Policies and Procedures |
The information below is included in our student handbook. |
| Click on a topic: |
Absence After and Before School Behavior Bus
Celebrations Class Assignments Conferences Dress
Emergencies Field Trips Health Homework
Honor Roll Hours of Arrival and Departure Illness
Information Changes Inappropriate Items Lost and Found
Lunch and Breakfast Medicine Moment of Silence
Open House Parental Concerns Pictures
Pupil Records Report Cards Smoking
School Store Student Support Team
Standardized Tests Student Accident Insurance
Telephone Usage Textbooks Visiting Volunteers
Withdrawal
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| Absence |
All absences require a written parental explanation or medical excuse. In order to receive an excused absence, a written parental explanation must be presented no later than the second day of the student's return to school. The student will then be afforded the opportunity to make up the work within a reasonable length of time. It is the responsibility of the student to acquire the work missed. When an absence is unexcused, the make-up opportunity will not be allowed unless approval is given in advance so that the assigned work can be prearranged.
Upon the twenty-first (21) absence from a class and subsequent absences, a doctor's excuse will be required by the school in order for the student to make up class assignments. The student will be given two (2) school days to turn in a doctor's excuse; otherwise, the absence is unexcused and make up assignments will not be accepted.
Students may be excused from school in case of:
1. personal illness
2. serious illness or death in the immediate family
3. special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith
4. mandated order of governmental agencies
5. emergencies which reasonably necessitate absences from school.
If your child will be out for several days due to illness, the school would appreciate a call. After five days' absences, the school will contact the parents. Any student who is absent excessively will be referred to the County Social Worker. |
| After School and Before School Programs |
The Instructional Extension After School Program serves as a remedial program for students who are teacher recommended for participation. The parents of the recommended students will be provided more information within the first month of school
Dates and times for the Computer Club, the Einstein Math Club, and the Fourth Grade Bookworm Club will be determined within the first month of school. Students will be selected to participate in the Fourth Grade Bookworm Club. |
| Behavior Expectations |
Children come to us with high expectations to be accepted for who they are and to be valued for their individual abilities and successes. As a school, we expect children to take responsibility for their education because we know just how much they are capable of achieving. As educators we are responsible for providing a safe place where students feel needed and valued. Students are responsible for their own behavior, academic success and failures. They cannot blame their environment, their parents, or their peers. Each student has the ability to choose.
General School Rules:
1. Respect all staff members and fellow students.
2. Walk or stand in a straight, single file line, with no talking.
3. Keep hands, feet and belongings to yourself at all times.
4. While at lunch, remain seated, talk quietly and clean up your area. No exchanging of food.
5. Refrain from chewing gum and wearing caps inside the building.
Since expectations vary somewhat from grade to grade, each grade level will establish classroom rules. All teachers are required to develop a formal discipline plan showing steps they will take to handle discipline problems. The teacher will handle minor offenses. Students will be referred to the Principal or Assistant Principal's office only after the teacher's plan has failed to resolve the problem.
MAJOR OFFENSES INCLUDE:
1. Fighting, using profanity, and stealing
2. Being blatantly disrespectful to a staff member or student
3. Throwing hard objects at other students
5. Hitting another student
6. Possessing, selling, or using alcohol, tobacco, other drugs or weapons
7. Causing a major disruption of learning in the classroom
8. Committing any other offenses as outlined in the Columbia County policy.
MAJOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN WHICH MAY INCLUDE:
1. Suspension
2. Required parent conference before returning to class
3. In-school suspension
4. Other disciplinary actions, including corporal punishment, in accordance with county policy.
Parents will be contacted by telephone if possible. A record of all office referrals will be kept by the Principal and Assistant Principal.
The pertinent policies in the Columbia County pamphlet, Student Offenses and Discipline Procedures, should be discusses with your child. We want your child to learn, and if other children interfere with this, we must apply the consequences. |
| Bus |
Please read the Columbia County handout, Bus Rules and Regulations, with your child. We want every student to arrive at school and back home safely.
Your child's classroom teacher must approve any non-educational item brought to school. If approval is given, it must be closed tightly in a bag or box. |
| Bus Transportation Expectations |
Students are expected to ride their assigned buses unless prior approval has been obtained from the office. Written requests by the parent of the child must be presented no later than the morning of the day of the request.
Permission for exceptions lasting longer than 5 days must be obtained from Mrs. Shirley Doolittle, Transportation Director. |
| Celebrations/School Parties |
School wide and classroom celebrations are held periodically throughout the year. These celebrations will be in keeping with our educational purposes and will reflect the themes taught in our classrooms. With the teacher's prior permission, parents may send in birthday treats for their child's class to enjoy at recess or at lunch. Instructional time will not be interrupted. Any exceptions to scheduled celebrations need to be cleared with the principal. Each student is honored on his/her birthday by being recognized on the intercom or by receiving a treat in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Birthday Celebrations: invitations brought to school must be distributed to the entire class or all girls/boys. These guidelines must be followed or invitations will be returned. Gifts, such as balloons or flowers, sent to the student will not be "delivered" to the classrooms. |
| Class Assignments |
The administrative staff will make all student class assignments. In making these, the administrators may accept information from the current teacher, the parent, or the Student Support Team (SST) regarding specific needs of a child. Parental requests for specific class assignments will not be accepted. The administrators will strive to accomplish heterogenity in all aspects of the class environment. |
| Conferences |
Parents are strongly encouraged to maintain close contact with their child's teacher. Conferences should be scheduled by note (or telephone), except in cases of emergency, at least two days prior to the requested day of the conference. This will give the teacher time to check his/her calendar and confirm or suggest an alternate date for the meeting. Conferences should begin and conclude on time. Please remember that a conference cannot be held when a teacher is scheduled to be "instructing" in the classroom. |
| Dress |
In order to help foster a climate conducive to academic achievement, students should dress appropriately. Students who fail to comply with our dress code must be sent home to correct their dress. The school reserves the right to decide the suitability of any garment. Flip flops or unlaced shoes, tank tops, see-through tops, midriffs, bike shorts, torn or cut clothing are not appropriate. Clothing with writing referring to alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco, or profanity is not allowed. Clothing must be worn appropriately (belts fastened, pants at the waist, bibs on overall are to be fastened). Tight clothing of any sort is inappropriate. Shoes are required at all times; caps are never to be worn inside the building. One warning will be given before caps are confiscated. Shorts may be worn; however, they must be acceptable in length according to the child's height and size. Parents, please remember to follow this dress code when you are at the school. |
| Emergencies |
Please listen to local radio and TV stations if weather appears to be a threat. They will announce school closings. Avoid calling the schools as school personnel need telephone lines.
Fire drills are held monthly in order to have students and staff practice quick evacuation of the building. Tornado drills are held twice yearly, one in conjunction with the Statewide Tornado Drill and one conducted at the school level. Bus evacuation drills will be held twice yearly. Crisis Management and Prevention Drills will be held a minimum of two times a year.
TWO EMERGENCY NUMBERS must be provided to the school. Any home or work changes must be given to the school immediately. This is for the health and safety of your child. |
| Field Trips |
Various field trips may be taken during the year. Parent or guardian permission slips must be signed in advance. The cost of the field trips will vary depending upon the number of students going, length of the field trip, and admission charge (if any). If there is a fee involved for the trip, there may be a voluntary contribution. No student will be denied the chance to participate. Parents are encouraged to attend and help the teacher with supervision: however, children who are not officially designated to participate are not allowed to accompany chaperones. |
| Health |
One of the major objectives of the school is the encouragement and development of good health habits. Please keep your child at home if he or she has symptoms such as sore throat, nausea, rashes, enlarged glands, fever, running nose, etc. Encourage good health habits: bathing, brushing teeth daily, keeping hair clean and groomed, and washing hands thoroughly after using the restroom and before eating. Following these habits may prevent health problems sucah a colds and head lice. |
| Homework |
Homework has been shown to be an effective instructional technique. It can have positive effects on learning and work habits and can serve as a vital link between the school and family. Please support your child by providing a time and suitable place.
Homework shall not be assigned as a means of punishment. The duration of assignments for the AVERAGE student should not exceed the following per night:
Kindergarten- 15 minutes
First- 30 minutes
Second/Third- 45 minutes
Fourth/Fifth- 60 minutes |
| Honor Roll |
A Honor Roll (90-100 in each subject with all S's), A and B Honor Roll (80-100) in each subject with at least one A and all S's, and B Honor Roll (80-89 in each subject with all S's). Each recipient receives a certificate each report card period. |
| Hours of School Arrival and Departure |
Arrival: It is essential that students arrive on time. School begins at 8:30 a.m. The doors open at 7:45 a.m. Breakfast will be served to walkers and car riders from 7:55 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Late bus riders will be served breakfast from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Students arriving after 8:30 must be counted tardy. Please be sure your child is brought to the office if he/she arrives late. Chronic tardiness must and will be reported to the Columbia County School Social Worker for appropriate action. There is no supervision before 7:45 a.m. Please do not allow your child to come to school earlier than 7:45 a.m. This is for his/her protection.
Parents are asked to drop students in the drop zone, which will be supervised. Parents must remain in cars. Do not leave unattended cars in the drop zone. If circumstances require you to accompany your child to class for a special purpose, you must park in the parking lot. DO NOT DROP STUDENTS OFF AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. This is a bus zone.
Departure:
3:30 dismissal time
Preschool bus riders
Bus riders, car riders, walkers
Car riders exit out the back door of the John's Building. The car rider pickup area is behind the school. Do not pick children up in the front or on the side of the school due to safety reasons. If you have a special need for this to occur, you must meet with Mrs. Moore or Ms. Allen. Bus riders and walkers are to exit out their designated doors.
Early Departure:If a student must leave early, the parent must come to the office to sign the child out. If someone other than the parent is to pick the child up for any reason, we must have written permission from the parent or guardian with a telephone number to call for verification if the school deems it necessary.
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| Illness |
If parents or designee cannot be reached and emergency medical care is deemed necessary by a school administrator, an emergency medical service will be called. Ambulance service is paid for by the parent. The school cannot provide for sick children. |
| Information Changes |
Please notify the school immediately if there is a change in your address, telephone number, baby-sitter/daycare, or person to contact in an emergency. This information is very important if your child becomes ill or injured. We make every effort to locate the parents of ill children, and our task is simplified when our parents keep us updated on these changes. Please remember we cannot keep seriously ill children at school.
If there is a change in your child's legal name, please notify the school and provide us with a copy of the legal document stating the change (new birth cerfificate, court documents, etc.) School records are legal documents and must carry the legal name as stated on the official record of birth unless a change is legally documented. |
| Inappropriate Items |
There are some items which are not allowed in our school for safety, health, etiquette, or security reasons. Occasionally the first three are allowed with proper approval from the principal:
live animals
radios/tape players
video tapes
poisonous animals/plants
weapons or parts of weapons, real or toy
gum
canned or bottled carbonated beverages
sharp items such as needles or pins |
| Lost and Found |
If your child has lost an article of clothing you may come to the schol between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and check the clothing in our lost and found bin. Glasses, jewelry, money, etc. will be kept in the office. |
| Lunch and Breakfast |
Students may not charge over 10 lunches. Students are required to eat lunch (homemade or school lunch.)
Occasionally, gifts are provided as incentives to encourage students to purchase school lunches. Parents will be notified when items will be provided so students who wish to participate may purchase a lunch that day to be eligible to receive the gift.
If your child has an allergy to milk or any foods, you need to send a doctor's note to let the office, teacher, nurse, and lunchroom manager know. If a medical statement is on file, we will substitute juice (if available) or water for the student.
Please remember that soft drinks cannot be brought for lunch or breakfast. No cafeteria food or drink is to be carried out of the cafeteria. Prices are:
Lunch: $1.25 Reduced:$.40
Breakfast: $.75 Reduced: $.30
Extra Milk: $.40
Adult: $2.25
Breakfast is served for walkers and car riders from 7:55-8:15. Late bus riders are served from 8:15-8:30. |
| Medicine |
Students taking any type of medication, including aspirin or Tylenol, must have written parental permission and the directions for taking it. A permission form is available in the nurses's clnic. The medication will be kept in and distributed from the clinic or office. |
| Moment of Silence |
State law in Georgia requires a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day in public schools. At Grovetown Elementary this time is conducted during the morning intercom announcements. Please participate in the observance if you are in the building at this time. We ask that all in the halls remain stationary and silent until that moment has ended. |
| Open House |
All parents and children are cordially invited to attend Open House at Grovetown Elementary. This is the perfect opportunity to meet your child's teacher, to familiarize yourself with the school surroundings and to become aware of your child's daily schedule. Class lists will be posted in the hall by each classroom door. The administrators and teachers look forward to meeting you and answering your questions. |
| Parental Concerns |
Parental concerns or complaints should be handled at the most immediate level. Parents need to address initial concerns directly with the teacher involved. Should there be a parent or citizen complaint to the principal concerning a teacher, the principal shall inform the teacher of the complaint. If the principal determines that the complaint is of such a nature as to warrant a conference, a conference with the parent, teacher, and principal will be arranged. |
| Pictures |
Individual school pictures are taken in the fall. Classroom pictures are taken in the spring. |
| Pupil Record |
All pupil cumulative records will be kept in the office. Parents may request to see their child's record through an appointment with the principal.
The Columbia County School System has designated the following information as directory information:
1. student's name address, and telephone number
2. birthday and place of birth
3. student's participation in official school clubs and sports
4. weight and height of student, if member of athletic team
5. dates of attendance in the system's school
6. awards received during the time enrolled in school system.
The directory information is public information. However, the directory information may remain private by simply coming by the school office and filling out a public information waiver form. |
| Report Cards and Deficiency Reports |
Report cards are issued four times a year at nine-week intervals. At the midpoint of each grading period, progress reports will be issued stating the problem area or areas. These progress reports should be signed and returned to the homeroom teacher the next day. |
| Smoking |
Smoking is strictly prohibited in school building, on school grounds, and during school functions. This ban applies to everyone. |
| School Store |
A school store is operated from 8:05-8:40 a.m. This store sells basic school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, erasers, composition books and crayons. Occasionally some novelty items are also included for sale. |
| Student Support Team |
The purpose of the Columbia County Student Support Team is to provide a vehicle through which students, parents, teachers, and other educators may work cooperatively toward developing appropriate educational alternatives for students experiencing serious problems in school. Please talk with your child's teacher if you have concerns. |
| Standardized Tests |
Georgia has established a statewide testing program with the primary aim of providing information to teachers, students, parents, concerned citizens, and educational policy and decision makers. Information is collected to answer questions regarding the extent to which students are acquiring knowledge and skills essential to further learning.
Having your child present to take the tests with classmates is important. Please reschedule medical appointments if you can. Parents will receive information concerning specific dates and times as soon as dates are determined at the system level. Grovetown Elementary is a Title I school; this information means that other global tests in reading and math may be implemented to provide evidence that our students are making adequate academic gains. |
| Student Accident Insurance |
A student accident insurance program is provided through the school district. It is an optional program that may be purchased by the parents. Application envelopes will be distributed through the school early in the fall. Please contact the school office after that time for information about applying. |
| Telephone Usage |
Children may not use the phone except for emergencies in case of illness. Calling parents to request permission to go home with another student or to bring forgotten items to school is not allowed. |
| Textbooks |
Students are expected to take good care of their textbooks. Since they are essentially loaned to students, we must ask for reimbursement if any are lost or damaged. Students are required to put covers on all textbooks. Covers must not be taped to the books as this causes damage. Books will be inspected for damage when they are returned. Damage fees are payable to the school. The full replacement cost will be charged for any lost or destroyed textbook currently in use. |
| Visiting |
Any parent visiting the school for any reason needs to check in at the school office immediately. We need to know who is in our school. For the safety and security of our students, we issue visitor badges. This visitor badge should be worn at all times while in the school and returned to the school office prior to leaving the school grounds. Messages, keys, books, lunches, etc. are to be brought to the office when necessary. The office staff will see that these properties are delivered to the student. Even a momentary interruption interferes with student learning. Please help us by taking care of these matters before school to prevent loss of instructional time. |
| Volunteers |
Volunteeers are very welcome in our school. We need you! Call the school for information to volunteer. |
| Withdrawal |
Parents should notify their child's teacher or the school office prior to the day of withdrawal. A withdrawal form needs to be completed. |
