Our School

Garfield Elementary School Mission Statement

It is the mission of Garfield Elementary to create an environment which promotes critical thinking, respects diversity, strives to integrate understanding, and invites participation by students, staff, families, and community members.

Belief and Action Statements (DRAFT)

To lead us toward our mission, we:

 

  • Believe that children benefit from the high expectations staff members hold for themselves and their students.
  • Believe that students have the right to a safe, nurturing learning environment which includes clear and effective classroom procedures and routines.
  • Celebrate diversity and weave tolerance and inclusion into the everyday fabric of our instruction.
  • Develop the whole child and foster physical, social, and emotional health. We also help every student work to reach state standards.
  • Share responsibility for maximizing student learning among all staff, parents, guardians, and students.
  • Encourage critical thinking, risk-taking, creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning – traits that help students reach their highest potential.
  • Promote and model positive character traits to prepare our students to effectively serve their communities.Teach compassion to create an atmosphere of respect and cooperation.


Absences/Illness

Please call the office at 596-6900 if your child is going to be absent. The school will contact you if your child is not present and we have not heard from you.

Medication

If your child needs medication while at school, we need a signed form from their doctor, dentist, P.A., or Nurse Practitioner. Medication needs to be in its original container with its original instructions. Please ask the office staff or nurse if you need more details.

Dropping Off / Picking Up Students

We have redesigned the bus, childcare van, and private car drop off and pick up procedure. In order to keep all of our school children safe, we ask that parents park only in the designated pick up / drop off areas at the school: (new dropping off procedure here)

  • Red areas mean no parking, ever.
  • Yellow areas are for dropping off or picking up
  • Please don't drop off your student or allow him or her to be on school grounds before 8:25 am-we have no adult supervision prior to that time.
  • The yellow curb in front of the school is for school buses and childcare vans. It will not be accessible to cars during typical drop off and pick up times (10 minutes before and after school).
  • All drop off or pick up will be at the loop in the back of the school accessible off Thomas Street.
  • There is no parking in front of the kindergarten playground between 11:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. This is to allow room for the buses to pick up and drop off the kindergartners safely.
  • If you need to pick up your child early, please be sure to come to the office first and ask someone to send them down. Please sign them out before leaving the building.
  • If your child is going home in a manner different than usual, please send a signed note with instructions to the school.
  • Bikes may be ridden to school. There are bike racks in both the front and back of the building. Students must wear helmets and have bike locks.

 

Buses

Please contact the office to see if you are on a bus route, or call OSD Transportation at 360-596-7700.

Visiting and Volunteering

Family members are welcome and encouraged to visit the school. You are encouraged to schedule visits in advance. All visitors are required to sign in at the office and receive identification before entering a classroom.

Family members are encouraged to volunteer in classrooms and in before/after school activities, including: Grr, Homework Center, teaching special classes, lunch buddies, tutoring, and participating in special events. Contact the office at 596-6900 if you are interested.

Half Days

K through fifth grades are dismissed at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is not served.

Late Start Days 

This collaboration time offers our staff a chance to work with each other to design lesson plans, discuss curriculum and develop interventions to help struggling students. Research indicates that regular, consistent staff collaboration is critical part to improve student learning. A late start means school begins one hour late (9:40 am) and buses pick up one hour late.

Before-School Breakfast, and Lunch

 

  • Breakfast is served at 8:20 a.m. for $1.60
  • Reduced breakfast no charge (grant from state)
  • School Lunches cost $2.45
  • Milk can be purchased for 60¢
  • Reduced Lunch K-3 no charge (grant from state)
  • Reduced Lunch 4-5 cost 40¢
  • Lunches are available at free and reduced rates to eligible families. Forms are available in the office.
  • The kitchen prefers to receive lunch money on the first day of the week. Please write your child's name, teacher, and the amount you are sending on the outside of the envelope.
  • Students may give lunch money envelopes to their classroom teacher

 

Pay your child's food service bill online. More information here!

Title I

As a Title I school, Garfield parents have the right to know about their child's teacher and paraprofessional's certifications and credentials. View the Right to Know clause as well as what Title I means to Garfield Elementary School students.