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Bell Schedule

School Day: 9:00 AM – 3:39 PM
Breakfast: 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Lunch/Recess: 

• Grades K-2: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
• Grades 3-5: 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
• Grades 6-8: 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM

For details on early dismissals, inclement weather procedures, delayed openings, and emergency closings, please refer to the Parent & Student Handbook.

Specific student schedules may differ depending on class sections.

Attendance

Attendance matters! The consistency for both students and teachers is critical to success. Consequences can come from excessive or unexcused absences.

• Attendance Policy
• Absence Excuse Form
• Helpful information, toolkits, and other resources to support your child’s attendance success

To keep everyone safe, families are not permitted to walk students to class (except Pre-K). If your child needs to leave early, check in at the Main Office and staff will bring your child to you.

For information on school operations—including inclement weather and emergency procedures, building access, and visitor guidelines—please refer to the Parent & Student Handbook.

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Arrival Locations

• Pre-K: Enter through the Main Entrance and walk your child to Room 103 or 105.
• Grades K–2: Use the Auditorium entrance.
• Grades 3–5: Enter via the Big Schoolyard entrance.
• Grades 6–8: Report to the Basketball Courts.

Dismissal Locations

• Pre-K & K–2: Auditorium entrance
• Grade 3: Big Schoolyard entrance
• Grades 4–5: Playground entrance
• Grades 6–8: 47th Street entrance

The University-Assisted Community School (UACS) Program operates the UACS After-School Program and UACS Summer Program at Lea. During the school year, the After-School Program operates on weekdays from 3:30–6:00 pm each day. Lea students in grades kindergarten through 8th can be enrolled free of charge. After-school programming includes: after-school meal, extracurricular enrichment opportunities, literacy-rich environments and activities, socialized play and activities, sports and athletics programs, and homework help.

Extracurricular Clubs, or “EC Clubs”, are school-sponsored enrichment clubs that run through the UACS After-School Program. EC Clubs meet 1-2 times per week during after-school hours and focus on students’ interests, including:

• Anime Club
• Chess Club
• Choir Club
• Drama Club
• Garden Club
• Student Council

➔ Contact the UACS Director at arttiaw@sas.upenn.edu.

Lea is proud to foster a vibrant network of community partnerships that enhance student learning and well-being. With a strong commitment to collaboration, Lea works closely with a wide range of community-based organizations and local institutions, including a long-standing partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.

Each year, dozens of partner organizations bring their expertise, resources, and programming directly to our school. These partnerships support academic enrichment, health and wellness, the arts, mentorship, and more, making Lea a model for school-community collaboration in Philadelphia.

➔ Learn more about our partnership with Penn
➔ View our Program and Partner Directory
➔ Contact the Director of Community Partnerships at lea.partner.coordinator@gmail.com.

The spring musical is a highlight of the school year. With over 50 students participating, our entire school community comes out.

Participation in sports requires a completed physical form signed by a doctor.

Elementary Intramural Sports
Grades K-5 learn fundamentals, good sportsmanship, and team-building skills.

Middle Grades Conference(MGC)
Offered four days a week from 3:39–5:30 PM, this program provides structured athletic opportunities for middle-grade students.
➔ Learn more about MGC

➔ Henry C. Lea Parent & Student Handbook
➔ District – Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Process

Policies

• Attendance 
• Dress Code – Uniforms
• Cell Phone Policy
• Report Bullying, Harassment, or Discrimination
• Student Health & Safety

Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA
The School District of Philadelphia is required to annually notify parents and eligible students of their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These rights include the right to inspect and review education records, request amendments, consent to disclosures, and file a complaint.

➔ View the Annual FERPA Notice

For questions,  contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Students are expected to wear appropriate clothing at all times, including shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, and proper footwear.

• Shirt color: Navy blue (preferred), but no specific color is required for tops or bottoms
• Pants/Bottoms: Any appropriate style that ensures full coverage
• Footwear: Closed-toe shoes only; must be safe for school activities

Not Permitted:

• Short shorts, skirts, or dresses that do not fully cover undergarments
• Clothing that does not cover the torso
• See-through or revealing garments
• Muscle shirts, spaghetti strap tops, or midriff tops
• Headwear (unless worn for religious purposes)
• Clothing with profanity, sexual content, or promotion of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
• Flip-flops, open-toe shoes, cleats, or roller skate shoes
• Any clothing that exposes undergarments or inappropriate bare skin
• Wearing hoods inside the building (hoodies are allowed, but hoods must stay down)

If a student violates the dress code:

• A parent/guardian may be contacted by school administration
• The school may provide loaner clothing or request that appropriate clothes/shoes be brought to school
• Administration may determine if clothing is disruptive or unsafe for the school environment

➔ See our uniform policy for more details.

The School District of Philadelphia provides a variety of programs and services in many languages to support our multilingual families. Students whose first language is not English may qualify for ESOL services.

Need Help? Contact your school’s Bilingual Counseling Assistant

Programs & Services

• Multilingual Curriculum and Programs
  Learn more about the different programs and opportunities offered for multilingual students and families, and to get assistance with any District-related questions or processes.
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Dual Language (Bilingual)
  • Newcomer Learner Academy (NLA)

• Language Access Support Services
  Learn more about accessing interpretation/translation services, including Bilingual Counseling Assistants (BCAs) assigned to your school, and other resources.
• Language Access Concern
  Your feedback is essential in helping us improve language access within our District. If you’ve encountered a language-related challenge, such as a communication barrier, translation issue, or interpretation challenge, your input helps us improve our services.

Lea is committed to providing specialized services to children in the least restrictive environment, as required by the law. Students receive accommodations and modifications as outlined in their Individualized Educational Program (IEP).

The District provides an extensive range of educational services and supports for students with diverse needs within our schools.

➔ Learn more about IEPs and Special Education Programs.

Lea is one of only two official Penn Partnership Schools, alongside the Penn Alexander School. With support from more than 15 Penn-affiliated schools, departments, and centers—including the Graduate School of Education, Netter Center, Dental School, and Penn Libraries—our students benefit from more than 40 Penn-connected programs. In return, Lea provides a rich learning environment for hundreds of Penn students and professionals each year, offering real-world experience in teaching, mentoring, social work, research, and community engagement.