Policies
School Uniform
The School District of Philadelphia requires all students to wear uniforms to school. Students are expected to follow their school’s dress code so that their appearance does not cause a disturbance, distract or interfere with the instructional program, or constitute a health or safety hazard. A student’s clothing should fit appropriately and meet the guidelines indicated below.
Grades K-5:
Tops: Solid color Navy or White polo shirts (with collar – no logos other than Dobson Logo)
Bottoms: Solid color Khaki or Navy (No jeans or leggings. Jogging/sweatpants only on physical education days)
Jumpers and skirts are also acceptable in the required color combination.
Knee-length shorts of the appropriate color are also acceptable during warm weather.
Grades 6-8:
Tops: Solid Color Maroon/Burgundy or Navy polo shirts (with collar – no logos other than Dobson Logo)
Bottoms: Solid Color Khaki or Navy or Black (No jeans or leggings)
Jumpers and skirts are also acceptable in the required color combination.
Knee-length shorts of the appropriate color are also acceptable during warm weather.
Physical Education Uniform:
Tops – Students may wear plain white or any navy Dobson t-shirts.
Bottoms – Navy Sweatpants/jogging pants or Navy shorts
Any Dobson Athletic t-shirt is acceptable on gym days.
Sneakers – Sneakers must be worn for gym.
Uniform Reminders & Notes:
No jeans, leggings, hats or hoodies.
Jogging pants are only allowed on designated physical education days.
Undershirts are not to be worn alone.
No tee-shirts, unless it is a Dobson School Shirt.
Students must wear closed-toe shoes/sneakers at all times.
When weather indicates a need for particularly warm clothing, sweaters and/or sweatshirts must be solid navy.
Uniform clothing items with our signature Dobson Logo will be available for optional purchase! Information will be sent home at the beginning of the school year.
Early Dismissal
All early dismissals must be initiated in the Main Office. Photo ID must be presented when signing out a student. Only the parent or an adult listed on the emergency contact form on file in the office will be granted access to the student.
PARENTS may NOT go to classrooms to pick up children. Please note that early dismissals will not be granted after 3:15 PM.
Attendance
Need to submit an absence note? For your convenience you can now fill out this Dobson School Absence Note Google form.
When a student is absent from school there are three methods of sending in an excuse note: email to miccohen@philasd.org; a handwritten note to school; or complete the Google form.
Note: Text/Dojo messages to the teacher are no longer accepted as excuse notes.
Please submit the absence excuse at the end of your child’s absence period (i.e. if your child is absent from school Monday and Tuesday, send your email, note, or completed form on Wednesday for both days). Absences will be treated as unexcused until the school receives the written excuse explaining the absence, to be submitted within three (3) days of the absence.
When a student is absent for 3 or more consecutive school days due to illness, a doctor’s note must be submitted in order for the absences to be marked as excused. Doctor’s notes can be uploaded to the Google form.
Notes do NOT guarantee an excusal. The reason given for the absence must match an accepted reason code within the district’s attendance policy: personal illness, an appointment with a medical professional, religious holiday. All other reasons must be approved by the principal. For example, family trips are not an accepted reason for missing school.
Parent/Guardian notes are only acceptable for 8 sickness occurrences in one school year (i.e. if your child is absent Monday and Tuesday consecutively it equals one occurrence. Subsequent absences of any length for sickness will only be marked excused with a doctor’s note.
If a student arrives at school after 11:00am, it will be marked as a half-day absence and a note must be provided. If a student is picked up from school before 1:39pm, it will be marked as a half-day absence. If they are picked up before 11:00am it will be marked as a full day’s absence which will only be excused with a note. If a student is picked up between 1:40pm and 3:15pm, it will be marked as an early dismissal and a note is also required.
If the nurse calls you to pick up your child due to illness, a doctor’s note is not required for the excusal or early dismissal of that school day. However, the nurse may request a doctor’s note for the student to return to school.
When a student reaches 3 unexcused absences, an auto-generated letter is sent home as a notice. Dates of absences are listed on the letter.
When a student reaches 5-8 unexcused absences, the school attendance team will contact the family in order to set up a conference and create a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP). Students who reach 10 or more unexcused absences in a school year will be referred to truancy court.
Remember: Regular attendance is essential to a student’s success in school. If a student is not present in school, they are not present for their teacher’s instruction.
Strive for 95% of days in attendance. That equals 8 days missed per school year.
Classroom Visits
Dobson believes families are partners in their student’s success. Family members are welcome at the school, but those interested in visiting their students’ classroom must be authorized prior to their visit. Once arranged, the principal or a designee will accompany the family member to the classroom for a short stay to ensure minimal disruption. Thank you for your cooperation.
Student Expectations
Dobson students care for their community. They act with:
- Respect
- Empathy
- Integrity
Positive Behavior Incentive Systems (PBIS)
Teachers at Dobson use PBIS to encourage and reinforce the habits we want students to learn. Teachers work together to plan special events (trips, Fun Fridays, celebrations) for students that earn the privilege of participating. Opportunities often allow students to explore Philadelphia, such as through trips to the Zoo, Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, Independence Historic Park, and more. The special events themselves will be opportunities for students to socialize, have fun, and celebrate their accomplishments.
Expectations for earning those privileges are communicated to students and families, and regular updates on student progress toward those goals are also given. Families can expect frequent communication with teachers through Class Dojo.
Electronic Devices
Dobson strongly discourages students from bringing cell phones and other electronics to school.
THE SCHOOL WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST, DAMAGED, OR STOLEN DEVICES.
Only materials related to a student’s education should be brought to school. A phone is available in the main office for students if an emergency should arise and students need to call home. Families can also reach a student with any urgent message by contacting the school’s main office. They should NOT contact their student directly via the child’s phone during the school day.