Daily Schedules & Expectations

The elementary student school day hours are from 8:45 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. The first bell rings at 8:35 am and the second bell rings at 8:45 am, at which time students are to be in the classroom ready for the day.

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:20 a.m. when playground supervision begins, as well as the breakfast program. If students wish to eat breakfast at school, they should stay in the cafeteria to eat first and then go out to the playground, if time permits.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are reminded to help ensure their students are dressed appropriately for the
weather. Students will always line up outside before school if weather permits, meaning it is not raining or the temperature (with the windchill) is not below zero degrees. If students ride the bus to school, they should be dressed and ready to proceed outside as soon as they arrive at school.

Menus, Lunch Times, Procedures & More

25-26 Lunch & Recess Times

McDILL LUNCH & RECESS SCHEDULE

KINDERGARTEN **RECESS** - 11:35 - 12:20 pm

KINDERGARTEN LUNCH - 12:20 - 12:45 pm
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1st GR LUNCH - 12:40 - 1:05 pm

1st GR RECESS - 1:05 - 1:50 pm
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2nd GR LUNCH - 12:50 - 1:15 pm

2nd GR RECESS - 1:15 - 1:40 pm
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3rd GR LUNCH - 11:25 - 11:50 am

3rd GR RECESS - 11:50 - 12:15 pm
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4th GR LUNCH - 11:20 - 11:45 pm

4th GR RECESS - 11:45 - 12:10 pm
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5th GR LUNCH - 11:50 - 12:15 pm

5th GR RECESS - 12:15 - 12:40 pm
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6th GR LUNCH - 11:55 - 12:20 pm

6th GR RECESS - 12:20 - 12:45 pm

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Lunch & Breakfast Menus

Drop-Off / Pick-Up Instructions

McDILL PROCEDURES for the DROP OFF and PICK UP OF STUDENTS (2025-26)

Parents/guardians/caregivers are to use the Turn-Around area ONLY to drop students off before school and pick students up after school. School Street is only to be used by those families with a 4K student.

Arrival Procedures

*Students should NOT be dropped off prior to 8:20 am when staff supervision begins.*

Vehicles should enter the parking lot and remain in a single file line the entire time.
The curb lane is the only lane that should be used for unloading. Drivers should continue to move forward, keeping the line moving.
Adults should remain in the vehicle and have children always exit on the curb side. Starting goodbyes before getting to the curb helps to keep the line moving efficiently.
Students are to enter the building through the cafeteria entryway and make their way through the building to the playground. Parents should not enter the building here.
After all children are out of the vehicle, drivers should wait until the vehicle in front of them moves forward to exit. There should be no passing or pulling out of line!
Upon exiting the parking lot, vehicles will be required to turn right onto School St.
Students on the playground will re-enter the school via the playground doors when the first bell rings at 8:35 am.
If students arrive after the cafeteria doors are locked or the 8:45 am bell has rung, an adult needs to sign the child into school in the office via the front doors.

Walkers & Bikers:

Students who walk or bike to school should not be getting to school before 8:20 am.
Students will not be able to walk through the parking lot to get to the playground. Since the bike racks are located near the back of the playground inside the gate off of Airline Road, all bikers should enter the gate to the playground off that road.

Bus Riders:

Students will be dropped off around 8:20 am. Buses will pull up on Elm Street and drop off students on the sidewalk which leads to Door #5. Students will enter the building through Door #5 and exit through Door #8 to go to the playground. We will have staff outside and inside the building to help students get in and out of the correct doors.

Dismissal (3:35 pm) Procedures

We strongly encourage parents to have a plan for which vehicle will be picking up your child(ren). Vehicle identification is an important part of the pick-up process. Placing a sign in your window with your child’s name and grade is extremely helpful.
Parents/guardians/caregivers should remain in the vehicle and have children always get in on the curb side. Vehicles need to stay in a single-file line the entire time.
After students are dismissed, vehicles are not allowed to park in the pick-up lane to wait for a child. If the student(s) is(are) not in view when approaching the front of the pick-up area, parents will be asked to exit the area and re-enter the line, thereby allowing the traffic flow to continue.
Upon exiting the parking lot, vehicles will be required to turn right onto School St.
Since the buses will be picking students up on Elm Street, we ask that vehicles DO NOT turn right at the intersection of School Street and Elm Street.

Walkers & Bikers:

Students will be dismissed at 3:35 pm. Parents waiting for their child can wait by the pavilion on the playground. Students who are biking should not ride their bike until they reach Airline Road.

Bus Riders:

Students will remain in their classroom until their bus # appears on the Smartboard, which will be no sooner than 3:40 pm. At that time, they will be lined up in the building before boarding the buses at 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm and will exit out Door #5.

Safety Precautions For All Vehicle Areas

When leaving the parking lot, please turn right onto School Street, unless you are instructed to re-enter the queue line

Reminder, it is not permissible to drop students off on Elm Street or School Street (unless in 4K)
Cautious driving is necessary at all times. Adults should refrain from cell phone use and adhere to the speed limit and follow signs.
Adults will not be allowed to park across from the school on Beech Street and walk across School Street. Walking between oncoming traffic is very unsafe, even with parent assistance.

Instructions for Drop Off & Pick Up DURING SCHOOL HOURS:

Adults bringing students in after 8:45 am or picking up students before 3:35 pm will NEED to park their vehicle and come into school to sign the students IN or OUT.

Please do not just send your child up to the door alone!

PLEASE SHARE THESE INSTRUCTIONS WITH ANYONE WHO MAY BE DROPPING OFF OR PICKING UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR! Again, we thank you for your cooperation and ask that you contact us if you have concerns regarding these procedures.

McDill Elementary School
(715) 345-5420

Instructions as of August 21st, 2025

Before & After School Childcare

YMCA Great Escape Program (Onsite)

YMCA before and after school child care programs are available onsite at eight of our elementary schools (Bannach, Jefferson, Madison, McDill, McKinley, Plover-Whiting, Roosevelt, and Washington). YMCA Great Escape is Wisconsin State Licensed and Young Star Accredited. Financial assistance and Wisconsin Shares Child Care Assistance is available. Click here for information regarding school-aged care through the YMCA.

Boys & Girls Club Program (1st-6th Grade)

Schierl Center, Plover

For more information, please contact the BGC at 715-295-0040

Cell Phone Use Policy

As we begin the new school year, we want to share important information about our efforts to reinforce existing expectations for cell phones, smart devices and personal communication devices.

Over the past several months, our administration has collaborated with building leaders to stress the importance of adhering to these established expectations, which are designed to support a safe and effective learning environment.

Here’s a reminder of the guidelines currently in place:

Cellphones, smart devices and personal communication devices are to be turned off and stored outside the classroom during the school day.

Below are the steps we will take if a student has their cell phone, smart devices and/or personal communication devices with them during the day.

First Misuse: The student will receive a warning, and family will be contacted.

Additional Misuse: The student will be required to turn over their phone, and a parent will be notified to come and pick it up from the office.

*Special circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

To ensure these expectations are being effectively enforced, we will closely monitor several key data points throughout the 2025-2026 school year:

Student Data (Quantitative):

Reduction in the number of bullying/harassment incidents involving cell phones and social media.
Improved progress toward academic goals.
Reduction in off-task behaviors related to cell phones and social media.

Our goal is to create a more focused and positive learning environment for all students. We believe that with consistent enforcement of these expectations, we can achieve that goal. Your support in reinforcing these guidelines at home is invaluable, and we appreciate your partnership as we work together to make this school year a success.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your building administrators.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a successful school year for all students.

Cole Irish

McDill Principal

Recess Expectations

Be Responsible

Dress appropriately for the weather

Line up when the whistle is blown

Be Respectful

Follow directions given by adults

Demonstrate good sportsmanship and use positive language

Be Safe

Stay in designated play areas

Do not take food/candy outside during recess

Use playground equipment in a safe manner

Do not play tag on or jump from the equipment

Play football, soccer and kickball in the field only

Student Expectations for Cold Weather

McDill Expectations for Cool Weather

(Updated 10/15/24)

Parents/Guardians: As temperatures start to grow colder and the possibility of snow is right around the corner, heavier/winter clothing items are needed for going outside. We are fortunate that our school has received donations of items over the years to lend out to students; however, we do not have enough for everyone and recess time is lost while they look for warm items to wear.

If you could please ensure that your child has these necessary items each day, it would be helpful and very much appreciated! Lastly, it is always a good idea to pack extra socks, undergarments and even pants so your child can remain comfortably dry and warm after recess. Often students end up with wet clothing just from the wet equipment.

If your family is in need of assistance with outerwear, please do not hesitate to contact our school counselor, Mrs. Kristen Jensen at 715-345-5420 (Voicemail ext. 70602) or email.

Temperature-Based Requirements

40-50 Degrees: At the minimum, students will be required to wear long sleeves
< 40 Degrees: Students need a warm coat or winter jacket.

Minimal Expectations (When Snow Arrives & Remains on the Ground)

Hats/Mittens: KN - 6th - Needed each day
Winter Coat: KN - 6th - Needed each day
Snow Boots: Grades K-2 - Needed each day
Grades 3-6 - Needed when leaving the blacktop area
Snow Pants: Grades K-2 - Needed each day
Grades 3-6 - Needed when leaving the blacktop area

As a school staff, we will continue to encourage all students to follow the above cool weather expectations. However, we also expect students to make informed choices about what they wear outside. Many students, particularly in grades 4,5 and 6, choose to wear tennis shoes and/or want to go outside without hats, gloves and warm jackets. Please help us keep your child warm and comfortable outside (and inside after recess, as well) by discussing these cool weather expectations with them at home. It is important for students to realize that there may be different expectations at school compared to those at home. Thank you for supporting the efforts of the school staff as they try to enforce consistent guidelines for the well being of our students.

Winter Playground Expectations

McDill Winter Playground Expectations

(Updated 11-12-2024)

Playground Expectations:

Snow is shared throughout the school day.
Be respectful of others by not throwing snowballs or destroying other peoples snow creations during your assigned recess time.
Shoveled areas will stay clear of snow.
(Snow shouldn’t be kicked or placed on the blacktop)
Students will stay clear of icy areas. (This includes equipment)
Continue following all normal playground safety expectations.
Snow hills open unless the cones are out. (Cones mean the hills are closed)
Students will wear “The Big 5” in order to participate in “winter” activities.

Sledding Expectations:

Only school sleds are allowed.
One person on each sled.
Students must be seated on sleds, facing forward.

(Not allowed: Going head first, standing, kneeling, sliding backwards,
running and jumping on sleds)

Keep arms and legs inside sled to avoid injuries.
Students wait until the hill is clear of people and sleds before going down the hill.
At the bottom of the hill, get off sled immediately and walk up to the outside.
Nicely hand sleds to the next person waiting in line.
Return and stack sleds neatly when finished sledding.