Family Information

All parents are asked to fill out a medical form and an emergency contact form through the online parent portal for their children in July.  Students with specific allergies are also asked to fill out an allergy action plan part of the form. The Director of Student Experience and Registrar will review all forms and allergies and notify the appropriate individuals, inclusive of those who can arrange meetings to discuss a student’s allergy or dietary needs can also be arranged.

Each child is required to have an Emergency Contact authorization form for emergency medical and surgical treatment on file. In case of a medical emergency, every effort will be made to reach the parent, the designated emergency contact, or the child’s physician. If no one can be reached, or if time is of the essence, 911 will be called and/or the nearest emergency facility or hospital will be contacted. It is the parents’ responsibility to notify the school of any changes in the designated emergency contact information, either by email, in person or online via the Parent Portal.

A student’s contact information and medical information can be updated at any time in the parent portal, and a reminder to update the profile will be given with each re-enrollment contract.

Florida state law mandates that no child is permitted to attend school unless a health form and a record of immunization are on file within 30 days of enrollment. These forms are only available at your physician’s office. The health and safety of our employees, students, and visitors is of utmost concern to our staff.  

Please direct any questions regarding allergies and medical forms to registrar@thediscoveryschool.org.

The Discovery School offers a wide variety of after school enrichment programs throughout the school year. These programs serve to enrich our already robust curriculum by offering additional opportunities for academic growth. These classes run throughout the course of the school year and are offered in some capacity for all students. You must register for these programs through our website. Information will be shared through the Discovery update regarding sign-up. 

Athletic team registration will be posted at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.  Information will be shared with families during our Back to School updates. 

You may pay your tuition through our online Smart Tuition system. You will receive an email notification that you have an invoice. Please make sure we have your correct email address on file. 

All fees and tuition payments are due on the dates indicated on the enrollment agreement.

Please direct any questions regarding your statement to Jill Nason, Director of Finance at jnason@thediscoveryschool.org. 

You can find a complete and up to date calendar including Key Dates for the 2023-2024 school year on the Calendar page. 

The employee’s first priority at Discovery is the safety of the children. All staff members are expected to bear this in mind at all times. The preparation of a safe environment in and outside the building is a responsibility shared by all staff and faculty. For a complete list of health and safety protocols, please refer to the Parent Handbook.

A updated 2023 - 2024 Parent Handbook will be posted prior to the school year beginning. 

Laminated Name Tags. All families in the full day Primary Program, Elementary, and Middle School will be given 2 laminated color-coded pick-up name tags. Please place it on the dash of your windshield. This will expedite the pick-up process. 

Primary and Kindergarten. Primary and Kindergarten students arrive on campus between 8:30 am and 8:45 am. Parents are asked to drive through the proper car line for your child’s classroom.

Please note the arrival time for Primary students is between 8:30 am and 8:45 am. In the carline, a teacher will open the car door and greet your child. Please be sure to remain in your vehicle at all times as a safety precaution and courtesy to others. As a reminder, questions, or concerns should be addressed with teachers outside of pick up/drop off times. 

Dismissals for Primary occur at the same location as arrival. However, it is required by law for you to get out of your car to secure your child in his/her car/booster seat. Dismissal for Primary students is 12:30 pm. for half-day and 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm for Kindergarten and full-day students.

Elementary. Students in the Elementary program arrive on campus between 8:00 am and 8:15 am and are dismissed between 3:05 pm and 3:20 pm. You will follow the carline around and stop in front of Building 5 for arrival/drop-off. Teachers will be outside to greet the students as they arrive. Please proceed to the first available red post and ensure the back door aligns with the teacher. Dismissal will take place at the same location. Please do not come early and plan on waiting in the driveways. We have staggered our dismissals in order to keep the traffic moving.

Middle School. Students in the Middle School program arrive on campus between 7:45 am and 8:00 am and are dismissed between 3:05 pm and 3:20 pm.  Parents will follow the carline around and stop in front of Building 5 for arrival/drop-off, proceed to the first available red post, and ensure the back door aligns with the teacher. 

All class schedules are updated prior to the beginning of the year. Classroom teachers will share final schedules with families at the start of the school year. 

Discovery will send a Discovery Update by email through Constant Contact every Friday. This update includes school upcoming events, policy reminders, and/or a change in schedule. Please make sure the office has the current email(s) of each parent. 

Parents are requested to read Altitude Learning Stream and School-related emails in order to keep abreast of policies, educational issues, school programs, special events, and other pertinent issues regarding their child’s involvement at Discovery. Please also visit the school’s Altitude Learning page for additional information. 

 If you are not receiving these emails, or have an address or email change, please email admissions@thediscoveryschool.org so we can update our records and ensure the correct email address is in our system. Check the spam folder in your email files and ensure The Discovery School is noted as a trusted contact.

Blackboard Connect Notification Service allows us to send a telephone, text and  email message to you providing important information about school events or emergencies. We anticipate using Blackboard Connect to notify you of school delays or cancellations due to inclement weather or other emergency situations. In the event of an emergency at school, Discovery will exercise its prerogative to make decisions regarding the safety of your children in times of emergencies due to inclement weather, hurricanes, fire, gas line breaks, flooding, etc. Generally, if the public schools close, we will also close.

A school directory is available online via the Parent Portal. This directory is intended solely for the convenience of the parents and school staff in arranging school and social affairs. It is not to be shared or distributed to non-Discovery families, nor is it to be used for any solicitation or commercial purposes of any kind.

Students in the Primary, Elementary and Middle School Program are required to wear uniforms. 

Colors  

Polo colors include White, Blue, Maize, and Heather Gray. Rapid Dry Polo colors include Azure, Soapstone, and White. Colors for bottoms are navy, white, khaki, and grey. This includes tights and leggings. All tops, shirts,  jumpers, etc., must have the Discovery logo on them. Logo items may be purchased through Lands’ End (preferred school #900064593). Tops may be purchased from any store as long as they adhere to the dress code and school colors, and they must be embroidered with the school logo. Bottoms or non-logoed items may be purchased from any store as long as they adhere to the dress code and school colors. 

Clothing items

Polo-style collared shirts  (short and long sleeves), cotton t-shirts, long pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers, blouses, and sweaters are acceptable. Athletic attire, including basketball shorts, joggers, and other sweatpants, may only be worn on PE days. Outer garments such as sweaters or sweatshirts that are worn in the classroom must have the school logo on them.

Physical Education (PE) Days

Please wear appropriate clothing for PE days. Dress in comfortable pants/shorts that are appropriate for physical exertion.  Sneakers should be the shoes of choice. Rapid Dry Polo’s are available to purchase through Land’s End. Rapid Dry Polo’s are not mandatory.

Free-Dress Days

On indicated Free Dress Days, usually the last Friday of each month, the children may wear clothes of their choice to school.

We strive to make your family's time at Discovery a positive, happy experience. To that end we want you to know who to contact when you have a question, concern, or need assistance. 
 
Your Lead Teacher: Anything classroom specific or a questions about your child's day. Teacher email addresses are available on the School Directory.
 
Petra Obritzberger, Head of School
petra@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult her? 
Any concerns or issues with the overall management of the school or programs.
 
Jill Nason, Director of Finance
jnason@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult her?
All accounts payable and accounts receivable questions or needs.
 
Josh Tayloe, Development Coordinator
development@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult him?
All fundraising inquiries as well as Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) questions.
 
Cat Blakelock, Director of Student Experience
healthandsafety@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult her?
Questions about the Toddler & Primary Programs. Questions about  student-support services. Any safety, behavioral and/or health questions or needs. 
 
Shane Remenda, Director of Facilities & Athletics
sremenda@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult him?
All athletic and facilities questions or needs.
 
Meghan Devlin, Co-Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management
admissions@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult her?
All admissions questions and support, student re-enrollment, returning families support and questions, and student transcript paperwork, student files, or health records.
 
Nita Hurley, Co-Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management
admissions@thediscoveryschool.org
When should I consult her?
All admissions questions and support, student re-enrollment, returning families support and questions, and student transcript paperwork, student files, or health records.

Sign-up for extended care will happen over the summer. Parents will be notified via email to register for extended care if they intend to use pre-care or after-care during the school year. 

Invoices will be sent on a monthly basis, September through May. The fee will be based on the scheduled enrolled hours, regardless of the child’s absence due to illness or vacation. Any reduction in scheduled hours (for billing purposes) will become effective on the first of the following month. If the actual hours exceed the scheduled hours, the excess will be billed at the appropriate hourly rate.

Visit our Extended Care page for more information. 

All students in our elementary and middle school are issued a school owned Chromebook for the school year.  iPads are also available in classrooms for student and teacher use. 

Discovery runs a daily lunch program through MyFoodDays. Menus rotate every two weeks. Parents have the option to order food to be delivered to their child’s classroom. Orders must be placed by midnight on Sunday for the upcoming week. The Discovery School utilizes many local vendors in the Beaches community. 

Families are always welcome to send children to school with a packed lunch. Please pack a well-balanced lunch excluding candy and other highly sugared foods, or those with excessive quantities of additives and preservatives.
All foods need to be sent to school ready for the child to eat. We cannot guarantee refrigerator space, so please send a frozen ice bottle with any items that need to be kept cold.  Do not include anything that has to be heated in your child’s lunch. Please avoid sending glass containers or jars, as they are breakable. We suggest plastic containers that the children can easily open.  Be sure to label the lunch box and its contents with your child’s name.

A copy of the student handbook can be found:

Parent Handbook

It can also be accessed in the online parent portal. An updated Handbook will be available prior to the start of the 2023 - 2024 school year.

• Complete any required forms 
• Update contact information 
• Update emergency contacts and information  
• Pay tuition or incidental fees  
• Set up auto payments via credit card or checking
• View and print directories  
• Access useful parent links and resources

The school hosts Parent & Teacher Conferences twice a year. The first conference follows the Trimester 1 progress reports in early November.  The second conference follows the Trimester 2 progress report in early March.  Parents are shared the progress reports prior to the conferences. 

Discovery maintains an open door policy with parents and teachers. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers with any questions regarding their child’s progress at any time during the course of the school year. 

The purpose of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to enhance and support the educational experience at Discovery, to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parental involvement and to improve the environment at Discovery through volunteer and financial support. 
All parents of current Discovery students are members of the Parent Teacher Organization.

Getting Involved

The PTO welcomes you to join our meetings to raise your concerns and contribute your ideas to better our school. Meetings are usually held every other month. All meeting dates will be posted on the school calendar, communicated through the Discovery Update and our private Facebook Group, The Discovery School Community.

If you would like more information on how to become involved, please email pto@thediscoveryschool.org.

There are moving lines for drop-off and pick-up. If you need to enter a building, please find an appropriate parking space. Please do not park in front of the retirement home sign that is located on the west end of Shetter Avenue. Parents and other drivers are cautioned to drive slowly and to exercise extreme caution when backing up or pulling out of the parking area. Pedestrians, as well as drivers, must exercise extreme care in the lot and at drop-off and pick-up areas.

Our program hours are:

Precare: 7:30 - 8:30 am 
Toddler Half-Day:  8:40 am - 12:30 pm
Toddler Full Day:  8:40 am - 3:00 pm
Primary 3 & 4 year old Half-Day:  8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Primary 3 & 4 year old Full Day: 8:30 am - 2:45 pm
Kindergarten:  8:30 am - 2:45 pm
Foundational Elementary:  8:00 am - 3:05 pm
Lower Elementary:  8:00 am - 3:05 pm
Upper Elementary:  8:00 am - 3:05 pm
Middle School: 7:45 am - 3:05 pm
Aftercare: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm 

Our regular business hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Summer hours are from 9 am to 4 pm. Our regular teaching hours are from 8:15 am to 3:10 pm. All full-time faculty members are available during regular teaching hours unless on an approved flexible schedule or vacation. 

Discovery hosts a variety of summer camp activities. The school coordinates with local vendors as well as our teaching staff to provide a multitude of activities for families to choose from. The camps are posted in early March on the school website for families to register. Some camps are restricted to current or incoming students. Those restricted registration links will be shared with families via email. 

The Discovery School encourages reading as part of everyday student life. Below are links for the reading lists for each program on campus. Program reading assignments (if required) can be found here as well. 

Click the images to view the printable pdf. 

Please click the program button below to be linked to the supply list for the 2023 - 2024 school year.