School Information

Health and Safety

With the arrival of fall, our communities are seeing an increase in illnesses, such as colds, RSV, and COVID-19. Please continue to prioritize the health of the school community by following the simple procedures (below) set in place for everyone’s safety.

**Fever over 100 degrees (students must be fever-free for 24 hours before they can return to school), vomiting or diarrhea (students must be free of a recurrence for 24 hours before they

can return to school); untreated head lice or evidence of live lice; severe cough or sore throat; Strep throat (students may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment); untreated Scabies, Conjunctivitis with an eye discharge; Covid-19; or other infectious diseases

As per our Community Handbook, these procedures are subject to change at any time, with or without warning, for individuals or whole groups, as determined by the Head of School.

Morning Arrival Procedures 

Students can arrive on campus starting at 7:45 am when faculty and staff supervision begins. If your child isn’t taking the school bus or Ottermobiles, please wait for an FFS employee to open the gate before entering.

Accompanying your child to campus 

PreK-5th grade caregivers who wish to walk their children to campus can park nearby (Overington Park or Griscom Street are good options) and enter through the main gate on Orthodox Street. Preschool students enter through the Nest gate. All gates open at 7:45 am.

Staff will supervise students on the blacktop from 7:45-7:55 am. You're welcome to stay with your child until the bell rings around 7:55 am, but rest assured, they’ll be well cared for if you need to leave. When the bell rings, students will enter their classrooms, and the doors will remain open until 8:05 am. After that time, a caregiver must accompany their child to the front office to sign in with Ms. Drea.

All teachers will be outside for the first two days to assist students. Preschool, PreK, and Kindergarten teachers will provide extra support until routines are established.

Drive and drop off

Preschool-5th grade students can be dropped off in the coned-off areas on Orthodox Street in front of the School. An FFS employee will be there to open car doors. Caregivers must stay in their cars, and please do not stop in the middle of the street, as it blocks traffic.

For a smooth drop-off, ensure your child is ready to exit the car with their belongings as you approach the drop-off point. If your child isn’t ready, you may be asked to drive around the block to keep traffic moving.

6th-8th grade students can be dropped off on Penn Street in front of the Middle School yard, starting at 7:45 am. The bell rings at 7:55 am, and students will enter the buildings. The gate will stay open until 8:05 am; after that, a caregiver must accompany late students to the front office for a late slip.

Please do not park on the Meetinghouse side of Orthodox Street. This area is a school zone and is reserved for buses, Ottermobiles, and quick drop-offs only.

School Buses

Students arriving by SDP school buses will be dropped off on Penn Street in front of the Middle School gate, where a teacher or administrator will be there to greet them. They’ll be supervised in the MS yard until 7:45 am, after which Lower School students will be escorted to the blacktop. If a bus arrives late, students will not be marked late for the day.

Public Transportation 

Students using public transportation should walk directly from the El or bus stop to the Middle School yard on Penn Street. 7th graders eligible for a Septa student key card will receive theirs on the first day of school and can ride for free that day. 8th graders should use the key cards they received last year. If your 8th grader has lost their Septa card, please notify Drea in the Front Office so she can arrange for a replacement. Students arriving after 8:05 a.m. must report to the Front Office for a late slip, and we will notify you of their lateness.

FFS Ottermobiles 

Families with reserved seats on an FFS Ottermobile have received a separate communication from Kevin Cox, Assistant Head of School for Operations, with details about assigned stops, pick-up, and drop-off times. Ottermobiles will arrive at school by 8 am. If an Ottermobile arrives late, students will not be marked late for the day. If you need more information about the Ottermobile service or want to join the waitlist, please contact Kevin Cox at kcox@frankfordfriends.org. 

Afternoon Dismissal 

Dismissal begins at 2:55 pm and ends at 3:05 pm. 

Preschool students will wait with their teacher in the Nest, where caregivers can pick them up at the Nest gate. PreK and Kindergarten students will wait on the blacktop on the Penn Street side of the Meetinghouse. 1st through 5th grade students will wait with their teachers on the blacktop on the IDEA Lab side of the Meetinghouse. There is no drive-by pick-up option in the afternoon.

Middle School students picked up by car will wait in the Middle School yard on Penn Street. A teacher will be at the gate to notify students when their ride arrives.

When picking up your child, please be ready to show a valid ID to any teacher or staff member, especially at the start of the school year as we get to know each other. This ensures student safety.

Students not picked up by 3:05 pm will be taken to the Extended Day Program. Families will be charged a drop-in fee: $10/day for pick-up by 4:00 pm or $25/day for pick-up by 6:00 pm. 

The First Two Days of School

Preschool, PreK, and Kindergarten classes will have a noon dismissal on the first two days of school. They don't need to pack a lunch for Wednesday and Thursday, but should still bring a snack and water bottle. Friday will be their first full day of school. For all other students, school will be open for full days starting Wednesday. Ottermobile service is not available for these noon dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday, so please plan to pick students up.

School Bus and Ottermobiles

Students who ride the bus or Ottermobiles will be dismissed by FFS faculty, and all students will be accounted for as they board. If your student is registered for the bus or Ottermobile but won’t be taking it every afternoon, please notify the Front Office as soon as possible so we can inform teachers and drivers of this change.

Public Transportation

7th and 8th grade students who use SEPTA will be dismissed as a group to walk to the El together. A faculty member will accompany them for the first two days of school.

Extended Day Program

The Extended Day Program will begin on Monday, September 9, 2024. Students enrolled in Extended Day will be escorted there by teachers at dismissal, where they will be greeted by Extended Day staff. The program closes promptly at 6:00 pm. Caregivers arriving after 6:00 pm will be charged $1 per minute late. Please be prepared to show your photo ID when picking up your child from Extended Day. You can register for Extended Day HERE. 

Any changes in transportation or dismissal time must be communicated to the Front Office to ensure your child’s safety.

Attendance 

Classroom teachers take attendance at 8:05 am. If a student is marked absent without prior notification, the Front Office will call families to check-in. Parents bringing their child late must park, escort them to the Front Office, and sign them in. Students may not enter campus alone after 8:05 am. Please ensure your child arrives on time. Children who arrive late to school are disadvantaged because they miss important community-building routines and instruction.

Lateness and Absence 

Official school transcripts reflect all late arrivals and absences, as required by the state of Pennsylvania. Repeated, unexcused lateness or absences may lead to state-mandated truancy consequences.

As outlined in the FFS Community Handbook, Frankford Friends School does not support students taking vacations during school days. Any absence due to vacation scheduled during school time is considered unexcused and will be recorded as such on the official transcript. There is no virtual substitute for being in school, and teachers will not provide advance work packets, special assignments, extra tutoring, or individual help upon a child's return. If a student misses a quiz, test, presentation, or other major assignment or assessment while on vacation, they must be prepared to take it or submit it immediately upon their return to school to receive credit.

Early Dismissals 

Whenever possible, please schedule medical appointments outside of school hours. If your child needs to leave school early for an appointment, contact the Front Office to let them know. Caregivers can meet their child in the Front Office to sign them out.

Additional Important Information

Water Bottles

All students should bring a reusable water bottle to school each day. We have filtered water stations in every building.

Dress Code 

As stated in the FFS Community Handbook, Frankford Friends School is a Quaker school, and students' dress should reflect simplicity and respect for themselves and the community. Clothing or costumes that are offensive or promote violence or inequality are not allowed. Military-style clothing, including camouflage print, or items such as backpacks or lunch bags with camouflage print, are not permitted. 

Otter Emporium

Check out FFS school swag at the Otter Emporium! We have FFS t-shirts, water bottles, umbrellas, tote bags, camping chairs, and more! Contact Kerri Ditro, Director of Development, at kditro@frankfordfriends.org if you have any questions.

Volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of our Frankford Friends School community! Your support brings our programs and events to life and helps make our school a stronger, more connected place. Whether you love helping in the classroom, organizing events, or sharing your talents in other ways, we’d love to have you join us. Sign up as an FFS volunteer and tell us what you’re most interested in. Don’t forget, all volunteers need to complete clearances - click here to find out more.