FAQ
Schedule & Logistics | School Culture | Food & Nutrition | Illness/Medical | Kindergarten | Getting Ready for the New School Year | The Lingo
Schedule & Logistics
When do I drop off my child?
As early as 8am, as late as 9:30am.
What’s the daily schedule?
Community Circle is at 9:30 for about 5 minutes. This is our outside classroom that begins our learning each day. Please join us!
Most classrooms have morning snack around 11:00.
Morning recess is at 11:00am for grades K-1, 11:15am for grades 2-3, 11:30am for grades 4-5.
Lunch is at 12:30pm for K-2 and 1:00pm for 3-5.
The school day ends at 3:30.
The after-school program runs 3:30-6:30.
Where do I drop off my child?
From 8-9:10, drop off is at the before-school program in the cafeteria.
From 9:10 until the end of morning circle (about 9:35) drop-off is on the yard.
(On rainy days, morning circle is in the cafeteria)
After 9:35, your child can go directly to their classroom.
After 10:00, you must stop by the office for a tardy pass.
When do I pickup my child?
3:30pm if not in afterschool program.
Between 6pm and 6:30pm if in afterschool program.
Where do I pickup my child?
At 3:30pm, you can pick up your child in the school yard.
Between 3:30-6pm you may park your car (please park legally, don’t double park) and come into the school cafeteria.
What is the bus schedule?
The Bus picks up at Harvey Milk at 3:30 when school ends.
How do I sign up for the before school and after school program?
The Embarcadero YMCA has made the registration form available for download on our web site. See the Before and After School Programs page. The before and after school program is available for all students.
How much does the before/after-school program cost?
There is no charge.
Do I need to sign my child in and out every day?
You don’t need to sign your child in or out of the regular school program.
You do need to sign your child out of after-school, every day.
Children in 4th grade and above may leave on their own at dismissal time, with parent permission, and may also sign their younger siblings out.
How do I pick up my child early?
Go to the main office and sign them out, and your child will be called from their classroom to come to the office to meet you.
What do I do if I’m going to be in the school during the day?
Go to the main office, sign in on the clipboard by the door, and get a visitor pass.
Can my child wear a hoodie or hat?
Hats are not allowed in some classrooms. Ask your child’s teacher.
Yes, your child can wear a hoodie as long as the hood is not covering their head in the classroom (ask your child’s teacher).
School Culture
What happens at the morning Community Circle?
It’s usually 5 minutes of some sort of team exercise (clapping in, saying good morning), some announcements, and sometimes the school pledge. After morning circle, all the kids line up with their teacher and go to class.
What are the 5 B’s?
They’re our guiding principles for expected student behavior:
Be safe.
Be responsible.
Be respectful.
Be a listener.
Be a learner.
What are the Definite Dozen?
- Respect Yourself and Others
- Take Full Responsibility
- Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty
- Learn to Be a Great Communicator
- Discipline Yourself So No One Else Has To
- Make Hard Work Your Passion
- Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart
- Put the Team Before Yourself
- Make Winning an Attitude
- Be a Competitor
- Change Is a Must
- Handle Success Like You Handle Failure
What is First Pass?
Promoting Achievement in School through Sports. All students have First Pass with Coach Glenn one day a week in addition to their PE classes. First PASS improves students’ school performance by bringing the positive aspects of sport culture into the classroom. By participating in the First PASS activities, elementary students improve attitudes and/or skills in these areas: Concentration, Responsibility, Acting individually and as an integral part of a group, Self-discipline, Respect for surroundings, Personal presence and leadership, Empathy and respect for others. The attitudes and skills addressed in First PASS are developed through a carefully structured set of activities that, on a daily basis, challenge, engage, and motivate students to do their best individually and as a team.
What is inclusion?
Inclusion means our school is for everyone. There are more formal definitions related to children with special needs, but culturally it means we welcome and celebrate all of our differences as people and families.
What is Camp Mosaic?
Our 4th graders are fortunate enough to attend a week of camp at The Mosaic Project every year. This remarkable experience unites young children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowering them to strive for peace. The Mosaic Project teachings carry through the year’s curriculum and cultivate independence and awareness in the most formative years.
Are kids allowed to bring cell phones to school?
Cell phones may not be used on the school campus. If your child has a cell phone, it must be turned in to the office during school hours. If you need to reach your child during the school day please contact the school directly.
What is School Loop?
School Loop is an online application used by SFUSD schools as a communication tool between schools and families, as well as to host official school websites (visitors to www.harveymilk.com will be redirected to https://hmes-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com). Parents can create a School Loop account here in order to access all features including calendars, classroom and fundraising information, and Loop Mail, which will be the primary form of communication between the school and its families.
Food & Nutrition
Are there any foods that aren’t allowed at school?
Nuts or seeds with shells, chips, cookies, sweets and candy are not allowed. (Exceptions are made by individual teachers for birthday celebrations and special occasions.)
What’s for breakfast?
Monthly menu. Breakfast is served in the before-school program from 9:10-9:25am and is $1.50/$.75 for reduced/free for those who qualify.
What’s for lunch?
Glad you asked, check out the menu. Lunch is $3 (full price), $1.50 (reduced) or free for those who qualify.
What if my child has food allergies or other special food needs?
Vegetarian meals can be provided for those students that are non meat eaters, but must be requested on the lunch form that goes home at the beginning of the year. If a student has food allergies, please note this on the emergency card and let the teachers and staff know.
How can I get free/reduced breakfast and lunch for my child?
You need to fill out the form that is handed out the first week of school, documenting your income & other information. (This form must be filled out each year, even if you qualified last year) This form is now available on the SFUSD web site. Fill it out online and qualify for a prize drawing.
Do I have to fill out the free/reduced lunch form if I know that I don’t qualify?
Yes! All families need to turn in the form, even if it’s just the word “decline”. It’s important to turn in the form even if you don’t qualify because it helps the school receive government money.
How do I pay for my child’s full-price or reduced lunches?
You may pay online at www.mealpayplus.com or you may pay by check (make check payable to Student Nutrition Services) and turn it into the office or to the cafeteria.
Are snacks provided?
Yes, usually during morning recess. There’s a drive at the beginning of the year for each family to contribute $40, which covers weekly fresh fruit deliveries for the whole year; families also share responsibility within a classroom for bringing crackers/pretzels/etc.
The after-school program also provides a snack at around 3:45.
If my child brings her lunch, can she get help opening the containers, etc.?
Only minimal help is available – please send your child with lunch containers they can handle on their own.
How much time is allowed for lunch?
15 minutes is provided in the cafeteria to eat and longer for those that need extra time and then there is 25 minutes for lunch recess.
Illness/Medical
How do I notify the school if my child is sick?
Call the main number, (415) 241-6276, and speak to Ms. Alisa.
Can the school administer my child’s medication?
Yes. All medication is kept with Ms. Alisa in the office – please provide clear written instructions on timing and dosage, and include a copy of your doctor’s prescription.
Kindergarten
Can I stay in the classroom with my new kindergartener?
Not until after Back-to-School night. After that, all parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classrooms. Please talk to your teacher to schedule times that the teachers need the most help.
Why aren’t kindergarteners and 1st-graders allowed on the monkey bars?
Kids whose hand strength isn’t developed can easily fall from the monkey bars – this is a common cause of broken arms in young elementary students. The monkey bars are restricted to 2nd-grade and above.
Is there naptime in kindergarten?
No. They do not take naps, but they do have down time where the classroom is dark and they put their heads on the desk. If your child is in Mr. Sato’s class they will listen to Jazz during this time.
Bathrooms
Both kindergarten classrooms have easy access to restrooms. However, going to a school-style bathroom alone is new to many kindergarteners. Some kids don’t want to use them at first and may “hold it” all day or else have accidents. It may be useful to send a change of clothes in a plastic bag for the first few days, just in case.
What’s the first day like?
It’s a full day, and both before and after school care are available. You will need to say goodbye to your kindergartener outside the classroom right after morning circle before they march in. (Kindergarten parents are asked not to visit the classroom until after Back-To-School night, in order to help children adjust to their new school life.) Immediately after morning circle on the first day of school, all parents are invited to coffee with the principal in the cafeteria, and are welcome to discuss questions and concerns.
What if my child cries or doesn’t want to go in?
The kindergarten teachers are very experienced at handling the kindergarten jitters and they will have fun, low-pressure activities planned for the first day. Their advice is to cheerfully but firmly say goodbye and move on.
Getting Ready for the New School Year
How do I know which classroom/teacher my child is assigned to?
Come to the picnic on the day before the first day of school. You will meet a great deal of the school community that day, including your child’s teacher.
What supplies do I need to get?
All students should have a backpack large enough to fit the 9×12 Wednesday folder.
Kindergarteners will probably not need school supplies of their own as the classrooms are well stocked with the basics. However, they’re welcome to bring their own pencils, etc.
1st-grade and up will get a list of supplies from their classroom teacher.
Please remember to LABEL your child’s backpack, jacket, etc. with their name.
Is there anything I can do BEFORE the first day of school?
Whatever you do, try to come to the opening picnic in the schoolyard (it’s usually the Sunday before the first day of school. It will be listed on the calendar). Bring a dish to share and meet your child’s classmates and teacher.
Join our Yahoo Group.
Then! Attend the first PFC meeting (Parent Faculty Club) of the year (Date/Time TBA) in the school cafeteria and sign up to help with fundraisers to raise money for programs and supplies for the school. Events and meetings are always listed on our calendar (or subscribe to it if you use Google Calendar).
The Lingo
What do all these acronyms mean?
PFC Parent Faculty Club
SSC (school site council)
IEP (individual education plan)
ELL (english language learner)
ELA (english language arts)
GATE (gifted and talented education, begins in 3rd grade)
SES (socio-economic status)
SST (student success team)
BSC (balanced score card – we should put all of this on the web site)
LSP (learning support professional)
RSP (resource specialist professional)
SNS (student nutrition services)
CBO (community based organization)
UA (universal access)
If you have any other questions you’d like to see added to this list, please let us know by sending email to pfc
harveymilk
com