What are the school hours? Students will be in school from 9:00am to 3:40pm every day except for Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoons we will dismiss two hours early, at 1:40pm, to allow teachers to plan together and participate in professional development. We are committed to providing care during that time for all students, if they need it. (see “Before and After Care” section, below)
How does drop-off and pick-up work? Student arrival happens between 8:45am and 9:00am. Students should enter through the rear doors of the building. Families dropping by car should access Towanda Avenue to the north of school via Grantley Avenue. Accessing at this point helps us prevent difficult back-up into our neighboring side streets. Families may park in a legal parking spot and walk their child in, or may pull up to the rear door to be greeted by an adult who will ensure that their student enters the building safely. Parents may also use our lower parking lot which is accessible from Towanda Avenue to the south via Keyworth Ave. Arrivals after 8:45am must enter through the front door to receive a late pass until 9am.
Student dismissal happens between 3:30pm and 3:40pm daily (with the exception of Wednesdays, when we dismiss early and student dismiss between 1:30pm and 1:40pmpm). ALL STUDENT DISMISS OUT OF THE REAR OR SIDE DOORS. Cars should access Towanda Avenue via Grantley Avenue to the north. Late pick-ups are handled through the front door and adults must enter the building to pick up their child.
How do we know if school is closed/closing/late due to inclement weather? We follow Baltimore City Schools. Please check TV and radio before heading out.
Will students wear uniforms? We do not require school uniforms, but understand that uniform-type attire is sometimes preferred by families. For those who prefer uniform-type attire, we recommend clothing choices that reflect school spirit with our school colors – GREEN and BLUE – and we specifically suggest items that will be easy to find, affordable, durable, and comfortable for active learning and play. Creative City t-shirts are available for sale in our main office, at cost.
Clothing Suggestions for families who prefer uniform-type attire: • Dark bottoms (black or navy blue) which may include pants, shorts, skirts, or jumpers. • Shirts that are any shade of blue or green – plain polo / collared shirts or plain t-shirts, long- or short-sleeved.
Is Kindergarten full day? Yes, our kindergarten is full-day. Since it is play-based, please know that students will spend limited time sitting at tables or involved in whole-group instruction.
Will you have recess? Yes, there will be recess in every grade, every day. We will be outside whenever weather permits. In the event of active precipitation, extreme heat, extreme cold, or other unique circumstances, teachers will hold indoor recess.
Will the students do the same mandatory testing that is done at regular public schools? Yes, as a public charter school we are required to do the state testing. However, we may opt out of district testing (such as quarterly benchmarks).
What is the student-teacher ratio? How many students will be in my child’s classroom? There will be approximately 22 students in each classroom. In addition to the primary classroom teacher, classes will benefit from shared teacher's aides (paraeducators) who typically support 2-3 classrooms each, with the exception of Kindergarten where there is one aide per classroom. We also have a devoted team of staff who include: art, music, and physical education instructors, special educators, a reading specialist, a mental health clinician, a social worker, a psychologist, a speech pathologist, and a full-time nurse who support our students.
Will there be free or reduced-price meals available? Breakfast and lunch are both provided free for any student who wishes to have them, which is consistent with all Baltimore City Schools.
What if my child has an IEP or 504 plan? Children with an IEP or 504 will be served according to their plan. We will have in-class and pull-out services.