Common Questions from Our Parents

  • School Policies and Procedures are established at every school to improve local systems and processes and to ensure the safety of our students, employees and visitors.

    In order to assist you in learning about the policies and procedures at Alachua Elementary, we are including a list of frequently asked questions from parents to our front office staff. It is our goal for our school website and the Parent/Student Handbook to be a resource for answering your questions. We will continue to add questions/answers as necessary.

    Q: I need to speak to my child’s teacher. Can I come in early one morning and go to the classroom?
    Q: How do I get my child’s teacher email address?
    Q: My child has a 3:00 dentist appointment. Can I check her out at 2:30?
    Q: My child usually rides the bus home but I need him to be a car rider today. Can I call or send an email to make that change?
    Q: My child’s birthday is today. Can I bring in cupcakes, balloons and goodie bags?
    Q: I want to visit my child’s classroom. Do I need to check in the front office first?


    Q: I need to speak to my child’s teacher. Can I come in early one morning and go to the classroom?
    A: Mornings are busy times for our teachers as they are preparing for the school day, so please email your child’s teacher to arrange a convenient time to meet with or call her/him. Remember to include your phone number in the email. In the event that you do not have email access, the front office staff will be happy to take a message from you and send it to the teacher. NOTE: Teachers have 24 hours to respond parent emails and phone calls.

    Q: How do I get my child’s teacher email address?
    A: All school employees have the same ending to their email address: @gm.sbac.edu. Email addresses are listed on our Faculty and Staff page.

    Q: My child has a 3:00 dentist appointment. Can I check her out at 2:30?
    A: The latest time to check out a student is 2:00.

    Q: My child usually rides the bus home but I need him to be a car rider today. Can I call or send an email to make that change?
    A: We cannot accept transportation changes over the phone or by email. Send in a written note with your child the morning you want her/him to be a car rider and we will take care of those arrangements for you. Please include the name of your child’s teacher and the make and color of your vehicle (example, Gold Honda Accord) in the note.

    Q: My child’s birthday is today. Can I bring in cupcakes, balloons and goodie bags?
    A: As stated in the Parent/Student Handbook, birthday parties are not allowed at school, however, cupcakes or cookies may be provided for the class snack. Please email or call your child’s teacher, in advance, to let her/him know you are bringing in a treat. Unless other arrangements are made with the teacher, you may bring in the treat and leave it in the front office. We will email the teacher and she/he will come get it at her/his convenience.

    Q: I want to visit my child’s classroom. Do I need to check in the front office first?
    A: Yes.  However, unexpected visitors can be disruptive to the learning environment, therefore we ask that you refrain from visiting the classroom unless you have made prior arrangements with the teacher. If those arrangements have been made, then you must check in the front office for a visitor pass before proceeding to the classroom.

    If your question has not been answered on this page, please contact us at 352-472-1102.