School Hours - 7:15am - 2:20pm
We encourage parents to allow their children to ride the bus both to and from school. Bus service is available for students who are not within walking distance.
Please note that students are never counted tardy when they ride the bus.
Below are procedures for car riders, early dismissal, and transportation changes that you will find helpful.
MORNING CAR RIDERS
Car riders should not arrive to school before 7:15 a.m. There is not anyone to supervise them prior to this time. Morning car riders who eat breakfast in our cafeteria need to arrive at school no later than 7:30 a.m. in order to be served and to make it to class on time. Car riders who arrive after 7:50 a.m. are considered tardy and must be signed-in by a parent/guardian in the front office.
EARLY DISMISSAL
If your student needs to be checked out before the regular scheduled dismissal (2:20 p.m.), he/she must be checked out by 1:45 p.m. Parents or guardians must sign students out of school in the front office and must present a picture ID.
AFTERNOON CAR RIDERS
Families are asked to remain in their vehicle during afternoon dismissal. Families picking up by car should have their GoSafe dismissal barcode, found in the ParentVUE app, ready to scan as they enter the car rider line. If a barcode is unavailable, families will be asked to park and present a valid photo ID in the front office, in accordance with district policy.
To help ensure a smooth dismissal, please make sure your student's default and emergency dismissal modes are updated in ParentVUE.
Students should be picked up no later than 2:40 p.m. Students who are not picked up in a timely manner may be placed in our After School Program (ASP), and applicable fees will apply ($10 registration fee and $7 daily rate).
AFTERNOON WALKER DISMISSAL
Walker dismissal is reserved for students who live within walking distance of Austell Elementary School. Families who drive to campus to pick up their child are asked to use the car rider line rather than the walker dismissal area.
Families picking up a walker must have their GoSafe dismissal barcode ready to scan at dismissal. If a barcode is unavailable, families will be asked to present a valid photo ID in the front office, in accordance with district policy.
To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal, please make sure your student's default and emergency dismissal modes are updated in ParentVUE/GoSafe. Any changes to a student's dismissal plan should be made in ParentVUE before 1:40 p.m. If you need assistance with GoSafe or locating your dismissal barcode, our staff is happy to help.
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES
To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal, all transportation changes should be made in ParentVUE by 1:40 p.m. Families are encouraged to update their student's default or emergency dismissal mode directly in ParentVUE whenever possible.
If you are unable to make the change in ParentVUE, transportation changes may be submitted in writing to your child's teacher or in person through the front office before 1:40 p.m. For student safety, transportation changes cannot be accepted over the phone.
After 1:40 p.m., dismissal changes for that day cannot be made in ParentVUE. If you have an emergency or need assistance, please contact the front office as soon as possible so our staff can determine the best way to support your family while maintaining the safety of all students.
If you are making transportation changes for multiple children, please submit a separate request for each student to help ensure accurate dismissal.
EARLY DISMISSAL DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Occasionally it becomes necessary to dismiss school early due to inclement weather. When weather conditions indicate, please listen to the radio and/or local television station. You will have all the information as quickly as the local school. An Inclement Weather form will be given to you at the beginning of the school year for you to indicate how your child will be going home due to inclement weather (i.e. bus, car, etc.). You and your child should discuss what you expect him/her to do in case this situation occurs. Please do not come to pick up your child until you hear that schools are being closed. Limited phone lines make it impossible for school personnel to notify all parents of early closing. However, we will make every effort to send a callout to all families as soon as we are made aware of the closing. It is very important that you listen to the message when you receive these automated callouts. Make sure you always have an updated emergency card on file with your child’s teacher.
