Pirate FAQs

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What time does school begin and end?
    Students may enter the builing at 7:10.  Students who are not in class by 7:45 are marked tardy.  Dismissal is at 2:20 PM.

    2. What is the earliest I can drop my child off at school?
    Our school doors open at 7:10. 

    3. What should I do if my child arrives to school late?
    If you are dropping your child off after 7:45, you must come into the front office to sign your child in.

    4. Where may I drop off and/or pick up my child?
    Students who are car riders are to be dropped off at the front of the school.  During drop-off there is one line of car drop-off traffic.  Students should exit their cars on the covered walk side of the car.  Please follow the directions of our safety patrol and staff members who are directing traffic.  Afternoon car-riders are also picked up at the front of the school.  At the beginning of the year each car rider will be given a car sign to be placed in your car window.  The sign will need your child's name and his/her teachers name. During afternoon pick up there is a double lane of cars.  Teachers will be outside to direct students to cars and across the crosswalk.  Please stay in your car during dismissal.

    5. What if a designated person other than a parent will be picking up my child?
    Anytime there is a transportation change, parents must notify your child's teacher of the change in transportation.  You must send a handwritten not with the transportation change to your child's teacher. 

    6. What should I do when I need to pick up my child early?
    When you need to pick up your child early, you must enter the front office to sign your child out.  It is helpful to notify your child's teacher via note or e-mail that your child will be leaving early.

    7. I want my child to ride the bus to and from school.  What are bus procedures?  How do I know what bus my child will ride?
    If you want your child to ride a bus, you can contact the District Transportation Office at 803-980-2022.  The Transportation Office will be able to give you details about specific bus routes.  Each morning a teacher on duty, will greet bus riders and escort them into the building.  Each afternoon teachers will guide students from the classrooms to their assigned bus.  If a bus rider has a change in transportation, a note must be sent, signed by a parent.  If students do not bring a note about a transportation change, the student will have to go home using his/her normal mode of transportation.

    8. How do I contact my child's teacher or request a conference with my child's teacher?
    We encourage parents and teachers to establish communication early in the school year.  Teachers can be reached through e-mail, by telephone, and during their planning periods.  If your child's teacher is unavailable you can leave a voicemail and he/she will return your call as soon as possible.  We value your child's instructional time and we ask your consideration during class time. 

    9. What do I do when my child is absent from school?
    If your child's absence is medically related, please send a doctor's excuse on the day your child returns to school.  For other absences, please send a note to school containing your child's name, the date of the absence, and the reason for the absence. If you are emailing about an absence, please include Mrs. Hatzenbuehler (MHatzenbuehler@rhmail.org) 

    10. What school supplies will my child need?
    There is a standard district supply list for each grade level.  Please refer to that list.  Please note that rolling backpacks are NOT allowed.

    11. Is there an after school program?
    Our district does have an after school program, The Be Great Academy (formerly Challenger).  If you are interested in receiving more information about this program you can visit the district webpage, here, or contact Lonzette Gunter, India Hook's Challenger Director.

    12. I want my child to buy lunch in the cafeteria, how do I pay for school lunch?
    You can send a check to school each day or each week to pay for your child's lunch, or you can set up a Meal PayPlus account and make online payments into your child's lunch account.  For more information on lunch menus and , you can go visit the District's Food Service page.  A student lunch costs $2.20.

    13. May I visit the school?
    Parents are welcome to visit India Hook!  We ask the following guidelines are followed: 1) All visitors must sign in at the front office.  2)Conferences should be set up in advance with your child's teacher or with the principal.  Please do not come to the school without an appointment and expect a conference with a teacher.  3) If you want to visit your child's classroom, please make prior arrangements with the teacher. 4) You may come eat lunch with your child on Fridays.  We have tables set up on our stage where parents and their student(s) can enjoy lunch together.

    14. Who do I call when I can't find an answer to my questions?
    Feel free to call our main office phone #, 803-985-1600, for any needed information.  If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

    15. Can you explain excused/unexcused absences and tardies?
    Each child is expected to be at school each day.  However, we know that from time to time students will not be able to make it to school.  When a child returns to school from an absence, the child should bring a note explaining the absence.  If the child was out due to a doctor vist, please ask the doctor for an absence note.  Parents are allowed to write excuse notes for up to 5 absences.  After 5 parent notes, there has to be a medical note for the absence to be excused.  Tardies are never excused unless you have a medical note.  If your child is tardy, please remember that you must come into the school to sign-in your child.