Policies and Handbook

 

 

Timeless Teachings in a Changing World
 

Visitors To School

All visitors, including parents, are required to check in at the office when visiting the school. Visitors should wear a visitor’s tag. This is for the protection and safety of all students. Any parents checking out students are required to come by the office to complete a check out form.  Parents are not to enter a teacher’s classroom when the teacher is not present unless they have permission of the teacher. Parents are not allowed to go through any student’s work or any teacher’s papers or classroom records.

 

Field Trips & Permission Forms

All children are required to bring a signed permission slip form for each field trip.  All parents are always welcome to accompany their children on field trips. Please let your child’s classroom teacher know you are coming. Also remember that no siblings or other young children may ride the buses with the class. This is in violation of Caddo Parish School Board Policy. All students will be required to purchase a sack lunch from the cafeteria. This is required of all students who participate in field trips.

 

Cafeteria Services

Students are encouraged to eat our school lunches. They are economical, well balanced, and nourishing.

CAFETERIA

 

Breakfast which is served from 7:40 a.m.- 7:55 a.m. may be purchased for:  Full price - $1.00; Reduced - 30 cents;

Parent - $1.90.  Any child who is on free lunch automatically qualifies for free breakfast.

 

Lunch prices are: Full price (ECE-5th grades) - $1.75, Reduced - .40 cents, and parent/adult-$3.90. Students who bring their lunch may purchase milk, juice or water for .50 cents and bottled water for .50 cents. Students are encouraged to pay for meals weekly or monthly. Cash or money orders only, NO CHECKS. Free lunch applications are available. NO FAST FOOD, NO SOFT DRINKS nor GLASS BOTTLES may be brought into the cafeteria.

NEW LUNCH PROGRAM in Caddo has begun!!! Parents can now prepay for their students lunch money online at www.Myschoolbucks.com. This program will also give parents other options. For more information on the program, please click.PROGRAM DETAILS.  To launch to the website to begin paying, please click here. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CHILD’S LUNCH ACCOUNT NUMBER TO BEGIN THE PROGRAM.

 

If there is no money on the child’s account, we will call the parents.

 Students should observe these rules in the cafeteria:

•  Wait in line quietly; do not push or attempt to break in line.

• Food must be eaten while at the table. It may not be taken from the cafeteria.

• Clean tables of food, napkins, etc. when finishing eating. Remember, others will use the same table after you.

• Leave lunchroom quietly with your class.

• Food from fast food restaurants is not allowed in the cafeteria for breakfast or lunch for a student or a parent.

• No carbonated beverages (canned Cokes, etc.) may be brought in a student’s lunch.
   

 

Lost and Found

Parents must clearly label all belongings, including lunch boxes, backpacks, hats, gloves, and jackets. Lost & found items will be kept in the lounge area. Please check with your child’s homeroom teacher if your child is missing any items. The lost & found items will be cleaned out twice a year. The items not claimed will be donated to charity.

 

Telephone Use

Students may use the phone on the office counter only after getting permission from a teacher or office personnel. It is not our school policy to call children to the phone during school hours. Please attend to all family business before students arrive at school. Messages are often disruptive to classroom climate. Children who stay after school for extra-curricular activities need to have plans completed ahead of time so that they do not have to come back inside the buildings to use the phone. Students may not come to the office to call to go home with another student or to obtain permission to go on a field trip.

 

Medicine

Caddo Parish School Board policy regarding the giving of medicine during the school day states that any child who has to take medicine during school hours must have on file in the school office a “ Medical Request” form signed by both parent and doctor. This form is available in the school office and must be used. ( A simple doctor’s note is not sufficient.) Please do not ask to give medicine of any kind without following this policy.  Children cannot bring supplies of medicine to school to carry around with them. This includes over-the-counter medicine as well as that dispensed by a doctor. The same procedure applies for eye or eardrops.

 

Fees

Each fall at the beginning of the year we collect a classroom fee. The fees provide support to several areas of enrichment such art, music, PE, etc. They are also used for consumable student workbooks, classroom supplies, and projects. Additional fees will be required for Gateway, Strings/Orchestra, etc. Security.

SECURITY
Caddo Parish provides each school with a security coordinator to oversee the security of the school building. All visitors must sign in and out in the office. The side doors are closed each day at 8:05 a.m. and we ask that anyone entering the building use the front entrance. NO CHILD CAN LEAVE THE BUILDING WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION.

 

Arrival

Children should report to school between 7:30 and 8:00. No students should arrive before this time as supervision is not provided. If you have a unique situation and must have your child at school before 7:45, please talk with the principal. All students should follow the marked lines where ever they walk at school. The bell rings at 7:50 to start school. All students who are not in their classrooms at 8:05 will be considered tardy. Please help us avoid unnecessary classroom disruptions by having your child at school on time.  An unexcused tardy occurs when any student enters the classroom after 8:05 a.m. Tardies are excused when a child has been ill, has had a medical or dental appointment, or is on a late bus.

 

Departing

The school day ends at 3:00. Students should be picked up by 3:15 as duty teachers will not be in the car loop after this time. For the protection of the students, they are not permitted to remain outside unsupervised.

A student who is to go home in a manner different from his/her normal routine must bring a note. Otherwise, he/she will be required to go home as usual. In the event of an emergency change in afternoon transportation, please call the school office before 2:00. We will not interrupt instruction to give parent messages or ask for homework except once a day, at 2:15.  No child will be permitted to ride the bus home with a friend without a note from the parent. Children who want to go home with friends must make those arrangements in advance. We cannot allow them to call home for permission.  Do not schedule any after school lessons (music, dance, etc) that require early dismissal of students before the 2:45 dismissal time.  We understand that occasionally something may cause you to be late in picking up your child, but continued late pickup is an imposition to the staff and is interpreted as failure to follow school rules and guidelines.

 

Traffic Information

Buses have priority during the morning and afternoon times. To ensure the safety of all students, please comply with the following:

• Do not let your children out of the car in front of the school on Smitherman Drive. If you are dropping your child off, use the car
   line only.

• Do not park your car on Smitherman Drive and walk you child to class or walk to pick them up in the afternoon. Use the car loop. This will assist children in becoming independent and will also free up the traffic areas.

• Do not park or block the bus loop between 2:30 and 3:00. Buses will pull out between 2:45 and 3:15.

• Use the car pool signs in the windows to help duty teachers identify the riders.

 

Screening Committee

The Caddo Parish School System assures that each school within the parish has a screening committee responsible for educational screeing, school level interventions, and referrals for Pupil Appraisal services. The committee is made up of the principal, counselor, coordinator, appropriate teachers, and Pupil Appraisal representative. The committee meets on a monthly basis.  In accordance with Louisiana law for the education of dyslexic students and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the SBLC is responsible for screening students. Parents or teachers are asked to communicate with the SBLC if learning problems are suspected for students.

 

Philosophy Of Discipline

Every pupil is entitled to an education in an orderly, healthy atmosphere, and to firm, fair treatment in all matters pertaining to school life.  Every child shall comply with all rules and regulations having to do with student behavior of both the state and the Caddo Parish School Board.  Students attending University Elementary are expected to follow the behavior guidelines and dress codes established by Caddo Parish School Board. It is our school policy to first contact parents in all matters pertaining to inappropriate behavior of students.

 

In-School Suspension

In keeping with its commitment to help students acquire an education in an orderly and healthy teaching-learning environment, our school will participate in the In-School Suspension Room program. This program is designed to help students who have difficulty adjusting to school rules and regulations.

Students are assigned to the ISS Room for:

• classroom disturbance

• disrespect for authority

• fighting

• refusal to comply to a reasonable request

• and various other offenses where a time-out is justified

This will enable them to continue their education in an alternative classroom within the school setting. Recess detention provides an alternative to ISS for minor infractions of school rules. Parents are always notified when their child is sent to ISS.

 

Services of the School Counselor

• Counseling with individuals and groups

• Identifying needs of children

• Encouraging better student relationships

• Promoting positive attitudes and choices

• Aiding teachers and parents in helping children

• Reviewing test results to provide information about abilities, needs, achievements, and interest

• Assisting students with the growing up process

• Facilitating discussion groups

• Providing in-service for faculty

• Providing preventative counseling