Absences: Please complete an absence notification via the parent portal of the Learning Management System (LMS). We ask that the School receives notification by 8:15 a.m. (9 a.m. on Wednesdays). Please note that if a student is not in school, they may not attend co-curricular activities or after-school functions.

Attendance: All students in the Lower School are assigned to a classroom. Attendance is taken twice a day by the classroom teacher and recorded by the Lower School Secretary. Regular student attendance is important for students to be successful in their learning and is required by the Department for Education. Except in the case of illness or emergency, children must be at school every school day. Medical appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible.

Absentee Parents: Please notify your child’s teacher and the Lower School Office of the dates of your absence from home and the name of the person in charge of the household during that time.

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions: Parents must complete a medical form before the start of each school year. This is where parents share information about allergies, intolerances, or other dietary requirements. Our Catering team will follow your guidance strictly as they prepare meals, snacks, and special treats. Peanut or nut products are not served in the dining room, nor are they allowed anywhere in the school facilities.

Assemblies: The Lower School Assembly program aims to develop a sense of community within the School. Assemblies support and enhance our Pastoral Program. Classes and students have opportunities to share in Assembly.

Birthday Celebrations: Children may celebrate birthdays at school by sending in a birthday keepsake. This could be something like a t-shirt or a favorite book that the class could sign. Parents have the option to order an edible birthday treat through our Catering department, which will be served as an afternoon snack. These treats are free of charge and will cater to all dietary requirements in the class. Parents should contact our Catering department at least 72 hours before the desired day at cateringmanager@tasisengland.org. 

Gifts of any kind should not be brought to school. Invitations for parties outside of school may not be handed out at school, even if the whole class is invited. Parents are asked to use the LMS to find contact details for the class members. We ask you to consider the feelings of other youngsters and to be fair and sensitive in issuing invitations.

Changes of Arrangement: When any plans change in your child’s daily routine (e.g., going-home plans, early arrival or departure, participation in PE), please email or call the Lower School Office and the classroom teacher, ideally by noon. If your child also has a club that afternoon or normally rides the bus, please also notify Mrs. Hudgens and Mr. Davies.

Children must be picked up by an approved adult or a sibling who is of Upper School age. Middle School siblings cannot collect Lower School children. You can add approved adults to your pick-up list through the LMS. If your child will be picked up by an unknown adult, we must receive your permission ahead of time, and we will ask you to take a copy of the adult’s driver's license.

No one will be allowed to change their going-home plans without written confirmation or a phone call to the Lower School Secretary.

Core Virtues: The Lower School has adopted six Core Virtues which promote basic moral, civic, and intellectual virtues. The Core Virtues are emphasized in assemblies and classroom discussions. The Core Virtues are:

• Principled

• Respect

• Compassion

• Open-mindedness

• Curiosity

• Perseverance

• Daily Schedules: Daily schedules in the Lower School vary by homeroom from day to day. This is due to the different specialist classes and the scheduled lunch period. The homeroom schedule is shared at the beginning of the school year and kept on file in the Lower School Office.

• Homeroom Assignments: Due to the transient nature of our international population, students are not assigned to specific class teachers until just before school opens.

Placement decisions are based on our best professional judgment. When determining placement, several factors are considered, such as student learning styles, pastoral and academic needs of students, balance of gender proportion, student peer groups, etc. Because of this, specific requests for a particular teacher cannot be accepted. Additionally, it is not the policy of the TASIS England Lower School to change classroom assignments mid-year.

• Illness: We hope that all children will be fit and well to attend school. However, if your child has a fever, displays respiratory illness, has diarrhea or vomiting, or is in any other way too sick to participate in lessons, please keep them home. Following government guidance, we ask that students with diarrhea or vomiting stay at home for 48 hours.

• Important Contact Information: It is necessary to have a current address and an up-to-date telephone number, plus an emergency number on file for each student. If your address and/or telephone number changes during the school year, please be sure to update the LMS.

Lunch:

• Pre-Kindergarten: Pre-Kindergarten students bring their own lunch, which should include a non-carbonated drink and should not include candy, nuts, or nut products.

• Kindergarten to Grade 4: A cafeteria-style school lunch is provided for all K-4 students. A wide variety of options is available, including at least two hot choices, served with a carbohydrate and two hot sides, soup, a salad bar, fruit, desserts, and a selection of bread and fillings for sandwiches.

• Parents are welcome to eat an occasional lunch with their K-4 children with prior notice. A note to the Lower School Secretary sent a few days ahead of the visit will enable us to make arrangements and advise you of your child’s lunchtime.

• Peanut or nut products are not served in the dining room, nor are they allowed anywhere in the school facilities.

• Parents/Visitors on Campus: Parents are very welcome on campus. Parents do not need to sign in when coming for normal drop-off or pick-up time, or when scheduled whole Lower School events are happening. To meet with a faculty member in Lower School, we ask that you make an appointment and sign in at Security, where you will receive a badge. Parents who are coming to campus for a small workshop, or to pick up or drop off at alternative times, are also asked to park at Security and sign in before walking over.

• If parents need to access the Lower School building after school, please ring the buzzer for the Lower School Reception and the Lower School Secretary will assist you. As the Lower School building is secured, adult toilets are not readily accessible to visitors without assistance from Reception. There are also visitor toilets available at Security.

• Snacks: Snacks are provided each day for all children in the afternoon. A morning snack is also provided for students in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Candy or gum should never be brought to school (except for class parties, depending on teacher and parent agreement).

• Students may bring a nutritious snack and drink on after-school club days. Please ensure that these snacks do not contain nuts or nut products. TASIS England strives to be nut-free, which includes school events, both on- and off-site, and on the bus.

SCHOOL HOURS

Arrival time: School children should arrive between 7:55 and 8:10 a.m., with classes beginning at 8:15 a.m. Lower School car park gates will open at 7:55 a.m. and close at 8:15 a.m.

Wednesday is a late-start morning for all students, and arrival time is between 8:45 and 8:55 a.m., with classes starting at 9 a.m. Lower School car park gates will open at 8:45 a.m. and close at 9 a.m.

Dismissal time:

Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 – 3:15 p.m.

The Lower School car park gates will open at 3 p.m. and close at 3:25 p.m. Students who attend after-school clubs are dismissed from 5 p.m.

Drop-off Procedures: Please try not to arrive before 7:55 a.m. (8:45 a.m. on Wednesdays) as this creates a queue in the neighborhood around the school. Parents who are waiting for the gates to open should pull close to the side to allow other cars to pass.

Parents are asked to use the drop-off bay to drop off children and depart. Alternately, parents may park their cars and walk their children to the Lower School. Children must be accompanied at all times in the Lower School car park.

Pick-up Procedures: Please try not to arrive before 3 p.m., as this creates a queue in the neighborhood around the school. Parents who are waiting for the gates to open should pull close to the side to allow other cars to pass.

Parents are asked to park their cars and walk up to collect their children at dismissal times. Alternatively, parents may use the drop-off bay to pick up children and depart. Parents who are waiting for children in the drop-off spots should remain in their cars, as this is a “No Parking Zone.” If parents wish to stay after school, we ask that you park your cars in the Lower School car park. Children must be accompanied at all times in the Lower School car park.

When parking, please park close to the sides to leave space for other cars. If parents are parking vans, we ask them to park in a designated bay so as not to block several spaces.

Late Pick-Up Policy: If a Lower School Student has not been picked up by 5:15 p.m. by a parent or guardian, or has been returned to school after the late bus has tried to drop the child off at home, parents will incur a charge of £5 for every five minutes late. This charge will automatically be advised to the Business Office, and parents will be invoiced accordingly.

EXTENDED LEAVE REQUEST

The School does not condone vacations for students that occur during scheduled school days. The year is short, and our effectiveness as a school depends on a vigorous and coordinated program of class lessons and homework. Vacations should be scheduled only during school holidays. Except under extraordinary circumstances, vacations during school days will be regarded as unexcused absences. Work will not be provided for vacations during school days.

We are, however, mindful that special family situations occasionally present themselves and that these events merit discussion between parents and administrators. For your child’s sake, we recommend that you involve the School early by notifying the Lower School Head of your plans. In only these rare instances, work will be given at the discretion of the classroom teacher.