Dear Churchill Families,
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! We are excited for the upcoming school year. There aren’t as many changes in store for us this year as there were last, but we are anxious to get to know our sixth graders and new seventh and eighth graders. We will also be welcoming two new teachers and a new assistant principal this year. Our construction load was much less this summer, but we are excited to be getting an elevator that we are hopeful will be operational by early September. Due to this construction, if you need anyone in the main office prior to the first day of school, you will find us down in Room 206. The building is open during the summer from 8am-2pm.
Registration will once again be an on-line process. All forms that need to be filled out will be available on the school’s website at schools.graniteschools.org/churchilljr/. The window for on-line registration is currently open. The forms will be fillable and electronically signed. On the website’s homepage, select the “Registration” tab from the menu at the top and follow the instructions. Every student needs to submit the following forms: Student Internet Agreement, Head Injury Agreement, and the Parent School Safety Form. An optional form that will also be available here is the Fee Waiver Application. Families interested in the Free/Reduced Lunch Application will need to get that form in the main office at the school. The website will also have the Basic Fees List with a link to the Webstore so the basic fee can be paid. Class fees will not be charged until a week or two after school starts. This allows the counselors to get through class changes prior to charging class fees.
The Registration tab will also have information available to walk parents through how to set up a Parent Portal. We encourage all parents to create a portal. The portal allows you to log in and see your student’s grades and attendance. It will allow you to see what assignments are missing and what scores your student is earning on homework, tests, and quizzes. The portal is also where the district downloads SAGE results for your student each year.
We encourage everyone to use the website for registration. If you have questions, though, we are here to help. The office will be open from 8am-2pm daily.
Important information for students will be provided on the first day of school. We found that holding Jump Start on the first day of school was beneficial because we are able to ensure that all students are getting the information they need. We will have a session first thing in the morning for the sixth graders and any new students, and then we will bring the seventh and eighth graders down for a second session to help refresh their memories regarding important school information. This process works better from a functional stand point, but I know it doesn’t work as well when it comes to calming new students’ nerves about starting school. Please remember that the building is open every day from 8am-2pm, so feel free to swing by and take a look around. Class schedules will be available prior to school starting, so you can print it off and come find your classes prior to the first day of school. We will also have a bank of lockers in the hall by the main office with combinations posted on them so students can practice using the lockers. The lockers are one of the biggest adjustments and contributor to anxiety about starting junior high.
Important information to help you get ready for school:
Student Schedules
Because we are using quarter length electives as well as semester and yearlong classes, student schedules will have many classes listed. To know when and where to go, students will need to look at the “Term” and “Quarter” listed by the class. Term 1 is first semester and Term 2 is second semester. Each semester has a Quarter 1 and a Quarter 2; therefore, Term 1, Quarter 2 is second quarter and Term 2, Quarter 1 is third quarter.
We work diligently to put together a master schedule that allows students the flexibility to take as many classes as they can that interest them. However, it is inevitable that conflicts between classes arise and students will end up in a class or two they may not have had listed as one of their top choices. We encourage students to look at these as opportunities to try something new; they may find a new interest they were unaware of.
Lunch Pin Numbers
If you are coming to Churchill from another Granite School District school, your lunch pin number will remain the same. Remember that your pin number and your student ID number are different. If you are new to Granite School District, the lunchroom manager will give you your pin number on the first day of school. You will need to enter this pin every day you choose to get school lunch, so once you have it make sure you memorize it or program it into your cell phone.
School Policies including Dress Code
Every student at Churchill receives a student planner. The planner contains all important school policies. The policies are also posted to the school’s website. We will cover many of the policies during Jump Start on the first day of school.
Immunizations
Salt Lake County requires all students to be in compliance with the State Immunization Requirements. Students must be vaccinated in order to register and attend school. If you have questions about vaccinations, please contact our Registrar, Deb Despain, at 385-646-5145.
School Pictures
Every student needs to have a school picture taken so they can receive a Churchill Activity Card and be in the Yearbook. Picture Day will be September 18 and picture make-up will be October 30. Please make sure you are at school on one of these days so your picture can be taken.
School Day Information
The first day of school is August 20, and school will start at 7:45am. The first bell of the school day rings at 7:40am and the tardy bell rings at 7:45am. Plan on being in your scheduled class when the tardy bell rings. We have been working on reducing tardiness as a school for the last two years and we will continue to work on it this year. Historically, the vast majority of Churchill’s tardies occur in first period. School ends at 2:45pm.
Be advised that the east parking lot is not a drop-off zone for students. Student drop off is in the west parking lot. There should be no parents driving through the east parking lot before school begins. This will be a heightened issue this year as it is possible, if not probable, that the east parking lot will be closed to begin the school year so it can be used as a staging area for construction of the elevator.
We are excited for the school year, and we are looking forward to getting to know all of you!
Sincerely,
Josh LeRoy, Principal
Charlie Peterson, Assistant Principal
