Frequently Asked Questions

Often, families have questions about their student or upcoming school events. While personal student questions should be directed to a child's teacher, sometimes parents raise questions where the answer might be helpful to the bigger Country Parkway community.

We created this page to answer those and other frequently asked questions! 

Frequently asked questions, or those that could serve a broader audience, will be added to this page throughout the school year.  If YOU have a question for the PTA, please email CountryPkwyPTA@gmail.com.

Here are some current Back-to-School FAQs:

Where can I find the most recent Eagle Eye and PTA Newsletter?

The Eagle Eye can be found here.

Where can I find the school cafeteria menu?

The Lunch Menu can be found here.

Where can I find the Country Parkway Family Handbook? 

A searchable Family Handbook can be found on our Family Handbook page or here .

Where can I find the school calendar?

The Curriculum Extension Calendar can be found here. 

The WCSD 2025-2026 School Calendar can be found here. 

The District Calendar & Handbook can be downloaded here. 

Please note that dates may change for PTA Events.  Stay up-to-date by checking our website. Also, stay informed by following us on Facebook and Instagram!

School Day - Start and End Time

8:30 am Doors open for children who are dropped off

8:45 am Bus doors open – Student Arrival

8:55 am School Begins

8:55 am – 2:50 pm Instructional Day

2:50 pm Dismissal for Bikers, Walkers, Pick-up

2:55 pm Bus Dismissal

3:10 pm Buses Depart

Please Note: Children should not be dropped off for school until 8:30 am when supervision is provided. Please arrange your child’s schedule so that she/he arrives after 8:30 am.

Dismissal -- Car Pick Up and Walker information as of Monday, September 29, 2025

If you are picking up your child, please use the carpool lane. Beginning Monday, September 29th, 2025, and every day thereafter, place your child’s name card (sent home Friday, September 26 on card stock) in the front window of your vehicle. If multiple individuals pick up your child, families are responsible for making their own copies of the name card. Please make sure to have your ID ready! We will be asking each car to provide ID upon arrival to the pick up lane. We thank you in advance for your help with keeping our students safe!

If your child is a walker, you must send a written note indicating that they are a walker in order for them to be released promptly at 2:55 p.m. All "confirmed" walkers will be automatically released by 2:55 p.m. each day. If a note is not provided, parents/guardians who are walking will need to wait until carpool dismissal is complete so that school staff can verify identification. Sending a note with your child is how you can avoid this delay.

For more information, please see Mr. Barnes' September 28, 2025 letter here.

What if my child is going to be late, absent, or their dismissal plans change? 

Click here to print a form for communicating absences and dismissal plans. Please also call the Attendance Office (716-626-9866) to notify the school of your child’s absence.  It is the parent’s responsibility to send a written note on the first day back after an absence.  This can be done by sending a WITS mail to the Attendance Office.

Peanut/Tree Nut Lunch or Snack

There are no restrictions on any peanut or tree nut products brought into the cafeteria.

If there is a child with a severe life threatening allergy, there are no Peanut and Tree nut products allowed to be consumed or distributed in the classroom - this includes snacks.  Lunches are not eaten in the class, hence there is no restriction from bringing nut products in for lunch.

Will my child have snack during the school day?

Families should check with their individual teacher if there is a snack scheduled for the class and if there are any restrictions.  Many classrooms, especially the older grades, do not have snack during the day.

Can my child get water during lunchtime?

Students should bring a personal/reusable water bottle to the cafeteria every day.  Water cups are not available this year.  Water bottles should be properly labeled with the child's name and classroom.  They can be refilled at the bottle refilling station outside the cafeteria.

My child lost his/her ____!  Where can I find it?

Kids are bound to lose an item or two during the school year.  No worries!  The lost and found is located in a nook across from the Health/Attendance Office.  Please be sure to label items (i.e., lunch boxes) with your child's name and classroom.  

Where can I learn more about fire drills and other safety drills?

You will receive WITS messages periodically during the year to notify you about upcoming fire and lockdown drills that will be taking place during the school day. Staff will be trained on these drills before they take place and are intended to keep all students in the school safe. For additional resources about school safety, please see the following (provided by Country Parkway staff on 9/8/2025):

• Talking to Your Children About Safety | Johns Hopkins Medicine

• School Safety During an Emergency or Crisis: What Parents Need to Know -HealthyChildren.org

• Talking To Kids About School Safety | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

• School Safety Drills - Sesame Workshop

Who are my Room Parents and how can I contact them?

Teachers are current choosing their room parents from the roster of volunteers. Teachers will then coordinate their respective room parents throughout the year. The PTA provides general assistance in the form of general school information. Once assigned, your room parent(s) will be reaching out to your class with volunteer opportunities and more information!

How do I add my information (or keep it private) to my classroom contact list and/or the student directory?

New this year, you can use this link to control how your information is provided to your classroom and Room Parents (for more information about room parents, see the question above). All information must be submitted by September 9, 2025!

You have three options for releasing your contact information to your classroom:

1. Option 1: Class Contact. You will share your info with the entire class to connect for playdates, birthdays. You will receive a class contact list with your information included. This means the entire class and the Room Parents will have your information. You will receive updates from the Room Parents about class activities and volunteer opportunities.

2. Option 2: Room Parent Only. This option shares your info only with the Room Parents for classroom communication. You will receive the class Contact List but your info will not be included. The Room Parent will have your information. You will receive updates from the Room Parents about class activities and volunteer opportunities.

3. Option 3: Do Not Share. This keeps your information private. Only the teacher will have your information. You will not receive a class contact list and you will receive updates only from your teacher.