Welcome back to school! A new academic year will soon start. Classes begin Aug. 27.

Good luck, students, teachers and staff!

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Schools will be closed Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 for the Labor Day holiday. Classes will be back in session Sept. 4.

Have a happy and safe holiday with family and friends!

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Breakfast begins throughout the district Sept. 4.

To apply for free or reduced lunch, visit the school district website, whitehallcoplay.org, follow the link to “school cafe” and fill out the forms.

Whitehall-Coplay School District has a computerized lunch system. Full-day students will be assigned a PIN (personal identification number) for the computerized lunch program. Parents may deposit money into their child’s account biweekly, quarterly or monthly. Visit myschoolbucks.com to add money or view your child’s cafeteria account.

Personal checks can also be mailed directly to your child’s school cafeteria or given to your child’s teacher any morning. Checks must be submitted at least three school days in advance to be credited to your child’s account.

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Zephyr Elementary School will hold its meet-the-teacher night Sept. 6. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to start the school year right by meeting your child’s teacher and touring the school.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend!

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Zephyr Elementary is hosting its first PTO book fair Sept. 4-7. Students will have the chance to purchase some great books and more. The book fair will also be open during meet-the-teacher night.

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Reminder for drop-off and pickup guidelines for parents at Gockley Elementary School: For those students who ride with parents, the district asks they arrive at school between 8:40 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Morning kindergarten and first-grade students may not be dropped off at school before 8:40 a.m. Afternoon kindergarten students may not be dropped off at school before 12:20 p.m.

If you transport your child to school, use the drop-off/pickup site. The front of the school is for buses only. Parents are requested to bring their child to the office and sign in if they arrive after 8:50 a.m. or after 12:30 p.m. for afternoon kindergarten students.

At dismissal, parents should park in the drop-off/pickup site and come to the office to pick up their children. No parking is allowed in the bus lane, which is in the front of the school.

For all other schools, please follow the drop-off/pickup guidelines.

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Please follow bus stop guidelines. You and your child should report to the bus stop 10 minutes before the designated pickup time. It is your responsibility as a parent to be at the bus stop before and after school. Discuss alternate plans with your child in the event you would not be at the bus stop to receive him or her at the end of the school day or in the event of an early dismissal.

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If you plan to pick up your child during the school day or at dismissal, send a note to your child’s teacher. All students will be picked up at the office. Parents are encouraged to try to schedule doctor’s appointments and dental appointments around school hours. If this is not possible, you must come to the main office to sign out your child.

For your child’s safety, the teacher will not release a child to anyone who has not sent written communication to the school. Proof of identification may be requested.

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All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill or if a family emergency arises. Remember, a written note explaining the absence is required within three days after a student has been absent. The district realizes there will be instances when your child may be tardy, but please avoid this whenever possible. Tardiness interrupts your child’s instructional time. Parents should accompany their child to the office when he or she is tardy.

A trip form must be completed for educational trips. Do not email absences or give notes to teachers.

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Visit the WCSD website to stay in contact with your child’s school and upcoming activities. There are many school links that are very helpful for parents and students.

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Do you have any school news to share? This column is a compilation of upcoming school events in the WCSD. 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.