School Policies FAQ
DRESS CODE
NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN
Due to our protective gesture around childhood, we make a diligent effort to limit the intrusion of media characters in the life of the school. Therefore, please select clothing that does not display words, television or movie characters, advertising slogans/logos (except in the case of Alabama Waldorf School logo clothing), flashing lights, etc. Nail polish is not allowed in the preschool.
We suggest simple and comfortable clothes that allow for active play. We recommend that students wear garments of natural fiber, such as cotton or wool, as these garments provide warmth and breathability. Daily outdoor work and play are very important components of our programs. Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately to be outside in the weather. This includes a sun hat and sunscreen as well as warm winter clothing.
Extra Set of Clothes
A complete set of extra weather-appropriate clothes should always be kept at school. Please check these items daily and replace them as often as needed.
Inside Shoes
Each child needs a pair of inside shoes to keep at school. These should be soft and comfortable. Slippers, slipper socks, and ballet slippers generally work well. Regardless of the shoe type, please make sure they have backs and will stay on children’s feet and allow them to play and move freely. Please do not send flip-flops.
Outside shoes
Please send children to school wearing active wear shoes that are comfortable and easy to run in. Tennis shoes are best for the playground, and closed-toed shoes are required. Please do not send your child to school without socks! Also, no cowboy-type boots or flip-flops allowed.
DRESS CODE FOR GRADES STUDENTS
Grades students at AWS should dress neatly and comfortably in clothes that fit properly. We suggest simple and comfortable clothes that allow for active movement, and provide warmth and breathability. Daily outdoor work and play are very important components of our curriculum. Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately to be outside in the weather.
As part of our protective gesture around childhood, we make a diligent effort to limit the intrusion of media characters and commercialism in the life of the school. Therefore, please select clothing that does not display television, media, or movie characters, advertising slogans/logos, words, flashing lights, etc. Students may wear clothes that continuously cover torsos and undergarments during all daily activities.
Jewelry and nails should not inhibit students from participating in any school related activities. Makeup and hair dye is allowed for middle school students.
Grades students are required to wear shoes that support their feet and are appropriate for outdoor recess and movement activities at school. Closed-toed athletic shoes are required for movement classes.
FOOD POLICY
AWS is a peanut-free school.
NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN SNACKS AND LUNCH
We ask all preschool students to bring a packed lunch, including a water bottle, from home. Wholesome, nutritious foods enhance the child’s learning capacities; therefore, candy, gum, sugary foods, chocolate, juice boxes, and soda are not allowed at AWS and will be removed if discovered. In our efforts to promote environmental stewardship, we further request that pre-packaged items be limited as much as possible; while convenient, they can be unhealthy and add to the landfill. Many lunch boxes and pre-packaged food items have media characters on them, so please select items that are media-free.
Nursery and Kindergarten teachers prepare snack for the students every morning, and we ask parents/guardians to provide some fruits and vegetables for the snack on a weekly rotation (you will be asked to provide enough for one or two weeks each semester). If you cannot bring snacks as scheduled, please bring applesauce or dried fruit ahead of your scheduled time. This is the same for Late Extended Care snack, as well.
GRADES SNACK AND LUNCH
Grades students bring food for morning snack in their lunches. If a student is enrolled in Late Extended Care, they must also bring a healthy snack for that program.
All students bring lunch, including a water bottle, from home. Wholesome, nutritious foods enhance the child’s learning capacities; therefore, candy, gum, sugary foods, desserts, chocolate, juice boxes, and soda are not allowed at AWS and will be removed if discovered.
In our efforts to promote environmental stewardship, we further request that pre-packaged items be limited as much as possible; while convenient, they can be unhealthy and add to the landfill. Many lunch boxes and pre-packaged food items have media characters on them, so please select items that are media-free.
DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
Drop-off and pick-up times are very busy. In order to make these times go as smoothly as possible, if you need to talk with your child’s teachers, you may contact them by email or phone to schedule a conference outside school hours.
Due to limited parking capacity, we utilize a traffic loop for middle-school drop-off only. For all other students, please park in marked spaces and walk your child to class.
Drop-off Times
Early Extended Care: 7:30 - 8:15 am.
Grades classes start at 8:15 am, so students need to be with their teacher by that time.
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Drivers of students in Grades 6 - 7 may drop off their students in the traffic loop, allowing them to safely walk up the ramp to the buildings under supervision.
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Drivers of students in Grades 1 - 5 may utilize designated parking spaces, and walk your child to class.
Nursery and Kindergarten programs begin at 8:30 am. You may drop off your Nursery or Kindergarten student as early as 8:15 am. If you need to drop off your student earlier than that time, you may sign up for an Early Extended Care contract or drop-in fee.
For campus security, outside doors will be locked at 8:30 am. If you arrive after that time, please come to the office in order to sign in your child.
Nursery and Kindergarten doors will be locked at 8:45 am. If you arrive after that time, please come to the office in order to sign in your child.
Do not ever leave your child unattended by an adult. If you can’t gain access to the building, report to the Office where you can sign your child in.
Pick-up Times
Nursery and Kindergarten: 12:30 pm
Grades: 3 pm
Extended Care: 3 pm and 5:30 pm
Your child must be picked up by the time indicated on their enrollment or Extended Care contract in order for the school to maintain safe teacher/student ratios. Teachers and staff may have meetings or other responsibilities after school, and cannot be counted on to stay with children who are not picked up on time. We realize that emergencies may arise; in the event that a parent or guardian will be late to pick up a child, notify the Office or teacher immediately. Drop-in Extended Care charges may apply.
Late Pick-up
If the designated adult is late to pick up a child, we allow a 5-minute grace period that is fee-free. If after five minutes the child is not picked up, the child will be placed in the age-appropriate Extended Care program and the parent/guardian will be charged a standard drop-in fee for one day of Extended Care.