Parent/Guardian Letter PLEASE Read
Dear Trenton Elementary School Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I am looking forward to the start of an exciting new year. Our staff has been diligently working to prepare our building and classrooms for you and your child. We cannot wait to have our halls filled with our TES Cougars!
This letter contains important information regarding the daily procedures for our building. Please take time to review it before the first day of school.
Staggered Start
This year, we will begin school with a staggered start for first- and second-grade students:
Tuesday, August 18: Students with last names beginning with A–L attend.
Wednesday, August 19: Students with last names beginning with M–Z attend.
Thursday, August 20: ALL first- and second-grade students attend.
🏫 OPEN HOUSES
We are excited to welcome our families into Trenton Elementary!
First & Second Grade Open House
📅 August 17
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Preschool & Kindergarten Open House
📅 August 20
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Families are welcome to bring school supplies during Open House. This can make your child's first day a little easier!
If your child needs school supplies or a backpack, please let us know. We are happy to help.
🔐 VISITING THE SCHOOL
For safety and security reasons, parents and guardians will not be permitted to enter the building to take pictures on the first day of school. Please feel free to take those special first-day pictures outside before your child enters the building. Staff members will be available to assist students and help them get to the gym, cafeteria, and their classrooms.
During the school year, parents and guardians must have a photo ID to enter the building. You will be asked to show your ID to the secretary at the window located to the right of the doorbell.
Please make sure anyone who may pick up your child is listed and authorized in FinalForms. TES staff will only release a child to an adult who is authorized to pick up the student.
🚗 CHANGING TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DAY
If you need to change your child's regular mode of transportation, please send a written note with your child or call the school office before noon, unless there is an emergency.
Calling before noon gives our office staff enough time to notify your child's teacher of the change before dismissal.
IMPORTANT: Please do not se
nd transportation changes or attendance information to your child's teacher through Parent Square, email, or another messaging platform. Teachers are teaching throughout the day and may not see your message before dismissal.
All attendance calls and transportation changes must be made by a parent or guardian directly through the school office.
💻 FINALFORMS
Addresses
Email addresses
Emergency contact
Medical information
Authorized pick-up persons
I a
Please complete your child's yearly FinalForms information. Forms must be reviewed, updated, and signed every school year.
Before the first day of school, please update any changes to:
Phone numbers
⏰ TES BUILDING TIMES
Breakfast: Begins at 8:25 AM and ends at 9:00 AM
Student Day Begins: 9:00 AM
Student Day Ends: 3:30 PM
Students who arrive after 9:00 AM are considered tardy.
🚙 ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Please review the Arrival/Dismissal Map attached to this message.
Morning Arrival: DO NOT DROP OFF STUDENTS BEFORE STAFF ARE
OUTSIDE.
Students whose parents/guardians walk them to school or drive them through the drop-off area will enter through the gym doors.
Bus riders will enter through the main entrance.
Doors will open at 8:25 AM. Students will either go to the gym and sit in their designated classroom line or go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Staff members will be available to help students get where they need to go.
The doors at the drop-off area will close promptly at 8:55 AM.
Students arriving after 8:55 AM must enter through the main entrance. If your child arrives after 9:00 AM, a parent or guardian must escort the child into the building and sign them in for the day.
Students arriving late may not be dropped off at the main entrance to walk into the building alone. The person dropping them off must walk them inside and sign them in.
Afternoon Dismissal
Bus dismissal will begin at approximately 3:30 PM.
Vehicles are NOT permitted to park or pull into the front parking area during dismissal. Students will be escorted to their buses by staff members and checked to ensure they are boarding the correct bus.
Parent pick-up vehicles should join the pick-up line by traveling:
Oak Avenue ➜ Marcia Avenue ➜ Maple Avenue ➜ TES
Please be courteous and do not cut into the pick-up line.
Please do not arrive before 3:00 PM to park in the parent pick-up area.
All other students will begin dismissing at approximately 3:30 PM.
⭐ PICK-UP PLACARDS ARE REQUIRED ⭐
You must display your child's TES pick-up placard in your vehicle window so staff members can clearly see the student's name and number.
Please leave the placard displayed until your child has entered your vehicle.
When exiting the parent pick-up area:
If you do not have the placard, you will be asked to get out of line, go to the main office to obtain verification that you can pick up the student.
ALL VEHICLES MUST TURN RIGHT.
This is necessary to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently.
🚶 PARENT WALK-UP DISMISSAL
Parent walk-up dismissal will take place at the side door near the main entrance.
Parents should park in the back parking lot and enter from Cypress Avenue.
Parents and guardians will not be permitted to enter the building during dismissal.
You must bring your child's pick-up placard showing the student's name and number.
Whether you are picking up your child in the car line or as a walk-up, you will need your child's pick-up tag each day.If you do not have your child's tag, you will be required to show a photo ID, and staff will verify that you are authorized to pick up the student.
🍎 BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Breakfast: $2.00
Lunch: $3.50
Money may be added to your child's meal account through:
Please remember that breakfast and lunch are not automatically free for all students.
Every family is encouraged to complete an application for free or reduced-price meals. Families who qualify for free meals may also qualify for a waiver of school fees for the school year.
Applications may be completed online:
Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application
If you are unable to complete the application online, please contact the school office for a paper copy.
💵 SCHOOL FEES
School fees for students are $120 for K-2. Fees may be paid in the school office by cash or check, or online through:
Pay School Fees Online – PaySchools Central
💊 MEDICATION
If your child needs medication administered during the school day, a medication authorization form must be completed by both the parent/guardian and the child's physician.
Medication may be dropped off to the school nurse after 9:05 AM, once students are safely in their classrooms.
We know the beginning of a new school year brings excitement, questions, and sometimes a few nerves. Our TES staff is ready to welcome your children, help them learn our routines, and make their transition into the new school year as smooth as possible.
Thank you for your partnership and for trusting us with your children. We are looking forward to an amazing year together!
Partners in Education,
Jenny Halsey
Principal
Trenton Elementary School
jenny.halsey@edgewoodschools.net