Highland Park Weekly Communication

Hello Highland Park Royal families!

We hope you are able to join us on Thursday, September 10th for our Back to School Night! This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, see the classroom, and learn about our curriculum.

Logistics & Parking:

• The large gate in the upper parking lot will be open for parking in the playground area.

• The Observatory field also has parking spots and is a short walk to the school.

• Do NOT park at Donohue Funeral Home.

• Do NOT park at St. Laurence.

To accommodate families with multiple children, we are offering three identical sessions. Please ensure you visit the Gym for one of these sessions to hear from the administration.

Time

Session 2- 6:30 - 6:50 PM

Session 3 - 7:00 - 7:20 PM

Visit our Home & School and Community Information tables in the main lobby too!

We hope to see you on Thursday, September 10th, 2026

Highland Park Elementary School

Academic Achievement:

• Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve higher grades and perform better on standardized tests. In fact, research shows that students who miss just two days a month can fall behind academically and struggle to catch up.

Long-Term Success:

• Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—has been linked to lower graduation rates. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, students with chronic absenteeism are 20% less likely to graduate from high school compared to their peers with regular attendance.

Future Opportunities:

• Regular attendance in the early years sets a foundation for future educational success. By the 6th grade, chronic absenteeism can significantly reduce a student's likelihood of graduating high school, with a staggering 80% of students who are chronically absent in the 6th grade failing to graduate on time.

How You Can Help:

• Set a Routine: Establish a consistent daily routine for waking up and getting ready for school. Encourage your child to go to bed early to ensure they are well-rested.

Communicate:

• Talk to your child about the importance of attending school and the impact it has on their future.

Address Issues Early:

• If your child is struggling with school attendance due to health, bullying, or other issues, contact their school for support and resources.

Celebrate Attendance:

• Recognize and reward good attendance to encourage your child to maintain regular school participation.

Together, we can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Remember, every day counts, and your involvement makes a difference!

For more information and resources on how to support your child’s attendance, please contact us!

Let’s make every school day count!

Attendance is extremely important so please make sure your children attend school and arrive ON TIME (by 8:45 AM) each day. If they are sick, please send in a note or email a note to HPES-attendance@upperdarbysd.org explaining your child's absence. If no note is provided within 2 days of the absence, the absence is TRUANT and could lead to a judicial court hearing.

Picture Day is coming on Thursday, September 17!

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTTJZ77S. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com

Students will receive order forms in class.

A medical exam dated after 7/1/25 is required for all students in K,1,& all new students

A dental report dated after 7/1/25 is required for all students in K,1,3, & all new students

If your child requires medication at school, a signed doctor’s order dated after July 1, 2026 is required along with a parent/guardian signature.

Medication must be in the original pharmacy container with the child’s name and dose on the label. Email the school nurse or your child’s teacher to request a Medication Administration form

Students may not carry medication. Parents must drop the medication off to school personnel.

It is very important that you are available to pick up your child in a timely manner if they are sick.

If you are unable to do so, you MUST have a backup plan in place . Students can only be released to individuals that are on the Emergency Form and all adults picking up students early must provide picture ID.

Peg Gallagher, RN, BSN,CSN, M.Ed

pgallagher@upperdarbysd.org

610-853-4530x6614

The Upper Darby School District is making memorial bricks from the former Delaware County Memorial Hospital available to original donors or their families. A link is provided to view the list of original donors, and a Google Form is provided to request a brick. Requests will be collected through September 11, 2026. Individuals will be contacted when their bricks are available for pickup, and the pickup deadline has been extended. After September 11, individuals who believe they or a family member donated a brick should contact the Upper Darby Historical Society at udhist soc@gmail.com or 610-924-0222. D.M. Kelly Masonry, LLC will remove the bricks and provide them to requestors at no charge. The graphic thanks the company and the community for helping preserve the history of Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

Section: 200, Pupils

Adopted: August 10, 2010

Last Revised: March 14, 2023

Prior Revised Dates: February 9, 2016

Authority

The Board has the authority to impose limitations on students' dress in school. The Board will not interfere with the right of students and their parents/guardians to make decisions regarding their appearance, except when their choices disrupt the educational program of the schools or constitute a health or safety hazard.[1][2]

The Board shall require students to wear standard dress, which may be required district-wide or by individual schools.[1][2]

Students may be required to wear certain types of clothing while participating in physical education classes, technical education, extracurricular activities, or other situations where special attire may be required to ensure the health or safety of the student.[2]

Delegation of Responsibility

The building principal or designee shall be responsible to monitor student dress and grooming, and to enforce Board policy and school rules governing student dress and grooming.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all rules implementing this policy impose only the minimum necessary restrictions on the exercise of the student's taste and individuality.[2]

Staff members shall be instructed to demonstrate, by example, positive attitudes toward neatness, cleanliness, propriety, modesty, and good sense in attire and appearance.[3]

Guidelines

All students shall be subject to this dress code. Students must report to school on a daily basis attired in compliance with the provisions of this policy.

Attire:

Acceptable dress must be appropriately sized and must conform to the following requirements:

1. We strongly encourage students to exhibit their school pride by wearing school colors and apparel.
   

2. Students are not permitted to wear apparel that belittles another, suggests sexual activity, or refers to violence, weapons, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, discrimination, gangs, or any illegal activity. Objectionable language or graphics are also not permitted on apparel or belongings.
   

3. All shirts and dresses must have sleeves and cover the entire torso, and shoulders. Tank tops, midriffs, tube tops, low cut shirts, strapless, spaghetti straps, see through shirts, halters, or bare back shirts are not permitted.
   

4. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must reach mid-thigh. We use the “fingertip” rule, which means when standing straight, fingertips are in line with the hem.
   

5. Pants must be worn above the hip bone. No undergarments are to be seen at any time. Tights worn as pants are not permitted.
   

6. See through clothing, undergarments worn as outer garments, and sleepwear are not permitted.
   

7. Clothing that are torn or ripped are not permitted.
   

8. Students are not permitted to wear any spiked collars, spiked bracelets, or wallet chains.
   

9. Shoes must cover the entire foot and have soles. Steel toe boots are not permitted.
   

10. Hats, hoods, bandannas, and sunglasses are not to be worn in the building.
    

11. Administration will make final decisions about the appropriateness and acceptability of specific items of clothing.
    

12. Violations of the dress code will result in disciplinary consequences.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Home and School Association events. More information to follow:

• Ice Cream Social- 9/30/36
• McPrincipals Night at McDonald's- 10/19
• 1st, 2nd, & 3rd grade Dance- 10/22
• Poppin Popcorn Sale - 11/2 - 11/16
• 4th & 5th Grade Dance- 11/19
• Chipotle Night- 12/9
• Chuck E Cheese Night- 4/15

If your child completed the voluntary summer packet, please have them submit it to their homeroom teacher by September 11th.

The Upper Darby School District appreciates the wish to recognize children’s birthdays and other celebrations by bringing in treats to share with the class, however, due to the increase of students with severe food allergies and the importance of minimizing disruption to the instructional day, the following guidelines have been established for Highland Park:

Your child's birthday will be recognized with their classmates during morning meeting.

No food or beverages are permitted to be brought in to Highland Park for birthday celebrations. Highland Park encourages families to use alternatives such as:

• Donating a book in the name of a child

• Non-food treats such as pencils, erasers, notebook.

We appreciate your cooperation!

Student Emergency Information Sheets will be sent home with your child at the beginning of the school year. These sheets need to be reviewed and verified each year. Please review the information and make any necessary changes. Phone number, and email information can also be updated in the Home Access Center (HAC). Change of Address must be updated at Central Registration. We must have the most up-to-date information so that you receive all home-school communication. Also, the nurse must be aware of any new medical information.

Families, we need your help during arrival and dismissal. Safety first, and respect for the neighborhood. Plan ahead knowing that arrival and dismissal takes about 15- 20 minutes. Please plan accordingly so students are here on time and picked up on time.

Arrival & Dismissal

• There is no parking on school grounds at arrival or dismissal.
• Do not park, drop off, or pick up on West Chester Pike or on Lynn Blvd.
• Students should be dressed appropriately for all weather conditions.
• Students may not play on the swings or playground equipment during arrival or dismissal times.
• If you are driving your child to school, or picking up by car, please enter the loop and stay to the left. Highland Park staff will direct you to the drop off area. Please have your children enter/exit on the right side of your vehicle.
• All cars must make a right onto Lynn Blvd. We appreciate your cooperation. Only school and daycare busses may turn left.

Daily Morning Arrival

• Students should arrive between 8:30 AM- 8:40 AM. It is important that all students are on time and in HR by 8:45 AM.
• Please do not arrive early, as there is no supervision prior to 8:30 AM.
• Student arrival procedures:

o Grade 1- Enter the building through the center doors on the St. Laurence side.

o Grade 2- Enter the building through the main doors and go directly to the cafeteria.

o Grade 3- Enter the building through the center doors on the St. Laurence side and line up

in the 3rd grade hallway outside their homerooms.

o Grade 4- Enter the building through the main doors and go directly to the gym.

o Grade 5- Enter the building through the main doors and go directly to the gym.

Daily Dismissal

· If you are picking up your child in the school yard, you must park your car off school grounds and walk to Highland Park. Please note that there is NO PARKING on school grounds and no parking at Donohue Funeral Home or St. Laurence.

o 1st grade students are dismissed to the driveway along St. Laurence in the lower playground.

o 2nd grade students are dismissed to the lower playground.

o 3rd grade students are dismissed in front of the main entrance.

o 4th grade students exit through back door facing the golf course.

o 5th grade students are dismissed to the upper playground.

· You can park at the Observatory Field on St. Laurence Road and either walk to Highland Park via Green Valley Road or Academy Lane or have your child walk to you (grades 2-5).

· If you are picking up your child with your vehicle:

o You must enter at the top of the lot, and stay to your left. Do not park, or leave your vehicle. Please have your child’s name, grade and HR printed clearly on 8 ½ x 11 paper so you can show it to a Highland Park staff member (this will help move the line quicker). You will be directed to the pick-up area.

o In order to keep the car line moving, all cars must make a right onto Lynn Blvd. We appreciate your cooperation. Only school and daycare busses may turn left.

· If your child is a walker (2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade only), please review safe walking routes with your child. You may also set up a meeting point with your child off school grounds.

· Please pick up your children on time. Also, please send in a note with your child’s dismissal plan on the first day of school for the homeroom teacher.

If there is a change in the regular dismissal procedure for your child, written notification must be sent in to the classroom teacher. We understand that there are emergencies that occur but a consistent dismissal plan for each child is helpful for your child and the homeroom teacher.

Students are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day, or on district busses, or district activities. Please have your students practice NOT using their cell phones for extended period of times during the day so they are prepared not to use them or have them out during the school day.

If you have moved out of the district, please email our secretary, PCasey@upperdarbysd.org or call (610-853-4530) about the withdrawal process. If you have moved and remain in the district, please go to Central Registration which is next to the Upper Darby High School Gymnasium entrance (601 N. Lansdowne Avenue), and update your information.

The district will continue to receive the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) this year. ALL district students are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch at NO CHARGE beginning the 1st day of school. No paperwork is needed to take advantage of this worthwhile program. No outside food delivery is permitted during the school day. Highland Park Breakfast & Lunch Menus

A reminder that you may NOT have food delivered from vendors to your child during the school day. We are contracted with Aramark for free breakfast and lunch. If your child forgets their lunch, free lunch is available.

Chromebooks for students will be issued in school from students’ homeroom teachers during the first week of school. Families will be billed for lost, stolen, and damaged chromebooks and chargers.

Chromebooks are for school work only.

The student chromebooks are school district property.

• Students must take their chromebooks home each day
• Chromebooks must be fully charged each night and brought to school each day
• Student chromebooks and student email accounts are for academic purposes and school communications only.
• Student email should not be used to create or access recreational accounts on other platforms, such as social media or gaming sites. Keeping the use of student email limited to school-related activities helps maintain a secure and focused learning environment.
• IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR CHILD's CHROMEBOOK, PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD BRING THE CHROMEBOOK AND CHARGER TO THEIR TEACHER.

Visit the UDSD Community Bulletin Board,

your source for community-wide activities and resources

that benefit our students and families.

Click below to FOLLOW, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to our official social media!