Back to School Resources

Once you have completed the back-to-school forms on FOCUS, student schedules will be available for families to view in the FOCUS Parent Portal beginning August 3rd at 9:00 AM.

Class Lists will also be posted during the tMeet the Teacher Event at Northwest on August 7th beginning at 9:00am.

Our times will continue to be 8:45 to 2:55 each day. The campus opens for students at 8:15 AM. Students may not arrive before 8:15 AM due to no staff supervision. Students may enter the cafeteria at 8:15 for breakfast or proceed to their classrooms. Breakfast is served daily between 8:15 and 8:40 AM. Again, there is no school staff supervision until 8:15 AM.

Parents and guardians will be permitted to walk their child to class on the first day of school only. Once in class, families will be asked to exit campus so teachers and staff can begin their day. PreK3 and VPK students will be walked to class to sign-in daily. 

Students will be dismissed at 2:55 PM. Walkers, bus and YMCA students will be escorted to their locations by designated staff members. Car riders will report to their designated dismissal locations escorted by a staff member. Each car rider will be given a car tag sign, please fill it out with your child’s name on it and display it on your rear -view mirror so our staff can call for your child. All families should pull up to one of the numbered pick-up spots. If you chose to park, your child must be designated as a walker and will be in a hallway near sign #1. Only NWES staff and students should access the front car line walkway due to traffic and students moving to their number. IF you need assistance, ask the staff member at #1 with a radio to locate your child.

During the meet the teacher event and the first day of school, all classroom teachers will have a paper to record how students will get home on the first day of school and how they will get home the other days of the week. If these change, please email the teacher 24 hours in advance or call the front office.

Students will be tagged with a colored wrist band based on their dismissal location for the first day. They will be tagged with a colored band on their backpack based on their dismissal location for the 2nd day and beyond.

We will have additional adults / safety patrols to help your child get to their classroom if they need assistance. Parents may walk their child to class on the first day of school only.

All Northwest Elementary students will receive nutritious school breakfast and lunch at no cost! Northwest Elementary meals are free as part of the Pinellas County Community Eligibility Program. Students should arrive at 8:15 each day if they are receiving a school breakfast.

Even though school meals are free, apply online for more benefits. Meal applications help secure funding for technology, discounted testing and college application fees, free clothing for students and more.

Apply beginning August 5th, 2026, at myschoolapps.com to get started.

The on-site YMCA offers before (after 6:30am) and aftercare (until 6:00pm) each day. JW Cate Recreation Center also provides before and aftercare for students. Seats are limited so please apply as soon as possible.

Families may once again join their students for lunch on Fridays at our outside picnic tables. Families must come during their child’s designated lunch period as students will not be pulled out of learning in their classrooms to have lunch. Please be sure you have an ID, and all visitors must be on the child’s information card. Rainy Fridays will be cancelled as we do not have indoor space to accommodate.

Students arriving after 8:45 a.m. must be signed in at the front office by a parent or guardian. Once signed in, students will be marked tardy and escorted to class by a staff member.

Students are considered tardy if they are not seated in their classroom by 8:45 a.m., when instruction begins promptly each day. Arriving on time helps students establish a consistent routine, settle into the classroom, prepare for learning, and begin the day actively engaged alongside their classmates.