First day of school: Monday, August 11, 2025
As our Dailard Dolphins prepare for the new school year, learn important information about the first day of school, and the start of this new school year.
About the first day of school
The first day of school is a minimum day for all students. The school day will end at 12:15 p.m. The rest of the week (Tues, Th, Fri) will be regular school times, 7:50-2:10 p.m., with the exception that every Wednesday is a minimum day that ends at 12:15 p.m. TK and Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 12:15pm the first week of school, August 11 – August 15. TK will have an additional week of minimum days August 18-August 22.
There is no walking club on the first day of school. Walking club will resume on the second day of school, and continue throughout the remainder of the school year.
Regular bell schedule
Gates open at 7:30 a.m., first bell at 7:45 a.m., school begins at 7:50 a.m. This schedule applies to both the first day of school, and the entire school year.
Coffee with Principal Wilson
Open to TK/K/new families, join Principal Wilson at 8 am in the MPR (multipurpose room) for a coffee and a quick chat about the upcoming school year.
Preparing for the first day of school
Please plan to arrive early Monday morning in plenty of time to walk your child to their classroom door by 7:45 a.m. (first bell). Our lower playground will be open to accommodate our increase in need for parking on the first day only. There are spots that are reserved for staff only in our lower parking lot with numbers on them, and pink “Auction” spots reserved for the DSF. Please do not park in those spots. The best street parking is by Dailard Park. If you park in front of the park, you may walk through the park and up the stairs to enter our campus. You may also park on Park Ridge and walk down the ramp to enter the school.
If dropping your student off, the drop off area is on Cibola Road. Or, you can drop off in the staff parking lot if you stay to the right and continue around to exit. U-Turns are not allowed on Cibola Road, and please do not block neighbor’s driveways.
It’s important to make your morning relaxed and enjoyable so that your child will have a great day. Plan to arrive early and walk a few extra minutes in the morning. Dogs are not allowed on campus during drop off and pick up. Thank you for your cooperation.
What your kids should wear
Please ensure students are dressed accordingly for safety and fun. Shoes must be closed toe and flip flops are not allowed. Hats for sun protection are allowed to be worn outside. Please send your student with their own personalized water bottle. We have water bottle filling stations. Make sure all items sent to school are appropriately labeled with your child’s name and room number with a permanent marker. Frequently misplaced items are water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets and umbrellas. Be sure to label them appropriately and check our lost and found often.
Dailard cafeteria
Dailard’s cafeteria serves fresh, nutritious meals free of charge for breakfast and lunch. These meals are optional, and students are welcome to bring their own lunch to school.
Dailard’s walking program (Walking Club)
On the 2nd day of school, Tuesday, August 12th, we will begin our walking program for all our students, TK-5. This means that all students, TK-2 will walk inside around the perimeter of the lower playground from 7:30-7:45 a.m. and students in grades 3-5 will walk around the upper playground until the bell rings at 7:45 a.m.
When students/parents arrive before the first bell rings at 7:45 a.m. to line up for class, all students and parents are expected to participate in our walking program. Students are not allowed to play on play structures or the playground in the morning. When the bell rings at 7:45 a.m., TK-2nd grade students will line up behind their room number painted on the black top. Teachers will pick up their class at the lower playground area where they line up.
Students in grades 3-5 will also line up behind their classroom numbers to wait for their classroom teacher to pick them up for class. Parents will exit through the lower playground gate or the back gate. If you are volunteering on school grounds, please exit through the exit gates and enter the school through the office to sign in and receive a visitor badge. Students in grades 3-5 will also line up behind their classroom numbers to wait for their classroom teacher to pick them up for class.
Our goal is to safely lock our campus from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. everyday.
Pickup procedure
At 2 p.m., TK/K parents will be allowed to enter campus from the front blue gates only to pick up their student. Older siblings can walk to the TK/K classroom when they are dismissed at 2:10 to meet their families. Please communicate with your child’s teacher.
We suggest that 1st – 5th grade families pick up their student in the front of the school by the garden entrance area, the park, the back gate or drive through the lower playground area for pick up. Our gates will be locked up again at 2:30 p.m. to keep our YMCA/Prime Time students and after school programs safe.
YMCA/Prime Time families will need to coordinate with their program directors on specific pickup procedures.
For more information, contact the school at 619-860-5900.