Since the COVID-related changes to the “normal” routine are fluid, we won’t try to capture that in this FAQ. If you have questions related to that, we recommend you check the school web site for more information.
Drop-off and Pick-up
Students arriving after the 8:15 bell are tardy and must sign in at the front office.
If you are running late for afternoon pick-up, you can either call the person you’ve designated on the school information form as someone who’s allowed to pick up your child, or you can call the office (781/316-3730) before 2:15, and your child can be brought to the office to wait for you.
NOTE: Your child will not be released to another parent unless you have listed that parent on your child’s school information form.
There are many places to park near the school. Parents are asked to respect the flow of traffic and park on the side facing Dallin on the following streets:
- Rhinecliff Street
- George Street (south of Florence)
- Renfrew Street
- Waverley Street
These streets are not wide enough for emergency vehicles to get through when cars are parked on both sides.
Where NOT to park, even if it’s “just for a second,” even if it’s pouring rain, even if you’ve got your baby in the car:
- Adjacent to a yellow or red curb (such as at the main entrance and along George Street next to the Kindergarten entrance)
- Within five feet of a crosswalk
- In a fire lane
- NOTE: The area in front of the kindergarten entrance is a fire lane!
- In a designated “no parking” zone
- In the teachers parking lot
Typically, pick-up is at 2:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 1:00pm on Tue. Children are released from the same doors they entered in the morning.
For the 2020-2021 school year, the early release day is on Wednesday, which is also a remote learning day.
On rainy, extremely cold, and snowy days, children (no parents, please) will be let in at 8 a.m. Grades K and 1 come in the front door and line up in the corridor by the gym. They are not allowed to go to their classrooms or lockers. Grades 2-5 come in the cafeteria door and stay there until the bell rings. A sign will be posted in the doors on days that the students are allowed in early.
At 8 a.m., students should line up at the following locations:
- K: Kindergarten doors
- Grade 1: front door
- Grade 2: second door at the playground side, off the cafeteria
- Grade 3: first door at the playground side, closest to the office
- Grade 4: first door at the playground side, closest to the office
- Grade 5: playground side, behind the yellow poles (near the parking lot)
All students start lining up with their grades at 8 a.m. Teachers open the doors and walk their students inside the building at 8:10. Students arriving after the 8:15 bell are tardy and must sign in at the front office.
This year Dallin has only one crossing guard, so it is crucial that families dropping off students in the morning follow the Walking safety for Schools.
To use curbside drop-off:
- Pull up in front of the school.
- After the parent or student volunteer has waved you forward to the first spot, he or she will help your child exit the car (ideally, on the school side, not the street side).
- Once your child is safely on the curb, please drive away, checking carefully for pedestrians in front of the school.
NOTES:
- There is no drop-off in front of the kindergarten. For the safest traffic flow during drop-off hours, please drive northbound on George Street and do not turn around.
- Please do not linger in the drop-off area for more time than it takes for your child to get out safely. If you need to speak with someone at the school, please find a safe parking space and park your car.
- Please do not drop off students across from the school, forcing children to cross traffic.
IMPORTANT: Idling in front of a school zone is illegal. Please make sure that you turn off your engine when parked at Dallin Elementary.
Lunch, Snacks, and Recess
All grades have recess, generally right before or right after lunch. The time allotted for recess is typically 20 minutes. Additional recesses are scheduled at the discretion of the teacher for usually an additional 10-15 minutes. Children should be dressed appropriately for recess. If the weather is particularly cold or wet, recess is held indoors.
A link to acceptable foods can be found on the Health & Wellness page. Foods that are not on this list (e.g., cupcakes, pizza) are not allowed. If you want to provide a snack that seems comparable to the foods on the list, please check with your child’s teacher.
Different classrooms celebrate birthdays and special occasions in different ways, so please check with your child’s teacher before bringing any food to be served in the classroom.
Again, these guidelines are for snacks that will be served to all children in your child’s class. You may send your own child to school with any kind of snack or lunch you want your child to have.
Dallin is not a nut-free school. However, for the safety of all children, it is recommended that students bring nut-free snacks and lunches.
All school lunches available for purchase are nut-free.
There is a nut-free table in the cafeteria for children with allergies. Only children with nut allergies and their friends who are purchasing lunch from the school may sit at this table.
Lunch is currently free of charge for all students. Please visit the APS Food Services site for more info.
Lunch is $3 per day. Milk comes with the lunch or can be purchased separately for 60¢. Students can bring money with them each day (it is recommended that you put it in a Ziploc bag or envelope, labeled with your child’s name), or you can pre-pay for lunches if you like. Make a check out to “Town of Arlington,” write your child’s name and teacher’s name on the subject line, and send it in with your child in his or her folder. (While you can purchase any number of lunches, the suggested amount is 20 lunches for $60.) You may also visit https://www.myschoolbucks.com to create an account and load money for student lunches.
Your child may be eligible for free or reduced cost lunch. Please visit the APS Food Services site for more info.
The Arlington Public Schools lunch menu is updated monthly.
Getting Involved
Yes! The PTO encourages families to support Dallin by volunteering for and attending the many school events held for our families and students. Additionally, Dallin families may support the school by leveraging their shopping habits. For a list of participating retail and vendor programs, please visit: https://dallinpto.org/other-ways-to-contribute/.
Rather than ask families to sell items to relatives, colleagues, or neighbors, the Dallin PTO asks each Dallin family for a one-time contribution to the Dallin PTO Annual Fund.
You can find more information, and donate to the Annual Fund here: https://dallinpto.org/annual-fund/. The PTO additionally sponsors other events throughout the year, which provide opportunities for community building as well as fundraising.
Parents who volunteer in the school are required to complete the paperwork for CORI background checks. You will also need to bring a photo ID. For more information, please see Mrs. Burns in the Dallin office.
The Dallin Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer/parent- run organization with the primary goals of engaging in fundraising and community-building activities for the benefit of the families and students at Dallin Elementary School. The PTO meets monthly and runs various events throughout the year. More information may be found here: https://dallinpto.org/welcome/.
The Dallin PTO helps organize a wonderful variety of Dallin activities that parents can take part in, some of which are ongoing throughout the year, and some of which are month or season specific. A complete list of opportunities and contact information can be found on the “Getting Involved” section of the Dallin PTO website: https://dallinpto.org/all-the-ways-to-get-involved/.
General Questions
- TASC (The Afterschool Connection) located at Dallin: https://tascdallin.wordpress.com/
- Arlington Boys and Girls Club: http://www.abgclub.org/abgc-after-school-program
- Fidelity House: https://www.fidelityhouse.org/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29856
- Arlington Recreation Kid Care: http://www.arlingtonkidcare.com/home.html
- Arlington Children’s Center: http://www.arlingtonchildrenscenter.org/about-acc/our-programs/after-school-program/
Official school pictures are taken in the fall. Information and a price list will be sent home with your child during the first few weeks of school. Individual and class pictures are taken. Students generally receive their photos late October/early November. There is an opportunity for retakes done at the school-see the Dallin Calendar for the specific date. Please contact School Pictures Coordinator, Jen Hayes, jenhayes78@gmail.com.
Room Parents act as a liaison between classroom teachers, and parents. Each class typically has two Room Parents, who work with teachers to find volunteers for class events, and help the teacher as needed to organize class celebrations. Room Parents also collect money or other donations for teacher gifts. See Ways to Get Involved for more information about signing up.
School closings and delays are reported on the Arlington Public Schools website, and on all local TV and radio stations. The district will also issue a phone call to numbers provided by families in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Food related items like lunch bags and water bottles will be in the bin in the hallway by the cafeteria. All other items will be in the main Lost and Found in the left side of the front entryway to the building. You may contact the Lost and Found Coordinator, Karla Palter (karlareh@gmail.com) with any questions.
If your child has a fever, please keep him or her home. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has vomited in the last 24 hours, please keep him or her home.
If your child will be out of school for the day, please call the “Safe Phone”: 781-316-3725. The Dallin school nurse is the only person who checks these messages.
If your child is sick, it’s helpful if you can mention your child’s symptoms, such as fever, cough, cold, or vomiting.
If you forget to call in, the nurse will call ALL home and work numbers until you are reached. If you cannot be reached, the nurse will call emergency numbers. If she cannot reach anyone to find out why your child is not in school, she will call the police and ask them to do a “safe check” to make sure that your child is safe at home.
Kindergarten Specific Questions
Kindergarteners are required to be self-sufficient in the bathroom. Please discuss any concerns you have with your child’s teacher or with the school nurse.
Yes, and the teacher will send home information regarding what else you should provide.
You may use the curbside drop-off at the front of the school, if you know that your kindergartner can get to his or her classroom without your supervision, or if you have an older child who will accompany your kindergartner.
There is no drop-off area in front of the kindergarten, and parking in this area is illegal, as it’s a fire lane. (Police have given tickets!)
Parents often like to help their kindergartners get settled in the cubby room for the first few days of school. Teachers generally prefer that parents not walk into the classroom. The sooner the children get used to walking in line with their friends and taking care of their own cubbies, the better.
On the first full day/class of school for kindergartners, right after drop-off, there is a Parent Coffee in the cafeteria for kindergarten parents-a nice chance to mingle, have some coffee and a muffin, dry your tears (!!), and meet the principal and the PTO presidents.
Arlington Family Connection hosts play dates for incoming kindergartners throughout the spring and summer. Contact the AFC for more information.