FAQS | La Mesa PTA

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are questions we in the PTA have had regarding how things work for our kids' school. The La Mesa Family Handbook will likely answer most of your questions. If you do not see your answer there, we compiled the below list to get after anything else you might want to know. If we did not answer your question here, please reach out to the school directly or use our contact form and we will do what we can to get an answer.

Can I walk my kids to school on the first day of school? How about other days?

Absolutely! The campus is accessible by foot and the gates next to the front office are open until 8:15am. The first bell is 8:00pm. You are welcome to walk your child all the way to their classroom.

When do we first get to meet our child's teacher?

La Mesa School hosts a special meet-and-greet event around a week before the school year starts for the TK and Kindergarten grades. Usually by the end of the first month the school also hosts a back-to-school night for all the grades. Please check our calendar as we update it with the exact dates each year.

Can I take a tour of the campus?

There are not currently any formal tours. The office staff are able to provide you a map of the school and you are able to walk the campus before school in the morning and after school in the afternoon. If you come to a PTA meeting (see calendar for details), our board members would be happy to walk you around as well for an informal look at the school.

When does the school release? Can I pick up my kids?

All grades release at the same time. They release at 2:25pm or 12:50pm on early release days (Wednesdays and Parent-Teacher Conference Week). The gates open at 2:20pm or 12:45pm for early release days. You are welcome to come in and meet your child at their classroom.

Can I visit my child's classroom?

This is dependent on each teacher and we recommend you reach out to them directly. Classrooms tend to open to students around 8:00am but are not always available for parents. Same with the afternoons as teachers try to close out tasks for the day. There is a back-to-school night in late August as well as three parent-teacher conference period throughout the year.

Can I volunteer in the my child's classroom?

You can! Each teacher has his or her own volunteer needs, which are typically requested individually at the beginning of the year. All volunteers will need to visit the school front office in advance of their volunteer date to fill out an information sheet and present their license for a background check. There is a wait involved to make sure the check passes so please plan ahead.

Where is the school lunch menu?

You're in luck! This website has a link to it on our Useful Links page. Over the summer, our cafeteria staff also take time off so the schedule may not be updated until school begins for the season.

What sort of afterschool care is there?

La Mesa School partners with two organizations for afterschool programming: EDMO and Tech Connection. EDMO takes place at the school and is a mixture of fun activities and academic enrichment. Tech Connection is affiliated with the U.S. Navy and is offered primarily to our servicemember families at a separate facility down the street. Students attending the Tech Connection program meet the staff at a central point at La Mesa before walking together to Tech Connection. Both are excellent programs.