School Day Details
The Foster Elementary School Day, Start to Finish
From drop-off to pickup, everything families need for a typical day at Foster Elementary. For students in grades 1-5, the school day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
Have a question we didn't cover here? Reach out to our school office anytime. For the full details on policies and procedures, see the Mt. Lebanon Elementary Student Handbook.
Foster Elementary School
700 Vermont Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
412-344-2162
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. during the school year. Parking lots are reserved for staff from 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Getting To School (Arrival)
Arrive on time and ready to learn!
| 8:25 a.m. | Doors Open |
| 8:25-8:30 a.m. | AM Kindergarten and Grades 1-5 Arrival Window (drop-off best between 8:25 and 8:30 a.m.) |
| 8:35 a.m. | Late Bell - Students are marked tardy if they are not in their homeroom |
| 12:30 p.m. | PM Kindergarten - drop off at the Kindergarten door with adult supervision at 12:30 p.m.; late bell at 12:40 p.m |
Please note: students may not arrive before 8:25 a.m., and the playground is not open for before-school recess.
Going Home (Dismissal)
Walkers can head straight home on the sidewalks, while Car Riders use the Go Zone.
| 11:20 a.m. | AM Kindergarten Dismissal |
| 3:30 p.m. | PM Kindergarten and Grades 1-5 Dismissal |
| 3:40 p.m. | Staff supervision ends at exit doors and the Go Zone |
Getting To & From School Safely
Students
- Walk directly home after dismissal if walking.
- Use sidewalks and crossing guards.
- Avoid parking lots and play areas near the school.
- Follow GO ZONE car pickup procedures if applicable.
Parents & Guardians
- Establish a clear meeting location with your child
- Pick up students promptly:
- 11:20 AM (AM K)
- By 3:30 PM (PM dismissal)
- Follow GO ZONE procedures:
- Remain in your car
- Use designated pickup areas only
- No parking in GO ZONE or school lots
- No pets on school property at any time.
Crossing Guard Areas
- Crossing guards are stationed throughout our neighborhoods to support safe walking routes.
- Families are encouraged to review routes together and remind students to use designated crossings.
Go Zone Arrival & Pickup Procedures
Visiting Foster Elementary School
Enter at the main entrance (Door A1), ring to be buzzed in, and bring a photo ID. Sign in for a visitor pass.
Lunch & Recess
From midday meals to fresh air on the playground, here's what to know about lunch and recess at Foster.
Recess
Students head outside whenever the weather allows. When there's snow on the ground, please send boots and snow pants along with a warm coat, hat, and gloves.
Attendance
Starting this school year, Mt. Lebanon School District uses one attendance process for every student, kindergarten through grade 12.
All attendance is managed in the PowerSchool Portal accessed through LeboID. For more attendance information, visit our attendance page.
Flexible Instruction Days
On some days when school would otherwise be canceled for a weather or building emergency, Mt. Lebanon School District will utilize a Flexible Instructional Day (FID). On a FID, students don't report to school. They connect with their teacher virtually and complete a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities from home.
Families are notified of a Flexible Instructional Day the same way as a delay or cancellation, by text, call, and email, with the message "Schools Closed: Flexible Instructional Day." FIDs count as a full day of school and do not need to be made up later in the year.
Learn more, including how attendance works and what to expect by grade level, on the district's Flexible Instructional Days page.
Resources
Quick links to the forms, logins, and tools families use most.
Quick Links