Front Office FAQs

Hello from the Clayton Elementary Welcome Committee (front office staff)!

We know you may have some questions and hopefully this will answer them, or lead you in the right direction.

Amy Turnage: Registrar (amy.turnage@austinisd.org)

Deanna McDonald: Attendance (deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org)

Debbie Arya: Tech Support (part-time, typically 7:30am-1:30pm, deborah.arya@austinisd.org)

Jenny Daughtry: Bookkeeper (jennifer.daughtry@austinisd.org)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I stay connected and up-to-date on all things Clayton?
- Join the Google Group to get important emails and the Weekly Newsletter. Click here for the form request. Email amy.turnage@austinisd.org if you have any problems.
- Facebook
  - Follow the Clayton Elementary PTA page
  - Join the Cardinal Corner: Clayton Elementary Parents Page (don't forget to answer the questions!
- Check out the Clayton PTA website

How do I get help with my student's Device? Here is a Device Troubleshooting Guide. Please review this thoroughly before reaching out to the Help Desk or Ms. Debbie. It's easy to navigate and has lots of helpful information.
- PK-1st Grade will have classroom sets of iPads. These will only be used in class and will not go home with students.
- 2nd Grade will have classroom sets of chromebooks. These will only be used in class and will not go home with students.
- 3rd-5th Graders will be assigned a chromebook as school starts.

Want a Tour? If you are interested in a tour, please call or email Deanna McDonald (after July 28, 2023): (512)841-9200 deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org

Need a Nurse? Jenny Ribera is Clayton's school nurse (jenny.ribera@austinisd.org). She is at Clayton on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays. We have a sub on Thursdays and Fridays. If your student has medications they'll need on campus, please fill out this form and email it to Nurse Jenny. You can find all AISD Medical forms here.

Bell Schedule: Be in the building by 7:35 Learning starts at 7:40 and your student will be marked tardy if they aren't IN THEIR CLASSROOM by 7:40am. Any student arriving after this time will come to the front office and be marked Tardy for the day. Students are dismissed at 3:10pm.

Dismissal: View our Dismissal Map for details.
- Car Riders - Request a Car Tag HERE
  - PK, Kinder 1st & 2nd grade (and their siblings) dismissed in the front.
  - 3rd, 4th & 5th grade dismiss in the back.
- Escorted Walkers:
  - PK, Kinder & 2nd grade (and their siblings) dismiss in the front
  - 1st grade (and their siblings) will dismiss through the 1st Grade doors (across from the portables).
  - 3rd, 4th & 5th grade dismiss in the back
- Trail Walkers:
  - This Trail Walker Permission Form is required. Complete and turn in to your student's teacher
  - Lightning & Trail Walkers - If lightning is visible at Clayton at 3:00, we will hold our Trail Walkers until the lightning has left the area. Administration will send an email to all families if we are holding Trail Walkers due to weather, and also notify families when the Trail Walkers have been released. You are always welcome to pick up your child in a car if needed.

How do I drop off items for my student?
- Parents/guardians will need to sign the drop off log book at the front of the school & attach a gold slip to the item.
  - Essential items such as glasses will be delivered quickly.
  - Lunch boxes, water bottles and school supplies will be dropped off according to this schedule:
    **Items delivered before 10:00 am will be delivered at 10:00am.
    **Items delivered 10:01am - 1:30pm will be delivered at 1:30pm.
    **No items will be delivered after 1:30pm.

What if my child is sick and needs to stay home from school? If your child is ill, please send an email to your child's teacher and copy the our Attendance designee, Deanna McDonald (deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org)
- Your child must be fever free (without fever-reducing medicine) for a full 24 hours
- If your child throws up at school, they cannot return that day or the next.

What if my child has a doctor appointment? NO PICK UPS ALLOWED AFTER 2:30PM!
If you need to pick your child up for a doctor appointment, do so by 2:30pm. Notify your child's teacher in advance and then come into the front office and request your child be retrieved from class.
- Parents cannot call in advance to have students retrieved from class, so plan to arrive early.
- Parents need to be prepared to provide a drivers' license when signing a student out from school.
- Make sure you get a school note from the doctor's office. This note must be emailed to deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org. It can be forwarded from doctor or you can snap a picture and email it to her: deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org

What if I need to reach my child's teacher? You may email your teacher, but calls can only be sent to a teacher during their planning period.

Can I have lunch with my child? No lunch visits the first 2 weeks of school. During this time, students are learning and adjusting to the schedule & rules.
- Your student's teacher can tell you lunch times (or you can call the front office for this information).
  - Here are the Lunch Visitor Guidelines
  - Where do I eat with my student? This Map of the Cafeteria should help.

What if our plan for after school pick up changes? After school change of pick ups should be done as early as possible via email with the teacher. Change of dismissal message after 2:30 does not guarantee that it will be executed accordingly.

Your child's safety and well-being are so important to us.

If your student is feeling sick

If you or your child are feeling sick, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, please stay home, contact your medical provider and email our attendance specialist, Deanna McDonald (deanna.mcdonald@austinisd.org)

If you test positive

Effective Monday, March 18, 2024, AISD Health Services and Nursing recommend students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 to be out for 24 hours after the date of test positivity.

Masking upon return to school will remain optional, but recommended for 5 days if symptomatic.

If you child has COVID and you have questions about when they may return to school, please contact our school nurse, Jenny Ribera, at jenny.ribera@austinisd.org