Parkside Updates & Information 10/7/25

Hello Parkside Families,

Tomorrow is an 11:15 dismissal for teacher professional development, so please email your child's teacher with any changes to their regular dismissal routine!

October is here and it is still warm, but the cooler weather is on the way!  As the "-ber" months are ushered in, please begin dressing your child in layers so they are comfortable.  Also, please remind your child to be responsible for their hoodies, sweaters, water bottles, and other belongings--our Lost and Found is already filling up.  There is a busy October planned, so the more prepared we are, the better off we'll be!

As I explained on Back to School Night, we will be practicing our off-site evacuation drill sometime next week.  Students will be walking with teachers and staff to another location to practice our evacuation plan.  We ask that you remind your child that drills are an important part of our safety plan to prepare our students in the case of an emergency.  They can support our team by listening to their teacher, following all expectations and directions, and by practicing quietly and seriously.  Any student who is not following expectations during the evacuation drill will have consequences and receive communication from school for parent follow up.  I do not anticipate challenging behaviors given the success of past drills, but I ask for your support in talking to your child about the importance of appropriate behavior throughout the drill. Teachers will be speaking to students about evacuation protocols leading up to our off-site drill as well so that our students are prepared.  I highly suggest that your child wear sneakers all next week so that they are prepared for a walking evacuation drill.  I will send messaging to parents during the drill and when we safely return to the school to keep families informed.

Lastly, attendance procedures are important to be aware of, so please review Attendance expectations HERE and use Safe Arrival to report any absences, tardies, or early dismissals.  Also, please be sure to do your best to ensure that your child is on time for school. Morning meeting begins at 8:50 and your child is expected to be in their homeroom by that time. We are looking at ways to motivate students to be consistently on time for school because we are seeing many latenesses to school each morning.  Our doors open at 8:35, so please make sure that your child is consistently on time to the best of your ability!  

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Coming Soon:

October 8: 11:15 Dismissal for Teacher In-service

October 9: PTL Meeting @ 6:30 in Room 213

October 17: No School for Teacher In-service

October 27-31: Book Fair in the Library (10/30—evening hours 4-6 pm)

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From the Nurse:

 

Unfortunately, the Health Heroes Vaccination Clinic will be cancelled this year, please disregard the information sent home earlier this month.

It’s that time of year, again—cold and flu season will be here before we know it and we’ve already seen the “Back to School” germs take their toll on some.  Remind your child that hand-washing and using good hygiene practices will help stop the spread of germs! 

Please remember that if your child has a fever, they should remain home from school until they are fever-free without medication.  They should also stay home if they have been vomiting or have diarrhea.  Once they are symptom-free for 24 hours, they may return.

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From the School Counselor:

Students seemed to have settled in and are happy entering the building each morning.  If your child is struggling to get to school (getting upset, ill, or anxious), please reach out for assistance. 

Counseling Services at Parkside:  Students can fill out a “note to see the counselor” if they would like to talk about their feelings or anything getting in the way of their success.  At times students and families experience unplanned events that cause distress. Ms. Sayre can be a support and a resource. 

Ms. Sayre at (610) 497-6300 x6508 or nsayre@pdsd.org 

Intern: Ms. Karly Pratt who is finishing her Masters in School Counseling at Villanova University will be working with Ms. Sayre three days a week for the entire school year.  We are happy to have her!

Parkside Food Bank - If your family is in need of food, you can email parksidefooddrive@gmail.com for info on the hours of operation.  The food bank is located at the Parkside Fire Station.

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Parent Tech Tip from Technology Teacher, Ms. Cameron

October is National Bullying Awareness Month

What to Do if You See Mean Comments Online

When kids see someone being bullied online, they may not know how to respond. Joining in or staying silent can unintentionally make the problem worse. Instead, children can learn to take three key steps: don’t engage with the bully, show support to the person being targeted, and tell a trusted adult. Even small acts—like posting a kind comment or checking in privately with the person who was hurt—can make a big difference. Families can strengthen this skill by role-playing scenarios together, such as what to do if they see mean comments in a group chat. Action steps: Ask your child this week how they might respond if they saw a classmate being treated unfairly online. Practice different responses together to build their confidence.

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From the PTL:

Order Parkside spirit wear HERE!

We had a great turnout for our September meeting and are looking forward to another great PTL meeting THIS THURSDAY, October 9, 2025 at 6:30 pm in Room 213!

Next PTL Meeting: Thursday, October 9^th

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As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us!  We are looking forward to an awesome October!