Concentrating On eXcellence
Cox Elementary School
Concentrating on Excellence!
Dear Cox Parents,
We are pleased to welcome you and your child to Cox. The theme for the 2015-16 school year is Excellence Is Our Super Power. The Cox faculty and staff recognize that all students are unique individuals. We are committed to providing a school environment that will meet the educational, social, emotional, and physical needs of each student. Commitment, dedication, and cooperation among faculty, staff, students, parents, and the community will ensure the success of all the children.
Please take a few minutes to read the following policies and procedures. Parents, please inform your child of the consequences, including the potential criminal penalties, of underage sexual conduct and crimes for which a minor can be tried as an adult. Please contact the school office at 890-6190 if we can help you with any questions or concerns.
Vision Statement
Cox Elementary School will strive to become a school of excellence by promoting a positive learning environment that encourages all students to succeed.
Mission Statement
Cox Elementary School will provide a safe and positive environment where student achievement is top priority.
Beliefs
We believe all children can learn and should be provided differentiated learning.
Every child has the need to experience success.
Every child has a right to be treated with dignity.
Children can learn best in an encouraging environment where expectations are high.
We believe our home, our school, our lunch, our church, and community are important in preparing us for making a
difference in our world.
Curriculum should be broad-based and educationally sound.
The school and environment must be safe and secure for everyone.
Students must be taught the basic principles of conduct and citizenship in society.
An adult support system is vital to positive development of every child.
SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE
7:30 First Bell
7:40 Announcements
7:45 Tardy bell and school begins (Students should be in class ready to work.)
2:20 Dismissal for Pre-Kindergarten-K
2:25 Dismissal for First-Third
2:30 Dismissal for Fourth-Fifth
REPORT CARDS
Report Cards will be sent home quarterly. Progress Reports will be sent home midway through each quarter for grades 3-5.
Before report cards are sent home with students in Kindergarten – 2nd grade, a parent conference is required to review your child’s progress.
HONORS DAY PROGRAMS
Honors Day will be held after the end of each semester. These dates will be posted in monthly newsletters and in a reminder notice prior to Honors Day.
PARENT NIGHT
The purpose of the Cox Elementary School Parent Night is to encourage parents and teachers to work cooperatively to provide the finest educational program possible for students. Parents play an important part in the education of their children and attendance to these functions offer an opportunity for parent involvement. Parent meetings are scheduled throughout the year in order for parents and teachers to communicate needs and expectations and to plan for various school activities. Fund raising projects are scheduled by the administration to provide additional resources for the school. There are scheduled opportunities for parents to meet and discuss educational topics concerning their children. Some of the topics may include helping with academic schoolwork, making games and instructional aids, and improving parenting skills. Musical programs and plays may also be a part of these meetings.
Dates to be announced.
The following procedures and policies are additions to our county policies:
CAR RIDERS:
MORNING: Car riders should enter from 11th Avenue. Please do not pass cars waiting to drop off students. Your child will be marked tardy if they arrive after 7:45 a.m.
Our front school doors will open at 7:00 a.m. Please do not drop students off until that time.
EARLY AFTERNOON PICK-UP: If a student must leave school early, a written note should be sent with the student on the morning of the early release. The parent will need to sign their student out in the office. The student will be called to the office for dismissal to the parent. No students will be dismissed between 2:00 and 2:30. If there is a need for changes in the way a student needs to go home, all changes need to be made prior to 1:30.
AFTER SCHOOL: After school car riders should be picked up at the front of the building. Students are dismissed according to grades levels at the following times: Pre-k – 1st 2:20, 2nd – 3rd and 4th 2:25 – 5th, 2:30. All car riders will wait in the cafeteria until their parent arrives. Parents are asked to display the car pick-up sign in their front window to aid in the dismissal process. When picking up a student early (before 2:00), park in front of the office in the visitors parking. No students will be dismissed between 2:00 and 2:30. All car riders should be picked up by 2:45.
· Please use the front driveway to drop off and pick up. Do not park in the street. This is a safety measure to protect your children. Children will NOT be allowed to walk to cars parked in the street.
· Only calls taken before 1:30, to request a change in pick up, will be honored. Please send a note in the morning when possible.
· Parents will NOT be allowed to pick up children from the bus loop during dismissal. This is for the childs protection and safety.
NEWSLETTER: Each month a newsletter with information and special dates for upcoming events will be sent home.
SCHOOL NUTRITION: Students attending ALL schools in Colquitt County, including Cox Elementary, will be eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at NO CHARGE each day of the school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in this meal program without having to pay a fee or submit an application.
For further assistance, please contact the School Nutrition office at 229-890-6228.
***Please note:
***Any outstanding meal charges remaining on student accounts from previous years will remain in effect and must be paid in full immediately. No exceptions. Debit notices will continue to be sent home to students who owe lunch money for meals provided prior to CEP Provision implementation.
***Students can apply money to their student accounts at any time for extra servings, extra milk ($.35), etc…However, SN will no longer charge items to student accounts. Students must have money in hand at the time of purchase or have money available on their account to cover the purchase amount.
Parents can apply money to student accounts by sending it directly to the school cafeteria or by going on-line to mylunchmoney.com to make a credit/debit card deposit.
It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the school about all food allergies or dietary restrictions. If your child has a food allergy, please notify the teacher, school nurse, and cafeteria manager. A physician’s statement is required.
Adult Meal Prices:
· Breakfast $1.75
· Lunch $3.25
PARTIES: Class parties will correspond with Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter (PreK-1) and the end of school. These parties should be planned for the last hour of the day and will be coordinated through the classroom teacher. Parties are planned for the students in the classes to enjoy their classmates and teacher. Pre-school age brothers and sisters may not attend class parties. Birthday parties are not allowed during academic time. This applies to all grade levels Pre-Kindergarten-Fifth.
RETURNED CHECKS: Any checks returned to our office for insufficient funds will be charged a $25.00 return fee.
SCHOOL HOURS: Due to lack of scheduled supervision, car-transported students should not arrive at school prior to 7:00 a.m... Breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. and the instructional school day begins at 7:45 a.m. Student tardiness and early afternoon pick-up is discouraged as it interrupts instruction and learning for all students.
DISCIPLINE AND STUDENT CONTROL: No student has the right to interfere in any way with his/her classmates’ right to learn. The principal and faculty will make and enforce rules necessary to ensure educational opportunities and efficient operation. Teachers should do everything possible within the classroom to resolve a problem before resorting to sending a student to the office. Each grade level has initial disciplinary steps that will be taken before making an office referral. Students are to be sent to the office for disciplinary actions. Cox Elementary uses positive reinforcement over a punitive approach to discipline when possible. Before a disciplinary referral is written, teachers should make a parent contact and record the contact in the parent phone log.
SCHOOL RULES:
Cox Cougars…
1. Show Respect
2. Act Responsibly
3. Follow Directions
4. Keep Hands and Feet to Yourselves
PK- 2nd Grade – Opportunity Room (OR)
1st offense – 1 Hour
2nd offense – 2 Hours
3rd offense – ½ Day
4th offense – Full Day
5th offense-OR/Suspension
3rd – 5th Grade – Opportunity Room (OR)
1st offense – ½ Day
2nd offense – Full Day
3rd offense – Parent Conference Required/OR
4th offense – OR/Suspension
Opportunity Room (OR) is a form of in-school suspension utilized by the administration and supervised by a staff member. Students will complete a behavior contract and grade level appropriate work while in OR. Students are to work quietly as they complete their work. Failure to comply with OR rules may result in more time spent in the Opportunity Room, referral to the administration, or possible out of school suspension.
The disciplinary actions taken indicate the minimum consequence of each situation and are not intended as absolutes. Discipline situations reported to the administration will be dealt with using administration discretion.
Toys, cell phones, and handheld games/mp3/cd players are NOT allowed at school and will be taken away. Once the item is taken away, it will only be returned to an adult.
Ø NO WEAPON, toy or real, is allowed on any school campus. Suspension and/or expulsion will follow if a weapon of any kind is found on a child at school. We have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy about weapons or threats of violence.
BULLYING: In accordance with Georgia Law, bullying is defined as:
1. Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so;
or
2. Any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm.
Discipline, for any act of bullying, shall be within the discretion of the principal which may range from a reprimand to out-of-school suspension. However, upon a finding that a student has committed the offense of bullying for the third time in a school year, at a minimum the student shall be assigned to an alternative education program.
Under new GA law, each school shall include in their handbook a list, without limitation, of the names of all clubs and organizations, the mission or purpose of the club or organization, name of the club's or organization's faculty advisor(s), and a description of past or planned activities. The handbook shall also include an area for a parent or legal guardian to decline permission for his or her student to participate in a club or organization designated by him or her.
CLUBS: Cox Elementary School offers the following clubs/organizations to eligible students:
Junior BETA CLUB - is open, by invitation, to 5th grade students who exceeded standards on the 4th grade CRCT in one or more subjects and are AB Honor Roll students.
· Mission or purpose - The purpose of the Beta Club shall be to promote the ideals of character, service and leadership skills among elementary and secondary school students, to reward meritorious achievement and to encourage and assist students in continuing their education after high school
· Faculty advisors for 2015-16-Guidance Counselor and BETA committee
· Activities - Monthly meetings, Mentoring program, Community Service Projects, and BETA Tech.
SGA - The Student Government Association (SGA) is an organized group of student-elected representatives. To be
considered for election, students must be in good academic standing, have acceptable behavior, and exhibit good
character.
· Mission or purpose - To serve the student population by being an advocate for issues that will enhance the educational and social development of students.
· Faculty advisors for 2015-16- Guidance Counselor and SGA Committee
· Activities - Canned food drives, Cox Spirit Week, toy drives, appreciation days, and other celebration and service projects.
Technology Club - Eligible students in grades 3-5 are invited to join the technology club by teacher or club advisor
nomination. Students must be in good academic, attendance, and discipline standing and have parent permission.
· Mission or purpose - To promote the use of computer technology, enabling those who join the club to enhance their educational experiences.
· Faculty advisor for 2015-16- Ms. Debbie Pitman
· Activities -Developmentally appropriate practices and programs that promote school service and academic achievement through the use of technology and applications of problem solving skills.
Other clubs may be established and offered to students based on interest.
We at Cox Elementary believe it is advantageous for students to participate in organized clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities. ONLY complete the bottom portion of this page if you DO NOT want your child to participate in any club or organization that he or she may be eligible for.
Mission-Possible!
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I decline permission for my child to participate in a club or organization. By signing and returning this portion of the handbook to the school I understand that my child WILL NOT be allowed to participate in clubs that would normally be open to him or her.
______
Name of Club(s) Teacher
______
Student Parent/Guardian
Translated by Colquitt County Schools Translator Juana Williams (229) 890-6124
PART I: GENERAL EXPECTATIONS