Absences/Dismissal Changes:
Attendance notes regarding absences or dismissal should now be submitted through Parent Portal. Click here for directions.
Morning Student Arrival:
Student drop-off is from 7:40 AM – 8:00 AM. Parents who drive their students to school in the morning are asked to use the first parking lot/car rider loop. Please do not use the bus lanes or drive in the main parking lot at the front of the building. The only traffic allowed in the front of the school in the morning is our buses and drivers transporting disabled children.
Afternoon Dismissal:
Students are dismissed at 2:25. Please make sure your child knows how they will go home every day. Early dismissals and changes in transportation must be made by 2:00PM. Students being picked up will only be released to a legal parent/guardian upon showing an ID. IF you need someone else to pick up your child - you must send a signed note to the school office.
Bus Transportation:
Students are to use their assigned bus stop. Students are not permitted to ride any bus other than the one to their home address.
Exceptional bus Requests: If a student must ride a bus other than their assigned bus, the parent must contact the office. An Exceptional Transportation Request FORM must be completed five (5) days in advance.
Visitors and Volunteers:
All visitors are required to check in at the front office to show picture identification and receive a visitors sticker. Please ensure the visitor’s sticker is clearly visible. Anyone without a visitor’s sticker will be escorted to the office to receive a new sticker.
Volunteer Orientation will be held on Friday, September 20th at 9:00 a.m. Please visit https://www.aacps.org/o/aacps/page/work-volunteer-in-aacps for information on AACPS requirements.
Lunch Visitors
We’re sorry, but due to limitations of space, security concerns and potential for disruption, we cannot accommodate any visitors in the cafeteria during student lunch.
Student Medication:
If your student needs to take medication on a regular basis during school hours, please complete the “Parent’s Request to Administer Medication At School” form. (also available from the school nurse/office.) Please note that the form requires both a parent and a physician signature. Medication cannot be administered to your child until this form is on record in our Health Room. Students are NEVER permitted to possess any kind of medication. This policy is for the protection of your child. Parents are always welcome to personally administer medication to their child in the Health Room on an occasional basis.
The policy for all over the counter (OTC) and prescription medication is as follows:
Physician and parent signed medication form
Pharmacy labeled container
OTC drugs in original sealed container
Medication brought to school by an ADULT, as children are not allowed to carry any medication (Must be delivered to the health room nurse (hours 8:00AM - 2:30 PM)
Physician will be called for any questions
The first dose has been given without any problems.
All treatments given for an ailment are considered medication and require a medication form to be completed by the parent and doctor. This includes ALL over the counter items such as cough drops and lozenges for sore throats and all creams.
Cafeteria Information:
Prices: Full price breakfast: $1.50
Full price lunch: $2.75
Reduced price breakfast: $.00
Reduced price lunch: $.00
Pre-pay option: This is a convenient way to be sure your child always has money for breakfast or lunch. Your child will use their student ID number to purchase meals.
Free/Reduced Meals Program: Families must complete the free and reduced meal application On-Line. Link can be found here. There will be no paper forms sent home. If you do not have access to a computer/or need assistance, you can come to the school to complete the on-line forms. If you already participate in this program, please be aware that a new application must be on file by October 1, 2024.
Birthday Celebrations:
In order to align with our AACPS goal to cultivate a community of wellness and include all students with food allergies, the distribution of class treats, to be served during lunch or the classroom for birthday celebrations, is not permitted. Instead, non-food items like a pencil are preferred. Please do not bring balloons to school.
PTO Information:
Our CES PTO is an excellent source of information and support for our students and families. Please consider joining our PTO for the 2024-2025 school year. For more information you can visit the Central Elementary PTO pagecentralespto.org and join Central Elementary Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CentralESPTO/
