Dear parents,
We love seeing our students' enthusiasm and creativity at school, but we need your help with a quick reminder regarding personal items brought from home—such as squishies, pop-its, action figures, trading cards, and small toys.
Recently, we’ve seen a large influx of these items coming to students' desks during instructional time. This has led to a few daily challenges in our classrooms:
Items becoming a major distraction during lessons and independent work
Other students touching or taking items without permission
Misplaced or damaged items leading to upset feelings
Our Class Expectations:
Recess Only: Personal toys, squishies, and non-essential fidgets are welcome during outdoor recess time, provided students take responsibility for them.
In Backpacks During Class: All personal items must stay inside students' backpacks from the morning bell until recess, and immediately go back into backpacks when class resumes.
Exceptions for IEP Accommodations:
The only exception to this rule is for students who have specific sensory or focus accommodations outlined in their Individual Education Plan (IEP). For those students, fidgets are considered learning tools. We kindly ask that any IEP-supported fidget brought to school is silent and non-disruptive to surrounding peers (e.g., quiet stress balls).
Thank you so much for your support in discussing this with your child at home! Helping them keep their desks clear allows everyone to focus, keeps personal belongings safe, and ensures our classroom remains a positive learning environment for all.
