What time does school begin and end?

Kindergarten: Morning kindergarten begins at 8:44 a.m. and ends at 11:27 a.m. Children being dropped off by parents should not arrive at school before 8:30 in the morning.

All-Day Kindergarten and Grades 1 - 5: The school day for students in all-day kindergarten and grades 1-5 begins at 8:44 a.m. and dismisses at 2:50 p.m. Children should not arrive at school before 8:30 a.m. because there is no supervision until this time.

What are the check in and sign out procedures for students?

Check in: Students entering the building after 8:44 a.m. should check in at the office with their parents who must sign them in.

Check out: When picking up your child(ren) for appointments during the school day, you must stop in the office. One of the secretaries will help you by asking your child to come to the office. Please be sure to send a note with your child that morning so the teacher is prepared. When picking up your child(ren) at the end of the school day, you must stop in the office to sign your child out and your child will be called to the office for pickup at dismissal time. Please keep in mind that the last 10 to 15 minutes of the day is a time when most teachers are summarizing the day's activities, planning for the next day and making important announcements. If possible, please do not request that your child(ren) be dismissed before the dismissal time at 2:50 p.m. If someone other than the parent is taking the student, there must be a signed note from the parent releasing the student to that person. If a student does not have a note to NOT take the bus on a given day, that student MUST take the bus home as usual.

Can my child ride his/her bike to school?

All students may get permission to ride their bikes to school.  Parents take full responsibility for their child's safety until the child arrives on school property.  A permission form must be submitted to the office and approved by the principal before a child may ride or roll to school. Skateboards, in-line skates, and scooters are allowed.  The school is not responsible for the theft or destruction of a child's mode of transportation when riding or rolling to school.

Will child care be available at the school?

Yes. Before and after school child care will be provided by the State College YMCA. Before school care is provided at Corl Street from 7:30-8:30 am. For after school care, children are bused from Corl Street to the YMCA. For registration and/or additional information, call the YMCA at 237-7717.

My child forgot his/her homework or I want to drop off treats for a birthday party. What should I do with them?

Whenever you come to school, whether it be to drop something off or pick up your child, remember, you must stop in the office. One of the secretaries will help you by asking your child to come to the office or seeing that your materials are delivered. If you need to meet with or talk to the teacher, just leave a message in the office and an appointment will be scheduled.

What do I do if I am visiting the school or volunteering?

We request that all students, parents, and visitors enter the building through the front door. All other doors in the building are locked. Parents and visitors must stop in the office first, sign in, and pick up a visitor/volunteer badge. We appreciate your cooperation and support. We welcome your involvement and encourage you to volunteer in the school and become involved in school and PTO activities. If you are unable to volunteer your time during the school day, there are plenty of other ways to show your support. The Corl Street's PTO works closely with the staff and plays a valuable role in our total school program. Your membership in support of the PTO is welcomed. Pat Rinehart is our president for this year and can answer any questions you may have. Without volunteers, a lot of what we do in school would not be possible.

If your child will be arriving to school late and plans on buying a school lunch, you need to contact the school office at 231-1185 prior to 9:00am so that we can place the order. As with any late arrival you must accompany your child into the building to sign him or her in and fill out a late slip.

What if my child is absent?

First you need to call the Safe Arrival At School Line at (814) 231-1188. That way we know your child will not be coming to school. In addition, due to a directive from the Department of Education, an excuse MUST be on file for each time your child is absent. If we do not receive a written excuse within (3) days upon return to school the absence will be coded as unexcused. Absence is excused for student illness (specify the reason), death in the family, medical or dental appointments, religious observation and instruction, and educational trips. Please note that absence for personal reasons is NOT excused. Excuse forms are available for your convenience, but any note with the child's name, date of absence, reason for absence and your signature is fine. Please help us by sending a written excuse as soon as your child returns to school after an absence.  Students may not be absent more than ten days without a doctor's excuse.  We would encourage you to request a doctor's excuse any time you take your child for a doctor's visit when your child  is sick.

What is the SAS line?

If your child is going to be absent, you need to notify the Safe Arrival At School Line (231-1188). This number has an answering machine that allows us to check if your child is going to be absent. If your child is absent and there is no notification on the SAS line, we will be calling the numbers you have provided to verify your child's absence.

What is your Educational Trip Policy?

Due to the importance of class attendance, the school district does not recommend lengthy student absences whether excused or unexcused. The district policy for educational trips that are not school sponsored is as follows:

*Parents must request approval at least 2 weeks prior to the trip.

* It is up to the principal to determine that the trip is educational and excusable.

* A total of 10 days in any academic year will be excused for educational trips.

* The appropriateness of assignments given will be determined by the teacher and the principal. Teachers may require assignments such as math, written logs, reading and/or written reports. Any exception to this policy due to extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Superintendent. Excuses of prolonged absence will be on an individual basis. Request forms are available in the office. If you are unable to stop at the office to complete the form, please call the school (814) 231-1185 and a form will be sent home with your child.

Can my child take medicine during the school day?

School district policy requires that parents send a doctor's statement to school, as well as a written statement from the parent, in order for children to take prescribed medication at school. Forms are available in the school office. All medications are required to have a form. This includes seemingly small items such as Vicks Vapor Rub and even cough drops. All medications must be kept in the nurse's office and be dispensed by the nurse or other school personnel only.

What happens if my child becomes ill while at school?

We will always notify you if your child is injured or becomes ill. If there is an emergency and we can't reach you, we will call the person listed on the school emergency card. It is very important, therefore, to keep emergency numbers up to date. If we cannot reach you or someone listed on the emergency card in a situation requiring immediate medical treatment, an ambulance will be called and your child will be taken to the local hospital emergency room.

How long should I keep my child at home after an illness?

After an illness, please keep your child at home until well enough to come back to school and participate in all school activities. Please do NOT ask us to allow your child to remain inside during recess as we do not have indoor supervision.

My child has a life-threatening illness. What should I do?

If your child has a life-threatening illness (diabetes, allergic reaction to bee stings, etc.) please notify the office by the first day of school. Please provide us with phone numbers to call in the event of an emergency.

Who is your Health Room Paraprofessional?

Mrs. Gloria Chambers. She can be reached at (814) 231-1190. Mary Wagoner our school nurse, is in the building one and a half days a week.

What is the procedure for school closings?

Usually a decision is made at the district office by 5:45 AM to have a two hour late start or to close schools. If a two hour late start needs to be changed to "no school", the decision is made by approximately 7:30 AM. An "Alert Now" will be issued and you will be notified by phone. (Please make sure the district has your correct phone number.) Also, refer to 3WZ Channel 4 TV for the latest information on school closings by 6:00 AM or shortly thereafter. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL.

What should we do if we are moving?

Please notify the school office (814) 231-1185 as soon as possible.

How does Corl Street Elementary decide if there is indoor or outdoor recess?

Recess will be indoors if it is raining or the real feel is twenty degrees or below.

Who should I tell if I change my work number?

Please be sure to update all numbers, especially emergency, work, pager, email, and/or voice mail as they change. This information should be given to the school secretaries (814) 231-1185.

Can I eat lunch with my child?

YES! Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child any day. If you will be buying lunch, you will need to let the office know in the morning before 9:00 am. Again, you must sign in at the office before going to going to your child's classroom. You can inquire at the office as to the specific times for a certain class's lunch period.

How do I register my child as a new student?

You may register new students at the State College Area School District Central Office by calling (814) 231-1017 or if you are in the area, you can stop by the office at 131 West Nittany Avenue.