Coates Family Newsletter for 8/18/23

Coates School Transportation

transportation

There are three ways to get to and from school every day; walking, kiss & ride and bus.  Please use this transportation form to let us know how your child will be getting to and from school each day.  Our daily arrival window is 9:00-9:15am and dismissal window is 4:00-4:15pm.

Bus route information should now be available in your ParentVue account under the "Info" tab. The FCPS Office of Transportation emailed routes to parents/guardians on August 10th.  Any student can use Kiss & Ride and will need a car tag to be picked up through Kiss & Ride. New car tags will be assigned to families who utilized kiss and ride last year and all other families who wish to use kiss and ride for the 2023-24 school year should fill out the transportation form to be issued a tag.

Students within walking boundaries can walk to school each day.  Please note that any change in transportation should be noted to the front office by 3pm the day of the change.  If a student who is assigned a bus wants to walk, the parent/guardian must email Mr. Basdekis, PDBasdekis@FCPS.edu and Karen Lopez, KELopez@FCPS.edu, our Attendance Secretary, in advance.  

Please note that all Kindergarteners must be met at the bus or walker door for pick-up each day.  Any students not met by a parent, parent designee, or a responsible middle school or older sibling will be returned to school.


Buses and Delays

Transportation Patience and Safety

Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses. 

If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7000  with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000. 

To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.


Kiss and Ride Directions

Dear families,

If you did not get a kiss and ride car tag via mail, please make sure you fill out this transportation form and we will issue you a car tag during the first week of school.  

If you utilize our Coates Kiss and Ride line please follow the rules and see the map below:

Kiss & Ride Instructions

  • Students may be dropped off between 9am and 9:15am daily.
  • Load and unload from the passenger side and ONLY in front of the orange cones.
  • Do not pass other cars in Kiss & Ride.
  • Remain in the driver's seat. (Staff members will assist with car doors.)
  • Please follow directions of the supervising adults.

 

Instrucciones para Kiss & Ride

  • Los estudiantes pueden ser dejados entre las 9:00am am y 9:15 am todos los días.
  • Al dejar y recoger, los estudiantes deben bajarse por la puerta del pasajero y SOLO en frente de los conos anaranjados.
  • NO PASE a otros automóviles cuando este en la línea de Kiss&Ride.
  • Permanezca en el asiento del conductor. (Los miembros del personal de la escuela ayudarán con las puertas del automóvil).
  • Por favor, siga las instrucciones de los adultos supervisores
kandr map

First Day of School For Kindergarten

On the first day of school, parents/guardians of kindergarteners are permitted to walk their student to class on the first day only.  Following drop-off, at 9:15-9:45am we invite all kindergarten parents to join us in room 115 for "Tears & Cheers" with the principal and family liaison.

coffee talk

School Meals

Preparing for and Paying for Meals at School

Parents/caregivers need to provide their students with money to purchase meals at school, send them with a packed lunch, or apply (and be approved) for free and reduced-price meals benefits. School breakfast for students costs $1.75. Lunch is $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for middle, secondary, and high school students.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2023-24 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible for the 2023-24 school year, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost. 

Paying With MySchoolBucks

The best way to purchase meals (and keep food lines moving!) is to use MySchoolBucks. Set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account today. Our front office staff can help with any questions. 

MySchoolBucks accounts can be set up to add money to the account automatically, as needed. Families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account. Visit FCPS’ Food and Nutrition webpage for more information.


Schoology

What Is Schoology?

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.

A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:

  • Your child’s classes.
  • Your child’s upcoming assignments.
  • School, class, and group announcements.

Parent accounts will be available after August 21. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.


FNS

bus

Recognize Our Staff Who Go Above and Beyond

fcps cares

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees, specifically at Coates.


Mark Your Calendar

august

21st- First Day of School

21st- Kindergarten Parents Tears and Cheers-9:15-9:45am

28th- Fall Festival Planning Committee (PTA)- 6-7pm

 

september

1st-4th- Labor Day Break (student holiday- no school)

11th- Patriot Day

14th- PTA Meeting- 5:30-6pm

14th- Back to School Night- 6-7:30pm

15th- Rosh Hashanah

17th- Constitution Day

25th- Yom Kippur (student holiday- no school)

 

*The full FCPS 2023-2024 calendar can be accessed here.


Follow Coates on Social Media

stay in touch

FACEBOOK: FCPS L.L. Coates Elementary School

FACEBOOK (PTA): L.L. Coates Elementary PTA

L.L. Coates Website: https://coateses.fcps.edu/