Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How do I enroll my child at Sarah Smith Elementary?
Please visit two links on the Principal's website: Kindergarten Info and Enrollment Info. Both of these have information about registration requirements. For more information, please contact the school at 404-802- 3850.Back to Top
8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Students may arrive on campus beginning at 7:30 a.m. Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy and parents must come to the office and sign in the student. Dismissal begins at 2:30 p.m. All students should be picked up no later than 2:45 p.m. unless they ride the bus or are in the after school program.Back to Top
What if I need to change my child's usual transportation?
Written notice is required anytime a student's usual transportation changes. Changes cannot be accepted over the telephone but may be faxed with the appropriate identification attached. No changes can be accepted after 2:00 p.m. and no early checkout can occur after 2:15 p.m. These procedures are in place for the safety of the students and the smoothness of dismissal.Back to Top
Is breakfast and lunch served?
Yes. A nutritious breakfast is served daily from 7:30 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. Lunch is also served daily and offers choices to the students. Menus for breakfast and lunch are available. There are no breakfast or lunch charges allowed. Meals must be paid for in advance or at the time of serving. Otherwise, an alternative meal is provided.Back to Top
Does the school have an after school program?
Yes, an after school program is provided for those interested every day the school is in session from dismissal time until 6:00 p.m. Enrichment activities, study time, and a snack are provided. The cost of the program is determined by the contracted company selected by the school. For more information about the after school program, contact the school office or visit www.smithafterschool.com.Back to Top
Is there a school store to purchase school supplies?
For your convenience, the Student Council operates a school store with basic supplies. The school store is located in the lobby and is open on designated days from 7:30 a.m. until 7:55 a.m.Back to Top
No,uniforms are not required at Sarah Smith Elementary. However, it is believed that there is a direct relationship between dress, grooming, conduct, and success. Every child is encouraged to observe a standard of grooming and dress consistent with the level of formality of the school situation. A dress code has been designed for Sarah Smith Elementary and is shared with the students early in the school year.Back to Top
What are some of the extra-curricular activities offered?
There is a variety of extra-curricular offerings at Sarah Smith. Included are band, orchestra, and chorus (for students in grades 3-5), Go Girls Go, a competitive dance team, drama club, student council, Odyssey of the Mind, and safety patrol. Club offering vary year-to-year.Back to Top
Can parents visit the school and volunteer?
A warm welcome is extended to parents and interested persons when visiting the school. For the protection of the students, all visitors must register in the front office and receive a Visitor's Badge. If you wish to volunteer in the classroom, arrangements would be made with the teacher. Volunteers are always needed.Back to Top
Can I select my child's teacher?
It is the policy of Sarah Smith that classroom assignments for grades 1-5 will be made by the principal and the teachers. For kindergarten, attempts will be made to accommodate one of three choices with no guarantee. Establishing a class roster entails many variables, such as sex, age, race, ability levels, matching of teaching styles, dynamics with peers, etc. It is the goal to make each class reflect a demographically democratic array of students. At all grade levels, the teachers, supporting faculty, and administration attempt to distribute students so that every class is as comparable as possible. This is a process that is quite involved and each child is carefully assessed based on various needs. Requesting certain teachers creates an extremely difficult situation and equity is hard to maintain. However, parents may submit a letter to the principal with a description of their child's learning styles, characteristics, etc. These considerations are made when placement decisions are being done.Back to Top
Do you teach a foreign language at Sarah Smith Elemetary?
Sarah Smith Elementary offers a very strong French program for all students, first through fifth grade. Students receive French instruction daily for 30 minutes. Why French? The outstanding French team has put together the top ten reasons to answer that question. 1. Knowing French will allow you not only to function but to compete effectively in the global economy of the future. 2. Speaking French will increase your job opportunities and salary potential. More than 1,200 French companies have subsidiaries in the U.S. 3. Studing French increases your appreciation of other people and their cultures. French is the first or second language in more than 40 countries and is spoken by 125 million people around the world, on every continent. 4. French opens up an entire world of sporting events to enthusiasts. French is the official language of the Olympic Games and other international sporting events. 5. Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English. Some 40-50% of English vocabulary comes from French. 6. Learning a new language, like French, develops your critical and creative thinking skills. 7. Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to the university and to graduate schools. 8. Using French enhances your travel abroad to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe,and Africa. After the United States, France is the second most visited tourist destination in the world. 9. French is the language of culture, opening your door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, and cinema. 10. French is the language of many great literary masterpieces. France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country. (This information was gathered from a publication of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States and The American Association of Teachers of French.) Sometimes students continue their study of French through middle and high schools and obtain a high level of fluency. Others may switch to Spanish in middle or high school, adding a third language to English and French. Even though Spanish is considered more widely spoken than French, that is actually regional. French is the second most spoken language behind English in the world. And, since French and Spanish are similar languages, the acquisition of the other is easier. In the magazine, Language Today, a report on the world's "ten most influential languages" was presented based on the following criteria: - number of primary speakers (native or home speakers) - number of secondary speakers - number and population of countries using the language - number of major fields (science, diplomacy, etc. using the language internationally) - economic power of countries using the language - and socio-literacy prestige. In order of influence, the "top ten" are: 1. English 2. French 3. Spanish 4. Russian 5. Arabic 6. Chinese 7. German 8. Japanese 9. Portuguese 10. Hindi/Urdu We are very proud of our French program at Sarah Smith Elementary and the quality of the instruction offered is exceptional. A "French Club" is held at the kindergarten campus each Wednesday after school to provide some exposure of the language to the kindergarten students since they are not provided with daily French instruction.Back to Top
What are key phone numbers I need to have?
Sarah Smith Elementary School 404-802-3850 Fax 404-842-3046 Sarah Smith Kindergarten Campus 404-256-3317 Fax 404-943-0288 Sarah Smith Food Service 404-802-3867 Dr. Beverly Hall, Superintendent 404-802-3500 APS Board of Education 404-802-2820 APS Chief of Staff 404-802-2200 Sarah Smith's Executive Director 404-802-6537 Program for Exceptional Children 404-802-1699 APS Student Placement Office 404-802-2233 APS Transportation (bus routes) 404-753-9815Back to Top