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Q: What are the phone numbers to contact the school?
A: The school office number is 425-936-2530. To report an absence or late arrive, use the Safe Arrival line: 425-936-2531.
Q: What should I do if my child arrives after school has started?
A: Please have your child check-in at the office and pick up a late slip. If your child is unsure where their class is, a staff member will walk them to class.
Q: What should I do if I have determined that my child is too sick for school?
A: Please call in all absences or late arrivals to the school’s Safe Arrival line 425-936-2531.
Q: How do I know if my child is too sick for school?
A: Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours and not have vomited for 24 hours before returning to school. Children will not be kept in from recess due to sickness. If they are too sick to go out to recess they should stay home.
Q: What do I need to do to take my child out of school early for an appointment?
A: Please come to the office to sign out your child. The office will call down to the teacher to request dismissal of your student. Do not go directly to the classroom. Teachers will send the parent back to the office and they will call for the child.
Q: My child needs to take medication at school. What do I need to do?
A: All medications will need a doctor's prescription and a signed medical form available from the office. Parents must also sign off on the form. Medications include over-the-counter and prescription drugs. We are only allowed to administer medications that can be swallowed.
Q: What is the relationship between Dickinson and Explorer?
A: Emily Dickinson Elementary and the Explorer Community School share a campus, office staff, principal and PTSA activities. Dickinson is a neighborhood school, while Explorer is a choice school open to children throughout the district. For more information see the district web site http://www.lwsd.org/Schools/Elementary/Pages/default.aspx
Q: Where is the Commons?
A: The Commons is the name for the area of the building that also serves as the Lunch Room and Gym. When you enter the building, this area is to your right down the hall.
Q: Where is the New Gym?
A: The New Gym is in the school building. When you enter the building, it is to your right down the hall.
Q: Where is the Old Gym?
A: The Old Gym is on the school grounds, next to the Explorer classrooms. If you stand at the front of the school, you walk west past the Explorer school and the Old Gym is down the sidewalk, on your left.
Q: Where is the Flag Pole?
A: The flag pole is a convenient spot to meet your child after school. It is in the front of the building, to the left as you face the entrance. There are even benches here for your use.
Q: Where should I drop off my child before school?
A: Before school, you can drop off your child directly in front of the school. Please be aware this is a one-lane drop off. Pull forward as far as you can in the lane and have your child exit the car on the passenger side. When you leave, please wait for the car in front of you to leave, do not attempt to pass a car in the drop off lane.
Q: Where do I park when I come to school during the school day?
A: You can park in the Wetlands or the Classic lots. Do not park in the bus chute, the large parking area in front of the school. Even if no buses are there when you arrive, this area is reserved for the buses and they use it throughout the day. The lane directly in front of the school is a fire lane and you are not allowed to park there. Do not park behind the school at any time.
Q: What is the Wetlands Lot?
A: The Wetlands Parking Lot is the primary parking lot for the school. To get here, take the school driveway and continue past the school building, and you end up in the Wetlands Lot. From the Wetlands Lot you can also start on the Challenger Nature Trail into the school’s Wetlands Nature Area, this is a fun place to walk with your child.
Q: What is the Classic Lot?
A: The Classic Parking Lot is the lot directly on 208th. It is closer to the Boys & Girls’ Club. There are crossing guards on duty here, but there are no adults on duty here before or after school.
Q: What is the Challenger Trail?
A: Previously known as the Jumanji Trail, the Challenger Trail was renamed for our previous Principal, Ellen Challenger, when she left Dickinson in 2010. The Challenger Trail is a path through a natural, woodsey area just north of the Wetlands Parking lot. The kids may run through this during various PE activities and it is also sometimes used for environmental or nature outings. Each spring, we generally do a wetlands cleanup and all grades help maintain the trail and this area.
Q: Where should I pick up my child after school?
A: The best place to pick up your child after school is the Wetlands parking Lot. This lot has Crossing Guards as well as an adult on duty after school. To get here you take the school driveway and continue past the school building, you end up in the Wetlands Lot.
Q: What supplies will my child need for school?
A: A school supply list by grade can be found at http://www.lwsd.org/school/dickinson/For-Parents/Pages/School-Supply-Lists.aspx
Q: When do I find out who my child’s teacher is?
A: For the 2011/2012 school year, classroom assignments will be posted at 4pm on Wednesday, August 31st, outside the front door of the school. They will stay available there until school starts
Q: When will I find out where my child will catch the bus?
A: Transportation will mail out cards with information on the time and place for pick up. Cards are usually mailed in August. Bus info will also be posted at the Meet and Greet. You can also find bus info on the district web site www.lwsd.org/Schools/School-and-Bus-Finder .
Q: What if my child wants to go home with someone else?
A: Please send a note to school with your child. The office will need to have this note to inform the bus driver. Your child cannot get on a different bus or off at a different stop without a note from home. If it is a last minute change you can call the office, but parents should try to limit the number of times that we have to interrupt the class.
Q: How does my child buy school lunch?
A: You can put money in your student’s lunch account online http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Breakfast-Lunch-Menus/Pages/Online-Lunch-Payments.aspx or by sending a check to school. Please make sure to put your students’ name on the check, especially if the parent and student have different last names. You can also pay with Visa/MasterCard charged through 702.3393.
Q: Can my child just buy milk?
A: Yes, milk costs 50 cents.
Q: My child has a food allergy, how does the school deal with this?
A: Please inform your child’s teacher and clearly state the allergy(s) on both their Emergency Card and their orange Nurse Alert Card which will be sent home in the First Day Packet.
Q: Can I come to school recess or lunch time whenever I want?
A: Yes! Whenever you visit school, you must check in at the office. You may visit during lunch or recess anytime. Other visitation times must be scheduled with the teacher.
Q. What if it is raining during my child’s recess time?
A. Students will go out to recess in the rain. Indoor ‘Rainy Day Recess’ will only take place in the case of severe weather conditions such as thunder & lightning, or extreme rain and wind. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately to be outside for recess.
Q: How can I join the PTSA?
A: Membership forms are sent home with students in their First Day Packet. Membership forms are also available at the Meet and Greet and at Curriculum Night in September. You can also download a Membership Form from the PTSA website.
Q: How do I volunteer to help in class?
A: Teachers will have sign-up sheets available during Curriculum Night, or you may contact your child’s teacher directly. For the safety of our students, all volunteers must go through the district’s volunteer application process before beginning their assignment. You can pick up an application in the office or click here to learn more www.lwsd.org/For-Community/Volunteers
Q: I would like to visit my child at school sometimes. What is the best way to do this?
A: We welcome visitors at school! You may visit your child at lunch or recess anytime. Teachers greatly appreciate having parents volunteer in the classrooms, but please schedule classroom visits with your child's teacher ahead of time to best utilize your time and not detract from their lessons. Whenever you are on school property, please check in at the office. You will need to sign in as a visitor and get a name tag. This is very important for safety and security as school personnel need to know who is in the building at all times in case of an emergency. Before you leave the school, remember to go to the office and sign out. If you would like more opportunities to volunteer at school, please go to http://dickinsonptsa.org/Volunteering.aspx.