KEEPING   CHILDREN   SAFE

During Arrival and Departure

      The safety of your child at school, as well as going to and from school, is very important.  Buses are met daily by staff and parents to oversee the safe arrival of students and to ensure close communication between the drivers and the Principal.  Students should not arrive before 7:45 a.m. as there is no supervision for them inside school, on the playground or in the halls.

      All students should be in their classroom at 8:00 a.m.  Students arriving after 8:00 must report to the office for a tardy slip.  Their school attendance record will reflect a “Tardy”.

       Students are expected to follow the same routine for going home on a daily basis. If there is to be a change in the routine, such as a visit to a friend’s house, a written note must be provided to the office. All students are expected to report home directly after school and not remain to play on school property. Once they have checked in at home they may return with parent permission and the understanding that no supervision is provided.  When a student (at parent request) is to go home with another student, they must have a written note that is to be turned in to the office.

Patrol Times

      We will have Safety Patrol crossing guards east of our upper parking lot, crossing Viewland, and at the intersection of Olympic View Drive and Puget.  The guards will be present 7:45-8:00 a.m. and 2:30-2:45 p.m.  Please encourage your child to come home right after school so he/she will not be crossing busy streets without a guard.

Absence / Illness / Late arrivals

      It is very important that you let the school know when your child will be absent or late to school.  Please leave a message on the attendance line, 425/431-7374 Option #1.  The parents of all children not in attendance and not previously excused will be called by our safe arrival program.  This is our way of checking to make sure the child is safe at home if they are not in attendance at school.  Medical/Dental appointments, which cannot be arranged outside of school hours, need to be communicated to the school office prior to the date of absence.  By state law, parents/guardians are required immediately after the absence to send a note to the student’s teacher for each separate instance of absence when the student re-enters school. The note should include the date of absence, the nature of the illness and the parent’s guardian’s signature. Habitual tardiness will be called to the attention of the parent or guardian.  Developing the habit of good attendance is important. As part of our Safe Arrival Program, you will be called if your child does not arrive in school and we have not received a call verifying his/her absence or tardy.

      Consistent with WAC 180-40-010, all students will attend and be punctual at regularly scheduled classes unless officially excused.

  The “Becca Bill” also requires the District to:

1.    Schedule a conference with parents after the second unexcused

      absence/truancy.

       2.   File a petition with the county court after the 7th unexcused absence in a month or 10th unexcused absence in a year.  (May file earlier.)

      3.   Report to the court additional absences, which occur after the first referral.

      According to district policy #8130R, absences and tardies are excused for personal illness or injury (may require doctor’s confirmation), doctor or dental appointments, participation in religious holidays or other absences deemed appropriate by the principal. School related absences/tardies are also excused.

      Families are to complete a “Request for Excused Absence” form (available in the office) and submit them to the office prior to vacation absences. The classroom teacher will note the student’s current grades and whether the planned absence will have a negative impact on their learning. Final decisions for applications will be made by the principal (Policy #8125).

Supervision During the Day   

Students are supervised throughout the school day. Our staff of educational assistants supervises our lunchroom and recess periods. They work closely with classroom teachers and the principal to prevent safety problems.  The educational assistants review with students their expectations for safe behavior.  This review includes lunchroom expectations, rules of play and areas for play outside during recess. On rainy days, the educational assistants supervise the students for indoor recess in the classrooms during the recess period.

Student Release

      If your child must leave school during the day for any reason they must be checked out through the office. Please come to the office to sign them out, and we will call the class and have the student report to the office. It is very important that you list on your emergency card those people who may pick up your child, as children will only be released to those listed.  Both natural parents of a child will have the right to pick up their child unless the school has a copy of a court order forbidding it.  Please keep the school fully informed of any situations related to student safety. Please do not go to the student’s classroom, the lunchroom, or the playground without coming to the office first. This helps us to maintain a secure campus for all children.

School Hours

      Kindergarten - Grade 6                 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

      Half-Day Kindergarten                  8:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

District-Scheduled Early Dismissals

      At times, early dismissals are scheduled to give teachers professional growth and collegial opportunities. On those dates, all Edmonds Elementary K-6 students will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m.  Lunch will be served at school prior to dismissal except for the last day of school.

Parent-Scheduled Early Dismissals

      It is important that the following early dismissal procedure be observed for pupil security.  In the event that an early dismissal is necessary, please make requests in writing to the teacher.  The child will be excused through the school office.  Please go to the school office to sign out and pick up your child.

Earthquake and Emergency Planning

      The safekeeping of Edmonds students is a top priority for the staff, especially in the event of an emergency caused by weather or earthquake. Our emergency plans are continually being enhanced and improved through staff training, emergency planning and preparation, and student education. Parent support is vital in this area. Additional emergency forms, medications and food supplies may be requested from parents to assist our preparation.  Please watch the Orca News for important information and updates about all of our emergency procedures.