Central Elementary School Handbook

BELL SCHEDULE

7:45 a.m.        
Teachers go on duty.
Students are allowed to come into the building at this time. 

7:45 - 8:05 a.m.        
Students assemble in the lunchroom.
Breakfast served.

8:05 a.m.        
First warning bell.  Students are to go to their classrooms.

8:10 a.m.        
Classes begin and tardy bell rings.

11:10 - 11:50         
Third grade lunch and recess.

11:35 - 12:15         
Fourth grade lunch and recess.

11:55 - 12:35         
Fifth grade lunch and recess.

1:45 - 2:00 p.m.         
Afternoon recess. (Parents are not allowed to go to recess with students)

3:15 p.m.        
School is dismissed - teachers available for conferences.

PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO ARRIVE BEFORE 7:45 A.M. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY SUPERVISED. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S ARRIVAL TIME, PLEASE SEE MR. WOMACK.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Lunch is $1.60 and breakfast is $.90 per day.  Reduced prices are $.40 for lunch and $.30 for breakfast. Students may purchase extra milk or juice at breakfast and lunch for $.30 per carton.  According to the Kansas State Food Service Department students may not charge extra milk at meals.  They must pay cash or have money in their account to pay for the milk.

Lunch and breakfast monies are due in advance.  Students will not be allowed to charge more than $10.00 in meal fees.   Students who owe $10 will not be allowed to charge any school meals.  They must bring their lunch or lunch money daily until the past due amount is paid.

If paying for meals is a hardship for you, please make application for free/reduced price meals.  Please contact the school office and an application form will be sent to you.   

ACCIDENTS

Accidents which involve injury to a person or damage to property should be reported immediately to the office or a teacher.  An “accident report form” should be filled out as soon as possible by the supervisor on duty in the area where the accident occurred and turned in at the office.

ACTIVITY AND FIELD TRIPS

Students must have a permission slip signed by their parent or guardian before they will be allowed to attend.  As a part of a Central School Student’s Educational Program students are expected to take part in all practices for school programs, field and activity trips, and school programs outside of the school day.  Activities are a part of the educational process and experiences designed by the school to teach group process skills and other skills and knowledge as an extension of classroom activities.  Students who are absent from an activity trip, field trip, or practice for a program during the school day are subject to the section “ATTENDANCE” as stated in the Central Elementary School Student Handbook.

Field trips and/or activity trips are considered a day of school and the learning experience will be designed with educational goals in mind.  An absence therefore, will constitute an absence from a regular school day.

ASSEMBLIES

During the year, assemblies will be held.  They are for instructional and entertainment purposes.  Assembly courtesy is a necessity at all times.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is essential for students in order for them to benefit from school.  Please make every effort to have your child at school.

According to Kansas state law, students are expected to attend school on a regular basis.

The Principal is the official Truant officer for the building and is required to report to appropriate state agencies if a student has had excessive absences.

Students are considered truant if they have 5 unexcused absences in a semester or are absent 3 consecutive days without being excused.

When an absence occurs the parent is required to notify the school as to the nature of the absence.  A phone call to the school or a note upon the student’s return will suffice.  If the school receives no phone call or note from the parent the absence will be considered unexcused.  Excused absences are determined by the principal and may include the following:

Personal illness - a Doctor’s note may or may not be required

Illness in the family - all school work must be kept current

Death of a relative

Observation of a religious holiday

If a student is going to be gone for reasons other than the above examples, parents must meet with the principal prior to the absences to determine if the absence will be considered excused.

After 10:00 a.m. a student is considered absent for the morning.  Students must be present for at least 2 hours after their scheduled lunch break in order to be counted present for the afternoon period.

Early Dismissals:  If a student is to be excused during the school day, he/she should have his/her parent/guardian come into the office to sign him/her out.

If You Become Ill At School:   If you become ill at school, you should report to your teacher and then come to the office where an effort will be made to contact your parents/guardians or other responsible party.  At no time are students allowed to leave school without the permission of the principal and/or their parents/guardians.

Prolonged Absence (3 days or more):  If you are unable to attend school but are able to study at home, you should call the office to ask that your assignments be secured from your teacher.  Prolonged absences many times result in failure unless the student is conscientious about his/her makeup work.

TARDIES

Tardies make it difficult for students to keep up with their school work and interferes with the learning opportunities of other students.  Every 3 tardies will equal one unexcused absence.  Social rehabilitation services (SRS) will be contacted after 15 tardies in one semester.

APPEARANCE

Appearance does have an effect on the learning atmosphere of the school.  Neatness, decency, and good taste are emphasized as guidelines for the understanding and interpretation of this dress code.  The code is not intended to work a financial hardship upon any student or family; neatness and good taste are emphasized, not expensive clothing.

Appearance must be neat and clean:

1.  Hair and body must be clean and well-groomed.

2.  Clothing must not be unreasonably soiled and must be free of offensive odors.

Decency and good taste are required:

1.  The body must be sufficiently covered to insure modesty.

2.  All shorts, skirts and dresses shall be of modest length in which the hem does not rise above the finger tips when hands are at the side in a relaxed position.         

3.  Shoes must be worn.

4.  No hats or sunglasses are to be worn in the building.

5.  Clothing with profanity, obscene or suggestive obscene writing, or alcohol, tobacco, andviolent pictures may not be worn.

6.  Any style of clothing that causes disruption or distractions will be deemed inappropriate by the Principal.

DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY

Materials rented from the school district will be checked by the teacher periodically for normal and reasonable wear.  If textbooks or other materials rented from the school district are damaged beyond what normal and reasonable use would dictate, a fee will be assessed for the replacement value of these materials or textbooks.

If other school property is damaged purposely by a student, his guardian(s) or parent(s) will be notified by the principal and arrangements will be made for the cost of repair or replacement to be made to the district.

AFTER SCHOOL LOADING

Buses will load west of the building in back of the school.  If you are picking your student up by car, please use the east side of the building.  Parents may use the entire length of the east curb for this purpose.  Please urge your child to cross streets at corners on the way home and to use the crosswalks on the east side of the building when crossing in traffic after school.

BUS CONDUCT

Any student who rides a school bus at any time will abide by the following rules:

1. The bus driver is in complete charge of the student and may assign seats as needed.

2. Unnecessary conversation with the driver is prohibited.

3. Outside quiet conversation and courteous classroom behavior is to be observed.

4. Students must not, at any time, extend hands, arms, or head out of the bus window.

5. Students are not to throw waste paper or other rubbish on the floor.

6.  Students must stay in their seats while the bus is in motion.

7. Any damage to the bus is to be reported to the driver.

8. When leaving the bus students must observe the directions of the drivers.

9. No profane language will be tolerated.

10. Pop cans or bottles are not allowed on a bus route.

11. Pets or animals are not allowed to ride on buses.

12. If students will not ride a bus to and/or from school on a given day please notify the school, the driver or the bus barn at 856-3333.

For violating these rules, students will be reported to the school principal, who will schedule a conference with student and/or the parent.

CAFETERIA PROCEDURES

We want the students to enjoy lunch period as a social time with their fellow students.

Students may purchase either a hot lunch and/or breakfast.  If a sack lunch is brought from home, a student may purchase milk to drink at $.30 a carton.

Courtesy and consideration are essential for enjoyment of the lunch period.  Each student is expected to follow the necessary procedures in the lunch period.

1. All students must eat in the cafeteria.  No one is to leave the school grounds without permission.

2. We have a closed lunch period with the following exception:

a.     If the parent/guardian comes into the building and signs the student out.         

PUNISHMENT

If a student has discipline problems, he/she could end up with a loss of recess time, in-school suspension (ISS), out-of-school suspension (OSS), detention after school or assigned to an alternative learning center (ALC).  The normal procedure is for the teacher to work first with the student then with the parent and student.

DETENTION

After school detention may be assigned to a student for behavior, or failure to complete assignments.  Detention may be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 1 hour.  Parents will be notified the day before the student has detention.  Students failing to attend or being dismissed because of behavior will receive further consequences from the principal.

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER

Students may be assigned ALC by the principal for misconduct, tardiness, failure to complete assignments, or truancy.

The ALC room will be located at Baxter High School.  It will be supervised by a certified teacher and students will be expected to have good conduct and get their work completed.

ALC may be as short as a few hours or as long as a few days.

Students failing to attend or being dismissed because of behavior will receive further consequences from the principal.

FIRE DRILLS

1.  Fire drills will be held monthly and are signaled by a pulsating bell sound throughout the building.

2. When the fire alarm sounds, the building should be evacuated immediately.

3. All students should be directed beyond 60 feet from the building.

4. Go directly to the exit as indicated by your teacher during our walk through drill at the beginning of the year.

5. Students are to return to class upon the signal bell.

6. Teachers should count the number of students present once they are outside to insure all members of their class are accounted for.

TORNADO DRILLS

1. Drills will occur three times a year.

2. They are signaled by a continuous buzzing sound.

3. All students will evacuate to the hallway.

4. Students will wait for an all clear before returning to classes.

HEAD LICE

K.A.R. 28-1-6 (1) on head lice should be called to attention which states: “(1) Prediculosis:  Students infested with lice shall be excluded from school or child care facilities until treated with an antiparasitic drug and until all nits have been removed.” Students must have their heads checked by the school nurse and/or another school official before returning to classes.

LOST AND FOUND

Students finding lost articles are requested to turn them into the office immediately.  Check in the office if you have lost articles.  Items not claimed in a reasonable amount of time will be turned over to a charitable organization.  CLOTHING IS EXPENSIVE!!!

MEDICINE

No students are allowed to have medicine at school.  If a student needs to take medication during the school day that medication must stay in the office.  A medicine permission form must be signed by both the physician and the parent and kept on file in the office.  This means prescription medication as well as any over the counter medication (aspirin, cough drops, allergy medicine, cough syrup, etc).  The medicine must be in a properly labeled container and will be administered by the nurse or an authorized school official.  No exceptions to this rule are allowed.  If a student brings any medicine to school without a signed permission form a parent will be called to come pick up the medicine.  Parents may check in at the office and administer medication to their child, if needed.

NUISANCE ITEMS

Students are not allowed to USE OR HAVE IN THEIR POSSESSION on school premises:  tobacco, drugs (unless prescription), weapons, dangerous toys,  water guns, or other nuisance items.  This includes pocket knives.  This list will include any item in the opinion of school personnel that interferes with the learning - teaching process.

CELL PHONES

Cell phones are not to be used, or seen during the school day. This includes lunchtime.

The first violation will result in the phone being sent to the office. The student's parent or guardian must come to the school to claim the phone. This does not constitute a discipline referral, but subsequent violations would.

The office phones are available  for use, with permission. If your parents need to talk to you, they may call the office at 856-3366

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

From time to time, you will have a substitute teacher, who will have the SAME authority as your regular teacher.  They are to be treated as GUESTS in our school.

TELEPHONE MESSAGES AND USE

THE SCHOOL TELEPHONE is a BUSINESS PHONE, therefore, students will not be allowed to use the office telephone during the school hours, except in the case of an emergency.

If you want a message delivered to your child please call the school before 3:00 p.m

VISITORS

Sorry, we do not allow student visitors from other schools.   Their presence sometimes interferes with an already busy and crowded schedule of teaching and learning.

WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL

Students who are withdrawing from school should notify their teacher and the office as soon as possible.  Parents are asked to contact the office so that records may be handled properly and promptly and all debts taken care of.

PARTIES

Holiday parties will be celebrated for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine Day, and Easter.  All holiday parties and birthday celebrations will normally be held the last 30 minutes of the day.

Invitations to parties being arranged or held outside of the school will not be allowed to be handed out in school buildings or on school grounds unless the entire class is invited.

We will have a full dress up day in place of Halloween.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

Any student while on school grounds, or in attendance at school activities held off of school grounds, who exhibits obvious symptoms of having consumed alcohol or is apparently under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or who has possession of alcohol or other drugs, will face suspension and/or expulsion.  While suspended or expelled, the student will be prohibited from participation in or attending school activities.  Police and/or juvenile authorities will be notified of every drug/alcohol related incident.

HOMEWORK

Homework may be picked up after school is out at 3:15 p.m.  No classes will be interrupted to prepare or pick-up a student’s homework.

Assemblies

All teachers are expected to attend assemblies and sit among the students.  Teachers whose planning period falls during the assembly time are expected to attend the assembly.  All of us have the responsibility to assure our assemblies are properly attended.

Assistance of Disabled Students Each teacher will be responsible for assisting any disabled students in his/her charge to the nearest accessible exit or safe refuge area. Each building administrator will be responsible for assisting any disabled visitor to the nearest accessible exit or safe refuge area.

Att endance (Please refer to student handbook)

The matter of regular attendance is of utmost importance in our school system.  We firmly believe that regular attendance is mandatory to achieve the full benefit of our educational program.  Please do everything possible to encourage regular attendance.

Attendance

The teacher must check attendance at the beginning of each day and enter it into Power School. Each teacher must keep an accurate and up-to-date record of attendance of each pupil in the class record book.

Book Rental Program

We have a complete textbook rental program in effect.  This is a rather costly program and we urge all staff members to see that the books are used properly.  Please report any unnecessary marking or defacing of books to the office.  We are looking to update our textbook adoption schedule.  If you feel your textbooks need to be replaced due to wear or being outdated, please let the office know ASAP.  It is the responsibility of each classroom teacher to make sure that their textbooks are up-to-date and that there are enough textbooks to facilitate their class load.

Calendar

The official school calendar will be kept in the Principal’s office.  All activities must be approved in advance by the administration before being placed on the calendar.

Change in Enrollment

With the exception of new students and changes that need to be made as initiated by the staff and approved by the administration, studen's classes will not be changed.

Discipline

Most infractions can be taken care of in the classroom or with parent phone calls. In certain situations it is required that the student be sent to the office.  Ensure that a discipline referral form accompanies this visit.  Please write as much information on the form as possible.  This will aid in the discipline process.

Excusing Students

No student should be excused from school after his arrival on the grounds without a note of approval by the office.  If a parent wants a student excused from class for a dental appointment, etc., please refer them to the office.  They must sign out in the office before leaving.       

Faculty Meetings

Faculty meetings will be held every Tuesday at 7:45 and as needed.  Most meetings will be held in the morning to accommodate those who have responsibilities after school. 

Field Trip Guidelines

1. Respect the place you are going and the people who are responsible for that place.

2. Set definite times, standards, and expectations.

3. Be where the students are.

4. The same student handbook rules apply.

5. Students will load and unload only when the sponsor is present.

6. Students will not load on bus until activity is over and all students are ready to board the bus with sponsor.

7. Group requesting bus will be held responsible for any damage to bus.

8. Be sure your request for transportation is timely and has reached the Transportation Director at least a week prior to the trip. Use your E-Mail.

Fund Raising Activities

All fund raising activities must be cleared through the principal’s office.  Orders to companies must be channeled through the superintendent’s office so that proper payment of invoices may be made.

Grade Books

Use the following guidelines:

1.      We are now fully computerized and all grades will be kept electronically

2.  Use a class record book for a back up.

Injuries

If one of your students in the classroom has an accident you must complete an accident report form.  Please fill out the accident report for injuries giving an accurate account of the injury immediately after an accident occurs.  Hand it into the office as soon as possible.

Janitorial / Maintenance Request Form

Please fill out your request for janitorial or maintenance request needs and submit to the principal.

Lesson Plans

Lesson plans are required.  It is important you be prepared everyday.  These plans are subject to review at any time.  The minimum requirement will be as follows:

1.Please post your standards and indicators in the lesson plan

2.  Substitute teacher lesson plans are critical.  Each teacher will be required to submit emergency substitute lesson plans to the principal’s office in case of an unexpected absence.

3.  All non-tenured teachers are required to turn in lesson plans. They are due on Monday morning of each week.

4. Lesson plans must be written to gainfully employ students.

Mailboxes

Please empty your mailbox daily.

Nurse

If a student becomes ill in your classroom, he/she should be allowed a pass to see the nurse.  If it is an emergency, please call the office for help.

Purchase Orders

NO PURCHASE should be made or charged without first securing an authorization for such purchase.  You need to work within your individual budget.  The principal will submit any requisitions for necessary supplies or materials to the superintendent who has final authority for approval.  Please abide by this policy at all times.

Local purchase orders need building administration approval prior to purchase.

Room Cleanliness

While it is the responsibility of the custodian to clean your room, it is our responsibility to keep them in order.  Proper organization is essential.  Tops of desks should be kept clean and neat.  Do not tolerate students marking on their desks.  Students are expected to pick up after themselves each period.

Substitutes for Teachers

Teachers who know in advance of an absence should complete a leave form early for approval and allow the office to arrange for a substitute.  Be sure your substitute folder is updated and on file.

A teacher who unexpectedly finds it necessary to be absent from school should notify Marsha by 7:00 a.m.  A leave form must be completed when the teacher returns.

Tardies

Be consistent and enforce our tardy policy!  (See student handbook for policy.)

Teacher Arrival and Departure

Each teacher is required to be on campus by 7:45 a.m. and remain on campus until 3:30 p.m.  (Please use the school clock.)  These times are based on the USD 508 negotiated agreement.  The building principal must approve any adjustment to this time frame.  Please be in your hallway by 7:45 a.m. and remain near your rooms until 3:30 p.m.

Telephone Calls – Long Distance Calls

When possible, any calls received while school is in session will be sent to your voice mail or if needed, the office can take a message and place in your mailbox, or ask the person calling to call back during your planning period.  The office staff will refer urgent calls.

Telephone calls to a teacher’s room during class time should be avoided.  This includes teachers calling from room to room.

All teachers will be assigned a code to use for long distance calls.  Please limit these to school business or emergency use only.

Use of Keys

Possession of a building key is a privilege that carries with it a heavy responsibility.  Under NO circumstances should a teacher lend a building key.  Such requests should be referred to the office.  Room, desk, and cabinet keys are furnished for each teacher.  These should be kept in the possession of the teacher and not given to a student.