Adams Elementary School PTA Website - Other School Information

Communications with the School Office
Please feel free to call the school office with any questions you may have regarding school programs and events.
Messages for teachers may be left with the school secretary.

Emergency Cards
Green emergency cards are kept on file in the school office and are used by school personnel only. It is imperative that
the information on these cards be complete and up-to-date. In case of an emergency, it is your child who will benefit
from correct information being available. Students may be released from school only to adults listed on the emergency
card. For a special occasion you may write a note releasing your child to someone not listed. Please notify the office
immediately of any corrections to your emergency information. A second green card will be kept in the Health Clerk’s
office. Complete and accurate information is vital to your child’s health and safety.

Thursday Folders and Information Packets
All notices, flyers, and important papers from the school and PTA are sent home on Thursdays in the “Thursday
Folders” (grades K thru 3rd) or “Information Packets” (grades 4th thru 5th). The “Thursday Folders” & “Information
Packets” are an effective way to make sure that important communications are being received. Please be sure to check
those backpacks every Thursday night!

Supervision on Campus
Please Note: Adult supervision is provided between 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for Kindergarten; 8:00 a.m. – 2:38 p.m. for
grades 1st thru 3rd; and 8:00 am – 2:47 pm for grades 4th thru 5th. Do not allow your child to come early or stay
after dismissal time, as there is no adult supervision.

Children in grades 1st thru 3rd are to be picked up at 2:38 p.m. They are allowed to wait for the older children only if
an adult is with them.

For safety, students are expected to sit on the grass in front of the school while waiting to be picked up. Students are
to cross the street only with an adult.

Lost and Found
Lost and found items are turned in to the school office. Students losing any items should check in the school office or
the coat rack in front of the office. Students’ clothing, jackets, sweaters, coats, etc., should be marked with the
student’s name. Items not claimed by the end of the school year will be sent to a charitable organization.

Telephone Use
Telephones are for official school business and emergencies only. Students should not request to use them for personal
business.

Cellular Phones On Campus
Revised state law authorizes student possession of cell phones and pagers provided that the devices do not disrupt the
educational program or school activity. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class time, and at any other
time directed by a School District employee. If a disruption occurs, the employee may direct the student to turn off
the device and/or may confiscate the device until the end of the class period or school day. If a student uses a cell
phone or pager during the school day, it will be confiscated and turned in to the school office.

At John Adams, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off from 8:25 a.m. until 2:47 p.m. We discourage families
from sending cell phones or pagers to school with students as they are expensive items and the school cannot assume
responsibility for loss or damage.

Messages to Classrooms
Messages to teachers will be placed in the teachers’ mailboxes. In an effort to minimize disruption to the instructional
program it is important that messages to students be kept to a minimum. We will, of course, deliver emergency
messages to students/teachers immediately. Please help by taking care of routine communications before your child
leaves for school in the morning.

If you would like to reach a teacher, please call the school office and we will transfer you to their voice mail. Please be
aware that teachers may not be able to respond until the end of the day.

Teachers’ Parking Lot
The teacher and staff parking lot is NOT for drop-off and pick-up of students. Please use the designated “Drop-Off
Zone” for the safety of all children. Teachers and staff need to be able to get to their parking spaces so that they may
get to their class on time. Double parking or parking illegally in this lot is a real safety issue. You may be ticketed or
towed by the Torrance Police Department if you are parked illegally. Please be a concerned parent and watch out for
the safety of all of our children!

Dropping Off and Picking Up Children
In the interest of student safety, the area in front of school is designated as a “Drop-Off Zone” from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30
a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To make the drop-off easier in the morning, Student Valets are available. When you pull up to the drop-off zone in the
morning, the Student Valet will open the door(s) of your vehicle on the passenger side so that the children may exit
the vehicle. The doors will be closed for you so that you may drive off safely. There is always a parent volunteer with
the Student Valets.

Student Valets are also available to walk Kindergarten children to their playground area in the morning. If you would like
assistance, please ask the Student Valet when you drop off your child. They will see that your child gets to the
Kindergarten playground area safely.

Visitors on Campus
To protect the welfare and security of students and staff, all visitors must check in at the school office before entering
the school grounds or classrooms. This also applies to parents who are bringing forgotten lunch money, jackets or
homework to a student. Cell phone use is prohibited in classrooms and school office areas.

Classroom volunteers must always first report to the office to sign-in and pick up a volunteer badge. We welcome visits
to our classrooms and visits to speak with a teacher, but advance arrangements are truly appreciated.

Volunteering on Campus
Volunteers are a special group of dedicated people who work regularly at John Adams and are an integral part of our
instructional program. They can assist with a variety of classroom tasks at all grade levels. The volunteer program
benefits everyone. It helps to lower the ratio of students to adults, provides much appreciated extra-help for both
students and teachers, and parents are able to learn more about their children and the educational program at Adams.
Contact your child’s teacher to see how you can assist. If you have a special interest or area of expertise that you
would like to share with our students, please contact the school office.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for being here and please remember to help us by:
1) Signing in and out in the office. 2) Wearing a volunteer badge. 3) Reporting to your classroom.
4) Refraining from using cell phones in classrooms or school office areas.
5) Participating in emergency drills that occur while you are on campus.

All volunteers who participate at school on a regular basis must fill out a volunteer form and have certification of a
recent TB-skin test on file in the school office. Once cleared by the district, volunteers may work in the classroom for
the current school year. Included in your PTA membership, PTA provides general liability insurance for parents during
volunteer hours.