Thank you! School also confirmed what was said above. 1st bell is just a signal for students in cafeteria or playing outside to get into class rooms.

I think it means students can go to their classrooms, from the gym or cafeteria or wherever they collect in the morning. If the start time is 8:45, that should be when they are in their desks ready for school. Ask them if they have enough time to hang up their backpack, and get settled - if not maybe go a few minutes earlier, so they can go to the classroom as early as allowed.

Ours is similar to the pp. School starts at 8:40. First bell at 8:30 releases kids from cafeteria (no breakfast so all kids inside are there) to go to classrooms. If kids are playing outside, this signals for them to go inside. 2nd bell 8:40 is the "school has started"/tardy bell.

My FCPS school also begins at 8:45am.

8:20am--Bell to let students in the school building. Kiss and Ride begins. Kids eating breakfast go to cafeteria. All others go sit in the gym

8:30am--Bell to release all students to the classrooms

8:45am--Bell to signal start of school. You are tardy if you walk in after this bell.

I think you should ask the school. I doubt there is one universal answer to this question.

ES bell schedule has a start time of 8:45 AM, but the 1st bell rings about 8:38 AM. We are only about 10 min walk so I drop DC usually between 8:35 to 8:40 AM. Should we go before the 1st bell rings?

No one brought this up as an issue and I see kinds still walking slowly into school at that time but wanted to find out what the 1st bell means and if we would plan to have DC in before the 1st bell.

Thanks!