Parent Resources

Office Hours:

During school days, office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please call regarding summer office hours.

School hours:

Students should be at the classroom lines every morning at 8:15; attendance is at 8:20 am.
Regular Dismissal (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) 2:40 pm.
Tuesday, Early Dismissal for staff meetings, 1:40 pm

Morning Rules:

Students may not be dropped off at school before 7:55 a.m.
Students are not permitted to be dropped off in the staff parking lot due to safety concerns.
Parents driving their children to school should drop off students at the Carrillo Drive gate or the Foster Drive gate, which leads to the playground.
School begins promptly at 8:20 a.m. for grades TK through 5th grade.
Students are not allowed to play sports or games in the morning before school. Students must remain near their designated line-up area until the bell rings.
Students may not be inside the building without an adult or a permission slip for any reason.
Students may not go to their classrooms without their teacher.
On rainy days, students should go directly to the auditorium and stay there until their teacher dismisses them.

Attendance Rules:

Students should arrive at school by 8:15 am and no later than 8:20 am to allow time to walk with their teacher to the classroom.
Students who arrive at school after 8:20 a.m. can report directly to their classroom until 8:30 a.m. The Teacher will mark the student as tardy.
Students who arrive at school after 8:30 am MUST check in the office for a Late Slip.
When a child returns to school following an absence, she/he must bring a note that:
- - - - Explain why the child was absent.
      - Gives the date(s) of absence.
      - Signed by a parent/guardian.

Student Interventions:

Carthay teachers are all trained to provide differentiated instruction in the classroom so that students are educated at the appropriate level.

Additionally, there are opportunities for students who are behind or ahead to receive specialized instruction outside the classroom. For students identified as Gifted and Talented, there is a weekly pull-out class taught by STAR Education.

There is an intervention offered at Carthay through the student Nest during and after school for Carthay students. Students are assigned to work in small groups with a teacher or a teacher's aide in the classroom. Some students who are behind grade level in reading are assigned a volunteer reading partner from Reading Partners.

All parents and community members are encouraged to help Carthay students through these various volunteer opportunities. Some require a weekly commitment; others are flexible and allow for drop-ins when your schedule permits.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteering is a gift to the entire community. The Carthay School PTA needs your participation to support our community school and empower the administration, teachers, and students to experience an education that goes beyond the borders of traditional learning. We have a community so richly steeped in diversity, knowledge, and talent. It is our responsibility to capitalize on these resources to the benefit of our children.

The Carthay School PTA collaborates closely with the Carthay Parent Center to ensure that our efforts align with the school's needs. We strive to emulate the philosophy instilled by our school principal, Ms. Hall-Johnson, and the teachers at Carthay. Our shared goal is to deliver educational excellence in a nurturing, creative, and discovery-driven environment. Our deepest desire is that our children will leave Carthay having fulfilled their potential.

Most volunteer activities do NOT require specialized skills; they mainly need a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, some flexibility, and a desire to work with others. Opportunities to participate for an hour, a day, or more are available. We will work with you to find the activity or project that best fits your schedule, meets your interests, and provides the rewarding experience of making a difference. I'm here to help you find your role, and when you do, you'll be glad you did.

Carthay PTA:

There’s a lot happening with the Carthay Elementary PTA! The Carthay Elementary PTA serves as a supportive financial resource for enrichment programs and other educational and academic needs at Carthay, in addition to being a wonderful community of parents and teachers. If you haven't joined the Carthay PTA yet, please do so! Membership is only $8 per person, and forms are available in the front office, the Parent Center, and on this website. Supporting your PTA means supporting all the children at Carthay!

Uniform Policy - School Uniform Policy Rules:

Carthay Environmental Studies Magnet has implemented a school-wide uniform policy. We strongly encourage parents to have their children wear uniforms. Not only does this make dressing easier and more affordable for families, but it also fosters a sense of community. It helps students focus on learning rather than their clothing choices.

Students are required to wear:

navy blue bottoms, dresses, or jumpers
light blue, white, or navy-blue tops with collars and sleeves
All dresses must cover the undergarments.
Closed-toed, appropriate footwear with socks must be worn at all times, no heels or platforms.

You can buy the uniforms at any department store or Target. Students are expected to stay clean, well-groomed, and neatly dressed at all times.

The uniform policy will be enforced Monday through Friday during the school year by the principal and teaching staff. Students are expected to wear a uniform every day, with exceptions noted below.

Every Thursday is College T-Shirt Day. If students do not wear a college T-shirt, they must wear uniforms as usual.
Every Friday is Carthay Spirit Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear Carthay gear, including the school's blue and yellow shirts.
Students may wear appropriate "dress-up" clothes for picture days and school-wide performances.

After-School Options:

There are a limited number of spaces each year for the grant-funded STAR After School Program, which runs five days a week from the end of school until 6 pm. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis at the end of each school year. The STAR program includes physical education, math, literacy, arts, dance, theater, and various extra-curricular activities. It is free and suitable for students who need after-school programming five days a week until 6 pm.

There are also STAR Nova enrichment classes offered every 8-10 weeks, which are open to all students. Pricing varies by class. Different classes are offered each session: examples include culinary arts, gymnastics, language classes, chess, music, woodworking, and much more.

For more information about STAR Nova at Carthay, please call 424-409-1393.

Students not enrolled in other programs can participate in the Beyond the Bell program, also known as "Coaches." Students have time to do their homework and then play in the playground under supervision. They can also enroll in STAR Nova and other extracurricular classes and then return to Beyond the Bell when those classes finish - staff will check the students in and out of each class. Beyond the Bell is free, and space is unlimited.