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School Hours and Attendance Information

School Hours

Transitional Kindergarten

 School Begins All Grades    Dismissal everyday    
    8:15 am - Morning Bell             11:45am  

Grades TK Recess and Lunch:

Students will all have a fifteen-minute morning recess, and a thirty minute lunch time before pick up.  

Kindergarten through 5th grade

 School Begins All Grades    Thursday Dismissal      M, Tu, W, and F Dismissal  
    8:15 am - Morning Bell             1:30pm                 3:00pm

Grades K-5 Recesses and Lunch:

Students will all have a fifteen-minute morning recess, 15 minutes for eating lunch with a 30-minute lunch recess, and a fifteen-minute afternoon recess.  


Minimum Days for all students

  • Minimum days are scheduled during the year to allow time for parent/teacher conferences and staff development.
  • 8:15 am to 11:20 am - All Grades TK-5 
  • Check the Menlo Park City School District Instructional Calendar for scheduled minimum days.

Absence Policy and Tardiness

  • The classroom teachers take attendance at 8:15 am. 
  • If your child is going to be absent, please notify the office using SafeArrival, our reporting system. In order to get started, please create an account within the SchoolMessenger app or on the SafeArrival website. Directions to create an account are as follows:
    • Use your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account.
    • Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use the website, select "Sign Up" to create your account. 


Independent Study Plan for Planned Absences 

In the event that a student can not attend class or school due to travel or other reasons, the Menlo Park City School District offers an Independent Study Plan option. According to CA Ed Code, students are eligible for an ISP if they are going to have a planned absence (out of town, short-term medical leave, etc.). 14 SCHOOL DAYS is the total amount of time allowed for students to be on Independent Study for the ENTIRE school year. 

ISPs are not issued for the first and the last two weeks of the school year. The form to request an ISP must be completed and submitted at least 5 school days in advance of the first day of absence to allow staff to prepare work. To complete the form to request an ISP, click here . This will notify our Assistant Office Manager, Suzy Francisco, to begin the process.

If students do NOT submit completed Independent Study work, their Independent Study will be marked INCOMPLETE, and the absences will be considered UNEXCUSED.

Upon successful completion of the ISP, which includes submitting all assigned work and returning the signed form to the office for the principal’s signature, the student’s absence will be coded as “ISP” which is an excused absence, instead of as a “U,” or unexcused absence.


Health Policy
Students attending school should be in good physical health, without signs of contagious diseases. Parents are asked to keep sick students home until all signs of contagiousness such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fevers have subsided, medication-free, for 24 hours. Communicable diseases should be reported to the school office so that exposure notices may be sent home with classmates. Basic first aid will be provided by designated school personnel. For more complex injuries and illnesses, parents will be notified and students must be picked up from school immediately. There is a no-live lice policy – see Board Policy BP 5141.33 for more information. The district provides vision and hearing screenings for all Kindergarten, 2nd, and 5th-grade students each year, and for students referred by staff or parents.


Medication at School
If prescribed or over-the-counter medications are to be administered or taken during school hours, a medication authorization form must be completed and returned to the school office with medication(s) before your child begins or returns to school. The student’s parent/guardian and authorized health care provider must indicate on the authorization form if the student is allowed to carry and self-administer medication. For students who carry their own medication, it is recommended to have backup medication in the school office. All medication must be in the original prescription bottle/package. Authorization forms must be completed annually. Forms may be found on the district website.

[California Education Codes 49423 and 49423.1]