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Tomorrow is Meet the Teacher Day! Bring your school supplies and get your students ready for the big day! Reminder: we split the morning into two times: Last names A-M 9:00am-10:00am. Last names N-Z 10:00am-11:00am.
Read our Back to School Special Edition of the Digital Dolphin and check out the Back-to-School page on the MES website for more info!
Parents and caregivers may walk students to classrooms on the first two days only. Starting day three, students will walk in independently using a colored dot wayfinding system, with staff available to assist.
Parking reminders: On-campus parking is reserved for staff. Short-term parking is available at Haygood Church and along the Sunken Garden (please respect neighbors and do not park on East Rock Springs, as it's reserved for bus unloading.
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Jul 31: Pikmykid Deadline
Aug 1: Meet the Teacher Day
Aug 3: Parent Work Day
Aug 4: First day of school
Aug 4: Coffee and Kleenex
Aug 7: GATE Parent Meeting
Aug 8: Kinder Caffeine Conversation
Aug 25 & 27: Back-to-School Nights
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MES Transportation Information
Students may arrive by bus, car line, or as walkers. All students must be in class by 7:45 AM. Bus doors open at 7:15 AM (students wait in auditorium until 7:20 AM). Car line/walker doors open at 7:20 AM.
For safety and efficiency, please do not drop students off at the doors and drive away. All students should remain in their vehicles until 7:20 AM.
To help keep everyone safe, students should exit the car from the right side only. If your child is able to open their own car door, please encourage them to do so — this helps keep the car line moving smoothly and quickly.
Dismissal is managed via PikMyKid—confirm your student and set a default mode by August 1. Dismissal begins with buses, followed by carpool around 2:20 PM. (no drop-offs on East Rock Springs and no cutting through the Barclay median.) Bus routes are available online and you can use Here Comes the Bus to track buses. Learn more.
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Join the MES Family Directory
Membership Toolkit is our online school directory – it’s also the best way to sign up for volunteer positions for your class or grade (e.g. class parents and social chairs). Please setup or update your account prior to the first day – all families must re-verify their information each year. You can adjust your publish preferences based on how much information you’re comfortable sharing.
| | Upcoming MES Events & Deadlines | | |
- Bus riders enter at 7:15 and are held in the auditorium until 7:20
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Carpool doors (front doors) open at 7:20am (please do NOT allow Dolphins out of your car prior to 7:20!)
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School starts/tardy bell at 7:45am
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Last early checkout by 1:30pm
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Last opportunity to change dismissal via PikMyKid app before 1:45pm
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Dismissal at 2:15pm (At the walker pad, K can be picked up at 2:05pm, and 1st at 2:10pm)
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Jul 31: Deadline to Set Default Pickup Method
MES uses PikMyKid to manage student dismissal. All fully registered students for the 25-26 school year have been added—just download the PikMyKid app from your phone’s app store, confirm your student, and set your default dismissal mode.
Returning families: default dismissal settings carry over from the last day of school but can be updated by midnight on July 31.
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TOMORROW, Aug 1: Meet the Teacher Day
Drop off school supplies and bring your students to meet their teachers tomorrow, Friday, August 1, during the following times:
- 9-10am: Families with last names that start with A-M
- 10-11am: Families with last names that start with N-Z
This is a great opportunity to see the school, help your child find their classroom, drop off school supplies, and get to know your new teachers. Meet the Teacher Day ends promptly at 11am so please plan accordingly, especially if you have more than one MES student. Please do NOT park on Fordham Court along the fence as it is a no parking lane. Also, please be aware to not block driveways.
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Aug 3: Parent Work Day
The MES PTA and the Sustainability Committee will hold a volunteer parent work day on August 3 from 9-11am. Please sign up and join us to help get our beautiful school ready for the first day!
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Aug 4: Coffee and Kleenex
Once your child is settled on Day One, join us for a beloved MES tradition in the auditorium: Coffee & Kleenex! Enjoy coffee provided by the PTA and meet fellow MES parents while school leaders stop by to say hello.
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Aug 7: GATE Parent Meeting
The GATE teachers can't wait to get started so, please come meet us and learn about the GATE program and our curriculum plans for the 2025-26 school year. The meeting will be held in the MES Cafe at 8:30 AM on Thursday, August 7th. Please note that this meeting is for parents of students currently enrolled in the GATE program. See you there!
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Aug 8: Caffeine Connection for Kindergarten Families
Join our Kinder teachers for a Kindergarten Q&A session at 8am in the MES Auditorium. Stop by after drop-off!
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Sep 5: Gifted Program Eligibility Testing & Info Session
Eligibility testing for the MES gifted program will take place during spring of this school year. To help families better understand the process, the MES GATE team will host an informational meeting on Friday, September 5 at 8:15 AM in the MES Café.
As we approach the testing window, families of students who qualify for eligibility testing will receive more detailed information. In the meantime, we encourage you to learn more about the gifted identification process by visiting the school district’s website—you’ll find helpful resources and answers to frequently asked questions.
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Label All Student Items
Please make sure to label everything that students bring to school, including lunch bags, snack containers, water bottles, and coats. Labeled items are far more likely to find their way home from the lost-and-found.
You can support the MES PTA by purchasing name labels from Mabel's Labels – just type "Morningside Elementary School PTA" into the search bar, and 20% of your purchase will support our PTA.
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Join the PTA
So many of the wonderful programs and initiatives at our school would not be possible without the support of our MES Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and we need your input! Student favorites like Monster Bash, Family Science Night, and the Book Fair, are key focus areas for the year ahead, as well as teacher appreciation, classroom technology, educational grants, and so much more.
Purchase your 2025-2026 PTA membership for only $10 and let us know how you’d like to get involved!
| | APS Back to School Festival | | |
Mark your calendars for a day of fun, connection, and celebration at the APS Back to School Festival on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium! From school supplies to student services, it’s the perfect way to gear up for the new year while celebrating the incredible families that make our community so special. Let’s start the school year off right — together! Registration will close on Thursday, July 31.
Register now at https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/backtoschool!
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