General FAQ

Students begin unloading from buses and going to classrooms at 9:35. If you bring your child to school, you will need to wait with your child in the lobby area until the bell rings at 9:35. There is also a drop-off circle available from 9:35-9:45.  After that time, you will need to park and bring your child inside. Students are considered tardy after 9:50. Dismissal begins at 3:40, when parent pick-ups are dismissed. The buses begin leaving at about 4:00.

Of course! If you know that you will be picking your child up from school on a given day, please send a note in his/her nametag. We will send your child to the cafeteria at 3:40, and you can sign your child out there with a yellow pick-up card. If you forget to send a note, you can also email Ms. Hayward. Please make every effort to let us know ahead of time, as dismissal can be a hectic time of day and we want to be sure that all children get where they need to be.

If you plan to pick your child up before dismissal, include the planned time in the note and we will try to have your child ready.  You will need to go to the office when you arrive to sign your child out, and the office staff will call the classroom for us to deliver your child to the office.  At no time are parents allow to pick children up directly from the classroom without visiting the office.

Breakfast (food, milk, and juice) is offered free of charge to all students each morning as part of our Morning Experiences time.  We encourage all students to eat daily, but do not force them if they tell us they are not hungry. Ultimately, it is their choice whether or not to eat breakfast.  If you do not trust your child's judgment and want him/her to eat anyway, please send a note or email.  You also have the option of sending a small breakfast snack from home for your child to eat during this time if you prefer.

Students are encouraged to attend school as much as possible (every day is ideal!). However, we understand that your child may need to miss school due to illness, appointments, etc. You will receive an automated phone call from the school whenever your child is absent, even if you have given us prior notice of the absence. If your child is absent, please be sure to send a note in the nametag when he/she returns to school. You can also email Ms. Hayward, and the email can be printed and given to the office in place of a note. It is not necessary to call the school each time your child will be out, but if your child misses 3 consecutive days, please contact us to let us know the reason.  Also, please note that you may still receive the automated phone call if your child arrives tardy and attendance has already been taken.  The absence will be changed in the computer, but we cannot prevent the phone calls from going out.

If you move or change phone numbers or other information during the school year, it is essential that we get this information. Our records need to be kept updated in case there is an emergency. For a phone number or email address change, you can send in a note with the new number(s) and we will have the office update the computer. For an address change, you will need to come into the office with proof of address before the change can be made.  For your convenience, there is a contact information update form available here on the Contact Menu.

There are several activities listed on the "Home-School Connection" and "Current Unit" pages of the Academics menu that can be done at home to build on classroom activities. We will also periodically send home activities that can be completed at home, as well as information on what your child needs to work on. The most important things to do are to read every night and to spend time talking to your child about school activities on a regular basis. If you need additional suggestions for home activities, feel free to contact us!

I will schedule at least two parent conference per year (usually in October/November and February/March). If you would like to meet at other times, please click here to access the "Request a Conference" form. This page will allow you to answer a few questions about scheduling our conference, and will be emailed to me when you hit Submit. I will then contact you to schedule a time convenient for both of us.

If you have any questions or concerns, there are several ways to get in touch with us during the day. You may give us a call at school, send in a note, or send Ms. Hayward an email using this form. Email is the best way to reach Ms. Hayward during the day, as a response can be sent without disrupting the students' activities. Notes are generally answered the same day, unless something comes up. Phone calls during the day usually go straight to the office, and if it is not an emergency they will leave us a note to return the call after school.

You can also sign up for Remind, which will allow you to text Ms. Hayward directly.  Instructions for signing up can be found here on the "Stay Informed" page.  Please realize that text messages may not be answered immediately, as instruction is our focus during the day.  If you have an urgent or time-sensitive concern, we recommend calling the office.

Absolutely! Parents are always welcome to come with us on field trips. Please note that while the school provides transportation and pays the cost for students, we do not do so for any parents. All parents must provide their own transportation and pay any necessary admission fees on their own. Prior to the trip, I will send home information regarding the cost for parents to attend.  We are still waiting to hear about field trips for this school year.

Lunch is offered free of charge to all students, thanks to a wonderful grant received by Newport News Public Schools! There is no need to send in any lunch money with your child.  Of course, you are welcome to pack a lunch for your child if you prefer.  The lunch menu can be found online on the NNPS or WECC website, or right here on our own website!  Please note that unlike elementary schools, our students are not generally given any options to choose from.  There is only one lunch prepared each day.  If you know your child is a picky eater, you may want to consider packing lunch.