Frequently Asked Questions

School will begin at 8:15 a.m., with the first bell ringing at 8:10 a.m. School will dismiss at 2:55 p.m. Early release days will dismiss at 12:20 p.m.

The bus drivers will use an assigned seat process to keep the younger students separate from the older students. Our GPA bus routes will all be relatively short so the time spent on the bus should not be lengthy, thus allowing for better monitoring. Kindergarten students are also only released to their parents at the bus stops after school.

We believe parent involvement goes a long way in building a strong and successful school environment. Our dedicated faculty members work in tandem with parents to provide the best for each child who walks through our doors. We encourage parents looking for volunteer opportunities to contact our school’s PTO or their child’s classroom teacher. We’re grateful for your support!

For student absences, parents must call our attendance line as early as possible. detailing the reason for the absence. Siblings may not excuse absences. We require a note upon the student’s return with the student’s name, date, teacher, and the reason for the tardy or absence. Illnesses lasting over three days may require a doctor’s note. Students must obtain a tardy pass from the school office if they arrive after the 8:15 a.m. bell.

Here at GPA, we believe that appropriate attire guidelines are crucial in preparing our students for the future. It is for this reason that we ask our students to refrain from wearing the following:

• T-shirts displaying alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or any sexual connotations
• Fishnet shirts
• See-through clothing, bare-midriff shirts, shirts with spaghetti straps, or clothing that is backless or otherwise revealing
• Hats of any kind inside the building
• Sagging pants, as they can cause injuries during recess, P.E., and bus boarding
• Potentially dangerous footwear (examples include but are not limited to flip flops, shower shoes, platform shoes, high heels, backless sandals, or shoes)
• Short shorts (shorts must be knee-length)

For security reasons, we do not permit students on campus before 7:45 a.m. However, after that time, parents may drop their children off at the front entrance, as long as students proceed directly to the playground. We do not allow students into the school buildings or hallways until 8:10 a.m. Please note—there is no parking in the drop-off lane at any time. Please see the student handbook for more details.

At GPA, we encourage parents to join their child on campus. If you plan to visit your child’s classroom, please contact your child’s teacher to schedule your visit to avoid classroom interruptions. We require visitors to sign in at the front office and wear a visitor’s badge while on the premises.

Whenever possible, we ask that parents schedule all appointments before or after school hours. However, when it is unavoidable, students should bring a note on the morning of their appointment with the time and reason for their early release. Once the parent arrives to retrieve the student, the office will notify the teacher and ask the parent to sign the student out in the student checkout notebook.

Our school health aide administers all over-the-counter and prescription medication in our health office. Parents must sign a medical consent form for any and all medication. We have consent forms available in the school health office. Parents must provide prescription and over-the-counter medication to the school health aide, as we do not allow students to transport medication of any kind to or from school. Prescription medication must be in its original packaging and must contain the name, dosage, and instructions of administration. We do not administer expired medication. Should a student require emergency medical attention during school hours, it is our policy to consult the parent preferences on the student emergency card. For this reason, we ask that you keep your contact information up-to-date with our health office.

Our district provides healthy meals for its students that meet state and federal nutrition guidelines. Families interested in applying for reduced breakfast/lunch should contact the school office or the nutrition office at the district to apply. Applications are also available online. Eligibility is dependent on income level. Meal prices are listed on the district Nutrition page.

We do not allow electronic devices and toys of any kind on campus. It is our policy to confiscate these items. Parents may retrieve them from the principal directly. Gateway Polytechnic Academy is not responsible for lost or stolen items on campus.

In keeping with our district’s policy of minimal class interruptions, our school provides a service called Catering for Parents with the goal of celebrating each child on his/her special day while encouraging funds to stay in our district. Our Food Service Department offers birthday packages for delivery that range from $0.50 to $2.00 and include lower calorie/sugar meal options and a birthday flyer. For more details, please contact the district Nutrition Department.