THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT GRANT SCHOOL


I’ve been keeping a list of questions that parents frequently ask. Just in case you’ve been thinking about any of these subjects, here are the most asked questions and hopefully, some straightforward answers.
  1. How can I be assured the children are safe at school?
    This is an extremely important question.  First of all, our entire staff is trained to help children in any emergency.  We have paid campus supervisors on the kindergarten yard, cafeteria and playground at lunch.  Teachers stand duty before school and during recess.  The entire school participates in fire and earthquake drills, as well as “lockdown” drills.  All parent volunteers are required to sign in at the office and wear either a volunteer badge or a visitor pass.  We have a school nurse and a health clerk that are trained to work with the children if they are injured or sick. The campus is secured at 9:00 a.m. by locking the gates in the back of the school and only allowing access only through the Pearl Street (front of the school) entrance.  In the near future a new security entrance will be built in the front of the school with a buzzer gate to allow visitors to enter.  This new “wall” will be funded with Measure BB funds and keep children inside the school and not exposed to Pearl Street.

  2. What is the school bell schedule?
    School begins at 8:24 a.m. for students in grades K-5.  First through fifth grades are dismissed at 2:50 p.m.   From September 9th-11th, kindergartners will attend school from 8:24-12:15 a.m.  Late Start Fridays will begin September 11th (school begins at 9:44 a.m.)  Beginning Monday, September 14th, all kindergartners will attend school from 8:24-1:45 p.m.  All students will eat lunch at school.

  3. How much does a lunch cost and how do you go about buying a ticket if needed?
    A child has the option of bring a lunch from home or purchasing a hot lunch or salad bar for $3.00 a day.  Parents may buy a lunch ticket (20 lunches on a ticket), for $50.00 (a $10.00 savings by purchasing the package), making the check payable to SMMUSD.  Please place your child’s name and room number on the check and come to the office to pay for the lunches.  Milk and juice are $.50 each.  A “debit card” will be issued to all students. Students who eat in the cafeteria will use their card, which will automatically deduct the cost of a lunch every time it is used.  A child may use the card three times without having any money credited to it.  The office will send a reminder letter to parents when there are three lunches left on the card. If you feel that your child may qualify for a free or reduced lunch, please go to the office and fill out an application.   Please check with office prior to the beginning of the 2009-10 school year.

  4. How early can I drop my child off for school?
    The earliest a child will be allowed on campus is 7:00 am, if that child is enrolled in the childcare program.  Otherwise, all K-5 students may be dropped off no earlier than 7:30 am, on the large yard.   Adult supervision begins at this time.

  5. How do I notify the school when my child is absent and do tardies count?
    If your child is going to be absent on a school day, please call the school office to report the absence.  Upon returning to school please send a note with your child describing the reason for the absence.  You may report an absence by calling 450.7651 and leaving a message on voice mail.  We also record tardies.  Being on time is very important to the success of a student.  Three tardies constitute one unexcused absence.

  6. Do you have after school programs?
    Absolutely!  We have a comprehensive childcare program for grades K-5.  Childcare is provided from 7:00 a.m. until 6 p.m.  All children in 4th and 5th grades will participate in the Upper CREST program.  Students in K-3 will be participating in the Primary CREST program offering a number of activities, classes and sports.  Both programs have a number of price and scheduling options and are limited in space.   If you have questions please contact the Child Development Center at 399-5865.  We also offer a comprehensive after school enrichment program for all grades.  Three six-week sessions featuring classes ranging from cooking to computer animation are available.  We have three chorus groups:  Kindergarten, Primary and Upper, who rehearse weekly and culminate with evening performances.  In addition we offer Playground Access, which is a free program for grades 2-5 (parents must enroll) that allows kids to stay on the yard until 5:00 p.m.

  7. When will I know what class my child will be in?
    All kindergarten students will be introduced to their teachers at the September 3rd, Kindergarten Reception.  All K-5 class lists will be posted on Tuesday, September 8th in the front of Grant School.

  8. When is the first day of school?
    The first day of school will be Wednesday, September 9th, at 8:24 a.m.  The first day of school is a minimum day for all students.  Kindergarten will be from 8:24-12:15, and 1st-5th grades from 8:24-1:15 p.m.

  9. Do you provide counseling services for the children of Grant?
    Yes.  We work with Jewish Family Services to provide one on one and group counseling for our students.  They also are available for family counseling and parent workshops.  We also have an intern from Loyola University work with children.

  10. I'd like to help my child's teacher, but I work during the day, what can I do?
    This is a critical question.  Working parents can do a great deal to help their children's teacher.  Perhaps there are art projects or cut and pasting that can be taken home.  Many times a teacher may need a parent to correct a stack of papers.   Helping make phone calls would alleviate a lot of time if the classroom parents need to know something.

  11. How can I get more involved at Grant?
    Where do I start?  From helping out in the classroom, to volunteering in the library or cafeteria, you can do a great deal.  Of course we need help with our fundraisers;; Direct Donation, Monster Mash, Silent Auction, Carnival and the Jogathon.  We need more support on the PTA and Booster Club.  If you can accompany your child’s class on a field trip, become a guest speaker at Career Day or volunteer to help with campus supervision, it would make a big difference.   Making popcorn on Fridays or collating Friday packets would truly be a great help to the school.  Getting involved in the school is probably the best way of keeping informed and understanding how your child is doing.

  12. I'd like to help the school financially, what do I need to do?
    Plenty.  Although many teachers won't admit it, their instruction budgets (about $475 per year), just don't stretch far enough when supplying 23-30 youngsters with pencils, paper, art supplies and copying expenses.  A donation to your teacher's budget would be greatly appreciated.  A direct donation to the school will help buy more instructional assistants for the classrooms, purchase computers, and help pay for assemblies, field trips, P.E. equipment curriculum specialists and scholarships for kids who need the help.  The 2009-10   PTA/Booster Club budget will be $264,000.

  13. What are “Late Start Fridays” all about?
    Beginning Friday, September 11th, the entire school will begin Late Start Fridays.  School will begin at 9:44 a.m., each Friday.  The late start will allow the teaching staff to meet on a regular basis for staff development opportunities, grade level and cross grade level articulation meetings, and individual and team planning.  Childcare services will be extended in the mornings at no additional cost for those enrolled in CREST.  Playground supervision will be provided beginning at 7:30 a.m.

  14. What makes Grant unique?
    Let’s start with 105 years of excellence.  We have one of the finest teaching staffs in the free world!  Twelve years ago, we had 18 teachers in grades Preschool through fifth grade, today we number 32!  Our enrollment is has reached 700 students and we usually have waiting lists in several grade levels.  The quality of the teaching, the special programs offered our students, the innovative GATE program for all fourth and fifth graders, specialists in art, music, dance, ceramics, instrumental music, a state of the art computer lab, Smartboard technology in all 2nd-5th-grade classes, PTA/Booster Club, and of course, the kids, all make Grant very special.  We have found a way to work together to effect change.  We are truly a community school that attempts to include all students, all parents and the surrounding community in the educational process.  We are a school that cares about its most important product, the children.  We are a school that is growing both physically and educationally.  Grant is a school that is inclusive and dynamic.

  15. What changes are in the works?
    With the passage of Measure BB, we are planning on building a new security entrance to the school. The new wall will create a courtyard around the flagpole and a buzzer gate to allow visitors to enter our school.  Every 2nd-5th-grade classroom now has Smartboard technology.  Our students will be participating in a state of the art technology program.  There will be instructional assistants in all kindergarten and first grade classes and three reading teachers.  The entire school has been painted and new security gates and fencing has been installed.  Finally, with a revamped website, all Grant Weekly Bulletins, announcement and flyers are now online. Any parent can now receive all information from our website and eliminate extra papers coming home.  The “E Packet” will be an option this year.

  16. How has Grant fared on the state standardized test scores?
    Our school has done very well.  In 2008 we ranked in the top 12% of the state.  Grant’s 2009 Academic Performance Index was 875.  Grant’s comprehensive test results will published for all parents to look at in September.

  17. If I have a question for my child’s teacher how do I get in touch with him/her?
    Every teacher has both email (found on the Grant website) and voice mail.  You can leave a phone message for a teacher by calling the school number (450.7651), and then giving the extension number (1+the room number).  If you call during the school day you will speak to office personnel who can “patch you through” to the voice mail of your child’s teacher.  Just in case you are old-fashioned, you can always write a note and we’ll put it in the teacher’s mailbox unless your child hand delivers the note to his/her teacher.

  18. What other information can you give me?
     Here are some important numbers and addresses to file away:

    School phone number - 310.450.7651 (to speak to someone, leave a message, or report an absence)
    School fax number - 310.452.4350
    Grant Website - www.grant.smmusd.org
    School Address - 2368 Pearl Street Santa Monica, CA 90405
    Office Hours - 8:00-4:30 Daily