FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels are at the Bates?

We proudly serve students in K0 though 5th grade.

What is inclusion?

Check out the Inclusion page of our website to learn more about the inclusion model. In 2018-2019, we are full inclusion through 4th grade. We will be full inclusion through 5th grade in Fall 2019.

What are school hours?

Our school hours are 9:30am to 4:10pm. Students may enter the building beginning at 9:15am, which is when we begin serving breakfast. Dismissal begins at 4:05pm.

Do you have before/after school care?

We proudly partner with the YMCA to provide on-site before and after school care for students ages 5 and up. Contact Amber Carrol, our site director, to learn more about enrolling your child . Space is limited! We offer before school care for students ages 4 and under in a program with Bates staff. There are 10 spaces available. Contact the school to learn more about enrolling your child.

What is your uniform?

We are flexible with our optional uniform as we understand the challenges that come with shopping for children. Our students can wear any white, navy, or light blue top (polos, dress shirts, t-shirts, etc) with a navy or khaki bottom (dresses, skirts, pants, shorts). Students should always wear closed-toe shoes. Every Friday is dress down day as long as the clothing is appropriate for school.

What enrichment/electives do you offer?

All Bates students have science, art, and PE. Our students in 4th and 5th grade have Spanish. We also partner with Making Music Matters to provide instrumental music to all students in grades 3-5.

The Bates is part of the “Excellence for All” program. What does that mean?

Prior to 2016-2017, the Bates offered the traditional Advanced Work Class to fourth graders who successfully tested into the program. This year, we are proud to be an “Excellence for All” school, which provides the same advanced, rigorous curriculum to every student in 4th and 5th grade. In the 4th grade, we have three heterogeneously grouped homerooms that travel between three teachers. Each teacher supports a particular subject area: Math, English Language Arts, and Writing/Social Studies. A fourth teacher floats between the three classrooms. The groupings are flexible, meaning a student may have a different schedule from his/her group or change groups to meet his/her particular needs. No group is labeled as “advanced.” You can learn more about our model and questions our parents had by clicking here. You can learn more about the “Excellence for All” initiative by visiting the Boston Public Schools website.

What about social-emotional learning?

We are so glad you asked! The Bates makes the social-emotional well-being and education of our students a top priority! All students at the Bates receive lessons in Social Thinking, a curriculum that develops their ability to take different perspectives and understand how their actions impact the thoughts and feelings of a group. We support students in following the group plan and provide productive, healthy ways for them to express themselves. We’ve received $30,000 in grants to support our innovative work from EdVestors.

I would like to volunteer in my child’s classroom. How can I get involved?

Great! Parent support is a key to success for all of our students! During the 2016-2017 school year the Bates community will be strengthening communication between home and school. To aid in this process, the Bates Parent Council will be reinstating the Class Parent program. Contact our parent coordinators to learn more about becoming a room parent and volunteering in classrooms.

What other opportunities are there to be involved as a parent?

Parents are essential to our work as a school! We value your input and need your support. Visit our parents page to learn more about how to be involved at the Bates.

When are school vacations and holidays?

You can view the school calendar on the Boston Public Schools website. We recognize that school is in session on some religious holidays, but all absences for those days are excused.

Where can I park when I visit the Bates?

During school hours, our parking lot is reserved for members of the Bates staff. For safety and pedestrian traffic, we do not permit parents to use the parking lot for dropping off in the morning or picking up in the afternoon. Outside of school hours, our parking lot is open to the public.

Can students use the playground before or after school?

Yes, but only if there is an adult supervising them. We ask that parents do not leave their children on the playground unsupervised, especially before school.