School Policies

School begins promptly at 7:40 am. 

In order to maximize the instructional day, when students are tardy parents will need to sign their child in at the front office and the OFFICE STAFF will escort the child to class. 

Students should not be on campus prior to 7:10 am because there is no supervision earlier than 7:10. 

Please call this number when your child is absent.

872-5325

Please call by 9:00 am on the morning your child/children will not be in school.

All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill or a family emergency arises. Every day is a learning opportunity and when students miss school, the learning activities and class assignments can never be duplicated exactly. Make-up work does not reflect the learning process that is developed in class discussions and interactions. Parents must call the school’s attendance line to report the absence or send a note when returning from an absence. Unexcused absences occur when there is no phone call or note. We encourage you to update home and business numbers on the office emergency card as soon as possible, so that we may always know whom to contact in case of an emergency.

We also realize that there will be instances when your child may be tardy. Please avoid this whenever possible. Tardiness interrupts your child’s instructional time.

It is mandatory in the Hillsborough County School System that parents report their child’s absence. You can call the school’s voice mail 24 hours a day at 872-5325 Ext. 1 to report your child’s absence by 9:00 a.m. on the same day your child will not be in school. Please leave the following information on the recording:

1. Your child’s name (please spell-out the last name)
2. The name of your child’s teacher.
3. Your name and telephone number.
4. The date or dates your child will be absent.

• If you do not report your child’s absence you will be called either at your home or at your work to verify your child’s absence and to remind you of the school’s procedure for reporting absences. Additional documentation may be required to verify the absence.
  
  
• When a student accumulates five absences from the designated attendance period during a nine-week grading period, a computer generated letter will be sent to the parent(s).
  
  
• When a student accumulates ten unexcused absences (not including suspensions) within a 90-calendar day period a computer generated letter will be sent to the parent or guardian.
  
  
• A student who is absent six or more days in a nine week grading period may be required to present medical evidence or have the parent visit the school to verify absences.
  
  
• Grady Elementary has developed incentives for students and teachers to reward and improve school attendance.

Car riders must be dropped off in the front car loop. Never park or leave your car unattended in the car loop. Use only the Front/North/Morrison Ave. visitor parking spaces if it's necessary to walk your child to the office.

It is important to complete the Dismissal Information Form. After submitting the form, any changes must be submitted to the teacher and office in writing. For safety reasons, we are unable to accept any dismissal changes over the phone. Anyone coming to pick up a child early must be the legal guardian of the student or listed on the emergency card. A valid photo ID is required when signing out a student. There are no sign-outs Mondays from 12:25-12:55 and Tuesday-Friday from 1:25-1:55. Early sign-out will be monitored and should be used only in an emergency. Please plan all appointments so that students can remain in school until 1:55 pm.

Car Riders must be picked up in the front car loop by staying in your car. There are no parking spaces in front of the school before and during dismissal, but we do offer a Park and Walk option located on the Northwest side of the school (S. Grady Ave by the baseball fields and tennis courts). Students needing car seats must use this option.

For safety, students should NEVER be dropped off in the bus loop or daycare van loop.

Drivers, please follow these rules:

1. Remain in your car and display your child's name in large print on the front passenger window so your child can be called to the car. Name identification cards will be distributed with the first day packets.
2. Drive your car all the way up to the pick-up point sign so there is one car per space
3. Continue to move slowly and with caution
4. Never park or leave your car unattended in the car loop
5. Only students with walkers and wheelchairs will recieve a parking pass for the Back/South/Watrous parking lot. Please send in a letter to request a parking pass.

Park & Walk - students will be escorted by a school staff member to the Pavilion for dismissal. It is located on the Northwest side of school (S. Grady Ave by the baseball fields and tennis courts). Students needing car seats must use this option. 

Bus Riders & Daycare - students will be escorted to their buses/vans daily

***Please refer to Rainy Day Dismissal Procedures when inclement weather is evident.***

A mandatory uniform policy will be strictly enforced. On Monday-Thursday, uniform shirts are collared (polo-style) and can be solid navy blue or white. Shirts with the Grady logo and Spirit Shirts are available at Teamworks Imprinted Sportswear, 2403 S Dale Mabry Hwy. (tel: (813) 258-0331) and a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Grady. Polo-style shirts or traditional white button down shirts without Grady logos are also acceptable, and are available at local stores. 

Boys must wear khaki or navy pants or shorts.  Girls must wear khaki or navy pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers.  On Fridays, students may wear the uniform, Grady spirit shirts (available at Teamworks Imprinted Sportswear), or designated school club shirt. Please note that only Spirit Shirts purchased at Teamworks or provided at Grady (such as Tiger Trek and Student of the Month shirts) are acceptable. Blue jeans may be worn on Friday only.

There will be a uniform swap at Open House. 

Research supports that the wearing of school uniforms:

• Provide a sense of pride and self esteem, and allows students to focus on the learning process

• Saves time and money

• Creates greater school recognition and helps maintain a safe and secure environment

• Students in uniform are easily identified by school staff at school and at school related activities

• Uniforms allow staff to easily recognize visitors on campus

When wearing the school uniform, no logo or writing other than the school logo is allowed.

Student Medication Policy

Any students who will need to have medication at Grady should call the school at (813) 872-5325 x226 and set an appointment with Ms. Rehmann, our school nurse. Ms. Rehmann will get all the necessary paperwork ready for you. Once all the paperwork is complete, call Ms. Rehmann again to schedule an appointment to drop off the medicine.

The School District of Hillsborough County does not discriminate nor tolerate harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or marital status in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices; and it will take immediate action to eliminate such harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. Any student(s) or employee(s) found to have engaged in acts of harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or marital status will be promptly disciplined. Such discipline may include, if circumstances warrant, suspension or expulsion for students, or suspension or termination for employees.

All school personnel, students, and parents are expected to work together to prevent harassment. Should you believe you or another individual has been subjected to harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or marital status, you should report the harassment to your school or to:

Mark West, General Manager of Employee Relations
Division of Human Resources
901 East Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 272-4227
[email protected]