Skip To Main Content

Parents

Welcome Oakland Parents and Prospective Oakland Parents! 

We want to provide you with easy access to important information.  We're working to tidy up our new website to make everything accessible.  We appreciate your patience while we update and make new information clear and easy to reach!

8:05 - Bell rings for students to enter the building 

8:30 - Late bell rings

3:05 - Dismissal begins

3:30 - Dismissal ends (students should be picked up by this time)

4:30- School office closes

Attendance Information

  • Parents/guardians have the responsibility to ensure that all school-age children in their care are in school and on time every day.
  • Students have the responsibility to be on time and attend all classes. Students are expected to attend school 180 days.
  • Students who are absent for three consecutive days or five non-consecutive days are considered truant. An intervention plan may be developed to prevent further truancy. 
  • Parents and guardians should send in notes for absences.  You may use the template linked here or bring in a doctor's excuse note.
  • Please note that only ten days of absences may be excused by parent note.  
  • Parent notes will only excuse a medical or illness absence. Other reasons for absences will not be excused. 
  • Travel and vacation are not an excused absence. 

Here are some printable excuse notes for your convenience:

Please contact Karen Harker with questions about attendance and truancy. 

Karen_Harker@charleston.k12.sc.us

Dress Code Information

Attention: 2024-2025 school year - NO HOODED SWEATSHIRTS ALLOWED
This policy was added during the 2023-2024 school year and is still in effect.

Pants, shorts, skirts, and jumpers: Solid khaki or navy blue. Black or brown belt must be worn with items with belt loops. Over-sized pants or over-sized shorts are not permitted. Short shorts or short skirts are not permitted. Cargo pants, painter pants, or bibbed overalls are not permitted. 

Polo type shirts, turtlenecks, mock turtlenecks, dress shirts, and blouses: Any shade of blue or white shirts only. Shirts may be short sleeved or long sleeved. No tank tops are permitted at any time. SHIRTS MUST BE TUCKED IN AT ALL TIMES. 

Shoes: Should be closed-toed and closed-heeled. Sneakers must be tied or velcroed. Socks/tights must be worn. Sandals, clogs, flip-flops, bedroom slippers, high heels, or beach shoes are not permitted.  It is important to send students to school with shoes that can be worn safely for active play. Crocs and Croc-type shoes are not safe for PE!

Sweaters or sweatshirts: White or any shade of blue sweaters/sweatshirts are permitted. NO LOGOS. Sweaters may be pullover or cardigan. Hoods are not permitted on sweatshirts at Oakland.  All Oakland T-shirts and sweatshirts may be worn as part of the school uniform. 

Additionally, students lose jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts throughout the school year.  Please check with your student to make sure they are bringing their jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts home! 

Oakland Logo apparel is available through our PTO Website: https://www.oaklandorcaspto.com

Oakland Elementary FAQs

  • What time does school begin and end?
    • Students may enter the building at 8:05.  Students who are not in class by 8:30 are marked tardy.  Dismissal begins at 3:05PM.
  • What is the earliest I can drop my child off at school?
    • Our school doors open at 8:05am. Students may not be left unattended prior to the 8:05 am bell.
  • What should I do if my child arrives to school late?
    • If you are dropping your child off after 8:30am, you must come into the front office to sign your child in.
  • Where should 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 and will enter the exterior door closest to their classroom. (CD/K enter through the doors closest to the bus loop; 1st/2nd enter through the front doors; 3rd/4th/5th enter at the door on the left corner of the building). During drop-off, students should only be dropped off in the lane closest to the sidewalk.  Students should exit their cars on the sidewalk side of the car.  Please follow the directions of our 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 assigned a car number, and parents must purchase car rider tags to be displayed in the front of the vehicle (hung from the rear view mirror).  The number tag will need to be visible to staff during the entire pick-up process. If you do not have your card number tag with you then you must park your car and go inside to get your student from the front office. During afternoon pick up there is one lane of cars.  Teachers will be outside to direct students to cars. Please stay in your car during dismissal. Students will have the corresponding car number tag on their book bag in order to ensure that students are leaving with an approved person.
    • During the first month of school you should be prepared for delays in the car rider line. It takes a few weeks for families and students to get into a routine, and it takes our staff extra time in the beginning as we get to know students and parents and to ensure that all students are dismissed safely.
  • What if a designated person other than a parent is picking up my child?
    • Anytime there is a transportation change, parents must notify their child's teacher of the change in transportation.  You must write a note to each of your children’s teachers notifying them of the change. Changes in transportation will not be accepted over the phone. If teachers are not notified in advance of a transportation change, the student will follow their regular dismissal procedure. 
  • 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. You must bring a photo ID each time you enter the office. We cannot sign your child out without a photo ID and you cannot enter the building without a photo ID.  It is helpful to notify your child's teacher via note or e-mail that your child will be leaving early. Signing your child out early is highly discouraged except in the case of emergencies or appointments. Sign-outs will not be permitted after 2:30 pm each day.
  • 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 check at CCSDSCHOOLS.COM under transportation for bus information. You can also contact Mrs. Krisak for bus questions or concerns at 843-763-1510. 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 teachers are not notified in advance of a transportation change, a bus rider will follow their regular bus-rider dismissal. 
  • 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 for your consideration during class time. 
  • 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. Please see the attendance section for more information on excused/unexcused absences.
  • What school supplies will my child need?
    • ​​​​​​​There is a standard supply list for each grade level.  Please refer to that list. You can receive a copy at the school or view it online on our Facebook page and website.
  • Is there a before and after-school program?
    • ​​​​​​​Our school does have a before and after-school program, Kaleidoscope.  If you are interested in receiving more information about the Kaleidoscope program, you should reach out to Karron Griffin at karron_griffin@charleston.k12.sc.us.
  • I want my child to buy lunch in the cafeteria. How do I pay for school lunch?
    • ​​​​​​​All students attending Oakland receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.
  • Who do I call when I can't find an answer to my questions?
    • ​​​​​​​Feel free to call our main office phone, 843-763-1510, 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.
  • 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 is out due to a doctor's visit, 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 in to the front office to sign in your child.
  • What is the dress code?
    • At Oakland, all students are required to wear a blue or white collared shirt with no writing or embellishments or any designated Oakland T-Shirts. Students may wear navy or khaki bottoms. Jeans are not permitted except on “dress down” days as designated by the school. There are many opportunities for students to “dress down” during the school year. A message will be sent out prior to these times.
  • What do I do if I am having trouble with accessing student digital tools at home?

    • ​​​​​​​Students have access to all of their digital tools at home via Clever.  If you are having trouble, please visit our CCSD Digital Resources Support Page linked HERE. If you have a question regarding your child's device that you feel will best be answered by staff at the school, please contact your student's teacher in order to make an appointment.