ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is vital to academic success. When students are absent, they miss valuable information and lessons necessary to meet Common Core State Standards. Families, schools and communities must work as a team to support school attendance. Our system-­‐wide goal is to improve local school attendance at every grade level.

IS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIRED?
Yes, school attendance is required for all students who reach five years of age on or before September 30th of the current school year. Students must attend school until their 18th birthday. Students who reside in DC must be enrolled in a public, independent, private, parochial or home school each year during the period that schools are in session.

The administrators, teachers and staff of Payne Elementary School take daily attendance very seriously. Regular attendance in school is vital to your child’s progress. Students should attend school each day and be on time. The school day is from 8:45 am until 3:15 pm. If your student is absent from school, please call the office at 202 698-­‐3262 by 10:00 am. When your child returns to school, be sure they have a note explaining the absence inclusive of a parent/guardian signature. If we do not receive a written excuse, the student will be issued an unexcused absence.

MEALS & MOVEMENT
Breakfast is free to all Payne Elementary School students and is served starting at 8:00 am, ending promptly at 8:35 am. No student will be accepted into the building prior to 8:00 am. No supervision is available prior to the aforementioned time and it is therefore unsafe for students to be in the building. Upon arrival at school, all students in grades 1 through 5 will report to the cafeteria and are encouraged to eat breakfast during this time. Students in Pre-­‐school, Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten will eat breakfast in their respective classrooms at the same time and should report directly there upon arrival. Your cooperation will help us maintain the safest possible environment for your child.

Lunch is served in the cafeteria during two 30-minute periods – students in primary grades (1st and 2nd) from 12 noon until 12:30 pm; students in intermediate grades (3rd through 5th) from 1:15 pm until 1:45 pm. Menus will be sent home monthly. A 20-minute period for recess immediately follows each lunch period. Students in grades 1 through 5 have recess on the big playground behind the East Wing of the Building, weather permitting. Early Childhood students (preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten) eat family-style lunch in the classroom with the teachers and aides from 11:45 am – 12:15 pm. Physical activity is for a 30-minute period daily and, weather permitting, these students use the “Tot Lot” which is the smaller playground behind the West Wing of the building.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a USDA grant program that provides our students with fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school day. Distribution of these healthy snacks will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

LATE ARRIVAL
Students are expected to arrive at school on time. Late arrivals slow down not only your student’s learning, but also interrupts valuable instructional time. If your student arrives late, he/she must check in at the office and pick up a tardy pass before going to class. In an effort to minimize instructional time interruptions, all students must independently transition to their classroom with the exception of students in grades Pre-­‐school through Pre-­‐ Kindergarten.

EARLY DISMISSAL/RELEASE OF STUDENTS
Students are released to the parent/guardian on record only. Parents/guardians must give advance written notice to the school when requesting a child to be released to other designated persons. No telephone notifications will be accepted.

UNIFORM POLICY
Students are expected to wear the school uniform Monday-Thursday. The school uniform consists of a navy blue or white top and navy blue bottom.

Friday is dress down day and students may wear school appropriate clothing of their choosing.

Students must wear the dark blue Payne t- shirt on field trips.

School appropriate:
Shirt messages that are child friendly (no profanity, drug, or violence)
Shoes that are securely fastened around the foot (no flip flops)

Students arriving inappropriately dressed will remain in the main office area until appropriate clothing can be provided. In addition, a parent/guardian will be contacted as needed in order to bring in the necessary items.