Covington Elementary School Mission Statement
We will all learn and grow together!
STUDENT PLEDGE
I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me, too. I came to school to learn. I will learn. I will have a great day!
BELIEFS
· Teachers, parents, and the community share the responsibility for student success.
· Students differ in developmental levels, learning styles, and experimental backgrounds.
· Each child is thought of as an individual. Varied learning experiences and opportunities are important for student growth and success.
· The educational program promotes the total growth of each child by including all domains: social, cognitive, emotional, and physical.
· A student’s self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among and between students and staff.
ADMISSIONS
A. Elementary K-8
1. Entrance Requirements for Kindergarten
Children five (5) years of age before October 1st of the current year shall be placed in kindergarten. The Dial 3 Assessment shall be administered upon initial school entry into kindergarten. A child younger than the prescribed entrance age may enter kindergarten provided the child has been identified as gifted in accordance with the regulations of the State Department of Education for such identification (Bulletin 1508), and whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) indicates a need for the child to enter school early.
Children admitted to kindergarten through the provisions of this law are eligible to enter first grade upon successful completion of kindergarten.
2. Entrance Requirements for First Grade
To enter first grade, children must:
a. be six (6) years old before October 1st of the current
year and
b. have successfully completed a full day public or state
approved private kindergarten for a full school year or pass an academic readiness test.
REGISTRATION
An August registration will also be held for pre-school students and new students.
A newly registered student will begin classes on the day
after registration.
The following documents are required for school registration:
*certified birth certificate
*social security card
*(3) proofs of residency or assignment letter
*Louisiana State Health Card stating proof of
Immunizations
*student transfer letter if the student is transferring
from another St. Tammany Parish School
*legal custodial papers (if applicable)
SCHOOL HOURS
School Hours are 8:20 a.m. - 3:36 p.m.
EMERGENCY CARDS
Emergency cards must be completed and returned to school immediately. At least two local phone numbers need to be provided throughout the school year in case of emergency.
ATTENDANCE
ABSENCES
State Department of Education guidelines for how many days a student may be absent have changed for the 2010-2011 school year, and parents should review how those changes will affect excused and unexcused absences.
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) revised several attendance policies. While previously students were allowed 20 absences each school year, beginning in August, High School students will be allowed five absences per semester, and Elementary through Junior High students will be allowed ten absences each school year.
A letter explaining the changes was sent to St. Tammany Parish parents and caregivers last spring. It is important that parents understand the new rules governing absences up front, particularly as they make travel plans for next year so that they use school holidays rather than taking students out of school.
The new rules state that absences of two or fewer consecutive school days attributed to personal illness or serious illness in the family may be validated by a parent or caregiver by a written excuse note. The excuse note will allow a student to make up any missed work, but the absence will still count against the cumulative absences allowed under the new policy. If a student is absent for three or more consecutive days, a student must present a note from a physician, nurse practitioner, or dentist to be excused. This type of absence will not count against the cumulative absence days.
The new guidelines will not allow students to be excused for vacations or other family trips. As a result, parents should schedule vacations and necessary appointments during school breaks. The 2010-2011 School calendar includes ample breaks for travel plans.
ARRIVAL and DISMISSAL
Our school day begins at 8:20. Students arriving in cars are to arrive no earlier than 7:50 unless registered in Before School Care. Teachers are
not on duty until 7:50 a.m. Anyone dropped off before 7:50 a.m. will be sent to Before School Care.
TARDINESS
Students are tardy after 8:20. Any student arriving after 8:20 must report to the office with an adult in order to be marked present for the day. Tardies are recorded daily. You will be notified of excessive tardies. You are considered tardy if you are not in the building when the bell rings.
STUDENT ILLNESS
Students will be sent home from school for the following conditions:
1. Temperature above 100 degrees.
2. Vomiting
3. Diarrhea
4. Suspected communicable disease
5. Unexplained rash
6. Head Lice
If any of these conditions occur, the parent is notified and asked to remove the child from school to seek medical attention.
STUDENT PICKUP
If a student is to be picked up by anyone other than the legal custodial guardian listed on the student’s records, the person picking up the child must be listed on the Emergency Card. This person must be able to show identification upon arrival. Students being checked out early must be picked up by no later than 3:15 or must wait until the bell rings at 3:36.
IDENTIFICATION
Please do not be offended if we ask for identification when checking students out. It is merely a protective measure. No student will be
checked out unless a parent, legal guardian, or designated person signs the child out in the office. No parent may pick up their child from any area other than the school office. There will be some events
throughout the school year which students may be checked out through the classroom teacher. Parents will be informed of these events.
All visitors/volunteers are required to sign in and secure a visitor’s pass. To receive a visitor’s pass, you must leave a picture ID in the office. When your visit is over, your ID will be returned when you turn in your sticker. If you do not have a visitor’s pass, you will be asked to return to the office.
EARLY CHECK OUT
We will not check students out between 3:15 and 3:36 p.m. unless it is an emergency. This is a very hectic time of the day. Making changes this late in the school day can cause errors in the “go home” routine. When checking out your child, please remain in the front office until your child arrives. Please do not go to the playground, or classroom to pick up your child.
If a child is to “go home” by a different mode other than his/her regular routine, the teacher must receive written notification. Without it, the student will be sent home in the usual manner. Changes made by phone must be made not later than 3:00p.m.
BOOK BAGS
To insure safety, rolling book bags are not permitted.
SCHOOL MASCOT AND COLORS
Our school colors are navy and gold. The school mascot is the “Little Lion.”
SCHOOL PICTURES
Individual pictures are made by a professional photographer twice a year. The purchase of pictures is optional.
DRESS CODE
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Mandated school uniforms are as follows:
Shirts maybe one of the following:
* white or navy polo style with short or long
sleeves
* CES T-shirt in navy blue, white Caught Fishing,
Chorus, or Just Say No T-shirts
Pants, Shorts, Skirts, Skorts, or Jumpers
* solid tan khaki cotton or navy blue cotton twill
* No undergarments may be visible
* No store or designer logos or trim may be visible
on clothing
Parents will be contacted to bring student uniforms if a student is out of uniform.
Uniforms must be worn at all times.
Caps and hats are banned from school campuses during regular school hours. Caps worn to school during cold weather should be placed in school bags during class.
It is suggested that students wear tennis shoes to school.
Shoes that are worn must have a back or back strap, no flip flops.
MEDIA RELEASE
Media release forms are sent home the first week of school. Students may only be photographed, video taped, etc. for publication if this form is signed and on file in the school office. If for any reason you do not want your child photographed, we would appreciate you calling this to our attention verbally as well.
Internet access forms are also sent home to newly enrolled students. If a form is not signed or returned, the student will be denied internet access.
EXTENDED SCHOOL CARE
Covington Elementary School offers Before and After School Care each school day. We pledge to make this program a much needed convenience for our working parents as well as an educational, recreational, and socially enjoyable time for our student participants.
Daily Fees for Extended Care:
Before Care $3.00
After Care $7.00
There is no registration fee. All weekly fees will be due and payable on FRIDAY of each week. Fees unpaid for a 10 day period will not be allowed to further participate until all fees are paid in full.
BEFORE SCHOOL CARE
Children participating in before care may be dropped off between 7:00 a.m. and 7:49 a.m. beginning on the first day of school.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Children may participate in after care beginning on the first day of school from 3:36 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. This program offers supervised play, some quiet time for homework, and a snack. We do not provide after care on school holidays or on half days.
LATE FEE
Any student picked up after 6:00 p.m. will be charged a $5.00 fee for the first five minutes and $1.00 for each minute thereafter. After three occurrences, the fee will go to $2.00 per minute. An administrator will contact you to make other accommodations.
SCHOOL FEES
FEES
We are requesting a $10.00 student fee per student to purchase instructional materials. These materials support and enrich our basic textbooks and curricular activities. This fee does not cover the cost of field trips.
If your child’s last name is different from yours, please note this on any checks written so that we credit the right account.
FOOD SERVICES
On the first day of school ALL students will receive an application for free or reduced priced meals. Please complete an application and return it to school. If you are eligible for free or reduced meals, you will be notified. Any application completed incorrectly or incomplete will be returned to the parent and will cause unnecessary delays in your child being considered for a free or reduced status.
Students will be issued a computerized lunch pass. Payment should be made on a monthly basis. If this is not possible, you must pay weekly on Monday mornings. Payment must be enclosed in an envelope, labeled with the student’s name, the amount of money sent, and homeroom teacher.
A monthly calendar of lunch and breakfast menus and monthly fees can be found on the school website. Lunch prices do include milk, but milk must be purchased daily for children choosing to bring a “bag lunch” from home.
Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child. No fast food lunches, glass containers, or canned drinks may be brought into the cafeteria.
Breakfast is served daily as students exit from the buses or cars, from 7:50 a.m. – 8:20. Car riders need to arrive at school by 8:10 in order for those students to have time get to the cafeteria and eat.
TRANSPORTATION
We encourage you use the bus transportation system provided by the St. Tammany Parish School System. Often, the car line “backs up” causing your child to be tardy so make sure you allow enough time for prompt arrival.
Any student that needs to use a different method of getting to school or home must have a written note from the parent. For the safety of your child and the school, your child’s teacher must receive written notification of a change regarding the manner in which your child gets home. If notification is not received, your child will follow his/her regular method of getting home. Changes in transportation at the end of the day must be made no later than 3:00.
BUS CONDUCT
Specific student behavior expectations are established for the safe and effective operation of the school district transportation system in accordance with state laws and regulations. Transportation is considered an extension of the regular school program, and students who violate behavior expectations while riding a bus are subject to suspension from riding the bus and/or all other penalties established for misbehavior while students are not on the school premises. If a child receives 3 (three) bus referrals he/she will be excluded from riding the bus for 3 (three) days. A copy of the bus referral will be sent home and a phone call will be made to parents by an administrator.