If you have any corrections or questions about these FAQs, please contact the AAOCC LOGISTICSHow do I get my child to and from school?If your child bikes to school, bike racks are located outside the school’s entrance facing Miller, close to the pool and on the Brooks St. side, close to the pool; students may also lock their scooters there. A crossing guard is stationed at the intersection of Seventh and Miller every day, before and after school. How long is the school day?The school day at AAO runs from 8:19 a.m. (with the first bell at 8:14 a.m.) until 3:22 p.m. What happens if we’re late?The first bell rings at 8:14 a.m., and children are expected to be in their classroom by the second bell, at 8:19 a.m. Tardy records are kept in all grades, including kindergarten. Children who arrive after 8:19 a.m. should go to the office and sign in. If they arrive on a late bus, they can proceed directly to their classroom. What happens if we’re early?
How do I report absences?To report an absence, please call the school office at 734-994-1910. If no one answers, you may leave a message. What if my family needs care before or after school?Ann Arbor Rec & Ed provides care that runs from 7:30-8:14 a.m. and in the afternoon from 3:22 until 6:00 p.m. This is fee-based child care. You may view this document with additional information, enroll online here or contact Ann Arbor Rec & Ed (734-994-2300 ext. 238, http://www.a2schools.org/reced) for more information. What if my child is going home with someone else?In general, particularly for younger students, if there is any change from your child’s normal dismissal routine, please send a note to his or her teacher. What is the “Wednesday Packet”?The Wednesday Packet is one of the central means of communication for Ann Arbor Open School families. It typically includes a note from the principal, along with details about upcoming school events, policy details, forms that families need to fill out, etc. It is published on Wednesdays, approximately every two weeks. If you have an announcement to be included in the packet, please contact Karen Davis in the office. The school office regularly emails a link to the most recent Wednesday Packet; hard copies of Wednesday Packets can be made available to families who don’t have electronic access. What is Curriculum Night, and why should I go?Curriculum Night, scheduled every September, gives you a chance to meet your child(ren)'s teacher(s). For parents and staff only, this event is intended for parents to meet their child's teacher in a group setting, as well as attend a joint information session with the principal about the upcoming school year. Information about the entire school community is shared, as well as specifics about your children’s classrooms. It is also a great opportunity to volunteer, to meet other parents in the classroom, and to learn more about the AAO approach to education. Is there a school directory?Yes! Every year, the school’s office staff compiles a directory of all the students in the school, which usually comes out some time in the fall. The directory includes contact information for all families who have chosen to provide it, on a class-by-class basis. Recently, in the interest of saving costs and paper, the school has started using an electronic version of the directory that families can download, rather than distributing hard copies to every student. Hard copies are available to families who need or prefer them. Contact the school office for a copy. Is there a list of teachers and staff?A full list of AAO staff members can be found here. Where’s the school’s lost and found?Please prevent any of your child’s items finding their way to the lost and found. Label all personal items and clothing that come to school! The lost and found is in the hallway to the left as you’re facing the office, outside the teachers’ lounge. Every year, dozens of items are never picked up; the school donates these items to the PTO Thrift Shop. This only happens with plenty of warning, usually in the Wednesday Packet. What are some of the highlights of the AAO year?The AAOCC website includes a list and description of regularly scheduled AAO events: Annual Events at Open. Is Open School’s office open in summer?No. Office staff members are generally working in the office for one week after school ends for students. The office reopens two weeks before Labor Day. |