Spring-Ford Area School District

What time does school begin?
SCHOOL HOURS ARE 9:00 AM to 3:40 PM. Between the hours of 7:30 AM and 8:35 AM, the staff is involved in curriculum, grade level, committee, and child study team meetings, and conferences with parents. There is no one to supervise children prior to 8:35 AM.

MORNING SAFETY PRECAUTION:
The circular driveway is used in the morning for parents who drive their children to school. One car at a time and no double-parking, please! Do not attempt to pass on the left, as we will not permit children to scoot between cars. Remain in your car until a staff member helps your child to alight.

What do I do if my child is going to be absent?
USE THE ABSENTEE PHONE LINE: Be sure to call the Absentee Phone Line at 610-705-6004, select option #4 prior to 8:30 AM. Kindly leave your child’s name, teacher’s name, and the reason for absence.  Parents will be contacted at home or work if a child is absent and a call has not been received by the school.
COMPLETE AN EXCUSE CARD: State law requires written excuse from the parent when a child is absent from school. Failure to provide a written excuse within three school days of return will cause the absence to be considered unexcused-unlawful. Excessive absenteeism and tardiness will be closely monitored. Click here for absence/tardy excuse forms.

May I take my child out of school for a family trip?
ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL FOR FAMILY TRIPS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED: However, the school district recognizes that family circumstances sometimes necessitate such travel. In order to prevent your child’s absence from being declared illegal, complete and submit a TRIP FORM (click to print) at least FIVE DAYS prior to the trip.

How do I withdraw my child from school before 3:40 PM?
Parents wishing to remove a child before regular dismissal time must WRITE A NOTE to the homeroom teacher in advance. The note should include the time of pickup, the reason for the pickup, and who will be picking up the child.  REPORT TO THE OFFICE TO SIGN YOUR CHILD OUT. Do not go to the classroom. You are strongly urged not to remove children from school unless absolutely necessary. Routine medical and dental check-ups can usually be scheduled far enough in advance to secure an appointment after the end of the school day. If not, please make the appointment for as late in the day as possible.

AFTERNOON SAFETY PRECAUTION:
Parents who pick their children up via auto at the end of the day should park on either side of Wall Street. Do not use the circular driveway between 3:00 and 3:35 PM. Remain in your automobile and await your child’s dismissal. If you have an appointment with a staff member, enter the parking lot by the entrance closest to Washington Street.

May parents visit the school?
YES. Call the principal to schedule an appointment. On the day of the visit come to the office to sign in and obtain a visitor’s badge. Call the school office if you would like to be a SCHOOL VOLUNTEER. Many teachers appreciate being able to count on parents to tutor our youngsters, assist them at learning centers, or read to them.

How will I know if my child is doing alright in school?
If you have any concerns, we encourage you to contact your student's teacher.  You are encouraged to review your child's progress online using our online grade system (Skyward). Regularly scheduled parent-teacher CONFERENCES are held twice a year in November and March. You may also make an appointment to meet with the teacher at any point in the school year. We encourage this!

What may my child bring to school?
Students are not permitted to bring toys of any kind (including Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cards) to school.  Thanks to substantial District and PTA League budgets, our youngsters have plenty to keep them occupied during both indoor and outdoor recess and, toys are a distraction to learning.  There is no need for elementary school children to be carrying 5, 10 and 20 dollar bills.  Snacks cost between 40 to 50 cents (exact change is preferred) and children may not make purchases for one another.  Students may also use their Point of Sale Account to purchase snacks.  Please refer to the Elementary Student and Parent Handbook for more information regarding the Point of Sale account.

Are children allowed to use the phones?
ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY.  Students who forget books, instruments, sneakers, lunch tickets, packed lunches, etc. will not be given permission to call home.

Is it OK for my child to distribute party invitations to classmates at school?
District Policy specifically states "No party invitations are to be given out in school".  However, the H&SA has invited you to join the Home & School Association where you can share your family's address and phone number.  These will be published in a DIRECTORY to which you can then refer when preparing to mail party invitations.

Does the school have a nurse?
Yes, Mrs. Bridget Mullins, RN, BSN.  Children should not be sent to the school with instructions to see the nurse for the treatment of injuries incurred at home or to have her diagnose whether the child is well enough to stay.  Parents must make the decision whether or not to have their child attend school.  Should a child become ill during the course of the school day, the nurse may recommend that he/she be taken home.  

Students bringing prescription and/or non-prescription medication to school for reasons of health must take the medication to the nurse, along with a note signed by the parent or doctor giving permission to administer the medication.  Schedule the times around school hours if possible.  However, THE NURSE IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION OF ANY KIND BEYOND THE INITIAL DAY OF AN ILLNESS WITHOUT A WRITTEN ORDER DRAWN BY THE CHILD'S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN.  This information is outlined in the Elementary Handbook.  All medications that are brought to school must be brought in the original prescription bottle.

Please note that emergency cards are sent home with children on the first day of school.  These cards provide the school nurse with important information in the event emergency care needs to be administered.  It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to provide the school with any change of information pertinent to the emergency card as soon as the change occurs.  Parents are also responsible to list a contact person who will be able to pick up an ill child within a reasonable amount of time after being contacted.

Please refer to the

Elementary Student and Parent Handbook

for more detailed information!