Handbook

Student Absence

Please notify our office if your child will be absent:

• Phone: 253-571-5488
• Email: ShermanAttendance@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Planned Absence Form

If you are planning on an extended absence (more than 3 days) for your student, please complete the form below and submit it to our office.

PlannedAbsenceForm.pdf

Students are to arrive at school between 8:25 -8:40 AM. Exceptions must be pre-arranged with the office.  Arrival on Late Start Wednesdays is between 9:25-9:40 AM.

School is dismissed at 3:10 PM. Parents are asked to wait near the covered play area or the field for their children at the end of the day.  Parents are asked NOT to enter the building, as this causes distraction and congestion at dismissal time.

Student education is extremely important, and classroom learning occurs through dismissal time. Please avoid removing your child early when possible. If a child must be dismissed early, the student will be called to the office when a parent or guardian arrives for pick-up. Parents/guardians must sign their students out.

Parents are NOT to drop off students at the front of the school. Please pull around to the drive up, valet location on N. Cheyenne St.

Allowable Dress & Grooming:

• Students must wear a shirt with pants, shorts, or a skirt, or the equivalent (leggings, dresses, etc.) and shoes. 
• Closed-toe shoes are required to support the safety of students’ feet. Tennis shoes are required for PE days. Closed-toe shoes are required for Makerspace activities.
• Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides and back.
• All shorts, skirts and dresses must be at least fingertip length.
• Hats and hoods are to be removed when in the building. 
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including   physical education and work within the Makerspace.
• For bathroom accidents, parents/guardians are welcome to pack a change of clothes in backpacks. Students are expected to change and clean themselves. 
• Wearing Sherman Gear is always encouraged!

Non-Allowable Dress & Grooming

• Clothing may not depict, advertise, or advocate for the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other controlled substances.
• Clothing may not depict profanity, pornography, nudity, or items of a similar nature.
• Clothing may not depict bigotry, hate speech targeting any groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected groups.
• No tails or headbands with attachments may be worn. No costumes/cosplay outfits worn at school.
• Students should not bring, share, or apply makeup, perfumes, or other personal grooming products at school, as these items can be disruptive and may cause health concerns for others.
• No cropped shirts, spaghetti straps showing bra straps.
• No sagging pants.
• No pajama bottoms unless specified during pajama spirit days.

Walking Route Map & Safety Tips (PDF)

• Please follow the map below for driving routes and pick up/drop off locations.
• Please inform your classroom teacher if you intend to use this new system at pick up, as this will determine the area that we have students waiting in, (of course this isn’t required daily and we will be able to call students over to the drive-up area if need be).
• You should be receiving a brightly colored paper to put in your dashboard. Please fill this out with your students’ grade, teacher and first name, last initial. Keep this in your dashboard, easy for me to read as you pull up. (I will have cars nearly memorized within a month).
• When you pull up, I will radio for your students, and they will come out to the drive.
• Drivers, please make sure that you pull up to the farthest gate in the driveway as the line moves, the first gate will be locked beginning tomorrow.
• Families are still more than welcome to enter the playground through the N. 39^th St. gate (this is also where all bikes must come through).
• Bussing will occur on N. 38^th street at the second set of doors- there is to be NO parent pick up or drop off on N. 38^th unless your child is arriving late for school or being picked up earlier.
• Drop off at valet is from 8:25-8:40
• Pick up for valet begins at 3:05 for TK/K