R. L. Ward-Highlands
Elementary School
2016-17
Parent - Student Handbook
An Equal Opportunity School District
Save A Friend 1-877-7FRIEND (1-877-737-4363)
R. L. Ward-Highlands Elementary
537 S. E. 36th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34471
Main Office (352) 671-6810 Fax (352) 671-6813
www.marion.k12.fl.us/schools/whe
Marion County Public Schools
“A School, Where All Children Can Learn”
7:20 AM - Students Allowed on Campus
7:35 AM - Classrooms Open
7:45 AM - Tardy Bell
2:05 PM - Dismissal Bell
Melissa Kinard / Heather Lipira / James D. Byard / Chris MillerPrincipal / Assistant Principal of Curriculum / Coordinator / Dean of Students
ACCELERATED READER ANNUAL GOALS
Each year Ward-Highlands hosts an Accelerated Reader celebration for children. Children receive an invitation by meeting their grade appropriate reading goal and achieving a comprehension rate of at least 85%. These goals are a challenge to achieve and students must work on AR books throughout the year. The deadline for meeting these goals will be April 28, 2017.
Kindergarten – 25 Pts. / 1st Grade – 40 Pts. / 2nd Grade – 50 Pts.3rd Grade – 75 Pts. / 4th Grade – 100 Pts. / 5th Grade – 100 Pts.
ACCIDENTS
With children in an active environment, accidents are often unavoidable. Many times parents cannot be reached because there are no home or emergency phone numbers. It is VERY IMPORTANT that the school has numbers where parents can be reached. If parents cannot be reached during medical emergencies, the child will be transported to a medical facility by trained medical personnel.
ACCIDENT INSURANCE
In the event your child is injured during regular school hours, any medical expenses incurred are the responsibility of the parents. The School Board of Marion County does not carry insurance on students. Parents are encouraged to consider purchasing optional school time or extended 24 hour student accident insurance, offered each year through an outside vendor, for a nominal cost. Additional information on this optional coverage is available on the District homepage or by contacting your child’s school. This insurance will supplement your primary insurance. The insurance enrollment forms will be sent home with students the first week of school.
ASBESTOS - SCHOOL INSPECTION
In accordance with E.P.A. regulations, all Marion County Schools have been inspected for asbestos containing materials. The original inspection along with a diagram of the location(s), and a copy of all re-inspections has been made available in the administrative office at each school for review.
ATTENDANCE
A note from home, signed by the parents, is necessary following each absence. Excused absences include personal illness, death in the family, doctor appointments, or trips authorized in advance (up to 5 days per school year) by the principal prior to the absence.
Parents are asked to give the teacher twenty-four hours’ notice prior to picking up homework. Homework may be picked up in the office.
Attendance Policy
· Florida Statute 232.10 REQUIRES a signed written explanation of the child’s absence.
· Florida Stature 232.0225 REQUIRES documentation from a physician if the absence is due to a medical appointment.
· A note given to the school administrator PRIOR to an absence may enable the absence to be excused (not to exceed 5 days per school year).
· According to the Marion County Student Code of Conduct: 5 excused absences in a 45-day period will be considered excessive. Once a student has accumulated 5 absences in a 9-week period, Ward-Highlands will not approve a planned absence.
· A student who is late to school or being signed out early more than 5 times in a 45-day period will be considered excessively tardy.
ATTENDANCE AWARDS
Students will receive “Perfect Attendance” awards at the end of each nine weeks if they have no absences, early checkouts, and tardies. Select religious holidays that are celebrated during the school day will be excused for the purpose of receiving an award as long as the parent sends a note to school prior to the holiday. District/Administration may change these guidelines due to health concerns.
DIVERSITY TRANSFERS
· The Board authorizes and supports diversity transfers, which are the voluntary transfer of a student from a school in which his/her race is in the majority to a school in which his/her race is in the minority.
· Transfers made on the basis of Diversity are subject to space availability at the requested school.
· Unless required by State or Federal statute, transportation will NOT be provided by the district in order for a student to attend a school outside of his/her assigned attendance area.
Please address questions or clarifications to Mr. Tony Burke, District Supervisor for Student Assignments and Reassignments at (352) 671-7743.
BIKE RIDERS
All bicycles should be parked in the designated bicycle areas. When arriving on campus and nearing the bike rack, your child should stop and walk his/her bike to the designated parking area. When leaving, your child should walk the bike away from the parking area and then ride off campus. All students who ride bicycles are required by law to wear helmets to protect them from injury in case of an accident.
Bicycle Helmet (316.2065 Bicycle regulations - 3: d, e)
(3)(a) A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his or her person in a backpack or sling.
(d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, final rule, 16 C.F.R. part 1203. A helmet purchased before October 1, 2012, which meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 Bicycle Helmet Standards), the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets adopted by the department may continue to be worn by a bicycle rider or passenger until January 1, 2016. As used in this subsection, the term “passenger” includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle.
(e) Law enforcement officers and school crossing guards may issue a bicycle safety brochure and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection. A bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection may be issued a citation by a law enforcement officer and assessed a fine for a pedestrian violation, as provided in s. 318.18. The court shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider or passenger for a first violation of paragraph (d) upon proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet that complies with this subsection.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Bus transportation is provided for selected students at no cost to the parent, and is available as long as the child abides by the rules of safety and proper behavior. Serious or repeated violations may cause this privilege to be withdrawn. Suspension from riding the bus does not mean suspension from school attendance. Students are still obligated under state law to attend school. Parents must then provide transportation to and from school.
Glass containers, animals and excessively large objects such as science projects are not allowed on the bus. Please arrange alternate transportation when it is necessary to bring these things to school. It is advisable to label all book bags and clothing as these items are often left on the bus.
Bus riders are subject to the state and county rules and regulations, which are posted on each bus. In order to ensure a safe bus ride for all students, we ask that you review the rules with your child.
Bus Rules
Bus students are under the supervision of the driver and are subject to classroom regulations, plus the rules listed below. Students receiving “citations” for rule infractions are subject to disciplinary action:
The following bus rules are in effect and are posted on each bus.
1. Remain in your seat at all times while bus is moving.
2. Remain in an assigned seat if the bus driver assigns seats.
3. Keep your arms and head inside windows.
4. Cross the roadway 10 feet in front of the bus. Wait for the driver’s signal before crossing the road.
5. Avoid unnecessary conversation with the driver.
6. Observe classroom conduct.
7. Obey the driver who is in charge of the bus and the students.
8. The driver or school administrator has the right to assign pupils to certain seats if necessary to promote order on bus.
9. No eating, drinking, or smoking on the bus.
10. Pupils must be on time. The bus cannot wait for those who are tardy.
11. You may not get off the bus at any stop other than your assigned stop.
12. Refrain from having balloons or other large or disruptive items on the bus.
13. Students may not ride a bus other than the one assigned. This is for your child’s protection.
COUNSELING SERVICES
Counseling services are available to all students at Ward-Highlands. The counselor is a special resource person on whom parents may wish to call. She holds conferences with students, parents and teachers and works with county and state agencies in carrying out the guidance program. Any students’ concerns or complaints may be expressed through the guidance department.
DIRECTORY INFORMATION
Parents objecting to the use of directory information concerning their child must notify the school in writing within ten days after the beginning of each school year.
· STATE STATUTE 228.093-2(C): Board Policy JOG – 3(A)
DISCIPLINE
WHE has a no-nonsense, Zero tolerance policy when it comes to discipline. Zero tolerance means that any students responsible for bringing a weapon, item/toy resembling a weapon on the school campus, or having one in his/her possession, will immediately be sent to the dean who will suspend the student and notify the parent. Law enforcement will be called.
At Ward-Highlands we cannot allow students to physically harm other students or to be disrespectful. In cases where students seriously disrupt the educational environment or where they are disrespectful of the adults, we will strongly consider suspending the student from school. Whenever a student is suspended from school a parent conference will be requested. At this conference we will agree on what is expected at school.
DRESS AND APPEARANCE
· Tops must be long enough to clearly overlap the belt line or stay tucked in during the course of normal movement throughout the day. Shirts falling below mid-thigh length will be tucked in.
· No bare-midriff shirts/blouses, sleep wear, muscle shirts, or tank tops will be worn.
§ Spaghetti straps for girls. The strap must be at least 2 ½ inches wide.
· Students are not to wear shirts or other garments or items with pictures, logos, phrases, decals, patches, emblems, and/or words printed on them that are obscene or disruptive in the judgment of the school administration. This includes tobacco and alcoholic products.
· Pants are to be worn at or above the natural hip line. Underwear will not be exposed. Belts are to be worn if pants do not remain at the hips.
§ Overalls must remain buckled at all times.
· Shoes must have a closed heel or heel strap. Shoelaces are to remain tied. Tennis shoes or soft rubber sole shoes are to be worn during P.E.
§ Shoes with wheels on the bottom of the sole are not permitted on school campus for safety reasons.
§ Bedroom slippers are not permitted.
· Students are not to wear hats (bandanas, caps, sweatbands, visors, and similar hat-like apparel) of any kind within the school building unless approved by the school administration for special occasions.
· Students at Ward-Highlands Elementary School are not permitted to wear make-up under any circumstances.
· Unnatural hair color or outrageous haircuts will not be permitted.
Dress – Physical Education
Accidents occur in Physical Education when proper shoes are not worn. Tennis shoes, sneakers or rubber-soled shoes, which can be laced or tied, would be appropriate and safe for students. Girls who wear skirts or jumpers should bring shorts or spandex (biker) shorts to wear under their clothing during Physical Education classes.
If he/she needs to be excused from physical education please send a note from home. If he/she needs to stay out one week or more please have a doctor’s excuse sent in.
EXTENDED DAY - 671-6815
The Community Education Center will offer an extended day program at Ward-Highlands from 6:30-7:15 AM and from 2:05-6:00 PM. Your child may participate in either or both sessions. The rates are reasonable and vary according to your payment plan. The afternoon session includes a snack.
FIELD TRIPS
An official Marion County Field Trip permission form must be on file at the school before any child may go on a field trip. No handwritten notes or phone calls will be accepted. This is a Marion County policy. Transportation, tickets, chaperones, and lunches need to be handled and deadlines MUST be adhered to. Help us teach our students responsibility. Generally, the cost of a trip plus transportation cost will be charged to the student. Only students enrolled in the class will be permitted to go on the field trip. Only parents who volunteer as chaperones may ride school buses. The teacher will select chaperones and attempt to rotate opportunities. Chaperones must adhere to bus rules and regulations concerning food and drink. SMOKING will not be allowed during the trip, and in the presence of students. Chaperones must have a 2016-2017 volunteer form on file. All volunteer forms are due by September 23, 2016 for the 2016-17 school year (exceptions will be made for new families that move to WHE during the school year). Ward-Highlands will provide curriculum focused field trip experiences during the year, which will enrich the educational process. Field trip privileges may be denied for disciplinary reasons. If you do not wish for your child to go on a field trip, he/she will remain in another class and participate in regular school activities.