School and Office Hours
Classes begin at 7:55am and end at 2:40pm. After 3:00pm, all children are sent to the school’s After Care Program. Parents are responsible for covering the charge for this service. The school office opens at 7:30am and closes at 4:00pm on school days. The office phone number is 440-279-1127.
Reporting Absences, Tardies & Early DismissalsIf your child is absent, tardy or will be leaving school early, please do the following by 9:00am.
- Complete the Absent, Tardy and Early Dismissal on-line form
Upon form completion, all information is sent to the grade level teacher(s) and front office.
OR
- Call the Absent, Tardy and Early Dismissal Message System - 440.279.1127
Reporting Daily Changes in Transportation
If your child requires a transportation change such as taking the bus, being a car rider or attending after care, do the following by 2:00pm:
Call the Change in Transportation Message System
Preschool – 440-279-0575 and NDES – 440.279.1127
Make-up Work Due to Prolonged Absence
If a parent knows his/her child will be absent for five or more days, the person to contact for the best way to continue the child’s education during and/or immediately upon returning is the child’s teacher. In some instances, the parent may be asked to present a doctor’s excuse for the absence to be excused.
Tardy to School
Students are tardy if they are not present in the classroom by 7:55am. Tardiness is recorded on the report card and cumulative record. If a bus is late, the student will not be marked tardy. A student who is absent, tardy or has been dismissed early from school is not eligible for the Perfect Attendance Award. This includes medical appointments.
Family Vacations
The responsibility for taking a child out of school for a family vacation is the decision of the parents. In all instances, the education of child is the primary consideration. All assignments and other class work are the responsibility of the child to complete during the following school week.
Family Custodial Agreements
A copy of the page of the court decision bearing the case number, the sections referring to visitation rights, the school’s responsibilities and contact, and the page bearing the judge’s signature and court seal must be submitted to the school. These are kept on file in the school office.
The custodial parent is required to inform the principal or school office when modifications are made to the court order. Ordinarily, communications regarding the child will be sent to the custodial parent only.
In instances of “joint custody,” both parents will receive school communications and information. Parent/Teacher conferences will be scheduled jointly if both parents wish to have a conference.
In the case of family difficulties (lawsuits, divorce, etc.) the student will be released to the parent who is the legal guardian.
Emergency Closing Procedures
All families receive voice, text and email notifications for emergency closings. They may also check the school website www.ndes.org, weather or local TV stations, apps on smart phones, or listen to the local media on radio or TV. The closing announcement will be made as soon as possible. In inclement weather, Notre Dame Elementary School follows the decision of the Chardon School District. If Chardon is closed, NDES is closed. If school is closed, all scheduled activities are also cancelled.
If a particular school district is closed and/or does not provide busing during inclement weather and Notre Dame Elementary School is in session, parents make the decision about bringing students to school. Students not in attendance on these days will be marked absent.