Parent & PTA Information  → Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

    Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

    Car Riders

    Highland staff members are present outside during student arrival and dismissal to insure the safety of students.  When dropping off or picking up students, please follow the directions of Montgomery County Crossing Guards and Highland staff members.  Please reduce your speed and wait for a staff member to assist you in picking up or dropping off your child in the student car rider driveway. We appreciate your cooperation and flexibility during arrival and dismissal of students.

    Snow Days/Emergency Closings

    Winter weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may cause disruptions in school operations,

    including the closure of school, a delayed opening or an early dismissal. The procedures used to address winter weather emergencies are consistent among all schools.

    A weather contingency plan is in effect that will add student instructional days to the end of the scheduled school year and subtract days from spring break if schools are closed for more than five days due to excessive weather emergencies.  We will continue to update parents as the Montgomery County Public Schools finalizes the schedule for making up instructional days lost due to emergency weather closings this year.

    Public Announcements

    Information about school operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on local radio and television stations and other media including the Internet:
    Schools-Out.com on the Internet
    MCPS Telephone information service at 301-279-3673
    MCPS Public Access Channel 34
    Local radio and television stations
    If schools are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no later than 6:00 a.m. (or the night before if possible). If schools are closing early, the announcements are made by 11:00 a.m.

    Closure of School

    When schools are closed systemwide, all instructional programs and extracurricular activities in schools are canceled. Private day care providers in school buildings may elect to stay open if the facility and the central administrative offices are open. In extreme conditions, central administrative offices also may be closed.

    Delayed Opening       11:00 a.m.

    A delayed opening means that schools open two hours later than scheduled. 

    Early Dismissal         12:55 p.m.

    An early dismissal means that schools will close 2.5 hours earlier than scheduled.