School Procedures

Supervision of children by staff does not begin until 8:45 AM; students must not be dropped off prior to this time. Students may be dropped off in the front of the building between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM. Buses are unloaded beginning at 8:55 am. Any student being dropped off after 9:00 AM is considered tardy; the parent/guardian must park their vehicle and accompany the student to the main office to check-in.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS GUIDELINES

We all acknowledge that regular attendance at school is important and necessary for academic and social success. We ask parents to make every effort to have their children at school on time each day that they are in good health.

If your child is going to be absent or tardy:

Call the absentee line 978-743-1006 during the evening preceding the absence or before 9:00 AM on the morning of the absence or tardy arrival. Please state your child's name and his/her homeroom teacher, and give a brief explanation for your child’s absence or tardy arrival. If your child is absent and you do not call the absent line, staff will call you later in the morning to verify that your child is safe with an adult.

PLEASE NOTE: If no explanation is given for your child’s absence, it will be considered an unexcused absence.

If your child is ill:

Call the absentee line 978-743-1006. Follow the guidelines on the school nurse's page. Please send a note stating that you are aware of the absence when your child returns to school after an illness.

Illness at school:

When a student becomes ill at school, he/she is sent to the school nurse. If the nurse feels that the student should be sent home, the parents/guardians are contacted. If parents/guardians are not available, the alternate name listed on the student's emergency card will be contacted. The parent/guardian may be required to provide written clearance from a physician for a child to return to school if signs of a contagious condition are exhibited.

Prolonged illness:

Students are required to bring a written note explaining his/her absence regardless of the number of days absent. You will be contacted by the school nurse if a student has an unexplained absence of 3 days or longer. After an absence of 5 days or longer, a doctor's note is required before the student can be readmitted to school.

If children are absent frequently and for no explainable reason (from parents or guardians) we may choose to report the absences to our truant office (Townsend Police Department). If students continue to be absent with no explainable reason, the school may file a truancy petition with the District Court of Ayer.

Please be advised vacations are unexcused absences.

If your child comes to school late (tardy):

Children arriving after 8:55 AM are considered tardy and will be recorded as such. All children arriving tardy must be accompanied to the office by their parent/guardian to check in before going to their classrooms. Parents/guardians should send in a note acknowledging your awareness of your child’s tardiness. Excessive tardiness can be referred to the Truant Officer.

Children are dismissed on Master List (parent pick up) beginning at 3:05 PM (11:35 AM on early release days). Busses usually leave by 3:05 PM (noon on early release days). Staff members will be present to help with dismissal. *No child will be dismissed into the custody of a person other than the parent/guardian of the child unless a note has been sent from the parent/guardian specifying the name of the person who is authorized to pick up the child that day, or a Student Transportation Form is on file authorizing an adult to pick up a student on a specific day of the week.  Phone calls changing a student’s dismissal instructions will not be accepted unless there is an emergency.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Early dismissal must be arranged through your child’s teacher and the office. Please have your child bring a note stating: (1) the reason for dismissal, (2) the time s/he is to be dismissed, and (3) the name of the person who will be picking up the child (not just ‘her grandfather’ or ‘Aunt Janie’). *No child will be dismissed into the custody of a person other than the parent/guardian of the child unless a note has been sent from the parent/guardian specifying the name of the person who is authorized to pick up the child that day. Please do not call the school for an early dismissal except in the case of an emergency. The parents/guardian or designated pick-up person must come to the office to sign out and pick up the child. Because of safety issues, children are not allowed to wait outside.

Lunch

Each grade has a 20-minute lunch period followed by a 20-minute recess period. The lunch schedule is as follows:

• Kindergarten 11:00 AM
• 1st Grade 11:25 AM
• 2nd Grade 11:50 AM
• 3rd Grade 12:15 PM
• 4th Grade 12:40 PM

Recess

Please remember to dress your child appropriately for the weather. If possible dress your child in layers that can be easily removed or put back on as necessary. Proper clothing is essential, especially during the winter months as the children do go outside weather permitting. 

 

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students will receive report cards twice a year. Kindergarten report cards will be distributed on January 28, 2022, and the last day of school.

Grades 1-4

Report cards for grades 1-4 are sent out by trimester. Students in grades 1-4 will receive report cards on December 3, 2020, March 18, 2022, and the last day of school.

All persons entering the school must enter by the main doors outside the Main Office area and must sign in at the office. *No one is to go directly to a classroom. For security reasons, temporary badges will be issued to individual visitors and volunteers while they are in the school. All badges must be visibly worn while in the school.  Please sign out at the Main Office when leaving.