We just wanted to get a quick note out to you before school starts.  You will be receiving a Handbook from the teachers at Ray as well as one from Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood about the program overall. Please read both carefully as there is important information and guidelines in them.

School starts on September 2.  You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick them up between 3:30 and 6:00.  We ask that you plan on leaving extra time the first day to fill out paperwork and help your child get settled. We will work with you on any separation issues you or your child may have.  We have attached some suggestions for the first day of school you may find useful.

Please enter and leave through the back door of the classroom located on the east side of the building.  Our classrooms are in the new addition.  You may not park in the teachers’ parking lot after 8:15am or before 4pm.  Kimbark Ave. is closed between 8:30 and 9:00 and again at 3:30 to allow for bused children to get on and off the buses safely.

Please sign-in at the door when you arrive and help your child wash their hands. ALL CHILDREN MUST WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.  Please don’t be late!!  Children arriving after 9:00 am miss out on important activities and disturb the rest of the class.  If your child is late or absent, we will need a written note.

Note:  If your address, phone number or email address changes, please let us know right away. We’ll be getting emergency numbers for you (work, cell, etc.). Please make sure these are always current.

<strong>Snacks</strong>
The school will provide an afternoon snack for the children each day, but they are often hungry in the mid-morning and late afternoon. We’ll be asking you to bring snacks in during the year to share.  Each class has its system for bringing in snacks.  Check with your child’s teacher.

<strong>Supply List</strong>
We don’t have room for all these supplies for the year in our room, so if your child’s last name begins with A-L, please bring in the following supplies.  If your child’s last name begins with M-Z, we will ask you to bring supplies in February:
•	1 roll of paper towels
•	1 box of gallon zip-lock bags
•	1 box of quart-sized bags
•	2 boxes of facial tissue
•	Computer paper (at least 1 ream)
•	Waterless sanitizer (Purell or such)
•	Band aids
Optional supplies (aka “Wish list”):
•	Small bottle of bleach
•	Diaper wipes
•	Paper cups
•	Dish soap

SPECIAL REQUEST:  IF YOUR FAMILY BUYS BOXES OF CAPRI SUN, PLEASE SAVE THE BOXES.  We will have a special project in September and we’ll need at least one box per family.  If you have extra, please bring them in.

<strong>Ice Cream Social</strong>
On August 27 from 2-3:30, there is an ice cream social for all families new to Ray School. We hope you can make it.  Folks will be gathering near the garden at 56th St. and Kenwood.  We’ll have tours of the classrooms at that time.  Representatives from the Ray PTA will be there, as well as other teachers and administrators.  We’ll be gathering next to the garden near the corner of Kenwood and 56th St.

<strong>Meals</strong>
If you have not signed up for the food plan, please be sure to send a bag lunch to school. We have a microwave oven in the classroom as well as a small refrigerator if you need it. If your child has special diet needs or allergies, please make sure you let us know. We encourage you to send a healthy lunch for your child and limit the amount of “junk” food. We have a new meal system this year and we’ll let you know details as soon as we can.

Tuition
Tuition this year is $225.00 a week without the meal plan and $250.00 with it. You have all signed up for the automated payment system and will be paying a month in advance. If you need more information about the tuition payment system, please call the office at 535-0970.  Please make sure your tuition is paid on time.

What you will need the first day of school:

1)	Change of clothing for your child, including pants/shorts, underwear, shirt, socks (extra shoes or slippers optional), sunscreen with your child’s name on it.
2)	Photo of your family.
3)	Supplies listed above for children whose last names start with A-L.
4)	$8.00 cash:  $3.00 for pillow-making material, $5.00 for Ray School t-shirt for class trips if you don’t already have one. If you’d like one of the new and beautiful green tie-dyed t-shirts, they are $12.00. You can make a check out to Friends of Ray for the t-shirts.  Please bring cash for the pillows.
5)	A stuffy to nap with if your child needs one.  We generally discourage bringing other kinds of toys to school unless they are needed.
6)	A special pillow or blanket if needed for nap time (we do provide blankets and we will make pillows with the children).

Important Dates
Ice Cream Social:  August 27 2-3:30  Amanda’s Garden at 56th St. and Kenwood
First Day of School:  Sept. 2, 8:00-9:00 – please be on time!
Open House:  Sept. 17, 7:00 PM

Please feel free to get in touch with us any time by email or once school starts, in the classroom.

Ray School website and PTA
Please check out and bookmark the Ray School website at: http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/  It has important information and the school calendar.  You can also sign up for the PTA email list to get weekly announcements by emailing:  pta@ray-school.org and asking to be put on the mailing list.

Thanks!
Jane Averill
japrek@yahoo.com
Classroom number: 535-0954