2026-2027 Welcome Back Letter
Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,
Welcome to the start of the 2026–2027 school year! I hope your summer was filled with relaxation, adventure, and meaningful time with loved ones. As your principal, it is my absolute privilege to welcome both our returning families and those joining our school community for the first time.
Our Focus for the Year:
This year, our core priority is building a culture of belonging, curiosity, and growth (MUSD's Culture of We). We are committed to ensuring that every student feels safe, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential. Here at Sinnott, we strive to create an environment where students feel empowered to embrace challenges and to support one another by practicing random acts of kindness.
Key Dates & Reminders:
To help you prepare for a smooth transition back to campus, please take note of the following upcoming events and details:
First Day of School- Thursday, August 13th, 2026 (Start time 8:00 am)
August 13th and August 14th are both minimum days- TK/K: Dismissal Time-11:55 am and 1st-6th Grade Dismissal Time-12:35 pm
Class Assignments will be posted in front of the office, Friday, August 7th after 4:00 pm.
Sinnott is a uniform school. Please review the school website for further information. Students must wear closed toe shoes on campus; they are not allowed to wear Crocs. Tops: Navy, white, burgundy, grey, light blue, black, and school spirit wear. Bottoms: Navy, tan khaki, burgundy, grey, and black.
School Safety:
Patience and Focus: The parking lot and surrounding streets will be busy, especially during the first few weeks. Please stay alert, avoid using mobile phones while driving, and give yourself extra time during arrival and dismissal.
Staff Parking Lot: There is no student drop off or pick up in the staff parking lot which is off Yellowstone Avenue. Use the designated drop off areas only (Loop in front of the school and side parking lot next to Rancho Middle School)
Designated Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zones: Always pull up as far as possible in the designated curb lane before allowing your child to exit or enter the vehicle. Please do not drop off or pick up students in active traffic lanes or parking lot aisles.
Student Drop Off and Pick up: In order to keep all students safe, it is important that we keep our gates closed. After the bell rings at 8:00 am, parents must immediately leave the campus unless conducting school business or volunteering. In the morning, the campus should be cleared no later than 8:02 am. After dismissal, parents with students in TK or K are not permitted to wait on campus for your older children to finish school. TK/K parents may wait in the front of the school for your older students. All families must leave the campus by 2:10pm so that the campus can be secured for our after school programs. TK-6th grade students are not permitted to play on the playgrounds after school. The playground and blacktop will re-open at 6:00pm once the after school programs are over for the day.
Pedestrian Safety: Remind your children to use designated crosswalks at all times. If you park and walk your child to campus, please use the sidewalks and crosswalks rather than walking through active traffic lanes.
Bikes and Scooters: Students must wear helmets if they are riding bikes or scooters to school. If students are not wearing the appropriate safety equipment, we will reach out to inform families of the lack of a helmet. If they continue to not wear a helmet, students will no longer be allowed to bike or ride their scooters to school.
Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff members, student safety patrol, and city crossing guards are on duty to keep traffic flowing smoothly and protect our students. Please follow their directions and treat them with courtesy.
Lunch and Meal Application:
At Sinnott, breakfast and lunch are free for students.
All Families: Complete the meal application. You can find the application here, mealapp.musd.org, This was also sent out via Parent Square earlier this week. Please complete the application even if you believe your family does not qualify.
A Note on Birthday Celebrations at School:
We love recognizing our students on their special days. Please note that while birthday treats are always welcome, they are never required.
If you do choose to send something in to celebrate with the class, we strongly encourage considering non-edible items (such as fun pencils, stickers, mini erasers, or bookmarks) or healthy treats (like fruit pouches, pretzels, or popcorn). Non-edible options are especially helpful, as they ensure all students—including those with severe food allergies or specific dietary restrictions—can safely join in the celebration.
Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms safe, inclusive, and focused on healthy habits.
Attendance:
Elementary school is the foundation of all learning, so your child’s daily attendance is extremely important. Students are tardy if they are not in their seats or in line by 8:00 am. If your child is late, they will need to check in at the office prior to going to the classroom. Families of students who are frequently late or chronically absent will be subject to our truancy process. Not only do we miss our students when they are not on campus but truancy has a negative impact on their academic and social wellbeing.
We look forward to seeing you and your children on the first day of school. Thank you for your partnership, trust, and commitment to making our school a safe and vibrant place to learn. Together, we are going to make this a wonderful school year!
Warmly,
Tawiah Burroughs
Principal, John Sinnott Elementary
(408) 635-2674