New Parents

Welcome to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School! We are delighted that your child will be attending St. Andrew’s. We wish you a warm welcome from the entire St. Andrew’s community. The information listed below should help to make your transition seamless. We hope you find this information useful, and we welcome suggested changes or additions for future new parents. If you have any questions that you cannot find answers to please contact Lisa Witter at lwitter@standrewsepiscopalschool.org.

Back to School

The School sends a general Back to School letter from the Head of School in early August with key upcoming dates and details.

In PK 4 and K the classes may start staggered with small groups to help the children adjust to their new classroom. Group 1 will attend on Monday, August 14 and Group 2 will attend on Tuesday, August 15.  There will be a noon dismissal for PK 4 and K on August 14 and 15. Drop-off and pick-up is at the Short Street gate entrance to de la Vega Hall.

The first day of school for Grades 1-8 is Friday, August 11 with a noon dismissal. Drop-off and pick-up is at the red awning entrance to Parish Hall on Zimpel Street.

Students should follow the uniform guidelines every day. More detailed information is included in The Customary which is published on our website on the For Parents page.

Save These Dates

First Day of School

(PK 4 – K) – Monday, August 14 for Group 1 and Tuesday, August 15 for Group 2, doors open at 7:30 am, classes begin at 8:00 am and dismiss at 12 Noon.

(Grades 1-8) – Friday, August 11, doors open at 7:30 am, classes begin at 8:00 am for grades First through Fourth Grade, and 7:50 am for Middle School, Grades 5-8.  Students dismiss at 12 Noon this day.

 

Getting Around Our Website

If the information you are seeking is not in an obvious location, you may use the site’s Search feature, which is available on each page of the website. If you cannot find what you are searching for, the Admissions Office is available to help.

Arrival

The school day begins promptly at 7:50 A.M. for Middle School students (Grades 5-8) and 8:00 A.M. for Kinder Cottage (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten) and Lower School (Grades 1-4) students. Middle School students should arrive on campus no later than 7:45 A.M. in order to be physically present in the classroom for daily attendance at 7:50 A.M. Students in Grades PK-4 should arrive no later than 7:55 A.M., preferably earlier. Morning Exercises begin promptly in the Church each day at 8:00 A.M on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Students should not arrive at School until 7:30 A.M. At that time, the Parish Hall door and the Short Street gate are opened. Pre-Kindergarteners and Kindergarteners enter through the Short Street gate and should report directly to classroom, and First through Eighth Graders enter the Parish Hall. The School is not responsible for the safety of students until 7:30 A.M.

A 7:43 A.M. bell informs Middle School students to move from Parish Hall to Advisory and Lower School students to move from Parish Hall to Homeroom. A 7:55 A.M. bell signifies it is time to line up (Pre-Kindergarten through 4th Grade) or prepare (Middle School) for Morning Exercises. A 7:57 A.M. bell signifies it is time for all to proceed to the Church for Morning Exercises. An 8:00 A.M. bell signifies the start of School and Morning Exercises for all students and faculty.

Dismissal

Dismissal times are as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

3:15 P.M. on Short Street

Grades 1 – 8

3:15 P.M. on Zimpel Street

After School Care and Programs

Intermittent, but no later than 6:00 P.M. on Zimpel Street

Parents must not use their cell phones while a child is entering their vehicle. Teachers will not place a child into a vehicle if the driver is using a cell phone.

Rainy Day Dismissal—All Carpool Drivers Should Read Carefully

 On days of heavy rain and/or thunderstorms, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are dismissed on Short Street. All other grades—Grades 1-2 and 5-8 are dismissed from the red awning at Parish Hall on Zimpel Street. 

 If someone other than an authorized person is to collect a child, we must have written permission from the parent. Written permission is also necessary if a child is to walk home, ride a bicycle, or take the streetcar from School.

 Children who are not picked up by 3:30 P.M. will be sent to Cardinal Care.  If a child is not collected by 3:30 P.M., the parent will be billed the fee for Cardinal Care.

 Please check the calendar for dismissal times.

Lunches & Snacks

The School offers a voluntary lunch program. A separate letter sent to all families describes the options provided as well as the forms for participation. Children who do not participate in the lunch program should pack a bag lunch and appropriate drink each full school day. Candy, high-sugar snacks, and soft drinks are not permitted. Fresh water is available for all children, faculty, and staff. Microwavable meals from home should be kept to a minimum, especially meals requiring several minutes of heating, as there are limited microwaves available for student use, and each lunch period runs only twenty-five minutes, including time for clean up.

First through Eighth graders have a snack time each morning. Parents may pack any light food, such as fruit, carrots, or crackers, in the lunch bag for this purpose. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students have a School-furnished snack each morning. A snack is provided for all children attending Cardinal Care. Nutritious food is encouraged. A healthy diet produces healthy children. Candy, high-sugar snacks, and soft drinks are not allowed.

Parents are invited to periodically join their child for lunch at St. Andrew’s. It is a special way for parents to spend time with their children and their classmates.

Lunch Expectations 

  1. Place all lunch wrappings, scraps, straws, and empty drink cartons in trash bins before going to the playground.
  2. Pick up any wrapping, food, etc., which may have fallen on the ground or the floor.
  3. Clean up the table. Replace your chair under the table.
  4. Remain seated at the table until dismissed by your teacher for recess.
  5. Bring necessary utensils from home.

 

Cardinal After Care

The Cardinal Care Program and After School Class Program are available to all students in Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth grade from 3:15 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Students in Cardinal Care are provided with supervised care, a nutritious snack, time for free play, and a quiet time for completing homework assignments. The staff consists of a director and two assistant teachers.  A supervised homework period begins at 4:15 P.M. Children are required to finish their homework before returning to play unless a parent wishes otherwise.  Parents may collect their children at any time during the Cardinal Care hours from the Parish Hall entrance on Zimpel Street. For security purposes, they must ring a bell to enter and must sign out of the daily log prior to departing the campus with their children.

The daily charge for Cardinal Care is $8.00 for students who are picked up no later than 4:30. For students picked up after 4:30, the charge is $16. Please note that students who are not signed out of the log with a time record of 4:30 or earlier will automatically be charged the full rate of $16. The log should be signed out as students and their parent or guardian are leaving the campus. Students should not remain on campus after they have been signed out.

Late pick up:  Parents are asked to adjust their schedules in order to pick up students before 6pm.  The School must be contacted prior to 6 pm if an emergency situation will cause the parent to be late.  Repeated late pick-ups will result in a late fee beginning at $25 and increasing to $40 for the second charge.  The late fee for pick-ups after 6:30 is $50.

The Cardinal Care Director is Monnette Pittman, please contact her with any questions or concerns or concerns at, mpittman@standrewsepiscopalschool.org.

The After-School enrichment classes are offered to all students throughout most of the school year. Previous after school classes have included instruction in baseball, soccer, basketball, art, music, study skills, karate, cooking, chess, pottery, and yoga. Please see THE NEWSLETTER for more information on offerings and fees.  There is no charge for Cardinal Care on the days the student is participating in an After-School class.

For students participating in interscholastic Athletics, Cardinal Care is available both before and after an event or practice. The daily charge for Cardinal Care either before or after Athletics is $8.00. Students who participate in Cardinal Care both before and after an event or practice will be charged the full rate of $16.

Any student who remains on the St. Andrew’s campus after school without proper adult supervision (a parent or guardian) must be registered for Cardinal Care during any period before or after Athletics or any other after school activity.

Cardinal Care invoices are based on the daily log and cover two-month periods. They will be emailed early in the third month with payment due by the end of the third month. Failure to pay two consecutive invoices may result in temporary suspension of Cardinal Care services until the outstanding balance is paid in full.

After School Programs

St. Andrew’s offers after school enrichment classes to all students throughout most of the school year. Past after school classes have included instruction in baseball, soccer, basketball, art, music, study skills, karate, cooking, and yoga. Please see THE NEWSLETTER and website for more information.

Parent Volunteering

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School welcomes parent volunteers. You can learn of opportunities to volunteer through the Parents’ Club or through the Room Parents or teachers.

Visitors to Campus

Parents, family members of current students and alumni of the School are always welcome at St. Andrew’s; however, they must have the permission of the teacher, Program Director or the Head of School before going to a classroom.  Other visitors, such as friends of current students, are welcome to attend athletic events and performances but may not participate in the classes or activities of the regular program; they are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to make visiting arrangements. All visitors must enter and sign in at the School Office at 1116 Short Street and wear the appropriate name tag while on campus.

Lost and Found

The School maintains a Lost and Found area in the Office and in Parish Hall. At the end of each marking period, the Office will dispose of unclaimed articles. Parents should mark their child’s name on all articles brought to School to help prevent loss of clothing.