McSwain Union Elementary School District Home

Dear McSwain Community,
I hope you are doing well. As warmer weather is expected over the next several days, we want to provide families with a reminder about the measures we use to keep students safe and comfortable while at school.
Physical Education Adjustments
On warmer days, Physical Education activities may be modified to include less strenuous exercises. When necessary, instruction may move indoors to air conditioned spaces such as classrooms, the cafeteria, or the gym.
Cooler Recess Options
Students will have access to air conditioned spaces during recess when needed to limit prolonged heat exposure.
Activity Scheduling
Strenuous outdoor activities, such as running, may be scheduled earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler.
Transportation
We use air conditioned buses for our morning and afternoon routes to help keep students comfortable during transportation.
We also encourage families to send students to school with a refillable water bottle each day. Hydration stations are available throughout both campuses, allowing students to refill their bottles and remain hydrated.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students remain healthy, safe, and ready to learn during warmer days.
Stay cool and hydrated!
Best regards,
Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District

Hello Mustang Families!

There is no Mustang Express this week because there is simply too much information I want to make sure you know about! Please take a few minutes to check out this week's updates and opportunities below.

Join Our McSwain Committees!
We are looking for parents, guardians, and community members who are interested in participating on one of our McSwain committees. Our committees include administrators, parents, community members, and staff, and your participation and input are valuable to our school community.

School Site Council (SSC)

The SSC plays a vital role in developing and reviewing school policies and ensuring our students have access to the best educational resources. The council collaborates with administration, teachers, parents, and students to help create a well-rounded and effective learning environment.

Members of the SSC will also serve on the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), helping to support and advocate for our English Learner students and their families. Meetings will be held primarily after school and outside of school hours.

Wellness Committee

The Wellness Committee is dedicated to promoting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our students and staff. The committee helps plan and implement wellness initiatives to ensure McSwain remains a healthy and supportive place for everyone.

Meetings will be held after school.

Safety Committee

The Safety Committee focuses on maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members of the McSwain community. The committee reviews safety protocols, conducts drills, and works to prevent and address potential hazards on campus.

Meetings will be held after school.

If you are interested in participating in one or more of these committees, please fill out the attached Committee Interest Form.

NWEA MAP Assessment Window: September 9–23
Our first NWEA MAP assessment window of the school year will take place September 9–23.

NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments help determine students' instructional levels and measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year.

Students in grades 1–8 take MAP assessments in Reading and Math during the fall, winter, and spring. Kindergarten students take MAP assessments during the winter and spring. Students in grades 4–8 also take the MAP assessment in Science.

MAP assessments are adaptive and are taken on a computer. This means the assessment adjusts based on a student's responses. When a student answers questions correctly, the questions become more difficult. When a student answers a question incorrectly, the questions become easier. This allows each student to take an assessment based on their learning level.

MAP results are reported using RIT scores rather than a traditional percentage correct. The RIT scale allows us to measure student growth in learning over time and helps teachers identify areas on which to focus attention for student learning.

MAP results are an important tool for monitoring student growth. We also use the results to help identify students for intervention and to measure overall student growth and mastery throughout the year.

McSwain Birthday Book Club


The McSwain Birthday Book Club is a fundraiser that helps support our school libraries!

During their birthday month, students will receive a packet with information about the Birthday Book Club. Families who choose to participate donate $25, and their student gets to select one of our brand-new library books. A sticker is placed inside the book recognizing that the student donated it for their birthday.

Participating students also get to choose a birthday pencil and bookmark, have their picture taken for our Birthday Book Club bulletin board, and are invited to a special library birthday party at the end of the year.

The Birthday Book Club helps us add new books to our McSwain libraries for all of our students to enjoy.

Please see the attached Birthday Book Club flyer for additional information, including how to register online.

Thank you, Mustang Families, for your continued support and involvement in our school community!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hello McSwain Community,
I hope you are doing well. Last week, we shared information with our school community regarding the process for becoming a Tier 1 or Tier 2 volunteer.

As part of our volunteer opportunities at McSwain, we are seeking a few dedicated volunteers to assist with morning crosswalk supervision from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Volunteers will help ensure that our students arrive on campus safely.

If you are interested, please complete the volunteer interest form below. Once submitted, a member of our team will contact you to confirm available dates and complete the required onboarding process.

All volunteers will need to attend a short training session before starting.

If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form, and we will be in contact with those who would like to participate.

Thank you for helping us create a safe and supportive environment for our students.


Road Construction

Road Construction will soon begin on Buhach Road between State Route 140 and SP Avenue.

The work is expected to continue through September 28, with one-way traffic control in the construction area.

Vehicles will still be permitted through the area; however, delays should be expected. Please allow additional travel time when arriving at and departing from school.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Best regards,
Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District

Greetings McSwain Mustangs,


Now that we are back in the full swing of school, we want to share some important reminders and updates regarding student transportation. Please review the attached Transportation Best Practices & Expectations document for complete details. It is attached to this email.


Our Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation (MOT) Department has been working hard to ensure a safe and smooth start to the school year.


Transportation Safety Policies & Expectations

Please review these guidelines with your student:

Arrive on time: Be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes early.


Wait safely: Stand back from the curb or roadway and avoid pushing or crowding.


Follow directions: Listen to and follow the driver’s instructions.


Stay seated: Keep aisles clear and remain seated while the bus is in motion. Seat changes are only allowed if directed by the driver.


Use quiet voices: Loud noises can distract the driver.


No throwing objects: This includes inside the bus and out the windows.


Keep it clean: No litter, food, or drinks on the bus.


Show respect: Be courteous to the driver and other students; use appropriate language.


Bus Rules & Consequences

Students who violate bus rules may receive a bus referral, which can result in a warning or suspension of transportation privileges.


The driver will notify parents for the first offense and contact them by phone for subsequent offenses.


Suspension from the bus includes all school activities requiring bus transportation during that period.


TK–2 students must have an adult in clear sight at drop-off. Without an adult present, the student will be returned to school.


Three or more “no receiver” instances may result in suspension of bus privileges.


Students causing damage to bus property will be responsible for repair costs.


Repeated refusal to follow rules may result in the loss of transportation services.


Additional Transportation Information

Bus Capacity: All buses are currently full. New requests will be placed on a waitlist. Please contact the office for new requests.


Morning Drop-Off: Campus gates open at 7:30 a.m.


Attendance for Riders: If a student does not ride for three consecutive days without notice, their seat may be reassigned to a waitlisted student.


Sports Transportation: McSwain will not provide transportation to athletic events this year. Families are responsible for arranging rides to and from games as has been done in the past.


For a helpful review, check out the Mr. Lance Talks video attached, which goes over school bus expectations in a fun, engaging way.


Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe and our buses running smoothly.


Best,

Mr. Pannu