K to 8 “Meet the Teacher” Night on Thursday, August 13, from 5-7:30 p.m. This is a time to visit classrooms and meet teachers. The Darlington Student Store will be selling spirit wear in the dining area in Thatcher Hall that evening. Due to physical distancing protocols and minimizing the number of families on campus, we ask our families to adhere to the assigned times below. Each family will be assigned a 30-minute time-slot. Please plan to arrive at the beginning of your assigned time.
*Face coverings are REQUIRED for all family members in attendance. Health monitoring and temperature checks will take place in the lobby of Thatcher Hall and outside the Cottages before proceeding to classrooms.
Uniform Source Sale
Uniform Source will be on campus Friday, August 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Yankee Wrestling Room at the Huffman Athletic Center for our Pre-K to 8 families. Purchasing new uniforms will be by appointment only. Click here to sign-up for a time-slot. If families purchased uniforms at the July uniform fitting, they should receive an email by Wednesday, August 5 regarding pick-up at Darlington School.
Tiger Pride “Gently Used” Uniform Sale
The Tiger Pride “Gently Used” Uniform Sale will take place on August 14-15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Huffman Athletic Center’s Johnson Field House.
Supplies
If you placed a supply order, those orders will be delivered to the classroom prior to the first day. If you were unable to order, the supply list is available for download here.
Daily School Schedule
Morning Drop-off will begin at 7:30 a.m. Daily health monitoring (including temperature checks) will take place at each morning drop-off location: The Cottages and the front of Thatcher Hall. Upon entering the buildings, students may go to their cubbies/lockers and unpack their backpacks and report to their designated areas. Students in grades pre-K to 5 will go to their respective homerooms. Students in grades 6-8 should report to Advisory. Morning Meeting (pre-K to 2) and Flagpole (grades 3-8) will take place in homerooms and Advisory at the start of the school year.
Afternoon dismissal will begin at 3 p.m. with our pre-K to 2 students. Grades 3-5 will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. and grades 6-8 (not participating in a fall sport) will dismiss at 3:30 p.m. In order to control the traffic flow around campus, please plan to pick up your children at the oldest child's dismissal time. Power Hour will be offered in grades 3-8 until 4 p.m. The Extended Care Program is available for all students in Pre-K to 8 until 6 p.m. Parents are billed monthly for Extended Care.
Every Wednesday is Late-Start Wednesday. Regular Morning Drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. Extended Care will be offered, free of charge, for working parents of Pre-K to 8 students. In order to utilize morning Extended Care on Late-Start Wednesdays, students must be dropped off at 7:30 a.m. for daily health monitoring. See the Pre-K to 8 Handbook for more information.
Important Dates to Remember:
Enjoy the remaining days of summer! See you next week.
Sincerely,
Hope Jones
Director of Pre-K to 8
