School Procedures/Safety

Attendance / Report an Absence
 

It is a parent's responsibility to report the student's absence within 72 hours.

If the absence is not reported within the time specified, it will be considered an unexcused absence regardless of the reason for the absence.

If your child has been absent more than 10% of the school days enrolled, then a doctor's note will be required for each absence recorded.

 

Tardy / Late to school

Our doors open to receive students at 7:30 a.m.  Instruction begins at 8:00 a.m. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom and ready to learn by 8:00 a.m.

Excessive tardiness will result in a truancy notice and/or referral. If a student arrives after 8:20 a.m., it is considered a partial day unexcused absence, unless a doctor's note is provided.

The instructional day begins at 8:00 a.m. daily and all parents without an appointment or without a need for assistance, are asked to exit the building no later than 7:50 a.m. 

If a conference with the teacher is needed, please contact the school counselor at (972) 749-4024 to schedule an appointment during the instructor’s conference time.

Doctor's Notes
When your child visits the doctor, dentist, or any other health professional during the school day, make sure to get a signed note from their office stating the appointment date and time. A copy of the note should be turned in to the office as soon as your child returns to school. If it is requested that your child remain out of school for an extended period of time, those exact dates must be noted on the excuse.

Early Dismissal
If you need to pick up your child from school early, please call the front office at 972-749-4000 or email Ms. Kiser at erkiser@dallasisd.org. Please provide the reason for the dismissal. Students may not be dismissed after 2:30 p.m.          

 
Excused Absences - bring requested documentation

Illness - parent note will cover up to 3 consecutive days

Medical Appointment - healthcare note required

Educational Appointments - document from educational facility

Death in Family - service documentation

Observance of Holy Day - please provide documentation from the religious institution

3 or more unexcused absences will trigger the Dallas ISD Truancy Department

 

 

Truancy Quick Reference Guide

Attendance for Credit: According to Texas State law each student must be in attendance 90% of the days the class is offered. The implementation of the Attendance for Credit Initiative is to ensure that all students are in attendance 90% of the time a class is offered to certify successful accrual of final grade.

Attendance

Student success in school is directly tied to attendance. Responsibility for attending class lies with the student and parent. It is expected that your child attend each day for the duration of school. Attendance counts from 8:00-3:20 each day.

 

Pre-K –

Parents of Pre-K students that wish to escort their child to class should enter and exit the building via the rear entrance that leads to the Pre-K hallway.  Only parents of Pre-K students may escort their child to the classroom.

 

Kinder, 1^st, 2^nd , 3^rd, 4^th, & 5^th Grade Students-

Should enter the building through the main doors at the front of the building and go to their designated areas until the instructor arrives to escort them to class.  If the student arrives after 7:45 a.m., he/she should get a tardy pass in the main office and then go directly to class.

 

Dismissal

• Make arrangements for students when they are dismissed from school.
• Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth grade students are dismissed at 3:20 p.m. daily.
• All students should be picked up no later than 3:30 p.m. as a safety precaution as there will be no staff members available to supervise your child.
• Only parents of Pre-K students are allowed into the building to pick up students at the rear door of the hallway and must exit the rear door of the hallway.

 

Dismissal Procedures

PRE-K
Pre-K students without a sibling attending our school must be picked up from their Pre-K classroom by the parent/guardian and sign-out the child with the teacher. PreK parents must enter and exit at the rear door of the PreK hallway.

Pre-K students who will be picked up by a sibling that attends our school will be picked up from the classsroom then go to the car rider spot in the auditorium, or bus riders, or the walker line.

BUS RIDERS (K-5)
K-5 grade level students that ride the bus are released at 3:15 p.m. to board the district school bus.

CAR RIDERS (K-5)
K-5 car riders will be held inside the auditorium until the parent arrives via the car/bus loading area in front of the building to pick-up the child. Student will NOT be released to parents that walk-up to the front door of the building. Only parents that have a vehicle in the car/bus loading area will be allowed to pick-up their child from the main entrance area.

WALKERS (K-5)
K-5 grade level students that walk home are released at 3:20 p.m. via the side entrance of the building and are allowed to walk home on their own. The crossing guard will assist student walkers as they cross to the other side of the street.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. What should I do if I do not want to drive my car through the car/bus loading area to pick up my child? Answer: Your child will be considered a walker, and he/she will exit via the side entrance. The parent can wait in their parked vehicle for their child and/or get out of the vehicle and meet their child at the side entrance as the child exits the building.
2. What should I do if I walk to the school to pick up my child? Answer: Your child is considered a walker and the parent/guardian should meet the child at the side entrance as the child exits the building.
3. What if my child walks home but a situation occurs and I do not want my child to walk home but wait to be picked up? Answer: The parent should contact the school in advance of the arrangements so that the child can be notified before dismissal.
4. What can I do as a parent if my student walker crosses the street to get to my car? Answer: The crossing guard will assist all students that cross the street in the designated crossing area. Make sure that your child knows to go to the designated area to cross the street.

NOTE: Whenever there is a change to the student’s normal dismissal arrangement, the parent MUST contact the school in advance so that preparations are in place.

Student Release

• Students are expected to stay at school from the time they arrive until the end of the school day which is 3:20.
• If a student has to leave early, a parent/guardian must come to the main office, present proper identification, and check the student out of school.
• If you designate a person to pick up your child, the designee must present a picture ID and must be listed on your child’s contact information. 

 

Withdrawals/Transfers

Notify your child’s teacher if a transfer will take place. Transfers are expected when students have moved out of the Martin Weiss attendance zone. All transfers must be done in person. In order to have all records cleared, a student must have:

• Turned in all technology/ books and/or paid for lost/technology/ books.
• The custodial parent/guardian will be the only person permitted to complete withdrawal/transfer procedures.
• The campus Data Controller needs a minimum of one (1) day prior notice to prepare students records when withdrawing from school.

 

Visitors

• All visitors, including parents, family members, and volunteers must report to the main office with a picture ID for a visitor’s ID badge upon entering the school. Open access to school premises is prohibited. All visitors without a pass may be escorted to the office to obtain a visitor's badge for safety purposes.