Boldly Christian. Unquestionably Academic.

Boldly Christian. Unquestionably Academic.

June 1, 2015

Dear Parent(s):

We trust you’re enjoying your time with family and friends during summer break. Our hope is that students
will return rested and refreshed and be ready to begin a rewarding new school year.

eCampus goes live June 15, 2015
Textbooks may be purchased on-line with eCampus. The bookstore is accessible via a link on the
Providence website, www.prov.org. Click on Lower School for Grades K-5 to order books. Please do not
write in any of the books before school begins. Instruction begins in the classroom.

Our summer office hours are from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to
call, 223-5270 extensions 2100 or 2101.

Welcome back dates:
It is always our pleasure to welcome new and returning families. Please mark the following dates on your
calendar:

Monday August 10, 2015
 Book Drop-off 8:00-9:00 am
 Orientation:
o Grades - K-2 4:00 - 5:00 pm
o Grades - 3-5 5:00 - 6:00 pm
o Grades - 6-12 6:00 - 8:30 pm

August 12 – first ½ day for students; K-12
August 13-14 – ½ day for K-12

Wednesday – early dismissal – Professional Development

The purpose of Professional Development is to provide leadership, technical assistance, resources
and consultative services with the goal of improving student learning and achievement through
school development and professional learning. Professional development encompasses all types of
facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from Biblical integration, technology in the classroom,
classroom management, grade level meetings, and best practices for effective teaching.

 Students in K-5 will be dismissed at 2:15 pm.
 Students in Grades 6-12 will be dismissed at 2:30 pm.

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Our mission remains the same, “In pursuit of academic distinction for all students, we are
committed to pursue excellence and to raise future leaders who courageously transform the culture
for the glory of God and country”.

Lower School Hours: 7:45 am to 2:50 pm; Grade 6 -12 School Hours – 8:00 am – 3:15 pm
 7:00 am – Morning Extended Day
 7:30 – 7:45 am - All Lower School Students arrive; 7:45 am - patrols off duty
 7:50 am – Teachers pick up students
 7:55 am - Instruction begins (tardies issued after 7:55 am)
 2:45 pm – K-5 Grades start for car line
 2:50 pm – Dismissal for Grades K-5 (Please hang posters from rearview mirror)
 2:50 -3:25 pm – Sibling Pick-up
 3:00 pm – Afternoon car line students brought to Extended Day
 2:50 – 6:00 pm – Afternoon Extended Day
 11:30- am- ½ day Grades K-5 Dismissal; 12:00 pm – ½ day Grade 6-12 – Dismissal

Lower School Grades K-5
 7:50 am - Teachers pick up students
 2:50 pm - Teachers dismiss students

Wednesday
 7:50 am – Teachers pick up students
 2:15 pm – Teachers dismiss students

Office Hours
The Office will be open from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm beginning Monday, August 3, 2015. We look
forward to serving you during these times. For the safety of our students, all visitors and
volunteers are asked to sign in and receive a visitor’s badge. We appreciate your attention to this
request.

After School Clubs for Grades K-5
Lower School is adding after school activities to the existing Clubs with the hope of adding more
in the future. These opportunities will be posted in an E-News. If your child is interested, please
email the instructors any time before school starts.

Textbook Information:
eCampus Book Order and Buy Back

To help our families make the best decision regarding textbook purchases for 2015-2016 we are
providing the following information:
• eCampus is an opt in option. Parents can make the decision to buy books from any source.
• If books are purchased from a source other than eCampus you will not be able to take

advantage of the bundle textbook package that is offered through eCampus.
• Parents can buy individual books from eCampus. However, they will not reflect the

discounted bundle pricing.
• Parents can go online through our website and receive an estimate of buy back prices they

will receive for their current textbooks. Additionally, if parents choose to receive the in
store credit (meaning they will use the credit to purchase their students 2015-2016
textbooks from eCampus) they receive an additional 5% bonus on their buy back in store
credit price.

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• Parents are free to do what works best for their family. This empowers our parents to make
an informed decision prior to purchasing any textbooks.

F.L.I.G.H.T. Day for Lower School

Isaiah 40:31- But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.

F.L.I.G.H.T stands for Fostering Learning in the Gifted and Highly Talented. This enrichment
program is for all students and has encouraged young learners to stretch their thinking through
inquiry, problem solving, and building analytical thinking. The activities are designed to meet the
unique needs and abilities of all Providence students through highly engaging learning
opportunities. We know that your child will soar to new heights with these exciting activities
planned.

Gifted and Talented Program
Gifted and talented children are those students who are identified as possessing, or who has demonstrated,
abilities that give evidence of high performing capabilities in intellectual, creative, specific academic or
leadership areas, or who has the ability in the performing or visual arts and who will receive activities to
enhance and to fully develop such capabilities. Identification process includes:
Tests & Assessments: -

 Stanford Achievement Tests (SAT)
 Ability Test
Teacher recommendation: Teachers identify characteristics of students demonstrating many, but not all,
of the following characteristics:
 Advanced vocabulary and abstract thinking for chronological age
 Ability to retain a great deal of information; outstanding memory
 Longer attention span, persistence and intense concentration
 Highly developed curiosity and a limitless supply of questions
 Great imagination and strongly motivated
 May be able to “track” two or more things simultaneously
 Wide range of interests and advanced sense of justice and fairness
Parent request: If your child has been previously tested, please bring in the report. If your child is not
accepted, you may have him/her tested with a private, licensed psychologist. Once results are received,
bring to Lower School Office for committee review.

For Your Information

 Summer Math and Reading - The summer math and reading is required work for all Providence
new and returning students. The assigned math workbook pages and reading activity should be
completed and brought to school on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 13, 2015. If the
books were not purchased during the Providence presale, the workbook may be purchased at the St.
Johns Center, Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Please see the Providence website for assignment
information.

 Class Assignments - Many factors are considered when placement is made for students. We
request that recommendations not be given, but pray for Teachers and Administration as they
compile class lists which will be finalized and mailed the first week of July.

 AM Drop-off - Please note that all students must be dropped off in front of the school by the flag
poles by 7:45 am - Patrols are off duty after 7:45 am. This is for your child’s safety and protection
as this is the only area of the school that has adult supervision. Please note: carline is a NO-PHONE
ZONE.

 PM Dismissal – PLEASE USE THE CROSSWALK. Students are watching for role models. You
are the most influential person; they will model your actions. All students will stay in line with their
classroom teachers at their designated location. Dismissal begins at 2:50 pm and ends at 3:00 pm.

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Upper School dismisses at 3:15 pm. Remaining students will be placed in Extended Day and will be
charged accordingly. A color-coded poster with your child’s number and teacher’s name on it will
be issued the first day of school. These posters are to be hung from the rearview mirror. Posters
must be used every day for a safe release. On the first day of school only, we are requesting that you
write your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name and grade on a poster and place in the front
window of your car on the right side.
 Tardiness - All students in Kindergarten through Grade Five are required to get a tardy slip from the
office after 7:55 am. If unexcused tardies exceed five per nine weeks, a detention will be served.
Please send in a written note if your child has a valid excuse for that morning’s tardy.
 Length of Day - For students to receive a full day attendance, they must be in school five hours. A
student is considered absent if he/she does not meet the minimum of five hours.
 Half Day Care – If your child is not enrolled in Extended Day and you need child care on half days
from 11:30 am – 3:15 pm, we are offering a service at $15.00 per day. Please contact Mrs. Varnadore
in the office to fill out a registration form. If you have any questions, please call 223-5270 ext. 2102.
 Parking - Maps and traffic flow patterns will be given out during Orientation. Please observe the
“No Parking” in the fire lanes or in the lanes in front of the school. The traffic pattern/map can be
found on the web at www.prov.org.
 Book Bag - For safety reasons, no book bags with rollers are allowed in school. There will be no
exceptions to this request. All backpacks are to be hand carried and not have any cartoon character
that reflects aggression or violence.
 Sign-out Procedure - To avoid disruption of final assignments and review for the day, no students
are to be signed out after 2:30 pm for grades K-5.
 Medication – if your child has any medication, please bring it to the office and fill out an
“Authorization for Distribution of Medication” form. All medication is thrown away at the end of
the school year if it is not picked up. Thank you for honoring this request.

Extended Day
Ms. Darlene Perkins, Extended Day Director, is accepting K-8 applications for students requiring before
and after school care. Hours of operation are from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm. Applications are available in the
office and on-line or call 223-5270 for mailing.
For families interested in enrolling on Wednesday only, the hours and fees are as follows:
Grades K-5; 2:15 – 3:15 – $10.00 registration fee. $10.00/per Wednesday.
Grades 6-8; 2:30 - 3:15 – $10.00 registration fee. $10.00/per Wednesday.

Information Update
The student form is on line for your convenience; or you may stop by the office to update information with
regard to change of address, phone number, grandparent address change, emergency contacts, etc. We
appreciate your attention to this request.

Sage Dining
Providence School has partnered with SAGE Dining Services to provide fresh-cooked meals for your
children. In order for your children to purchase food, you will need to set up a pre-paid account with SAGE
Dining. This process takes up to two business days, so your children will likely need to pack a lunch or pay
cash in the meantime.
You may set up your student’s account using their student ID numbers, which can be obtained from the
school office. There is a $50 minimum deposit on the account. Once an account is established, future
deposits will generally go in within 24 hours. You may also pay by check directly to the dining hall after
setting up an account. The minimum check amount is $25.00.

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Parent Teacher Partnership (PTP)
We encourage you to join PTP this year. The Parent Teacher Partnership sponsors many activities that
benefit teachers, parents and, most of all, students. The organization offers an opportunity to build
relationships in a community atmosphere. Involvement includes: Lower School Parent Council, Booster
Club, Sports Events, classroom activities, and social events. All parents may join at Open House,
Orientation, or online.
Office Hours
Offices will be open from 7:30 AM to 3:30 pm beginning Monday, August 3, 2015. We look forward to
serving you during these times. Please be reminded that all visitors and volunteers must sign in and receive
a visitor’s badge. Your attention to this request is appreciated.
May the rest of the summer bring you and your family great joy and peace as you enjoy the summer break.
We appreciate the opportunity to partner with your family and look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,

Susan K. Dyer

Lower School Principal

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