Information night for incoming kindergarten parents is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Gockley Elementary School, 2932 Zephyr Blvd. Parents of all kindergarten-aged children (5 years old by Aug. 31) who will be enrolling for the 2018-19 school year are invited to attend.

Parents will have the opportunity to learn about a typical kindergarten day, enrollment procedures, transportation and curriculum and tour the kindergarten classrooms and school.

Staff and administrators will be available to answer questions.

More information will be sent home with students. Share this with any family and friends who reside in the Whitehall-Coplay School District.

A snow date is set for Jan. 25.

***

Parents and guardians, remember to check the parent portal for the latest information, which, for some schools, includes monthly newsletters.

Here you will also be able to access your child’s report cards. On Jan. 29, they will be available for your review.

***

The Zephyr Pride Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show March 3.

The bus will leave the Whitehall High School parking lot 9 a.m. and arrive at the Philadelphia Convention Center approximately 10:30 a.m. The bus will leave Philadelphia 3:30 p.m. and arrive back in Whitehall around 5 p.m.

For more information, cost and tickets, call Rick at 484-347-8027 or email zephyrpridefoundation@gmail.com.

***

Zephyr Elementary School has tutoring available. If you are interested in tutoring for your child, contact Mrs. Brittany Rabe by email at rabeb@whitehallcoplay.org or by phone at 610-871-3671, ext. 1572.

Schedules and fees will be negotiated with the tutor.

***

Parents or guardians are reminded that a written note must be given to their child’s teacher within three days upon returning to school after an absence. The best method is to write a note promptly on the day of return. Remember to include the date, child’s name, teacher’s name, a specific reason for the absence and parent’s signature.

If no excuse note is received within this three-day period, it is an illegal absence. When there are three or more illegal days without notes, parents or guardians will be required to appear before the magisterial district judge on truancy charges. This is a school district policy.

***

For grades K-12, if a student’s lunch account balance is zero or negative, the student will be permitted to charge a lunch. All unpaid charges must be paid at the end of each week. Any unpaid charges may result in administrative and/or legal action necessary to collect delinquent accounts.

Parents, please sign up at myschoolbucks.com to monitor your child’s lunch account balance and purchases. Parents can also set up a low-balance reminder by email. Simply download the myschoolbucks app to your phone and be able to check lunch balances any time. The district will no longer be sending home low-balance envelopes. Parents/guardians should be checking balances on myschoolbucks.

Any remaining account balances will not be refunded at the end of the year with the exception of high school seniors or any student leaving the district with a balance of $1 or more.

If there are insufficient funds, returned checks, closed accounts, etc., they will be charged a $15 bank fee plus the face value of the check. No further checks will be accepted until the account is paid in full. Delinquent accounts may be turned over to the magisterial district judge.

***

Gockley parents and friends can catch the latest news via Twitter, Facebook and monthly newsletters on the Whitehall-Coplay School District website. Parents can keep in touch with Principal Denise Saylor’s tweets for important events and activities.

Go to Twitter.com to set up your account. Look for “Gockley Elementary” tweets.

***

Do you have any school news? This column is a compilation of upcoming school events in the Whitehall-Coplay School District. Teachers, administrators, parents, students, coaches, PTAs, club advisers and any other community members are invited to share their upcoming activities. Email me at jamb87@hotmail.com with “Whitehall-Coplay School News” in the subject line at least a week before an event.