Welcome Parents
When Visiting Artondale, ALWAYS CHECK IN AT THE FRONT OFFICE
We love having you visit our school, however, in our ongoing efforts to maintain security for our students and staff at Artondale, we are asking all visitors to check in at the office upon arrival and obtain a visitor’s sticker. Please do not go to the classrooms, playground, or anywhere on the Artondale campus without a visitor’s sticker. There is a sign-in book provided for you at the front office. You must sign this every time you are at school. In case of an emergency we need to know who is in the building. (This is also very helpful when someone is trying to contact you and we are trying to find you)
There needs to be as few interruptions in your child’s classroom as possible to help create a positive learning environment. Lunches, homework, notes, etc. that need to be delivered to your child need to be left at the front office. We will make sure they receive them.
Calls From/To Artondale
If you see a Peninsula School District or Artondale phone number on your caller ID, we encourage you to check your messages before calling our office. The call could be an automated message, a call from any staff member in the building or from your student. If you call our office with the expectation that we will know who called you, we will do our best to assist you but we likely won’t know where the call originated or what it was about. Make sure your child knows to leave you a message if they ever call you so you aren’t left wondering who called you and why.
Attendance at School
We want your child to attend school! Your child’s growth will be greater if he/she attends school regularly. Because skills and lessons are taught and reviewed daily regular attendance is important for your child’s academic success. Our mission can be realized when students regularly attend school at least 90% of the school year. Below are some important pieces to our attendance policy that you will need to know:
- Parents/guardians and school administrators have a legal obligation to ensure students attend school regularly
- School starts at Artondale at 9:00 a.m. and dismisses at 3:30 p.m. Please make sure your child is on time and ready to start the day. Wednesday is a late start day with school beginning at 10:00.
- Parents, please call the attendance line at 530-1107 (which is a 24 hour line) to let us know your child will be absent or tardy. Do not send an e-mail to their teacher because sometimes our e-mail is down and they will not get that information. If your child is marked absent and you have not called, you will receive an automated call letting you know your child is absent.
- Students who have unexcused absences will receive a letter requesting a conference with student’s teacher, parent, building principal and other support staff as necessary.
- Students absent 10% of a school year will be contacted via letter.
Excused absences defined
- Illness or bereavement (A health provider’s note may be required if a student is chronically absent.)
- Religious holiday
- Pre-arranged extended vacations with prior approval by Principal and notification to attendance line.
Please try to plan vacations and medical appointments around the school schedule.
Pick-up and Drop-off
Drop-off Procedures
- Please stay in your car and pull forward to the front of the parent pick-up/drop-off staging area.
- Please continue staging the line to parent pick-up. Parents need to be able to enter and exit the parking lot.
- Help you, and your child, quickly exit the car and go to the school through the front door. A staff member will be outside to help and direct kids up until 9 a.m. each morning. If you are dropping your child off after 9 a.m., please park your car and bring them into the building to check them in. This is for your child’s safety and for our documentation.
- If you need to enter the school, please park your car in the parking lot and come to the front of the building. Do not park in the parent pick-up/drop-off area.
Pick-up Procedures
- Please stay in your car and pull forward tot he front of the parent pick-up/drop-off staging area.
- Please continue staging the line to parent pick-up around the curved driveway, but please do not block the driveways. Parents need to be able to enter and exit the parking lot.
- On a large piece of tag-board (provided by the school) write your family name (large) and your child’s name/classroom teacher under you family name. Place this on your dash or rubber band it to the visor so the teachers in charge of parent pick-up can clearly see the name and the students who you will be picking up. Materials will be at the school for you to make your tag.
EXAMPLE:
- Continue pulling forward. The teacher in charge of parent pick-up will excuse your child. Students will need to quickly enter the car.
- As soon as your child is secure in the car, please pull forward and exit the parking lot so other cars can pull forward and pick up their children.
- If you need to enter the school, please park your car in the parking lot and come to the front of the building. Do not park in the parent pick-up/drop-off area.
We have provided a map of the parking lot below. Notice the pick-up and drop-off areas. Thanks in advance for helping make the procedure successful and safe for everyone.
Our hope is that these changes will allow us to have a smooth flow of traffic and a safe parking lot for all. We will have several staff members helping direct traffic for the first few weeks of school.
School Zone Safety
At Artondale Elementary we are concerned for the safety of our students, staff and families when arriving and leaving school grounds. We would like your assistance in making our schools safer for all students. In particular, since several students walk to school, please watch for them in our crosswalks, along the road and in our parking lot.
We would also appreciate your help in following posted speed limits when approaching and leaving school grounds, and remembering to come to a complete stop at marked stop signs. Please do not talk on cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.
We appreciate your help in making Artondale Elementary a safer place for our students. We will continue to look into safety measures to keep our students and families safe.
What If I Have A Concern?
If you have a concern regarding your child(ren), the following steps might be helpful:
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Classroom Concerns:
Please contact your child’s teacher by calling the Artondale office (530-1100) or by visiting the classroom before or after school. When calling, ask to speak directly to the classroom teacher. When visiting, please check in at the office and our office personnel will call the classroom to let them know of your arrival.
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Health Concerns:
Please contact the school nurse, Vickie Wagner, by calling the school office.
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Emotional/Social Health Concerns:
The school counselor, Maureen Mathews, is available to help families find appropriate resources for children. Our counselor is also available for children needing extra support at school. Ms. Mathews can be reached through the Artondale Office (530-1100)
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School Related Concerns:
Please feel free to contact the principal, Mrs. Rosendahl in the office at 530-1100. She can help work through school issues/situations that happen inside or outside the classroom.
Remember, situations and/or concerns cannot be addressed if you do not make someone aware of them!
Parent Guides
The goal of these guides is to assist parents in supporting the learning of their children.
It provides information regarding what students are expected to learn at each grade level. These resources provide ideas for what parents can do at home to support the learning goals.
How To Get Involved
Volunteering Opportunities at School
Artondale staff love to have parents/guardians and community members involved in our school. Please feel free to ask about opportunities for your involvement at Artondale.
Artondale PTA
Our PTA is an active group of parents and teachers providing support for our students. For information on how to join, please call 530-1100 or visit our website.
Other Ways to be Involved
Artondale provides several opportunities for parents to learn about the school and how to best support their children.
Classroom Volunteer
Ask your child’s teacher if he/she wants to have help! There are ways to help inside and outside the classroom. Just ask!
Coffee With the Principal
Meets the first Monday of each month as a forum to be informed about current school issues and topics that are beneficial to helping children.
Family Academic Nights
Each year Artondale hosts a Math Night. This is a good way to learn about how to best support your child in the areas of Math.
Open House
An open house is always scheduled for the end of September for families and the community to visit the school.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences are held each October and March. This is a perfect way to connect with your child’s teacher and to find out how to best support your child at home.
Visit our Website
Our school website has a wealth of information that can keep parents informed about our school, district and curriculum. Teachers have classroom websites that can help parents be informed about the classroom activities and current learning.
Volunteering?
We really appreciate our volunteers. Before you are allowed to be in, the classroom you need to fill out a Washington State Patrol Packet and be fingerprinted. This is a quick procedure and can be done in the Front Office. There is no cost and it is valid for two years.