August 4, 2026 (reposted without edits from August 17, 2025)
Need help finding your child’s classroom assignment for the new year? Find our step-by-step guide here!
As you get into the rhythm of the new school year, here are some helpful tips for new families (and reminders for returning families) on daily routines:
Morning Admission
- The school yard gates open daily at 8:30 am. Please enter the school yard through the open gates on 5th Street or Fitzwater Street. For everyone’s safety, please do not walk through the staff parking lot on Monroe Street.
- If your child would like to have school breakfast, they may enter through the main door on 5th Street beginning at 8:15 am and go down to the cafeteria on the lower level. Breakfast may be brought out to the school yard beginning at 8:30.
- At 8:40 am, when the first bell rings, students should be lined up by class or home room. Signs are posted on the fences indicating where each class should line up, and this location remains the same daily. For reference: kindergarten lines up closest to 5th Street, near the side doors; 1st grade lines up by the Fitzwater Street doors; 4th grade lines up outside the modular classrooms. School begins promptly at 8:45 am.
- In case of inclement weather, students should be dropped off at the main door at 5th Street for indoor admission, instead of through the school yard. On these days, grades K-5 should report to the auditorium, and grades 6-8 should report to the cafeteria.
Afternoon Dismissal
Students are dismissed on a staggered schedule at the end of each school day. Parents and caregivers should enter through the school yard gates and be on time to pick up students.
- Grades K-2 are dismissed at 3:15 pm (12:15 pm on half days).
- Grades 3-5 are dismissed at 3:20 pm (12:20 pm on half days).
- Grades 6-8 are dismissed at 3:24 pm (12:24 pm on half days).
Meals & Snacks
- Meredith offers free breakfast and lunch daily through the School District of Philadelphia’s Food Services program. Menus are available online or through the Nutrislice app.
- If you are packing a lunch to send in, please keep in mind that Meredith does not have the ability to refrigerate and/ or heat lunch. Students take their lunch bags out of their backpacks at the start of the school day and bring them to the cafeteria at lunch time.
- Your child’s health is a priority. If you need more information on how we ensure safety for children with food allergies, please reach out to Principal Brevard. For students with severe allergies or those who require an epi pen, please make sure you submit the appropriate forms to the office. This information is shared with all those who support your student, including the climate staff at lunch time.
- Students in grades K-3 also have daily snack time. Please be sure to pack a snack every day as well as a reusable water bottle so kids can stay hydrated.