School Policies
- School Hours
- School Visitation Policy
- Arrival and Dismissal
- Attendance
- Dress Expectations
- WGLA Behavior Expectations
School Hours
The Main Office is open for in-person and phone assistance during the following hours:
- Morning: 7:45 AM – 1:35 PM
- Afternoon: 2:35 PM – 3:00 PM
Please note: The Main Office is closed during dismissal from 1:35 PM to 2:35 PM.
Instructional Day
- Instructional Hours: 8:05 AM – 2:35 PM
Learning and teaching are our highest priorities. All wildflowers are expected to be in their first-period class on time and remain in school until the end of the instructional day. Wildflowers arriving after 8:05 AM must sign in at the Main Office.
During instructional hours, unscheduled classroom visits or direct calls to classrooms are not permitted. Please schedule any visits or calls in advance.
School Visitation Policy
We welcome visits from parents and guardians. To ensure the safety and security of all students:
- All visitors must check in at the security checkpoint, present valid identification, and sign in at the Main Office.
- Visits should be scheduled in advance and approved by the principal or designee.
- Meetings with school leadership can be arranged during office hours or by appointment, either in person or via Zoom.
Approved visits may include classroom observations, student assemblies, exhibits, and other school activities. However, visits must not disrupt instruction or school operations.
Please note:
- Students not enrolled at our school may not visit during school hours unless in an emergency and with prior approval.
- Unauthorized individuals are not permitted on school grounds. The principal is authorized to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
- Visitors who do not follow these guidelines or whose presence disrupts the educational environment may have their visitation privileges restricted and may be subject to legal action.
Arrival and Dismissal
Student Arrival & Drop-Off Procedures
Doors Open: 7:45 AM
Breakfast: 7:45 AM – 8:05 AM
Instruction Begins: 8:05 AM
To ensure a safe and smooth start to the school day, please review the following procedures:
Arrival Guidelines
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Wildflowers should arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM, as staff supervision is not available before this time.
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All students, parents/caregivers, and visitors must follow security checkpoint procedures, including opening purses and bags for inspection.
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Please ensure your wildflower is dressed appropriately for the weather, especially during inclement conditions.
Drop-Off Location
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Car drop-off is located at the crosswalk in the center of the school parking lot off Jeffries Avenue.
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Wildflowers must use the crosswalk to safely cross the bus lane.
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Do not enter the bus lane, stop, or park along the walkway.
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If you need to escort your wildflower into the building, please park in a designated space in the back row of the parking lot.
Pre-Kindergarten Arrival
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PK wildflowers must be escorted by a parent or caregiver and signed in upon arrival.
Late Arrivals
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Wildflowers arriving after 8:05 AM are considered tardy and must report to the Main Office to sign in before proceeding to class or breakfast.
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Tardiness is recorded in accordance with HB 410. A valid reason must be provided to excuse missed instructional time.
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Repeated tardiness may result in a referral to the Student Support Team and, if necessary, the Department of Children & Family Services.
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If your family needs support with timely arrival, please contact a school team member.
Breakfast Procedures (7:45 AM – 8:05 AM)
Warner Girls’ Leadership Academy offers a nutritious breakfast each morning. Wildflowers who plan to eat breakfast should arrive between 7:45 AM and 8:05 AM.
Breakfast Expectations
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Grades K–5: Eat breakfast and remain seated at their assigned cafeteria table.
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Grades 6–8: May eat in the cafeteria and then report to the gym, or report directly to the gym if not eating.
Food and beverages must remain in the cafeteria. Eating or drinking is not permitted in hallways, bathrooms, or the gym. After breakfast, wildflowers must travel with their class or have a hall pass.
Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
To maintain a focused and respectful learning environment, all personal cell phones and electronic devices—including smartwatches and wireless earbuds—must be secured using the Yondr system.
Note: Wireless headphones, personal tablets, and gaming devices are not permitted, as they are too large for Yondr pouches and are not appropriate for school.
Yondr Program Overview
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Upon arrival, wildflowers will power off their devices and place them in their assigned Yondr pouch.
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The pouch remains with the student and must be stored in their book bag and secured in their locker or cubby until dismissal.
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Students are responsible for keeping their pouches in good condition.
Violations
If a device is visible, audible, or the pouch is damaged, or if a student attempts to bypass the Yondr system:
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The device will be collected and held in the Main Office until the end of the school day.
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A parent or caregiver will be contacted.
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Intentional damage to the pouch is a Level III violation of the CMSD Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action, a $35 replacement fee, or other consequences.
Staying Connected
If your wildflower needs to contact you during the school day, she may request to use a school landline. To reach your wildflower, please call the Main Office at (216) 838-8950.
Dismissal Procedures (2:25 PM – 2:35 PM)
All wildflowers must report to their assigned dismissal location:
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Bus Riders:
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Grades K–5: Arch doors
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Grades 6–8: Main Entrance
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Daycare Transport & Walkers:
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Side exit on Jeffries Avenue
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Car Riders:
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Cafeteria exit on Connecticut Avenue
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Please ensure your wildflower knows her dismissal location and follows staff directions.
Early Pick-Up / Departure (Before 2:35 PM)
To ensure a safe and efficient dismissal:
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All early pick-ups and changes to dismissal plans must be communicated by 1:35 PM.
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Parents/caregivers without a scheduled meeting will not be permitted inside the building between 1:35 PM and 2:35 PM.
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If you arrive after 1:35 PM, you will be asked to wait until your wildflower is dismissed at her assigned location.
Attendance is monitored in accordance with HB 410:
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A valid reason must be provided for early pick-up.
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Unexcused early departures negatively impact attendance.
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Repeated early pick-ups may result in a referral to the Student Support Team or Department of Children & Family Services.
If your family needs support to ensure your wildflower can remain at school for the full day, please contact a school team member.
Late Pick-Up (After 2:45 PM)
The school day ends at 2:35 PM. All wildflowers should be picked up by 2:45 PM.
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After 2:45 PM, parents/caregivers must enter the building and sign out their wildflower in the Main Office.
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Repeated late pick-ups may result in a warning letter and/or a referral to the Department of Children & Family Services.
If you are experiencing challenges with timely pick-up, please reach out to a school team member for support.
Attendance
Attendance Matters
Dear Parents & Families,
Consistent, on-time attendance is one of the most important factors in your wildflower’s academic success. Research shows that students who attend school regularly and stay for the full instructional day perform better on assessments, demonstrate stronger mastery of content, and earn higher grades.
At Warner Girls’ Leadership Academy, our school day begins at 8:05 AM and ends at 2:35 PM, Monday through Friday. Unless the school is closed for a district-approved reason, all wildflowers are expected to attend school on time and for the entire day.
How Attendance Is Recorded
- Attendance is recorded by the minute. Every minute matters.
- Late arrivals and early departures are deducted from your wildflower’s daily attendance.
- A valid reason must be provided by a parent or caregiver for any late arrival or early departure.
- Missed minutes without an acceptable reason will be marked unexcused and may negatively impact your wildflower’s attendance record.
- Repeated tardiness or early pick-ups may result in a referral to our Student Support Team and, if necessary, the Department of Children & Family Services.
If your family is experiencing challenges that affect your wildflower’s ability to attend school on time and stay for the full day, please reach out to a school team member. We are here to support you.
Dress Expectations
WGLA School Dress Expectations
The WGLA dress expectations for the 2025-2026 school year are outlined below:
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- Purple or red button-down or polo top
- Khaki/tan, black, or navy-blue school bottoms (pants, shorts, skorts, or skirts).
- No bareback or open-back shoes - NO slides, slippers, flip-flops, Crocs, and/or sandals.
- clear book bag
We have limited clean, gently used school dress code items. Parents & families can contact a school team member to request dress code assistance.
Physical Education Dress Expectations
Wildflowers in grades PK-8 are scheduled for Physical Education, PE, 1–2 times per week. Wildflowers are expected to wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes to participate in physical activity during PE classes. This includes but is not limited to, T-shirts and ATHLETIC shorts during the warmer months and a T-shirt or sweatshirt and sweatpants or warm-up pants during the colder months. PE attire may be worn underneath school attire. Parents & families can also contact a school team member to request assistance meeting PE dress expectations.
Dance Dress Expectations
Wildflowers in grades PK-8 are scheduled for Dance 1–2 times per week. They are expected to wear comfortable clothing for physical activity during dance classes. Additional information regarding specific dance attire will be available during our meet-and-greet. Dance attire may be worn underneath school attire. Parents and families can also contact a school team member to request assistance meeting the Dance dress expectations.
WGLA Behavior Expectations
Using the CMSD Code of Conduct as our foundation, our school has developed a unique Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Plan (PBIS). Our PBIS plan blends our school's core values and the Leader in Me (LiM) framework. This page includes information about PBIS and some of the tools that our school will use to reward positive behavior and respond to negative behaviors.
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS)
PBIS is a framework that guides school teams in selecting, integrating, and implementing evidence-based practices for improving academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for all students. The PBIS process emphasizes four integrated elements: data for decision-making, evidence-based interventions and practices that support varying student needs (multi-tiered), systems that efficiently and effectively support implementing these practices, and continual progress monitoring to ensure outcomes are met.
WGLA Behavior Matrix
As part of our school's PBIS implementation, we have developed the WGLA Behavior Matrix. The WGLA Behavior Matrix is aligned with our school's core values of confidence, competence, and compassion and is designed to identify and display positive behaviors across all school contexts and settings. It is a reference that helps the school community consistently reinforce our set of key behavioral expectations during our students' daily routines. Visitors to our school will see elements of our behavior matrix prominently displayed throughout our school. A link to the WGLA Behavior Matrix is below. Wildflowers who do not consistently meet the behavior expectations at school will not be granted the opportunity to represent our school at events in the greater community.
"Caught In the Habit"
Giving more attention to positive and productive behavior is another key feature of our school's PBIS plan. Each month, girls learn about one of the 8 Habits of Highly Effective People: 1) Be Proactive; 2) Begin with the End in Mind; 3) Put First Things first; 4) Think-Win-Win; 5) Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood; 6) Synergize; 7) Sharpen the Saw; and 8) Find your Voice. Wildflowers that are "Caught in the Habit" will earn a "Caught in the Habit" card and win a prize from our "WGLA Woo Hoo Wagon." Additionally, all wildflowers that are "Caught in the Habit" will be entered into a drawing for an opportunity to attend our quarterly PBIS out-of-school celebration.
The Planning Center
The Planning Center is a proactive setting designed to help students solve, develop appropriate school and classroom behaviors, and reduce the need for classroom removal. It can provide social and emotional support, behavioral interventions, and planning and organizational support for academics while the students are supervised.
The Planning Center is the last stop before a student is removed from the building and the first stop when a student returns from being suspended or involuntarily transferred from another school. This initial visit may include a 15-minute meeting between the PCIA, Mrs. Norris, and the student. The initial visit is important for transitioning girls from suspension or as new enrollees to a school. Wildflowers will receive support to help prepare them to return to a cohesive learning environment. If a wildflower continues to experience difficulties, the PCIA may refer the student to the Student Support Team.
The Planning Center Instructional Aide (PCIA) is a supportive resource that helps students improve their conduct, develop their self-esteem, encourage them to achieve and behave positively and experience a respectful environment with firm behavioral expectations.
Resolving Conflicts Peacefully
Conflicts are opportunities for growth and learning. We encourage our students to approach disagreements with respect and open-mindedness.
Conflict Resolution When conflicts arise, we encourage students to:
- Communicate openly and honestly.
- Listen actively to the other person's perspective.
- Find common ground and seek compromise.
If students cannot resolve a conflict on their own, they can seek assistance from a peer mediator, a teacher, or a counselor. Our school also offers mediation programs and conflict resolution workshops to equip students with the necessary skills.
Unacceptable Behavior
Verbal and physical aggression will not be tolerated. Such actions violate our school's code of conduct and may result in disciplinary action, including out-of-school suspension.
Mediation and Conflict Resolution: Winning Against Violent Environments (W.A.V.E)Our school's WAVE program empowers students to become peacemakers and conflict resolution experts. Through intensive training, students learn valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. These skills are applied both inside and outside the classroom, fostering a more positive and inclusive school environment.
WAVE students serve as peer mediators, utilizing both formal and informal conflict resolution strategies to address disputes among their peers. They also take on leadership roles as student trainers, teaching their classmates conflict management techniques. By developing these skills, our students become agents of change within their school community and beyond.
Restorative Practices (Circles)
A restorative circle is a technique that builds and restores relationships through equal opportunity sharing and listening. These talking circles proactively build the skills wildflowers need when conflicts arise because they allow every individual to speak and be heard. Restorative circles are especially beneficial for learning how to negotiate conflict, as they help girls practice respectful listening and healthy self-expression.
Restorative circles are often conducted to respond to wrongdoing or conflict and as an alternative disciplinary strategy. However, this technique can equally effectively provide preventative factors for future challenges. Circles can create and strengthen peer support systems and lay the groundwork for a trusting classroom environment.
Student Support Team
Any student experiencing challenges with academics, attendance, behavior, and/or engagement can be referred to our school's SST by a parent or school team member. The Student Support Team is co-led by our School Psychologist, Ms. Pugh, and Intervention Specialist, Mrs. Coleman, and includes the Principal, Mrs. Wilkins, Assistant Principal, Mr. Fishback, Family Support Specialist, Mr. Farmer, Applewood Counselor, Ms. Green, and the Wildflower's homeroom teacher. Both parents/caregivers and wildflowers are also important members of the team. The aim of the Student Support Team is to work with wildflowers and families to create and monitor a plan of success for girls to get on and stay on track.