If you have any corrections or questions about these FAQs, please contact the AAOCC

LOGISTICS

How 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; 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.

Bus transportation is provided through Durham School Services. Information is available through the AAO office or through Ann Arbor Public Schools' (AAPS) Transportation Page. 

If you drive your child to or from school, please note that the marked lane outside the entrance in the Red Oak parking lot is for drop-off and pick-up only. Parents who are using the marked lane to drop off their children are expected to pull up as far as possible and drop their child off quickly, without exiting the car. At drop-off, parents who wish to get out of their car to say goodbye to their child or walk him or her into the school must park in the Red Oak lot or on the street. Similarly, parents who need to come into the school for any reason at pick-up should park their car first, not leave it in the marked lane. Do not park in handicap spots unless you have a properly marked/identified vehicle.

Please note that these guidelines have been put in place for the safety of our children. Our parking lot becomes congested very quickly if we are not all paying attention and following the rules.

Please note that the Brooks Street loop is for buses only.

To see a traffic map of our school, with more detailed parking and drop off information, CLICK HERE.

How long is the school day?

The school day at AAO runs from 8:05 a.m. (with the first bell at  8:00 a.m.) until 3:03 p.m.

What happens if we’re late?

The first bell rings at 8:00 a.m., and children are expected to be in their classroom by the second bell, at 8:05 a.m. Tardy records are kept in all grades, including kindergarten. Children who arrive after 8:05 a.m. should go to the office and sign in. If they arrive on a late bus, they can proceed directly to their classroom.

AAO asks that parents make getting their children to school on time a high priority for their family. The first fifteen to twenty minutes of each school day are crucial to setting the day’s mood and direction. Tardy students miss key connections their teachers are working hard to make, and their late arrival disrupts the classroom for those students who have arrived on time.

What happens if we’re early?

Beginning at 7:30 a.m., all families and students may either wait outside until the first bell rings or enter the building and proceed directly to the auditorium (or to the cafeteria, if they’re eating breakfast). The school’s lunchroom coordinator, Bonnie Dean, will also be in the auditorium beginning at 7:30, providing supervision, quiet morning activities, and a safe gathering place for students and parents who prefer an inside waiting area.

Chad Downs will supervise open gym Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Students who participate in open gym must abide by the time lines and rules of the supervisor in charge.

The library, hallways, and front lobby are not available for students and families waiting for the school day to begin.

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 after school?

Ann Arbor Rec & Ed provides care that runs from 3:03 until 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Ann Arbor Rec & Ed (734-994-2300 ext. 238, http://www.a2schools.org/reced) or the Ann Arbor YMCA (http://www.annarborymca.org/).

To speak to childcare staff within our building, call 734-994-8998.

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.

All arrangements for play dates and other after-school plans should be made from home, not after the school day begins.

If someone who is not a custodial parent and not on your emergency card will be picking up your child from school, please send written permission for that person to do so.

If your child will be riding a different bus home than usual, please send a signed and dated note to school with your child. He or she will need to bring the note to the office to be signed before the school day ends.

Please also remember that if your child will not be attending childcare on a day he or she is usually scheduled to do so, you need to call childcare (734-994-8998) to let them know.

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.

Archived Wednesday Packets can also be accessed online.

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.

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.

See the school’s home page for access to the building calendar: http://www.a2schools.org/aaopen.

Find the AAPS District Calendar here. 

AAPS typically schedules three lengthy breaks for students every year: one at winter break, one early in the spring semester, and one later in the spring semester.

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.