Handbook

• Gates open at 8:30am (9:30am on Wednesdays).
• First bell rings at 8:35am (9:35am on Wednesdays) & students enter the building.
• Second bell rings at 8:40am (9:40am on Wednesdays).
• Students arriving after 8:40am should check in through the front office.
• Please do not drop off your child before 8:30am (9:30am on Wednesdays) as there is NO supervision for students beforehand.
• For morning drop-off we ask families to treat S. 8^th Street as a ONE WAY, traveling west to Jackson St., to help with traffic congestion and safety.
• Here’s a VIDEO to watch around the morning valet drop-off.
• Children sit on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, drivers remain in the vehicle and an adult staff member will open the door for the child to exit.
• Families may use the morning valet drop-off in the front parking lot.
• Families wanting to walk their child in, legally park in the neighborhood and walk your child(ren) to the playground gate.
• The Jackson St. parking lot is ONLY for Head Start families during arrival & dismissal.
• Dismissal is 3:10pm
  • 3:10pm for Head Start preschool
  • 3:05pm for Lower Elementary (1/2/3) & Upper Elementary (4/5)
  • 3:00pm for Children’s House (TK/K)
  • The front parking lot is closed for afternoon dismissal pick-up. 
• Only drivers with handicap placards or people with office business are allowed.
• Legally park and walk to the playground for pick-up.

Download Geiger Arrival/Dismissal Plan

• We want to make sure every student is safe while at school and this includes being informed and aware of life-threatening allergic reactions. Some examples of life-threatening allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, bee or other insect stings, and latex.
• Appropriate steps for student’s safety include, but are not limited to, discouraging sharing food, utensils, and food containers, avoiding the use of latex products, and implementing a nursing care plan for students with a life-threatening allergy.
• We ask for parent/guardian support around sending safe snacks or treats for the student with an allergy and for all other families to be Allergy Aware when sending in snacks/treats. Teachers might let families know of any classroom potential student allergies and will ask for family’s assistance in keeping products that may cause harm out of the classroom.
• Even with our best efforts, staff and parents/guardians need to be aware that it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment.
• See the district Policy 3423 and 3423R – Anaphylaxis Prevention.

• We ask for your cooperation in seeing that your child attends school every day that they are able.  Daily attendance at school is essential to their learning.
• Families are asked to notify the school when they know their child will be absent or if there is an upcoming planned absence.  Please email geigerattendance@tacoma.k12.wa.us, enter the absence into ParentVUE or call the school main office 253-571-6800. 
• Please help your child be successful and ready to arrive at school on time and ready to learn.  If tardiness becomes a barrier to their learning, the teacher may address with the family.
• If you must pick up your student early, please do so before 2:45pm.  This helps with last minute changes to the dismissal process.

• Please check with your child’s teacher, 24 hours in advance, if you would like to provide birthday treats for the class.  Per the district’s policy, store bought items only.
• We ask families to not bring balloons for birthday celebrations as they are a distraction for the entire class.

Snacks & treats

• Snacks and treats brought into the classroom must be unopened, commercially processed and pre-packaged per district policy 6700 and 6700R – Nutrition, Health and Physical Fitness.  Policy Details Page - Tacoma Public Schools

Allergy Awareness

• We want to make sure every student is safe while at school and this includes being informed and aware of life-threatening allergic reactions. Some examples of life-threatening allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, bee or other insect stings, and latex.
• Appropriate steps for student’s safety include, but are not limited to, discouraging sharing food, utensils, and food containers, avoiding the use of latex products, and implementing a nursing care plan for students with a life-threatening allergy.
• We ask for parent/guardian support around sending safe snacks or treats for the student with an allergy and for all other families to be Allergy Aware when sending in snacks/treats. Teachers might let families know of any classroom potential student allergies and will ask for family’s assistance in keeping products that may cause harm out of the classroom.
• Even with our best efforts, staff and parents/guardians need to be aware that it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment.
• See the district Policy 3423 and 3423R – Anaphylaxis Prevention.

We encourage students to keep cell phones or other devices at home. Phones/devices can be a distraction for students during the school day.

If the student must bring a phone to school, for before or after school safety, we encourage them to turn their phone/device into their teacher or the office for safe keeping. Any phone/device is a personal responsibility and if lost or stolen it is not the responsibility of the school.

The purpose of a dress code is to allow expression without creating distractions to education.

Our dress code reflects our school values of taking care of ourselves, each other, and this place. We commit to taking care of ourselves by wearing clothing and footwear that is appropriate for learning and activity.

• All graphics/text on clothing must be school appropriate.
• Shoes must be appropriate for outdoor play, must cover the toes and have a strap around the heel.
• Teachers may ask students to remove hats, hoods and accessories if they cause a distraction.
• Please provide a change of clothes if your student has “accidents” at school.
• Students may use donated clothing in the office if needed, or families may be called to bring clothing if there is a problem. We have a surplus of donated clothing.

• Help keep students and staff safe by limiting the spread of infectious illnesses and keeping your child home from school when they are sick.  See the district Health Services page for more information, Health Services - Tacoma Public Schools
• Students with a fever, vomiting or diarrhea who stay home or are sent home, must be fever, vomit or diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school. Please let us know when your child is absent due to illness, as the district is required to report an excessive percentage of illnesses to the Pierce County Health Department.

• Please label your child’s clothing and other belongings with first and last name. We remind families to check Lost and Found before winter, spring, and summer breaks. All unclaimed items will be donated to charity.

• Non-prescription products, i.e., aspirins, vitamins, cough drops, etc., may not be administered at school without physician orders. 
• For prescription products, i.e., daily meds, Epi-pens, inhalers, etc., they must be brought to the school nurse by a Parent/Guardian with physician orders.  Medication must come in the original bottle/container, which is kept in a locked cabinet.
• In accordance with state law, both the Parent/Guardian and physician must complete and sign the Physician’s Consent Form for dispensing medication.  Forms are available in the school’s office or on the district's health services webpage. 

• The District acknowledges that personal hygiene items (examples: hand lotion, lip balm, deodorant, hand sanitizers, cosmetics, shampoo .…etc.) are self-managed and typically not considered medication, however for the safety and well-being of students, parents/guardians and employees, a parental note may be required for such items to be at school, which may include the process for medication administration per Medication Policy 3416 if employees are being requested to administer or apply.

Sunscreen

• Over-the-counter topical sunscreen products may be possessed and used by students, parents, and school staff, without a written prescription or note from a licensed health care provider, if the following conditions are met:
  • The product is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter sunscreen product; and
  • If possessed by a student, the product is provided to the student by their parent or guardian.

Students should be able to apply their own sunscreen and should not share with others.  School staff may assist students in application of sunscreen products in certain circumstances and in the presence of another staff member. The appropriate staff member will take into account the age, maturity, and capability of the student, the need for the application of the sunscreen, and other issues relevant in the specific case, before assisting students in application of sunscreen products at school or during school-sponsored events. However, staff members are not required to assist students in applying sunscreen.

• For the safety of our students and staff, ALL visitors are REQUIRED to enter through the main door and check in with the office. 
• Sign-in on the visitor/volunteer log and wear the badge provided. 
• All outside doors as well as the playground gates will remain locked during the school day. 
• Volunteers must complete a Background Check each school year.

• Snacks and treats brought into the classroom must be unopened, commercially processed and pre-packaged per district policy 6700 and 6700R – Nutrition, Health and Physical Fitness.  Policy Details Page - Tacoma Public Schools

Allergy Awareness

• We want to make sure every student is safe while at school and this includes being informed and aware of life-threatening allergic reactions. Some examples of life-threatening allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, bee or other insect stings, and latex.
• Appropriate steps for student’s safety include, but are not limited to, discouraging sharing food, utensils, and food containers, avoiding the use of latex products, and implementing a nursing care plan for students with a life-threatening allergy.
• We ask for parent/guardian support around sending safe snacks or treats for the student with an allergy and for all other families to be Allergy Aware when sending in snacks/treats. Teachers might let families know of any classroom potential student allergies and will ask for family’s assistance in keeping products that may cause harm out of the classroom.
• Even with our best efforts, staff and parents/guardians need to be aware that it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment.
• See the district Policy 3423 and 3423R – Anaphylaxis Prevention.

The entire Geiger staff welcome you to visit our school. For safety, all visitors, during school/work hours, are required to:

• Enter through the main entrance and sign in.
• Wear visitor badge or district badge, while in the building.
• Provide a form of identification, if asked. For staff, this includes your district badge.
• Parents/Guardians who wish to observe a classroom or school activity during the school day, while school is in session, are required to arrange such visits in advance with the classroom teacher(s), with final approval by the Principal, so that class disruption is kept to a minimum.

We love our volunteers! Please be part of our school community.

Adult volunteers are always needed around the school. Arrangements to volunteer need to be made with the classroom teacher or office staff.

Volunteers must complete the background paperwork each school year. If you’ve already completed the paperwork at another TPS school, let our office staff know and we’ll obtain a copy from them. 

Volunteer paperwork must be processed a week prior to volunteering and are available on the district web site.