August 4, 2026
Dear Elmwood Students, Parents or Guardians,
Welcome to a new school year at Shawnee Elmwood School! The first day of school for all 1st and 2nd grade students is Monday, August 31, 2026.
Parents or a responsible adult are welcome to come to the Elmwood office on one of the following days: Monday (8/24), Tuesday (8/25), or Wednesday (8/26) sometime between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM. During this visit, parents will receive their student's teacher welcome letter and other pertinent back-to-school information.
New Visitor Check-In Kiosk: To enhance the safety and security of our students and staff, we will be installing a new self-service visitor check-in kiosk in the main lobby. When arriving at the school for office visits, student pick-up, or any other scheduled meetings, all parents, guardians, and visitors must check in at this kiosk immediately upon entry. Please have a photo ID ready to scan.
After August 28, 2026, parents are encouraged to pay student fees through PaySchools Central, but you are also welcome to pay with cash or a check when you visit the Elmwood office. The student fee structure for this year is:
Kindergarten (KG): $45.00
1st Grade: $41.00
2nd Grade: $53.00
You may also load your student's lunch account on PaySchools Central. School lunch prices will be $3.00 per day (including milk). Breakfast is offered daily for $2.00 (except on delayed-start days). It is highly suggested that you purchase lunch credits in advance for five, ten, fifteen, or more days. If your child chooses to pack a lunch, milk is available for separate purchase at $0.50. Please note that lunch costs are subject to change. Checks for school fees and school lunches must be made out separately.
Please label all of your student’s personal possessions (coat, hat, school bag, lunch box, supply box, etc.) with their full name using a permanent marker.
We invite parents, guardians, and students to Elmwood’s Open House on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Times are staggered by grade level to help manage traffic:
Kindergarten: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
1st Grade: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2nd Grade: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to meet their new teacher, find their classroom, and drop off school supplies before the first day.
We highly recommend that your student ride the school bus on the morning of the first day rather than having parents drive them to school. Before boarding the bus on the first morning, parents should securely attach the bus tag (which you will receive at Teacher Letter Pickup) to your student's book bag. This tag will help our teachers and staff guide your child onto the correct bus when it is time to depart at the end of the day. Please be watching for your bus on the morning of Monday, August 31st.
1st and 2nd Grade Start Date: All 1st and 2nd grade students will begin school on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Kindergarten Staggered Start: To help our youngest learners transition smoothly and comfortably into school, we will be utilizing a staggered start schedule for Kindergarten:
Monday, August 31, 2026: Only Kindergarten girls will attend school.
Tuesday, September 1, 2026: Only Kindergarten boys will attend school.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026: All Kindergarten students will attend together for their first joint day of school.
We are going to have an exciting, wonderful year together, and I am very much looking forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Justin Krogman Principal, Shawnee Elmwood Primary