Can siblings accompany me when I volunteer?

Teachers will often ask for parent volunteers, however, we ask that you do not bring other children.

What should we do if my child is absent?

Please submit a note when your child(ren) returns to school from being absent. You can either send in a paper note or submit a note through your parent portal account. If your child is absent for more than 5 days, a doctor's note must be submitted. Students who are absent 10 days or more in a school year are considered excessively absent by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Can we come on field trips?

Field trip chaperones are selected randomly. All volunteers are required to go through a background check. Overnight field trips and Drownproofing require fingerprinting. Background checks can take up to 3 weeks to complete for approval. Parents not selected as an approved chaperone for a field trip are not allowed to meet the class at the field trip site.

How do we celebrate birthdays at Shady Side?

Birthdays will be celebrated at school by a morning announcement and a visit to the office for a ribbon, pencil and birthday book. Food items as birthday treats will not be permitted to be shared in school.  You may send goodie-bag type items such as pencils or stickers.

How do I let Shady Side know if I'm making changes to normal dismissal procedures?

If your child is being picked up by you, or an adult listed on the emergency card, or if you want them to go home on their regulary scheduled bus, you can send in a note with your child in the morning or call the office by 2:00 p.m. The office is a very busy place at dismissal, so to avoid any confusion we will not be calling students down to the office for early dismissal pick up between 2:15 and 2:25. Avoid sending in emails later in the day or calling at the end of the day to avoid any miscommunication.

We encourage students to ride the bus daily as this is the quickest and safest way for us to dismiss all students. If you are picking up your child during regular dismissal, please note that we have NEW car rider procedures this year. Parents will enter the property through the second entrance. There will be cones and, during dismissal, personnel to direct when additional cars can enter the property as we cannot block the pathway for buses. Cars will drive on the OPPOSITE side from normal to create a clockwise loop down the side of the building, circle behind the cafeteria, and pull up alongside curb. Staff will bring students out to cars. We ask that students practice getting in and out of the car themselves as there is not space or time for parents to exit the car to load students. Until staff recognize all parents, be ready to show identification.

If you are sending someone to pick up your child, who is not on the emergency card, you must call the school and talk directly to a secretary or administrator. Again, they will be asked to show identification.

Please do not call the school to make a bus change on the day you would like it to occur. The school administration, the transportation office and the bus company should agree that this can occur. Mrs. Quigley in the office has a form you can fill out to request a future bus change; this form can also be found online at aacps.org.

What time does school start?

Doors open at 7:40 AM. Students should arrive no later than 7:55 AM. They need to be unpacked, in their seats, and ready for instruction at 8:00.

Students are tardy as of 8:00 AM