Principal's Message
Message From The Principal
August 6, 2026
Dear Betty Jane Families,
I hope everyone was able to enjoy a restful summer with loved ones. We are looking forward to seeing everyone as we kick off the new academic year! As we head into the remaining weeks of August, there are a few reminders and updates that I want to make sure all families are aware of.
Students are still not required to wear uniforms. Please keep in mind that we will still be following the Akron Schools Dress Code for appropriate attire, which is outlined in the Parent Handbook mailed to your home this week. The school supply list for every grade level can be found on the Betty Jane website (bettyjaneclc.akronschools.com).
A new policy that has been adopted is the requirement of clear bags for spectators entering school-sponsored events, such as football games and performances. I wanted to make families aware of this so you are able to keep an eye open for these products as you complete your back-to-school shopping.
There will be a Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM in our cafeteria. This will be for all incoming kindergarten students enrolled at Betty Jane. Kindergarten students will receive their homeroom assignments during this time.
Our Open House will be held on August 25, 2026, from 3:00-5:00 PM. Classroom assignments for this school year were displayed on report cards at the end of last year. Room numbers for this year are also visible in your child's Home Access account.
The first day of school for grades 1-5 is August 27th.
We will be conducting screenings for all students in kindergarten on August 27th and August 28th from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. Families of students entering kindergarten may wish to opt out of attending the general Open House, and instead meet teachers during their scheduled screening times or during Kindergarten Orientation on August 20th. If you have not been contacted to schedule a kindergarten screening appointment, please call the school office and we will be happy to assist you.
The first day of school for grades Kindergarten is August 31st.
Important Daily Times:
7:55 AM: Drop-off only for students eating breakfast. Student entry for breakfast will be through the gym doors. (Please note: There is no supervision prior to 7:55 AM. Students may not, under any circumstances, be left outside prior to this time as it presents a safety concern. If you need support with morning childcare, please contact the school office and we can provide resources regarding local daycares that assist with morning childcare.)
8:15 AM-8:25 AM: Student drop-off at the main entrance. Students may enter the building to report to class at 8:15 AM.
8:30 AM: Tardy bell.
2:30 PM: Dismissal.
Please note: The district has chosen to have staggered start dates for various grades this school year to assist with transitions.
Upcoming Dates Overview:
⚫ August 11th & 12th: Backpack Adventure for all K-5 students (Akron Zoo, 4:00-8:00 PM)
⚫ August 20th: Kindergarten Orientation (11:00 AM-12:00 PM)
⚫ August 25th: Open House (3:00-5:00 PM)
⚫August 27th: First day of school for students in grades 1-5
⚫ August 27th & 28th: Kindergarten Screenings (by appointment, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM)
⚫ August 31st: First day of school for Kindergarten students
The entire staff wishes to thank you for selecting Betty Jane Community Learning Center. We look forward to continuing our partnership in supporting your child's education. Together, we can make a difference in the education, safety, well-being, and future of every child.
Over the first few days of school, you can expect to see quite a bit of correspondence, such as classroom schedules and norms for learners. The All-Call System, emails, and our website will be used to inform you of school activities and events throughout the year. Please also refer to our Betty Jane link on the Akron Public Schools webpage for additional announcements and celebrations.
I have also included our school entry and drop-off procedures below for your reference as you plan your daily routines for the upcoming school year. We look forward to meeting each of you during our 2026 Open House and Kindergarten Screening appointments. Should you have questions, please contact the school office at (330) 761-2602. Enjoy the remainder of your summer!
Sincerely,
Ms. Lucas
Principal, Betty Jane CLC
BETTY JANE ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Arrival Procedures
Breakfast (7:55 AM): Breakfast begins at 7:55 AM and students may enter through the gymnasium doors at that time. Students cannot arrive earlier than 7:55 AM; dropping your child off prior to this presents a safety risk as staff supervision is not available before 7:55 AM.
General Entry (8:15 AM): If your child is not eating breakfast, drop-off is no earlier than 8:15 AM at the front doors (Door #1). Students are not considered tardy until 8:30 AM.
Front Drop-Off Guidelines:
1. Pull All the Way Forward: Pull your car all the way up to the end of the front awning so multiple vehicles can unload simultaneously under the covered area-especially on rainy days.
2. Single Drop-Off Spot: There is only one designated drop-off zone (not separate zones for breakfast and main doors), so please pull all the way to the end of the curb lane.
3. Stay in One Lane: Do not pull around and in front of another vehicle assuming they are at a different drop-off spot. Please wait your turn to pull all the way forward. All students may exit their vehicle from the flagpole forward and proceed to their designated door. When cars stop directly in front of the main doors instead of pulling forward, traffic backs up and delays entry for everyone.
4. Parking Lot Traffic: The parking lot contains two lanes (a curb lane for drop-off and a pass-through lane for exiting). Please use caution as you merge to exit the parking lot.
Dismissal Procedures
Dismissal is a busy time as we work to ensure every student exits and travels home safely.
• Early Sign-Outs: Please schedule doctor or dental appointments before 2:00 PM or after 3:00 PM. There will be no student sign-outs after 2:00 PM. Early sign-outs cause significant disruptions during final classroom instruction and delay dismissal for the entire building. Daily early sign-outs count against your child's attendance records under House Bill 410, which requires schools to report truancy based on accumulated hours rather than days. Please help us protect daily end-of-day instructional time.
• Early Appointment Parking: If you are picking up a child before 2:00 PM for an appointment, park in the front parking lot (south of the crosswalk) or in the staff parking lot. Cars parked in the main drop-off area during active dismissal will not be able to exit until approximately 2:45 PM (or when the vehicle pick-up line clears).
• Alternate Pick-Up Option: If you prefer not to wait in the vehicle pick-up line, you may arrange to meet your child across the street on Darrow Rd. where they will cross with the adult crossing guard.
• Vans & Daycares: Students riding school or daycare vans will be escorted to the main office area to line up and be walked to their vans. Vans pull into the frontage lane off Darrow Rd.; please keep the crosswalk areas clear so staff can safely guide students.
• Walkers & Park-and-Walk Parents: Students who walk home or who are met on foot by parents will be dismissed through the back playground doors. Only students riding in the vehicle pick-up line will exit through the front doors. If you park across the street and walk over to meet your child, you must wait for them at the back playground. For student safety, crossing in front of active pick-up traffic to reach parked cars is not permitted. The back parking lot is reserved strictly for staff and school transportation. Please walk the designated route from the playground to the side path (next to the retention pond) to cross Darrow Road with the adult crossing guard.
• Car Riders (Vehicle Pick-Up Line): Display your assigned number card clearly on your front dashboard so staff members can read it and bring your child to your vehicle efficiently. This system keeps students safe, dry, and warm inside while waiting.
If your child is not picked up by 2:45 PM, they will be escorted to the main office, where an adult must enter to sign them out. Frequent late pick-ups will require a meeting with the principal to arrange after-school childcare options.
CAR PICK-UP DIAGRAM
Our car drop-off and pick-up line follows the same route for both morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. Please refer to the attached diagram for the vehicle route. Parking in the lots during active arrival and dismissal hours is strictly prohibited.
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
The district desires to rectify any misunderstandings between the public and the district by directly discussing them in an informal, timely manner among the interested parties. The APS district procedure for resolving any oral or written misunderstandings or complaints from parents and/or stakeholders concerned with the appropriate delivery of services to children is simple and straightforward. All complainants should first contact the child’s teacher, if applicable, to attempt to resolve any issues. If not resolved, the appropriate procedure is to contact the dean of students and/or assistant principal (if applicable), then the building principal. In most cases, problems can be quickly resolved at the building level. If not resolved at the building, contact the executive director of elementary education (330) 761-3077. (General Provisions Regulations, at 34 CFR Sections 299.10-299.12)
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