Beginning of Year Letter – Welcome Back!

August 14, 2023

Dear Parents:

Welcome to the Britton Norwich Learning Campus for the 2023-2024 school year!  With the start of school just around the corner, we wanted to notify you of important dates and information for the beginning of school.  

Building the Habit of Good Attendance-  First and foremost, we want to bring your attention to a focus area for our Campus and District this school year.  In partnership with our families, we are working hard to create the habit of good attendance in our students and families.  Please check out some important information HERE.

Find My Child’s Teacher– To determine your child’s teacher for this school year, please login to the Home Access Center and select the Registration link. This information will be available after 4pm TODAY.  

Home Access Center/ Emergency Information– All emergency contact information must be updated and verified by guardians through HAC each school year and any time contact information changes.  The Home Access Center is available on the Hilliard City Schools Website by clicking on the ‘Parents’ Tab or this direct link:  Home Access Center.  Please update your child’s Emergency Contact Information, as well as view and agree to additional information about your student, like Field Trip permission and ipad loan agreement..  Please complete the updates by September 1, 2023.  The contact information you provide in HAC is the primary way the school will communicate with you about up-coming events and to share important information.  If you do not remember your Home Access password, please use the “Forget Password” link provided.  Or go here for more help:  How to update Registration Information/Contacts and more in HomeAccess.

Grades 1-5 Meet the Teacher Open House– We will hold our Meet the Teacher Open House FOR GRADES 1-5 at Britton and Norwich on Friday, August 18 from 3:30pm-5:00pm.  While you are invited to attend anytime during that time frame, we are asking families to follow these guidelines to help with crowds and parking:

-Families with last names that start with A-M are encouraged to attend between 3:30pm-4:15pm.
-Families with last names that start with N-Z are encouraged to attend between 4:15pm-5:00pm.
-Families that can walk are encouraged to walk, and those that can carpool are encouraged to do so as well!
-Please be patient with parking!  It is an open house, so families will be coming and going.

This is a great opportunity to visit your child’s classroom, tour the building, meet our staff, drop off school supplies, and connect with others!

Kindergarten Open House & Orientation–  We will host our Kindergarten Orientation for incoming kindergarten students and their parents at Britton on Thursday, August 17 from 4:00pm-5:00pm.  This is a special time for kindergarten students only. We ask that siblings do not attend this event. Please meet your teacher in the gym. We start at 4:00 p.m. During this time, students will spend time in their classrooms with teachers and the other students in their classroom, while parents meet with Mrs. Borlaza. 

PTO Popsicles on the Playground TONIGHT! Join PTO and other families TONIGHT Monday, August 14 – 5:30pm-7:30pm for popsicles and fun on the Norwich playground.  Enjoy a cool treat and meet with old and new friends. Smash Brothers food truck will be there, so come hungry!   Rain is expected, so please watch our social media posts closely in case this event must be canceled.

School Supply Lists–  Click HERE for Britton supplies and HERE for Norwich supplies. If you purchased school supplies through our PTO sale in the spring, those supplies will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom for you.  You may bring your child’s school supplies to the Meet the Teacher night, or your child can bring them on the first day of school.

First Day of School– Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 22, 2023.  Our buildings open at 8:50am with our tardy bell at 9:05am.  The school day ends at 3:30 p.m.  Please pick up your child promptly.  Absences can be reported one of three ways: School Messenger app, go.schoolmessenger.com, or 1-844-413-8801.  Click here for more detailed information regarding the School Messenger Attendance reporting system.   Please visit our website for a map and more specific arrival and dismissal information. 

Norwich to Britton Walk-Over Students–  If you have children at both the Norwich Building and the Britton Building, you have the option to drop-off and pick up at each building, or we can have the Norwich students walk to/from the Britton building, so you have only 1 pick up point..  If you choose this option, you would drop-off and pick-up only at the BRITTON building.  If you are choosing this option, please complete this form.  If you would prefer to pick up your children at their assigned buildings, there is no need to complete this form.  This option is only available to families that have students in both buildings.  Please contact the Norwich  office at 614-921-6000, if you have additional questions.  If you are interested in this option, please complete this FORM before August 20, 2023.

Elementary Handbook– The 2023-2024 Preschool/Elementary Handbook is found online through the Home Access Center or by clicking here.  In an effort to continue to streamline costs, a hard copy of this document is not provided to each student.  You will need to indicate on the Home Access Center that you have read the handbook.

One2One (iPad) Loan Agreement–  Again for the 2023-2024 school year, each student in grades K-12 will receive a district-owned iPad to use during the school year.  

For the 2023-2024 school year:
Grades K/1 – Students are NOT permitted to take home iPads.  Ipads remain at school.
Grades 2/3/4 – iPads stay at school each day unless arrangements have been made and shared by the classroom teacher.
Grade 5 – Students will take home iPads EACH day.  Classroom teachers will communicate when this will begin.

For all students, Grade 2-5, parents must agree to the District One2One iPad Loan Agreement found under the additional Information tab in Home Access. 

Technology Protection Plan –  Since students in Grades 2-5 may bring iPads home, parents/guardians are encouraged to sign up for the Technology Protection Plan for a minimal cost.   View the Technology Protection Plan HERE.  The Technology Protection Plan (TPP) can help protect you and your student from costly repairs to their iPad due to unforeseen damage. For only $25 per year, this agreement covers the iPad loaned to the student for the 2023-2024 school year against incidental damage or loss over $50.  The Plan will only cover two incidents per school year. NEGLECT IS NOT COVERED.  Payments can be made through MyPaymentsplus.com or by check made out to Hilliard City Schools. Participation is totally voluntary, but if a student does not participate, they will be responsible for any costs associated with repairs, loss, or damage.  Coverage lasts for the current school year and is renewable each subsequent school year.   This should be completed prior to September 1, 2023.

Field Trip Permission Now in Home Access – From time to time, our students may participate in field trips.  These trips might require school transportation or could involve walking (i.e. to a local park, pond, or to the Library).  Families with students in Grades K-5 will be able to agree to the Field Trip permission form through Home Access. This agreement will cover all field trips planned for this school year.  Teachers will communicate with parents for each trip taken.

School Messenger– School Messenger is the online tool used to communicate with families about up-coming events, share PTO Newsletters, and send weekly school E-Blasts.  Please log into your family’s Home Access account to enter and up-date your contact information.  The email you enter as your contact information will be used to send out back-to-school and weekly e-blasts through School Messenger.

Student Insurance– An extra school insurance program is available to all students for purchase.  The insurance can be used as a secondary policy and protects your child against accidents that may occur on school property during the school day.  Access the application form here.   

Medications– Students needing medication are encouraged to receive the medication at home, if possible.  Guidelines are in place to assure the safety of all children.  Please remember that if your child requires medication during the school day, it must be administered by our school nurse, and proper authorization forms must be completed with the nurse.  Please do not send your child to school with pills in their pockets to take at school.  All medication should be stored with the nurse.  We appreciate your cooperation with these guidelines.  If you ever have any questions, you can contact the school nurse, Mrs. Heide Stoessner, via phone at 614-921-6000 or email at Heide_Stoessner@hboe.org. 

Lunch– The lunch price for the 2023-2024 school year is $2.50 for a meal.  Milk is available for purchase with a packed lunch for $.50. Carbonated beverages (Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew, etc.) are not permitted at lunch.  Lunch fees can be paid at school or online (www.mypaymentsplus.com).  Please be aware that a processing fee for on-line meal payments will be charged.  Checks should be made out to Hilliard City Schools.  All checks or cash can be sent in the homeschool folder marked with your child’s name.   Lunch menus can be viewed HERE.  

Breakfast– All Hilliard City School buildings serve breakfast each day during the school year.  We offer a variety of breakfast choices, including hot breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, breakfast bars, cereal, and milk.  A hungry student is a distracted student. So feel free to take advantage of this opportunity to help your child start the day off on the right foot. 

Students who are approved for free or reduced lunch pricing also receive breakfast free of charge.  And, at $1.25, breakfast is still a bargain for students who pay full price.   

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications  – Families are encouraged to complete an online Free & Reduced School Meals Application to see if they qualify for free or reduced meal pricing and these other benefits:

• pEBT $ (if available)
• Reduced/free iPad Insurance
• Reduced fees for taking ACT/SAT tests
• Reduced fees for college courses
• Reduced/free Internet Service

You can access the online application by clicking HERE  and filling out the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.  The Hilliard City School District Website includes information about the Free & Reduced Lunch application process. 

Bus Transportation– You can access real time transportation information on the District Website through Find My Bus Stop.  All transportation information is now available.  (Note:  Due to last minute additions/deletions and changes, Kindergarten arrangements may not yet be available.  Their information will follow as soon as possible.)  Families are encouraged to use this  on-line resource, as it is the best place to obtain the most up-to-date bus information.  We also recommend that families check multiple times prior to the start of school in the event changes have occurred. 

Instructions for Requesting Alternate Transportation Service–  Hilliard City Schools attempts to provide transportation services via school bus to and from locations other than the student’s primary residence.  These locations may include:

-Before or after school care located at a private residence (elementary)
-Shared parenting/guardian arrangements

The process to request these alternate transportation arrangements is completed online through the Hilliard City Schools’ ‘Contact Us” link.  You may access this link here.  Select “TRANSPORTATION’, fill out the form and select which type of request you need.  The comment’s area is used for a schedule of days/weeks which the student will ride to the appropriate location.  All requests for alternate transportation arrangements are reviewed and approved if they meet the necessary criteria.  The criteria includes:

-available space on the appropriate school bus
-Whether the location is in the correct school attendance area
-Whether the alternate site is eligible for transportation to and/or from the school of attendance for the student(s).

Please contact the Transportation Services Department directly at (614) 921-4700 if you have questions. 

Hilliard Transportation to/from Daycare Facilities–  Hilliard City Schools does offer transportation services to some Day Care facilities to Elementary Buildings. It is based on the location of the facility and School boundaries. Check to see if your Daycare is on the list by filling out our form.   Any parent wishing to have their child transported by bus to a daycare must complete THIS FORM.   

Kindergarten Transportation– If you are a parent of a kindergarten student, we hope that your first experience with school transportation will be a pleasant one for both you and your child. Riding the school bus for the first time can be an exciting experience for a little one. In an effort to make this a positive experience, there are a few details that you should know.  When school begins, your student will need to attach the yellow “BUS INFORMATION” card on their book bag.  This card will be mailed to you to ensure that you have time to fill out the tag and attach it to your child’s backpack. If you do not have a tag by Aug. 20th, you can stop by Britton during open hours to pick one up from our office.   The card must be worn every school day for the entire year. Kindergarten students who are transported home at the end of the school day may be let off the bus at a group bus stop with other Hilliard students. If the kindergartener’s stop is an individual stop, or there are no other students getting off the bus at the time, the kindergarten student must be left off to the care of a parent, guardian or older sibling.  Transportation personnel provide bus safety instruction to pre-school, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students. Please discuss bus safety with your student. School bus rules can be found HERE. 

Carpool Line– We are always working to increase the speed in which we load our students using the carpool line, while maintaining a safe environment for our students.  If you plan to use the carpool line, please find the “BNLC Carpool”  card in your child’s home/school folder.  With a dark marker, please write the first and last names of any students you are picking up in the carpool line.  Keep this card in your car and hold it up in the window when you get to the loading zone.  This will help the teachers on duty know who needs to be loaded.  Please keep this poster in your car all year and use it daily. 

Arrival and Dismissal – For the Norwich building, please enter/exit the campus service road off of Davidson Road. For the Britton Building, please enter/exit the campus service road off of Britton Parkway.  Please visit our website for a map and more specific arrival and dismissal information.  

End of Day Student Dismissal – Please let your student’s teacher know how your student is going home each day.  The teacher may have a place for you to share this at Meet the Teacher night or you can let them know through the teacher’s email.  If there is a change to the child’s transportation home, please try to communicate this as soon as possible with a written note or an email.  Sometimes last minute changes are necessary.  Please call the office before 2:00 if possible.

Home-School Folder– Each student is provided with a Home School Folder.  Please check this folder for additional back to school information.  This folder is a tool your child’s teacher will use to communicate with you each night.  Please make sure this folder is brought back to school each day.

Dress Code– Students will do many different things during a day of school. Clean clothes and sturdy shoes will allow them to work and play comfortably and safely. The following items are NOT appropriate attire: halter tops, tube tops, short skirts, short shorts, open-toes shoes, high heels, platform shoes and shoes without backs, ‘heelys’ and/or roller skates, and hats. While ‘crocs’ are allowed, it is recommended that students wear tennis shoes instead of ‘crocs’.  You may consider including a change of clothes in your child’s backpack in case of an emergency.

New Staff Members– We are excited to welcome some new staff members to the Britton Norwich Learning Campus for the 2023-2024 school year.  We welcome:

Ms. Destiny Hilliard – Norwich Building – Long Term Third Grade Substitute for Mrs. Stroh
Ms. Emma Conklin – Norwich Building – Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Jennifer Nott- Norwich Building – English Language (EL) Teacher
Ms. Lara Pytlik – Campus – Occupational Therapist
Ms. Keesha Johnson – Britton Building – Second Grade
Ms. Brooke Benjamin – Britton Building – Second Grade
Ms. Keyle Hawk – Britton Building – Second Grade
Mrs. Katie Velten – Britton Building – Second Grade
Ms. Marisa Biles – Britton Building – School Counselor
Ms. Danielle Jarvi – Britton Building – Intervention Specialist
Mr. Ted Lancia – Norwich Building – Custodian
Mrs. Erica Lemaster – Britton Building – Custodian

*We also made the following shifts of current Campus Staff:

Mrs. Melissa McGrath – First Grade – Britton Building
Mrs. Patty Gast – Reading Intervention – Norwich Building
Mrs. Deb Kennedy- Intervention Assistant – Norwich Building
Ms. Lindsay Noll – Innovation and Discovery Specialist – Britton Building

Related Arts– Each student will participate in 40 minutes daily of related arts.  We are excited to share that in addition to art, music, and physical education, our K-2 students will also participate in Spanish! 

Volunteers– We love parent volunteers!  Please check out our Campus Visitor and Volunteer Guidelines HERE.  A Volunteer Badge and background check is required for any adult who wishes to accompany a student on a school sponsored field trip or volunteer at classroom parties.   Please help us by wearing your volunteer badge AT ALL TIMES; the office can provide you with a lanyard.. The District uses an online system for volunteer badges. Secure Volunteer is an easy to use system created to help parents and community members get their volunteer badges on their own time.  The following link can be used to complete the background check.

Front Doors– In our effort to remain focused on safety, all exterior doors to our school buildings remain locked at ALL times.  Please enter the school through the front doors.  There is a buzzer system for you to push to communicate with the office.  You will be asked to state your first and last name and provide information about your visit.  If you push the buzzer system and get no response, please be patient.  Our office staff is more than likely assisting students, helping other parents, or talking on the phone and they will assist you as soon as they can.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Snack/Birthday Treat/Invitation Policy–  We will allow birthday celebrations with food to be brought in only if PRIOR arrangements have been made with the teacher. In keeping with our goal of promoting wellness with our students, we encourage parents to consider a healthy snack option such as fruit, crackers, gold fish, etc.   Treats with icing are not permitted.  Cakes are not permitted at school.  Please view our Snack/Birthday Treat/Invitation guidelines here.  Please note, in order to protect instructional time, students are asked not to bring birthday invitations to school.  Parents are encouraged to use the PTO School Directory to send invitations directly to parents through the mail.  

BNLC PTO Directory – If you want to add your family information to be shared with other families, you can go here to add your family to the BNLC Directory.   BNLC PTO – Login (membershiptoolkit.com)  

BNLC PTO–  Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is committed to supporting the work of our students and teachers.  All parents are members of our PTO!  For more information about PTO and to add yourself to the directory, please visit the BNLC PTO website for more information. 

Lunch Times–  If you plan to visit your child during lunch, please make note of our lunch times for the 2023-2024 school year:

Norwich:

11:00-11:20- 3A- McCreary, Stroh, Rigsby
11:25-11:45- 3B – Meads, M. Walton, Schmidt
11:50-12:10-  5A – Nichols, Barkley, Sutliff
12:15-12:35- 5B – Wood, Germaine, Naille
12:40-1:00- 4A- Teny, Kalb
1:05-1:25- 4B – Eshenour, P. Walton, Heifner

Britton:

11:00-11:25 KG- Lambert, Fugitt, Cushnie
11:25-11:50- KG- Graf, Miari, Palguta
11:55-12:20- 1st- Remington, Kelly, Clifford, McGrath
12:20-12:45- 1st- Peyton, Finneran, Richardson
12:50-1:15- 2nd- Johnson, Mitchell, Velten, Benjamin
1:15-1:40- 2nd- Friedman, McCann, Hawk

#HCSD1–  We want to kick off the school year with all the fun and excitement as any other year.  We know for many that means first day pictures!  Please share those photos with the hashtag, #HCSD1 on Twitter and Facebook.  It’s a fun way to bring our community together!

If you have questions about this information, please contact your child’s school.   For Norwich call 614-921-6000 and Britton call 614-921-5300.   We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Borlaza
Britton Building, K-2 Principal

Michael Heitzman
Norwich Building, 3-5 Principal