Arbor Station Elementary School
Parent and Student
Handbook
2017-2018
Once a Bear…
Always a Bear…
9999 Parkway South
Douglasville, Georgia 30135
Melissa Joe, Principal
Thomas Bruno, Assistant Principal
Arbor Station Elementary School is accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Welcome from the principal…
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to Arbor Station Elementary School, home of the bears. I am so happy to have you and your child as members of the Arbor Station family.
I strongly encourage all parents and students to review this handbook so that you are familiar with school policies and procedures. Please make a special effort to review the attendance policy. It is strict and written in accordance with Georgia state law.
This handbook includes all relevant information that you will need to have a successful school year. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if you have questions or need additional information.
Everyone’s input is important as we continue to work together to create a school where all students can be successful. Your participation in the total school program, and involvement in PTSO, are encouraged and appreciated.
This year the staff and faculty at Arbor Station are focusing on two goals. The first and most important is to increase the academic achievement of all students. The second is to especially improve the reading and writing skills for every student at Arbor Station. I hope you will join with us in striving to achieve these goals.
Sincerely,
Melissa Joe
PrinciPAL
The Mission of Arbor Station Elementary School
Our mission at Arbor Station Elementary School is to facilitate optimal learning in a secure and nurturing environment, empowering students to become responsible and productive citizens.
Remember
an Arbor Station Bear is good…
does what the teacher says…
and learns something new every day!
Section I
School Information, Rules and Regulations
Office
The office is open each day from 7:15 am until 3:30 pm. Please call the office with questions or concerns. You can contact your child’s teacher through email or notes in the student agenda or Bear Fax.
We suggest you make an appointment to conference with teachers and administrators. We have an open door policy and want to give you our full attention. In order for us to give you the best service, please call and make an appointment.
Visitors
All visitors arriving at the school must be “buzzed in”. Each person wishing to enter the school must ring the doorbell, state his/her name and reason for visiting. After entering the school, each person must report to the main office to sign in and receive a visitor’s sticker. The visitor’s sticker must be visible while in the school and on campus.
Contact Information
It is imperative that the school is able to contact parents at all times. Please make sure your contact information is current. It is also important that several numbers are listed. One contact number will not be acceptable.
Registration Requirements
Each student must have:
a. Two Proofs of Residency (lease/mortgage agreement, water, gas or power bill)
b. Up-to-date Immunization Form: GDHR 3231
c. Custody/Guardian Papers if appropriate
d. Copy of Social Security Card
e. Certificate of Eye, Ear, Dental Examination, and BMI if entering Georgia Schools for the first time: Form GDHR 3300
f. Certified Copy of the Birth Certificate if entering a Georgia School for the first time
Withdrawal Requirements
If a student is changing schools and needs to withdraw, a school withdrawal form must be signed by the enrolling parent(s) at least one school day before the day of the planned withdrawal. All textbooks and library books must be returned, and any fines or charges must be paid.
Attendance
Good attendance is critical for students! If students are not at school, they are missing critical instruction. Please strive for perfect attendance this year! The more days your child is in school the more they are learning. Please plan vacations and trips while school is not in session. You are encouraged to read the Douglas County Attendance Policy!
Tardiness
Children not in the classroom by 8:00 am will be considered tardy. If your child is tardy, escort him/her to the office so you can check him/her in. Guardians of students who are often tardy will be referred to the school social worker.
Early Dismissal
Students not attending school for at least three hours and thirty minutes will be considered absent for that school day.
Adults picking up students during the school day must report to the office. The child will be called to the office by the office staff. If someone other than a parent or guardian is to pick up a student, you must notify the school in writing. Proof of identification will be required before the child is released to anyone the office personnel does not know. This procedure is absolutely necessary for the protection of our children. Children will not be released from the classroom to any adult without prior office approval.
Procedures for Arrival and Dismissal
The procedures below will provide for safety during arrival and dismissal times:
1. All traffic signs located on and around the school campus must be followed.
2. Students are to arrive after 7:15 am. School personnel are not in place to monitor students before 7:15.
3. All students who are car riders are to be dropped off in the front of the building in the car rider’s line. No students are to be dropped off at any other point. You are putting your child in danger if you do not follow this procedure. Staff members are posted in the parking lots and will direct you to park and walk your child in or go through the car rider line. Please be courteous to them.
4. Parents coming into the building in the morning must park in a designated parking place, enter the building by the front door, and sign in at the office before going to any other location in the building.
5. Parents picking up car riders at afternoon dismissal are to wait in their cars in the designated car rider area.
6. All students must be picked up by 3 pm. Any student not picked up by 3:00 will be asked to register for the After School Program. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff to monitor students after 3:00. Failure to register or constant late student pick up may result in a referral to the school social worker or DFACS.
7. For their safety, students living near the school are provided bus transportation.
8. If there is a change in the way a child is to go home, a note from the parent is required. If you are unable to send a note to school with your child, please fax the change of transportation to the school prior to 2:00. The fax number is (770) 651-3013. Without a note, the child will be sent home in the usual way. In an emergency, parents may call the school prior to 2:00 pm to make transportation changes. Again, this will only be allowed in an emergency situation and from a phone number we have on file.
9. All transportation notes should be written on a separate note. Please do not write transportation notes in the agenda.
**No students or parents will be allowed in the classroom after dismissal to retrieve forgotten homework or other items. It is our goal to encourage student responsibility. ****
Early Check Out
We discourage parents from checking out their children after 2:00. Dismissal begins each day at 2:40. When a child is checked out before this time they are missing valuable instruction. Our goal is to provide your child with an excellent education in a safe environment. Approval for check out after 2:00 in case of an emergency may be obtained from Mrs. Joe or Mr. Bruno. Also, a note is required in the office if anyone other than the registering parent(s)/guardian are checking out students.
Field Trips
No student may be checked out while on a field trip. All students participating in school sponsored field trip activities must ride the buses to and from the site of the field trip leaving from ASES. No younger or older siblings may ride the buses. Parents may check their child out upon their return to school.
Accidents and Illness at School
If a student is hurt or ill while in the care of the school, he/she should report to the clinic for support and first aid. Office personnel will contact a parent or authorized designee to pick up any child who is ill or injured, if necessary. Current emergency information on file in the school office is very important so that a parent can be located at any time. If your child has thrown up or has a temperature exceeding 100.4 degrees, he/she MUST be picked up within 30 minutes.
Fire and Emergency Drills
Fire and/or emergency drills are held monthly. The primary purpose of these drills is to train students to respond to danger in an orderly and efficient manner should a real emergency occur.
Standards of Conduct
To provide each student with a positive learning environment, Arbor Station has developed standards of conduct.
· Come to class prepared.
· Listen and follow directions.
· Show respect to the teacher.
· Keep hands to yourself and be safe.
· Use appropriate language and gestures.
· Respect school property.
Cafeteria Guidelines
· Stand quietly in the serving line.
· One student standing on each paw print.
· Talk quietly when the lights are on and be silent when they are off.
· Sit facing front with both feet under the table.
· Clean up after yourself.
Hallway Procedures
· Walk silently down the hall.
· Walk directly behind the person in front of you.
· Keep hands, feet, and objects off the walls and displays.
· When walking as a class, wave to acknowledge other teachers while maintaining hallway procedures.
Restroom Procedures
· The restroom is a quiet zone.
· Keep hands and feet to yourself.
· Clean up after yourself.
· Be respectful toward people and property.
Behavior Management Plan
It is our goal to encourage students to adhere to the Arbor Station Elementary School’s Standards of Conduct throughout the school day. In order to monitor and collect data on positive and negative behavior, Arbor Station will utilize ClassDoJo. This will take the place of the color system. ClassDojo is a tool that assists teachers by giving students immediate feedback about their behavior. It also captures and generates data on behavior that teachers can share with parents and administrators.
Parents can go to www.classdojo.com anytime to see what kind of day their child is having, in real time. At the beginning of the year, each student will be given a parent and student login. Students can access their account to change and create their avatar. Parents can view the number of Dojo points their child has earned, view points earned over time, and see the percentage of positive vs. needed work behaviors.
Student Dress and Appearance
The Douglas County Student Dress Code states:
ELEMENTARY DRESS CODE
Every student enrolled in Douglas County Schools is expected to observe a standard of grooming and dress consistent with the level of formality of the school setting. Certain items of dress are not considered appropriate and therefore, are not acceptable, and could result in a child having to call parents at home or work to bring more appropriate clothing. Examples include (but are not limited to) the following:
· Hats, visors, hoods pulled up, sweat bands, skull caps, bandanas or other head garments including non-prescription sunglasses worn inside the building;
· Beach or shower shoes, bare feet, flip flops or rubber and/or metal cleats are not allowed in school or on buses;
· Shoes with any type of wheels or other rolling apparatus.
· Clothing that shows the bare midriff, bare back or the bare shoulders.
· Tank tops; (Shoulders must be covered; arm holes tight fitting) are permitted only for students in K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades. Tank tops are not permitted in 4th and 5th grades.
· See-through or mesh clothing unless worn over other apparel;
· Clothing or articles advertising or displaying the insignia of drugs, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages shall be prohibited;
· Clothing with profane or obscene language or symbols displayed, or clothing which promotes violence;
· Gang related appearance, clothing or objects are prohibited.
· All pants which are not worn at the waist;
· Heavy coats or raincoats inside buildings and classrooms;
· Heavy chains or dog collars around the waist or neck, or attached to a wallet;
· Shorts, dresses and skirts that are too tight, too short, (five inches from the top of the kneecap) or not worn at the waist are not permitted;
· Pajamas, bedroom shoes or other sleepwear;
· Holes or patches above the knee.
Leggings worn as pants are not permitted. Leggings may only be worn with skirts or shorts 5” from the top of the kneecap.