Flomaton Elementary and Middle

FLOMATON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PARENT / STUDENT HANDBOOK

2017-2018

SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION

Mr. John Knott

ESCAMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Chairman W. J. Grissett, District 5

Member Kevin Hoomes, District 1

Member Danny Benjamin, District 2

Member Mike Edwards, District 3

Member Cindy Jackson, District 4

Member David Nolan, District 6

Member Coleman Wallace, District 7

Principal

Mrs. Diane S. Holmes

1634 Poplar Street Flomaton, Alabama 36441

Telephone: 251-296-3991

Fax: 251-296-4118

“We Are The Best At FES”

FACULTY AND STAFF………………………………………………4

BUS DRIVERS…………………………………………………………5

PHILSOPHY…………………………………………………………...5

SCHOOL MOTTO…………………………………………………….5

MISSION STATEMENT……………………………………………...6

ACADEMICS…………………………………………………………..6

SCHOOL WEBSITE…………………………………………………..9

SCHOOL FACEBOOK……………………………………………….9

NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY………………....9

ATTENDANCE……………………………………………………....10

CHILD NUTRITION………………………………………...……....14

DISCIPLINE………………………………………………...………..15

DRESS CODE…………………………………………………...……16

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELFARE………………………..…..19

MISCELLANEOUS……………………………………………….....20

CELL PHONE POLICY………………………………………..…...21

SURVEILLANCE POLICY…………………………………….…..22

TRANSPORTATION………………………………………………..23

WELLNESS POLICY…………………………………………….…23

ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL CALENDAR……………….….25

REPORT CARDS AND PROGRESS REPORTS…………….…...25

EARLY RELEASE DATES………………………………………....25

SIGNATURE PAGE………………………………………………....27

FACULTY and STAFF

Diane Holmes Principal

Heather Qualls Kindergarten

Elizabeth Mitchell Kindergarten

Brittany Brown Kindergarten

Shannon Lambeth First

Vickie Lanier First

Maegan Salter First

Jenny Engle Second

Kathy McCutchin Second

Blaire Singleton Second

Leslie Wedgeworth Third/Fourth

Wendy Davidson Third

Sydney Bell Third

Mitzi Smith Fourth

Julie Luker Fourth

Leah Herrington Third/Fourth

Tina Hunt Fifth

Elisabeth Ward Fifth

Shawna Fillmore Sixth

Luanne Henderson Sixth

Heather Caraway Sixth

Summer Patterson Collaborative Teacher

Jennifer Silcox Collaborative Teacher

Angela Moye Speech/Collaborative Teacher

Janet Brantley Librarian

Leah Vickery Physical Education

Wesley Sessions Physical Education

Susan Kirk Counselor

Gina Nall ARI Reading Specialist

April Dunsford Office Aide

Sherry Ellison Secretary/Bookkeeper

Rachel Morton Paraprofessional

Melanie Rowland Paraprofessional

Miranda Allgood Paraprofessional

Vicke Smith Special Education Paraprofessional

Terri Campbell Custodian

Elizabeth Wilson Custodian

Rebekah Fore School Nurse, RN

BUS DRIVERS

Dot Bell 18-07 (McCall transfer)

Andrea Boutwell 11-06

Paula Bell 14-02 (Handicap bus)

Shannon Pettis 18-11

Donna Morris 18-09

Donna Coleman 15-02

Buffie Partain 14-09

Pam Sheets 08-05

Larry Zangas 17-01

Gail Smith 15-01

PHILOSOPHY

We, the faculty and staff of Flomaton Elementary School, believe that we have a sacred obligation to provide an educational environment conducive to the development of our students so they may be able to achieve success in our complex and ever-changing society. We believe that each student is a unique individual that should be respected in his or her quest for self-identity and dignity. We believe in the integrity and worth of each individual. We strive to encourage our students to become fruitful and productive members of society.

Our faculty believes that our basic responsibility is to provide varied experiences suitable for the development of skills, attitudes, and understandings. We strive to help students become mature individuals by teaching them to weigh alternatives and make intelligent choices in life.

Our faculty measures success by the progress of each student toward achieving his or her maximum potential. We strive to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the gaining of knowledge, and understanding, the formulation of worthy goals, and a mutual respect for the rights of others. We seek to guide, motivate, and instruct our students based upon their needs, abilities, and interests. We forever subscribe to the ideas of fairness, honesty, and caring; and, we constantly attempt to instill these characteristics into the hearts and minds of our students.

SCHOOL MOTTO

As Hurricanes, we are RESPECTFUL to others, our school, and ourselves, RESPONSIBLE for our actions, and READY to learn. Go Canes Go!

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Escambia County School System is to provide engaging and comprehensive instructional programs that will enable our students to graduate college and/or career ready.

MISSION OF THE PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The mission of the parent and family engagement committee is to ensure that all parents have equal and abundant access, as well as the opportunity to be involved in the planning and execution of all aspects of their child’s education.

ACADEMICS

Grading System

Grades are a reflection of a student's actual work. Grades reflect a student's homework, class work, tests, and class projects. Each student will receive a minimum of one test grade each week for the nine week period. In addition to the test grades, teachers may choose to give one composite score for homework/class work and one composite score for special projects. The following scale is used: A 100-90; B 89-80; C 79-70 D 69-60; F 59-0.

If a student is caught cheating, the test will be taken up and a different test will be administered at a different time. Only discipline measures will be taken for this offense.

For grades 1-2, academic subject grades are given in reading, language, spelling, and math. A student functioning below “Average Mastery”, which is an average below 70, in any two “core” subjects or reading only may be recommended for retention. Promotion or retention of students from grade to grade will be determined through the cooperative agreement of the classroom teacher and the principal. Non-academic grades will be given in science, social studies, physical education, handwriting, work-study habits, and conduct.

For grades 3-6, academic subject grades are given in reading, language, social studies, science, math, and physical education. Spelling is to be counted as 20% of the language grade. Non-academic grades will be given in conduct, handwriting, and work-study habits. Grades in reading, language, social studies, science, and math will be considered for promotion and for honor roll.

For grades 2-4, the guidelines for cursive writing will be the following. Grade 2 will do manuscript writing only, no cursive. Grade 3 students will complete all class work in manuscript. Cursive handwriting will be taught the whole school year. Students may begin practicing some class work in cursive, but it must be kept to a minimum. The goal is to master cursive handwriting by the end of the third grade. Grade 4 will review cursive handwriting the first six weeks. Students who have mastered this skill will be allowed to complete class work in cursive. Remediation will be provided if needed.

Homework

A weekly syllabus will be provided by each teacher to inform the student and parent of the weekly skills in each subject matter as well as any assignments for in-class and out-of-class. Also, included on the syllabus are tests dates in each subject for that week as well as where the material to study may be found. Homework will be given based upon the need to reinforce skills that have been introduced and taught in the classroom. (Units and projects that are a continuous assignment are not considered part of a night’s homework assignment). The time allotment for completing homework will be reasonable for the age of the child and varied to accommodate individual differences when appropriate. In self-contained grades, homework will be limited to 20 minutes per subject and only in two subjects per night. For grades that rotate, homework assignments will be limited to 15 minutes per night per subject. Since the homework process begins in the classroom, the teacher will explain the assignment to the students, allow time for the students to ask questions, and allow time for the students to copy the assignment. Homework is to be completed at home not during the teacher’s instructional time.

All homework shall be checked for completion and accuracy; however, it is not customary to assign a grade for every homework assignment. Some teachers may require a parent signature on completed homework assignments. If a student repeatedly fails to complete or fails to return homework, parents will be notified because of the negative effect upon the student’s grades.

If your child is absent, it is important to check with your child’s teacher concerning any missed work. Some teachers may want you to get the assignments at the end of the day, or some may want the child to get the assignment the following day upon returning to school. All work missed due to an excused absence must be completed within three days of returning to school.

Homework is an important complement to classroom instruction and will be used to expand and enrich the teaching process. It shall not supplant classroom instruction, nor will it be used as a means for punishment.

Honor Roll

Grades 1-2: Reading, language, and math will be considered the “core curriculum” subjects and will be the only subjects used to determine

promotion/retention, and honor roll. Science and social studies will receive non-academic grades such as S, N, and U. These grades will not be considered for promotion or honor roll.

Grades 3-6: Grades in reading, language, math, social studies, and science will be considered for promotion and for honor roll.

President’s Award

Only students exiting from the elementary level are eligible for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Students exiting at each level must meet the following criteria:

A) A student must earn a grade point average of 90 on a 100-point scale.

B) In addition, a student must score in the 85th percentile or higher in math or reading on his/her ACT Aspire scores.

NOTE: Regulations do not permit elementary schools to include K-3 in their computation of grade point average. When computing grade point averages at the respective award level only the years spent at that particular level are to be included through the fall semester of the exiting grade.

Problem Solving Team

If your child is experiencing any unusual difficulty with schoolwork, please contact the school counselor, Mrs. Susie Kirk, for more information. Our team is available to assist you and your child with any academic problems that may be facing him or her.

Promotion and Retention: Promotion is a determination that is made by the teacher, principal, and school board policy. It is based on the achievement of each student according to his ability and governed by county policy. The following guidelines are used for retention.

Grades 1-2: Any student functioning below “Average Mastery”, which is an average below 70, in any two “Core” subjects or reading only, may be recommended for retention. Failure to meet minimum attendance requirements will also result in retention. (See county attendance policy)

Grades 3-6: A student with a failing yearly average in two or more subjects will be retained. Failure to meet minimum attendance requirements will also result in retention. (See county attendance policy)

Progress Reports: All students will receive a progress report near the middle of each reporting period

Report Cards: Report cards in grades K-6 are sent to parents at the end of each nine week reporting period.

Statewide Parenting Day: October 12, 2017, Thursday.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: These are scheduled in the fall, October 12, 2017 and the spring, March15, 2017 for after school hours, from 1:30 – 6:00 PM to better accommodate some parents.

The Escambia County Board of Education encourages parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators to initiate other conferences when the need arises. If parents want to set an appointment with their child’s teacher, please use the following procedure: Contact the office to arrange a conference. When possible, schedule the appointment one day in advance. The reason for this is that most all conferences are held during the teacher’s planning time. Please check-in at the office prior to the conference.

Special Education Services: Special Services offered at Flomaton Elementary School include those for mentally and multi-handicapped, specific learning disabilities, enrichment, speech-language impaired, hearing impaired, and preschool handicapped. For further information, contact the school office or special education services at 251-296-0633.

SCHOOL WEBSITE

Information such as school events, photos, teacher information, classroom schedules, and homework assignments can be accessed from your home computer. The Escambia County School Board website is http://www.escambiak12.net and the school website is http://flomaton.al.ece.schoolinsites.com Flomaton Elementary School maintains a school Facebook page – all school activities and pictures are posted on this page.

SCHOOL FACEBOOK

A Flomaton Elementary School Facebook page is available to help parents stay aware of upcoming events and to post pictures of Flomaton Elementary School students and all their fun activities.

NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY

The National Elementary Honor Society Chapter of Flomaton Elementary School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in two areas of initial evaluation: scholarship (academic achievement) and responsibility. General standards for selection are established by the national office of NEHS and have been revised to meet the needs of our school and fall within our strategic goals.

Students are selected to be members of NEHS by a Faculty Council, appointed by the principal and supervised by an additional member of the faculty serving as the chapter adviser. This group awards the honor of membership to qualified students on behalf of the faculty of the school during each school year. Our NEHS chapter will conduct its selection procedures during the spring of each school year and induction ceremony will be held in the fall of the following school year.

Students in the fifth and sixth grades are eligible for membership. For the Scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative grade average of 90%. Those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a candidate’s form that provides the Faculty Council with evidence of the candidate’s responsibility at home, at school, and in the community.

In addition, to evaluate a candidate’s level of responsibility, the Faculty Council uses two types of information: school administrative records and faculty input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s personal responsibility qualities. These forms and the Candidate’ Forms are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine membership. A majority vote of the council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to predetermined schedule established by this chapter.