Dear Stratford Families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We can't wait to welcome our Stratford students back on September 2nd for another year filled with learning, friendships, and new adventures.  The night before school, our Stratford Administration will share a special welcome video for our students.  I hope you and your children enjoy it together!  

It was nice to see many families at our Summer Playground Meet up! Thank you to our PTA who assisted in organizing this event.

If you completed our Summer Learning Activities from our website, please use THIS LINK to let us know.  

Updates/Information: 

General Information/Updates
Below you will see our September Monthly Calendar (click the calendar to open full view) and Staffing Updates Newsletter. Historically, on the first day of school when you open your child's backpack, there are many forms for you to review, sign and send back. Many of these forms will be sent electronically, on or about August 29, 2025, under separate cover through Parent Square. You will have the ability to acknowledge these forms through Parent Square. These forms include, but are not limited to:

• Parent General Information
• Walker Permission
• Code of Conduct Information
• In District Field Trip Permission Form

Staffing Updates
Please take a moment to review the staffing updates newsletter below to meet our new team members and learn about recent staff changes.

Lunch Program Updates
As you may have read in Dr. Sinha’s email, we are excited to launch the Lunch for Every Learner program, which will provide free lunch to all students across the district this school year. Please take a moment to review the information in the link below, as it includes directions for registering and setting up your Payschools account, ordering instructions, water availability, menus, and answers to frequently asked questions. Be sure to check both the daily menu (which changes each day) and the items available every day regardless of the featured menu. Since pre-orders must be placed well in advance, it is important to review the information carefully.

Elementary Lunch Program Information

Building Updates
This summer, our dedicated buildings and grounds team worked hard to prepare Stratford for the new school year. Their efforts included replacing flooring in classrooms, touching up paint throughout the building, repaving the blacktop, and installing air conditioning in the lunchroom. We’re confident these upgrades will make our school an even more comfortable and welcoming place for our students.

The floors are shining and our building is ready for our students! 

Smart watches/Devices
As you may have read in Dr. Sinha's letter earlier this summer, we were required to develop a "distraction free schools" policy.  Please review the policy here.  The policy outlines information about electronic devices, how parents can contact students during the school day and exceptions that may be made for specific purposes. Consistency across all grades and classes will help maintain a focused learning environment. Our main office and nursing staff are very responsive. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call the main office or the nurse. Likewise, if your child needs to reach you, they will be allowed to come to the main office or nurse's office to make a call. Let's work together to keep our focus on learning, ensuring our students can achieve their best while they are here.

Arrivals/Dismissals:

• On the first day of school, please have your child bring their supplies and a few items which they may use to decorate the inside of their locker
• Please see the attachment for  Grade 2 Arrivals and Welcome (2nd Grade Arrival procedures are different for the first three days of school)
• Arrival time for students is 7:55 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. After 8:10 a.m., your student must enter through the Stratford Avenue doors to sign in on the late sheet and receive a pass to class
• If you have more than one child at Stratford, the older children will report to the classroom of their youngest sibling prior to dismissal so they may exit the building together for pick-up at one location
• Grade 2 and 3 dismiss from Stratford Avenue Main Doors (Grade 2 on the left when facing the building/Grade 3 on the right when facing the building)
• Grade 4 and 5 dismiss from Weyford Terrace exit
• If you need to pick up your child early, please do so no later than 2:15pm
• All early dismissal correspondence must be sent to the main office (fitzsimonsa@gcufsd.net, granatad@gcufsd.net) , the nurse (bajwap@gcufsd.net), and your child’s teacher/s.
• Important Arrival Reminders
  • Kildare Side: 
    • Enter from Stratford Ave and exit onto Newmarket Rd.
    • Students should exit on the curb side only
    • Do NOT pass other cars
    • If your child needs assistance, pull all the way up to the playground
    • Do not block driveways
    • If you wish to walk your child to the door, please park near the playground before exiting your car
  • Weyford Side: 
    • Pull all the way up to the end of the circle to allow as many cars as possible to fit. 
    • do NOT pass other cars. 

Lunch/Recess:

• Please see the attachment for our nut sensitive policy
• 2nd and 3rd Grade Lunch/Recess is 11:26 a.m. to 12:16 p.m. (2nd grade has lunch the first 25 minutes then has recess for 25 minutes/ 3rd grade has recess first then lunch)
• 4th and 5th Grade Lunch/Recess is 12:18 p.m. to 1:08 p.m. (4th grade has lunch the first 25 minutes then has recess for 25 minutes/ 5th grade has recess first then lunch

Additional Information: 
Bus schedules will be mailed to you by the end of this month from the transportation office. If you have not received your bus schedule by August 28, 2025, please call the transportation office at 516-478-1900.

I encourage you to join our PTA and SEPTA organizations. These organizations provide our schools with various programs and grants throughout the school year to support our students. You will receive information directly from the PTA via email.

Back to School Night is September 18, 2025 at 6:30PM-8:30PM.  More information will follow.  


At Stratford, we strive to develop a culture of learners who are creative problem solvers and thinkers through well designed lessons that foster a sense of inquiry and curiosity for all.  

I look forward to a successful school year as our students develop their curiosity for learning through interactive and engaging learning experiences.  

I hope your family had a wonderful summer! We can’t wait to see you in September!

Truly yours,
Chris Hartigan
Principal

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