About Us: FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about TCDS

Welcome to Tucson Country Day School! Thank you for your interest. In order to help you learn more about us, please read our answers to some frequently asked questions.

1. What grades do you offer?
TCDS offers both a private preschool/pre-kindergarten (Early Childhood Education) program and an “Excelling” public K-8th grade charter school. We also offer a complete summer camp, known as Camp Adventure, as well as before and after school care.

2. How much does it cost?
Our K-8th grade programs are tuition free under Arizona’s Charter school program. We charge a curricular fee each year to help maintain our Specials program. Before school care is available from 6:30am for $15 per child, per week while after school care is available for either $25 or $50 per week per child, depending on whether it is for one hour or until 6pm. Our Early Childhood Education preschool/pre-kindergarten program charges tuition based upon the number of days and hours per week your child attends.

3. Do you offer classes such as PE & art?
Yes!! TCDS prides itself on providing a well-rounded education for all of our students. Known as our Specials classes - art, music, technology, Spanish and physical education are included in the regular school week.

4. I’ve heard your school stresses manners and whole child education. What does this mean?
We at TCDS believe that a safe, positive environment is vital for learning to occur. Therefore our students are expected to say please, thank you, raise their hands, etc. We also enforce a strict no bullying, no fighting (even pretend) and no weapons policy.

5. In what ways do you encourage excellence?
Our environment reinforces that learning and achieving is cool with incentive programs such as Principal’s honor roll, honor roll assemblies, perfect attendance rewards, National Junior Honor Society, spell-a-thon, and various principal and teacher accolades. Students in grades 4-8 with a GPA of 3.7 and above qualify for quarterly Smarty Parties in which they are additionally rewarded for their hard work.

6. Are uniforms required?
Yes. Uniforms are color coded based upon the student’s K-8 grade level. Shirt colors are as follows: Kindergarten and 1st are white, 2nd and 3rd are yellow, 4th and 5th are red, 6th are sky blue, 7th are Kelly green and 8th are navy blue. K-7th wear plain navy blue bottoms. 8th wears khaki bottoms. Early Childhood does not require uniforms.

Shirts and bottoms must be a solid color and cannot have monograms, stripes, logos or other markings on them. Bottom of shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers must be at least the length of the middle finger when the arm is extended straight down the side of the leg. Athletic pants or shorts and jeans are not permitted. Occasional dress down days are announced throughout the year.

7. What are your class sizes?
TCDS believes in individual attention, keeping class sizes small. K-5 enjoys 20-22 students in each classroom while 6th-8th have no more than 24 students per instructor. Early Education follows 1:13 and 1:15 teacher to student ratios.

8. What types of activities do you offer outside of the regular school day?
We have many clubs, sporting teams and other activities offered at TCDS depending on the child’s grade level and interests including garden club, yearbook, journalism, student council, cheerleading, drama, jump rope club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, chess club, KidzArt, karate, soccer, softball, volleyball, and flag football.

9. What about lunch? Can I buy lunch and where do they eat?
Hot lunch is available for advance purchase daily from pre-negotiated outside vendors for $3. Lunchtime is staggered by grade level with students eating outside on the picnic tables or in their classrooms. We also offer a Student Store where students may purchase snacks and other items. Students are not allowed to drink soda on campus. Also, K-8 does not provide snacks for their students. Regardless of whether you purchase hot lunch or send a lunch, please be sure to pack both a morning and afternoon healthy snack for your child to eat during scheduled snack breaks.

10. What time does school start and end?
TCDS runs on a split schedule to minimize congestion. Kindergarten through 3rd grade attend from 8:40am to 3:15pm while 4th through 8th grade attend from 8:00am to 2:45pm. Students may arrive as early at 7:30am to enjoy staff supervised free time at the lower playground. A fee based before and after school care program is available to students who need to arrive at school prior to 7:30am or remain at school more than 15 minutes after they (and any siblings) are dismissed at the end of the day. Early Childhood Education instruction begins at 8:30am with care available from 6:30am-6pm.

11. Do you recite the Pledge of Allegiance?
Yes. School starts daily with “Flag” where students assemble for the Pledge of Allegiance, moment of silence, birthdays and announcements. Students are considered tardy if they are not present at the beginning of flag. School ends with a flag lowering assembly. Leaving before flag lowering is considered an early release from school.

12. Do you have a PTA or other Parent association?
Yes! Our Student Parent Association (SPA) is an integral part of TCDS, offering assistance to teachers in the classroom, holding fundraisers for supplemental materials and experiences, encouraging social interaction and generally helping out wherever and whenever a need arises. Over 50% of our families are actively involved, helping to ensure all students feel welcome, loved, and part of the larger TCDS family. Interested in volunteering? Click here to sign up!

13. I have mixed feelings about sending my child to Kindergarten for the first time. Can you help?
Absolutely! TCDS has a tradition known as the Woo Hoo, Boo Hoo breakfast, held on the first day of school each year. Come join fellow parents for an informal breakfast with Dr. Saliba. Together we will celebrate (Woo Hoo) and mourn (Boo Hoo) our children’s first day of Kindergarten. Have a child in another grade? Not to worry, informal Principal coffee’s are held for all grade levels throughout the school year.

14. Do you have a website? Can I receive updates through email?
Of course! Our school offers both a robust website (http://www.tcdcharterschool.com) and frequent email communication with our families. Check your child’s grade and progress online, email teachers, and access our school calendar. We even offer an email distribution list so you don’t have to worry about notices making it home in your child’s backpack. Email announcements@tcdcharterschool.com to be added to the list.