Policies

SCHOOL HOURS

Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Supervision is provided at 7:20 a.m.

School begins at 7:50 a.m.

The school day ends at 2:15 p.m. (1:25 p.m. on Wednesday).

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Please be advised that in accordance with Florida Statutes, “Orange County Public Schools employees are not responsible for supervising students arriving on the school campus more than 30 minutes before school sponsored activities begin or students remaining on the school campus more that 30 minutes after the end of school sponsored activities.” Palmetto elementary will provide supervision of students from 7:20 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. (1:25 p.m. on Wednesdays). Students should arrive no earlier than 7:20 a.m. unless they are enrolled in Champions Before School Program. Students eating breakfast may arrive no earlier than 7:20 a.m. In the afternoon students must be picked up from school no later than 2:15, 1:25 p.m. on Wednesdays.

We request the cooperation of parents in getting all children to school on time. Instruction begins as soon as the children enter the classrooms. Children should not arrive before 7:20 a.m. unless they are enrolled in the morning Champions Before School Program or are eating breakfast in the cafeteria. Except for Champions personnel, there is no one available to supervise the children before that time. All students are to wait in their designated areas prior to the 7:50 a.m. bell. At the ringing of the morning bell, all students should enter their classrooms ready to listen to morning announcements and begin learning.Children who are not in their classroom by the 8:00 a.m. bell are considered tardy. Excessive tardiness requires a plan to be developed by parents, students and the classroom teacher.When school is dismissed, students are to go straight home, to the Champions After School Program or after school tutoring. Parents of students retained for additional help or disciplinary action will be notified ahead of time. Children will not be allowed to change their mode of transportation home, we receive a written note from the parent/guardian with a daytime phone number for information verification. Children should give the note to their teacher at the start of the school day.

Early dismissal during school hours is greatly discouraged. Please remember that we teach up to the last minute of the day. Students who leave early miss out on valuable academic instruction and practice. Early dismissal is also upsetting to the normal routine of the classroom for all students in the class. Students who are picked up early will be counted as an Early Release Tardy. Please try to arrange dental and/or medical visits after school hours.

If it is absolutely necessary for a child to leave during the day, the student will only be released through the school office to the parent or legal guardian. Please bring picture identification with you.Your child will remain in the classroom until you check him/her out at the office. Parents/Guardians who have difficulty picking their child up on time may wish to consider enrolling their child in the YMCA Program. For more information on the YMCA Program, please contact 407-858-3150 ext. 3732230.

Dismissal Procedures for Car Riders

Car Riders will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m. (1:25 p.m. on Wednesdays). Parents/guardians will utilize numbered car window tags. Parents will pick up their children at the section that corresponds to the number on their car hanger tag. The section numbers are posted on signs on the exterior wall around the car loop. The car rider dismissal areas are labeled as follows in the following order as you enter the car loop-

500- 5th grade

400- 4th grade

300- 3rd grade

200- 2nd grade

100- 1st grade

0- Kindergarten

One loading line will be used in each area, with staff members loading students into cars. Parents/guardians are asked to remain in their cars and wait until children are loaded. No student will be allowed to cross traffic lanes or meet parents in parking lots.

Walkers: Walkers will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m. (1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays). Walkers will be dismissed to one of three areas-

  • Texas Walker area at the bus/van loop (parents may wait for students at the picnic tables).

  • Hidden Creek Gate in the back of the school (parents may wait on the sidewalk area near the Hidden Creek Gate).

  • Andover gate near the front main entrance of the school (parents may wait on the sidewalk outside the gate).

  • All students designated as walkers will be expected to walk home. Students observed waiting at corners after walkers have been dismissed will be escorted to the late pick-up area outside the front office in the yellow hallway.

  • Dismissal zones are restricted areas. Only Palmetto personnel are allowed in these student dismissal zones.

  • Please remember to use the crosswalks.

  • Parents of car riders are to wait inside their cars in the car loading line. Please remember that there is to be no parking in the traffic lanes.