School begins at 8:05 each morning. If there is a 2 hour delay, school begins at 10:05am.
STUDENTS:
May arrive no earlier than7:40am.
Any student eating breakfast should go to the Cafeteria.
Students in Grades K-3 not eating breakfast should go to the Gym and read or talk quietly.
Students in Grades 4-6 not eating breakfast should go to the front half (near the newsroom) of the Cafeteria and read or talk quietly.
At 7:50am, students may walk quietly to their classroom.
Students arriving between 8:05-8:15 should report to their classroom where they will be marked tardy by the teacher. After 8:15, students should report to the office to receive a tardy pass.
Students should first report to their classroom teacher before going to the restroom, library, newsroom or other classrooms.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
May not drop off students before 7:40am.
Do their best to see that their child arrives well-rested, with a positive attitude and ready to begin each day on time.
Call the school attendance line at 703.718.8383 to leave a message if their child(ren) will be absent. Virginia’s Compulsory Attendance Law requires that all children between ages 5-18 must be enrolled and attend school on a daily basis. Any student who accumulates five (5) unexcused absences shall be referred to a School Attendance Officer for further investigation which may result in a petition being filed with the Court.
TEACHERS:
Stand at their door beginning at 7:50am to greet students and monitor other students walking down the hall.
Take attendance and place envelope on their doorway by 8:15am. Students arriving anytime after 8:05 will be marked tardy.
Check that students arriving after 8:15 should have a tardy pass issued by the office.
Dismissal
School ends at 2:40pm each day
STUDENTS:
Check desk and cubby for any materials needed at home. Follow teacher directions for an orderly and quiet dismissal. Be ready to leave at 2:40pm.
Patrols are dismissed at the 2:35pm bell. Any patrol without a belt will not be dismissed for duty. Belts must be worn outside the jacket.
Sit quietly and watch for dismissal on the WHMS news broadcast.
Students who have different plans for going home (other than their normal routine) MUST have a note signed by a parent/guardian given to the teacher. Students will not be allowed to call parents to make changes. If no note is given, then the student will follow their normal routine for going home.
Students are to exit the building directly, unless they are in an afterschool program. Students are not permitted to pick up younger siblings or friends from other classes because this causes unnecessary traffic. Instead, chose a meeting place outside of the school.
Follow the directions of the safety patrols on and off school grounds.
Car riders will go directly to the cafeteria and sit silently while waiting for their name to be called.
Bus riders will watch for their bus name and then walk directly to the bus.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
Be on time (2:40pm) to pick students up.
Establish a routine for meeting their child.
Wait for students in the lobby, entranceway or at the “Meeting Tree” picnic tables. Parents are not permitted to pick up children from the classroom as this causes unnecessary traffic in the hallways.
All car riders must be picked up through the Kiss & Ride line. Students will not be permitted to meet parents at cars on the street.
Send in a note if their child will be going home a different way or with a different person. If teachers are not notified of the change ahead of time, then the student will be sent home using their usual routine.
If parents need to pick up their children prior to dismissal, they need to do so BEFORE 2:20pm. After 2:20pm, parents will need to wait for the 2:40pm dismissal. This will cut down on students missing valuable information at the end of the day as well as the confusion caused as escorting students travel to and from the office. In the past, these students have missed their bus and/or assignments as they accompanied a student to be picked up in the office close to dismissal time. We appreciate your cooperation.
TEACHERS:
At 2:40pm, all teachers should stand at their doorway to dismiss students and monitor hallway behavior.
Check patrols to see if belts are worn properly, i.e., buckled and outside of coats. Patrols without belts may not be dismissed at 2:35pm.
Check that students are leaving at the correct time as indicated by the broadcast.
Students may not pick up siblings or friends from classrooms. Do not release students to do this. If students arrive for pick-up, send them back to their class.
Collect any notes from parents indicating a change in the dismissal routine. Students are not permitted to call parents to change plans.
