DURING THE DAY

How do I enter the school during the school day?

How do I sign my child out in the middle of the day?

When your child needs to leave the building during school hours, you should go to the office to sign him or her out. You’ll be asked to include the time, the date, and your signature. Be sure to sign your child back in at the office if he or she returns before the end of the school day.

What if my child becomes sick during the day?

If teachers and staff determine that your child is sick during the school day, you will be called to come pick your child up at the school office, where you will need to sign your child out as described above.

How can I contact my child’s teacher?

The staff email addresses are provided on the AAO Website. If you need to get hold of your child’s teacher immediately, in case of an emergency, please call the school office (734-994-1910).

Can I sit in on my child’s class?

Yes! You are welcome in your child’s classroom. Please contact the teacher to learn the best times for visits and volunteer opportunities. Visits to classrooms other than your child’s are covered under the AAEA Master Agreement and are generally not allowed.

How can I approach a teacher with questions about my child?

This will vary by teacher, please check with your child's teacher about what he or she prefers.

When is recess?

All students have lunch recess, at regularly scheduled hours that vary by grade level. Most classes also go out for shorter recesses one or two times a day, at the teacher’s discretion.

What if my child needs to take medicine during the day?

If your child takes prescription or over-the-counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Students may not carry their own medications without permission from parents, their doctor, and the principal.

Is breakfast available at the school?

Yes! Children who eat breakfast at school may go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast any time after 8:05 a.m. Once students are in the cafeteria, they must remain there until they’ve finished eating: all breakfast must be eaten in the cafeteria and may not be carried to the auditorium or to classrooms. When they’re finished, they can go to the auditorium until the first bell rings. Food service ends at 8:19 a.m.

Breakfast costs $1.00. Families can pay for breakfast by cash or check (made payable to AAPS Food Service) or by setting up an account through “MyPaymentsPlus". For more information about school breakfasts, visit the AAPS Food Service page.

What about lunch?

Students may either bring their lunch from home or get lunch in the school cafeteria.

Lunch at school costs $2.50, and milk costs $.50. If your child will be getting lunch at school, you can pay by cash or check (made payable to AAPS Food Service) or set up a school lunch account through “MyPaymentsPlus". 

Applications for free and reduced-price lunches are available from the lunchroom staff, outside the school office, or on the district website. Families must submit a new application every year, even if they have qualified in the past. The application process is strictly confidential.

Students eat either in the cafeteria or in the auditorium. The auditorium is a designated nut-free space and only school lunches are allowed in the auditorium. There is also a designated nut-free table in the cafeteria. Packed lunches and school lunches may be consumed in the cafeteria. 

For more information about school lunches, including menus, visit the AAPS Food Service page.

What about snacks?

Some classroom teachers organize snacks for their own rooms, often by setting up a schedule that asks parents to bring in snacks on a rotating basis. In other classes, students may bring their own snacks.

When organizing snacks, teachers take into account any allergies their students might have.

What about allergies?

The school has a comprehensive response plan for students with severe allergies. The document may be found by CLICKING HERE. It usually takes a couple of weeks into the new school year to update the plan regarding which classrooms are nut free, thank you for your patience.

Designated nut-restricted zones are hallways, cafeteria, auditorium (except during lunch periods), specials and other common rooms (media center, gym, music rooms, art, game room, computer lab, Spanish room, life skills room). Nuts are permitted in the auditorium during lunch periods only. Homeroom nut-restriction designation changes each academic year.  

Snacks are regulated on a classroom-by-classroom basis. Please be sure that AAO staff and your child’s teacher know about any allergies your child may have. If you have questions or concerns about how we support students with allergies, please contact the office and either the principal or school nurse will be happy to speak with you.

What are the school’s emergency procedures?

AAPS and AAO have comprehensive “all hazard” emergency plans, with procedures in place for severe weather, fire, potential threats inside and outside the building, chemical spills, and other scenarios.

As required by state law, AAO practices six times a year for fire procedures, twice a year for severe weather, and twice a year for lockdowns. All students participate in these drills.

In the event of early dismissal, a lockdown that affects dismissal procedures, or any other emergency that requires parents’ attention, parents will be notified via automated phone call and/or email.

In the event of severe weather or any other emergency, please don’t call the office: AAO staff must dedicate their full attention to students’ safety. Please don’t come to school to pick up your child if doing so is dangerous (e.g., when there are hazardous road conditions); someone on the staff will always wait with your child until he or she can be picked up, and students are very safe in the school building under almost all circumstances.