Dear Audubon Families:

The 2011-2012 school year is here! Everyone at Audubon is excited and committed to fulfilling our school mission of developing and challenging your child's personal, social, and academic potential so that he or she will become a productive citizen. We are happy to have you be part of the Audubon community this school year. A strong school and family partnership will enable all of us to do what is best for your child and together we can make this an outstanding school year!

Two major changes this year are the addition of preschool classes to Audubon and the use of eRegistration in the Powerschool management system. Families may choose either the morning or afternoon session for their preschool child. We are excited to welcome our new 3, 4, and 5 year olds to the Audubon family! eRegistration is also exciting because it will make August registration more family friendly and allow parents/guardians to log in and make changes from the comfort of their own home and computer. All returning families within the Dubuque Community School District will be able to use eRegistration to complete all registration tasks to start the school year. This also includes the ability to make any changes in addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, etc. throughout the school year. Families new to the DCSD will need to first register at their home school and will then receive a log in and password so they will be able to utilize eRegistration.

This calendar and handbook should provide you with important and specific information about the policies and general organization of Audubon as well as an informative calendar of happenings throughout the year. Taking the time to read through the enclosed information will answer many of your questions before the school year begins. New families to the district will be receiving the district handbook. All returning families will get that info through the eRegistration website. We hope that both the Audubon and district handbooks allow you to find answers to a variety of questions right at your fingertips. If for some reason, after looking within these handbooks, you are unable to find the information that you are looking for, our knowledgeable and friendly office staff is a phone call away. Please keep in mind that regular, required daily attendance is the best way you can help your child succeed. Please ensure that your child attends school each day and is on time. Thank you!

This year our start and end times for K-5 students will remain the same as last year, 8:20-3:05. We ask for your cooperation by not dropping your child off or having them arrive on school grounds before 8:10 a.m. (unless eating breakfast) because there is no supervision to help monitor the playground for safety and security before 8:10 a.m. Students will be entering the building each day at 8:20 a.m. and dismissal will be at 3:05 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We will continue our Wednesday early release time at 1:05 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon. Please be responsible and also respectful of staff time by being prompt in picking up your child each day right at dismissal time. Arrival and dismissal times will be different for preschool. See the arrival and dismissal information for preschool noted in this handbook.

Our district wellness policy will again be followed. Included in this calendar is a short blurb about the policy and a list of healthy snack choices. We are requiring you to first check with the classroom teacher and then choose from this list if you decide to send a snack or celebration "treat" to school. Thank you for supporting this policy and contributing to the well being of our healthy kids!

I believe that open lines of communication are key to student success and I look forward to working with all of you. Let's have a great year!

Sincerely,
Mr. Andy Ferguson
Principal