SCHOOL HOURS
School hours for students:
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The school doors open at 7:20 a.m.
The school cannot accept responsibility for supervising students who arrive before 7:20 a.m. Students who are in our breakfast program will be served between
7:20-7:55 a.m.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS
Students should arrive at school no earlier than 7:20 a.m. Students should report to rooms as follows:
Pre-K & Kinder -> Blue Commons
1, 2 & 3 -> Multi-Purpose
4 & 5 -> Cafeteria
The first bell will ring at 8:00 a.m. Students are considered tardy at 8:05 a.m. Tardy slips are issued by the front office staff. A conference is required with you if your child has excessive tardies or absences. Further action can be taken if tardiness continues after the conference.
Bus riders are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. All other students are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Students should be picked up by 3:15 p.m. to allow teachers and staff members to plan effectively for the next school day. We understand that events will occur which will require a parent to be late. Please call the office to inform us of your arrangements. If you are unable to pick up your child/children on time, please make after-school child care arrangements. SAFETY is our number one priority.
APPOINTMENTS
We encourage you to try to schedule your child’s doctor and dental appointments around school hours. If this is not possible, you must:
1. Come to Main office to sign the register in order for your child to be released.
2. Your name must appear on the enrollment card.
3. Present a picture I.D.
Students will not be checked out from class between 2:30-3:00pm as teachers are preparing them for dismissal.
ATTENDANCE
The official attendance time is 10:00 a.m. daily. Students are expected to attend school on a regular basis. Failure of a student to attend when he/she is able to do so will jeopardize promotion to the next grade and can lead to legal action filed by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. (See Attachment I)
Connect-ED® is designed to improve communication with parents regarding weather emergencies, school closings, principal messages and attendance. An automated telephone call is sent every day for those students marked absent by the classroom teacher. We appreciate the telephone calls in the morning notifying the school of a child’s absence and hope to continue receiving your calls. When your child returns to school after an absence, send a note stating the date of the absence(s) and the reason.
BACKPACKS
Rolling backpacks will not be permitted because of safety issues. Provisions will be made so that students carry a minimal amount of books on a daily basis.
BUS CONDUCT
Specific student behavior expectations are established for the safe and efficient operation of the school district transportation system. Transportation is considered an extension of the regular school program and students who violate behavior exceptions while riding a bus are subject to suspension from riding the bus and/or all other penalties established for misbehavior while students are on the school premises. A bus behavior report will be provided to the administration. The parent will be notified immediately.
CAFETERIA RULES
Rules were established to help students enjoy their breakfast and lunch in a safe environment. Students should:
· walk at all times
· eat their food only (no sodas)
· talk at the appropriate time and use a soft voice.
· clean their eating spaces.
· go through the lunch line only once
· ask permission to leave their seats.
If a child continues to break the rules, a conference will be scheduled with the parent.
CALENDAR/NEWSLETTERS
A calendar and newsletter will be given to students on a monthly basis. Please read for important dates and information about the school and district. All other communications will be sent home on Wednesdays.
DISCIPLINE
One of the most important lessons education should teach is discipline. While it does not appear as a subject, it underlies the whole educational structure. The purpose of our disciplinary policy is to insure the rights of each student to attend school in a safe, positive, and productive learning environment.
We must work collaboratively to create an atmosphere for learning and order will be maintained. School personnel are responsible for the proper supervision of all students. Children are expected to demonstrate the self-discipline strategies and to adhere to the guidelines in the HISD Code of Student Conduct Handbook.
CONSEQUENCES- Code of Student Conduct
Each student will receive the Code of Student Conduct Handbook. The handbook contains five levels of misconduct and five levels of appropriate disciplinary responses. Parents should discuss the handbook with their child/children. The STUDENT - PARENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT slip must be signed and placed in the student’s permanent record folder.
ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY
Cell phones for students are to be kept in backpacks and turned off during the school’s instructional hours (8:00am-3:00pm).
Electronic games are not permitted. According to HISD board policy, audio and electronic equipment such as I-Pods, mp3 players, tape or CD players, electronic games, radios, TVs, and or similar electronic devices are prohibited on campus during school hours.
ENROLLMENT CARDS
An enrollment card for each student must be on file in the office. If there is a need to contact you during the day, school personnel will use the telephone numbers listed. If there is a change of address or telephone number during the school year, please notify the school office. It is very important for the safety of our students that the parent’s home, business and emergency numbers are kept current during the school year.
FIELD TRIPS
Each student must return to the teacher a written field trip permission slip signed by the parent or guardian. Notes and telephone calls cannot be accepted as a form of permission to attend a field trip. Siblings will not be permitted.
FOOD PROGRAM
Students may purchase their breakfast and/or lunch at school, or bring one from home. Those who bring lunch may purchase milk or a la carte item. Lunch cards can be purchased in the office on Monday mornings for one week, two weeks, etc. Please, cash only-
NO CHECKS!
FORMS
The following forms must be on file in the office for your child/children:
· Internet User Agreement and Parent Permission
· Rainy Day Procedure
· Media Release
HOMEWORK:
...is an extension of regular class activity and is a vital part of classroom instruction.
...is done, primarily, as practice of a concept presented in class.
...is not used for punishment.
...is a daily assignment, but may extend over a longer time period.
(special reports, projects, etc.)
...usually is not given over weekends or holidays.
ILL STUDENTS/ACCIDENTS
If your child becomes ill or is involved in an accident, school personnel will contact you immediately. If we cannot reach you, we will call the emergency contact name. Please remember, students with fever or a communicable disease cannot remain at school.
LIBRARY
Books may be checked out and taken home to read or study. Students must be responsible for the care of the books. A fee will be charged for lost and damaged books.
LOST AND FOUND
The “Lost and Found” area is located in the office. Label all items with your child’s first and last name on lunch kits, equipment, and clothing. Students should keep valuable items at home. The school is not responsible for items lost or broken.
MEDICATION
H.I.S.D. Policy states: “School personnel will not administer medical treatment or medication including over-the counter drugs. If your child is on a short term medication, please schedule the dosage so that the child receives a morning dose and the remaining doses when he/she returns home. Students on long term medication will receive the medication only if a physician has stated in writing that the student should have a certain medication during school hours. The official form, which is available from the nurse, must be signed and on file before any long term medication can be given during the school year.
MESSAGE TO TEACHERS
Instruction will not be interrupted to give messages to teachers. Whenever possible, use email. Each teacher has a designated time for parent-teacher conferences so there are no interruptions to the instructional day. Prior scheduling of a conference will save you from unnecessary frustration or misunderstanding due to a teacher’s immediate plans or activities.
Arrangements for transportation should be stated in writing and submitted to the classroom teacher.
$$$PAYMENT OF FEES
When paying for pictures, field trips, school sponsored fundraisers, or other school activities, please remit in cash.
PEDESTRIAN REGULATIONS
HISD places a crossing guard at the corner of Oak Forest Street and 43rd Street and at LaMonte and 43rd Street from 7:15-8:15am and 2:45-3:45pm to supervise our students. Children must cross at one of the supervised areas. No child will be allowed to cross the street in the middle of the block.
TELEPHONE USE
The school telephone is a business telephone. Students may use the telephone in emergency situations only. The student must have a pass from the teacher and the office staff must give permission for the use of the phone.
TEXTBOOKS
Students will be issued textbooks. All textbooks must be covered at all times. Students should carefully check each book. If damaged pages are found, the student should report the information to the teacher. Students are responsible for the care of the books. If the book is lost, the student must pay the cost for replacement.
VISITING THE SCHOOL
We encourage parents and the community to visit our school. Please contact the office if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. Your time and interest will make a difference in our school. When you are visiting the school, register in the office. You will be given a visitor’s pass. Please sign out before you leave the campus. It is important for this policy to be followed for the protection and safety of all students at Oak Forest.