School Arrival Logistics
The first bell rings at 8:20 and the tardy bell rings at 8:25. We want to clarify how we intend to count tardies and manage the arrival of late students. The easiest way to help your child be successful by arriving on time is to make sure they are able to be in line to enter the building by 8:20. Teachers will be out to pick up their classes at 8:20 with the intent to have students seated and ready to learn at 8:25 when the tardy bell rings. One teacher at each door will wait a couple of minutes longer (8:27) to allow in any straggling students. Those stragglers that enter with a teacher will be marked on time. Students are expected to enter through their grade-level doors and not through the front of the school.
One of the very frustrating things that happen on a regular basis is having parents who purposely hold kids back so they do not have to make the trip around the building. How do we know this? I’ll just say, kids say the darndest things! Saving students the short trip to the back of the school is causing an unnecessarily long line in the morning at the office to check them in late. We will not let students in through the front doors until 8:27, two minutes after the tardy bell rings.
In theory, if everyone set their alarm clocks just 5 minutes earlier, achieving the goal of reducing tardies to a reasonable and manageable level would be a reality.
Thank you for your efforts to make every student and teacher the most successful they can be!
School Security on the Playground
Please help us to keep our students safe! In order to maintain positive control and awareness of all adult visitors to campus, we ask that parents do not gather on the playground before the dismissal bell rings at 3:00. Please understand that the playground is an extension of the classroom and the building. It is just as important that we control access during school hours the same way we do in the building. Controlling access to the playground as well as the building helps us keep all students safe. Keep in mind that virtually every school has students with special safety needs related to custody issues or restraining orders. We do our best to protect students in those difficult circumstances.
We often have recess on the playground right up to the final bell so we do not allow preschoolers on the playground and equipment during school hours. Having preschoolers on the playground at the same time as big kids is also a safety hazard. Remember to wait in front of the school until after the dismissal rings at 3:00. I also want to request that you be courteous and understanding of all staff and faculty members if they direct you to follow any of our school rules, policies or procedures. We are all setting an example for the children. Thank you for understanding our position and supporting our efforts to keep everyone safe!
