August 14, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Welcome all to the 2024-2025 school year as we COMMIT, INSPIRE and LEAD our students academically, athletically and spiritually! It is my pleasure to open Glades Day School’s 59th year of school! We had a perfectly successful day of school. We are excited to welcome 72 new students and their families to our campus. It is our mission to help every child feel connected, welcomed and part of the Gator family! 

We hope that you find the school website, App and FACTS SIS resources helpful and informative where the Student Handbook, daily announcements, the school calendar, grades and much more can be found. Additionally, for more school news, you can follow us on Facebook, and Instagram (Facebook- Glades Day School, Instagram- @gladesdayschoolgators). All engagement platforms can be found on page 12 of the Student Handbook.

For the safety of our students, faculty and staff, please read and adhere to the following procedures:

• Parents of students in PK3 and PK4 must sign their student(s) in and out of school daily. 
• At 8:00 am, all classroom doors are locked and parents are kindly asked to exit the buildings. After 8:00 am, ALL guests MUST report to the school’s Main Office (west side of the courtyard). 
• Please drive slowly and carefully throughout campus, and when entering the entrance gate (west) and exiting the exit gate (east). Park only in designated parking spots and cross only at designated crosswalks. 
• Students are to be dropped off and picked up in front of their division: K5 - 5th Grade- Lower School Building, 6th - 8th Grade- Middle School Hallway and 9th - 12th Grade- Upper School Hallway. Students are to exit and enter their vehicles on the passenger side only.  
• During pick-up, Lower School students will be escorted and placed in the backseat on the passenger side of the vehicle. 
• All persons picking up a child from school MUST be listed on FACTS SIS and show identification upon request.  
• The back of the school is closed to traffic before and immediately after school. 
• If your child is riding the Activity Bus, they must sign up in the Main Office by 1:00 pm each day.  
• Students who are not participating in an afterschool program must be picked up at dismissal.
• We kindly request your support in ensuring that your child is in daily attendance at school and arrives each day on time and in the proper dress code. This includes proper uniform attire and physical appearance. The attendance policy can be found on page 26 of the Student Handbook and the dress code/uniform policy can be found on page 53.  

As parents and guardians, your positive partnership with the school is vital for the success of your child. We encourage you to openly communicate with your child’s teacher(s) and to volunteer your time when opportunities arise. Please look for communications we send out regarding upcoming volunteer opportunities. 

In closing, I am proud of the vibrant and positive energy on campus as we start our school year. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated faculty, our engaged students and our supportive parents for starting this school year so successfully. It is my privilege to serve my alma mater as the Head of School, and I pray that we continue to foster an environment where students thrive, friendships deepen and legacies and traditions continue.