This information is provided to help you better understand the importance of regular attendance and what to do in the event of a late arrival or early dismissal.

The first and last fifteen (15) minutes of the day are most critical for the children and the teachers. Have your child arrive at school on time at 8:15. 

Children who ride their bikes to school must

• walk their bikes across the school grounds,
  
  
• park bicycles in the bicycle racks provided,
  
  
• lock bicycles securely, and
  
  
• wear a helmet as required by law.

On occasion, children may need to be sent home other than at normal dismissal time (e.g., due to sickness or schools closing for inclement weather). Parents/Guardians should have a plan for each situation to provide coverage for children who might arrive home early for whatever reason. Some parents/guardians arrange with relatives, friends, or neighbors to meet the children coming home early. In the event of a child becoming sick or injured at school and needing to go home, an adult will be contacted. This is one reason that the names listed on your child’s emergency procedure card must be up-to-date and that the people listed are available to pick up your child at their school.

On a daily basis, the school attempts to verify the attendance or necessary absence of every student. Please call the school to record any upcoming absence through the use of an available 24-hour phone line. This would include days of sickness, tardiness, vacations, or any other event that may keep a student from arriving at the beginning of the school day. Record the name of the student, the grade level, and the date(s) of the anticipated absence or tardiness.

Each morning, the school absence list will be reconciled with the phone calls recorded on our Safe Arrival line. In any situation where a child’s absence has not been accounted for by an appropriate phone call, the school will attempt to contact parents/guardians. We assume that all K-8 parents/guardians are part of the Safe Arrival Program. If you wish to “opt out” of this program, please contact your school’s main office.

Occasionally during the year, there will be an early dismissal of school to provide teachers and staff time for professional development and professional learning activities. Dismissal for the morning preschool will be at 11:45 am. Kindergarten and grades 1 - 4 will be at 12:40 pm.

Given the importance of having the children present at school for the entire school day, we hope that the occurrence of late arrivals and early departures will be reserved for emergencies. If you find it necessary to change your child’s dismissal plan during the school day, please call the main office and communicate the changes before 3 pm. We respectfully request that no phone call changes occur after 3 pm.

Automobiles are not allowed in the area reserved for school buses and emergency vehicles. It is illegal and potentially life-threatening to pass a stopped bus when the red lights are flashing. Visitors must park in the designated areas only and follow the directions of school personnel directing traffic