August 31–September 4
Welcome Back, Golden Eagles!
We are so excited to see our halls filled once again with the energy and enthusiasm of our students and staff! There are several important first-week reminders and a few new things this year, so please take a few minutes to read through the information below.
First Week Reminders
First Day: Monday, August 31
Doors Open: 8:40 AM
School Begins: 9:00 AM
Dismissal All Week: 1:20 PM
On Monday, we will skip our normal morning routine and students will go directly to their classrooms.
Starting Tuesday, students will either go to breakfast or head outside to meet their teachers. The school day begins promptly at 9:00.
Breakfast is $1.45 ($.30 reduced) and lunch is $1.95 ($.40 reduced). Please remember that families must apply for free or reduced-price meals each school year.
Students will be dismissed at 1:20 every day this week. Please plan ahead to be on time!
Arrival & Dismissal
Each family is assigned a carpool number. As vehicles arrive, we use the number to call students to the carpool line. Returning families may continue using the same number year after year. New families or families needing a replacement may stop by or call the office.
Watch our dismissal video: bit.ly/4imf2Ph
We know dismissal takes a little longer during the first few days as everyone gets back into the routine. Please be patient with us!
A few things you can do to help:
Stay in your vehicle and follow staff directions.
Display your carpool number where staff can easily see it.
Use the West gate to meet your walking child.
For the safety of our students and staff, please do not call students across the parking lot, use the South bus loading/unloading zone, or ask your child to leave through an unapproved location.
And, as always, please be kind to our staff! They are working hard to make sure every student gets home safely.
A Few New Policies
Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Policy — SB 69 / BESD Policy 5305
Cellphones and smartwatches must be turned off and out of sight (such as in a backpack) from the opening bell through dismissal. Exceptions may be made for documented medical needs, such as a student using a device for diabetic monitoring. Parents can always reach their child by calling the school office.
Food Additives — HB 402 / BESD Policy 5054
Teachers will be sending home a permission slip explaining the new food-additive requirements and providing examples of foods containing the restricted additives. In order for students to receive foods containing these additives at school, we must have parent permission on file.
Please note that this also applies to things like parent-provided birthday treats. Without permission on file, students may not be able to participate when these foods are served.
Safety & School Security
The safety of our students and staff is always a top priority. Throughout the year, we conduct regular safety drills so students and staff are familiar and confident with our procedures. Families can help by reinforcing safe habits and reminding students to use sidewalks, crosswalks, and designated safe routes when traveling to and from school.
For security, our building remains locked during school hours. All visitors must check in at the office and be buzzed in before entering. At times, you may be asked to wait for your student in the secure vestibule. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep our school safe.
Please avoid checking students out during the final 20 minutes of the school day (after 3:00 on regular days and after 1:00 on Fridays). Late checkouts cause a significant disruption as classes are wrapping up and we are preparing for dismissal.
Volunteering at Golden Spike
We love having family and community members volunteer at our school! Contact your child's teacher or the school office to learn about opportunities.
All volunteers, including field trip volunteers, must complete a background check. Background checks are free and can be scheduled through the district office at 435-734-4800.
You can find all of this information and more on our Golden Spike website at www.goldenspike.besd.net.
Thanks for joining us this year and for working with us to make Golden Spike a great place for kids. We are excited to see
everyone on Monday!
Shaylyn Ekins, Principal
Nathan Toll, Assistant Principal