The School Day

FCPS students have a 180-day school year in keeping with
Maryland law. Generally, high schools have a 7:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. schedule, and most middle school students attend
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a few exceptions, elementary schools
start at 9 a.m and dismiss around 3:30 p.m. Check with your
school for exact times.

Students should arrive at school no sooner than 30 minutes before instruction begins and leave the grounds within 30 minutes after instruction ends, except when participating in school-sponsored activities.

Getting to School
FCPS' 416 yellow buses cover a total of 39,800 miles every school day. About 34,000 students will be eligible to ride in 2007-08.
School system responsibility for students begins when they enter the school bus and ends when they step off the bus at the end of the school day. Students may ride only their assigned bus and must provide their own transportation if they are enrolled at a school outside their attendance area.

What's for Lunch?
FCPS students may buy a nutritious lunch in the school cafeteria or bring lunch from home. All schools offer traditional school lunches and a la carte items approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All offer breakfast, too. Low fat milk is included with the traditional lunch or can be purchased separately. To find out what's on the menu, check your school bulletin board, Channel 18, local radio stations or subscribe to Find Out First at www.fcps.org. Prices are published on school menus and listed on Channel 18. Prepaying for several meals can be helpful for young children. Families with limited ability to pay may qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

IMPORTANT!
Student Information Card
On the first school day each year, every student receives several forms that we ask parents or guardians to complete and return promptly. Key among these is the Student Information Card. The school office maintains this card for every child and refers to it anytime there is a question, concern or emergency. You will want to be sure your child's card is correct and current throughout the year.

Emergency Contacts
The Student Information Card asks for critical information such as how to contact you in an emergency, a list of medicines the student takes, and allergy and immunization records. Be sure to provide both your home and work numbers plus the name and phone number of your childcare provider or another adult.

Media in Schools
In the course of school activities, FCPS staff and the news media occasionally wish to interview, photograph or videotape students, display their work or publish their names for instructional, promotional or news purposes. Unless parents or guardians indicate otherwise on their child's Student Information Card, FCPS will assume the permission is given. (FCPS cannot control media coverage of events that are open to the public.)

Medications/Treatments
Students are encouraged not to take medication during the school day. If it is necessary for a student to do so, the parent/guardian(s) must provide a written order from the student's health care provider for all prescription and over-the-counter medications. Medications must be provided to the school in the pharmacy bottle and correctly and completely labeled. Medications sent in envelopes, plastic bags or daily reminder containers cannot be administered. Any treatment required by the student also requires a written order from a health care provider. Please contact the school as soon as you know that your student requires a treatment so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Visit and Volunteer
Schools welcome visitors who want to learn more about our programs, meet staff and tour the facilities. When visiting a school, please register at the school office upon arrival, and arrange meetings and
classroom visits in advance to be sure the time is appropriate.

We encourage family members and other citizens to lend a helping hand or share their expertise with students through our volunteer program or by serving on school system committees. Most schools have a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), which offers an excellent avenue for becoming involved in school life.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Don't miss these opportunities to talk with your child's teachers, ask questions and share insights and concerns:

March 4 & 5, 2008

Your school will provide appointment information as conference time approaches.