New Family FAQs
When is the first day of school?
August 30, 2023
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 Oval. PreK and Kindergarten student parents park and walk children to their waiting teachers outside in the right-hand side lot. 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. Sign ups were in our Tuesday Note. Space is limited. Grades students come come to before and aftercare on an as needed basis. Before care begins at 7:30. Aftercare ends at 6pm. Please contact our school office at learn@sgws.org if you are interested in Before and /or Aftercare.
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:
- https://www.rei.com/
- https://www.froggtoggs.com/
- https://outdoorschoolshop.com/
- https://www.patagonia.com/home/
- https://www.landsend.com/
- https://www.llbean.com/
- SGWS Facebook Group
- Anywhere you can find it.
How do I fulfill my service hours?
Each week in the Tuesday Note, there is a section asking for volunteers and we also have Volunteer Opportunities on our website. 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. We do offer aftercare on Early Dismissal days (except the last day of school) for those registered.
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 applied 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!
Ask Jess at the front desk and if she can’t answer your questions, she will direct you to someone who can! Call 330-666-0574 or email learn@sgws.org.