Policies

Parent Involvement Policy and Compact

The Cora Kelly Parent Involvement Policy and Compact (PDF) (Politica de Participacion y Convenio de Padres de Cora Kelly [PDF]) outlines how the parents, the school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. It also outlines the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the state’s high standards. This school-parent compact is in effect during school year 2017-18.

School and Office Hours

School hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Office Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Classrooms open at 7:50 a.m. We request that all children are in their classrooms at this time so academic activities can begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. A child is tardy after 8:00 a.m. and must be signed in by their parent in the main office.

Breakfast

Free breakfast is available to all students and served daily in their classroom.

Early Release Hours

On early dismissal days, school hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.

Attendance

Consistent and punctual attendance plays a key role in ensuring a child's academic success. Please help us to help your child succeed in school by:

• Seeing that your child comes to school on time every day unless he or she is physically ill
• Scheduling family vacations and trips around the school calendar
• Attempting to schedule doctor and dentist appointments around school hours
• Verifying with the classroom teacher that all "make-up" work has been completed.

Absence

Please notify the office by 9:00 a.m. if your child will be absent that day. Also, please send a written note explaining the absence when your child returns to school. Absences due to extended illness require a doctor’s note. You will receive a phone call if your child is marked absent.

Poor attendance at school often results in less than satisfactory academic progress. Excused absences are granted for two reasons: illness and family emergencies. In each instance the absence must be verified with a note from parents or guardians when the child returns to school. Absences for any other reason are considered unexcused.

In accordance with the Virginia School Attendance Law of July, 1999, the parents of any student who continues to accumulate unexcused absences after being notified of attendance concerns by school personnel may be referred to a Truancy Panel that convenes at the Department of Court Services. After the seventh unexcused absence, the student and parents may be called to appear before the Juvenile Court Judge, and parents may be subject to legal penalties.

Students who attend our school as a result of an administrative transfer must maintain good attendance (including on-time arrivals) to remain in good standing. Failure to do so may result in the termination of the transfer request.

Dismissal Procedures

School is dismissed at 2:35 p.m.

Pick-up / Kiss and Ride

Parents who pick their children up in the afternoon are asked to use Kiss and Ride. Kiss and Ride students are escorted to the parking lot by staff and will be monitored until their car arrives. Please stay in your vehicle if picking up your child from the Kiss and Ride Exit and your child will be brought to you. Walkers (K-5) will be dismissed from the cafeteria. Please send a note to your child’s teacher whenever you need to pick your child up before 2:35 p.m., or whenever you need to change your child’s afterschool plans. This ensures appropriate communication and minimizes classroom disruptions.

Walkers

Walkers (K-5) will be dismissed from the cafeteria. Please send a note to your child’s teacher whenever you need to pick your child up before 2:35 p.m., or whenever you need to change your child’s after school plans. This ensures appropriate communication and minimizes classroom disruptions.

Changes in Dismissal Plans

Please note that we are not able to honor change-of-plans requests that are phoned into the school office after 12:00 p.m.

It is essential we are given ample notice of bus/dismissal changes. Please send only authorized adults to pick up your children. Dismissal changes may be made phoned into the office, sent in with your child in writing, or e-mailed to your child’s teacher.

ACPS School Board Policies

Visit the ACPS website to see the Alexandria City School Board Policy Manual.