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East Side Elementary School |
| Student Handbook |
MISSION STATEMENT
Recognizing our primary students as citizens of tomorrow, East Side Elementary School, in cooperation with the family and community, is committed to preparing each child for the future by meeting their academic, technological, and social needs with a nurturing environment which enhances lifelong learning.
I. SCHOOL DAY
A. Daily Time Schedule
First Bell 8:00 a.m.
Tardy Bell 8:05 a.m.
Third Grade Lunch 11:00 a.m.
Second Grade Lunch 11:35 a.m.
First Grade Lunch 12:10 p.m.
Dismiss: First Bell 3:00 p.m.
Second Bell 3:05 p.m.
Third Bell 3:15 p.m.
B. Within the School Day
1. TIME TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL. The ideal time to arrive at school is 7:50 a.m. If you do not ride a bus, try to arrive at this time. Of course, students who ride buses do not control their arrival time. Please do not be late. Students arriving after 8:05 a.m. are counted tardy.
2. LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. A student will be released from school only under
the following conditions:
a. Parent or authorized person comes to the office and requests the student.
b. Parent telephones the office and requests permission for the student to leave.
c. Parent sends a written note requesting permission for the student to leave.
3. TIME TO LEAVE SCHOOL. The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. for first bell students, at 3:05 p.m. for students being picked up, and 3:15 p.m. for students riding the late buses. Please do not pick students up before these times unless it is absolutely necessary. Students leaving school before 3:00 p.m. are missing part of their school day. Unless it for an appointment or illness, the student may be given an unexcused tardy. Parents are required to report to the office to pick up a student. Parents are not to go to the classroom to pick up students. Students leaving school at any time of the day must be signed out by a parent in the office.
4. VISITS TO THE SCHOOL. When you visit East Side, please stop at the front desk for assistance. During class time teachers are busy with the students. Please do not expect the teacher to interrupt classwork to discuss individual problems with you. You may schedule a conference if you need to talk with a teacher. If you bring your child to school, good-byes are best said at the car, not at the classroom door.
II. ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP REGULATIONS
A. Contacting the School
The attendance policy for our school requires a parent or guardian to contact the principal’s office on or before the first day of a student’s absence. Telephone calls or personal contacts are preferred, but written notes or letters are accepted with proper verification if a family does not have a telephone and does not have access to a business or a neighbor’s phone. Telephone calls to the principal’s office on the first day of a student’s absence should be made as soon after 8:00 a.m. as possible. Written notes or letters should be brought on the day the student returns to school. When the school is not contacted, the absence will be considered an unexcused absence.
B. Attendance Policy
The Magnolia School District supports the philosophy that for students to receive maximum benefit from the instructional program students must be in attendance at school. A student is expected to attend school at all times when school is in session. Absences from school are acceptable only when a student is ill, when a family emergency exists, or when the student is on official school business. Students with excessive absences may be denied promotion or course credit.
It is the responsibility of the parent to see that the student is in attendance at school. When a student needs to miss school, the parent should notify the principal’s office on or before the first day of the student’s absence.
There are two types of absences recognized by the district. They are excused and unexcused absences.
Excused Absence
An excused absence means that the student was absent with the parent’s knowledge and consent for one of the following reasons:
a. Illness of the student
b. Serious illness in the immediate family
c. Death in the immediate family
d. Appearance in court
e. School/community/church activities
f. Doctor and dental appointments
g. Other reasons not listed above can be considered for an excused absence if the parent/guardian makes a request to the building principal as far in advance of the absence as possible. A failure to make an advanced request will result in the absence being treated as unexcused.
If an absence is excused, it means only that the student has the privilege of making up the work missed. No credit is allowed unless the work is actually made up to the satisfaction of the teacher(s) involved. A student with an excused absence will be given one day more than the number of days absent to make up the work missed. Excessive absences, excused and/or unexcused, can lead to academic failure.
When a student has accumulated ten excused absences in a semester, the school must receive written verification for any additional absences, Such absences not verified will be considered unexcused.
Unexcused Absences
An unexcused absence means that the student was absent for some reason other than the ones listed for an excused absence. For absences of this type, no credit for makeup work will be permitted.
When a student has accumulated three unexcused absences in a semester, the parent will be contacted by mail concerning the student’s attendance and explaining the attendance policy.
An accumulation of six unexcused absences in a semester will be considered excessive. The school district will notify the parent, and to comply with state law, will also notify the prosecuting authority. The student’s parents/guardians will be subject to a civil penalty in such an amount as a court of competent jurisdiction, presiding in the presence of a representative of the school district, may prescribe, but not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) plus the costs of court and any reasonable fees assessed by the court.
Tardies
One trait of a good student is to be prompt and on time; therefore, we admonish every student to make every effort not to be tardy. Any student arriving after 8:05 a.m. must be signed in at the office. Excessive unexcused tardies may accumulate and be counted as unexcused absences.
III. REPORT CARD SYMBOLS
Academic Subjects
A – 90 - 100
B -- 80 -- 89
C – 70 -- 79
D – 60 – 69
F – 59 and below
IV. Pupil Services
A. Cafeteria
The cafeteria, a nonprofit school-operated service, provides well-balanced meals with milk. The cafeteria is open for students who wish to purchase breakfast or lunch there. Free and reduced priced breakfast and lunch are available to any child who qualifies. Students are not allowed to take food from the cafeteria. Students who wish to bring lunches to school are required to eat these in the cafeteria.
All lunch and breakfast money should be sent each Monday in a separate marked envelope. The child’s name, the amount enclosed, the number of meals being paid, and the teacher’s name should be written on the front of the envelope. Please send the correct change if possible. When lunch accounts exceed ten charges, students will be served an alternative meal.
PRICES
Lunch $1.00
Reduced lunch .40
Breakfast .65
Reduced breakfast .30
Milk/Juice .25
B. Student Insurance
Accident insurance is available to students at a reasonable cost that includes the school day or for a 24-hour
period.
C. Accidents or Illness at School
Any student who becomes ill or injured at school will be cared for by the person responsible for the first aid treatment on that campus. The parent or guardian will be notified if possible. If necessary, the family physician may be called. Please keep the school informed of current phone numbers to be used in case of an emergency.
Children should be free of fever for twenty-four hours before returning to school from an illness. Please send a note if your child should not go outside during playground activities.
D. Medication
Sometimes it is necessary for children to take medication during the school day. However, three-times-a-day medicines can be given outside of school hours and often the four-times-a-day medicine can be also. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Please come to the office and fill out a medication form when your child needs to take medicine at school.
Do not send aspirin and other non-prescription medications to school with your child.
E. Use of the Telephone
No student will be permitted to use the office telephone except for school purposes or in case of an emergency. Before using the telephone, students must have permission from the principal, teacher, or person in charge. Students will be called from class in case of an emergency only.
F. Lost and Found
Students who have lost an article should report it to the office and check the lost and found shelf. If a student finds an article on the school grounds, it should be brought to the office and put in the lost and found. The school is not responsible for any item left by a student after school hours. Students are encouraged to leave valuable articles at home and to have all personal items labeled for identification.
G. Guidance Services
Guidance services are available for every student in the school. These services include assistance with educational planning, interpretation of test scores, study habits, social and home concerns, or any question the student may feel he/she would like to discuss with the counselors.
V. STUDENT ATTITUDES AND CONDUCT
A. School Authority over Students
Students are under the jurisdiction of Magnolia Public Schools on school grounds at any time, off the school grounds at a school activity, function, or event, or on a school bus. Students riding a bus, private vehicle, or walking to school are expected to remain on campus once they arrive.
A student must, upon request, identify himself/herself to the proper school authorities in the school building, on the school grounds, or at school-sponsored events.
B. Student Responsibility for School Property
A student is expected to help make the school attractive by keeping desks, walls, and restrooms clean; by putting waste paper and trash in trash cans; by taking care of the shrubs, and by otherwise observing good housekeeping habits. A student should take care of and conserve all school property and supplies. Parents of minor students under the age of 18 and living with the parents may be liable for damages caused by said minor.
C. Textbooks and Library Books
Students will be assessed fines for damaged or abused textbooks or library books. Lost textbooks or library books must be paid for as soon as possible and not later than the end of the current six weeks.
D. Computer Usage
Students working in the school’s computer labs must use the equipment as instructed by the teachers. Any tampering, abuse, or misuse of the equipment will jeopardize the student’s ability to remain in the class and will subject the student to disciplinary action. If monetary restitution is involved, the student will be responsible for reimbursement.
E. Discipline
One of education’s most important lessons is self-discipline. While it does not appear as a subject, it underlies the whole educational structure. It is the training that develops self-control, character, orderliness, and efficiency. It is the key to good conduct and proper consideration for other people. The school reserves the right to punish behavior which is subversive to good order and discipline in the schools, even though such behavior is not specified in the written rules.
*Discipline policies included in this handbook are supplemental to and fall within the guidelines established in Maintaining a Good School Atmosphere.
East Side Elementary School Rules:
1. Students should comply with reasonable directions or commands of teachers, student teachers, substitute teachers, teacher aides, principals, and administrative personnel. Students are considered insubordinate when they refuse to obey any rule or regulation of the school or the reasonable instructions of the school district personnel.
2. Students should use the travel position in the hallways. Pushing, loud talk, or boisterous acts are not considered good conduct in the halls.
3. In case of fighting, both students are subject to punishment.
4. Students should not use profanity.
5. The behavior displayed by the students on the school ground is extremely important. Students should cooperate in trying to improve the appearance of the campus itself as well as the activities that take place thereon.
6. Students are expected to bring proper materials (paper, pencils, books, etc.) to school daily.
7. Students should not use violence, force, noise, coercion, threats, intimidation, harassment, fear, passive resistance, or any other conduct intentionally to cause a disruption.
8. Bullying is intentional repeated hurtful behaviors committed by one or more children against another. These behaviors are not provoked by the victim.. Bullying will not be tolerated on school property, at school-sponsored activities, at the bus stop, or on the school bus. Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to disciplinary action which will be a minimum of a parent conference and a maximum of an expulsion.
9. Students are expected to show respect to other students at all times. Improper comments, inappropriate physical contact, or immoral gestures will not be tolerated. Students found guilty of any action that can be considered sexual harassment will be punished accordingly.
10. A student should not encourage other students to violate any rule or school board policy.
11. A student should not cause or attempt to cause physical injury to a school employee, fellow student, or any other individual.
12. A student should not cause or attempt to cause damage to school property or steal or attempt to steal school property.
13. The school is not responsible for any personal items of students at school or on the bus. This includes coats, hats, lunch boxes, school supplies, sport balls or money.
14. It is not recommended that students bring toys to school. If any item of this nature is brought, it should not be expensive or one that is easily broken. Please do not allow your child to bring any toy to school that is dangerous or could be harmful to others. No trading cards of any kind should be brought to school.
Acceptable toys are: balls that are soft (ex. tennis balls, rag balls); hula-hoops, lemon twists, jump ropes, and jacks (designated area only).
Unacceptable toys are: hard balls, dolls, knives, baseballs, cars, whistles, frisbees, toy guns, hard bats, marbles, yo-yos, electronic games, radios, and tape players.
Please label any item brought to school for identification. The school is NOT responsible for any item that is lost, damaged or stolen.
15. The following items are NOT allowed at school:
a. Weapons - - Possession of weapons, such as knives or guns, may result in immediate suspension, pending investigation. In addition, the student will forfeit the weapon, and it will not be returned.
b. Fireworks – Students are not to explode any type of fireworks or have them in their possession at any time.
c. Tobacco products and cigarette lighters – Any student in possession of these items is subject to punishment and will forfeit the item(s) which will not be returned to the student.
d. Hand-held laser pointers – No student shall possess a hand-held laser pointer on school property, on the school bus, or at school bus stops without the supervision of a teacher. Any hand-held laser pointer will be seized by school personnel or law enforcement and returned only to the parent/guardian.
e. Telephone/Electronic communication devices – An electronic communication device found in the possession of a student will be seized by school personnel and returned only to the parent/guardian.
16. Sunglasses are not to be worn in the building.
17. Hats are not to be worn in the building at any time.
18. Students are not permitted to distribute any party invitations at school.
19. Student solicitation of any kind is not permitted at school.
20. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated and inappropriate actions will be addressed and appropriate punishment will be administered.
East Side Elementary School rules for the playground:
1. Students are, at no time, allowed to go into the street bordering the school. If a ball goes into the street,
it must be retrieved by an adult
2. Students should stay off steps and rocky slopes. First and third grade students should stay away from the second grade windows.
3. Students are not allowed to do any kind of gymnastics on the playground--no forward or backward flips, handstands, tumbling or handsprings.
4. Students must never engage in play fighting with other students.
5. Students are not allowed to demonstrate or use any type of karate moves.
6. Tackle football games are not permitted at any time. Football must always be played on the grassy area beyond the blacktop.
7. Students are not allowed to use rocks on the playground in any way, and rocks are not to be brought into the building.
8. At no time should a football or basketball be thrown directly at another person.
9. At the end of recess, students are responsible for homeroom balls and jump ropes.
10. No gum or candy is allowed outside. All snacks should be eaten in the cafeteria at lunch.
11. Students should not climb on the culverts or up trees.
12. Students should not walk or stand on the seesaws.
13. Students should always slide down the slides in a sitting position facing forward.
14. Students should not jump from the monkey bars or slides.
15. When the bell rings to signal the end of recess, students are to stop their activities and walk to their lines immediately. Students should remain quiet until arriving at their classrooms.
THESE RULES ARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND SHOULD BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES.
****The school district reserves the right to punish behavior which is not conducive to good order and discipline in the schools, even though such behavior is not specified in the preceding written rules.
Violations of the rules and policies of East Side School will be subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary action includes but is not limited to the following: Counseling, lowering a citizenship grade, revoking privileges--such as free time, assigning written work, corporal punishment, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and expulsion.
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION – East Side Elementary School has incorporated an “In-School Suspension” program as part of our discipline program. The purpose of this program is to cause a change in behavior and attitude that will help the student be successful when he/she returns to the regular classroom. Students are assigned to the program for conduct which is detrimental to the effective operation of an educational institution. Assignment to the program will usually follow other efforts to correct the behavior of a student. However, for some incidents, such as causing bodily harm, assignment to the program may be warranted for a first offense.
* * * Students who are involved in fighting will be dealt with, in most circumstances, in the following ways:
A. First Offense--Corporal punishment of three licks. Any student who cannot be issued corporal punishment
will be assigned to In-School Suspension or be suspended from school for a brief period of time.
B. Second Offense--In-School Suspension for a minimum of one day and no more than three days.
C. Third Offense--In-School Suspension for a minimum of three days.
D. Fourth Offense--In-School Suspension for an extended period of time, not to exceed ten days, or Out-of
School Suspension for a brief period of time.
***Vandalism and/or destruction of school property may result in the punishment of suspension (either In-school or
Out-of-school), not to exceed ten days.
The school has the authority to modify the above stated punishments if unusual circumstances warrant such action.
VI. Miscellaneous
A. Riding the School Bus
Parents need to send a note with their child if bus changes or school departure changes are made. In case of unforeseen circumstances when changes need to be made during the school day, please telephone the school no later than 2:00 p.m.
If bus children must be picked up, please report to the main office. Please do not take a child from the bus line.
When riding the bus, students are under the supervision of the driver and must obey the driver and the bus rules and safety regulations at all times. The principal has the authority to suspend a student’s privilege to ride the bus temporarily for misconduct. The school may suspend the student’s privilege to ride the bus permanently for misconduct.
B. Recess
Weather permitting, students are given several recesses each day. Decisions to have outside recess during cold weather depend upon the temperature (40 degrees) and the wind-chill factor. Children are required to go outside at all recesses, if weather permits. If your child is ill or injured and you wish for him/her to remain inside, please send a note. Otherwise, he/she will be sent outside. Always dress your child for the outside recess.
C. Traffic
In order to ensure the safety of our students, East Side and Magnolia Police Department have established several rules to help with traffic before and after school.
Students should only be dropped off or picked up on Hollensworth Street. Parents should not use the parking lot or playground for this purpose. The parking lot is reserved for buses and employee parking. Hollensworth is a one-way street, going east to west from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. No parking is allowed on Troy Street, This street has been designated as a one-way street during these same time periods.
D. Room Parties
Parties are scheduled for special holidays so that every class in the school has a party on the same day. It has been the custom of East Side to have three parties each year (Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day).
Please let your child’s teacher know if you wish to be a homeroom mother or if you would like to help with the parties in any way.
E. Bicycles at School
Bicycles are to be parked on the west side of the campus beside the cafeteria. A student is not to ride or disturb another student’s bicycle. STUDENTS ARE NOT TO RIDE BICYCLES ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS AT ANY TIME. It is the student’s responsibility to have his/her bicycle locked at all times.
F. Personal Appearance
The personal appearance of students should not create health or safety hazards or disrupt the educational process by causing undue attention. Shoes should be worn on the campus for safety reasons. Clothes which attract undue attention because of their style, unusual pattern or slogans, improper fit, etc. are not appropriate. Sagging will not be tolerated. All clothing must be worn in the manner in which it is designed. School officials reserve the right to amend or revoke this rule at any time and to judge each case on an individual basis. Clothing with suggestive or inappropriate slogans and/or advertisements of alcohol or tobacco products will be prohibited.
Students who do not comply with the regulations may be sent home to correct their appearance. Such absences will be considered unexcused.
G. Parent Involvement
As part of our commitment to parental involvement, we offer volunteer opportunities to parents. Copies of the District Parental Involvement Plan and the Volunteer Plan are available for viewing in the school library.
H. School Visitation and Conferences
Every effort will be made for elementary teachers to meet with the parents or guardians of each student at least once a semester through a parent conference or a telephone conference. When parents come to the school for a visit or for any other reason, they should always go to the office first. PLEASE DO NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLASSROOM.
A parent-teacher conference can be arranged by calling the school office. The telephone number is 234-5611. If a parent desires a classroom visit, the teacher will schedule a desirable time. In most cases, a face-to-face conference is more profitable than a phone conference, The teacher will have records, and in some cases, profile charts available which will help explain your child’s progress to you.
Your visit may give your child a feeling of security in knowing that there is cooperation and understanding between parents and teacher.
I. Insult or Abuse of a Teacher
According to Arkansas Code 6-17-106, any person who shall abuse or insult a public school teacher while that teacher is performing normal and regular or assigned school responsibilities shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine.