Hello, EHBi Families,

We are starting school soon! The first day for students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade is September 3. Preschoolers start on September 4. Earlier this summer, I sent a message about how students will be dropped off and picked up. This is to help with safety. There have been ongoing problems with traffic on Trotting Park Rd. and Route 28. The traffic was backing up during the times students arrived and left school. There is also sewer work happening. This means we need to use our parking lot as much as possible to cue cars safely and keep the main roads clear.

After talking with families, staff, and public safety people over the last few weeks, and seeing how full our parking lot is with staff cars this past Tuesday, we do not have any extra space in our lot for family cars to park during drop-off and pick-up. For students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, please follow the curbside drop-off plan from the last message. Parents and caregivers will stay in their cars. Students will get out and be met by school staff and staff will walk them from the parking lot to the gym doors. For preschool students, we will have a different lane. You can park there for a short time and help your child out of the car. Staff will be there to walk preschool students to the entrance. We will have many staff members in the parking lot, on the sidewalk, and in the hallways to help your child get safely from the parking lot to their classroom. Kindergarten students always meet in the gym in the morning for the first several days of school and teachers walk them to their classroom together until they are comfortable with the routine.

Next Tuesday, we will have our school-wide "Popsicles with the Principal" event at EHBi for all students and families in preschool through grade 3. The school will be open. You can walk to your child's classroom and look through the door. The rooms will not be open because classes start the next day. I hope this extra chance to walk with your child to their classroom will help them feel better about the first day! We have our open house planned for Thursday, September 25 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. At that time, all rooms will be open and staff will be there to meet you and welcome you to our new school year.

Thank you for helping us keep our drop-off and pick-up times safe and efficient.  I look forward to seeing many of you next Tuesday evening for Popsicles with the Principal!

-Mr. Riley