Dear A.W. Becker Community:
I hope you’ve enjoyed a restful, rejuvenating summer and are making the most of these final days with family and friends. On behalf of the entire team at A.W. Becker Elementary, we’re delighted to welcome you to the 2025–26 school year. We can’t wait to greet our students when school begins in just a few short weeks.
This letter has some important information for the start of the school year. As always, the latest news can be found on our school website at www.rcscsd.org.
Our first full day of school is on Thursday, September 4th. As a reminder, regular school hours are as follows:
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
At A.W. Becker, we pride ourselves in meeting every child’s needs and creating targeted action plans for continuous improvement. As a building, targets are created annually and reviewed consistently to increase reading and math grade level proficiency and to support our students’ social emotional needs through various programs, such as our school-wide positive behavioral student support system (PBIS). We will work with every student, help them to track their progress and watch them shine as they grow. Our mission is your child’s success.
Happenings at AWB
New Faces in AWB Positions: Traci Johnson (Assistant Principal), Caroline Waleur (Special Education), Jennifer Wallace (English as a New Language), Marybeth Bohl (Main Office), Simon Lindmark (Music/Band), Savannah Slay (Reading / Long Term Substitute), Colleen Bonacci / Lisa Saltis (SPED / Long Term Substitute)
Back to School Night (Grades 1-5) - Wednesday, September 24th; More details about this night will be sent out as we get closer to this date.
School meals (breakfast and lunch) will be provided at no charge this year as our school has qualified under the USDA and State Education Department guidelines for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). It is still important for those who qualify to fill out the appropriate paperwork because it is important for the district's aid and funding.
Parent Pickup - Parent Pickup will again be at the side door of the building, with the exception of Pre-K families, you will pick up your child at the main entrance from their teacher. If you are going to pick your child up, we ask you notify the main office by 3:00 pm so we can make the classroom teacher aware.
Supply Dropoff - Families are welcome to come into school to drop off their supplies, meet their teacher, and see their classroom on Wednesday, September 3rd from 8:00 - 8:30 am. There is a hard cutoff at 8:30 am because the staff have a scheduled training starting at that time.
Placement Letters - Placement letters will be mailed out on Monday, August 25th.
As always, you will find the latest updates, important school events, and links to newsletters on our official school website. You are encouraged to sign up for ParentSquare, and check email and the RCS website for the latest news and guidance. We will again practice being environmentally friendly and reduce paper this year. Thus, our A.W. Becker Handbook which contains the Code of Conduct, as well as pertinent other forms, resources and points of reference, will be posted on our website. If you do not have internet access, a copy of the handbook will be available in the main office in September.
Our dedicated staff is already hard at work planning and preparing for the return of our students. From our office team and custodians to our incredible teaching staff, everyone is focused on providing your family with the best educational experience and a welcoming, supportive environment.
I want to extend a special thank you to our wonderful PTA as they gear up for another exciting school year. Their commitment to enriching our students’ experience through engaging events and valuable programs makes a tremendous difference.
By supporting the PTA’s fundraising efforts throughout the year, you’re playing a vital role in helping our students and school thrive. We’re grateful for your partnership and support as we begin a great new year together!
To contact and/or join our PTA, please use this provided link.
I will be sending out a monthly newsletter via ParentSquare, but here are some important dates to start the school year:
August 28th: Pre-K & Kindergarten Welcome Start
September 3rd: Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 pm at RCS High School
September 4th: First day of School
September 5th: PTA Ice Cream Social; AWB Playground, 5:00 pm
September 10th: PTA Meeting - 6:00 pm at AWB
September 17th: Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 pm at RCS High School
September 24th: Back to School Night (Grades 1 - 5)
September 26th: AWB Apple Run
If I can help with anything throughout the school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call the main office at 518-756-5200 ext. 5000 or email me at sdoran@rcscsd.org. I eagerly look forward to welcoming our students back on September 4th.
Best regards,
Stephen Doran
A.W. Becker Principal