At Life Academy, the safety and well-being of every scholar is our highest priority. To maintain a secure and orderly environment, all families must adhere to the procedures outlined below.

These guidelines are designed to protect students, support efficient traffic flow, and ensure that every child arrives and departs safely each day.

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Arrival Procedures

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Carpool Arrival (7:30 AM – 8:00 AM)

Scholars arriving by car must be dropped off through the designated carpool lanes assigned to their grade level. Please pull forward and allow your child to exit on the side closest to the cafeteria/gym entrance. Faculty and staff will be on duty to assist and ensure safe student arrival.

For safety reasons, do not drop scholars at the front entrance before 8:00 AM.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. Classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:00 AM.
Please ensure your scholar arrives early enough if they plan to eat breakfast at school.

Check-Ins

A scholar is considered tardy at 8:15 AM.
If arriving at or after 8:15 AM, a parent or guardian must come inside to sign the scholar in. After 10:00 AM, a doctor’s excuse is required for check-ins.

Please note: Three unexcused tardies equal one unexcused absence.

Parking Reminders

To support a safe and organized school environment, we kindly ask all parents and visitors to use the designated parking spots for visitor parking spaces or any available parking space near the school when attending meetings or visiting the campus.

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Please do not park in front of the school at any time. The front area must remain clear to ensure safe and efficient student arrival and dismissal, unobstructed access for emergency vehicles, and proper traffic flow in front of the building.

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Dismissal Procedures

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Check-Outs

Scholars may only be checked out by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult listed on the registration card. A valid photo ID is required.
There are no check-outs after 2:00 PM.

Car Rider Dismissal

All car riders must use the carpool lanes. Parents and guardians must remain inside their vehicles at all times. Faculty and staff will assist scholars during dismissal. Please remind your scholar to listen for their name and move promptly when called.

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Dismissal ends daily at 3:30 PM. Families must ensure scholars are picked up by this time. If an unavoidable delay occurs, please notify your child’s teacher so proper supervision can be provided. After three late pickups without prior notification, further action may be required.

Safety Reminder — No Street Crossing

Under no circumstances may scholars meet parents at the gate, on the sidewalk, or across the street.

This rule exists to protect students from the danger of being struck by a moving vehicle. Traffic in the area is often heavy during arrival and dismissal times, and allowing students to cross the street or wait outside supervised areas creates a serious safety hazard. All scholars must be picked up through the official carpool process.

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Families with Elementary & Middle School Scholars

If you have children in both elementary and middle school, they will be picked up through the Hill Street Carpool. Thank you for helping us keep our scholars safe by following all procedures.

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Bus Riders

Bus riders will be dismissed first by bus number. Scholars load buses at the gate in front of the gym, with faculty and staff present to supervise. Please review bus safety expectations with your child and refer to the Life Academy Student Handbook for additional rules and regulations.

Life Academy will implement a new cell phone and personal device policy in alignment with the FOCUS Act (House Bill 166), signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey on May 14, 2025. This state law mandates that all public schools in Alabama restrict student cell phone use during instructional hours to reduce distractions and support student safety and academic performance.

The law requires that all phones be powered off and stored away from students during the school day unless authorized by administration for instructional purposes, emergencies, or as part of an IEP or documented medical need. As a result, Life Academy will enforce the following procedures beginning with the 2025–2026 school year:

Grades 4–8 students will be required to secure their cellphones in a Yondr pouch upon arrival to campus. Yondr pouches will be sold through the school for $20.00. If the pouch is lost or damaged, the student will be responsible for purchasing a replacement.

Grades K–3 students who bring a cellphone must turn it in to their teacher at the start of the school day. Phones will be stored securely and returned at dismissal. Students in any grade are not permitted to access or use their phones during the school day without direct permission from school administration.

Failure to follow these procedures will result in disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Life Academy Student and Family Handbook and the School Board Policy.

If a parent or guardian is unavoidably delayed and cannot pick up the child on time, the school will contact the designated emergency contacts or initiate appropriate procedures to ensure the safety and care of the student until a responsible adult arrives. After three late pick-ups or a pick-up later than 15 minutes after dismissal, MPD and DHR will be notified.

At the end of the school day, students will be dismissed from their classrooms or assigned dismissal areas. Teachers or staff will ensure that students are handed over only to authorized individuals.

Parents or guardians are responsible for dropping off their children at the designated drop-off areas. Parents must adhere to the directive of staff regarding drop off and pick up. Parents may be asked to find alternative transportation if rules are not followed. BEFORE 8:15 A.M., School staff and/or volunteers will be present to assist students in safely exiting vehicles and entering the school building. If a student is checked-in after 8:15, the parent or guardian must sign the student in at the front office.​​​​

Parents or authorized guardians must provide a list of individuals allowed to pick up their children. Anyone not listed on the authorization form will not be permitted to check out the student unless prior arrangements have been made with the school.

When picking up a child before regular dismissal time, parents or authorized individuals must sign out the student at the main office BEFORE 12:30 P.M. A valid ID may be required for verification.