The school day begins at 8:10 AM, when the first bell rings, and ends at 2:15 PM.

Kindergartners line up on the kindergarten playground near the front entrance, and grades 1-5 line up on the large playground near the cafeteria and gym. In case of inclement weather, grades K-2 assemble in the gym and grades 3-5 assemble in the cafeteria.

At dismissal time, 2:15 PM, students are released in the following manner:

• Kindergarten – Teachers escort the students to the kindergarten playground and dismiss them to a family member or designated adult.
• Grade 1 – Teachers escort the students out the front door toward the science garden and dismiss them to a family member or designated adult.
• Grades 2-5 – Students are released through the rear doors by the large playground.

There is no adult supervision on the playgrounds after 2:15 PM, except for children in Mrs. T’s Playcare.

Tardiness

Children who arrive after the second bell has rung at 8:15 must report to the office. Kindergarten students will wait in the office while the secretary calls the classroom teacher, who will send someone to escort the child to the classroom. Students in grades 1-5 will be given a tardy sheet and sent to their classroom. Parents are not allowed to walk their students to the classroom.

Picking Up Early

If your child needs to be dismissed early (during school hours), you must write a note to the teacher and to the school office. Please note what time you will pick up the child and whether the child will be returning. You must come into the office to collect your child; children will not be allowed to wait outside. If someone other than a parent is doing the pickup, that person must show proper identification.

Absences

If your child will not be in school, please call the Safe Phone number, 781-316-3298, by 8:15 AM on the day of absence. Please call even if you have sent a note to the teacher. This number is available 24 hours a day.

In your message, please include the following information (be sure to speak slowly and clearly):

• Your name
• Your child’s name, grade, and teacher’s name (not room number)
• Reason for absence
• Expected return date

ALERTNOW Notification Services

If your child is absent, you will receive a call from the ALERTNOW system around 8:45 AM. This service also provides you access to your child’s current school information and attendance and notifies you about important information such as early dismissals and snow days. Evening messages begin around 6:00 PM and messages about school delays and closings will go out the night before or between 5:30-6:30 AM. A flyer went home in folders in November; please be sure to log in and check that your child’s information is correct.

Dropoff Areas and Parking

The dropoff areas are in the circle near the front door and in the parking lot accessible from Newland Road. Drivers must remain with their vehicles; if you need to walk your child to the playground, please park in a legal parking spot on one of the surrounding streets. Please do not block neighbors’ driveways!

During dropoff and pickup times, please treat Blossom Street as one-way from Park Ave. Ext. to Newland Road, and treat Newland Road as one-way from Blossom Street to Summer Street.

Crosswalk Flag Pilot

Crosswalk Flag Pilot Arlington’s Transportation Advisory Committee, in response to the town’s reduction of Traffic Supervisor positions, is conducting a pilot Pedestrian Flag test at the crosswalk on Park Avenue Extension at Morris Street. Flags increase the visibility of pedestrians with the goal of increasing their safety in the crosswalk. The flags are held in containers on each side of the crosswalk. Pedestrians pick up a flag on one side, hold it aloft while crossing the street and deposit in the container on the other side. Observations of the crosswalk will also be made before and after the flags are installed. Initial funding for the pilot has been provided through a grant to the Arlington Police Department from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.