Welcome to Ord Terrace! July 31st, 2026 Otter Talk (newsletter)

Dear Ord Terrace Families,

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year at Ord Terrace Elementary School! We want to welcome families who are new to Ord Terrace, as well as welcome back returning families! We are excited about the new school year and look forward to seeing all of you on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 5th at 8:00 a.m! Dismissal that day will be at 12:50 p.m. Dismissal on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays is at 2:25 p.m., except for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten which will be at 12:50 p.m. Monday-Friday, August 5th through August 21st.

If you are a returning family and have not updated your child's information in ParentVue, office staff will be available every weekday starting Thursday, August 6th 8:15 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. to assist you. However, if you are able to do so, please update your information as soon as possible. The link is here. This is mandatory for all returning students.

Class lists will be available at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4th. Each parent will receive a message in ParentSquare with their child's teacher assignment, and class lists will be posted in front of the school. Teachers are working collaboratively to create class lists that are balanced, so we will not be making changes except in rare circumstances. Parents will also be able to access this in ParentVue!

All supplies your child needs to be successful at school will be provided for them, so the only thing we request is that your child bring a backpack. We have some extra backpacks for families who need some. A list of suggested donations will be provided soon. Chromebooks will be checked out to students soon. All 1st-6th graders are allowed to take them home each day if they are charged consistently.

The visitor/parent/guardian parking lot is near the office. The parking lot on the east side of the school is for staff only. Parents/guardians can drop off students in the drop-off zone in front of the school (please avoid the bus zone). At dismissal, students can be picked up in the front of the school by the flag pole area. Parents/guardians should park and walk to the flag pole areas since students are not allowed to be picked up in the drop-off zones.

Students are allowed to have cell phones at school, but they must be turned off and put away. We recommend students do not bring phones. If a student is observed using their phone on campus, they will be asked to put it away. If this continues, the phone will be confiscated and a parent will need to come get it, and the student may be required to check the phone into the office daily. If students need to contact a family member from school, they can use the office phone. This policy supports our goal of protecting instructional time, reducing distractions, and supporting student connections. If your child has a special circumstance that you are concerned about, please reach out to us.

All TK/Kinder parents/guardians are welcome to join us Saturday, August 1st 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the front kinder playground to meet the teachers and office staff, and learn more about TK and kinder! Free food!

Join us for Back to School Night on Monday, August 24th 5:30-7:00 p.m! Learn more about our school and your child's classroom expectations and programs!

We have had extensive renovations completed at Ord Terrace! New flooring, drywall, electrical outlets, cabinets, sinks, blinds, front windows, and more were installed! Some final work will be completed after school starts, but there should not be any disruptions to student learning experiences. We will have a special celebration and ribbon-cutting to celebrate soon!

Join us for our first Coffee with the Leaders on Tuesday, August 11th 8:00-9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria (multipurpose room)! We will be available to present information about volunteering opportunities, school policies, and more! We will also answer questions and ask for input about priorities for the year!