2008-2009 School Year

Sunset Elementary and Middle School

Frequently Asked Questions  

1.  What are the school hours? 

For the 2008-2009 school year, the school hours are as follows: 

Sunset Middle School                7:30-2:35

Sunset Elementary                    8:30-3:35 

2.  Why are the elementary and middle school hours different? 

Williamson County Schools separate the hours for elementary and middle schools for three primary reasons.  The first is to share buses between elementary and secondary schools and save in transportation costs.  Secondly, we try to avoid transporting elementary and secondary school students on the same bus.  The final reason for the different start times is to allow secondary school students time in the afternoon to participate in extra-curricular activities and interscholastic athletic programs.  

3.  What time can my child arrive on the school campus? 

Middle School children may arrive at 7:20. 

Elementary children may arrive at 8:20.   

4.  How late can I pick up my child from school? 

Middle school children should be picked up by 2:45.  Elementary children should be picked up by 3:45.   

5.  Why can my child not arrive early or stay late? 

The teacher contract allows for a 7.5 hour work day.  This means teachers are on duty for 15 minutes before the start and 15 minutes after the end of the 7 hour instructional day.  Unfortunately, staff members are not available to provide childcare services outside of the 7 1/2 hour contracted school day. 

6.  What is YMCA Fun Company?

The YMCA contracts with the school system to provide childcare on site as a service to our students and family.  This program is run independently of the school system.  To receive information on costs and registration procedures, please contact the YMCA directly at 373-0215.   

7.  If my child is a car rider, where should I drop them off and pick them up? 

First of all, we strongly encourage you to consider having your child ride the bus.  For the 2008-2009 school year, over 1400 students will attend school on the Sunset campus. Due to the large number of students, traffic will be a challenge.  Student safety is our highest priority! Arrival and dismissal procedures are different for the elementary and middle school.  Please review the flow of traffic guidelines and the arrival/dismissal procedures for specific directions.  

8.  Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

During arrival and dismissal student safety is our highest priority.  With over 1400 students on our campus, we cannot guarantee convenience for all parents and families.  The car rider line will be crowded and you will have to wait in line to make sure that students are able to load safely.  There are no exceptions to the dismissal procedures.  Several things we need parents and families to remember:

• Please be courteous to staff and faculty helping with dismissal.  They are here to help you and your children.  Because of the safety concerns involved, anyone on campus during arrival or dismissal times are expected to follow the direction of staff helping with this process.
• If you are picking your child up from school, you are expected to wait in the car rider lane.  You may not park in the visitor parking area.  Students will not be allowed to meet you in visitor parking during dismissal.  This also applies to arrival.  Please do not park to drop off your child. 
• The car rider loading and unloading area is different for the elementary and middle school.  Middle school students will load and unload on the back side of the middle school campus off the academic wing (the right side of the school if you are facing the front of the school building).  Elementary car riders will load and unload in front of the elementary office area.  The flow of traffic will always flow from right to left around the building for both elementary and middle school arrival and dismissal.
• The area in front of the middle school is off limits to cars during arrival and dismissal.  This area is reserved for buses only. 
• The lane in front of the campus is the fire lane.  Parking is prohibited in this area at all times.  If you need to come in the school building, you will need to use the visitor parking areas in front of the school.