Policies and Procedures
Arrivals
Katan (Pre-K): Guardians must PARK and walk their child to the PRESCHOOL door, where they will be met by a staff member.
Primary (K-2): Guardians must PARK, walk their child(ren) into the building through the MAIN door and walk them to their classroom(s). (Note – If you prefer to drop your Primary student off from the carpool lane, please they must be able to walk themselves through the lobby, up the stairs and to their classroom, as there will not be extra staff available to accompany them.)
L’mala/L’mata (3rd-6th): Guardians may drop off at the MAIN door from the carpool lane. They are also welcome to park and come into the building with their child if preferred. Please make sure your child knows if they are upstairs (L’mala) or downstairs (L’mata) first session, and who their teachers are.
TBAHigh (7th-12th): Guardians may drop off at the MAIN door from the carpool lane. They are also welcome to park and come into the building with their child if preferred.
Late Arrivals
PreK-6th Grade: Parents must accompany their child to the Machane TBA office upstairs on the 2nd floor, and the student will be issued a late pass to present to their teacher.
TBAHigh (7th-12th): If a student arrives late to class, they should check the screen in the main lobby for the location of the class. If they cannot find their class, come to the Machane TBA office for assistance.
Dismissal
Katan (Pre-K) & Primary (K-2): Guardians MUST PARK, come in through the MAIN DOOR, and wait in front of the sign with your child’s class number. Children will be lined up behind their class number sign with their teacher. Class numbers are listed below. Please do not congregate in the lobby just inside the doors, as this blocks other parents from entering. No Primary students will be dismissed to the carpool lane.
Click for Primary Class Numbers for Dismissal – 2025-2026
Primary Enrichment & Kehillah Programs: Guardians must PARK, enter the building through the MAIN DOOR and pick their child upstairs in the Keshet Social Hall. No Primary Enrichment/Kehillah students will be dismissed to the carpool lane or to older siblings.
L’mala/L’mata (3-6): Guardians can PARK, enter the building through the MAIN DOOR to pick up their child at their designated grade level area in the lobby OR pick up their child in the carpool lane (see parking lot photo below). Please make sure your child knows how they will be picked up!
TBAHigh (7th-12th grade): Guardians may wait in their car and pick up their child in the carpool lane (see parking lot photo below), or park and come into the lobby. For safety purposes, students may only enter cars that are between the Sanctuary and Chapel entrance doors when using the carpool lane.
Early Pick Up
PreK-6th Grade:
If you need to pick your child up early, please do one of the following:
1) Email Nancy Gopstein in the Machane TBA office regarding what time you will be picking up your child
2) Call the Machane TBA office at (301) 340-8335 OR Have your child bring a note to the Machane TBA office before class.
If you need to pick your child up early, please do one of the following:
1) Email Nancy Gopstein in the Machane TBA office regarding what time you will be picking up your child
2) Call the Machane TBA office at (301) 340-8335 OR Have your child bring a note to the Machane TBA office before class.
Carpool Lane & Parking Lot
Please look at the parking lot diagram below. When you are picking up or dropping off children, do not use the red “No Parking” areas as this creates hazards for our children and additional maintenance costs for our congregation. “No Parking” signs will clearly mark these areas.
Your child will be issued a Dismissal Pass stating the time they are to report back to the office to meet you. They should show their teacher the pass, and bring it to the office when it is time to leave.
A guardian must always come to the Machane TBA office to sign-out and pick up. The Machane TBA office is upstairs on the 2nd floor.
If someone other than a child’s guardian is picking them up, that adult’s name must be mentioned in the note/email. Staff will ask for identification from the adult picking up if they are unknown to the office staff.
If a note, call or email was not submitted before class, you must go upstairs to the Machane TBA office to sign the student out. The student will be called to the office.
TBAHigh:
A Machane TBA Administrator will accompany them to meet you in the parking lot. If your child drove themselves, a Machane TBA administrator will accompany them to their car.
Safety must be our highest priority in the parking lot – even more important than being on time. Parking on grassy areas results in passengers exiting vehicles directly into the flow of traffic. Leaving your car in any location that is not a parking place, even for just a minute to run into the building creates a hazard for everyone behind you.
Cell Phone Policy:
To preserve the sanctity of our Kehillah (community) and to foster relationships and learning, students may not use electronic devices such as cell phones during Machane TBA school hours. We encourage cell phones to either remain at home or be turned off during the duration of the program, including break, unless there are special circumstances or the use is requested for relevant programming.
We request that parents/caregivers do not text or call students during the school program. If you need to contact your child, please call the Machane TBA Office at 301-340-8335 and we will be happy to assist you!
Inclement Weather Policy:
Machane TBA follows the inclement weather decisions of MCPS. If there is an early dismissal, Machane TBA is closed. If afternoon and evening events in the County are canceled, TBA High is closed. On Sundays, check email for information.