2026-2027 Welcome Back Letter
|
 |
 |
Dear Parents, Guardians & Students,
It is that time of year again. Pumpkin Spice Lattes will be available in a few days! (August 25th) That also means a couple of things for us at the Intermediate School…
We have only a few more weeks to squeeze everything out of this summer we possibly can.
The start of another school year is right around the corner
Whether you are getting ready to enter the Intermediate School for the first time as a brand new 5th grader, or are getting set for your last first-day of middle school, we cannot wait to greet you at the front steps on September 8th. While we have loved spending time with our own families during summer, we also have been excitedly preparing for the coming year. Please use this letter as a guide for you as you begin your own family’s preparations for another school year. Take time to check off each step during these remaining summer weeks. Doing so ensures your family will be ready September 8th as well.
If you have any questions about the items in this letter please do not hesitate to call the Intermediate School at (631) 591-4700. You can also access this information and so much more by reading the SIS Parent Handbook which is attached to this message.
STEP 1: UPDATE FORMS IN POWERSCHOOL
PowerSchool Parent Portal & PowerSchool E-Collect Forms
Take a few moments to complete the E-Collect forms available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. These digital forms are designed to enhance your experience by simplifying the process of sharing essential information. The grade with the highest % of completed forms by the start of school will earn bonus points towards September grade of the month.
Log In: Access the PowerSchool Parent Portal using your credentials.
Navigate to Forms: On the left side bar, locate the "Forms" section within the portal.
Complete and Submit: Fill out the forms with accurate and current information for your child.
Please also ensure that emergency contacts are updated. Any adult wishing to pick up a student needs to be listed as an emergency contact.
Should you have any questions or encounter any difficulties while completing the forms, please do not hesitate to reach out to our dedicated support team: Tech Support Representative: Jordan Miranda, jmiranda@southamptonschools.org or Main Office secretary, RoseAnn Gentile at rgentile@southamptonschools.org
In order to participate in after school activities or to receive school issued devices, all Southampton Intermediate School parents/guardians and students must complete their online forms in PowerSchool at this time.
PowerSchool Student and Parent Login Page
*Parents can also click the forgot password, to reset it.
STEP 2: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PARENTSQUARE.
ParentSquare Communication Platform
ParentSquare is the school district’s primary form of communication. This platform will allow us to streamline all communication with our families. ParentSquare is used in many ways such as…
Daily Attendance Updates
Classroom Communications
Permission Slips
Appointment reservations with staff
Please make sure your contact information is updated in PowerSchool, as that is how your messages will be sent to you from the ParentSquare platform. Be sure to sign in and customize your settings, as you can change how you are notified of messages and also change the frequency of your notifications. Go to https://www.parentsquare.com/signin and put the email address you used in PowerSchool in the “Register” Box to get started!
Also, be sure to download the APP on your phone for faster and easier communication:
iPhone - Apple Store
Android - Google Play Store
If you need any assistance, please contact Main Office secretary, RoseAnn Gentile at rgentile@southamptonschools.org or Jordan Miranda in the Technology Office by emailing jmiranda@southamptonschools.org or by calling 631-591-4700
STEP 3: MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY FOR SCHOOL ON DAY 1!
First Day of School Information
Student Schedules
Dr. Tuthill, Director of Counseling, and the Counseling Department Staff cannot wait to welcome students back on Tuesday, September 8th. Counselors will be reviewing student schedules in mid to late August. It is important to note that schedules in the PowerSchool Student Portal will be available for viewing on Monday, August 31st. Posted schedules are still subject to change.
Parents, guardians, and students who are in need of assistance with accessing the student and parent PowerSchool portal are encouraged to email our technology support staff member, Jordan Miranda at jmiranda@southamptonschools.org. .
STEP 4: GET READY TO RETURN TO AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM SMART DEVICES
You cannot use/access a smart device (Phone, Watch, bluetooth headphones) during the school day
Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated a "distraction-free schools" policy in New York State, which includes a "bell-to-bell" ban on smartphone use in K-12 schools.
Students are prohibited from using internet-enabled personal devices, like smartphones, smartwatches, ear buds and personal laptops, from the moment they enter school until they leave.
Students who wish to call home or get in touch with their parents/guardians are permitted to use the phone in the Main Office, or Assistant Principal’s Office dedicated for this purpose.
School issued chromebooks and tablets are the only wifi enabled devices students are allowed to use during school hours.
Southampton Intermediate School will continue to use YONDR Pouches for the 26-27 school year.
Students will be issued a Yondr pouch and will be responsible for the care and custody of the pouch for the duration of the school year.
Students are required to lock their device(s) in their school issued Yondr pouches
Students will lock their smart devices in their Yondr pouches in front of a staff member upon entering the school building each day.
If a student forgets their Yondr pouch, they will be able to borrow a loaner pouch for the day.
To access Yondr pouches at the end of the day, unlocking magnets will be placed at the building exit when the bell rings at 2:30. Students will be able to manually unlock their pouches and use their devices at that time.
If a student claims to not have a smart device on them when entering the school building, they are assuming responsibility and will be held accountable for their actions if caught with a device. Students will sign a daily attestation that will be subject to the code of conduct if violated.
Student Devices (Chromebooks)
Southampton Intermediate School provides chromebooks for all students. Incoming 5th graders will be issued their chromebooks their first few days of school. Students in grades 6,7,8 that have not received their chromebook, or have issues with their device please contact Jordan Miranda in our Technology Office at jmiranda@southamptonschools.org.
ALL E-Collect Forms must be signed in order to receive your device.
STEP 5: MAKE SURE ALL REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS ARE UP TO DATE
Health & Safety Information
All students who are attending Southampton Intermediate School must be fully immunized as per New York State Department of Health guidelines. Please see the following resources below for information on immunization requirements. Questions can be directed to our school nurse, Ashley Kelley, at akelley@southamptonschools.org or by calling (631) 591-4712.
Students not in compliance with NYS vaccine requirements are subject to attendance exclusion from school. Immunization requirements and exclusion of non-compliant students must be strictly enforced. If you are struggling to locate a provider for vaccinations please reach out to the SIS main office for assistance.
STEP 6: BRING YOUR APPETITE
School Breakfast & Lunch
School breakfast and lunch will now be available to all SIS students at no cost throughout the 2026-2027 school year. Please note that all a la carte items above what is provided with a breakfast and/or lunch must be purchased at cost. These include bottled drinks, snacks, a second meal and more.
School breakfast will be available every day starting at 7:00 AM. Student lunch periods take place periods 5 - 7, or from 10:35 AM - 12:41 PM and will be indicated on student schedules. Please note that lunch periods are determined based on student programming and current grade level. Families can manage cafeteria purchases through MySchoolBucks.
Using MySchoolBucks, parents can...
Add funds to student accounts
Review purchase history
Monitor balances
Receive low balance alerts
Visit: www.MySchoolBucks.com
Students who do not participate in our school lunch program must bring their own food options with them in the morning. As in the past, students are prohibited from having outside food delivered to the intermediate school during lunch periods. Food deliveries for students, inclusive of those ordered through mobile apps, are strictly prohibited. Please note that food deliveries will be turned away at the main entrance and that Southampton Intermediate School is not responsible for money lost through these types of transactions.
Lastly, we highly encourage all parents and guardians to complete and submit the annual lunch forms as in the past. Submission of these forms will allow all qualified families to continue to receive important benefits like the free and/or reduced lunch program.
STEP 7: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO ARRIVE AND HOW TO LEAVE!
Student Arrival, Dismissal and Bus Information
All students are encouraged to take our school buses to and from school each day. The Southampton Transportation Department and Montauk Bus will be communicating bus route numbers and pick up/dropoff locations prior to the start of school. Questions regarding bus transportation can be directed to the Southampton Transportation Department at (631) 591-4541 or Montauk Bus at (631) 874-5300. All students must be outside their bus stop in the morning 10 minutes before the busses scheduled arrival.
For those who choose parental/guardian transportation, select staff members will be out front of the Intermediate School to assist in that process. Morning drop off and afternoon pick up will take place on Leland Lane directly in front of the Intermediate School. A village crossing guard will be on hand during morning arrival and dismissal, as well. We ask that all parents and guardians follow the directions of security staff to ensure everyone’s safety.
Dismissals
2:30
All students at SIS will be dismissed after period 10 extra help at 2:30 PM. All students are required to remain at SIS for Extra Help. It is encouraged that if you know you will pick up your child early from school you do so before 2:00 pm.
4:00
Secondly, we will be offering a late bus for students who stay at SIS for tutoring and clubs. Bus access will be given through student passes handed out daily. (Parents will be notified when clubs begin–October tentative start)
5:30
The SIS late bus for 7th and 8th grade students participating in fall sports will depart approximately 5:30 PM. All students enrolled in a fall sport should have received an email invitation to sign up for the late bus runs. Please note that this is a shared bus with SHS.These stops are communal and may require students to walk varied distances after being dropped off.
It is also important to note that dismissal at SIS is an independent process for all students, including 5th graders. We encourage parents to have direct conversations with their children about their after school plans. Students choosing to walk into town and return to SIS will not be permitted back in the building. It is also the school's expectation that any students walking into town conduct themselves appropriately. Specific questions about this expectation can be directed to Assistant Principal, Dr. Epley at nepley@southamptonschools.org.
STEP 8: SAVE THE DATES
5th Grade Orientation
We look forward to meeting with incoming 5th grade students and families on Tuesday August 25th from 9am-11am.
Meet the Teacher Night
Southampton Intermediate School’s Meet the Teacher night is scheduled for Thursday September 17th at 6:00 PM. Please save the date and be on the look out for program details as we come closer to the evening.
Multicultural Night
SIS Annual Multicultural Night is Thursday October 22nd at 6:00pm. If you would like to support this event by cooking and sharing a cultural food dish, craft, or activity please reach out to Ms. RoseAnn Gentile in the SIS Main office at (631) 591-4700
We encourage all parents and students to visit the Southampton Intermediate School webpage often for all of the latest news and information. We are very excited to start off the 2026-2027 school year and look forward to welcoming our students on Tuesday, September 8th
In Partnership,
Patrick Bentsen
Principal
Nick Epley Ed.D
Assistant Principal
|
