Dear Summerwind STEM Academy Families,
We are so excited to see our students and welcome everyone back to the new school year. Below is valuable information that we want to share with our families.
Our Meet and Greet is scheduled for the morning of August 12th from 8:30am to 9:20am. You will have an opportunity to drop off school supplies, say hello to your students’ teachers, and take those first day of school photos. Please enter through the classroom back doors. There will be staff available outside to assist you and supervise students once parents say goodbye. Flyer linked here: Meet & Greet Flyer 2026
Kindergarten Parents Only: PTO will be hosting a “Boo Hoo” Breakfast in the Staff Lounge for Kindergarten parents only beginning at 8:45 to 9:30am. Look for the signs to direct you to the location.
There will be a special Kindergarten Orientation on the afternoon of August 11th at 4:00pm to assist our newest Supersonics as they begin their school careers. Parents will also enter through the classroom backdoors for this event. There will be signs and staff to assist on this day as well.
At the Meet & Greet Families will have a chance to sign up for Free & Reduced School Lunch and learn more about our nutrition program.
Please note that student devices will be distributed by teachers during the first two weeks of school.
First Day of School
The first day of school is August 12th. Students who are not accompanied by an adult for Meet & Greet that morning may be dropped off beginning at 9:10am. The tardy bell will ring at 9:25am for the school day to begin. School will conclude at 3:55pm.
New Staff Members and Staff Updates
Please welcome our new staff members who have joined the Summerwind STEM Academy team this year. These changes include:
Asst. Principal: Jennifer Handley (please note our Asst. Principal will be here on M, TH, F)
3rd Grade: Shasta Gilder
GT: Sonnet Gunter
RR Teacher: Marissa Anshutz
ERR Paraprofessional: Morgan Link
Head Secretary: Lori Wheeler
Asst. Secretary: Michelle Schilli
Nurse: Claudia Rickerby
Health Tech: Ashley Taylor
And we have some staff members who have moved positions. These changes include:
Kindergarten: Katie Reynolds (formally 1st Grade)
1st Grade: Suzie Pozos (formally 4th Grade)
4th Grade: Sidney Kornberg (formally 5th Grade)
IMPORTANT DROP OFF/PICK UP Procedures
In order to support a safe and secure school, please review our drop off and pick up processes. Flyer linked here: SW STEM Drop off Pick up 26-27
Please see the highlights below.
1. We have a designated parent pick-up vehicle area that is directly in front of the school. Students and parents are not permitted on our long peninsula that separates the two parking lots.
2. Beginning August 24th, no parents will be permitted past our safety gates at drop-off/pick up. This means you are no longer meeting your students at their classroom back doors. We will allow parents in this area for the first week and half of school to allow for a successful transition into the new year.
3. Kindergarten families in rooms 1 and 2 will be picking up their students on the lines just outside the safety gate that leads to the elementary playground.
4. No dogs are allowed on school property during our closed campus hours from 7:30am to 4:30pm.
5. We are a closed campus from 7:30am to 4:30pm. If you want to stay and play after school, please exit to Jullion Park next door until 4:30pm.
Device Protection Information
Each student is provided with a one-to-one device. WASD provides an Optional Device Protection Plan. It is only $25 for the year. Please see the link to this valuable information here: Device Protection Program Information
Durham BUS Transportation Updates
West Ada School District partners with Durham Transportation. If you need bus transportation, login into PowerSchool to complete the Request for Transportation form. Please visit our district website for further information. The link to that page is provided here: WASD Transportation Page
School Supplies
The school supply list can be found on our school website. The list is also linked here: School Supply List 26-27
If you need assistance with school supplies, please let your student’s teacher know. Our team will be able to support any students’ needs.
Elementary Handbook Reminders
Parents and students acknowledge receipt of awareness to the elementary handbook in PowerSchool. It is linked here for you as well. 26-27 Elementary Handbook
A few important reminders below:
1. Please do not send your student to school with any type of playground equipment or toys, etc.
2. Our WASD Elementary Student Handbook clarifies that no hats will be allowed in the building at any elementary school.
3. A friendly reminder that Summerwind STEM Academy does not allow students to access or use cell phones, device watches, or other communication gadgets during the school day. Students will be directed to place these devices in their backpack before entering the classroom for the day. Parents or students who bring any electronic device to school or to a school activity do so at their own risk. West Ada School District and its schools assume no liability for damage, theft, etc. Recording or taking pictures is prohibited on district property (including buses) unless approved by the building administration. If the policies are violated, administrators will determine consequences based on the severity of the incident. Additionally, on the first offense, students will receive a warning, and on the second office, the device will be confiscated until a parent/guardian retrieves it from the front office/administration. Please see our school’s “Away for the Day” information page regarding this policy. SWSA Away for the Day
School Hours
Students should not arrive at the school grounds before 8:55am and should be picked up before 4:10pm. There is no supervision before 8:45am or after 4:10pm. The tardy bell rings at 9:10am except on Wednesdays. On Late Start Wednesdays, students may be dropped off no earlier than 9:10am. A link to the K-5 bell schedule can be found here: https://www.westada.org/page/bell-schedules
Regular School Day Start Day
8:55am Drop Off (NO STUDENTS prior to 8:55am)
9:10am Tardy Bell
3:55pm Release Time for ALL Students
Wednesday Collaboration/Late
9:10am Drop Off (NO STUDENTS prior to 9:10am)
9:25 Tardy Bell
3:55pm Release Time for ALL Students
Required Pick up by 4:10pm everyday
In addition, we will be providing staggered dismissal times to provide for a safe and orderly exit for students. Students will be dismissed in the following order:
3:51 Pick up Students and Day Care Vans
3:53 Walkers
3:55 Bus
Cafeteria Schedule
The grade level lunch start times are listed below. Please note that there are three grade levels that will play first and eat second. This is noted by an asterisk*. The times listed below are the times that students begin their lunch recess. A friendly reminder that parents cannot each lunch at school with your students. You are welcome to check them out and take them to the park.
11:45 Kindergarten
11:55 1st Grade
11:55 3rd Grade*
12:05 2nd Grade*
12:05 4th Grade
12:15 5th Grade*
Please note that it is difficult to pull a student from lunch recess, and we ask that you consider this when arranging for any appointments that your student(s) may have during the year.
Recess
K-5 students will all have a morning and afternoon recess every day except for late start Wednesday when there will not be a morning recess. We are going to start a new program called Walking Wednesdays this year. Be on the lookout for more information in the first few weeks of school.
This year we are TEAMING up for success! GOOOOOO SUPERSONICS!
Thank you,
Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Handley, and the Summerwind STEM Staff
