Parents
Avery D. Harrington is glad to partner with our parents in service to our scholars. Find important information below about policies and procedures for our school.
The district utilizes a survey that we ask parents to complete at least once a year.
The District-wide Survey is a tool for capturing feedback from the school community on five key topics related to school improvement—climate, instruction, leadership, professional capacity, and parent/guardian-community ties.
The surveys reach thousands of students, teachers, principals, and parents/guardians annually, helping district and school leaders identify what is working well along with areas that need to be improved.
https://www.philasd.org/research/programsservices/district-wide-surveys/
Attendance
Our school goal is that scholars are present for school at least 95% of the time or more each school year. Regular attendance is mandatory and essential for your child’s success in school. Subjects are taught in sequence, which means skills must be learned in a certain order for success. Persistent absenteeism causes the student to struggle with their acquisition of knowledge, which in turn leads to lower grades. Excessive unexcused absences are reported to truancy court. The following reasons are the only recognized excuses for school absences:
-Personal Illness
-Family Illness
-Religious Holiday
Students must bring in a note within three days following their absence explaining the reason for the absence. Medical appointments must be scheduled outside of school hours. When this is not possible, students will be excused for these special appointments. Please remember to bring a note in from a doctor or dentist.
Early Dismissals
Early dismissals disrupt the student’s instructional day. Students lose valuable instructional time when they are not in school. Please make every effort to keep students in school for the full instructional day.
All early dismissals will be counted as a half-day absence. (No early dismissals are permitted after 2:30 pm.)
In order to sign students out of school for an early dismissal, the parent or guardian must have proper identification. The escort must be on file in the main office. Escorts must be 18 years or older.
2023-2024 School Start and End Times
Start: 9:00 a.m. K-8
End Time: 3:39 p.m. K-8
Kindergarten students must be signed out at dismissal time. You must have identification and you must be a designated escort. If you are not a designated escort and if you do not have proper identification, the student will not be released.
Student Code of Conduct
A D. Harrington Elementary follows the School District’s Student Code of Conduct which clearly states the Rights and Responsibilities of all students. This information is available on the web through the School District Home Page. In addition, a printed copy is available at the school upon request.
Harrington Parent Handbook (HERE)
Food Related Policies
Breakfast is served from 8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. in the cafeteria
Students may bring lunch from home; however, they may not bring any glass containers.
Children are not permitted to leave school during school hours.
Universal Feeding Program
AD. Harrington participates in the Universal Feeding Program. This program provides free meals to all of our students and applications are not needed.
Cafeteria Rules
Remain in line quietly.
Classes at your assigned classroom table.
Keep their table area clean.
Food and drinks are only to be eaten in the cafeteria at the designated times.
Food should not be eaten in the classroom.
Students are not permitted to chew gum or eat sunflower seeds in school.
Due to the number of food allergies, students are not allowed to share food.
What Are SACs?
SACs (School Advisory Council) are peer-elected, collaborative teams composed of family members, the school principal, teachers or other school-based staff, students (for schools with grades 7 – 12), and community members.
Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE)
Avery D. Harrington has a partnership with FACE that supports parents and grandparents in our school. Click here to access resources.
Kindergarten Registration.
The School District of Philadelphia’s Kindergarten Registration process opens in January each year and closes in May.
The District will be hosting Kindergarten Open House events during the school year for families to learn more about the kindergarten experience at their neighborhood school. We will be promoting these Kindergarten Open Houses as the dates get closer. We hope you will do the same. Check back on the district’s kindergarten website for all the information you need.
For more information on the District’s kindergarten registration process and Kindergarten Open House events, flyers in other languages, and/or additional resources to help prepare for kindergarten, please click here .