Getting to School

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Bell Times

Morning Drop-Off

• Students may not be dropped off before 7:35 a.m at the cafeteria door or        7:45 a.m. at the main front entrance.
• Car Drop-Off: Car line drop-off in front of the building on Columbia Ave. Main entry doors to the building open promptly at 7:45 am. 
• Walking Drop-Off: Please park in the church parking lot to the south of the building or the Wilson parking lot to the north of the building if walking your child up to the building. Do not park on the street and exit your vehicle as this causes disruptions to the flow of traffic and the pick-up/drop-off car line.

• Tardy students, those arriving after 8:00 a.m., must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the front office and signed in by the parent/guardian.
• Classes begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast

• Breakfast will be offered from 7:35–8:00 a.m.
  Please note that students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. will not be served breakfast. If your student will be arriving late, please ensure they have eaten before coming to school. 
• Parents/guardians are not permitted inside the building during morning drop-off, unless joining their child for breakfast (please make sure you have a background check on file, an office breakfast pass and enter through the cafeteria door). Please send hugs and waves as students exit the car or walk inside.
• Please note that parents will not be allowed to enter the building during the first several weeks of school to ensure that all background checks have been completed. 

Dismissal Procedures

• School day ends promptly at 3:05 p.m.
• To protect instructional time, we ask that parents call the main office before 12:00 p.m. and do not pick up students after 2:00 p.m. whenever possible.
• To make a permanent change to your child’s transportation, please visit the office and complete a new “My Way Home” form.

• Any students not picked up by 3:20 p.m. will be brought to the main office.
• Once students are brought into the main office at 3:20 p.m., parents/guardians will need to come into the office to pick-up their students.
• For student safety, if a child remains at school after 4:05 p.m. and no contact has been made with a parent or guardian, Campus Police may be notified, and DHS may be contacted if there are ongoing concerns regarding supervision.

More Guidance

All adults and children are expected to observe the following arrival/dismissal procedures to ensure the safety of all children.

• Motorists are expected to use extreme caution and drive slowly while in the parking lot, car rider line and adjacent streets. 
• While in the drop off or pick up line please avoid technology. 
• Please assist your child(ren) closely during arrival and dismissal. 
• The flow of traffic is expected to proceed smoothly if everyone follows the procedures. If the student is not at the pick-up area, the driver is expected to pull ahead if possible to wait and or follow duty teacher directives. 
• Motorists are to never back up their vehicles while in the lanes of traffic or car rider line. 
• Motorists are to travel in a single lane of traffic. Please do not pull around and pass other cars that are in the lane of traffic or car rider line unless directed by staff. 
• Driver must remain in the car when using the car rider line for arrival and dismissal.
• Students being dropped off must be dropped off on Columbia Ave. There is no drop-off area on 12th street for entrance to the cafeteria. If your child will be entering through the cafeteria, please use the parking lots and our crossing guards will assist your child.
• If walking up to pick-up your child, please let your child's teacher know you are there to pick them up.
• Students should only enter cars in the designated loading car zone (by the orange cones).

Attendance Expectations

Good attendance is essential to student success!

Starting strong attendance habits in preschool sets students up for success in school, college, and careers.

"Official attendance shall be reported and recorded in 'half-day' increments. Students must be present for at least two hours to be counted as present for one-half day."
— TPS Board Policy 2204 

If your child cannot come to school, you need to report the absence and the reason for the absence to the school attendance office before 9:00 a.m. Please do this for every absence. If you do not contact the school for any absence it will be considered an unexcused absence. Our school clerk will call you to verify if you do not and will remind you to please call the absence in. The phone number for the attendance clerk is (918)925-1503. 

School attendance is a very important part of the student’s learning process. Parents are, by law, accountable for their child’s attendance. Students attending elementary schools shall be in attendance a minimum of ninety percent (90%) of the instructional time scheduled for that school (or grade) and make satisfactory academic progress in order to be unconditionally recommended for promotion to the next grade. Students’ attendance records with less than 90% attendance of the scheduled instructional time may be recommended for retention. Transfers may be revoked for students who are not meeting attendance expectations.

Attendance problems requiring action: Students who have ten consecutive unexplained absences will be withdrawn. If the student returns to school, a parent must accompany the child. After 5 unexplained consecutive absences your child will be logged as truant and you will receive a letter. Excessive unexcused absences are grounds for interventions by school personnel and referral to the 3 District Attorney’s office for non-compliance of State Laws regarding compulsory school attendance. Students with excessive absences may have their transfer revoked and returned to their neighborhood homeschool. 

The following are reasons for excusing absences: 

• Student illness- Please provide the office with a doctor’s note for documentation of office visits. 
• Death in the immediate family. 
• Observance of a religious holiday.

While attendance is important, sick children should not be sent to school. These guidelines may help parents determine if their child is too sick to come to school: 

• Fever above 100º F. within the past 24 hours 
• Continuous or frequent cough, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours 
• An unidentified rash 
• Open, draining wounds. Minor abrasions should be kept covered with a clean dressing while at school. 
• Head lice 
• Any communicable disease 
• Specific instructions or advice from your physician 

Attendance Incentive and Awards Program To promote and reward regular attendance, each school will establish an incentive awards program. Some activities for such are: 

• School-wide orientation assemblies at the beginning of the school year to review the attendance policy and promote the idea that good attendance is essential if students are to gain the maximum benefit of the educational program. 
• School-wide incentive programs to improve attendance. 
• Positive rewards for students with exceptional attendance records during any one grading period and/or for the school year. 
• Quarterly commendation letters to students and parents/guardians for improved attendance. 
• Certificates for good attendance. 

A direct relationship exists between attendance and academic progress. We hope that by working together we can maximize your child’s potential for a successful school year.

Key Attendance Points:

• 16 or more absences in a school year (even excused) = chronically absent.
• Submit all doctor's notes to the clerk promptly within 48 hours, as they can not be accepted after the end of each quarter.
• Attendance is recorded accurately based on arrival and departure times.
• 10 or more absences per semester may cause your child’s transfer to be revoked.

How Families Can Support Strong Attendance:

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Prepare clothes and backpacks the night before.
• Create backup transportation plans when needed.
• Schedule medical appointments outside school hours whenever possible.
• If your child feels anxious about school, talk with their teacher or our counselor for support

Tulsa Public Schools Attendance Policy

All absences must be explained by the parent or guardian within 48 hours of the student’s return to school.
Explanations may be provided in writing or verbally to the school office.

Excused Absences (per state law) require documentation such as:

• Doctor’s note
• Court document
• Funeral program or obituary

A parent’s explanation alone will be recorded as "With Explanation (W)" but will not be classified as excused under state law.

Important:

• Explained absences are legally considered unexcused without appropriate documentation.
• Chronic absenteeism may lead to intervention by the district attendance office, and excessive unexcused absences could be reported to the District Attorney for truancy proceedings.

For more details, please review TPS Board Policy 2204: Student Attendance