New Family FAQs

When is the first day of school?
Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

When / Where is drop off and pick up?
Drop off is from 8:15 – 8:29 am. School begins at 8:30 am.
Pick Up is from 3:20 -3:30 pm.

Grade 1-8 drop off & pick up is in what we call “The Oval.” PreK and Kindergarten student parents park in our right hand lot and walk children to their waiting teachers outside. They pick students up in the same manner at either Noon (half day) or 3:20pm (full day).

What happens if we’re late?
All students PreK – Grade 8 must arrive by 8:30. Our doors lock at 8:30. Our Early Childhood teachers begin teaching duties at 8:30. Children arriving after 8:30, in all grades, must be accompanied by their guardian to the office to receive a late pass.  

Do you have Before and Aftercare?
Yes. Before and Aftercare will be available for students PreK and Kindergarten students through a pre-registered service. Contact Rocky Lewis at admissions@sgws.org if you need to register for before care or after care and have not yet registered.  Grades student Before and Aftercare is available each day without pre-registration.  Before care begins at 7:30. Aftercare ends at 6pm. 

Is the outdoor gear on the supply list required?
Yes. This gear includes: Rain Pants, Rain Boots, Rain Coat, Rain / Sun Hat (EC), Snow Boots, Snow Pants, Winter Coats, Scarf, Hat, Gloves.

Where do I buy outdoor gear?
Local Big Box stores — Target, Dicks and Walmart as examples — should have most of what’s on the list, but supplies do go fast. Online shopping options might be easier for some and include:

How do I fulfill my service hours?
Your enrollment contract states how many service hours your family is asked to give to our school. If you have one or more full time students that amount is 30 hours per year per family. This is the number of hours for most of our families, however preschool / kindergarten families attending half days or 3 days a week have less service hours. Each week in the Tuesday Note, there is a section for Volunteering and we list all upcoming opportunities to volunteer. Our festival and community days are also typically great times to volunteer and include the Children’s Festival, Michaelmas, Annual Auction Benefit, Field Trip Assistance, and more.

Do you have food available for students?
We provide a healthy snack for Preschool and Kindergarten students. Families provide Preschool and Kindergarten packed lunch and water bottle. We do not provide snacks or lunch for grade students. Families provide Grade 1-8 packed snack and lunch and water bottle.

What is early dismissal?
Early dismissal at 12:00pm occurs a few times per year, typically before Holiday Breaks or Festivals.   

What if my child needs medicine during the school day?
We cannot distribute any medication without a form signed by a doctor. Please contact the office for the form and more information: learn@sgws.org.

Can I volunteer in the classroom?
Our Parent & Family Council has one to two representatives for each class. These representatives typically help facilitate and manage classroom volunteering. If you’re interested in being your classrooms parent & family council representative, contact parentcouncil@sgws.org.  We very much welcome new parents to these positions! 

What does it mean when you say, “No Media,” on school clothes and items?
In order to better foster young children’s imaginations, we ask that clothing, lunchboxes, backpacks, etc. not have images of scenes, logos and characters from movies or television shows. This applies to all students in all grades. Our Parent Handbook further explains our Media Policies. 

Have more questions?
Ask fellow families on our SGWS Family Facebook Group!
Our office can answer your questions as well, or direct you to someone who can! Call 330-666-0574 or email learn@sgws.org.